Most autoreactive B cells are normally counterselected during early B cell development. To determine whether Toll-like receptors (TLRs) regulate the removal of autoreactive B lymphocytes, we tested the reactivity of recombinant antibodies from single B cells isolated from patients deficient for IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK)-4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and UNC-93B. Indeed, all TLRs except TLR3 require IRAK-4 and MyD88 to signal and UNC-93B-deficient cells are unresponsive to TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9. All patients suffered from defective central and peripheral B cell tolerance checkpoints resulting in the accumulation of large numbers of autoreactive mature nave B cells in their blood. Hence, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 may prevent the recruitment of developing autoreactive B cells in healthy donors. Paradoxically, IRAK-4-, MyD88- and UNC-93B-deficient patients did not display autoreactive antibodies in their serum nor developed autoimmune diseases, suggesting that IRAK-4, MyD88 and UNC-93B pathway blockade may thwart autoimmunity in humans.
IRAK-4- and MyD88-dependent pathways are essential for the removal of developing autoreactive B cells in humans.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe aim of this study was to quantify the impact of chimeric Foxp3-GFP protein on the Treg cell transcriptional program.
An N-terminal mutation of the Foxp3 transcription factor alleviates arthritis but exacerbates diabetes.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of this study was to investigate if milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) enclosing the dairy fat influence peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) gene expression. This study was a 8-week single-blind, randomized, controlled isocaloric trial with two parallel groups including overweight (mean BMI: 28) adult women (n=30). All subjects consumed 40 g dairy fat per day either as cream (MFGM diet) or as butter oil (control diet).
Potential role of milk fat globule membrane in modulating plasma lipoproteins, gene expression, and cholesterol metabolism in humans: a randomized study.
Age, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesThe transcription factor Foxp3 is indispensible for the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms of Foxp3 mediated gene expression we purified Foxp3 complexes and explored their composition. Biochemical and mass-spectrometric analyses revealed that Foxp3 forms multi-protein complexes of 400-800 kDa or larger and identified 361 associated proteins ~30% of which are transcription-related. Foxp3 directly regulates expression of a large proportion of the genes encoding its co-factors. Reciprocally, some transcription factor partners of Foxp3 facilitate its expression. Functional analysis of Foxp3 cooperation with one such partner, Gata3, provided further evidence for a network of transcriptional regulation afforded by Foxp3 and its associates to control distinct aspects of Treg cell biology.
Transcription factor Foxp3 and its protein partners form a complex regulatory network.
Specimen part
View SamplesRegulatory T cells (Treg) play a pivotal role in modulating immune responses and were shown to decrease atherosclerosis in murine models. How this effect is brought about remains elusive.
Depletion of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells promotes hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesAnalysis of Foxp3 ablated peripheral regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells require the expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 for thymic development. It is not known whether continuous expression of Foxp3 is required for the maintained function of mature regulatory T cells in the periphery. Results indicate changes to the regulatory T cell developmental program in the absence of Foxp3.
Maintenance of the Foxp3-dependent developmental program in mature regulatory T cells requires continued expression of Foxp3.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe goal was to study the effects of lead exposure on gene expression and identify the lead-responsive genes. After detecting 1,536 cis-eQTLs (FDR = 10%) and 952 trans-eQTLs, we focused our analysis on Pb-sensitive “trans-eQTL hotspots”. Overall design: 158 randomly selected Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (A2) samples (control 79 samples and Pb-treated) without replicates
Identification of Splicing Quantitative Trait Loci (sQTL) in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> with Developmental Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>) Exposure.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe transition from pregnancy to lactation is a critical event in the survival of the newborn since all the nutrient requirements of the infant are provided by milk. While milk contains numerous components, including proteins, that aid in maintaining the health of the infant, lactose and milk fat represent the critical energy providing elements of milk. Much of the research to date on mammary epithelial differentiation has focused upon expression of milk protein genes, providing a somewhat distorted view of alveolar differentiation and secretory activation. While expression of milk protein genes increases during pregnancy and at secretory activation, the genes whose expression is more tightly regulated at this transition are those that regulate lipid biosynthesis. The sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) family of transcription factors is recognized as regulating fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. We propose that SREBP1 is a critical regulator of secretory activation with regard to lipid biosynthesis, in a manner that responds to diet, and that the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt influences this process, resulting in a highly efficient lipid synthetic organ that is able to support the nutritional needs of the newborn.
Key stages in mammary gland development. Secretory activation in the mammary gland: it's not just about milk protein synthesis!
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesNumerous microRNAs and their target mRNAs are co-expressed across diverse cell types. However, it is unknown whether they are regulated in a cellular context-independent or -dependent manner. Here, we explored transcriptome-wide targeting and gene regulation by miR-155, whose activation-induced expression plays important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Through mapping of miR-155 targets using differential Argonaute iCLIP, mRNA quantification with RNA-Seq, and 3'UTR usage analysis using polyadenylation (polyA)-Seq in activated miR-155-sufficient and deficient macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, we identified numerous targets differentially bound by miR-155. While alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (ApA) contributed to differential miR-155 binding to some transcripts, in a majority of cases identical 3'UTR isoforms were differentially regulated across cell types, suggesting ApA-independent and cellular context-dependent miR-155-mediated gene regulation reminiscent of sequence-specific transcription factors. Our study provides comprehensive maps of miR-155 regulatory RNA networks and offers a valuable resource for dissecting context-dependent and -independent miRNA-mediated gene regulation in key cell types of the adaptive and innate immune systems. Overall design: Primary dendritic cells, B cells, CD4 T cells, and macrophages from C57BL/6J wild type and miR-155 KO mice were cultured in RPMI medium with 10% FBS. Prior to harvesting primary dendritic cells, mice were subcutaneously injected with one million B16 melanoma cells expressing Flt3 ligand for about two weeks. After purification of splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells by CD11c microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec), dendritic cells were activated in a medium containing 100 ng/ml LPS (SIGMA) and 20 ng/ml GMSCF (Tonbo). Splenic primary B cells were purified by negative selection using Dynabeads Mouse CD43 (Invitrogen), and activated in a medium containing 25 ug/ml LPS and 6.5 ng/ml mIL4 (PeproTech). CD4 T cells from lymph node and spleen were purified with Dynabeads FlowComp Kit (Invitrogen). CD4+CD25-CD44- T cells were then activated with Dynabeads Mouse T-Activator CD3/CD28 (Invitrogen). Intraperitoneal macrophages, induced by thioglycollate injection, were harvested and activated with 100 ng/ml LPS.
The effect of cellular context on miR-155-mediated gene regulation in four major immune cell types.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesMuscle satellite cells are a self-renewing pool of stem cells that give rise to daughter myogenic precursor cells in adult skeletal muscle. Published and preliminary data indicated that MyoD and p53 genes are involved in satellite cell differentiation. We would like to know what downstream genes of both transcription factors are affected in satellite cell-derived myoblasts (MyoD-/-, p53 -/-).
MyoD induces myogenic differentiation through cooperation of its NH2- and COOH-terminal regions.
No sample metadata fields
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