This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Widespread DNA hypomethylation at gene enhancer regions in placentas associated with early-onset pre-eclampsia.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe investigated the DNA methylation and gene expression of 20 chorionic villi samples from early onset preeclampsia placentas to 20 gestational age matched controls. From this we were able to see a widespread disregulation in DNA methylation across a subset of genes in the genome. This may help to elucidate the underlying biological problems that lead to early onset preeclampsia. We noted that there were DNA methylation changes in many genes of importance as well as in different genomic elements such as enhancers.
Widespread DNA hypomethylation at gene enhancer regions in placentas associated with early-onset pre-eclampsia.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe goal of this study is to investigate if interferon signaling regulates immune checkpoint blockade in mouse melanoma model. Overall design: Transcription profiling for B16, B16 after chronic interferon treatment, B16 derived checkpoint blockade resistant strain 499 and various knockout from 499, coupled with ATA-seq data.
Tumor Interferon Signaling Regulates a Multigenic Resistance Program to Immune Checkpoint Blockade.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesResponse to immune checkpoint inhibitors may be improved through combinations with each other and other therapies, raising questions about non-redundancy and resistance. We report results from parallel studies of melanoma patients and mice treated with anti-CTLA4 and radiation (RT). Although combined treatment improved responses, resistance was common. Computational analyses of immune and transcriptomic profiles (provided here) revealed that resistance in mice was due to upregulation of tumor PD-L1 that drives T cell exhaustion. Accordingly, optimal response requires RT, anti-CTLA4, and anti-PD-L1. Anti-CTLA4 inhibits Tregs, RT diversifies and shapes the TCR repertoire, and anti-PD-L1 reinvigorates exhausted T cells. Together, all three therapies promote the expansion of clonotypes with distinct TCR traits. Similar to mice, patients with melanoma showing high PD-L1 did not respond to RT + anti-CTLA4, demonstrated persistent T cell exhaustion, and rapidly progressed. Thus, the combination of RT, anti-CTLA4, and anti-PD-L1 promotes response through distinct mechanisms.
Radiation and dual checkpoint blockade activate non-redundant immune mechanisms in cancer.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesRegulatory T cells (Tregs) are a barrier to effective anti-tumor immunity. Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) is required to maintain intratumoral Treg stability and function but is dispensable for peripheral immune homeostasis, Treg-restricted Nrp1 deletion in mice results in profound tumor resistant due to Treg functional fragility. Drivers of Treg fragility, the mechanistic basis of Nrp1 dependency, and the relevance of these processes for human cancer and immunotherapy remain unknown. NRP1 expression on human Tregs in melanoma and HNSCC was highly heterogeneous and correlated with prognosis. Using a mouse model of melanoma in which mutant Nrp1-deficient (Nrp1–/–) and wild type (WT) Tregs could be assessed in a competitive environment, we found that a high proportion of intratumoral Nrp1–/– Tregs produce interferon-? (IFN?), which in turn drove the fragility of surrounding WT Tregs, boosting anti-tumor immunity and facilitating tumor clearance. We also show that IFN?-induced Treg fragility is required for an effective response to PD1 immunotherapy, suggesting that cancer therapies promoting Treg fragility may be efficacious . Overall design: Tregs from B16 tumors and non-draining lymph nodes NDLN from WT, Nrp-1 deficient homozygous and heterozygous mice
Interferon-γ Drives T<sub>reg</sub> Fragility to Promote Anti-tumor Immunity.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesRegulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 have a pivotal role in maintaining immunological self-tolerance1-5; yet, excessive Treg activities suppress anti-tumor immune responses6-8. Compared to resting phenotype Tregs (rTregs) in the secondary lymphoid organs, Tregs in non-lymphoid tissues including solid tumors exhibit an activated Treg (aTreg) phenotype9-11. However, aTreg function and whether its generation can be manipulated to promote tumor immunity without evoking autoimmunity are largely unexplored. Here we show that the transcription factor Foxo1, previously demonstrated to promote Treg suppression of lymphoproliferative diseases12,13, has an unexpected function in inhibiting aTreg-mediated immune tolerance. We found that aTregs turned over at a slower rate than rTregs, but were not locally maintained in tissues. Transcriptome analysis revealed that aTreg differentiation was associated with repression of Foxo1-dependent gene transcription, concomitant with reduced Foxo1 expression, cytoplasmic Foxo1 localization, and enhanced Foxo1 phosphorylation at sites of the Akt kinase. Treg-specific expression of an Akt-insensitive Foxo1 mutant prevented downregulation of lymphoid organ homing molecules, and impeded Treg homing to non-lymphoid organs, causing CD8+ T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Compared to Tregs from healthy tissues, tumor-infiltrating Tregs downregulated Foxo1 target genes more substantially. Expression of the Foxo1 mutant at a lower dose was sufficient to deplete tumor-associated Tregs, activate effector CD8+ T cells, and inhibit tumor growth without inflicting autoimmunity. Thus, Foxo1 inactivation is essential for the migration of aTregs that have a crucial function in suppressing CD8+ T cell responses; and the Foxo signaling pathway in Tregs can be titrated to preferentially break tumor immune tolerance. Overall design: Transcriptome of splenic rTreg (CD4+Foxp3+CD62LhiCD44lo) and aTreg (CD4+Foxp3+CD62LhiCD44lo) were compared. Duplicates from biologically independent animials were used.
Graded Foxo1 activity in Treg cells differentiates tumour immunity from spontaneous autoimmunity.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe goal of this study is to uncover the changes in the transcriptome of sensory neurons of the liver kinase B1 (LKB1) knockout
Regulation of axonal morphogenesis by the mitochondrial protein Efhd1.
Specimen part
View SamplesKaposis sarcoma (KS) is the most frequently occurring malignant tumor in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Recent studies have revealed that infection of vascular endothelial cells with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus in vitro results in a lymphatic re-programming of these cells, with potent induction of the lymphatic marker genes podoplanin and VEGFR-3 which is mediated by upregulation of the transcription factor Prox1. However, the potential effects of Prox1 expression on the biology of KS and, in particular, on the aggressive and invasive behavior of KS tumors in vivo have remained unknown. We stably expressed Prox1 cDNA in the two mouse hemangioendothelioma cell lines EOMA and Py-4-1, well-established murine models for kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Surprisingly, we found that expression of Prox1 was sufficient to induce a more aggressive behavior of tumors growing in syngenic mice, leading to enhanced local invasion into the muscular layer and to cellular anaplasia. This enhanced malignant phenotype was associated with upregulation of several genes involved in proteolysis, cytoskeletal reorganisation and migration. Together, these results indicate that Prox1 plays an important, previously unanticipated role in mediating the aggressive behavior of vascular neoplasms such as Kaposi's sarcoma.
Prox-1 promotes invasion of kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPapillomaviruses (PVs) are able to induce papillomas, premalignant lesions, and carcinomas in a wide variety of species. PVs are classified first based on their host and tissue tropism and then their genomic diversities. A laboratory mouse papillomavirus, MmuPV1 (formerly MusPV), naturally infects NMRI-Foxn1nu/Foxn1nu (nude; T cell deficient) mice. C57BL/6J wild-type mice were not susceptible to MmuPV1 infection; however, immunocompetent, alopecic, S/RV/Cri-ba/ba (bare) mice developed small papillomas at injection sites that regressed. NMRI-Foxn1nu and B6.Cg-Foxn1nu but not NU/J-Foxn1nu mice were susceptible to MmuPV1 infection. B6 congenic strains, but not other congenic strains carrying the same allelic mutations, that lack B- and T-cells, but not B-cells alone, were susceptible to infection, indicating that mouse strain and T-cell deficiency are critical to tumor formation. Although lesions initially observed were exophytic papillomas around the muzzle, exophytic papillomas on the tail and condylomas of the vaginal lining could be induced by experimental infections. On the dorsal skin, locally invasive, poorly differentiated tumors developed with features similar to human trichoblastomas. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant differences between the normal skin in these anatomic sites and in papillomas versus trichoblastomas. The primarily dysregulated genes involved molecular pathways associated with cancer, cellular development, cellular growth and proliferation, cell morphology, and connective tissue development and function. Surprisingly, few of the genes commonly associated with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cells carcinoma were dramatically dysregulated.
Immune status, strain background, and anatomic site of inoculation affect mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) induction of exophytic papillomas or endophytic trichoblastomas.
Specimen part
View SamplesBarrett's esophagus is characterized by the replacement of squamous epithelium with specialized intestinal metaplastic mucosa. The exact mechanisms of initiation and development of Barrett's metaplasia remain unknown, but a hypothesis of successful adaptation against noxious reflux components has been proposed. To search for the repertoire of adaptation mechanisms of Barrett's metaplasia, we employed high-throughput functional genomic and proteomic methods that defined the molecular background of metaplastic mucosa resistance to reflux. Transcriptional profiling was established for 23 pairs of esophageal squamous epithelium and Barrett's metaplasia tissue samples using Affymetrix U133A 2.0 GeneChips and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Differences in protein composition were assessed by electrophoretic and mass-spectrometry-based methods. Among 2,822 genes differentially expressed between Barrett's metaplasia and squamous epithelium, we observed significantly overexpressed metaplastic mucosa genes that encode cytokines and growth factors, constituents of extracellular matrix, basement membrane and tight junctions, and proteins involved in prostaglandin and phosphoinositol metabolism, nitric oxide production, and bioenergetics. Their expression likely reflects defense and repair responses of metaplastic mucosa, whereas overexpression of genes encoding heat shock proteins and several protein kinases in squamous epithelium may reflect lower resistance of normal esophageal epithelium than Barrett's metaplasia to reflux components. Despite the methodological and interpretative difficulties in data analyses discussed in this paper, our studies confirm that Barrett's metaplasia may be regarded as a specific microevolution allowing for accumulation of mucosal morphological and physiological changes that better protect against reflux injury.
Molecular defense mechanisms of Barrett's metaplasia estimated by an integrative genomics.
Sex, Age
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