Mechanisms by which regulatory T (Treg) cells fail to control inflammation in asthma remain poorly understood. We show that a severe asthma-associated polymorphism in the interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Ra-R576) biases induced Treg (iTreg) cells towards a T helper 17 (TH17) cell fate. This skewing reflects the recruitment by IL-4Ra-R576 of the adaptor protein growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2), which drives IL-17 expression by an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-, IL-6- and STAT3-dependent mechanism. We showed that the IL-4Ra-R576 mutation elicits TH17 airway responses in vivo, in a house dust mite (HDM)- or ovalbumin (OVA)-driven model of airway inflammation in the mice carry the IL-4Ra-R576 mutation (Il4raR576 mice). Treg cell-specific deletion of genes encoding IL-6Ra or the master TH17 cell regulator Retinoid-related Orphan Receptor ?t (ROR?t), but not IL-4 and IL-13, protected mice against exacerbated airway inflammation induced by IL-4Ra--576. Analysis of lung tissue Treg cells revealed that the expression of IL-17 and the TH17 cell-associated chemokine receptor CCR6 was largely overlapping and highly enriched in Treg and conventional T (Tconv) cells of allergen-treated Il4raR576 mice. To further characterize the subset of IL-17 producing Foxp3+ Treg in the lung of OVA-treated mice we utilized CCR6 as a marker of Treg cells committed towards the TH17 cell lineage to examine their functional, epigenetic and transcriptional profiles. CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells isolated from OVA-sensitized and challenged Il4raR576 mice, by FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) exhibited decreased methylation of the Foxp3 CNS2 locus comparing to CCR6–Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells from same animals, indicative of decreased stability. They also exhibited profoundly decreased suppressive function as compared to CCR6– WT and CCR6– Il4raR576 counterparts. Transcriptional profiling of CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells revealed increased relative expression in CCR6+ Il4raR576 Treg cells of genes associated with a TH17 cell signature, including Rorc, Ccr6, Il23r, Il17a, Il17f, Il1r1, Nr1d1, Cstl, and Ahr comparing to CCR6–Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells from same animals. Overall design: Three CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Il4raR576 replicates and four CCR6–Foxp3EGFP+ Il4raR576 Treg replicates (controls) were sampled
An asthma-associated IL4R variant exacerbates airway inflammation by promoting conversion of regulatory T cells to TH17-like cells.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesIntravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) is widely used as an immunomodulatory therapy. We have recently demonstrated that IVIg protects against airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and inflammation in mouse models of allergic airway disease (AAD), associated with induction of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). Using DEREG (DEpletion of REGulatory T cell) mice, in which endogenous Treg can be ablated with Diphtheria toxin (DTx) treatment, we demonstrate that IVIg generates a de novo population of induced Treg (iTreg) in the absence of endogenous Treg. IVIg-generated iTreg were sufficient for inhibition of ovalbumin-induced AHR in an antigen-driven murine model of AAD. In the absence of endogenous Treg, IVIg failed to confer protection against AHR and airway inflammation. Adoptive transfer of purified IVIg-generated iTreg prior to antigen challenge effectively prevented airway inflammation and AHR in an antigen-specific manner.
Peripherally Generated Foxp3<sup>+</sup> Regulatory T Cells Mediate the Immunomodulatory Effects of IVIg in Allergic Airways Disease.
Specimen part
View SamplesPulmonary alveoli are complex architectural units thought to undergo endogenous or pharmacologically induced programs of regeneration and degeneration. To study the molecular mechanism of alveoli loss mice were calorie restricted at different timepoints. Lungs were harvested and processed for RNA extraction.
Calorie-related rapid onset of alveolar loss, regeneration, and changes in mouse lung gene expression.
Time
View SamplesIt has been shown that dexamethasone (Dex) impairs the normal lung septation that occurs in the early postnatal period. Treatment with retinoic acid (ATRA) abrogates the effects of Dex. To understand the molecular basis for the Dex indiced inhibition of the formation of the alveoli and the ability of ATRA to prevent the inhibition of septation, gene expression was analyzed in 4-day old mice treated with diluent (control), Dex-treated and ATRA+Dex-treated.
DNA microarray analysis of neonatal mouse lung connects regulation of KDR with dexamethasone-induced inhibition of alveolar formation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo test the hypothesis that defects in the termination of inflammatory signaling led to skin inflammation that results in the “Itchy” phenotype, we isolated RNA from the lesional skin of Itch-/- mice and from the skin of wild-type mice and performed genome-wide mRNA expression profiling by RNA sequencing. We ranked genes based on the fold change in their expression (increased or decreased) in Itch-/- skin relative to that in wild-type skin. The expression of several TNF–induced genes were increased in Itch-/- skin, including, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-11, IL-19, IL-1RL1, CCL4, CXCL3, CXCL2, CCL3, and CD14. Overall design: mRNA profiles comparison between wild type (WT) skin and Itch-/- mice lesional skin
The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch inhibits p38α signaling and skin inflammation through the ubiquitylation of Tab1.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesSalivary tumors isolated from MMTV-ras transgenic mice expressing wild-type p53, no p53 or p53R172H gain-of-funcion mutant were subjected to genome-wide gene expression profiling to assess the effect of the different p53 status on tumor gene expression.
Comparison of effects of p53 null and gain-of-function mutations on salivary tumors in MMTV-Hras transgenic mice.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBackground: Turner syndrome, a common sex chromosome aneuploidy, has characteristics and malformations associated with the phenotype. Fetal amniotic fluid is a complex biological material that could contribute to the understanding Turner syndrome pathogenesis. Global gene expression analysis of Turner syndrome fetal amniotic fluid supernatant was utilized to identify organ systems and specific genes that may play a role in the pathophysiologic changes that are seen in individuals with Turner syndrome.
Amniotic fluid RNA gene expression profiling provides insights into the phenotype of Turner syndrome.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPURPOSE. During retinal degeneration, Müller glia cells respond to photoreceptor loss by undergoing reactive gliosis, with both detrimental and beneficial effects. Increasing our knowledge of the complex molecular response of Müller cells to retinal degeneration is thus essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this work was to identify new factors involved in Müller cell response to photoreceptor cell death. METHODS. Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed from wild-type and degenerating rd10 mouse retinas at P30. The changes in mRNA abundance for several deregulated genes were assessed by RT-qPCR. Protein expression level and retinal cellular localization were determined by western-blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS. Pathway-level analysis from whole transcriptomic data revealed the Hippo/YAP pathway as one of the main signaling pathways altered in response to photoreceptor degeneration in rd10 retinas. We found that downstream effectors of this pathway, YAP and TEAD1, are specifically expressed in Müller cells and that their expression, at both the mRNA and protein levels, is increased in rd10 reactive Müller glia after the onset of photoreceptor degeneration. The expression of Ctgf and Cyr61, two target genes of the transcriptional YAP/TEAD complex, is also upregulated following photoreceptor loss. CONCLUSIONS. This work reveals for the first time that YAP and TEAD1, key downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, are specifically expressed in Müller cells. We also uncovered a deregulation of the expression and activity of Hippo/YAP pathway components in reactive Müller cells under pathological conditions. Overall design: Retinal samples were harvested from C57Bl6/J and rd10 mouse retina at postnatal days 30 for whole transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq). Each sample included 2 frozen retina and experiments were performed in triplicate. RNA-seq transcriptome libraries were constructed from 1 ug of total RNA.
Retinal Degeneration Triggers the Activation of YAP/TEAD in Reactive Müller Cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe initiation of the mucosal immune response in Peyers patch (PP) relies on the sampling, processing and efficient presentation of foreign antigens by dendritic cells (DC). PP DC encompass five subsets, among which CD11b+ conventional DC (cDC) and LysoDC have distinct progenitors and functions but share many cell surface markers. This has previously led to confusion between these two subsets. In addition, another PP DC subset, termed double-negative (DN), remains poorly characterized. Here, we have studied the genetic relatedness of the different subsets of PP cDC at steady state and under TLR7 ligand stimulation. We also provide the transcriptional profiles of subepithelial TIM-4- and interfollicular TIM-4+ macrophages.
Distribution, location, and transcriptional profile of Peyer's patch conventional DC subsets at steady state and under TLR7 ligand stimulation.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesProgrammable nucleases have enabled rapid and accessible genome engineering in eukaryotic cells and living organisms. However, their delivery into target cells can be technically challenging when working with primary cells or in vivo. Using engineered murine leukemia virus-like particles loaded with Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoproteins (“Nanoblades”), we were able to induce efficient genome-editing in cell lines and primary cells including human induced pluripotent stem cells, human hematopoietic stem cells and mouse bone-marrow cells. Transgene-free Nanoblades were also capable of in vivo genome-editing in mouse embryos and in the liver of injected mice. Nanoblades can be complexed with donor DNA for “all-in-one” homology-directed repair or programmed with modified Cas9 variants to mediate transcriptional up-regulation of target genes. Nanoblades preparation process is simple, relatively inexpensive and can be easily implemented in any laboratory equipped for cellular biology. Overall design: Virus-like particles were purified on a sucrose cushion. Total RNA was extracted using Trizol and fragmented to ~100 nucleotides and used as input for cDNA library preparation. PCR-amplified libraries were sequenced on the Hiseq2500 platform (Illumina)
Genome editing in primary cells and in vivo using viral-derived Nanoblades loaded with Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteins.
Cell line, Subject
View Samples