Project description:We use transcriptome analysis to study the spinal cord transcriptome during MHV-induced demyelinating disease and find important biological pathways for demyelinating pathology. We find evidence of a Th1 cytokine response, ongoing antigen presentation and lymphocyte proliferation, lipid metabolism changes, and eicosanoid inflammation. In addition, we report several genes important for osteoclast function have augmented expression in the CNS during demyelination, suggesting a parallel between the osteoclast and microglial functions in maintaining homeostasis and the fidelity of specialized extracellular matrices in their respective compartments. RNA-seq of mock-infected and MHV-infected spinal cord tissue at 33 days post-infection, the peak of demyelination.
Project description:Microarrays were used to identify genes that were differently expressed in mouse spinal cord as a resut of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is a model for demyelinating disease. Mice were injected with PLP peptide or vechicle.
Project description:We demonstrate for the first time that the extracellular matrix glycoprotein Tenascin-C regulates the expression of key patterning genes during late embryonic spinal cord development, leading to a timely maturation of gliogenic neural precursor cells. We first show that Tenascin-C is expressed by gliogenic neural precursor cells during late embryonic development. The loss of Tenascin-C leads to a sustained generation and delayed migration of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 expressing immature astrocytes in vivo. Furthermore, we could demonstrate an upregulation of Nk2 transcription factor related locus 2 (Nkx2.2) and its downstream target Sulfatase 1 in vivo. A dorsal expansion of Nkx2.2-positive cells within the ventral spinal cord indicates a potential progenitor cell domain shift. Moreover, Sulfatase 1 is known to regulate growth factor signalling by cleaving sulphate residues from heparan sulphate proteoglycans. Consistent with this possibility we observed changes in both Fibroblast growth factor 2 and Epidermal growth factor responsiveness of spinal cord neural precursor cells. Taken together our data clearly show that Tenascin-C promotes the astroglial lineage progression during spinal cord development.
Project description:Purpose: RNA sequencing of spinal cord following intranasal administration of miRNA-219 in Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model of multiple sclerosis Methods: RNA isolated from spinal cords was analyzed by Next-Generation RNA Sequencing (Illumina) Results: Here, we analyzed the therapeutic effects of miR-219 in a virus-induced demyelinating model. Following intranasal administration of miR-219 in TMEV-infected mice, we found significant reduction of clinical signs, virus persistence (virus genome copy numbers), neuroglia activation, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and demyelination. RNA sequencing of expressed host genes demonstrated that miR-219 potentiates transcriptional changes in cholesterol-related genes, leading to reduced levels of this lipid. Conclusions: Since virus replication relies on hijacking cholesterol biosynthesis and trafficking of host cell endogenous pools as well as remodeling intracellular membranes, i.e., the virus replication organelles or viroplasm, treatment with miR-219 may interfere with virus RNA replication through downregulation of cholesterol synthesis. Our findings show that miR-219 administration lessens pathological changes by reducing the CNS virus loads and favoring myelin repair.
Project description:We demonstrate for the first time that the extracellular matrix glycoprotein Tenascin-C regulates the expression of key patterning genes during late embryonic spinal cord development, leading to a timely maturation of gliogenic neural precursor cells. We first show that Tenascin-C is expressed by gliogenic neural precursor cells during late embryonic development. The loss of Tenascin-C leads to a sustained generation and delayed migration of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 expressing immature astrocytes in vivo. Furthermore, we could demonstrate an upregulation of Nk2 transcription factor related locus 2 (Nkx2.2) and its downstream target Sulfatase 1 in vivo. A dorsal expansion of Nkx2.2-positive cells within the ventral spinal cord indicates a potential progenitor cell domain shift. Moreover, Sulfatase 1 is known to regulate growth factor signalling by cleaving sulphate residues from heparan sulphate proteoglycans. Consistent with this possibility we observed changes in both Fibroblast growth factor 2 and Epidermal growth factor responsiveness of spinal cord neural precursor cells. Taken together our data clearly show that Tenascin-C promotes the astroglial lineage progression during spinal cord development. in total 6 probes: 3 replica of TNC_wt and 3 replica of TNC_ko
Project description:Theilers murine encephalomyelitis (TME) is an experimentally virus-induced demyelinating leukomyelitis, displaying clinical and pathological similarities to chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. <br>The aim of this study was to identify pathways associated with demyelination using an assumption-free microarray approach. <br>Five-week-old female SJL/JHanHsd-mice were intracerebrally infected with the BeAn-strain of the TME- virus (TMEV) or mock-infected with vehicle only.<br>Groups of 5-6 TMEV- and Mock-infected mice were killed at 14, 42, 98, and 196 days post infection.<br>Total RNA was isolated from the spinal cords and gene expression was measured employing Affymetrix mouse genome 430 2.0 arrays.