Project description:Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene segregates with most autoimmune diseases; its risk allele encodes overactive PTPN22 phosphatases that alter B cell receptor (BCR) signaling potentially involved in the regulation of central B cell tolerance. To assess whether PTPN22 risk allele affects the removal of developing autoreactive B cells, we tested by ELISA the reactivity of recombinant antibodies isolated from single B cells from asymptomatic healthy individuals carrying one or two PTPN22 risk allele(s). We found that new emigrant/transitional and mature naive B cells from PTPN22 risk allele carriers contained high frequencies of autoreactive clones compared to non-carrier control donors. Hence, a single PTPN22 risk allele has a dominant effect on altering autoreactive B cell counterselection, suggesting that early B cell tolerance checkpoint defects precede the onset of autoimmunity. In addition, gene array experiments comparing mature naïve B cells from healthy individuals carrying or not PTPN22 risk allele(s) revealed that the strength of association of PTPN22 for autoimmunity, second in importance only to the MHC, may not only be due to BCR signaling alteration but also to the regulation of other genes, which themselves have also been identified as involved in the development of autoimmune diseases. The PTPN22 risk allele is a single nucleotide change (cytidine to thymidine) at residue 1858, which results in a single amino acid substitution from arginine to tryptophan at position 620 of the PTPN22/Lyp protein. Data from mature naïve B cell populations from patients carrying 1 or 2 PTPN22 T alleles and non-carrier patients were compared in order to characterize the impact of PTPN22 polymorphism on B cell physiology. RNA was extracted from batch-sorted CD19+CD10-CD21+CD27- conventional mature naive B cells using the Absolutely RNA microprep kit (Stratagene). 100-200 ng of RNA was obtained per sample, and the quality of the purified RNA was assessed by the Bioanalyzer from Agilent. Using the Ovation biotin system kit from Nugen, 30-50ng of RNA was amplified and labeled to produce cDNA. Labeled cDNA was hybridized on chips containing the whole human genome (Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 from Affymetrix).
Project description:Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene segregates with most autoimmune diseases; its risk allele encodes overactive PTPN22 phosphatases that alter B cell receptor (BCR) signaling potentially involved in the regulation of central B cell tolerance. To assess whether PTPN22 risk allele affects the removal of developing autoreactive B cells, we tested by ELISA the reactivity of recombinant antibodies isolated from single B cells from asymptomatic healthy individuals carrying one or two PTPN22 risk allele(s). We found that new emigrant/transitional and mature naive B cells from PTPN22 risk allele carriers contained high frequencies of autoreactive clones compared to non-carrier control donors. Hence, a single PTPN22 risk allele has a dominant effect on altering autoreactive B cell counterselection, suggesting that early B cell tolerance checkpoint defects precede the onset of autoimmunity. In addition, gene array experiments comparing mature naïve B cells from healthy individuals carrying or not PTPN22 risk allele(s) revealed that the strength of association of PTPN22 for autoimmunity, second in importance only to the MHC, may not only be due to BCR signaling alteration but also to the regulation of other genes, which themselves have also been identified as involved in the development of autoimmune diseases. The PTPN22 risk allele is a single nucleotide change (cytidine to thymidine) at residue 1858, which results in a single amino acid substitution from arginine to tryptophan at position 620 of the PTPN22/Lyp protein.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Most autoreactive B cells are normally counterselected during early B cell development. To determine whether Toll-like receptors (TLRs) regulate the removal of autoreactive B lymphocytes, we tested the reactivity of recombinant antibodies from single B cells isolated from patients deficient for IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK)-4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and UNC-93B. Indeed, all TLRs except TLR3 require IRAK-4 and MyD88 to signal and UNC-93B-deficient cells are unresponsive to TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9. All patients suffered from defective central and peripheral B cell tolerance checkpoints resulting in the accumulation of large numbers of autoreactive mature naïve B cells in their blood. Hence, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 may prevent the recruitment of developing autoreactive B cells in healthy donors. Paradoxically, IRAK-4-, MyD88- and UNC-93B-deficient patients did not display autoreactive antibodies in their serum nor developed autoimmune diseases, suggesting that IRAK-4, MyD88 and UNC-93B pathway blockade may thwart autoimmunity in humans.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.