Project description:To better characterize the molecules that could potentially confer antigen presenting capacity to SLE monocytes, we assessed their gene expression profile. Blood monocytes from five healthy controls and five pediatric SLE patients were isolated using CD14+ selection. Because drugs used to treat SLE could induce considerable transcriptional changes, we selected active, newly diagnosed patients who had never received oral or intravenous (IV) medications.
Project description:To directly compare the SLE monocyte transcriptional program with that of blood mDC precursors, we purified lineage HLA-DRhighCD11chigh mDCs and CD14+ monocytes from the blood of five healthy donors. Their gene expression profiles were then compared to those of blood SLE monocytes. An unsupervised clustering analysis of transcripts present in >20% of the samples classified healthy monocytes, SLE monocytes and healthy mDCs into three well defined groups. A supervised analysis was then performed to find genes: 1) differentially expressed in healthy mDCs compared to monocytes; 2) shared by healthy blood mDCs and SLE blood monocytes. To directly compare the SLE monocyte transcriptional program with that of blood mDC precursors, we purified lineage HLA-DRhighCD11chigh mDCs and CD14+ monocytes from the blood of five healthy donors. Their gene expression profiles were then compared to those of blood SLE monocytes. An unsupervised clustering analysis of transcripts present in >20% of the samples classified healthy monocytes, SLE monocytes and healthy mDCs into three well defined groups. A supervised analysis was then performed to find genes: 1) differentially expressed in healthy mDCs compared to monocytes; 2) shared by healthy blood mDCs and SLE blood monocytes.
Project description:To directly compare the SLE monocyte transcriptional program with that of blood mDC precursors, we purified lineage HLA-DRhighCD11chigh mDCs and CD14+ monocytes from the blood of five healthy donors. Their gene expression profiles were then compared to those of blood SLE monocytes. An unsupervised clustering analysis of transcripts present in >20% of the samples classified healthy monocytes, SLE monocytes and healthy mDCs into three well defined groups. A supervised analysis was then performed to find genes: 1) differentially expressed in healthy mDCs compared to monocytes; 2) shared by healthy blood mDCs and SLE blood monocytes.
Project description:To better characterize the molecules that could potentially confer antigen presenting capacity to SLE monocytes, we assessed their gene expression profile.
Project description:We screened SLE monocytes from 19 SLE patients and selected 4 that induced CD4+ T cell proliferation in vitro and 4 that did not. CFSE labeled CD4-T cells (105) were incubated with SLE monocytes (2 x 104). Cells were harvested at 6 hours for RNA extraction. We screened SLE monocytes from 19 SLE patients and selected 4 that induced CD4+ T cell proliferation in vitro and 4 that did not. CFSE labeled CD4-T cells (105) were incubated with SLE monocytes (2 x 104). Cells were harvested at 6 hours for RNA extraction.
Project description:Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe systemic autoimmune disease with multiple manifestations. Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is a newly discovered post-translational modification (PTM) epigenetic pattern which may affect gene expression and linked to diseases causally. Methods We collected blood samples from 11 SLE individuals and 36 healthy subjects. Then we used highly sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology to carry out proteomics and quantitative crotonylome analysis of SLE peripheral blood mononuclear cells in this investigation, which indicated the unique etiology of SLE. Results There were 618 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 612 crotonylated lysine sites for 272 differentially modified proteins (DMPs) found. According to KEGG analysis and ingenuity pathway analysis, these DEPs and DMPs are primarily enriched in the leukocyte extravasation signaling pathway. Conclusions This is the first study of crotonylated modification proteomics in SLE. The leukocyte extravasation signaling pathway had a considerable concentration of DEPs and DMPs, indicating that this pathway may be involved in the pathogenic development of SLE.
Project description:Many cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and are recognized as relevant therapeutic targets to attenuate inflammation, such as TNFα in RA and IFNα/γ in SLE. To relate the transcriptional imprinting of cytokines in a cell type-specific and disease-specific manner, we generated gene-expression profiles from peripheral monocytes of SLE and RA patients and compared them to in vitro-generated signatures induced by TNFα, IFNα2a and IFNγ. Monocytes from SLE and RA patients revealed disease-specific gene-expression profiles. In vitro-generated signatures induced by IFNα2a and IFNγ showed similar profiles that only partially overlapped with those induced by TNFα. Comparisons between disease-specific and in vitro-generated signatures identified cytokine-regulated genes in SLE and RA with qualitative and quantitative differences. The IFN-responses in SLE and RA were found to be regulated in a STAT1-dependent and STAT1-independent manner, respectively. Similarly, genes recognized as TNFα-regulated were clearly distinguishable between RA and SLE patients. While the activity of SLE monocytes was mainly driven by IFN, the activity from RA monocytes showed a dominance of TNFα that was characterized by STAT1 down-regulation. The responses to specific cytokines were revealed to be disease-dependent and reflected the interplay of cytokines within various inflammatory milieus. This study has demonstrated that monocytes from RA and SLE patients exhibit disease-specific gene-expression profiles, which can be molecularly dissected when compared to in vitro-generated cytokine signatures. The results suggest that an assessment of cytokine-response status in monocytes may be helpful for improvement of diagnosis and selection of the best cytokine target for therapeutic intervention. Expression profiles of human peripheral blood monocytes activated in vivo and stimulated in vitro. Monocytes from patients with SLE and RA and from healthy donors were used for generating disease-specific gene-expression profiles, where these profiles represent in vivo activation of monocytes. In addition, monocytes from healthy donors were stimulated in vitro by cytokines: TNFα, IFNα2a and IFNγ. Cytokine-specific gene-expression profiles were generated by comparing stimulated monocytes with unstimulated ones. TNFα-, IFNα2a- and IFNγ as cytokine-specific gene-expression profiles were compared with RA and SLE, as disease-specific gene-expression profiles.
Project description:<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> SLE is a complex autoimmune disease with deleterious effects on various organs. Accumulating evidence has shown abnormal vitamin B12 and one-carbon flux contribute to immune dysfunction. Transcobalamin II (TCN2) belongs to the vitamin B12-binding protein family responsible for the cellular uptake of vitamin B12. The role of TCN2 in SLE is still unclear.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> We collected clinical information and blood from 51 patients with SLE and 28 healthy controls. RNA sequencing analysis, qPCR and western blot confirmed the alteration of TCN2 in disease monocytes. The correlation between TCN2 expression and clinical features and serological abnormalities was analyzed. TCN2 heterozygous knockout THP1 cells were used to explore the effects of TCN2 dysfunction on monocytes. CCK-8 assay and EdU staining were used to detect cell proliferation. ELISA was conducted to assess vitamin B12, glutathione and cytokines changes. UHPLC-MRM-MS/MS was used to detect changes in the intermediates of the one-carbon cycle. Flow cytometry is used to detect cell cycle, ROS, mitoROS and CD14 changes.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Elevated TCN2 in monocytes was correlated positively with disease progression and specific tissue injuries. Using CD14+ monocytes and TCN2 genetically modified THP1 cell lines, we found that the TCN2 was induced by LPS in serum from SLE patients. TCN2 heterozygous knockout inhibited cellular vitamin B12 uptake and one-carbon metabolism, leading to cell proliferation arrest and decreased Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated CCL2 release. Methionine cycle metabolites, s-adenosylmethionine and homocysteine, rescued these effects, whereas folate treatment proved to be ineffective. Folate deficiency also failed to replicate the impact of TCN2 downregulation on THP1 inflammatory response.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Our study elucidated the unique involvement of TCN2-driven one-carbon flux on SLE-associated monocyte behavior. Increased TCN2 may promote disease progression and tissue damage by enhancing one-carbon flux, fostering monocyte proliferation and exacerbating TLR4 mediated inflammatory responses. The inhibition of TCN2 may be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate SLE.</p>