Lactoferrin is a highly multifunctional protein. Indeed, it is involved in many physiological functions, including regulation of iron absorption and immune responses.
A nutritional supplement containing lactoferrin stimulates the immune system, extends lifespan, and reduces amyloid <i>β</i> peptide toxicity in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBackground: A subset of infants are hyper-susceptible to severe/acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB), for reasons unknown. Purpose: To characterise the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying infant AVB in circulating cells/local airways tissues. Methods: PBMC and nasal mucosal scrapings (NMS) were obtained from Infants (<18mths) and children (1.5-5yrs) during AVB and post-convalescence. Immune response patterns were profiled by multiplex analysis of plasma cytokines, flow cytometry, and transcriptomics (RNA-Seq). Molecular profiling of group-level data utilised a combination of upstream regulator and coexpression network analysis, followed by individual subject-level data analysis employing personalised N-of-1-pathways methodology. Results: Group-level analyses demonstrated that infant PBMC responses were dominated by monocyte-associated hyper-upregulated type I interferon signalling/pro-inflammatory pathways (drivers: TNF, IL6, TREM1, IL1B), versus a combination of inflammation (PTGER2, IL6) plus growth/repair/remodelling pathways (ERBB2, TGFB1, AREG, HGF) coupled with Th2 and NK-cell signalling in children. Age-related differences were not attributable to differential steroid usage or variations in underlying viral pathogens. Nasal mucosal responses were comparable qualitatively in infants/children, dominated by interferon types I-III, but the magnitude of upregulation was higher in infants (range 6-48-fold) than children (5-17-fold). N-of-1-pathways analysis confirmed differential upregulation of innate immunity in infants and NK cell networks in children, and additionally demonstrated covert AVB response sub-phenotypes that were independent of chronological age. Conclusions: Dysregulated expression of interferon-dependent pathways following respiratory viral infections is a defining immunophenotypic feature of AVB-susceptible infants and a subset of children. Susceptible subjects appear to represent a discrete subgroup who cluster based on (slow) kinetics of postnatal maturation of innate immune competence. Overall design: The study design consisted of PBMC from infants (<18months, n=15 pairs) and pre-school children (2-5yrs, n=16 pairs) sampled during severe acute viral bronchiolitis (acute visit = AV) and following recovery during convalescence (convalescent visit = CV). RNA-Seq profiles were generated by sequencing llumina HiSeq2500, 50bp single-end reads, v4 chemistry. Samples were sequenced across two lanes and collapsed prior analysis.
Personalized Transcriptomics Reveals Heterogeneous Immunophenotypes in Children with Viral Bronchiolitis.
Subject
View SamplesBackground: A subset of infants are hyper-susceptible to severe/acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB), for reasons unknown. Purpose: To characterise the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying infant AVB in circulating cells/local airways tissues. Methods: PBMC and nasal mucosal scrapings (NMS) were obtained from Infants (<18mths) and children (1.5-5yrs) during AVB and post-convalescence. Immune response patterns were profiled by multiplex analysis of plasma cytokines, flow cytometry, and transcriptomics (RNA-Seq). Molecular profiling of group-level data utilised a combination of upstream regulator and coexpression network analysis, followed by individual subject-level data analysis employing personalised N-of-1-pathways methodology. Results: Group-level analyses demonstrated that infant PBMC responses were dominated by monocyte-associated hyper-upregulated type I interferon signalling/pro-inflammatory pathways (drivers: TNF, IL6, TREM1, IL1B), versus a combination of inflammation (PTGER2, IL6) plus growth/repair/remodelling pathways (ERBB2, TGFB1, AREG, HGF) coupled with Th2 and NK-cell signalling in children. Age-related differences were not attributable to differential steroid usage or variations in underlying viral pathogens. Nasal mucosal responses were comparable qualitatively in infants/children, dominated by interferon types I-III, but the magnitude of upregulation was higher in infants (range 6-48-fold) than children (5-17-fold). N-of-1-pathways analysis confirmed differential upregulation of innate immunity in infants and NK cell networks in children, and additionally demonstrated covert AVB response sub-phenotypes that were independent of chronological age. Conclusions: Dysregulated expression of interferon-dependent pathways following respiratory viral infections is a defining immunophenotypic feature of AVB-susceptible infants and a subset of children. Susceptible subjects appear to represent a discrete subgroup who cluster based on (slow) kinetics of postnatal maturation of innate immune competence. Overall design: The study design consisted of PBMC from infants (<18months, n=15 pairs) and pre-school children (2-5yrs, n=16 pairs) sampled during severe acute viral bronchiolitis (acute visit = AV) and following recovery during convalescence (convalescent visit = CV). RNA-Seq profiles were generated by sequencing llumina HiSeq2500, 50bp single-end reads, v4 chemistry. Samples were sequenced across two lanes and collapsed prior analysis.
Personalized Transcriptomics Reveals Heterogeneous Immunophenotypes in Children with Viral Bronchiolitis.
Subject
View SamplesInfection-associated inflammatory stress during pregnancy is the most common cause of fetal growth restriction. Treatment strategies for protection of at-risk mothers are limited. Employing mouse models, we demonstrate that oral treatment during pregnancy with a microbial-derived immunomodulator (OM85), markedly reduces risk for fetal loss/growth restriction resulting from maternal challenge with bacterial LPS or influenza. Focusing on LPS exposure, we demonstrate that the key molecular indices of maternal inflammatory stress (RANTES, MIP-1a, CCL2, KC, G-CSF) in gestational tissues/serum, are abrogated by OM85 pretreatment. Systems-level analyses of RNASeq data revealed that OM85 pretreatment selectively tunes LPS-induced activation in maternal gestational tissues for attenuated expression of TNF-, IL1-, and IFNg- driven proinflammatory networks, without constraining Type1-IFN-associated networks central to first-line anti-microbial defense. This study suggests that broad-spectrum protection-of-pregnancy against infection-associated inflammatory stress, without compromising capacity for efficient pathogen eradication, represents an achievable therapeutic goal. Overall design: Mice were exposed to four treatment conditions (sham control, OM85 pretreatment, LPS challenge, or OM85 pretreatment followed by LPS challenge). Gene expression patterns were profiled in two different tissues (uterus and decidua). There were six animals in each experimental group.
Protection against maternal infection-associated fetal growth restriction: proof-of-concept with a microbial-derived immunomodulator.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThe ability to regenerate or recover from injuries varies greatly not only between species but also between tissues and organs or developmental stages of the same species. The mechanisms behind these different regenerative capabilities are ultimately dependent on the control of genome activity, determined by a complex interplay of regulatory elements functioning at the level of chromatin. Resetting of gene expression patterns during injury responses is, thus, shaped by the coordinated action of genomic regions (enhancers, silencers) that integrate the activity of multiple sequence-specific DNA binding proteins (transcription factors and cofactors). Using genome- wide approaches to interrogate chromatin function here we identify the regulatory elements governing tissue recovery in Drosophila wing imaginal discs, which show a high regenerative capacity after genetically induced cell death. Our findings point to a global co-regulation of gene expression and provide evidence for Damage Responding Regulatory Elements (DRRE), some of which are novel whereas others are also used in other tissues or developmental stages. Overall design: We collected data at different time points (0, 15 and 25h) after apoptosis induction. These time periods were selected because they included the most important transcriptional responses to apoptosis, ranging from the earliest gene expression up to complete re-patterning. Discs kept at the same conditions without inducing cell death were used as controls.
Damage-responsive elements in <i>Drosophila</i> regeneration.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesWe describe a function of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in driving anti-tumor immune evasion. The kinase activity of nuclear-targeted FAK in squamous cancer cells drives exhaustion of CD8+ T-cells and recruitment of regulatory T-cells by transcriptionally regulating chemokine/cytokine and ligand-receptor networks, including transcription of Ccl5 that is crucial. These changes inhibit antigen-primed cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell activity, permitting growth of FAK-expressing tumors.
Nuclear FAK controls chemokine transcription, Tregs, and evasion of anti-tumor immunity.
Specimen part
View SamplesProliferative zone chondrocytes were microdissected from control and Ift88-deleted growth plates to determine gene expression profiles regulated by primary cilia.
Ift88 regulates Hedgehog signaling, Sfrp5 expression, and β-catenin activity in post-natal growth plate.
Specimen part
View SamplesVery little is known about how intervertebral disc (IVD) is formed or maintained. Members of the TGF- superfamily are secreted signaling proteins that regulate many aspects of development including cellular differentiation. We recently showed that deletion of Tgfbr2 in Col2a expressing tissue results in alterations in development of IVD annulus fibrosus. The results suggested TGF- has an important role in regulating development of the axial skeleton, however, the mechanistic basis of TGF- action in these specialized joints is not known. One of the hurdles to understanding development of IVD is a lack of known markers. To identify genes that are enriched in the developing IVD and to begin to understand the mechanism of TGF- action in IVD development, we undertook a global analysis of gene expression comparing gene expression profiles in developing vertebrae and IVD. We also compared expression profiles in tissues from wild type and Tgfbr2 mutant mice. Lists of IVD and vertebrae enriched genes were generated. Expression patterns for several genes were verified either through in situ hybridization or literature/ database searches resulting in a list of genes that can be used as markers of IVD. Cluster analysis using genes listed under the Gene Ontology terms multicellular organism development and pattern specification indicated that mutant IVD more closely resembled vertebrae than wild type IVD. We propose TGF- has two functions in IVD development: 1) to prevent chondrocyte differentiation in the presumptive IVD and 2) to promote differentiation of annulus fibrosus from sclerotome. We have identified genes that are enriched in the IVD and regulated by TGF- that warrant further investigation as regulators of IVD development.
Molecular profiling of the developing mouse axial skeleton: a role for Tgfbr2 in the development of the intervertebral disc.
Specimen part
View SamplesVery little is known about how intervertebral disc (IVD) is formed or maintained. Members of the TGF- superfamily are secreted signaling proteins that regulate many aspects of development including cellular differentiation. We recently showed that deletion of Tgfbr2 in Col2a expressing tissue results in alterations in development of IVD annulus fibrosus. The results suggested TGF- has an important role in regulating development of the axial skeleton, however, the mechanistic basis of TGF- action in these specialized joints is not known. To understand the mechanism of TGF- action in IVD development, we undertook a global analysis of gene expression comparing gene expression profiles in sclerotome cultures treated with TGF- or BMP4. As expected, treatment with BMP4 resulted in up-regulation of cartilage marker genes including Acan, Sox 5, Sox6, and Sox9. In contrast, treatment with TGF-1 did not regulate expression of cartilage markers but instead resulted in up-regulation of many IVD markers including Fmod and Adamtsl2. We propose TGF- has two functions in IVD development: 1) to prevent chondrocyte differentiation in the presumptive IVD and 2) to promote differentiation of annulus fibrosus from sclerotome. We have identified genes that are enriched in the IVD and regulated by TGF- that warrant further investigation as regulators of IVD development.
Molecular profiling of the developing mouse axial skeleton: a role for Tgfbr2 in the development of the intervertebral disc.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBovine articular chondrocytes were grown in micromass culture and were either untreated or treated with 5 ng TGF-b1/ml for 8 hours to identify genes regulated by TGF-b.
Altered responsiveness to TGF-β results in reduced Papss2 expression and alterations in the biomechanical properties of mouse articular cartilage.
Specimen part, Treatment
View Samples