HIV-1 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) use is associated with severe adverse events. However, the exact mechanisms behind their toxicity has not been fully understood. Mitochondrial dysfunction after chronic exposure to NRTIs has predominantly been assigned to mitochondrial polymerase-? inhibition by NRTIs. However, an increasing amount of data suggests that this is not the sole mechanism. Many NRTI induced adverse events have been linked to the incurrence of oxidative stress, although the causality of events leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and their role in toxicity is unclear. In this study we show that short-term effects of these drugs, which are rarely discussed in the literature, include direct inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC), decreased ATP levels and increased ROS production. Collectively these events affect fitness and longevity of C. elegans through mitohormetic signalling events. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these effects can be normalized by addition of the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which suggests that ROS likely influence the onset and severity of adverse events upon drug exposure. Overall design: RNA-seq on Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to DMSO, 3''-azido-3''-deoxythymidine (zidovudine or AZT), 2'',3''-didehydro-2'',3''-deoxythymidine (stavudine or d4T), 3''-deoxy-3''-fluorothymidine (alovudine or FLT) or untreated control after 24 or 72 hours of exposure.
Beyond the polymerase-γ theory: Production of ROS as a mode of NRTI-induced mitochondrial toxicity.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesGoal of this study is to identify the transcriptome of human male germ cell subtypes during normal spermatogenesis as a reference for subfertility.
Unraveling transcriptome dynamics in human spermatogenesis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesProtective interactions with bystander cells in micro-environmental niches such as lymph nodes (LNs) contribute to survival and therapy resistance of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. This is caused by a shift in expression of BCL-2 family members. Pro-survival proteins BCL-XL, BFL-1, and MCL-1 are upregulated by LN-residing T cells through CD40L interaction, presumably via NF-B signaling. Macrophages also reside in the LN, and are assumed to provide important supportive functions for CLL cells. However, if and how macrophages are able to induce survival is incompletely known. We first established that macrophages induced survival due to an exclusive upregulation of MCL-1. Next, we investigated the mechanism underlying MCL-1 induction by macrophages in comparison with CD40L. Genome-wide expression profiling of in vitro macrophage- and CD40L-stimulated CLL cells indicated activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, which was confirmed in ex vivo CLL LN material. Inhibition of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling abrogated MCL-1 upregulation and survival by macrophages as well asCD40 stimulation. MCL-1 can be regulated at multiple levels, and we established that AKT leads to increased MCL-1 translation, but does not affect MCL-1 transcription or protein stabilization. Furthermore, among macrophage-secreted factors that could activate AKT, we found that induction of MCL-1 and survival critically depended on C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor-1 (CCR1). In conclusion, this study indicates that two distinct micro-environmental factors, CD40L and macrophages, signal via CCR1 to induce AKT activation resulting in translational stabilization of MCL-1, and hence can contribute to CLL cell survival.
Macrophages confer survival signals via CCR1-dependent translational MCL-1 induction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Specimen part, Disease stage
View SamplesA specialized population of memory CD8+ T-cells resides in the epithelium of the respiratory tract to maintain protection against recurring infections. These cells express CD69 and the integrin 7 (CD103) and correspond to tissue resident memory T-cells (TRM) also described in intestine, liver and brain. A less well characterized population of CD103- CD8+ T-cells also resides in lungs and expresses markers characteristic of effector memory T-cells (TEM). We determined the transcriptional profiles of these memory CD8+ T-cell subsets retrieved from human lung resection samples and compared these with corresponding T-cell populations from peripheral blood of the same individuals. Our results demonstrate that each of the populations exhibits a distinct transcriptional identity. We found that the lung environment has a major impact on gene expression profiles. Thus, transcriptomes from CD103+ and CD103- subsets from lungs are much more resemblant to one another than to those from CD103+ or CD103- memory CD8+ T-cells from blood. TRM express specific sets of chemokine receptors, in accordance with their unique migratory properties. Furthermore, these cells constitutively express cytokine and cytotoxic genes for immediate effector function and chemokines to attract auxiliary immune cells. At the same time, multiple genes encoding inhibitory regulators are also expressed. This suggests that rapid ability to unleash effector functions is counterbalanced by programmed restraint, a combination that may be critical in the exposed but delicate tissue of the lung. Comprehensive sets of transcription factors were identified that characterize the memory CD8+ populations in the lungs. Prominent among these were components of the Notch pathway. Using mice genetically lacking expression of the NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 receptors in T-cells, we demonstrated that Notch controls both the number of lung TRM as well as the function of lung TEM. Our data illustrate the adaptation of lung resident T-cells to the requirements of the respiratory epithelial environment. Defining the molecular imprinting of these cells is important for rational vaccine design and may help to improve the properties of T-cells for adoptive cellular therapy.
Programs for the persistence, vigilance and control of human CD8<sup>+</sup> lung-resident memory T cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesAdvanced age is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which is usually referred to as inflammaging. Elderly are also known to have an altered gut microbiota composition. However, whether inflammaging is a cause or consequence of an altered gut microbiota composition is not clear. In this study gut microbiota from young or old conventional mice was transferred to young germ-free mice. Four weeks after gut microbiota transfer immune cell populations in spleen, Peyers patches, and mesenteric lymph nodes from conventionalized germ-free mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, whole-genome gene expression in the ileum was analyzed by microarray. Gut microbiota composition of donor and recipient mice was analyzed with 16S rDNA sequencing. Here we show by transferring aged microbiota to young germ-free mice that certain bacterial species within the aged microbiota promote inflammaging. This effect was associated with lower levels of Akkermansia and higher levels of TM7 bacteria and Proteobacteria in the aged microbiota after transfer. The aged microbiota promoted inflammation in the small intestine in the germ-free mice and enhanced leakage of inflammatory bacterial components into the circulation was observed. Moreover, the aged microbiota promoted increased T cell activation in the systemic compartment. In conclusion, these data indicate that the gut microbiota from old mice contributes to inflammaging after transfer to young germ-free mice.
Aged Gut Microbiota Contributes to Systemical Inflammaging after Transfer to Germ-Free Mice.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Multi-OMIC profiling of survival and metabolic signaling networks in cells subjected to photodynamic therapy.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is a tumor treatment strategy that relies on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tumor following local illumination. Although PDT has shown promising results in the treatment of non-resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, it is still employed palliatively. In this study, tumor-comprising cells (i.e., cancer cells, endothelial cells, macrophages) were treated with the photosensitizer zinc phthalocyanine that was encapsulated in cationic liposomes (ZPCLs). Post-PDT survival pathways were studied following sublethal (50% lethal concentration (LC50)) and supralethal (LC90) PDT using a multi-omics approach. ZPCLs did not exhibit toxicity in any of the cells as assessed by toxicogenomics. Sublethal PDT induced survival signaling in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (SK-ChA-1) cells via mainly hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1)-, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells (NF-B)-, activator protein 1 (AP-1)-, and heat shock factor (HSF)-mediated pathways. In contrast, supralethal PDT damage was associated with a dampened survival response. (Phospho)proteomic and metabolomic analysis showed that PDT-subjected SK-ChA-1 cells downregulated proteins associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, particularly at LC50. PDT also affected various components of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle as well as metabolites involved in redox signaling. In conclusion, sublethal PDT activates multiple pathways in tumor parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells that, in tumor cells, transcriptionally regulate cell survival, proliferation, energy metabolism, detoxification, inflammation/angiogenesis, and metastasis. Accordingly, sublethally afflicted tumor cells are a major therapeutic culprit. Our multi-omics analysis unveiled multiple druggable targets for pharmacological intervention.
Multi-OMIC profiling of survival and metabolic signaling networks in cells subjected to photodynamic therapy.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesBecause of inherent differences between deceased donor (DD) and living donor (LD) liver grafts, we hypothesize that the molecular signatures will be unique, correlating with specific biologic pathways and clinical patterns. Following reperfusion, 579 genes in DD grafts and 1324 genes in LDs were differentially expressed (p<0.005). Many up-regulated LD genes were related to regeneration, biosynthesis and cell cycle, and a large number of down-regulated genes were linked to hepatic metabolism and energy pathways correlating with post-transplant clinical laboratory findings. There was significant up-regulation of inflammatory/immune genes in both DD and LD, each with a distinct pattern. Gene expression patterns of select genes associated with inflammation and regeneration in LD and DD grafts correlated with protein expression.
Unique early gene expression patterns in human adult-to-adult living donor liver grafts compared to deceased donor grafts.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesOverexpression of miR-9 and miR-9* in 32D cells, cells grown under IL-3 conditions and miR-9 and miR-9* were introduced with retroviral vectors containing about ~150 bp up and downstream of mmu-mir-9-2.
Aberrant expression of miR-9/9* in myeloid progenitors inhibits neutrophil differentiation by post-transcriptional regulation of ERG.
Cell line
View SamplesSystems biology has the potential to identify gene signatures associated with vaccine immunogenicity or protective efficacy. The main objective of our study was to identify optimal post-vaccination time points for evaluating blood RNA-expression profiles in recipients of the candidate tuberculosis vaccine M72/AS01. In this phase II open-label study (NCT01669096), healthy Bacillus Calmette-Gurin (BCG)-primed, HIV-negative adults were administered two doses (30-days apart) of M72/AS01. Blood samples were collected pre-dose 1, pre-dose 2 and 1, 7, 10, 14, 17 and 30 days post-dose 2. RNA expression in blood and peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was quantified using microarray technology. The data analysis used as a reference, a PBMC-gene signature that was associated with the protective efficacy of a similarly adjuvanted candidate malaria vaccine. Peripheral-blood CD4+ T-cell reactivity, serum interferon-gamma (IFNG) concentrations and safety were also assessed. Twenty subjects completed the study and 18 subjects received two doses. The observed safety profile was similar to previous trials. Serum IFNG responses and M72-specific CD4+ T cell responses to vaccination were detected as expected, based on previous trial experience. PBMC and whole-blood RNA-expression data at day 14 post-dose 2 relative to pre-vaccination and whole-blood RNA-expression data at 7, 10, and 17 days post-dose 2 relative to pre-vaccination could be used to classify vaccine recipients into gene-signature positive or gene-signature negative groups. In conclusion, whole blood sampled from the 7, 10, 14, or 17 day post-vaccination time points, in addition to pre-vaccination, could be selected to assess potentially clinically relevant responses to M72/AS01 using transcriptome analysis.
Adjuvant-Associated Peripheral Blood mRNA Profiles and Kinetics Induced by the Adjuvanted Recombinant Protein Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine M72/AS01 in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Vaccinated Adults.
Specimen part, Subject
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