iNKT cells are innate-like lymphocytes that protect against infection, autoimmune disease, and cancer. However, little is known about epigenetic regulation of iNKT cell development. Here, we show that the H3K27me3 histone demethylase UTX is an essential cell-intrinsic factor that controls an iNKT lineage specific gene expression program and epigenetic landscape in a demethylase activity dependent manner. UTX deficient iNKT cells exhibit impaired expression of iNKT signature genes due to a decrease in activation-associated H3K4me3 and an increase in repressive H3K27me3 marks within the promoters that UTX occupies. Notably, we identified JunB as a novel regulator of iNKT development that partners with UTX to establish an iNKT lineage specific gene expression program. Moreover, we demonstrate that UTX-mediated regulation of super-enhancer accessibility is a key mechanism for iNKT lineage commitment. These findings uncover how UTX regulates iNKT cell development through multiple epigenetic mechanisms.
The histone demethylase UTX regulates the lineage-specific epigenetic program of invariant natural killer T cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesUsing 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 SamplesLittle is known about how pro-obesity diets regulate tissue stem and progenitor cell function. Here we find that high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity augments the numbers and function of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) of the mammalian intestine. Like HFD, ex vivo treatment of intestinal organoid cultures with palmitic acid (PA), a constituent of the HFD, enhances the self-renewal potential of these organoid bodies. Mechanistically, HFD induces a robust peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPAR-delta signature in intestinal stem and progenitor cells and pharmacologic activation of PPAR-delta recapitulates the effects that HFD has on these cells. Interestingly, HFD- and agonist-activated PPAR-delta signaling endows organoid-initiating capacity to non-stem cells and enforced PPAR-delta signaling permits these non-stem cells to form in vivo tumors upon loss of the tumor suppressor Apc. These findings highlight how diet-modulated PPAR-delta activation alters not only the function of intestinal stem and progenitor cells but also their capacity to initiate tumors. Overall design: mRNA profiles of intestinal stem cells (GFP-Hi) and progenitors (GFP-Low) from WT or HFD fed mice were generated by deep sequencing using HiSeq 2000.
High-fat diet enhances stemness and tumorigenicity of intestinal progenitors.
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Surgery-Induced Weight Loss Is Associated With the Downregulation of Genes Targeted by MicroRNAs in Adipose Tissue.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesMolecular mechanisms associated with pathophysiological variations in adipose tissue (AT) are not fully recognized. The main aim of this study was to identify novel candidate genes and miRNAs that may contribute to the pathophysiology of hyperplastic AT. Therefore, wide gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns were assessed in subcutaneous AT of 16 morbidly obese women before and after surgery-induced weight loss. Validation of microarray data was performed by quantitative real-time PCR both longitudinally (n=25 paired samples) and cross-sectionally (25 obese vs. 26 age-matched lean women). Analyses in macrophages and differentiated human adipocytes were also performed to try to comprehend the associations found in AT. 5,018 different probe sets identified significant variations in gene expression after treatment (adjusted p-value<0.05). A set of 16 miRNAs also showed significant modifications. Functional analysis revealed changes in genes and miRNAs associated with cell cycle, development and proliferation, lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response. Canonical affected pathways included TREM1, PI3K, and EIF2 signaling, hepatic stellate cell activation, and mitochondrial function. Increased expression of SLC27A2, ELOVL6, FASN, GYS2, LGALS12, PKP2, ACLY, and miR-575, as well as decreased FOS, EGFL6, PRG4, AQP9, DUSP1, RGS1, EGR1, SPP1, LYZ, miR-130b, miR-221, and miR-155, were further validated. The clustering of similar expression patterns for gene products with related functions revealed molecular footprints, some of them described for the first time, which elucidate changes in biological processes after the surgery-induced weight loss.
Surgery-Induced Weight Loss Is Associated With the Downregulation of Genes Targeted by MicroRNAs in Adipose Tissue.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View Samples