Project description:We report the global pattern of ileal gene expression in a cohort of 359 treatment-naïve pediatric Crohn Disease, Ulcerative Colitis patients and controls. We focus on genes with consistent altered expression in inflamed and unaffected ileum of CD [ileal-involved CD (iCD) and non-invloved ileal CD (cCD)], but not in the ileum of ulcerative colitis or control.
Project description:We report the global pattern of ileal gene expression in a cohort of 310 treatment-naïve pediatric Crohn Disease patients and controls. We focus on genes with consistent altered expression in the ileum of younger (Paris age A1a) vs older (Paris age A1b) patients.
Project description:Identification of significant regulated genes of the ileal epithelium in patients suffering from Crohn disease (normal vs. activ and non activ CD).
Project description:Purpose: To clarify the biological processes underlying variation in disease location and antimicrobial sero-reactivity across age-of onset in pediatric Crohn disease. Methods: We characterize the ileal global pattern of gene expression using single-end, 50bp RNA-sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq2000 in 304 treatment-naïve pediatric Crohn patients and non-IBD controls. Reads were quantified using Kallisto with Gencodev23 annotations. For all analyses, data were stratified by patient age-of-onset. Results: Performing differential analysis of all reasonably-expressed transcripts (TPM>5 in ≥5 samples, with significance defined as FDR-corrected p-value<0.05 and fold change≥1.5), we identify a robust gene signature with higher expresison of an immune gene set in older patients (≥10 years at diagnosis) compared to younger patients (<10 years at diagnosis), and a decrease in expression of antimicrobial Paneth cell-derived α-defensins. Conclusion: We provide evidence for maturation of mucosal Th1 immune response and loss of epithelial antimicrobial α-defensins with increasing age-of-onset.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) regulate gene transcription and diverse cellular functions. We previously defined a novel core inflammatory and metabolic ileal gene signature in treatment naïve pediatric Crohn Disease (CD), however, genome-wide characterization of lncRNA expression was lacking. We now extend our analyses to define a more comprehensive view that includes lncRNA. Design: Using RNAseq, we performed a systematic profiling of lncRNAs and protein-coding genes expression in 177 ileal biopsies. Co-expression analysis was used to identify functions and tissue-specific expression. RT-PCR was used to test lncRNAs regulation by IL-1β in Caco-2 enterocytes model. Results: We characterize a widespread dysregulation of 459 lncRNA in the ileum of treatment naïve pediatric CD patients. Unsupervised and supervised classifications using the 459 lncRNA showed comparable patients’ grouping as the 2160 dysregulated protein-coding genes, linking lncRNA to CD pathogenesis. Co-expression and functional annotation enrichment analyses across several tissues and cell types showed that the up-regulated LINC01272 is associated with a myeloid pro-inflammatory signature while the down-regulated HNF4A-AS1 exhibits association with an epithelial metabolic signature. We further validated expression and regulation of prioritized lncRNA upon IL-1β exposure in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Finally, we identified significant correlations between LINC01272 and HNF4A-AS1 expression and more severe mucosal injury. Conclusion: We define differentially expressed lncRNA in the ileum of treatment naive pediatric CD. We show lncRNA utility to correctly classify disease or healthy states and demonstrate their regulation in response to an inflammatory signal. These lncRNA, after mechanistic exploration, may serve as potential new targets for RNA-based interventions.