Gene expression from human keratinocytes isolated from limited systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and diffuse systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) skin biopsy
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE81072 | GEO | 2018/03/21
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by clinical heterogeneity, multi-organ involvement, and complex genetic risk. Here, we report the first multi-tissue meta-analysis of ten independent SSc gene expression datasets. We identify a common immune-fibrotic expression axis across all tissues that is associated with the most severe disease phenotypes. The coexpression patterns conserved across tissues and phenotypes were used to query functional genomic networks, which allowed us to identify common and tissue-specific disease drivers. We find evidence of pro-fibrotic macrophages (MØs) in SSc end-target organs. Prominent genes in the skin functional genomic network are associated with SSc genetic risk and are modulated by immunosuppressive treatment in clinical improvers. These data suggest the interactions between T lymphocytes and MØs are a critical driver of disease and implicate MØs as central to SSc pathogenesis. In total, this study presents a mechanism for fibrosis in SSc end-target tissues, a set of putative therapeutic targets for modulating SSc, and a framework for multi-tissue functional genomic studies of complex human disease.
2017-01-01 | GSE76806 | GEO
Project description:Objectives: Eph/Ephrin cell-cell signaling is emerging as a key player in tissue fibrogenesis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the receptor tyrosine kinase EphB2 mediates dermal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: We assessed normal and SSc human skin biopsies for EphB2 expression. The in vivo role of EphB2 in skin fibrosis was investigated by subjecting EphB2-knockout mice to both bleomycin-induced and tight skin (Tsk1/+) genetic mouse models. EphB2 kinase-dead and overactive point mutant mice were used to evaluate the role of EphB2 forward signaling in bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis. In vitro studies were performed on dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients and healthy controls, which was followed by in vivo analysis of fibroblast-specific EphB2 deficient mice. Results: Expression of EphB2 is upregulated in SSc skin tissue and explanted SSc dermal fibroblasts compared to healthy controls. EphB2 expression is elevated in two animal models of dermal fibrosis. In mice, EphB2 drives dermal fibrosis in both the bleomycin and the Tsk1/+ models of skin fibrosis. EphB2 forward signaling is a critical mediator of dermal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) cytokines upregulate EphB2 in dermal fibroblasts via non-canonical TGFβ/SMAD signaling and silencing EphB2 in dermal fibroblasts is sufficient to dampen TGFβ-induced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. Moreover, mice with fibroblast-specific deletion of EphB2 showed impaired fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and reduced skin fibrosis upon bleomycin challenge. Conclusion: Our data implicate EphB2 overexpression and kinase-mediated forward signaling in the development of dermal fibrosis in SSc. EphB2 thus represents a potential new therapeutic target for SSc.
2024-04-10 | GSE253089 | GEO
Project description:Objectives. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels are increased in SSc skin and other organs but its role in fibrosis development is highly debated. Since epithelial cells are preferential targets of IL-17A, we aimed at investigating the role of IL-17A in the interactions between epidermis and dermis. Methods. Organotypic cultures of HD full human skin were challenged with IL-17A,TNF and TGF-β. Inflammatory mediators and type I collagen (col-I) levels were quantified. IL-17A- and TGF-β-induced changes in gene expression in full human skin were analysed by RNA sequencing. Results. In full human skin, TGF-β induced pro-fibrotic gene signature dominated by Wnt signalling. While IL-17A strongly promoted expression of many pro-inflammatory genes, it did not affect collagen gene levels but decreased Wnt signalling. At the protein level, IL-17A showed direct anti-fibrotic effects, as well as decreased by 2-fold TGF-β-triggered col-I production. Conclusions. We report here firstly, a novel model of fibrotic skin and secondly, that IL-17A acts as a potent anti-fibrotic factor in the full human skin. Furthermore, we show that IL-17A not only decreased ECM deposition by itself, but also counteracted TGF-β pro-fibrotic activities. Thus, IL-17A seems to play a dual role in SSc skin – strongly pro-inflammatory but anti-fibrotic, being an example that fibrosis and inflammation, although closely related, are two different processes. These data may help in directing and interpreting therapeutic approaches in SSc, since both, IL-17A and TGF-β, are target candidates in clinical trials.
2020-02-11 | GSE122305 | GEO
Project description:Skin and lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is driven by myofibroblasts, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expressing cells that produce matrix as well as increase tension on surrounding tissues. Myofibroblast progenitors have been described to arise from a variety of cell types in murine fibrosis models, but relatively modest insight is available as to their source and differentiation in fibrotic human diseases. We utilize single cell RNA-sequencing to examine the transcriptome changes that occur in fibroblasts in SSc skin and during myofibroblast differentiation. We show that dermal myofibroblasts arise from an SFRP2/DPP4-expressing progenitor fibroblast population. In SSc skin, fibroblasts undergo global changes in gene expression, including SFRP2-expressing fibroblasts, which globally upregulate expression of markers, such as PRSS23 and THBS1. However, only a fraction of SSc fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts, as shown by expression of additional markers, such as SFRP4 and FNDC1. These results indicate that myofibroblasts derive from a specific fibroblast subpopulation in SSc skin, that their differentiation proceeds in two stages and that other fibroblast populations also shift transcriptomes in SSc skin, suggesting a cytokine driven process. The myofibroblast transcriptome implicates upstream transcription factors that should help further unravel the drivers of myofibroblast differentiation.
2021-05-20 | GSE138669 | GEO
Project description:In systemic sclerosis (SSc) evidence suggests abnormal keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions. We investigated the potential epidermal dysfunction in SSc and its effects on dermis homeostasis. Epidermal equivalents (EE) were generated from six healthy donor (HD) and four SSc keratinocytes. Skin and EE expression of proliferation, differentiation, and activation markers was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The transcriptomic profile of SSc-EE and HD-EE was identified by RNAseq analysis. EE conditioned medium (CM) was used to stimulate fibroblasts, and their production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, type-I collagen (col-I), and fibronectin was assessed by ELISA. Compared to HD, SSc-EE exhibited aberrant differentiation, enhanced expression of activation markers, and lower mitotic rate of basal keratinocytes, reproducing most of the abnormalities observed in SSc epidermis. RNAseq analysis revealed that, compared to HD-EE, SSc-EE were characterized by the downregulation of HOX gene family members and by the upregulation of metabolic and oxidative stress molecular pathways. EE-CM enhanced the fibroblast production of IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, Col-I, and fibronectin (p<0.05). Except for Col-I and fibronectin, this effect was 2-fold higher in the presence of CM generated form SSc-EE. IL-1 was, at least in part, responsible for keratinocyte-dependent fibroblast activation. SSc-EE recapitulate the in vivo characteristic of SSc epidermis demonstrating that SSc keratinocytes have an intrinsically altered differentiation program possibly due to the downregulation of genes from the HOX family. The increased metabolic and oxidative stress associated with SSc epidermis may participate to dermis chronic inflammation and fibrosis
2021-08-13 | GSE156173 | GEO
Project description:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a devastating autoimmune disease characterized by excessive production and accumulation of extracellular matrix, leading to fibrosis of skin and other internal organs. However, the main cellular participants in SSc skin fibrosis remain incompletely understood. Here using differentiation trajectories at a single cell level, we demonstrate a dual source of extracellular matrix deposition in SSc skin from both myofibroblasts and endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transitioning cells (EndoMT). We further define a central role of Hippo pathway effectors in differentiation and homeostasis of myofibroblast and EndoMT, respectively, and show that myofibroblasts and EndoMTs act as central communication hubs that drive key pro-fibrotic signaling pathways in SSc. Together, our data help characterize myofibroblast differentiation and EndoMT phenotypes in SSc skin, and hint that modulation of the Hippo pathway may contribute in reversing the pro-fibrotic phenotypes in myofibroblasts and EndoMTs.
2023-12-06 | GSE249279 | GEO
Project description:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an incurable autoimmune disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, with no effective treatment. Here, we conducted a population scale single-cell genomic analysis of skin and blood samples of 56 healthy controls, and 97 SSc patients at different stages of disease. We found immune compartment activation in only a subset of diffuse SSc patients, but global dysregulation of the stromal compartment, including a novel subset of LGR5+ scleroderma associated fibroblasts (ScAF). ScAF cells are mainly localized in the deep reticular dermis of healthy subjects and are dramatically perturbed morphologically and molecularly in SSc patients. Single-cell multiome profiling of the epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes of stromal cells in healthy subjects and SSc patients, revealed ScAF-specific markers, pathways, and transcription factors important in disease development. Systematic analysis combining the clinical metadata and molecular features of the patients, associates specific ScAF targets with disease pathogenesis and SSc clinical traits. Our study provides a high-resolution atlas of the entire spectrum of sclerodermatous skin, proposing a paradigm shift in the understanding of SSc disease and facilitating the development of new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for SSc.
2022-04-04 | GSE195452 | GEO
Project description:Aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) resulting in dermal fibrosis is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Evidence suggests that dysfunctional SSc keratinocytes may contribute to fibrosis by altering dermal homeostasis. Whether interleukin-25 (IL-25), an IL-17 family member involved in epithelial/mesenchymal/immune cell interplay takes part in skin fibrosis is unknown. Here we address the role of IL-25 in SSc skin fibrosis. Compared to healthy donor (HD), in SSc and scleroderma-like disorders the epidermis expressed significantly lower levels of IL-25. In epidermal equivalents, IL-25 regulated several molecular pathways related to wound healing and ECM remodeling. Compared to control conditioned medium (CM), the CM from IL-25-primed keratinocytes enhanced the production by fibroblasts of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), IL-6, IL-8 (p< 0.05), but not of type-I collagen (Col-I ) nor fibronectin. However, IL- 25 significantly reduced the production of Col-I when applied directly to fibroblasts. The activation of keratinocytes by IL-25 was receptor-dependent and evident after a very short incubation time (10 min), largely mediated by IL-1, suggesting enhanced and specific release of preformed mediators. These results show that IL-25 participates to skin homeostasis and its decreased expression in SSc may contribute to skin fibrosis by favoring ECM deposition over degradation.
2022-03-31 | GSE168312 | GEO
Project description:Currently, there are no clinical or laboratory measures that accurately predict progression of skin fibrosis and organ involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The goal of this study is to identify skin biomarkers in early diffuse cutaneous SSc patients, to prognosticate the progression of skin fibrosis. We found that skin gene expression of biomarkers associated with macrophages (CD14, IL13RA1) and TGFβ activation (SERPINE1, CTGF, OSMR) are prognostic for progressive skin disease. These biomarkers might help to guide decisions about which patients should be considered for aggressive therapies and/or for clinical trials.
2018-06-04 | GSE106358 | GEO
Project description:Esophageal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is common, but tissue-specific pathological mechanisms are poorly understood. Fibrosis in the esophagus is thought to disrupt smooth muscle function and lead to esophageal dilatation, but autopsy studies demonstrate esophageal smooth muscle atrophy and the absence of fibrosis in the majority of SSc cases. Molecular characterization of SSc esophageal pathology is lacking. Herein, we perform a detailed characterization of SSc esophageal histopathology and molecular signatures at the level of gene expression. Esophageal biopsies were prospectively obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 16 consecutive SSc patients and 7 subjects without SSc. Upper and lower esophageal biopsies were evaluated for histopathology and gene expression. Individual patient’s upper and lower esophageal biopsies showed nearly identical patterns of gene expression. Similar to skin, inflammatory and proliferative gene expression signatures were identified suggesting that molecular subsets are a universal feature of SSc end-target organ pathology. The inflammatory signature was present in biopsies without high numbers of infiltrating lymphocytes. Molecular classification of esophageal biopsies was independent of SSc skin subtype, serum autoantibodies and esophagitis. Proliferative and inflammatory molecular gene expression subsets in tissues from patients with SSc may be a conserved, reproducible component of SSc pathogenesis. The inflammatory signature is observed in biopsies that lack large inflammatory infiltrates suggesting that immune activation is a major driver of SSc esophageal pathogenesis.
2015-10-19 | GSE68698 | GEO