In addition to helper and regulatory potential, CD4+T cells also acquire cytotoxic activity marked by granzyme B (GzmB) expression and the ability to promote rejection of established tumors. Here we examined the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning the differentiation of cytotoxic CD4+T cells following immunotherapy. CD4 transfer into lymphodepleted animals or regulatory T cell (Treg)depletion promoted GzmB expression by tumor-infiltrating CD4+which was prevented by IL-2 neutralization. Transcriptional analysis revealed a polyfunctional helper and cytotoxic phenotype characterized bythe expression of the transcription factors T-bet and Blimp-1. Whilst T-bet ablation restrictedIFN-gproduction, lossof Blimp-1preventedGzmB expressionin response to IL-2, suggesting these are two independent programs required forpolyfunctionality of tumor-reactive CD4+T cells. The data underscores the role of Treg, IL-2 and Blimp-1 controlling the differentiation of cytotoxic T cells and offers a pathway to enhancement of anti-tumor activity through their manipulation.
Regulatory T Cells Restrain Interleukin-2- and Blimp-1-Dependent Acquisition of Cytotoxic Function by CD4<sup>+</sup> T Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis study was performed with an overall aim to compare gene expression prolife in human sarcoma cell lines and in primary untransformed cells.
No associated publication
Specimen part
View SamplesCellular senescence is a program of irreversible cell cycle arrest that normal cells undergo in response to progressive shortening of telomeres, changes in telomeric structure, oncogene activation or oxidative stress. The underlying signalling pathways, potentially of major clinicopathological relevance, are unknown. A major stumbling block to studying senescence has been the absence of suitable model systems because of the asynchrony of this process in heterogeneous cell populations. To simplify this process many investigators study oncogene-induced senescence due to expression of activated oncogenes where senescence occurs prematurely without telomere attrition and can be induced acutely in a variety of cell types. We have taken a different approach by making use of the finding that reconstitution of telomerase activity by introduction of the catalytic subunit of human telomerase alone is incapable of immortalising all human somatic cells, but inactivation of the p16-pRB and p53-p21 pathways are required in addition. The ability of SV40 large T antigen to inactivate the p16-pRB and p53-p21 pathways has enabled us to use a thermolabile mutant of LT antigen, in conjunction with hTERT, to develop conditionally immortalised human (HMF3A) fibroblasts that are immortal but undergo an irreversible growth arrest when the thermolabile LT antigen is inactivated leading to activation of pRB and p53. When these cells cease dividing, senescence-associated- b-galactosidase activity is induced and the growth-arrested cells have morphological features and express genes in common with senescent cells. Since these cells growth arrest in a synchronous manner they are an excellent starting point for dissecting the pathways that underlie cellular senescence and act downstream of p16-pRB and p53-p21 pathways. We have combined genome-wide expression profiling with genetic complementation to undertake identification of genes that are differentially expressed when these conditionally immortalised human fibroblasts undergo senescence upon activation of the p16-pRB and p53-p21 tumour suppressor pathways.
Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B signalling promotes cellular senescence.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
KSHV-encoded miRNAs target MAF to induce endothelial cell reprogramming.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
No associated publication
Cell line
View SamplesPD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide with growing prevalence. MPTP is a neurotoxin which causes the appearance of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. The involvement of the cholinergic system in PD has been identified decades ago and anti-cholinergic drugs were upon the first drugs used for symptomatic treatment of PD. Of note, MPTP intoxication is a model of choice for symptomatic neuroprotective therapies since it have been quite predictive. Mice were exposed to the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), with or without the protective acetylcholinesterase (AChE-R) variant. Transgenic AChE-S (the synaptic variant), AChE-R (the shorter, protective variant) and FVB/N control mice were included in this study. Two brain regions were examined: the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) and the striatal caudate-putamen (CPu). Each condition (i.e brain region and transgenic variant) was examined on both naive and MPTP-exposed mice.
Meta-analysis of genetic and environmental Parkinson's disease models reveals a common role of mitochondrial protection pathways.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesSub-thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) reversibly modulates Parkinsons disease (PD) motor symptoms, providing an unusual opportunity to compare leukocyte transcripts in the same subjects before and after neurosurgery and after disconnecting the stimulus (ON-and OFF-stimulus). Here, we report rapid stimulus-induced and largely reversible changes in PD leukocyte transcripts, which were larger in scope than the disease-induced changes. These transcript changes classified advanced pre- from post-surgery PD patients and discriminated patients from controls. Moreover, the extent of changes correlated with the neurological efficacy of the DBS neurosurgery, and covered both regulatory pathways and individual transcript changes, e.g. SNCA, PARK7 and the splicing factor SFRS1. Following 1 hour OFF-stimulus, these changes were largely reversed. We extracted from these differences a modified transcripts signature which discriminated controls from advanced PD patients, pre- from post-surgery and ON-from OFF-stimulus conditions. A further gene-list independent analysis detected reversed pathways. Our findings suggest future uses of this approach and the discovered molecular signature for early diagnostics of PD and for identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention in this and other DBS-treatable neurological diseases.
Deep brain stimulation induces rapidly reversible transcript changes in Parkinson's leucocytes.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease stage
View SamplesAdministration of G-CSF mobilizes a unique population of CD11b+Ly6C+CD34+mature monocytes that can inhibit GVHD in murine models of BMT via an iNOS-dependent mechanism. The transcriptional profiles of flow sorted lineage-CD11b+CD34+ cells from G-CSF treated mice were compared with conventional splenic Ly6C+ and Ly6C- monocytes, progenitor cells and cultured myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Further comparisons were made with lineage-CD11b+CD34+ cells from G-CSF treated mice that had been grown in culture or that were derived from iNOS ko mice.
No associated publication
Specimen part
View SamplesKaposi sarcoma is the most common cancer in AIDS patients and is typified by red skin lesions. The disease is caused by the KSHV virus (HHV8) and is recognisable by its distinctive red skin lesions. The lesions are KSHV-infected spindle cells, most commonly the lymphatic endothelial and blood vessel endothelial cells (LEC and BEC), plus surrounding stroma. The effects of KSHV infection of both LEC and BEC were assayed using Affymetrix hgu133plus2 chips at 72 hours post infection.
KSHV-encoded miRNAs target MAF to induce endothelial cell reprogramming.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe have found a broad case of tumour suppressor hypersensitivity for Merlin in cancer: Merlin expression in Merlin deficient cells (but not Merlin wild type cells) strongly suppresses proliferation regardless of tumour type or of additional somatic mutations.
No associated publication
Cell line
View Samples