TSLP pathway blockade is a potential strategy for asthma treatment, as TSLP modulates cytokine production by mast cells and regulates the activation of dendritic cells (DCs), which prime the differentiation of nave T cells into inflammatory Th2 cells. To assess the effect of TSLPR blockade on the development of allergic inflammation and bronchoconstriction in Cynomolgus monkeys after Ascaris suum allergen challenge. Antibodies against human TSLPR were generated and confirmed to be cross-reactive to cynomolgus. Animals were dosed weekly with either vehicle (n=8) or TSLPR HuMAb (n=8) for 6 weeks and their responses to A.Suum challenge at baseline, week 2 and week 6 were assessed. Antibody-treated animals showed reduced bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophil counts (p=0.04), reduced lung resistance (RL) area under the curve (p=0.04), and reduced IL-13 cytokine levels in BAL fluid (p=0.03) in response to challenge at 6 weeks compared to vehicle-treated animals. To understand the molecular changes underlying these differences, BAL fluid samples pre- and post-challenge were profiled using microarrays. Genes up-regulated by allergen challenge overlapped strongly with 11 genes up-regulated in DCs when stimulated by TSLP (TSLP-DC signature). The number of genes differentially expressed in response to challenge was reduced in aTSLPR-treated animals after 6 weeks relative to vehicle-treated animals. Expression of the TSLP-DC gene signature was also significantly reduced in aTSLPR-treated animals (p = 0.05). These results demonstrate promising efficacy for TSLPR blockade in an allergen challenge model where TSLP activation of DCs may play a key role.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor blockade reduces allergic inflammation in a cynomolgus monkey model of asthma.
Disease, Subject, Time
View SamplesStore operated calcium entry (SOCE) downstream of T cell receptor (TCR) activation in T lymphocytes has been shown to be mediated mainly through the Calcium Release Activated Calcium (CRAC) channel. Here, we compared the effects of a novel, potent and selective CRAC inhibitor, 2,6-Difluoro-N-{5-[4-methyl-1-(5-methyl-thiazol-2-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridin-3-yl]-pyrazin-2-yl}-benzamide (RO2959), on T cell effector functions with that of a previously reported CRAC channel inhibitor, YM-58483, and a calcineurin inhibitor Cyclosporin A (CsA). Using both electrophysiological and calcium-based fluorescence measurements, we showed that RO2959 is a potent SOCE inhibitor that blocked an IP3-dependent current in CRAC-expressing RBL-2H3 cells and CHO cells stably expressing human Orai1 and Stim1, as well as SOCE in human primary CD4+ T cells triggered by either TCR stimulation or thapsigargin treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RO2959 completely inhibited cytokine production as well as T cell proliferation mediated by TCR stimulation or MLR (Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction). Lastly, we showed by gene expression array analysis that RO2959 potently blocked TCR triggered gene expression and T cell functional pathways similar to CsA and FK506. Thus, both from a functional and transcriptional level, our data provide evidence that RO2959 is a novel and selective CRAC inhibitor that potently inhibits human T cell functions.
Characterization of a novel CRAC inhibitor that potently blocks human T cell activation and effector functions.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAbnormal mitochondria metabolism and innate immune responses participate in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders. The molecular events regulating mitochondrial activity to control survival and cell death in monocytes/macrophages are poorly understood. Here we show that miR-125b attenuates the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain through BIK silencing, and promotes the elongation of mitochondrial network through MTP18 targeting, without impacting autophagy, in the human monocytes. Proinflammatory activation is associated with a concomitant increase in miR-125b expression, decrease in BIK and MTP-18 expression, reduced oxidative phosphorylation, and enhanced mitochondrial fusion. Furthermore, expression of M1-associated transcripts as well as mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism are induced upon ectopic expression of miR-125b. In turn, by repressing miR-125b, mitochondrial dynamics was preserved, LPS-induced repression of BIK expression and of mitochondrial respiration were prevented, and M1 polarization of macrophages was inhibited. Altogether, our data reveal a novel role for miR-125b in controlling mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics by targeting BIK and MTP18, respectively, two novel cellular target proteins involved in maintaining the mitochondrial integrity in human monocytes. These findings not only suggest a novel function for miR-125b in regulating metabolic adaptation of monocytes to inflammation but also unravel new molecular mechanisms for its pro-apoptotic role and identify potential targets for interfering with inflammatory activation of monocytes.
miR-125b controls monocyte adaptation to inflammation through mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe response of cells to hypoxia is characterised by co-ordinated regulation of many genes. Studies of the regulation of the expression of many of these genes by oxygen has implicated a role for the heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). The mechanism of oxygen sensing which controls this heterodimeric factor is via oxygen dependent prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylation by specific 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases (PHD1, PHD2, PHD3 and FIH-1). Whilst HIF appears to have a major role in hypoxic regulation of gene expression, it is unclear to what extent other transcriptional mechanisms are also involved in the response to hypoxia. The extent to which 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases are responsible for the oxygen sensing mechanism in HIF-independent hypoxic gene regulation is also unclear. Both the prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylases can be inhibited by dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). Such inhibition can produce activation of the HIF system with enhanced transcription of target genes and might have a role in the therapy of ischaemic disease. We have examined the extent to which the HIF system contributes to the regulation of gene expression by hypoxia, to what extent 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase inhibitor can mimic the hypoxic response and the nature of the global transcriptional response to hypoxia. We have utilised microarray assays of mRNA abundance to examine the gene expression changes in response to hypoxia and to DMOG. We demonstrate a large number of hypoxically regulated genes, both known and novel, and find a surprisingly high level of mimicry of the hypoxic response by use of the 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase inhibitor, dimethyloxalylglycine. We have also used microarray analysis of cells treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha to demonstrate the differing contributions of each transcription factor to the transcriptional response to hypoxia. Candidate transcripts were confirmed using an independent microarray platform and real-time PCR. The results emphasise the critical role of the HIF system in the hypoxic response, whilst indicating the dominance of HIF-1alpha and defining genes that only respond to HIF-2alpha.
Concordant regulation of gene expression by hypoxia and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase inhibition: the role of HIF-1alpha, HIF-2alpha, and other pathways.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to identify signaling molecules downstream of CXCR4 in breast cancer cells. For this purpose, we sorted CXCR4-positive and CXCR4-negative cells from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line by flow cytometry and performed microarrays analysis.
ITF2 is a target of CXCR4 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and is associated with reduced survival in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesCD44+/CD24- subpopulation of normal and cancerous breast epithelial cells are suggested to have stem cell properties. The goal of this study was to identify gene expression differences between CD44+/CD24- and CD44-/CD24+ subpopulation of cells from a same cell lines. We selected MCF-10A cells, which are immortalized derived from a fibrocystic breast disease. These cells are immortalized but not transformed and express basal cell markers.
SLUG/SNAI2 and tumor necrosis factor generate breast cells with CD44+/CD24- phenotype.
Specimen part
View SamplesSystemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma is a chronic multiorgan autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by vascular, immunological and fibrotic abnormalities. Several lines of evidence have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a role in the pathophysiology of SSc. VCE-004.8, a CBD aminoquinone derivative, is a dual PPAR?/CB2 that alleviates bleomycin (BLM)-induced skin fibrosis. Herein we report that EHP-101, an oral lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8, prevents skin and lung fibrosis and collagen accumulation in BLM challenged mice. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the skin demonstrate that EHP-101 prevents macrophage infiltration, and the expression of Tenascin C (TNC), VCAM, and the a-smooth muscle actin (SMA). In addition, a reduced expression of vascular CD31, paralleling skin fibrosis, was also prevented by EHP-101. RNAseq analysis in skin biopsies showed a clear effect of EHP-101 in the inflammatory and epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcriptomic signatures. TGF-beta regulated genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-3 (Mmp3), cytochrome b-245 heavy chain (Cybb), lymphocyte antigen 6E (Ly6e), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (Vcam1) and the Integrin alpha-5 (Itga5) were induced in BLM mice and repressed by EHP-101 treatment. We also intersected differentially expressed genes in EHP-101-treated mice with dataset of human scleroderma intrinsic genes and found 53 overlapped genes, including the C-C motif chemokine 2 (Ccl2) and the interleukin 13 receptor subunit alpha 1 (IL-13Ra1) genes, which have been studied as biomarkers of SSc. Altogether the results indicate that this synthetic cannabinoid qualifies as a novel compound for the management and possible treatment of scleroderma and, potentially, other fibrotic diseases. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiles were generated for six- to eight-week-old female BALB/c mice in three conditions: Control, Bleomycin and Bleomycin + EHP-101 treatment (N=2).
EHP-101, an oral formulation of the cannabidiol aminoquinone VCE-004.8, alleviates bleomycin-induced skin and lung fibrosis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSeveral lines of evidence have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a role in the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Thereby, structurally different dual PPAR?/CB2 agonists such as VCE-004.8 and Ajulemic acid (AjA) have been shown to alleviate skin fibrosis and inflammation in experimental models of SSc. Since both compounds are currently being tested in humans, we were interested to identify similarities and differences in a murine model of SSc. One method available to assess this is the pharmacotranscriptomic signature of the individual compounds. To analyze the pharmacotranscriptomic signature, we used RNA-Seq to analyze the skin gene expression changes from bleomycin-induced fibrosis in mice treated orally with either AjA or EHP-101, a lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8. While both compounds prevented the upregulation of a common group of genes involved in the inflammatory and fibrotic components of the disease and the pharmacotranscriptomic signatures were similar for both compounds in some pathways, we found key differences between the compounds in several functional groups, including genes related the hypoxia, interferon-a and interferon-? response. Additionally, we found 28 specific genes with translation potential by comparing our results with a list of intrinsic human scleroderma genes. Inmunohistochemical analysis revealed that both EHP-101 and AjA prevented bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis, collagen accumulation, and TNC and VCAM expression. However, only EHP-101 normalized the reduced expression of vascular CD31, CD34 and Von Willebrand factor markers, which parallels skin fibrosis, while AjA did not affect these markers. Finally, clear differences were also found in the plasmatic biomarker analysis, in which we found that EHP-101, but not AjA, enhanced the expression of some factors related to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Altogether the results indicate that dual PPAR?/CB2 agonists qualify as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of SSc and other fibrotic diseases as well, and that EHP-101 has unique mechanisms of action related to the pathophysiology of SSc which could be beneficial in treatment of this complex disease with no current therapeutic options. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiles were generated for six- to eight-week-old female BALB/c mice in four conditions: Control, Bleomycin, Bleomycin + EHP-101 treatment and Bleomycin + Ajulemic acid treatment. Please note that the "raw_counts_newsamples.txt" includes raw counts obtained from featureCounts for the samples included in this entry and the "raw_counts_merged.txt" includes raw counts obtained from merging the counts of the samples from this entry with the counts of the samples from the GSE115503 entry.
Cannabinoid derivatives acting as dual PPARγ/CB2 agonists as therapeutic agents for systemic sclerosis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
A systems biology approach identifies a regulatory network in parotid acinar cell terminal differentiation.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe overall cellular response to oxidative stress generated by Ero1 in the lumen of the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is poorly characterized. Here, we investigate the effects of overexpressing a hyperactive mutant (C104A/C131A) of Ero1.
Hyperactivity of the Ero1α oxidase elicits endoplasmic reticulum stress but no broad antioxidant response.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples