Project description:Instability in the composition of gut bacterial communities, referred as dysbiosis, has been associated with important human intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer. Our data showed that Nod2-mediated risk of intestinal inflammation in colitis model is communicable to WT mice by cohousing. Here, we investigated if Nod2-deficient mice microbiota is able to change transcript profiles in Nod2-immunocompetent mice (C57Bl6/J mice) independently of colitis. Analysis used RNA extracted from colonic mucosa of C57Bl/6J mice co-housed with Nod2-deficient mice and C57Bl/6J mice alone. Direct comparisons of 4 biologicals replicates of C57Bl/6J mice cohoused with Nod2-deficient mice vs C57Bl/6J mice were performed.
Project description:Instability in the composition of gut bacterial communities, referred as dysbiosis, has been associated with important human intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer. Our data showed that Nod2-mediated risk of intestinal inflammation in colitis model is communicable to WT mice by cohousing. Here, we investigated if Nod2-deficient mice microbiota is able to change transcript profiles in Nod2-immunocompetent mice (C57Bl6/J mice) independently of colitis.
Project description:Recognition and response to gram-positive bacteria by macrophages and dendritic cells is mediated in part through TLR2. We found that that Streptococcus pneumoniae cell wall fragments, containing primarily peptidoglycan and teichoic acids, induced prodigious secretion of IL-10 from macrophages and dendritic cells and was dependent on TLR2 and NOD2, a cytoplasmic CARD-NACHT-LRR protein encoded by Card15. IL-10 secretion in response to cell walls was also dependent on RICK/RIP2, a kinase associated with NOD2, and MYD88 but independent of the ERK/p38 pathway. The reduction of IL-10 secretion by cell wall-activated NOD2-deficient myeloid–derived cells translated into downstream effects on IL-10 target gene expression and elevations in subsets of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression normally restrained by autocrine/paracrine effects of IL-10. Since NOD2 is linked to aberrant immune responses in Crohn’s Disease patients bearing mutations in CARD15, the temporal and quantitative effects of the TLR2/NOD/RICK pathway on IL-10 secretion may affect homeostatic control of immune responses to gram-positive bacteria. Keywords: immune response simulated pathogen response
Project description:Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (Nod2) signaling is critical for human health.To figure out the clinical relevance of NOD2 ligands, the investigators plan to evaluate the change of NOD2 ligands in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), CRC, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2 ).
Project description:Nod2 has been extensively characterized as a bacterial sensor that induces an antimicrobial and inflammatory gene expression program. Therefore, it is unclear why Nod2 mutations that disrupt bacterial recognition are paradoxically among the highest risk factors for Crohn’s disease, which involves an exaggerated immune response directed at intestinal bacteria. Previous studies from our lab have shown that mice deficient in Atg16L1, another Crohns disease susceptibility gene, develop abnormalities in Paneth cells, specialized epithelial cells in the small intestine involved in antimicrobial responses. The goal of our study is to determine whether Nod2 deficiency leads to differences in the transcriptional profile of Paneth cells, ultimately leading to small intestinal inflammation. Small intestinal sections (ileum) of 8 week old WT and Nod2-/- mice were fixed in methacarn and embedded in paraffin. The Leica LMD6000 Laser Microdissection system was used to capture crypt base epithelial cells to enrich for Paneth cells. RNA was extracted from these cells, followed by cDNA synthesis and qPCR to confirm enrichment of Paneth cells using unique markers (a-defensins).