Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease characterized by mTOR hyperfunction induced benign tumor growths in multiple organs and neurological symptoms. Because the molecular pathology is highly complex and the etiology poorly understood we employed a defined human neuronal model with a single mTOR activating mutation to dissect the disease-relevant molecular responses driving the neuropathology. TSC2 deficient neural stem cells showed severely reduced neuronal functional maturation and characteristics of astrogliosis instead. Accordingly, transcriptome analysis uncovered an inflammatory response and increased metabolic activity, while ribosome profiling revealed excessive translation of ribosomal transcripts and higher synthesis rates of angiogenic growth factors. Treatment with mTOR inhibitors corrected translational alterations but not transcriptional dysfunction. These results extend our understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of TSC brain lesions, and suggest phenotype-tailored pharmacological treatment strategies. Overall design: Two TSC+/- cell lines and two TSC-/- cell lines were independently generated from wild-type human embryonic stem cells by genome editting with zinc finger nucleases. Two cell lines were handled in the same way but without any known human gene editted and they are used as negative controls. Two independent biological replicates of each of the six cell lines are profiled with ribosome profiling technique.
Genomic analysis of the molecular neuropathology of tuberous sclerosis using a human stem cell model.
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View SamplesThe aim of this study was to quantify the impact of chimeric Foxp3-GFP protein on the Treg cell transcriptional program.
An N-terminal mutation of the Foxp3 transcription factor alleviates arthritis but exacerbates diabetes.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe transcription factor Foxp3 is indispensible for the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms of Foxp3 mediated gene expression we purified Foxp3 complexes and explored their composition. Biochemical and mass-spectrometric analyses revealed that Foxp3 forms multi-protein complexes of 400-800 kDa or larger and identified 361 associated proteins ~30% of which are transcription-related. Foxp3 directly regulates expression of a large proportion of the genes encoding its co-factors. Reciprocally, some transcription factor partners of Foxp3 facilitate its expression. Functional analysis of Foxp3 cooperation with one such partner, Gata3, provided further evidence for a network of transcriptional regulation afforded by Foxp3 and its associates to control distinct aspects of Treg cell biology.
Transcription factor Foxp3 and its protein partners form a complex regulatory network.
Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of Foxp3 ablated peripheral regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells require the expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 for thymic development. It is not known whether continuous expression of Foxp3 is required for the maintained function of mature regulatory T cells in the periphery. Results indicate changes to the regulatory T cell developmental program in the absence of Foxp3.
Maintenance of the Foxp3-dependent developmental program in mature regulatory T cells requires continued expression of Foxp3.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe goal was to study the effects of lead exposure on gene expression and identify the lead-responsive genes. After detecting 1,536 cis-eQTLs (FDR = 10%) and 952 trans-eQTLs, we focused our analysis on Pb-sensitive “trans-eQTL hotspots”. Overall design: 158 randomly selected Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (A2) samples (control 79 samples and Pb-treated) without replicates
Identification of Splicing Quantitative Trait Loci (sQTL) in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> with Developmental Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>) Exposure.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesNumerous microRNAs and their target mRNAs are co-expressed across diverse cell types. However, it is unknown whether they are regulated in a cellular context-independent or -dependent manner. Here, we explored transcriptome-wide targeting and gene regulation by miR-155, whose activation-induced expression plays important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Through mapping of miR-155 targets using differential Argonaute iCLIP, mRNA quantification with RNA-Seq, and 3'UTR usage analysis using polyadenylation (polyA)-Seq in activated miR-155-sufficient and deficient macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, we identified numerous targets differentially bound by miR-155. While alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (ApA) contributed to differential miR-155 binding to some transcripts, in a majority of cases identical 3'UTR isoforms were differentially regulated across cell types, suggesting ApA-independent and cellular context-dependent miR-155-mediated gene regulation reminiscent of sequence-specific transcription factors. Our study provides comprehensive maps of miR-155 regulatory RNA networks and offers a valuable resource for dissecting context-dependent and -independent miRNA-mediated gene regulation in key cell types of the adaptive and innate immune systems. Overall design: Primary dendritic cells, B cells, CD4 T cells, and macrophages from C57BL/6J wild type and miR-155 KO mice were cultured in RPMI medium with 10% FBS. Prior to harvesting primary dendritic cells, mice were subcutaneously injected with one million B16 melanoma cells expressing Flt3 ligand for about two weeks. After purification of splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells by CD11c microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec), dendritic cells were activated in a medium containing 100 ng/ml LPS (SIGMA) and 20 ng/ml GMSCF (Tonbo). Splenic primary B cells were purified by negative selection using Dynabeads Mouse CD43 (Invitrogen), and activated in a medium containing 25 ug/ml LPS and 6.5 ng/ml mIL4 (PeproTech). CD4 T cells from lymph node and spleen were purified with Dynabeads FlowComp Kit (Invitrogen). CD4+CD25-CD44- T cells were then activated with Dynabeads Mouse T-Activator CD3/CD28 (Invitrogen). Intraperitoneal macrophages, induced by thioglycollate injection, were harvested and activated with 100 ng/ml LPS.
The effect of cellular context on miR-155-mediated gene regulation in four major immune cell types.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesNumerous microRNAs and their target mRNAs are co-expressed across diverse cell types. However, it is unknown whether they are regulated in a cellular context-independent or -dependent manner. Here, we explored transcriptome-wide targeting and gene regulation by miR-155, whose activation-induced expression plays important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Through mapping of miR-155 targets using differential Argonaute iCLIP, mRNA quantification with RNA-Seq, and 3'UTR usage analysis using polyadenylation (polyA)-Seq in activated miR-155-sufficient and deficient macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, we identified numerous targets differentially bound by miR-155. While alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (ApA) contributed to differential miR-155 binding to some transcripts, in a majority of cases identical 3'UTR isoforms were differentially regulated across cell types, suggesting ApA-independent and cellular context-dependent miR-155-mediated gene regulation reminiscent of sequence-specific transcription factors. Our study provides comprehensive maps of miR-155 regulatory RNA networks and offers a valuable resource for dissecting context-dependent and -independent miRNA-mediated gene regulation in key cell types of the adaptive and innate immune systems. Overall design: Primary dendritic cells, B cells, CD4 T cells, and macrophages from C57BL/6J wild type and miR-155 KO mice were cultured in RPMI medium with 10% FBS. Prior to harvesting primary dendritic cells, mice were subcutaneously injected with one million B16 melanoma cells expressing Flt3 ligand for about two weeks. After purification of splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells by CD11c microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec), dendritic cells were activated in a medium containing 100 ng/ml LPS (SIGMA) and 20 ng/ml GMSCF (Tonbo). Splenic primary B cells were purified by negative selection using Dynabeads Mouse CD43 (Invitrogen), and activated in a medium containing 25 ug/ml LPS and 6.5 ng/ml mIL4 (PeproTech). CD4 T cells from lymph node and spleen were purified with Dynabeads FlowComp Kit (Invitrogen). CD4+CD25-CD44- T cells were then activated with Dynabeads Mouse T-Activator CD3/CD28 (Invitrogen). Intraperitoneal macrophages, induced by thioglycollate injection, were harvested and activated with 100 ng/ml LPS. Each condition has 3 sequencing replicates.
The effect of cellular context on miR-155-mediated gene regulation in four major immune cell types.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesFoxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) maintain immunological tolerance and their deficiency results in fatal multi-organ autoimmunity. Although heightened T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is critical for the differentiation of Treg cells, the role of TCR signaling in Treg cell function remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate inducible ablation of the TCR results in Treg cell dysfunction which cannot be attributed to impaired Foxp3 expression, decreased expression of Treg cell signature genes or altered ability to sense and consume interleukin 2. Rather, TCR signaling was required for maintaining the expression of a limited subset of genes comprising 25% of the activated Treg cell transcriptional signature. Our results reveal a critical role for the TCR in Treg cell suppressor capacity.
Continuous requirement for the TCR in regulatory T cell function.
Specimen part
View SamplesRegulatory T cells (Treg cells) expressing the forkhead family transcription factor Foxp3 are critical mediators of dominant immune tolerance to self. Most Treg cells constitutively express the high-affinity interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor alpha-chain (CD25); however, the precise function of IL-2 in Treg cell biology has remained controversial. To directly assess the effect of IL-2 signaling on Treg cell development and function, we analyzed mice containing the Foxp3gfp knock-in allele that were genetically deficient in either IL-2 (Il2-/-) or CD25 (Il2ra-/-). We found that IL-2 signaling was dispensable for the induction of Foxp3 expression in thymocytes from these mice, which indicated that IL-2 signaling does not have a nonredundant function in the development of Treg cells. Unexpectedly, Il2-/- and Il2ra-/- Treg cells were fully able to suppress T cell proliferation in vitro. In contrast, Foxp3 was not expressed in thymocytes or peripheral T cells from Il2rg-/- mice. Gene expression analysis showed that IL-2 signaling was required for maintenance of the expression of genes involved in the regulation of cell growth and metabolism. Thus, IL-2 signaling seems to be critically required for maintaining the homeostasis and competitive fitness of Treg cells in vivo.
A function for interleukin 2 in Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesRegulatory T (Treg) cells, expressing abundant amounts of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), are reliant on IL-2 produced by activated T cells. This feature implied a key role for a simple network based on IL-2 consumption by Treg cells in their suppressor function. However, congenital deficiency in IL-2R results in reduced expression of the Treg lineage specification factor Foxp3, confounding experimental efforts to understand the role of IL-2R expression and signaling in Treg suppressor function. Using genetic gain and loss of function approaches, we demonstrate that IL-2 capture is dispensable for control of CD4+ T cells, but is important for limiting CD8+ T cell activation, and that IL-2R dependent STAT5 transcription factor activation plays an essential role in Treg suppressor function separable from T cell receptor signaling. Overall design: Gene expression profiles in Treg cells with or without an expression of an active form of STAT5 were compared by RNA sequencing. Male 8-wk-old Foxp3Cre-ERT2Rosa26Stat5bCA (STAT5b-CA) and Foxp3Cre-ERT2 (control) mice, nine mice for each experimental group, received a single dose (4 mg) of tamoxifen by oral gavage 4 months before isolation. Splenic CD4+Foxp3(YFP/GFP)+GITRhiCD25hi Treg and CD4+Foxp3(YFP/GFP)-CD62LhiCD44lo T naive cells were double sorted using a BD FACSAria II cell sorter. The T cell subsets isolated from three individual mice in the same experimental group (genotype) was pooled into one biological replicate; three biological replicates were generated. A total of 12 samples, i.e., two genotypes, two cell cypes, and three replicates, was subjected to RNA-seq analysis. Samples were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 to an average depth of 27.5 million 50-bp read pairs per sample.
Transcription factor Foxp1 regulates Foxp3 chromatin binding and coordinates regulatory T cell function.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
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