Project description:We report that hyperglycemia-mediated induction of genes and pathways associated to endothelial dysfunction occur through modulation of acetylated H3K9/K14 inversely correlated with methyl-CpG content. Examination of H3K9/K14 histone acetylation and DNA methylation in hyperglycemic conditions.
Project description:Analysis of whole transcript in mice with overexpression of 4-1BB under the control of keratin 14 promoter. The study analyze the whole transcript from all eye tissue obtained from C57/BL6 (WT control), K14-4-1BB (355) low copy number mice, K14-4-1BB (389) full blown disease mice (uveitis and cataract) and K14-4-1BB (389) onset of disease mice (eye inflammation).
Project description:Analysis comparing K14 and MCHII+/- Tregs. The hypothesis was that the lack of MHCII+/- in the spleen and intestine would result in a large shift in K14 Treg gene expression away from an activated and effector phenotype. Results demonstrate how a lack of MHCII-antigen presentation in the small intestine, where Tregs exhibit an effector penotype, does not greatly reduce effector features of T regulatory cells in K14 mice.
Project description:Keratin cytoskeletal proteins are crucial for the maintenance of skin integrity. Mutations in genes coding for K5 and K14 cause the human skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) leading to substantial alterations in keratin assembly and collapse of keratin filaments into cytoplasmic protein aggregates. The phenotypic consequences of K5 and K14 mutations comprise fragility of basal keratinocytes and skin blistering upon mild mechanical trauma. Treatment of EBS is only supportive and consists primarily of wound care and avoidance of mechanical stress. Besides symptomatic care, no efficient therapeutic treatment is available for EBS. In the present study, we used patient-derived keratinocytes carrying the most frequent K14.R125C mutation as a reproducible EBS model to understand EBS pathomechanisms and to develop a therapy approach aimed to restore a functional keratin network. Numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation have been reported to occur on keratins, which affect the organization of keratin networks. Whether keratin mutations affect the occurrence of PTMs and thereby keratin aggregation in EBS is yet unknown. We find that the K14.R125C mutation alters keratin and keratin-associated protein PTMs in distinct ways and suggest that disease mutations and altered PTMs aggravate keratin aggregation. We reason that chemical compounds affecting the interplay of mutations and PTMs enable the reformation of a keratin cytoskeleton from aggregates are potential candidates for combating EBS.
Project description:We report that hyperglycemia-mediated induction of genes and pathways associated to endothelial dysfunction occur through modulation of acetylated H3K9/K14 inversely correlated with methyl-CpG content.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of SOX11-expressing mouse epidermis (K14-rtTA;TRE-Sox11-FLAG) compared to control (K14-rtTA) epidermis at postnatal day 4 (P4). The littermate pairs were injected with Dox for 12 h before their epidermis was harvested. Goal was to identify the gene expression profile of postnatal epidermis changed by SOX11 induced expression.
Project description:In human basal-like breast cancer, mutations and deletions in TP53 and BRCA1 are frequent oncogenic events. Thus, we interbred mice expressing the CRE-recombinase with mice harboring loxP sites at TP53 and BRCA1 (K14-Cre; p53F/F Brca1F/F) to test the hypothesis that tissue specific deletion of TP53 and BRCA1 would give rise to tumors reflective of human basal-like breast cancer. In support of our hypothesis, these transgenic mice developed tumors that express basal-like cytokeratins and intrinsic gene expression features similar to human basal-like tumors. Array comparative genomic hybridization revealed a striking conservation of copy number alterations between the K14-Cre; p53F/F Brca1F/F mouse model and human basal-like breast cancer. Conserved events included MYC amplification, KRAS amplification, and RB1 loss. Microarray analysis demonstrated that these DNA copy number events also led to corresponding changes in signatures of pathway activation including high proliferation due to RB1 loss. K14-Cre; p53F/F Brca1F/F also matched human basal-like breast cancer for a proposentity to have immune-cell infiltrates. Given the long latency of K14-Cre; p53F/F Brca1F/F tumors (~250 days), we created tumor syngeneic transplant lines, as well as in vitro cell lines, which were tested for sensitivity to carboplatin and paclitaxel. These therapies invoked acute regression, extended overall survival, and resulted in gene expression signatures of an anti-tumor immune response. These findings demonstrate that this model is a valuable preclinical resource for the study of human basal-like breast cancer.
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis include excessive inflammation and viral-induced cell death, resulting in tissue damage. We identified the host E3-ubiquitin ligase TRIM7 as an inhibitor of apoptosis and SARS-CoV-2 replication via ubiquitination of the viral membrane (M) protein. Trim7-/- mice exhibited increased pathology and virus titers associated with epithelial apoptosis and dysregulated immune responses. Mechanistically, TRIM7 ubiquitinates M on K14, which protects cells from cell death. Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 sequence analysis from infected patients revealed that mutations on M-K14 appeared in circulating variants during the pandemic. The relevance of these mutations was tested in a mouse model. A recombinant M-K14/K15R virus showed reduced viral replication, consistent with the role of K15 in virus assembly, and increased levels of apoptosis associated with the loss of ubiquitination on K14. TRIM7 antiviral activity requires caspase-6 inhibition, linking apoptosis with viral replication and pathology.
Project description:Dowling-Meara type epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS-DM) is a severe blistering disease, caused by dominant mutations in either the keratin-5 (K5) or keratin-14 (K14) gene. K5 and K14 are the major components of the intermediate filament (IF) network in basal keratinocytes. Due to the dominant nature of EBS-DM, misfolded K5 or K14 proteins are incorporated into intermediate filaments, rendering them sensitive to mechanical stress. Upon trauma, these filaments disrupt and the keratinocytes lyse, leading to intra-epidermal blistering.The dominant nature of K5 and K14 mutations in EBS-DM represents a challenge to gene-therapeutic approaches. Therefore, we investigated the gene expression profile of a K14 mutant keratinocyte cell line (EBDM1) and compared it to the gene expression profile of a wild-type keratinocyte cell line (NEB1). The aim of this study was to identify differentially regulated genes as potential therapeutic targets for the development of new therapies.
Project description:Dowling-Meara type epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS-DM) is a severe blistering disease, caused by dominant mutations in either the keratin-5 (K5) or keratin-14 (K14) gene. K5 and K14 are the major components of the intermediate filament (IF) network in basal keratinocytes. Due to the dominant nature of EBS-DM, misfolded K5 or K14 proteins are incorporated into intermediate filaments, rendering them sensitive to mechanical stress. Upon trauma, these filaments disrupt and the keratinocytes lyse, leading to intra-epidermal blistering. The dominant nature of K5 and K14 mutations in EBS-DM represents a challenge to gene therapeutic approaches. Therefore, we investigated the gene expression profile of a K14 mutant keratinocyte cell line (KEB7) and compared it to the gene expression profile of a wild-type keratinocyte cell line (NEB1). The aim of this study was to identify differentially regulated genes as potential therapeutic targets for the development of new therapies.