Investigation of immune-cell differentiation and function is limited by shortcomings of suitable and scalable experimental systems. Here we show that retroviral delivery of an estrogen-regulated form of Hoxb8 into mouse bone marrow cells can be used along with Flt3 ligand to conditionally immortalize early hematopoietic progenitor cells (Hoxb8-FL cells). Hoxb8-FL cells have lost self-renewal capacity and potential to differentiate into megakaryocytes and erythrocytes but retain the potential to differentiate into myeloid and lymphoid cells. They differentiate in vitro and in vivo into macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes that are phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from their primary counterparts. Quantitative in vitro assays indicate that myeloid and B-cell potential of Hoxb8-FL cells is comparable to that of primary lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors, whereas T-cell potential is diminished. The simplicity of this system and the unlimited proliferative capacity of Hoxb8-FL cells will enable studies of immune-cell differentiation and function.
Hematopoietic progenitor cell lines with myeloid and lymphoid potential.
Specimen part
View SamplesComplex tissues contain multiple cell types that are hierarchically organized within morphologically and functionally distinct compartments. Construction of engineered tissues with optimized tissue architecture has been limited by tissue fabrication techniques, which do not enable versatile microscale organization of multiple cell types in tissues of size adequate for physiologic studies and tissue therapies. Here, we present an Intaglio-Void/Embed-Relief Topographic (InVERT) molding method for microscale organization of many cell types, including induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)-derived progeny, within a variety of synthetic and natural extracellular matrices and across tissues of sizes appropriate for in vitro, pre-clinical, and clinical biologic studies. We demonstrate that compartmental placement of non-parenchymal cells relative to primary or iPS-derived hepatocytes and hepatic compartment microstructure and cellular composition modulate hepatic functions. Configurations found to be optimal in vitro also result in superior survival and function after transplantation into mice, demonstrating the importance of architectural optimization prior to implantation.
InVERT molding for scalable control of tissue microarchitecture.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe mucosal epithelium plays a key role in regulating immune homeostasis. Dysregulation of epithelial barrier function is associated with mucosal inflammation. Expression of claudin-2, a pore-forming tight junction protein, is highly upregulated during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and, due to its association with epithelial permeability, has been postulated to promote inflammation. Furthermore, claudin-2 also regulates colonic epithelial cell proliferation and intestinal nutrient absorption. However, the precise role of claudin-2 in regulating colonic epithelial and immune homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate, using Villin-Claudin-2 transgenic (Cl-2TG) mice, that increased colonic claudin-2 expression unexpectedly protects mice against experimentally induced colitis and colitis-associated cancer. Notably, Cl-2TG mice exhibited increased colon length and permeability as compared with wild type (WT) littermates. However, despite their leaky colon, Cl-2TG mice subjected to experimental colitis were immune compromised, with reduced induction of TLR-2, TLR-4, Myd-88 expression and NF-kB and STAT3 activation. Most importantly, colonic macrophages in Cl-2TG mice exhibited an anergic phenotype. Claudin-2 overexpression also increased colonocyte proliferation and provided protection against colitis-induced colonocyte death. Taken together, our findings have revealed a critical role of claudin-2 in regulating colonic homeostasis, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
Targeted colonic claudin-2 expression renders resistance to epithelial injury, induces immune suppression, and protects from colitis.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesL-Arginine (L-Arg) is the substrate for both inducible nitric oxide synthase and arginase, which are upregulated in human IBD and in mouse colitis models. We have found that L-Arg supplementation enhances wound restitution in vitro, and improves the clinical parameters of weight loss, survival, and colon weight/length, in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced murine colitis. Our aim was to further identify the potential mechanisms underlying the clinical benefit of L-Arg supplementation.
L-arginine supplementation improves responses to injury and inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium colitis.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesMutations in the enzymes IDH1 and IDH2 have been identified in a wide variety of tumors like glioma, chondrosarcoma, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and in acute myeloid leukemia. Mutated IDH1/2 produces the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which interferes with epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and thus may promote tumorigenesis.
Enantiomer-specific and paracrine leukemogenicity of mutant IDH metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate.
Specimen part
View SamplesTo understand the extent of Smad-mediated gene regulation in the colon, we isolated colon epithelium from Smad4?Lrig1 and from Smad4+ control mice (either mice lacking a CreERT allele and treated with tamoxifen, or mice bearing a CreERT allele but treated with vehicle only) and analyzed the colonic epithelium by RNAseq. The ability of TGFß1 and/or BMP2 to block TNF-mediated induction of Ccl20 from our study suggests that these Smad-mediated pathways may act as gatekeepers for induction of other inflammation-associated genes. To determine if Smad-mediated signaling blocks all or specific subsets of TNF-induced genes, we analyzed both colonocytes and mouse colonoid treated with or without TNF, TGFß1, and BMP2 by RNA seq. Overall design: In total, three RNAseq experiments were performed and three biological replicates were used for each condition: 1. Colon epithelium from Smad4?Lrig1 and from Smad4+ control mice was isolated. Total RNA was isolated from these tissues using RNeasy kit (Qiagen). Processing of RNA using a TruSeq Stranded mRNA sample prep kit was conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions (Illumina, San Diego, CA). 32~37 million 51 base pair single-end reads were generated per sample. 2. Total RNA was isolated from colonocytes treated with or without TNF, TGFß1, and BMP2 using RNeasy kit (Qiagen). Processing of RNA using a TruSeq Stranded mRNA sample prep kit was conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions (Illumina, San Diego, CA). 26~50 million 75 base pair paired-end reads were generated per sample. 3. Total RNA was isolated from mouse colonoid treated with or without TNF, TGFß1, and BMP2 using RNeasy kit (Qiagen). Processing of RNA using a TruSeq Stranded mRNA sample prep kit was conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions (Illumina, San Diego, CA). 50~72 million 75 base pair paired-end reads were generated per sample.
Epithelial Smad4 Deletion Up-Regulates Inflammation and Promotes Inflammation-Associated Cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesMutations in the enzymes IDH1 and IDH2 have been identified in a wide variety of tumors like glioma, chondrosarcoma, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and in acute myeloid leukemia. Mutated IDH1/2 produces the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which interferes with epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and thus may promote tumorigenesis.
Mutant IDH1 promotes leukemogenesis in vivo and can be specifically targeted in human AML.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe molecular mechanism defining susceptibility of normal cells to oncogenic transformation may be a valuable therapeutic target. We characterized the cell of origin and its critical pathways in MN1 leukemias. Common myeloid (CMP), but not granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CMP) could be transformed by constitutively overexpressed MN1. Complementation studies of CMP-signature genes in GMPs demonstrated that leukemogenicity of MN1 required the MEIS1/abdB-like HOX protein complex. Colocalization studies by ChIP-seq identified common chromatin targets of MN1 and MEIS1 that were associated with open chromatin and transcriptional activation. Transcriptional repression of MEIS1 target sites in established MN1 leukemias had antileukemic activity. As MN1 relies on but can not activate expression of MEIS1/abdB-like HOX proteins, transcriptional activity of these genes determines which cell is the cell of origin in MN1 leukemia.
Cell of origin in AML: susceptibility to MN1-induced transformation is regulated by the MEIS1/AbdB-like HOX protein complex.
Specimen part
View SamplesMutations in the enzymes IDH1 and IDH2 have been identified in a wide variety of tumors like glioma, chondrosarcoma, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and in acute myeloid leukemia. Mutated IDH1/2 produces the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which interferes with epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and thus may promote tumorigenesis.
Pan-mutant-IDH1 inhibitor BAY1436032 is highly effective against human IDH1 mutant acute myeloid leukemia in vivo.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThe study demontrates differences in the transcriptome ( both of protein coding transcripts and long non-coding RNAs) in the unilateral ureteric obstruction model of renal fibrosis. Overall design: Renal tissue was studied from animals undergoing sham operation (as controls) or right ureteric ligation. Animals were sacrificed 2 and 8 days following ligation and the right kidney tissue was examined.
Whole-transcriptome analysis of UUO mouse model of renal fibrosis reveals new molecular players in kidney diseases.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View Samples