Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a devastating disease affecting the skin and internal organs. Dermal fibrosis manifests early and Modified Rodnan Skin Scores (MRSS) correlate with disease progression. Transcriptomics of SSc skin biopsies suggest the role of the in vivo microenvironment in maintaining the pathological myofibroblasts. Therefore, defining the structural changes in dermal collagen in SSc patients could inform our understanding of fibrosis pathogenesis. Here, we report a method for quantitative whole-slide image analysis of dermal collagen from SSc patients, and our findings of more aligned dermal collagen bundles in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) patients. Using the bleomycin-induced mouse model of SSc, we identified a distinct high dermal collagen bundle alignment gene signature, characterized by a concerted upregulation in cell migration, adhesion, and guidance pathways, and downregulation of spindle, replication, and cytokinesis pathways. Furthermore, increased bundle alignment induced a cell migration gene signature in fibroblasts in vitro, and these cells demonstrated increased directed migration on aligned ECM fibers that is dependent on expression of Arhgdib (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2). Our results indicate that increased cell migration is a cellular response to the increased collagen bundle alignment featured in fibrotic skin. Moreover, many of the cell migration genes identified in our study are shared with human SSc skin and may be new targets for therapeutic intervention. Overall design: For bleomycin experiments, 8 week old C57Bl/6 female mice were used.The bleomycin model was established with daily subcutaneous injections of bleomycin (100uL at 1U/mL) into the back skin. Experimental timepoints include: saline, 2 weeks bleo, 4 weeks bleo, 6 weeks recovery, and 10 weeks recovery.
Increased dermal collagen bundle alignment in systemic sclerosis is associated with a cell migration signature and role of Arhgdib in directed fibroblast migration on aligned ECMs.
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View SamplesForced expression of activated beta-catenin in mouse dermal fibroblasts is sufficient to cause spontaneous, progressive skin fibrosis in vivo. We generated triple-transgenic HoxB6CreERT/+; R26-YFP/+; Catnb?ex3/+ "activated beta-catenin" mice and double-transgenic HoxB6CreERT/+; R26-YFP/+ littermate control mice. We induced Cre activity (resulting in expression of activated beta-catenin in triple-transgenic mutant fetuses) by administering tamoxifen to the pregnant dam at embryonic day 16.5. The activated beta-catenin mice developed fibrotic skin, characterized by elevated collagen deposition and increased fibroblast proliferation. We performed RNA-sequencing to profile gene expression in the dermis of control and activated beta-catenin mutant mice with established skin fibrosis at 3 weeks of age. Overall design: Gene expression profiles were determined by paired-end sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2500) of total RNA from the dermis of 3 activated beta-catenin and 3 littermate control mice at 3 weeks of age.
Sustained β-catenin activity in dermal fibroblasts promotes fibrosis by up-regulating expression of extracellular matrix protein-coding genes.
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View SamplesThe goal of this study was to assess whether the presence of HLA-B*35 contributes to activation of ER stress/UPR and inflammation in lcSScPAH PBMC.
The HLA-B*35 allele modulates ER stress, inflammation and proliferation in PBMCs from Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis patients.
Specimen part
View SamplesGene expression in mice skin stimulated with 3 different cytokines
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin is up-regulated in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis and induces profibrotic genes and intracellular signaling that overlap with those induced by interleukin-13 and transforming growth factor β.
Specimen part
View SamplesWnt signaling pathway is thought to have a role in skin fibrosis in Systemic slcerosis. This Randomized, Placebo-Controlled trial examines the effect of beta catenin inhibition on skin expression.
Inhibition of β-Catenin Signaling in the Skin Rescues Cutaneous Adipogenesis in Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of C-82.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesOBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the leading causes of mortality. We undertook this study to analyze the gene expression of lung tissue in a prospective cohort of patients with SSc-related ILD and to compare it with that in control lungs and with 2 prospective clinical parameters in order to understand the molecular pathways implicated in progressive lung disease. METHODS: Lung tissue was obtained by open lung biopsy in 28 consecutive patients with SSc-related ILD and in 4 controls. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function testing (PFT) were performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment based on lung histologic classification. Microarray analysis was performed, and the results were correlated with changes in the HRCT score (FibMax) and PFT values. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to confirm differential levels of messenger RNA and protein. RESULTS: Lung microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-related ILD from healthy controls. In the lungs of patients with SSc-related ILD who had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), expressed genes included macrophage markers, chemokines, collagen, and transforming growth factor (TGF)- and interferon (IFN)-regulated genes. Expression of these genes correlated with progressive lung fibrosis defined by the change in FibMax. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased markers of collagen (COL1A1), IFN (OAS1 and IFI44), and macrophages (CCL18 and CD163), and the positive correlation with the change in FibMax was confirmed by qPCR in a larger group of SSc patients with NSIP. Several genes correlated with both the change in FibMax (r > 0.4) and the change in % predicted forced vital capacity (r < -0.1), including IFN and macrophage markers, chemokines, and heat-shock proteins. CONCLUSION: These results highlight major pathogenic pathways relevant to progressive pulmonary fibrosis in SSc-related ILD: macrophage emigration and activation, and up-regulated expression of TGF- and IFN-regulated genes
Association of Interferon- and transforming growth factor β-regulated genes and macrophage activation with systemic sclerosis-related progressive lung fibrosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
A novel multi-network approach reveals tissue-specific cellular modulators of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesRegulatory T cells (T regs) maintain host self-tolerance but are a major barrier to effective cancer immunotherapy. T regs subvert beneficial anti-tumor immunity by modulating inhibitory receptor (IR) expression on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs); however, the underlying mediators and mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that interleukin-10 (IL10) and interleukin-35 (IL35; Ebi3/IL12a heterodimer) are divergently expressed by T reg subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and cooperatively promote intratumoral T cell exhaustion. T reg -restricted deletion of Il10 and/or Ebi3 resulted in delayed tumor growth, loss of multi-IR expression, and reduced intratumoral CD8 + T cell exhaustion signature. While Il10 or Ebi3 loss was associated with reduced expression of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (BLIMP1; Prdm1), IL10 and IL35 differentially impacted effector versus memory T cell fates, respectively, highlighting their differential, partially overlapping but non-redundant regulation of anti-tumor immunity. Our results reveal previously unappreciated cooperative roles for IL10 and IL35, produced by limits effective anti-tumor immunity Overall design: TIL CD8 cells from Treg specific IL10, IL35 and double knockouts, sorted into populations based on exhaustion markers. TIL Tregs sorted based on IL10 and IL35 expression.
Adaptive plasticity of IL-10<sup>+</sup> and IL-35<sup>+</sup> T<sub>reg</sub> cells cooperatively promotes tumor T cell exhaustion.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
miR-155 in the progression of lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesObjective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key elements of mRNA stability and likely contribute to the dysregulated lung gene expression observed in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We analyzed the miRNA gene expression of tissue and cells from SSc-ILD patients. A chronic lung fibrotic murine model was used.
miR-155 in the progression of lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease
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