Project description:Remyelination is a key step in functional nerve regeneration performed by Schwann cells (SC). We have demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is a major regulator of signal transduction and phenotypic switching in SCs. Herein, genome-wide transcriptional profiling, followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed the MMP-9 signaling network and its endogenous inhibitor, TIMP-1, among the top induced genes of the injured sciatic nerve, that co-distributed with MMP-9 in myelinating SCs and the paranodal/nodal areas of myelinated fibers. Homo- and heterodimers of the active and proMMP-9 were purified from injured nerves using gelatin-sepharose. MMP-9 gene deletion increased the number of immature, GFAP+ mSC and post-mitotic cell counts that correlate with shorter myelin internodes in remyelinated fibers lacking MMP-9. MMP-9 is essential to nodal clustering of voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) channels. MMP inhibitor therapy diminished the expression of Nav 1.7 and 1.8. These data established the essential role of MMP-9 in guiding SC differentiation toward myelin production and in molecular assembly of the myelin domains. Modification of Nav channels in myelinated fibers may thus provide an important therapeutic approach for a number of facilitates regeneration and attenuated neuropathic pain. Gene expression profiling of total RNAs extracted from murine sciatic nerves, dorsal root ganglion and spinal cords at day 1 and day 5 post injury.
Project description:Increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) have been detected in fibrotic strictures in Crohn’s disease. In a murine model of chronic inflammation, fibrosis was associated with an increase in TIMP-1 and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation. We investigated the effect of TIMP-1 deficiency on the colonic gene expression in acute and chronic murine models of colitis, using whole genome gene expression arrays.
Project description:Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) controls matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity through 1:1 stochiometric binding. Human TIMP-1 fused to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor (TIMP-1-GPI) shifts the activity of TIMP-1 from the extracellular matrix to the cell surface. TIMP-1-GPI treated renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) show increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation. Transcriptomic profiling and regulatory pathway mapping were used to identify potential mechanisms driving these effects. Significant changes in inhibitor of DNA binding (IDs), TGF-β1/SMAD and BMP pathways resulted from TIMP-1-GPI treatment. These events were linked to reduced TGF-β1 signaling mediated by inhibition of proteolytic processing of latent TGF-β1 by TIMP-1-GPI. Activity of TIMP-1 from the extracellular matrix to the cell surface. TIMP-1-GPI treated renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) show increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation. Transcriptomic profiling and regulatory pathway mapping were used to identify potential mechanisms driving these effects. Significant changes in inhibitor of DNA binding (IDs), TGF-β1/SMAD and BMP pathways resulted from TIMP-1-GPI treatment. These events were linked to reduced TGF-β1 signaling mediated by inhibition of proteolytic processing of latent TGF-β1 by TIMP-1-GPI. Renal cell carcinoma cells were transfected with empty vector, rhTimp1 and 2 concentrations of Timp1-GPI fusion protein
Project description:Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) controls matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity through 1:1 stochiometric binding. Human TIMP-1 fused to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor (TIMP-1-GPI) shifts the activity of TIMP-1 from the extracellular matrix to the cell surface. TIMP-1-GPI treated renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) show increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation. Transcriptomic profiling and regulatory pathway mapping were used to identify potential mechanisms driving these effects. Significant changes in inhibitor of DNA binding (IDs), TGF-β1/SMAD and BMP pathways resulted from TIMP-1-GPI treatment. These events were linked to reduced TGF-β1 signaling mediated by inhibition of proteolytic processing of latent TGF-β1 by TIMP-1-GPI. Activity of TIMP-1 from the extracellular matrix to the cell surface. TIMP-1-GPI treated renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) show increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation. Transcriptomic profiling and regulatory pathway mapping were used to identify potential mechanisms driving these effects. Significant changes in inhibitor of DNA binding (IDs), TGF-β1/SMAD and BMP pathways resulted from TIMP-1-GPI treatment. These events were linked to reduced TGF-β1 signaling mediated by inhibition of proteolytic processing of latent TGF-β1 by TIMP-1-GPI.
Project description:Remyelination is a key step in functional nerve regeneration performed by Schwann cells (SC). We have demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is a major regulator of signal transduction and phenotypic switching in SCs. Herein, genome-wide transcriptional profiling, followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed the MMP-9 signaling network and its endogenous inhibitor, TIMP-1, among the top induced genes of the injured sciatic nerve, that co-distributed with MMP-9 in myelinating SCs and the paranodal/nodal areas of myelinated fibers. Homo- and heterodimers of the active and proMMP-9 were purified from injured nerves using gelatin-sepharose. MMP-9 gene deletion increased the number of immature, GFAP+ mSC and post-mitotic cell counts that correlate with shorter myelin internodes in remyelinated fibers lacking MMP-9. MMP-9 is essential to nodal clustering of voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) channels. MMP inhibitor therapy diminished the expression of Nav 1.7 and 1.8. These data established the essential role of MMP-9 in guiding SC differentiation toward myelin production and in molecular assembly of the myelin domains. Modification of Nav channels in myelinated fibers may thus provide an important therapeutic approach for a number of facilitates regeneration and attenuated neuropathic pain.
Project description:Increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) have been detected in fibrotic strictures in Crohnâs disease. In a murine model of chronic inflammation, fibrosis was associated with an increase in TIMP-1 and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation. We investigated the effect of TIMP-1 deficiency on the colonic gene expression in acute and chronic murine models of colitis, using whole genome gene expression arrays. Colitis was induced via oral administration of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) to B6.129S4-Timp1tm1Pds/J knock-out (KO) and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice. Total RNA extracted from snap frozen colon was used to analyze mRNA expression via Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Arrays
Project description:Aging of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is associated with structural and functional changes that lead to a reduction in regenerative capacity and the development of age-related peripheral neuropathy. Myelin is a central component in maintaining physiological peripheral nerve function, and differences in myelin maintenance, degradation, formation and clearance have been suggested to contribute to age-related PNS changes. In addition, recent proteomic studies have elucidated the complex composition of the total myelin proteome in health and its changes in neuropathy models. However, changes in the myelin proteome of peripheral nerves during ageing have not been investigated. Hence, the aim of this proteomics experiment was to define proteome changes in isolated myelin fractions during ageing, by investigating myelin proteome profiles from young (nerves from 2-3 month old mice) and old (nerves from 18 months old mice) nerves.
Project description:To shed light on the early processes of immune response to peripheral nerve injury, we first used genome-wide transcriptional profiling and bioinformatics (Ingenuity, NextBio) pathway analyses of the proximal (P; regenerating) and distal (D; degenerating) nerve stumps at day 1 in the sciatic nerve axotomy model in rats. We identified a number of specific immunomodulatory genes and pathways that were regulated shortly post-injury in both the P and D segments, including all members of the interleukin (IL), chemokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), toll-like receptor (TLR), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), ion channel and myosin families. Immunomodulatory calcium-binding S100A8 and S100A9 were the top up-regulated genes in both the D and P segments. In cultured Schwann cells stimulated with the purified S100A8/A9 heterodimer we recorded a high level of similarity of the activated genes and pathways with that of the injured nerve, especially in the activation of the chemokine and cytokine gene networks that support agranulocyte and granulocyte chemotaxis, adhesion, transmigration and rolling signaling pathways. We also confirmed activation of multiple cell death related gene networks supporting TNFR1, natural killer cell receptor and death receptor apoptosis signaling in the D stump, and the gluconeogenesis/glycolysis and cytoskeletal motility signaling in the P stump, corroborated by activation of ERK, PI3K and JNK kinase pathways. As compared to the D segment, multiple additional pathways were more efficiently upregulated in the P stump, including the IL-6 and -17, MMP-9, calcium, activated agranulocyte, leukocyte rolling and glutathione-mediated detoxification signaling pathways. These data suggest that shortly after nerve injury, upregulation of S100A8/A9 is responsible for the expression and release of chemokines and cytokines by Schwann cells, necessary to generate the initial chemotactic gradient and guide the hematogenous immune cells into the injury site. Gene expression profiling of total RNAs extracted from injured and non-injured rat sciatic nerves, and primary rat Schwann cells stimulated with S100A8/A9 proteins
Project description:An insulating myelin sheath ensures saltatory conduction of mechanosensory A afferents. Myelin damage results in the electrical instability of A fibers and the ability to generate pain in response to light touch/pressure (mechanical allodynia). We have hypothesized and then established that the release of T cell epitopes of myelin basic protein (MBP) enables nociceptive circuitry in myelinated fibers. Thus, mass spectrometry analysis of the rat sciatic nerve proteome followed by bioinformatics examination of the datasets revealed a loss of MBP and activation of T-helper cell signaling in the nerves undergoing chronic constriction injury (CCI). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteolysis resulted in the MBP digest peptides, including the MBP84-104 and MBP68-86 regions, which exhibit prominent immunogenic epitopes. Myelin-forming Schwann cells and paranodal areas accumulated MHCII, MMP-9 and the degraded MBP at the sciatic nerve injury site. Administration of the immunodominant MBP84-104 and MBP68-86 peptides but not of the control peptides in a naïve rat sciatic nerve produced robust mechanical allodynia. Allodynia was accompanied by the T cell infiltration and an increase in MHCII, IL-17A and TNF- levels at the nerve injection site and the segmental ganglia. The pro-nociceptive activity of the synthetic MBP84-104 diminished in athymic nude rats lacking T cells. SB-3CT, an antagonist of MMP-9, inhibited mechanical allodynia, neuroinflammation and spinal sensitization after CCI. Collectively, our novel data implicate, for the first time, MMP-mediated cleavage of MBP and the resulting MBP digest fragments as a major cause of neuropathic pain. Gene extression profiling of total RNAs extracted from rat sciatic nerves, dorsal root ganglion and spinal cords after MBP84-104 peptide injection
Project description:Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles-including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.