T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a subset of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells that migrate into germinal centers and promote B cell maturation into memory B and plasma cells. Tfh cells are necessary for promotion of protective humoral immunity following pathogen challenge, but when aberrantly regulated, drive pathogenic antibody formation in autoimmunity and undergo neoplastic transformation in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and other primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Limited information is available on the expression and regulation of genes in human Tfh cells. Using a fluorescence activated cell sorting-based strategy, we obtained primary Tfh and non-Tfh T effector (Teff) cells from tonsils and prepared genome-wide maps of active, intermediate, and poised enhancers determined by ChIP-seq, with parallel transcriptome analyses determined by RNA-seq. Tfh cell enhancers were enriched near genes highly expressed in lymphoid cells or involved in lymphoid cell function, with many mapping to sites previously associated with autoimmune disease in genome-wide association studies. A group of active enhancers unique to Tfh cells associated with differentially expressed genes was identified. Fragments from these regions directed expression in reporter gene assays. These data provide a significant resource for studies of T lymphocyte development and differentiation and normal and perturbed Tfh cell function. Overall design: Using a fluorescence activated cell sorting-based strategy, we obtained primary Tfh and non-Tfh T effector (Teff) cells from tonsils and prepared genome-wide maps of active, intermediate, and poised enhancers determined by ChIP-seq, with parallel transcriptome analyses determined by RNA-seq.
Global transcriptome analysis and enhancer landscape of human primary T follicular helper and T effector lymphocytes.
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View SamplesWe evaluated the trancriptome of primary cutaneous leisions caused by infection with Leishmania braziliensis. mRNA-seq technique was used to study the trancriptome of both host and parasite. A total of 10 samples was obtained from primary skin ulcers of two extreme clinical forms of American tegumentary leishmaniasis: (i) individuals that after antimonial treatment cured completely (localized cutaneous leishmaniasis - LCL, n=5) and (ii) individuals that developed mucosal lesions in naso and oropharynx areas long after initial healing of the cutaneous lesion (mucosal leishmaniasis - ML, n=5). The sequencing generated an average of 13+ 5 million reads per samples. The reads were aligned to Homo sapiens (USCS - hg19) and to Leishmania braziliensis (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute - V2_29072008) genomes. Approximately, 15,000 human genes could be detected in the samples. Low amount of L. braziliensis reads did not allow the evaluation of parasite gene expression. LCL and ML samples showed different patterns of gene expression, indicating a more robust immune response in LCL individuals. In summary, this study demonstrated that next-generation sequencing can be used for identification of potentially important biological pathways and drug targets in the host-response to L. braziliensis infection and for characterization of a gene expression signature that could be used to predict the disease outcome. Moreover, we also showed the ability of this technique in, simultaneously, sequence host and pathogen mRNA. Overall design: Examination of 10 fragments of cutaneous lesions: 5 from localized cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and 5 from mucosal leishmaniasis patients.
Transcriptome patterns from primary cutaneous Leishmania braziliensis infections associate with eventual development of mucosal disease in humans.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesPurpose: To compare the transcriptomes of IL-21-expressing, IL-21 and IL-4-expressing, and IL-4 expressing follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and Th2 cells in the spleen at 8 days following helminth infection Methods: Cell sorting of the populations was done for CD4+B220-CD44hiCXCR5hiPD-1hi cells of the various types, followed by mRNA purification. Overall design: CD4+Splenic T cell mRNA profiles 8 days post-infection of IL-21/IL-4 dual reporter mice with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were generated by mRNA sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
TFH cells progressively differentiate to regulate the germinal center response.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ in the body, most of which comes from in situ synthesis. Here we demonstrate that in insulin-deficient diabetic mice, there is a reduction in expression of the major transcriptional regulator of cholesterol metabolism, SREBP-2, and its downstream genes in the hypothalamus and other areas of the brain, leading to a reduction in brain cholesterol synthesis and synaptosomal cholesterol content. These changes are due, at least in part, to direct effects of insulin to regulate these genes in neurons and glial cells and can be corrected by intracerebroventricular injections of insulin. Knockdown of SREBP-2 in cultured neurons causes a decrease in markers of synapse formation and reduction of SREBP-2 in the hypothalamus of mice using shRNA results in increased feeding and weight gain. Thus, insulin and diabetes can alter brain cholesterol metabolism, and this may play an important role in the neurologic and metabolic dysfunction observed in diabetes and other disease states.
Diabetes and insulin in regulation of brain cholesterol metabolism.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of in vivo antigen-specific (LCMV-specific, SMARTA TCR transgenic) follicular helper CD4 T cells (CXCR5high),versus non-follicular helper CD4 T cells (CXCR5low), eight days after viral infection. A paper including data analysis of these experiments has been accepted for publication (Robert J. Johnston et al. Bcl6 and Blimp-1 are reciprocal and antagonistic regulators of follicular helper CD4 T cell differentiation).
Bcl6 and Blimp-1 are reciprocal and antagonistic regulators of T follicular helper cell differentiation.
Specimen part
View SamplesDuring chronic viral infection, the inflammatory function of CD4 T cells becomes gradually attenuated. Concurrently, Th1 cells progressively acquire the capacity to secrete the cytokine IL-10, a potent suppressor of antiviral T cell responses. To determine the transcriptional changes that underlie this T cell adaption process, we applied a single-cell RNA-sequencing approach and assessed the heterogeneity of IL-10-expressing CD4 T cells during chronic infection. Unexpectedly, our analyses revealed an IL-10-producing population with a robust Tfh-signature. Using IL-10 and IL-21 double-reporter mice, we further demonstrate that IL-10+IL-21+co-producing Tfh cells arise predominantly during chronic but not acute LCMV infection. Importantly, depletion of IL-10+IL-21+co-producing CD4 T cells or deletion of Il10 specifically in Tfh cells resulted in impaired humoral immunity and viral control. Mechanistically, B cell-intrinsic IL-10 signaling was required for sustaining germinal center reactions. Lastly, we demonstrate that IL-27 and type I IFNs differentially regulate the formation of this protective IL-10-producing Tfh subset. Thus, our findings elucidate a critical role for Tfh-derived IL-10 in promoting humoral immunity during persistent viral infection. Overall design: One sample prepared using 10x Genomics Chromium platform
Single-cell RNA sequencing unveils an IL-10-producing helper subset that sustains humoral immunity during persistent infection.
Specimen part, Subject, Time
View SamplesPurpose: To compare the transcriptomes of activated CD4 T effector cell populations in the presence and absence of STAT3 at 8 days post-infection using high-throughput RNA sequencing analysis. Methods: Cell sorting of the populations was done using the markers Ly6c and PSGL-1 Overall design: CD4 T cell Ly6c and PSGL-1 population mRNA profiles 8 days post-LCMV infection of wild type (WT) and STAT3fl/fl Cd4cre mice were generated by mRNA sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
The Interleukin-2-mTORc1 Kinase Axis Defines the Signaling, Differentiation, and Metabolism of T Helper 1 and Follicular B Helper T Cells.
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View SamplesMRL/Faslpr mice is a lupus prone strain that exhibits lupus disease features at 12-16 weeks of age, including high-titer circulating anti-DNA antibodies, splenomegaly, lymphadnopathy, skin lesions, and IgG deposits in the kidney. At 16-24 weeks of age, CD4+ B220- CD44+ T cells were sorted into three populations based on the expression of two cell surface molecules, CD62L and PSGL1. CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo CD4+ T cells were isolated directly ex vivo. There was no treatment given to the animals. Naive (CD62Lhi CD44lo) CD4+ B220- T cells were isolated from young 6-8 week old female mice for comparison.
In vivo regulation of Bcl6 and T follicular helper cell development.
Specimen part
View SamplesTissue repair is a subset of a broad repertoire of IL-4/IL-13-dependent host responses during helminth infections. Here, we show that IL-4/IL-13 alone were not sufficient, but IL-4/IL-13 together with apoptotic cells induced the tissue repair program in macrophages. Genetic ablation of sensors of apoptotic cells impaired the proliferation of tissue-resident macrophages and induction of anti-inflammatory/tissue repair genes in the lung following helminth infection or the damage caused by induction of colitis in the gut. In contrast, recognition of apoptotic cells was dispensable for cytokine-dependent induction of pattern recognition receptor, cell adhesion or chemotaxis genes in macrophages. Detection of apoptotic cells can therefore spatially compartmentalize or prevent premature or ectopic activity of pleiotropic, soluble cytokines, such as IL-4/IL-13. Overall design: RNA sequencing of lung resident macrophages from WT and Axl-/-Mertk-/- mice upon infection with N. brasiliensis
Macrophage function in tissue repair and remodeling requires IL-4 or IL-13 with apoptotic cells.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesInvestigating neuronal and photoreceptor regeneration in the retina of zebrafish has begun to yield insights into both the cellular and molecular means by which this lower vertebrate is able to repair its central nervous system. However, knowledge about the signaling molecules in the local microenvironment of a retinal injury and the transcriptional events they activate during neuronal death and regeneration is still lacking. To identify genes involved in photoreceptor regeneration, we combined light-induced photoreceptor lesions, laser-capture microdissection (LCM) of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and analysis of gene expression to characterize transcriptional changes for cells in the ONL as photoreceptors die and are regenerated. Using this approach, we were able to characterize aspects of the molecular signature of injured and dying photoreceptors, cone photoreceptor progenitors and microglia within the ONL. We validated changes in gene expression and characterized the cellular expression for three novel, extracellular signaling molecules that we hypothesize are involved in regulating regenerative events in the retina.
Identification of the molecular signatures integral to regenerating photoreceptors in the retina of the zebra fish.
No sample metadata fields
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