Project description:Analysis of CD8 cells at the gene expression level during the genital HSV-2 reactivation. We would like to get a comprehensive overview on gene expression of CD8 T-cells during the post healing phases of HSV-2 reactivation. The hypothesis is that CD8 T-cells play a immune surveillance function during the post healing phases. CD8 cells were immunofluorescently stained and laser captured from post healing biopsies and contralateral control biopsies, total RNA were purified from captured cells and cDNA were amplified from the total RNA using NuGEN pico kits
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of CD8 cells laser captured from skin biopsies at dermal-epidermal junction and at deeper dermal area near blood vessel during the healed phase of mucocutaneous HSV-2 reactivation
Project description:We aim to analyze the transcriptional profiles of keratinocytes near dermal-epidemal junction during HSV-2 reactivation in humans, including lesion, post healed (4 and 8 weeks post healing) and contra-lateral control biopsies. Since keratinocytes are the main target cells for HSV-2 infection, the goal is to define the intrinsic immunity of keratinocytes during HSV-2 reactivation in humans.
Project description:Analysis of host response at the gene expression level during lesion and post healing periods (2- & 8-weeks after HSV-2 reactivation induced lesion is resolved). We would like to get a comprehensive overview on host gene expression of genital skin during lesion and post healing periods of recurrent HSV-2 infection as compared to those in control skin.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:Analysis of ex vivo isolated lymphatic endothelial cells from the dermis of patients to define type 2 diabetes-induced changes. Results preveal aberrant dermal lymphangiogenesis and provide insight into its role in the pathogenesis of persistent skin inflammation in type 2 diabetes. The ex vivo dLEC transcriptome reveals a dramatic influence of the T2D environment on multiple molecular and cellular processes, mirroring the phenotypic changes seen in T2D affected skin. The positively and negatively correlated dLEC transcripts directly cohere to prolonged inflammatory periods and reduced infectious resistance of patients´ skin. Further, lymphatic vessels might be involved in tissue remodeling processes during T2D induced skin alterations associated with impaired wound healing and altered dermal architecture. Hence, dermal lymphatic vessels might be directly associated with T2D disease promotion.
Project description:We aim to get a comprehensive analysis on gene expression of CD8a+ T-cells during the post healed phases of HSV-2 reactivation at different anatomic location (CD8a+ cells at dermal-epidermal junction versus CD8a+ cells in deeper dermal area near blood vessel). Our hypothesis is that JC_CD8 cells may function as a resident effector-like T-cells while BV_CD8 cells may be infiltrating cells from circulation. CD8 cells were immunofluorescently stained and laser captured from genital skin biopsies at dermal-epidermal junction at 2 and 8 weeks post healed (JC_2wks_CD8 and JC_8wks_CD8) and at deeper dermal area near blood vessel (BV_2wks_CD8 and BV_8wks_CD8); total RNA were purified from captured cells and cDNA were amplified from the total RNA using NuGEN pico kits
Project description:Analysis of host response at the gene expression level during the genital HSV-2 reactivation. We would like to get a comprehensive overview on host gene expression and correlate them with the infiltrated immune cell types during HSV-2 reactivation. The hypothesis is that HSV-2 may evade some aspects of host immune response during the recurrent infection.