Chronic loss of Lasp1 alters the expression of other genes associated with cell motility/attachment, and/or other cellular functions. Results provide new information showing that loss of Lasp1 leads to up- and down-regulation of genes involved in cell motility/attachment/growth.
Lasp1 gene disruption is linked to enhanced cell migration and tumor formation.
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View SamplesSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of antibodies to self-nucleic acids, immune complex deposition and tissue inflammation such as glomerulonephritis. Innate recognition of molecular complexes containing self-DNA and RNA and the ensuing production of type I interferons (IFN) contribute to SLE development. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have been proposed as a relevant source of pathogenic IFN in SLE; however, their net contribution to the disease remains unclear. We addressed this question using haplodeficiency of the pDC-specific transcription factor E2-2 (Tcf4), which causes a specific impairment of pDC function in otherwise normal animals. We report that Tcf4+/- animals were significantly protected from SLE-like disease caused by the overexpression of the endosomal RNA sensor Tlr7. The protection was also observed after the monoallelic deletion of Tcf4 specifically in the dendritic cell lineage. Furthermore, Tcf4 haplodeficiency in the B6.Sle1.Sle3 multigenic model of SLE ameliorated key disease manifestations including anti-DNA antibody production, immune activation and glomerulonephritis. These results provide genetic evidence that pDCs are critically involved in SLE pathogenesis, confirming their potential utility as therapeutic targets in the disease.
Genetic evidence for the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesMalaria infection triggers vigorous host immune responses; however, the parasite ligands, host receptors and the signaling pathways responsible for these reactions remain unknown or controversial. Malaria parasites primarily reside within red blood cells (RBCs), thereby hiding themselves from direct contact and recognition by host immune cells. Host responses to malaria infection are very different from those elicited by bacterial and viral infections and the host receptors recognizing parasite ligands have been elusive. Here we investigated mouse genome-wide transcriptional responses to infections with two strains of Plasmodium yoelii (N67 and N67C) and discovered differences in innate response pathways corresponding to strain-specific disease phenotypes. Using in vitro RNAi gene knockdown and knockout mice, we demonstrated that a strong IFN-I response triggered by RNA Polymerase III and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), not Toll-like receptors (TLRs), binding of parasite DNA/RNA contributed to a decline of parasitemia in N67-infected mice. We showed that conventional dendritic cells were the major sources of early IFN-I, and that surface expression of phosphatidylserine (PS) on infected RBC (iRBC) might promote their phagocytic uptake, leading to the release of parasite ligands and the IFN-I response in N67 infection. In contrast, an elevated inflammatory response mediated by CD14/TLR and p38 signaling played a role in disease severity and early host death in N67C-infected mice. In addition to identifying cytosolic DNA/RNA sensors and signaling pathways previously unrecognized in malaria infection, our study demonstrates the importance of parasite genetic backgrounds in malaria pathology and provides important information for studying human malaria pathogenesis.
Strain-specific innate immune signaling pathways determine malaria parasitemia dynamics and host mortality.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesAn invading pathogen will trigger specific host responses, which can be explored to identify genes functioning in pathogen recognition and elimination. Here we performed trans-species expression quantitative trait locus (ts-eQTL) analysis using genotypes of the Plasmodium yoelii malaria parasite and phenotypes of mouse gene expression. We significantly (LOD score3.0) linked 1,054 host genes to many parasite genetic loci. Clustering genome-wide pattern of LOD scores (GPLSs), which produced results different from those of direct expression level clustering, grouped host genes functioning in related pathways together, allowing accurate functional prediction of unknown genes. As proof of principle, 14 of 15 randomly selected genes unknown, but predicted to function in type I interferon (IFN-I) responses, were experimentally verified using gene over expression, shRNA knockdown, viral infection, and/or infection of KO mice. This study demonstrates an effective strategy for studying gene function, establishes a functional gene database, and identifies regulators in IFN-I pathways.
Genome-wide Analysis of Host-Plasmodium yoelii Interactions Reveals Regulators of the Type I Interferon Response.
Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: Conditional knockout of Zfp36l1 Zfp36l2 in pro-B cells perturbs B cell development leading to reduced V(D)J recombination and diminished numbers of cells in successive stages of development. This RNA seq experiment aimed to determine the molecular pathways affected by loss of Zfp36l1 and Zfp36l2, and to deduce direct targets of these RNA binding proteins. Methods: RNAseq libraries were prepared from 0.1 µg of RNA from sorted control and DCKO late pre-B cells using TruSeq RNA sample preparation kit v2 modified to be strand specific using the dUTP method. Libraries were sequenced by an Illumina genome analyzer II measuring 54bp single-end reads. Over 30 million reads were measured from each sample. The reads were trimmed to remove adapter sequences using Trim Galore then mapped using Tophat (version 1.1.4) to the NCBIm37 mouse assembly (April 2007, strain C57BL/6J); reads with an identical sequence to more than one genomic locus were not mapped. Quality control analysis was carried out with FastQC. Results: Read counts for each gene were generated in SeqMonk: transcripts from the same gene were collapsed into a single transcript containing all exons, so total reads were counted without considering alternative splice forms. Since the libraries were strand-specific only reads on the opposing strand were counted. Differences in the abundance of transcripts between DCKO and control late pre-B cells were calculated in the R/Bioconductor program DESeq (version 1.12.1). Adjusted P values for differential expression were calculated in DESeq using a Benjamini-Hochberg correction: genes with an adjusted p-value of less than 5% were considered significant. Differentially expressed mouse transcripts identified using DESeq were analyzed for gene set enrichment using Toppfun. Conclusions: We identified an enrichment of mRNAs involved in cell cycle progression within Zfp36l1 Zfp36l2 double conditional knockouts. Overall design: RNAseq of late pre-B cells from control and Zfp36l1, Zfp36l2 double conditional knockout mice.
RNA-binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 promote cell quiescence.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesTotal RNA-sequencing on 150-200 ICOS+CD38+ cTfh cells per person prior to vaccination (day 0), and seven (day 63) and 28 (day 84) days after the third vaccination. Overall design: Blood samples were taken from healthy volunteers taking part in a Phase 1b clinical trial. mRNA was isolated from flow sorted circulating Tfh cells (CD4+CD45RA-CXCR5+PD1+ICOS+CD38+ cells) and RNA-sequencing performed on cTfh from days 0, 7 and 28 reletive to vaccination
The adjuvant GLA-SE promotes human Tfh cell expansion and emergence of public TCRβ clonotypes.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesTotal mRNA-sequencing on memory T helper cell populations from human blood and lymph nodes. Overall design: Paired blood and lymph node samples were taken from patients recruited from the renal transplant live donor program at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and who provided informed consent. All patients were either receiving or within 6 months of requiring renal replacement therapy. Patients taking immunosuppressive medication prior to transplant were excluded. mRNA was isolated from flow sorted CD4+ T cell populations and RNA-sequencing performed.
The adjuvant GLA-SE promotes human Tfh cell expansion and emergence of public TCRβ clonotypes.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesWe performed a microarray experiment to assess the global changes in transcription occurring in leaves and roots of the vitamin B6 deficient pdx1.3 knockout mutant in comparison to WT. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5-phosphate) is an essential cofactor of many metabolic enzymes. Plants biosynthesize the vitamin de novo employing two enzymes, pyridoxine synthase1 (PDX1) and PDX2. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), there are two catalytically active paralogs of PDX1 (PDX1.1 and PDX1.3) producing the vitamin at comparable rates. Since single mutants are viable but the pdx1.1 pdx1.3 double mutant is lethal, the corresponding enzymes seem redundant.
Consequences of a deficit in vitamin B6 biosynthesis de novo for hormone homeostasis and root development in Arabidopsis.
Specimen part
View SamplesEBF1 is essential for B cell specification and commitment. To explore the dynamics of EBF1 initiated B cell programming, we performed EBF1 ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, bisulfite-seq, RNA-seq and several histone ChIP-seq analyses at different stages of the transition from Ebf1-/- pre-pro-B to pro-B triggered by EBF1 restoration. We also performed Pax5 ChIP-seq in Ebf1-/- pre-pro-B cell and EBF1-restored pro-B cell to study the pioneering function of EBF1 that allows other transcription factors to access certain chromatin sites. Overall design: Time series RNA-Seq analysis during the differentiation from Ebf1-deficient pre-pro-B cell to EBF1-restored pro-B cell.
Dynamic EBF1 occupancy directs sequential epigenetic and transcriptional events in B-cell programming.
Subject
View SamplesGene expression profiles in Ba/F3 cells expressing ETV6-PDGFRB, FIP1L1-PDGFRA or a control vector, treated or not with imatinib (Glivec)
The expression of the tumour suppressor HBP1 is down-regulated by growth factors via the PI3K/PKB/FOXO pathway.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
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