Infection is a major complication and cause of mortality and morbidity after acute stroke however the mechanisms are poorly understood. After experimental stroke the microarchitecture and cellular composition of the spleen are extensively disrupted resulting in deficits to immune function.
Experimental Stroke Differentially Affects Discrete Subpopulations of Splenic Macrophages.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIn psoriasis, inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia are thought to be controlled by T cell-derived cytokines. Evidence now suggests that Th17 and Th22 cells infiltrate psoriasis lesions and by secreting IL-17 and IL-22, respectively, may drive disease-specific gene or cell responses. While studies in model systems indicate that IL-22 has a dominant pathogenic role, there is evolving evidence that IL-17 contributes to features of psoriasis. To more fully understand the role of IL-17 in human disease pathogenesis, we examined psoriatic skin lesions obtained from patients treated with an anti-IL-17 (IL-17 A) monoclonal antibody, LY2439821. In a phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose escalation trial, patients with chronic psoriasis were randomized to receive 3 doses of subcutaneous LY2439821 at 5 mg (n=8), 15 mg (n=8), 50 mg (n=8), 150 mg (n=8) or placebo (n=8) at weeks 0, 2 and 4. Repeat biopsies were taken from the same lesional area at baseline, week 2 and 6. At week 6, a PASI75 was observed in 0/8, 2/8, 5/7 and 8/8 patients receiving 5 mg, 15 mg, 50 mg or 150 mg LY2439821 respectively and 0/8 patients receiving placebo. The antibody was well-tolerated. In patients receiving the two highest doses, histological and immunohistochemical analyses of biopsies revealed significant reductions from baseline in keratinocyte proliferation, hyperplasia and epidermal thickness after 2 weeks, as well as reduced infiltration into the dermis and epidermis by T-cells (CD3+) and dendritic cells (CD11c and DC-LAMP). Keratinocyte expression of innate defense proteins, S100A7, S100A8, beta-defensin2 and LL37/cathelicidin was also reduced. By week 6, the skin appeared normal with a reversal of disease defining pathological features. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed decreased expression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-22 and IL-17, key cytokines from T cell subsets Th1, Th22 and Th17, respectively. In order to explore the extent to which IL-17 blockade influences an even broader set of inflammatory or psoriatic disease related genes, mRNA levels from skin biopsy samples were evaluated using whole genome microarrays. At week 2, the highest dose of LY2439821 modulated over 1500 genes significantly (>1.5 fold change [FC], p<0.05). Of these, 51 genes were strongly suppressed (>7-fold) including IL-19, lipocalin, amphiregulin, granzyme B, and several chemokines. In a separate analysis, those genes known to be synergistically regulated by both IL-17 and TNF-alpha showed the greatest normalization in expression compared to genes known to be regulated by TNF-alpha alone, IFN-gamma or Interferon alpha. Our data suggest that Th17 cells, through the expression of IL-17, mediate psoriasis pathogenesis, and that neutralization of IL-17 with LY2439821 suppresses signaling through multiple inflammatory circuits by inhibiting expression of cytokines from multiple T cell subsets, as well as chemokines, and antimicrobial proteins from keratinocytes.
IL-17A is essential for cell activation and inflammatory gene circuits in subjects with psoriasis.
Subject, Time
View SamplesIn order to study the microglia contribution in neurodegeneration more specifically we established a mouse model of prion disease in which the 79A murine prion strain was introduced by an intraperitoneal route into BALB/cJFms-EGFP/- mice, which express Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) under control of the C-fms operon. Samples were taken at time points during disease progression and histological analysis of the brain and transcriptional analysis of isolated microglia was carried out. The analysis of isolated microglia revealed a disease specific, highly pro-inflammatory signature in addition to an up-regulation of genes associated with metabolism, respiratory stress and DNA repair. This study strongly supports the growing recognition of the importance of microglia within the prion disease process and identifies the nature of the response through gene expression analysis of isolated microglia.
Defining the Microglia Response during the Time Course of Chronic Neurodegeneration.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesIn fission yeast the SET domain protein, Set3p is required for the reliable execution of cytokinesis.
The SET domain protein, Set3p, promotes the reliable execution of cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Treatment
View SamplesPrimary mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) diseases are heterogeneous in etiology and manifestations but collectively impair cellular energy metabolism. To identify a common cellular response to RC disease, systems biology level transcriptome investigations were performed in human RC disease skeletal muscle and fibroblasts. Global transcriptional and post-transcriptional dysregulation in a tissue-specific fashion was identified across diverse RC complex and genetic etiologies. RC disease muscle was characterized by decreased transcription of cytosolic ribosomal proteins to reduce energy-intensive anabolic processes, increased transcription of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, shortened 5'-UTRs to improve translational efficiency, and stabilization of 3'-UTRs containing AU-rich elements. These same modifications in a reversed direction typified RC disease fibroblasts. RC disease also dysregulated transcriptional networks related to basic nutrient-sensing signaling pathways, which collectively mediate many aspects of tissue-specific cellular responses to primary RC disease. These findings support the utility of a systems biology approach to improve mechanistic understanding of mitochondrial RC disease.
Primary respiratory chain disease causes tissue-specific dysregulation of the global transcriptome and nutrient-sensing signaling network.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesProtein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) is an endogenous inhibitor of STAT3 that negatively regulates STAT3 transcriptional activity and cell growth and demonstrates limited expression in the majority of human squamous cell carcinomas of the lung. In the present study we sought to determine if PIAS3 inhibits cell growth in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines by induction of apoptosis and further determine the dependence of PIAS3 activity on p53 status by using both wild-type and p53-null cells. Our results demonstrate that over-expression of PIAS3 promotes caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage. Furthermore, the expression of pro-survival family members Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 is decreased. These effects were observed after both transient and regulated expression of exogenous PIAS3 and were independent of p53 status. Furthermore, while p53 can promote apoptosis by inhibition of STAT3 activity, PIAS3 inhibition of STAT3 activity was also p53 independent. Microarray experiments were performed to further investigate the STAT3-dependence of PIAS3-induced apoptosis by comparing the apoptotic gene expression signature induced by PIAS3 over-expression with that induced by STAT3 siRNA. The results showed that a subset of apoptotic genes, including CIDEC and DAPK2, were uniquely expressed only after PIAS3 expression. Thus, PIAS3 may represent a promising lung cancer therapeutic target because of its p53-independent efficacy as well as its potential to synergize with direct STAT3 inhibitors.
PIAS3 activates the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in non-small cell lung cancer cells independent of p53 status.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesComparison of gene expression levels between MatDp(dist2) and PatDp(dist2) mice (newborn whole head). Identification of highly differentially expressed transcripts.
Transcript- and tissue-specific imprinting of a tumour suppressor gene.
Specimen part
View SamplesTumors that show evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been associated with metastasis, drug resistance, and poor prognosis. EMT may alter the molecular requirements for growth and survival in different contexts, but the underlying mechanisms remain incomplete. Given the heterogeneity along the EMT spectrum between and within tumors it is important to define the requirements for growth and survival in cells with an epithelial or mesenchymal phenotype to maximize therapeutic efficacy.
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition rewires the molecular path to PI3K-dependent proliferation.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesCalcific aortic valvular disease (CAVD) is characterized by sclerosis of the aortic valve leaflets and recent clinical studies have linked several other risk factors to this disease, including male sex. In this study we examined potential sex-related differences in gene expression profiles between porcine male and female valvular interstitial cells (VICs) to explore possible differences in CAVD propensity on the cellular level.
Sex-related differences in gene expression by porcine aortic valvular interstitial cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesInfiltrating monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) and resident microglia dominate CNS injury sites. We show that MDMs and microglia can directly communicate to modulate each others function. Also, the presence of MDMs in CNS injury suppresses microglia-mediated phagocytosis and inflammation. We suggest that macrophages infiltrating the injured CNS provide a mechanism to control acute and chronic microglia-mediated inflammation, which could otherwise drive damage in a variety of CNS conditions.
Peripherally derived macrophages modulate microglial function to reduce inflammation after CNS injury.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View Samples