Project description:Genetic etiologies of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) disrupt human IL-17A/F-dependent immunity at mucosal surfaces, whereas those of connective tissue disorders (CTD) often impair the TGF-β-dependent homeostasis of connective tissues. The signaling pathways involved are incompletely understood. We report a three-generation family with an autosomal dominant (AD) combination of CMC and a novel CTD that clinically overlaps with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The patients are heterozygous for a private splice-site variant of MAPK8, the gene encoding c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), a component of the MAPK signaling pathway. This variant is loss-of-expression and loss-of-function in the patients’ fibroblasts, which display AD JNK1 deficiency by haploinsufficiency. These cells have impaired, but not abolished, responses to IL-17A and IL-17F. Moreover, the development of the patients’ TH17 cells was impaired ex vivo and in vitro, probably due to the involvement of JNK1 in the TGF-β-responsive pathway and further accounting for the patients’ CMC. Consistently, the patients’ fibroblasts displayed impaired JNK1- and c-Jun/ATF2-dependent induction of key extracellular matrix (ECM) components and regulators, but not of EDS-causing gene products, in response to TGF-β. Furthermore, they displayed a transcriptional pattern in response to TGF-β different from that of fibroblasts from patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and mutations of TGFBR2 or SMAD3, further accounting for the patients’ complex and unusual CTD phenotype. This experiment of Nature indicates that the integrity of the human JNK1-dependent MAPK signaling pathway is essential for IL-17A- and IL-17F-dependent mucocutaneous immunity to Candida, and for the TGF-β-dependent homeostasis of connective tissues.
Project description:Genetic etiologies of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) disrupt human IL-17A/F-dependent immunity at mucosal surfaces, whereas those of connective tissue disorders (CTD) often impair the TGF-β-dependent homeostasis of connective tissues. The signaling pathways involved are incompletely understood. We report a three-generation family with an autosomal dominant (AD) combination of CMC and a novel CTD that clinically overlaps with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The patients are heterozygous for a private splice-site variant of MAPK8, the gene encoding c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), a component of the MAPK signaling pathway. This variant is loss-of-expression and loss-of-function in the patients’ fibroblasts, which display AD JNK1 deficiency by haploinsufficiency. These cells have impaired, but not abolished, responses to IL-17A and IL-17F. Moreover, the development of the patients’ TH17 cells was impaired ex vivo and in vitro, probably due to the involvement of JNK1 in the TGF-β-responsive pathway and further accounting for the patients’ CMC. Consistently, the patients’ fibroblasts displayed impaired JNK1- and c-Jun/ATF2-dependent induction of key extracellular matrix (ECM) components and regulators, but not of EDS-causing gene products, in response to TGF-β. Furthermore, they displayed a transcriptional pattern in response to TGF-β different from that of fibroblasts from patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and mutations of TGFBR2 or SMAD3, further accounting for the patients’ complex and unusual CTD phenotype. This experiment of Nature indicates that the integrity of the human JNK1-dependent MAPK signaling pathway is essential for IL-17A- and IL-17F-dependent mucocutaneous immunity to Candida, and for the TGF-β-dependent homeostasis of connective tissues.
Project description:Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and connective tissue disorder in humans with impaired JNK1-dependent responses to IL-17A/F and TGF-?
Project description:Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and connective tissue disorder in humans with impaired JNK1-dependent responses to IL-17A/F and TGF-β [RNA-Seq]
Project description:The treatment of chronic mucocutaneous ulceration is challenging and only some patients respond selectively to inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). TNF-a activates opposing pathways leading to caspase-8-mediated apoptosis as well as NF-kB-dependent cell survival. We investigated the etiology of autosomal dominant mucocutaneous ulceration in a family whose proband was dependent on anti-TNF-a therapy for sustained remission. A heterozygous mutation in RELA (NM_021975: c.559+1G>A), encoding the NF-kB subunit RelA (p65), segregated with the disease phenotype and resulted in RelA haploinsufficiency. The patients’ fibroblasts exhibited increased apoptosis in response to TNF-a, impaired NF-kB activation, and defective expression of NF-B-dependent anti-apoptotic genes. We show that Rela+/- mice have similarly impaired NF-kB activation, develop cutaneous ulceration from TNF-a exposure, and exhibit severe dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis ameliorated by TNF-a inhibition. These findings demonstrate an essential contribution of biallelic RELA expression in protecting stromal cells from TNF-a-mediated cell death, thus delineating the mechanisms driving the effectiveness of TNF-a inhibition in this disease.
Project description:Chronic liver injury triggers complications such as liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are associated with alterations in distinct signaling pathways. Of particular interest is the interaction between mechanisms controlled by IKKγ/NEMO, the regulatory IKK subunit, and Jnk activation for directing cell death and survival. In the present study, we aimed to define the relevance of Jnk in hepatocyte-specific NEMO knockout mice (NEMOΔhepa), a genetic model of chronic inflammatory liver injury. We generated global Jnk1-/-/NEMOΔhepa and Jnk2-/-/NEMOΔhepa mice by crossing NEMOΔhepa mice with Jnk1-/- and Jnk2-/- animals, respectively, and examined the progression of chronic liver disease. Moreover, we investigated the expression of Jnk during acute liver injury, evaluated the role of Jnk1 in bone marrow-derived cells, and analyzed the expression of NEMO and pJnk in human diseased-livers. Deletion of Jnk1 significantly aggravated the progression of liver disease, exacerbating apoptosis, compensatory proliferation and carcinogenesis in NEMOΔhepa mice. Jnk2-/-/NEMOΔhepa showed increased RIP-1 and RIP-3 expression and hepatic inflammation. Jnk1 in hematopoietic cells rather than hepatocytes had an impact on the progression of chronic liver disease in NEMOΔhepa livers. These findings are of clinical relevance since NEMO expression was down-regulated in hepatocytes of patients with HCC whereas NEMO and pJnk were expressed in a large amount of infiltrating cells. While Jnk1 is protective in NEMOΔhepa-depleted hepatocytes, Jnk1 in hematopoietic cells rather than hepatocytes is a crucial driver of hepatic injury. These results elucidate the complex function of Jnk in chronic inflammatory liver disease. Livers from global knockout mice for Jnk1 (Jnk1-/-) and Jnk2 (Jnk2-/- ), and double-knockout mice for Jnk1/NEMO (global Jnk1-/-/NEMOΔhepa) and Jnk2/NEMO (global Jnk2-/-/NEMOΔhepa), were subjected to gene expression profiling.
Project description:Purpose: Damage to the uterosacral ligaments is an important contributor to uterine and vaginal prolapse. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in the uterosacral ligaments of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse and analyze their relationships to cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse. Experimental Design: Uterosacral ligament connective tissue from four patients with pelvic organ prolapse and four control women underwent iTRAQ analysis followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of differentially expressed proteins. Differentially expressed proteins were valideated using western blot analysis. Results: A total of 1789 unique protein sequences were identified in the uterosacral ligament connective tissues. 88 proteins had expression levels that were significantly different between prolapse and control groups (≥1.2-fold). Ingenuity pathway analysis demonstrated 14 differentially expressed proteins that were associated with "Connective Tissue Function". Among them, fibromodulin(FMOD), Collagen alpha-1 (XIV) chain(COL14A1), Calponin-1 (CNN-1), Tenascin (TNC), and Galectin-1(LGALS1 appeared most likely to play a role in the etiology of pelvic organ prolapse. Conclusions and clinical relevence: We identified at least 6 proteins not previously associated with the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse with biologic functions that suggest a plausible relationship to the disorder. These results may be helpful for furthering our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of pelvic organ prolapse.
Project description:Interstitial cystitis (IC) and bladder pain syndrome are terms used to describe a heterogenous chronic pelvic and bladder pain disorder of unknown etiology. The goal of this pilot study was to determine if gene expression profiling of bladder biopsy tissue from patients experiencing symptoms could be used to separate the patients based on some clinical parameter.
Project description:Chronic liver injury triggers complications such as liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are associated with alterations in distinct signaling pathways. Of particular interest is the interaction between mechanisms controlled by IKKγ/NEMO, the regulatory IKK subunit, and Jnk activation for directing cell death and survival. In the present study, we aimed to define the relevance of Jnk in hepatocyte-specific NEMO knockout mice (NEMOΔhepa), a genetic model of chronic inflammatory liver injury. We generated global Jnk1-/-/NEMOΔhepa and Jnk2-/-/NEMOΔhepa mice by crossing NEMOΔhepa mice with Jnk1-/- and Jnk2-/- animals, respectively, and examined the progression of chronic liver disease. Moreover, we investigated the expression of Jnk during acute liver injury, evaluated the role of Jnk1 in bone marrow-derived cells, and analyzed the expression of NEMO and pJnk in human diseased-livers. Deletion of Jnk1 significantly aggravated the progression of liver disease, exacerbating apoptosis, compensatory proliferation and carcinogenesis in NEMOΔhepa mice. Jnk2-/-/NEMOΔhepa showed increased RIP-1 and RIP-3 expression and hepatic inflammation. Jnk1 in hematopoietic cells rather than hepatocytes had an impact on the progression of chronic liver disease in NEMOΔhepa livers. These findings are of clinical relevance since NEMO expression was down-regulated in hepatocytes of patients with HCC whereas NEMO and pJnk were expressed in a large amount of infiltrating cells. While Jnk1 is protective in NEMOΔhepa-depleted hepatocytes, Jnk1 in hematopoietic cells rather than hepatocytes is a crucial driver of hepatic injury. These results elucidate the complex function of Jnk in chronic inflammatory liver disease.