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Project description:ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to identify key disease pathways driving conventional dendritic cell (cDC) alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc).MethodsTranscriptomic profiling was performed on peripheral blood CD1c+ cDCs (cDC2s) isolated from 12 healthy donors and 48 patients with SSc, including all major disease subtypes. We performed differential expression analysis for the different SSc subtypes and healthy donors to uncover genes dysregulated in SSc. To identify biologically relevant pathways, we built a gene coexpression network using weighted gene correlation network analysis. We validated the role of key transcriptional regulators using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing and in vitro functional assays.ResultsWe identified 17 modules of coexpressed genes in cDCs that correlated with SSc subtypes and key clinical traits, including autoantibodies, skin score, and occurrence of interstitial lung disease. A module of immunoregulatory genes was markedly down-regulated in patients with the diffuse SSc subtype characterized by severe fibrosis. Transcriptional regulatory network analysis performed on this module predicted nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) subfamily genes (NR4A1, NR4A2, NR4A3) as the key transcriptional regulators of inflammation. Indeed, ChIP-sequencing analysis indicated that these NR4A members target numerous differentially expressed genes in SSc cDC2s. Inclusion of NR4A receptor agonists in culture-based experiments provided functional proof that dysregulation of NR4As affects cytokine production by cDC2s and modulates downstream T cell activation.ConclusionNR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 are important regulators of immunosuppressive and fibrosis-associated pathways in SSc cDCs. Thus, the NR4A family represents novel potential targets to restore cDC homeostasis in SSc.
| S-EPMC10108054 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objectives: To identify key pathways, transcriptional regulators and epigenetic mechanisms underlying conventional dendritic cell (cDC) alteration in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Transcriptomic profiling was performed on CD1c+ cDCs isolated from peripheral blood samples obtained from 12 healthy donors and 48 SSc patients with all major disease subtypes. Differential expression analysis comparing the different SSc subtypes and healthy donors was performed to uncover genes dysregulated in SSc. To identify biologically relevant pathways, a gene co-expression network was built using the Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis. We validated the role of key transcriptional regulators using ChIP-sequencing and in vitro functional assays. Results: We identified 17 modules of co-expressed genes in cDCs that correlated with SSc subtypes and key clinical traits. A module of immune regulatory genes was markedly down regulated in patients with the diffuse SSc subtype suffering from severe fibrosis. Gene regulatory network analysis performed on the immune regulatory module predicted NR4A (nuclear receptor 4A) subfamily (NR4A1, NR4A2, NR4A3) genes as the master transcriptional mediators of inflammation. Indeed, ChIP-sequencing analysis of cDCs supported that these NR4A members target numerous differentially expressed genes in SSc cDCs. Inclusion of NR4A receptor agonists in culture-based experiments provided functional proof that dysregulation of NR4As affects cytokine production by cDCs and modulates T-cells activation. Conclusions: NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 are important regulators of immunosuppressive and fibrosis-associated pathways in SSc cDCs. Thus, the NR4A family represent novel potential targets to restore cDC homeostasis in SSc.
2023-03-22 | GSE186198 | GEO
Project description:Objectives: To identify key pathways, transcriptional regulators and epigenetic mechanisms underlying conventional dendritic cell (cDC) alteration in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Transcriptomic profiling was performed on CD1c+ cDCs isolated from peripheral blood samples obtained from 12 healthy donors and 48 SSc patients with all major disease subtypes. Differential expression analysis comparing the different SSc subtypes and healthy donors was performed to uncover genes dysregulated in SSc. To identify biologically relevant pathways, a gene co-expression network was built using the Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis. We validated the role of key transcriptional regulators using ChIP-sequencing and in vitro functional assays. Results: We identified 17 modules of co-expressed genes in cDCs that correlated with SSc subtypes and key clinical traits. A module of immune regulatory genes was markedly down regulated in patients with the diffuse SSc subtype suffering from severe fibrosis. Gene regulatory network analysis performed on the immune regulatory module predicted NR4A (nuclear receptor 4A) subfamily (NR4A1, NR4A2, NR4A3) genes as the master transcriptional mediators of inflammation. Indeed, ChIP-sequencing analysis of cDCs supported that these NR4A members target numerous differentially expressed genes in SSc cDCs. Inclusion of NR4A receptor agonists in culture-based experiments provided functional proof that dysregulation of NR4As affects cytokine production by cDCs and modulates T-cells activation. Conclusions: NR4A1, NR4A2 and NR4A3 are important regulators of immunosuppressive and fibrosis-associated pathways in SSc cDCs. Thus, the NR4A family represent novel potential targets to restore cDC homeostasis in SSc.
2023-03-22 | GSE186197 | GEO
Project description:Nuclear receptor subfamily 4A signaling as a key disease pathway of CD1c+ dendritic cell dysregulation in systemic sclerosis
| PRJNA772941 | ENA
Project description:Nuclear receptor subfamily 4A signaling as a key disease pathway of CD1c+ dendritic cell dysregulation in systemic sclerosis [ChIP-seq]
| PRJNA772944 | ENA
Project description:Nuclear receptor subfamily 4A signaling as a key disease pathway of CD1c+ dendritic cell dysregulation in systemic sclerosis [RNA-seq]
| PRJNA772943 | ENA
Project description:ObjectiveTo analyze the potential role of semaphorin 4A (Sema4A) in inflammatory and fibrotic processes involved in the pathology of systemic sclerosis (SSc).MethodsSema4A levels in the plasma of healthy controls (n = 11) and SSc patients (n = 20) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Sema4A and its receptors in monocytes and CD4+ T cells from healthy controls and SSc patients (n = 6-7 per group) was determined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Th17 cytokine production by CD4+ T cells (n = 5-7) was analyzed by ELISA and flow cytometry. The production of inflammatory mediators and extracellular matrix (ECM) components by dermal fibroblast cells (n = 6) was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, Western blotting, confocal microscopy, and ECM deposition assay.ResultsPlasma levels of Sema4A, and Sema4A expression by circulating monocytes and CD4+ T cells, were significantly higher in SSc patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.05). Inflammatory mediators significantly up-regulated the secretion of Sema4A by monocytes and CD4+ T cells from SSc patients (P < 0.05 versus unstimulated SSc cells). Functional assays showed that Sema4A significantly enhanced the expression of Th17 cytokines induced by CD3/CD28 in total CD4+ T cells as well in different CD4+ T cell subsets (P < 0.05 versus unstimulated SSc cells). Finally, Sema4A induced a profibrotic phenotype in dermal fibroblasts from both healthy controls and SSc patients, which was abrogated by blocking or silencing the expression of Sema4A receptors.ConclusionOur findings indicate that Sema4A plays direct and dual roles in promoting inflammation and fibrosis, 2 main features of SSc, suggesting that Sema4A might be a novel therapeutic target in SSc.
| S-EPMC6790618 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by vascular injury and fibrosis and by an impaired angiogenesis which cannot ensure an efficient vascular recovery. Vascular injury is responsible for hypoxia and tissual ischemia which are the primary triggers for angiogenesis and are not able to induce a compensatory angiogenesis. This review article is focused on current knowledge on the mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis dysregulation in systemic sclerosis.
| S-EPMC5534276 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit immunoregulatory function in human autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we show that the number of peripheral tolerogenic CD1c+ dendritic cells (DCs) and the levels of serum FLT3L are significantly decreased in SLE patients especially with lupus nephritis, compared to healthy controls. Transplantation of allogeneic umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) significantly up-regulates peripheral blood CD1c+DCs and serum FLT3L. Mechanistically, UC-MSCs express FLT3L that binds to FLT3 on CD1c+DCs to promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of tolerogenic CD1c+DCs. Conversely, reduction of FLT3L with small interfering RNA in MSCs abolishes the up-regulation of tolerogenic CD1c+DCs in lupus patients treated with MSCs. Interferon-γ induces FLT3L expression in UC-MSCs through JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Thus, allogeneic MSCs might suppress inflammation in lupus through up-regulating tolerogenic DCs.
| S-EPMC6555800 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells that are important regulators of immunity and homeostasis. CD1c+ cDCs are present in human blood and tissues, and found to efficiently activate naïve CD4+ T cells. While CD1c is thought to specifically identify this subset of human cDCs, we show here that also classical and intermediate monocytes express CD1c. Accordingly, the commercial CD1c (BDCA-1)+ Dendritic Cell Isolation Kit isolates two distinct cell populations from blood: CD1c+CD14- cDCs and CD1c+CD14+ monocytes. CD1c+ cDCs and CD1c+ monocytes exhibited strikingly different properties, including their differential regulation of surface marker expression, their levels of cytokine production, and their ability to stimulate naïve CD4+ T cells. These results demonstrate that a commercial CD1c (BDCA-1)+ Dendritic Cell Isolation Kit isolates two functionally different cell populations, which has important implications for the interpretation of previously generated data using this kit to characterize CD1c+ cDCs.
| S-EPMC4911075 | biostudies-literature