The transcriptional responses of human hosts towards influenza viral pathogens are important for understanding virus-mediated immunopathology. Despite great advances gained through studies using model organisms, the complete temporal host transcriptional responses in a natural human system are poorly understood. In a human challenge study using live influenza (H3N2/Wisconsin) viruses, we conducted a clinically uninformed (unsupervised) factor analysis on gene expression profiles and established an ab initio molecular signature that strongly correlates to symptomatic clinical disease. This is followed by the identification of 42 biomarkers whose expression patterns best differentiate early from late phases of infection. In parallel, a clinically informed (supervised) analysis revealed over-stimulation of multiple viral sensing pathways in symptomatic hosts and linked their temporal trajectory with development of diverse clinical signs and symptoms. The resultant inflammatory cytokine profiles were shown to contribute to the pathogenesis because their significant increase preceded disease manifestation by 36 hours. In subclinical asymptomatic hosts, we discovered strong transcriptional regulation of genes involved in inflammasome activation, genes encoding virus interacting proteins, and evidence of active anti-oxidant and cell-mediated innate immune response. Taken together, our findings offer insights into influenza virus-induced pathogenesis and provide a valuable tool for disease monitoring and management in natural environments.
Temporal dynamics of host molecular responses differentiate symptomatic and asymptomatic influenza a infection.
Specimen part
View SamplesEML1 and EML3 were previously shown to be histone readers involved in plant-pathogen interactions. To learn more about the developmental function of EML1 and EML3, we generated eml1 eml3 double mutant and showed that it had specific seed developmental phenotypes, including a capability to develop seed without fertilization. Next, we analyzed the mRNA expression of genes in the eml1 eml3 double mutant and compared it to its wild type. Differentially expressed (DE) genes in the mutant were identified and compared with DE of the mutants known to be involved in regulating seed development and in fertilization-independent endosperm development. Our results suggest that some targets are shared between EML histone readers and known regulators of seed development, such as MEA. Auxin response seems to be affected in both types of mutants. However, unlike MEA, EML proteins regulate auxin responsive genes not only in the endosperm, but also in the embryo. This capability makes EML proteins very good candidates for engineering apomictic seeds. Overall design: 3 eml1,eml3 double mutant samples and 3 WT samples
Arabidopsis EMSY-like (EML) histone readers are necessary for post-fertilization seed development, but prevent fertilization-independent seed formation.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesDiagnosis of acute respiratory viral infection is currentlybased on clinical symptoms and pathogen detection. Use of host peripheral blood gene expression data to classify individuals with viral respiratory infection represents a novel means of infection diagnosis.
Gene expression signatures diagnose influenza and other symptomatic respiratory viral infections in humans.
Subject, Time
View SamplesDiagnosis of influenza A infection is currently based on clinical symptoms and pathogen detection. Use of host peripheral blood gene expression data to classify individuals with influenza A virus infection represents a novel approach to infection diagnosis
A host transcriptional signature for presymptomatic detection of infection in humans exposed to influenza H1N1 or H3N2.
Specimen part, Subject, Time
View SamplesWe have identified a CD57+PD1- CD4 T cell phenotype at the time of transplantation that strongly correlates with subsequesnt development of belatacept-resistant rejection. In this study, we used microarray to determine which genes were upregulated in CD57+ compared to CD57- CD4 T cells.
CD57(+) CD4 T Cells Underlie Belatacept-Resistant Allograft Rejection.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesIt is fundamentally unknown how normal cellular processes or responses to extracellular stimuli may invoke polyadenylation and degradation of ncRNA substrates or if human disease processes exhibit defects in polyadenylation of ncRNA substrates as part of their pathogenesis. Our results demonstrate that mononuclear cells from subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) exhibit pervasive increases in levels of polyadenylated ncRNAs including Y1 RNA, 18S and 28S rRNA, and U1, U2, and U4 snRNAs and these defects are unique to RRMS. Defects in expression of both Ro60 and La proteins in RRMS appear to contribute to increased polyadenylation of ncRNAs. Further, IFN-ß1b, a common RRMS therapy, restores both Ro60 and La levels to normal as well as levels of polyadenylated Y1 RNA and U1 snRNA suggesting that aberrant polyadenylation of ncRNA substrates may have pathogenic consequences. Overall design: We extracted RNA from peripheral whole blood in healthy control subjects and patients with established relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis using PaxGene tubes.
Defective structural RNA processing in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo improve our understanding of lncRNA expression in T cells, we used whole genome sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify lncRNAs expressed in human T cells and those selectively expressed in T cells differentiated under TH1, TH2, or TH17 polarizing conditions. The majority of these lineage-specific lncRNAs are co-expressed with lineage-specific protein-coding genes. These lncRNAs are predominantly intragenic with co-expressed protein-coding genes and are transcribed in sense and antisense orientations with approximately equal frequencies. Further, genes encoding TH lineage specific mRNAs are not randomly distributed across the genome but are highly enriched in the genome in genomic regions also containing genes encoding TH lineage-specific lncRNAs. Our analyses also identify a cluster of antisense lncRNAs transcribed from the RAD50 locus that are selectively expressed under TH2 polarizing conditions and co-expressed with IL4, IL5 and IL13 genes. Depletion of these lncRNAs via selective siRNA treatment demonstrates the critical requirement of these lncRNAs for expression of the TH2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. Collectively, our analyses identify new lncRNAs expressed in a TH lineage specific manner and identify a critical role for a cluster of lncRNAs for expression of genes encoding TH2 cytokines. Overall design: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured under TH1, TH2, and TH17 polarizing conditions. TH1, TH2, and TH17 primary and effector cultures were isolated and poly(A)+ and total RNA sequencing performed.
Expression and functions of long noncoding RNAs during human T helper cell differentiation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used Affymetrix DNA arrays to investigate the extent to which nuclear HDAC4 accumulation affects neuronal gene expression.
HDAC4 governs a transcriptional program essential for synaptic plasticity and memory.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe Carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) in mammals undergoes extensive post-translational modification, which is essential for transcriptional initiation and elongation. Here, we show that the CTD of RNAPII is methylated at a single arginine (R1810) by the transcriptional co-activator CARM1. Although methylation at R1810 is present on the hyper-phosphorylated form of RNAPII in vivo, Ser-2 or Ser-5 phosphorylation inhibit CARM1 activity towards this site in vitro, suggesting that methylation occurs before transcription initiation. Mutation of R1810 results in the mis-expression of a variety of snRNAs and snoRNAs, an effect that is also observed in Carm1-/- MEFs. These results demonstrate that CTD methylation facilitates the expression of select RNAs, perhaps serving to discriminate the RNAPII-associated machinery recruited to distinct gene types. Overall design: To address the function of RNAPII methylation, we generated Raji cell lines expressing an RNA Polymerase II resistant to a-amanitin and carrying either wild-type R1810 or an arginine to alanine substitution at that same residue, abolishing R1810 methylation of the CTD. In cells cultured in a-amanitin, the a-amanitin-resistant mutants fully replaced the functions of endogenous RNAPII, allowing us to study if gene-expression is affected by the absence of R1810me
The C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II is modified by site-specific methylation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis study sought to evaluate the effects of dietary MeHg exposure on adult female yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) reproduction by relating controlled exposures with subsequent reproductive effects. Yellow perch were used in the study for their socioeconomic and ecological importance within the Great Lakes basin, and the use of zebrafish allowed for a detailed analysis of the molecular effects of MeHg. MeHg exposures at environmentally relevant levels were done in zebrafish for a full life cycle, mimicking a realistic exposure scenario, and in adult yellow perch for twenty weeks, capturing early seasonal ovarian development. In zebrafish, several genes involved in reproductive processes were shown to be dysregulated by RNA-seq and QPCR, but no significant phenotypic or physiological changes were observed with ovarian staging, fecundity, or embryo mortality. Yellow perch did not appear to be affected by MeHg, either at a molecular level, as assessed by QPCR of eight genes in the pituitary, liver, and ovary tissue, or a physiological level, as seen with ovarian somatic index, circulating estradiol, and ovarian staging. Lack of impact in yellow perch limits the usefulness of zebrafish as a model and suggests that the reproductive sensitivity to environmentally relevant levels of MeHg differs between yellow perch and zebrafish. Overall design: 12 samples of total RNA isolated from adult zebrafish ovaries were analyzed. Each exposure group (1, 3, and 10 ppm MeHg) had three replicates, as did the vehicle control. Each sample was comprised of pooled total RNA of up to 6 individual fish.
Female reproductive impacts of dietary methylmercury in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and zebrafish (Danio rerio).
No sample metadata fields
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