Using single-cell RNA-seq of intestinal epithelial cells we identify surprising expression of MHC class II, which participates in a novel interaction between gut-resident CD4+ T cells and epithelial stem cells, governing the balance between stem cell differentiation and renewal. Overall design: In the small intestine, a niche of accessory cell types supports the generation of mature epithelial cell types from intestinal stem cells (ISCs). It is unclear, however, if and how immune cells in the niche affect ISC fate or the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify MHC class II (MHCII) machinery enrichment in two subsets of Lgr5+ ISCs. We show that MHCII+ Lgr5+ ISCs are non-conventional antigen-presenting cells in co-cultures with CD4+ T helper (Th) cells. Stimulation of intestinal organoids with key Th cytokines affects Lgr5+ ISC renewal and differentiation in opposing ways: pro-inflammatory signals promote differentiation, while regulatory cells and cytokines reduce it. In vivo genetic perturbation of Th cells or MHCII expression on Lgr5+ ISCs impacts epithelial cell differentiation and IEC fate during infection. These interactions between Th cells and Lgr5+ ISCs, thus, orchestrate tissue-wide responses to external signals.
T Helper Cell Cytokines Modulate Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal and Differentiation.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesThe meningeal space is occupied by a diverse repertoire of innate and adaptive immune cells. CNS injury elicits a rapid immune response that affects neuronal survival and recovery, but the role of meningeal inflammation in CNS injury remains poorly understood. Here we describe group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) as a novel cell type resident in the healthy meninges that is activated following CNS injury. ILC2s are present throughout the naïve mouse meninges, though are concentrated around the dural sinuses, and have a unique transcriptional profile relative to lung ILC2s. After spinal cord injury, meningeal ILC2s are activated in an IL-33 dependent manner, producing type 2 cytokines. Using RNAseq, we characterized the gene programs that underlie the ILC2 activation state. Finally, addition of wild type lung-derived ILC2s into the meningeal space of IL-33R-/- animals improves recovery following spinal cord injury. These data characterize ILC2s as a novel meningeal cell type that responds to and functionally affects outcome after spinal cord injury, and could lead to new therapeutic insights for CNS injury or other neuroinflammatory conditions. Overall design: ILC2s were isolated from 10 week C57/Bl6 mice with and without spinal cord injury (1 day post injury). 5 mice were pooled per group, with meninges dissected, digested, and FACs sorted (CD45+/DAPI-/Lin–/St2+/Thy1+) directly into RNA lysis buffer.
Characterization of meningeal type 2 innate lymphocytes and their response to CNS injury.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesHuman cytomegalovirus induces a pro-inflammatory monocyte following infection. To begin to address how HCMV induces these rapid changes in infected monocytes, we examined the transcriptome of infected monocytes. Global transcriptional profiling using cDNA microarrays revealed a significant number of pro-inflammatory genes were upregulated within 4 hours post infection.
Transcriptome analysis reveals human cytomegalovirus reprograms monocyte differentiation toward an M1 macrophage.
Specimen part
View SamplesAdult zebrafish are capable of regenerating cardiac tissue following ventricular resection within 30 days. We profiled both small RNA and mRNA expression in uninjured (0dpa), 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days post amputation to study biological processes orchestrate each stage of regeneration. Overall design: Small and mRNA gene expression profiling during 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days post ventricular resection.
RegenDbase: a comparative database of noncoding RNA regulation of tissue regeneration circuits across multiple taxa.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe chronological lifespan (CLS) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is defined as the number days that non-dividing cells remain viable, typically in stationary phase cultures or in water. CLS is extended by restricting glucose in the starting cultures, and is considered a form of caloric restriction (CR). Through a previous genetic screen our lab determined that deleting components of the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway also significantly increased CLS. Significant similarities in gene expression profiles between calorie restricted WT cells and a non-restricted ade4 mutant suggested the possibility of common gene expression biomarkers of all chronologically long lived cells that could also provide insights into general mechanisms of lifespan extension. We have identified additional growth conditions that extend CLS of WT cells, including supplementation of the media with isonicotinamide (INAM), a known sirtuin activator, or by supplementation with a concentrate collected from the expired media of a calorie restricted yeast culture, presumably due to an as yet unidentified longevity factor. Using these varied methods to extend CLS, we compared gene expression profiles in the aging cells (at day 8) to identify functionally relevant biomarkers of longevity. Nineteen genes were differentially regulated in all 4 of the long-lived populations relative to wild type. Of these 19 genes, viable haploid deletion mutants were available for 16 of them, and 12 were found to have a significant impact on CLS.
Functional genomic analysis reveals overlapping and distinct features of chronologically long-lived yeast populations.
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View SamplesHigh fat feeding is deleterious for skeletal muscle metabolism, while exercise has well documented beneficial effects for these same metabolic features. To identify the genomic mechanisms by which exercise ameliorates some of the deleterious effects of high fat feeding, we investigated the transcriptional and epigenetic response of human skeletal muscle to 9 days of a high-fat diet (HFD) alone (Sed-HFD) or in combination with resistance exercise (Ex-HFD), using genome-wide profiling of gene expression (by RNA-seq) and DNA methylation (by Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing). HFD markedly induced expression of immune and inflammatory genes which was not attenuated by Ex. In contract, Ex markedly remodelled expression of genes associated with muscle growth and structure. We detected marked DNA methylation changes following HFD alone and in combination with Ex. Among the genes that showed significant association between DNA methylation changes and gene expression were glycogen phosphorylase, muscle associated (PYGM), which was epigenetically regulated in both groups, and angiopoiten like 4 (ANGPTL4), which was regulated only following Ex. We conclude that Short-term Ex does not prevent HFD-induced inflammatory response, but provokes a genomic response that may preserve skeletal muscle from atrophy. Epigenetic adaptation provides important mechanistic insight into the gene specific regulation of inflammatory and metabolic processes in human skeletal muscle. Overall design: Sedentary or exercising human subjects undergo high-fat diet intervention.
Transcriptomic and epigenetic responses to short-term nutrient-exercise stress in humans.
Specimen part, Subject, Time
View SamplesThis study demonstrates quantitative and qualitative differences between type I IFN signatures in autoimmunity and viral infection using purified CD4pos T cells and CD16pos- and CD16neg-monocyte subsets. We were able to discriminate between cell-specific viral response signatures and the pathogenically amplified IFN signatures observed in autoimmunity. The differences were of both a qualitative and quantitative nature, as the signatures in the patients with SLE were characterized by much more complexly compiled gene patterns with increased absolute gene expression levels.
Cell-specific type I IFN signatures in autoimmunity and viral infection: what makes the difference?
Specimen part
View SamplesHuman intestinal macrophages contribute to tissue homeostasis in noninflamed mucosa through profound down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Here, we show that this down-regulation extends to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced cytokine release, as intestinal macrophages expressed TLR3-TLR9 but did not release cytokines in response to TLR-specific ligands. Likely contributing to this unique functional profile, intestinal macrophages expressed markedly down-regulated adapter proteins MyD88 and Toll interleukin receptor 1 domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon beta, which together mediate all TLR MyD88-dependent and -independent NF-kappaB signaling, did not phosphorylate NF-kappaB p65 or Smad-induced IkappaBalpha, and did not translocate NF-kappaB into the nucleus. Importantly, transforming growth factor-beta released from intestinal extracellular matrix (stroma) induced identical down-regulation in the NF-kappaB signaling and function of blood monocytes, the exclusive source of intestinal macrophages. Our findings implicate stromal transforming growth factor-beta-induced dysregulation of NF-kappaB proteins and Smad signaling in the differentiation of pro-inflammatory blood monocytes into noninflammatory intestinal macrophages.
Inflammation anergy in human intestinal macrophages is due to Smad-induced IkappaBalpha expression and NF-kappaB inactivation.
Specimen part
View SamplesObjective: In idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) infiltration of immune cells into muscle and upregulation of MHC-I expression implies increased antigen presentation and involvement of the proteasome system. To decipher the role of immunoproteasomes in myositis, we investigated individual cell types and muscle tissues and focused on possible immune triggers. Methods: Expression of constitutive (PSMB5, -6, -7) and corresponding immunoproteasomal subunits (PSMB8, -9, -10) was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR in muscle biopsies and sorted peripheral blood cells of patients with IIM, non-inflammatory myopathies (NIM) and healthy donors (HD). Protein analysis in muscle biopsies was performed by western blot. Affymetrix HG-U133 platform derived transcriptome data from biopsies of different muscle diseases and from immune cell types as well as monocyte stimulation experiments were used for validation, coregulation and coexpression analyses. Results: Real-time RT-PCR revealed significantly increased expression of immunoproteasomal subunits (PSMB8/-9/-10) in DC, monocytes and CD8+ T-cells in IIM. In muscle biopsies, the immunosubunits were elevated in IIM compared to NIM and exceeded levels of matched blood samples. Proteins of PSMB8 and -9 were found only in IIM but not NIM muscle biopsies. Reanalysis of 78 myositis and 20 healthy muscle transcriptomes confirmed these results and revealed involvement of the antigen processing and presentation pathway. Comparison with reference profiles of sorted immune cells and healthy muscle confirmed upregulation of PSMB8 and -9 in myositis biopsies beyond infiltration related changes. This upregulation correlated highest with STAT1, IRF1 and IFN expression. Elevation of T-cell specific transcripts in active IIM muscles was accompanied by increased expression of DC and monocyte marker genes and thus reflects the cell type specific involvement observed in peripheral blood. Conclusions: Immunoproteasomes seem to indicate IIM activity and suggest that dominant involvement of antigen processing and presentation may qualify these diseases exemplarily for the evolving therapeutic concepts of immunoproteasome specific inhibition.
Upregulation of immunoproteasome subunits in myositis indicates active inflammation with involvement of antigen presenting cells, CD8 T-cells and IFNΓ.
Specimen part
View SamplesMany cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and are recognized as relevant therapeutic targets to attenuate inflammation, such as TNF in RA and IFN/ in SLE. To relate the transcriptional imprinting of cytokines in a cell type-specific and disease-specific manner, we generated gene-expression profiles from peripheral monocytes of SLE and RA patients and compared them to in vitro-generated signatures induced by TNF, IFN2a and IFN. Monocytes from SLE and RA patients revealed disease-specific gene-expression profiles. In vitro-generated signatures induced by IFN2a and IFN showed similar profiles that only partially overlapped with those induced by TNF. Comparisons between disease-specific and in vitro-generated signatures identified cytokine-regulated genes in SLE and RA with qualitative and quantitative differences. The IFN-responses in SLE and RA were found to be regulated in a STAT1-dependent and STAT1-independent manner, respectively. Similarly, genes recognized as TNF-regulated were clearly distinguishable between RA and SLE patients. While the activity of SLE monocytes was mainly driven by IFN, the activity from RA monocytes showed a dominance of TNF that was characterized by STAT1 down-regulation. The responses to specific cytokines were revealed to be disease-dependent and reflected the interplay of cytokines within various inflammatory milieus. This study has demonstrated that monocytes from RA and SLE patients exhibit disease-specific gene-expression profiles, which can be molecularly dissected when compared to in vitro-generated cytokine signatures. The results suggest that an assessment of cytokine-response status in monocytes may be helpful for improvement of diagnosis and selection of the best cytokine target for therapeutic intervention.
The multifaceted balance of TNF-α and type I/II interferon responses in SLE and RA: how monocytes manage the impact of cytokines.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment, Subject
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