Project description:Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune skin blistering disease characterized by autoimmunity against the hemidesmosomal proteins BP180, type XVII collagen, and BP230. To elucidate the genetic basis of susceptibility to BP, we performed the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Germans. This GWAS was combined with HLA locus targeted sequencing in an additional independent BP cohort. The strongest association with BP in Germans tested in this study was observed in the two HLA loci, HLA-DQA1*05:05 and HLA-DRB1*07:01. Further studies with increased sample sizes and complex studies integrating multiple pathogenic drivers will be conducted.
Project description:Oleanolic acid significantly inhibited neurosphere formation in a dose-dependent manner, and achieved a maximum effect at 10 nM. OA also reduced the 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation into NSCs, indicating an inhibition on proliferation of NSCs. Next, in western blotting analysis, the protein expression of neuron-specific marker tubulin-βⅢ (TuJ1) and Mash1 was increased, while the astrocyte-specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) decreased. In immunofluorescence analysis, OA significantly elevated the percentage of TuJ1-positive cells and reduced GFAP-positive cells. Using DNA microarrays, 183 genes were found to be differentially regulated by OA.
Project description:Oleanolic acid significantly inhibited neurosphere formation in a dose-dependent manner, and achieved a maximum effect at 10 nM. OA also reduced the 5-ethynyl-2M-bM-^@M-^Y-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation into NSCs, indicating an inhibition on proliferation of NSCs. Next, in western blotting analysis, the protein expression of neuron-specific marker tubulin-M-NM-2M-bM-^EM-" (TuJ1) and Mash1 was increased, while the astrocyte-specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) decreased. In immunofluorescence analysis, OA significantly elevated the percentage of TuJ1-positive cells and reduced GFAP-positive cells. Using DNA microarrays, 183 genes were found to be differentially regulated by OA. Neural stem cells derived form mouse embrynic brains were treated with Oleanolic acid or not. Each group had 4 biological relicates each from a mouse.
Project description:Seasonal influenza virus infections cause 290,000-650,000 deaths annually and severe morbidity in 3-5 million people. CD8+ T-cell responses towards virus-derived peptide/human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complexes provide the broadest cross-reactive immunity against human influenza viruses. Several universally-conserved CD8+ T-cell specificities that elicit prominent responses against human influenza A viruses (IAVs) have been identified. These include HLA-A*02:01-M158-66 (A2/M158), HLA-A*03:01-NP265-273, HLA-B*08:01-NP225-233, HLA-B*18:01-NP219-226, HLA-B*27:05-NP383-391 and HLA-B*57:01-NP199-207. The immunodominance hierarchies across these universal CD8+ T-cell epitopes were however unknown. Here, we probed immunodominance status of influenza-specific universal CD8+ T-cells in HLA-I heterozygote individuals expressing two or more universal HLAs for IAV. We found that while CD8+ T-cell responses directed towards A2/M158 were generally immunodominant, A2/M158+CD8+ T-cells were markedly diminished (subdominant) in HLA-A*02:01/B*27:05-expressing donors following ex vivo and in vitro analyses. A2/M158+CD8+ T-cells in non-HLA-B*27:05 individuals were immunodominant, contained optimal public TRBV19/TRAV27 TCRαβ clonotypes and displayed highly polyfunctional and proliferative capacity, while A2/M158+CD8+ T cells in HLA-B*27:05-expressing donors were subdominant, with largely distinct TCRαβ clonotypes and consequently markedly reduced avidity, proliferative and polyfunctional efficacy. Our data illustrate altered immunodominance patterns and immunodomination within human influenza-specific CD8+ T-cells. Accordingly, our work highlights the importance of understanding immunodominance hierarchies within individual donors across a spectrum of prominent virus-specific CD8+ T-cell specificities prior to designing T cell-directed vaccines and immunotherapies, for influenza and other infectious diseases.