Project description:Hematopoiesis is finely regulated to enable timely production of the right numbers and types of immune cells. Herein, we report the crucial function of UBXN3B in B lymphopoiesis. In the inducible global knockout and B cell-specific Ubxn3b knockout model, the terminal B cell number is reduced by > 90% in both Ubxn3b-/- mouse models. Transfer of wildtype bone marrows to irradiated global Ubxn3b-/- restores the B population, while reverse transplantation fails to do so. The deficiency begins from the precursor stage. The B population drops rapidly with significant apoptosis, presents a much higher level of pro-caspase-3 protein following induction of Ubxn3b knockout. RNA-sequencing reveals significantly suppressed cell cycle genes while upregulated TP53 signaling in Ubxn3b-/- B cells. Ubxn3b-/- mice are highly vulnerable to respiratory viruses, with increased lung viral loads and immunopathology, reduced B population and virus-specific IgM/IgG. This study reveals a cell-intrinsic essential role of UBXN3B in B cell survival and UBXN3B as a potential therapeutic target for B-cell related diseases.
Project description:Hematopoiesis is finely regulated to enable timely production of the right numbers and types of immune cells. Herein, we report the crucial function of UBXN3B in B lymphopoiesis. In the inducible global knockout and B cell-specific Ubxn3b knockout model, the terminal B cell number is reduced by > 90% in both Ubxn3b-/- mouse models. Transfer of wildtype bone marrows to irradiated global Ubxn3b-/- restores the B population, while reverse transplantation fails to do so. The deficiency begins from the precursor stage. The B population drops rapidly with significant apoptosis, presents a much higher level of pro-caspase-3 protein following induction of Ubxn3b knockout. RNA-sequencing reveals significantly suppressed cell cycle genes while upregulated TP53 signaling in Ubxn3b-/- B cells. Ubxn3b-/- mice are highly vulnerable to respiratory viruses, with increased lung viral loads and immunopathology, reduced B population and virus-specific IgM/IgG. This study reveals a cell-intrinsic essential role of UBXN3B in B cell survival and UBXN3B as a potential therapeutic target for B-cell related diseases.
Project description:Energy metabolism and extracellular matrix function are closely connected to orchestrate and maintain tissue organization, but the crosstalk is poorly understood. Here, we used scRNA-seq analysis to uncover the importance of respiration for extracellular matrix homeostasis in mature cartilage. Genetic inhibition of respiration in cartilage results in the expansion of a central area of 1-month-old mouse femur head cartilage showing disorganized chondrocytes and increased deposition of extracellular matrix material. scRNA-seq analysis identified a cluster-specific decrease in mitochondrial DNA-encoded respiratory chain genes and a unique regulation of extracellular matrix-related genes in nonarticular chondrocyte clusters. These changes were associated with alterations in extracellular matrix composition, a shift in the collagen/non-collagen protein content and an increase of collagen crosslinking and ECM stiffness. The results demonstrate, based on findings of the scRNA-seq analysis, that respiration is a key factor contributing to ECM integrity and mechanostability in cartilage and presumably also in many other tissues.
Project description:Here, we used single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile pluripotent stem cell derived human intestinal organoids (HIOs) grown in matrigel or a non-adhesive alginate hydrogel after 28 days of in vitro growth. Additionally, we used scRNA-seq to profile HIOs derived in the presence of Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and/or EGF after 40 days of in vitro growth.