Project description:MRL/Faslpr mice is a lupus prone strain that exhibits lupus disease features at 12-16 weeks of age, including high-titer circulating anti-DNA antibodies, splenomegaly, lymphadnopathy, skin lesions, and IgG deposits in the kidney. At 16-24 weeks of age, CD4+ B220- CD44+ T cells were sorted into three populations based on the expression of two cell surface molecules, CD62L and PSGL1. CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo CD4+ T cells were isolated directly ex vivo. There was no treatment given to the animals. Naive (CD62Lhi CD44lo) CD4+ B220- T cells were isolated from young 6-8 week old female mice for comparison. We used a microarray to identify unique features of the CD62Llo PSGL1lo population in comparison to naïve CD4+ T cells and other activated CD4+ T cells. Cells were isolated from the spleens of aged (16-24 weeks) female MRL/Faslpr mice directy ex vivo, and immediatley sorted into 3 populations; CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo. All 3 populations of cells were previously gated on TCRb+, CD4+, B220-, CD44+. Naive CD4 T cells were isolated directly ex vivo from the spleens of young (6-8 weeks) female MRL/Faslpr mice, and immediately sorted by gating on TCRb+, CD4+, B220-, CD62Lhi, CD44lo. Three indepedent sorts were performed. RNA was isolated using Qiagen's RNAeasy kit and total RNA was submitted to the W.M. Keck Foundation Biotechnology Resource Laboratory at Yale for amplification and hybridization to Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 GeneChips.
Project description:MRL/Faslpr mice is a lupus prone strain that exhibits lupus disease features at 12-16 weeks of age, including high-titer circulating anti-DNA antibodies, splenomegaly, lymphadnopathy, skin lesions, and IgG deposits in the kidney. At 16-24 weeks of age, CD4+ B220- CD44+ T cells were sorted into three populations based on the expression of two cell surface molecules, CD62L and PSGL1. CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo CD4+ T cells were isolated directly ex vivo. There was no treatment given to the animals. Naive (CD62Lhi CD44lo) CD4+ B220- T cells were isolated from young 6-8 week old female mice for comparison. We used a microarray to identify unique features of the CD62Llo PSGL1lo population in comparison to naïve CD4+ T cells and other activated CD4+ T cells.
Project description:In this study, miRNA expression in splenic lymphocytes from three genetically disparate lupus-prone mouse models (MRL-lpr, B6-lpr and NZB/WF1) were profiled. 49 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in MRL-lpr mice compared to MRL mice; and 24 miRNAs were differentially expressed in B6-lpr mice compared to B6 mice. Among these dysregulated miRNAs, we noted that 15 miRNAs were common to both lpr strains. Interestingly, microarray analysis of NZB/W and NZW at 3 months of age, an age when overt lupus disease is not evident in NZB/W mice, revealed that only one miRNA, miR-148a was significantly upregulated in NZB/W mice. The aim of this porject is to determine the common miRNA expression changes in splenocytes from different strains of murine lupus models. The splenocytes were prepared from genetically lupus-prone female mice including MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/J (MRL-lpr), NZBWF1/J (NZB/W), B6.MRL-Faslpr/J (B6-lpr) and their control mice MRL/MpJ (MRL), NZW/LacJ (NZW) and C57BL/6J (B6) mice (The Jackson laboratory, ME). Total RNAs, containing miRNAs were isolated from whole splenocytes using mirVana miRNA isolation kits (Ambion) following manufactory’s instructions and sent to LC Sciences (http://www.lcsciences.com/) for the microarray assay. The mouse miRNA array chips (Chip ID miRMouse 12.0 version), which included 617 unique, mature, mouse miRNA, based on the Sanger miRBase Release 12.0, were used in the assay.
Project description:To understand the DNA methylation differences associated with CD4-CD8-TCR-ab (DN) T cells that accumulate in the B6.MRL-FASlpr mouse model we performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing on these cells compared to CD8+ T cells derived from the lymph nodes. Overall we observed that 95% of the differential CpG were demethylated in DN T cells compared to CD8+ T cells.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
Project description:Cellular binary fate decisions require the progeny to silence genes associated with the alternative fate. The major subsets of alpha:beta T cells have been extensively studied as a model system for fate decisions. While the transcription factor RUNX3 is required for the initiation of Cd4 silencing in CD8 T cell progenitors, it is not required to maintain the silencing of Cd4 and other helper T lineage genes. The other runt domain containing protein, RUNX1, silences Cd4 in an earlier T cell progenitor, but this silencing is reversed whereas the gene silencing after RUNX3 expression is not reverse. Therefore, we hypothesized that RUNX3 and not RUNX1 recruits other factors that maintains the silencing of helper T lineage genes in CD8 T cells. To this end, we performed a proteomics screen of RUNX1 and RUNX3 to determine candidate silencing factors.
Project description:Subcutanesouly tumors from both Bmal1+/+ and Bmal1-/- mice were used to isolated stromal vascular fractions (SVF). Tumor cells with GFP+ signals were exclusive. Remain GFP- cells were collected to do RNAseq.
Project description:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that presents significant challenges to human health. MRL/lpr mice, which develop SLE-like autoimmunity due to defective apoptosis in activated B and T cells, were used to study the role of apoptosis in autoimmunity. We generated Faslpr mice deficient in EAF2, a transcription elongation-associated factor known to promote apoptosis in germinal center (GC) B cells and crucial for preventing autoimmunity. Contrary to expectations, EAF2 deficiency significantly reduced lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, extended lifespan, and alleviated nephritis by decreasing autoantibody production and reducing immune complex deposition in the kidneys. Additionally, EAF2 deficiency markedly reduced accumulation of activated B cells, GC B cells, and plasma cells in Faslpr mice. Moreover, the abnormal B220+CD3+ T cells typically observed in Faslpr mice were substantially reduced by EAF2 deficiency. Further analysis revealed that Eaf2-/-Faslpr B cells showed hyperactivation upon various stimulations, followed by increased death. RNA sequencing of the B220+CD3+ cells revealed a downregulation in survival-promoting genes such as Bcl-2 and Akt and an upregulation of proapoptotic genes. We conclude that the combined deficiency in FAS- and EAF2-mediated apoptotic pathways leads to B cell hyperactivation and subsequent death, thereby ameliorating systemic autoimmunity in this model.
Project description:Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection requires generation of T cells that migrate to granulomas, complex immune structures surrounding sites of bacterial replication. Here we compared the gene expression profiles of T cells in pulmonary granulomas, bronchoalveolar lavage and blood of Mtb-infected rhesus macaques to identify granuloma-enriched T cell genes. TNFRSF8/CD30 was among the top genes that was upregulated in both CD4 and CD8 granuloma T cells and independent of bacterial loads. Transcriptomic profiling of lung T cells from Mtb-infected mixed bone marrow chimeric mice showed that CD30 directly promotes CD4 T cell differentiation and effector molecule expression. Moreover, in mice CD30 expression on CD4 T cells is required for survival of Mtb infection. These results show the CD30 co-stimulatory axis is highly upregulated on granuloma T cells and is critical for the generation of protective T cell responses against Mtb infection.