Project description:Ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (trachoma) is the leading cause of blindness that results from infection. Chronic inflammation is believed to drive the scarring process and the progressive blinding disease, however the mechanisms by which this occurs are not completely understood. We hypothesized that Micro RNA (miRNA), as key regulators of genes in inflammatory pathways, are involved in the immunopathogenesis and tissue remodeling observed in trachoma. Conjunctival swabs were collected from a total of 63 individuals resident in trachoma endemic communities in The Gambia, West Africa. MiRNA was extracted from the conjunctival swabs of 23 healthy controls (N), 18 cases with trachomatous scarring (TS) and 22 cases with trachomatous scarring in the presence of clinically significant inflammation (TSI) using Qiagen Allprep DNA/RNA/protein kits. Following reverse transcription and pre-amplification, quantitative RT-PCR was performed using TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA genecards (Av2.0 and Bv3.0) on a 7900HT thermal cycler (Life Technologies, Inc). A total of 754 of the most well characterised unique human miRNA from miRBase (www.mirbase.org/) were screened. Data from each array were uploaded and analysed using the high throughput qPCR package in bioconductor R. Samples with a global miRNA median cycle threshold of 40 were filtered out. A and B cards were analysed separately due to differences in performance of samples on each card. In the A card group 40 samples were normalized and tested: 8 TSI, 16 TS and 16 N. In the B card group 29 samples were normalized and tested: 6 TSI, 13 TS and 10 N. Results were normalized by rank invariant normalization as it reduced the coefficient of variation and increased sample distribution homology more than any other normalization procedure tested. Data in each group were tested for differential expression by Limma. 63 total Samples. In the A card group 40 samples were normalized and tested: 8 TSI, 16 TS and 16 N. In the B card group 29 samples were normalized and tested: 6 TSI, 13 TS and 10 N. Results were normalized by rank invariant normalization as it reduced the coefficient of variation and increased sample distribution homology more than any other normalization procedure tested.
Project description:Ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (trachoma) is the leading cause of blindness that results from infection. Chronic inflammation is believed to drive the scarring process and the progressive blinding disease, however the mechanisms by which this occurs are not completely understood. We hypothesized that Micro RNA (miRNA), as key regulators of genes in inflammatory pathways, are involved in the immunopathogenesis and tissue remodeling observed in trachoma. Conjunctival swabs were collected from a total of 63 individuals resident in trachoma endemic communities in The Gambia, West Africa. MiRNA was extracted from the conjunctival swabs of 23 healthy controls (N), 18 cases with trachomatous scarring (TS) and 22 cases with trachomatous scarring in the presence of clinically significant inflammation (TSI) using Qiagen Allprep DNA/RNA/protein kits. Following reverse transcription and pre-amplification, quantitative RT-PCR was performed using TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA genecards (Av2.0 and Bv3.0) on a 7900HT thermal cycler (Life Technologies, Inc). A total of 754 of the most well characterised unique human miRNA from miRBase (www.mirbase.org/) were screened. Data from each array were uploaded and analysed using the high throughput qPCR package in bioconductor R. Samples with a global miRNA median cycle threshold of 40 were filtered out. A and B cards were analysed separately due to differences in performance of samples on each card. In the A card group 40 samples were normalized and tested: 8 TSI, 16 TS and 16 N. In the B card group 29 samples were normalized and tested: 6 TSI, 13 TS and 10 N. Results were normalized by rank invariant normalization as it reduced the coefficient of variation and increased sample distribution homology more than any other normalization procedure tested. Data in each group were tested for differential expression by Limma.
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Tanzanians with trachomatous conjunctival scarring (with (TSI) and without (TS) inflammation) and controls (C) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 41 samples (TSI 13, TS 15, C14). Cases had enrichment in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL1B, IL8, CXCL5, CCL20); Matrix metalloprotienases (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12); components of the cornified envelope / squamous metaplasia (SPRR2a, SPRR2F). Case - control study. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from people with trachomatious conjunctival scarring with (TSI) and without (TS) clinically visable inflammation compared to normal controls (C). Total RNA extracted and analysed on the Illumina WG-6 platrom. Additional extensive qRT-PCR work done on a large set of case-control pairs.
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Tanzanians with trachomatous conjunctival scarring (with (TSI) and without (TS) inflammation) and controls (C) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 41 samples (TSI 13, TS 15, C14). Cases had enrichment in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL1B, IL8, CXCL5, CCL20); Matrix metalloprotienases (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12); components of the cornified envelope / squamous metaplasia (SPRR2a, SPRR2F).
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Ethiopians with trachomatous trichiasis (with (TTI) and without (TT) inflammation) and controls (NC) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 42 samples (TTI 13, TT 15, NC14). Specific results were confirmed using multiplex quantitative RT-PCR for 16 mRNA targets in an independent collection of case-control samples: 386 case-control pairs (TTI 244, TT 142, NC 386). The gene expression profiles of cases were consistent with: squamous metaplasia (Keratins, SPRR), pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7) and tissue remodelling (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12, HAS3). There was no difference in the level of IFNG between cases and controls. However, cases had increased INDO, NOS2A, and IL13RA2 and reduced IL13. Ct was detected in 1/772. Cases show evidence of ongoing inflammation and tissue remodelling, which were more marked where clinical inflammation was also present. Significantly, these processes appear to be active in the absence of current Ct infection. There was limited evidence of a TH1 response (INDO, NOS2A) and no association between a TH2 response and cases. The epithelium appears actively involved in late cicatricial stages of trachoma through production of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7). Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate which aetiological factors and pathways are associated with progressive scarring and whether simply controlling chlamydial infection will halt progression in people with established cicatricial disease. Case - control study. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from people with trachomatous trichiasis with (TTI) and without (TT) clinically visable inflammation compared to normal controls (C). Total RNA extracted and analysed on the Illumina WG-6 platrom. Additional extensive qRT-PCR work done on a large set of case-control pairs.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Ethiopians with trachomatous trichiasis (with (TTI) and without (TT) inflammation) and controls (NC) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 42 samples (TTI 13, TT 15, NC14). Specific results were confirmed using multiplex quantitative RT-PCR for 16 mRNA targets in an independent collection of case-control samples: 386 case-control pairs (TTI 244, TT 142, NC 386). The gene expression profiles of cases were consistent with: squamous metaplasia (Keratins, SPRR), pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7) and tissue remodelling (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12, HAS3). There was no difference in the level of IFNG between cases and controls. However, cases had increased INDO, NOS2A, and IL13RA2 and reduced IL13. Ct was detected in 1/772. Cases show evidence of ongoing inflammation and tissue remodelling, which were more marked where clinical inflammation was also present. Significantly, these processes appear to be active in the absence of current Ct infection. There was limited evidence of a TH1 response (INDO, NOS2A) and no association between a TH2 response and cases. The epithelium appears actively involved in late cicatricial stages of trachoma through production of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7). Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate which aetiological factors and pathways are associated with progressive scarring and whether simply controlling chlamydial infection will halt progression in people with established cicatricial disease.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes Sequence library of miRNAs from a single sample of human foetal mesenchymal stem cells. Results tested and confirmed by northern blotting. Please note that only raw data files are available for the embryonic and neual samples and thus, directly submitted to SRA (SRX547311, SRX548700, respectively under SRP042115/PRJNA247767)