Project description:To understand the mechanisms through which JunB regulates Tregs-mediated immune regulation, we examined the global gene expression profiles in the JunB WT and KO Tregs by performing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis.
Project description:Gene expression of Tfap4–/– and WT CD8+ T cells were compared after activation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in vitro or with Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo
Project description:Gene expression of Tfap4–/– and WT OT-I T cells were compared 4 or 6 days after activation with Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo with the ERCC spike-in RNA control. Naive CD8+ T cells from Tfap4–/– OT-I or control WT OT-I TCR transgenice mice were adoptively transferred to congenic host mice that were subsequently infected with Listeria monocytogenes expression ovalbumin. Activated OT-I cells were harvested 4 days or 6 days after infection and gene expression was compared using microarray. 1 μL of 1:1,000 diluted External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC) RNA Spike-In Control Mixes (Ambion) was added to total RNA extracted from 1 x 10^5 cells prior to amplification. Gene expression was quantitated by RMA normalization to Signal intensity and signal intensities were further converted by formula obtained from linear regression of signals for spiked-in control RNA between samples to obtain cell number-normalized gene expression.
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.
Project description:The trasncription factor cMyc is an essential transcription factor that establishes a metabolically active and proliferative state in T cells after antigen priming. However, its expression is transient. To date, it remains unknown how T cell activation is maintained after cMyc down-regulation. Here, we identify AP4, encoded by the gene Tfap4, as the transcription factor that is induced by cMyc and sustains activation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Despite normal priming, Tfap4–/– CD8+ T cells fail to continue transcription of a broad range of cMyc gene targets necessary for sustained proliferation. Genome-wide analysis suggests that many activation-induced metabolic genes are shared targets of cMyc and AP4. Thus, AP4 maintains Myc-initiated cellular activation programs in CD8+ T cells to control microbial infections. Naive CD8+ T cells from C57BL6 mice were activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation in vitro for two days and genome-wide occupancy of Myc, AP4 and Ser2 or Ser5 phipsphorylated RNA polymerase II was profiled by chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing.
Project description:Translational research is commonly performed in the C57B6/J mouse strain, chosen for its genetic homogeneity and phenotypic uniformity. Here, we evaluate the suitability of the white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) as a model organism for aging research, offering a comparative analysis against C57B6/J and diversity outbred (DO) Mus musculus strains. Our study includes comparisons of body composition, skeletal muscle function, and cardiovascular parameters, shedding light on potential applications and limitations of P. leucopus in aging studies. Notably, P. leucopus exhibits distinct body composition characteristics, emphasizing reduced muscle force exertion and a unique metabolism, particularly in fat mass. Cardiovascular assessments showed changes in arterial stiffness, challenging conventional assumptions and highlighting the need for a nuanced interpretation of aging-related phenotypes. Our study also highlights inherent challenges associated with maintaining and phenotyping P. leucopus cohorts. Behavioral considerations, including anxiety-induced responses during handling and phenotyping assessment, pose obstacles in acquiring meaningful data. Moreover, the unique anatomy of P. leucopus necessitates careful adaptation of protocols designed for Mus musculus. While showcasing potential benefits, further extensive analyses across broader age ranges and larger cohorts are necessary to establish the reliability of P. leucopus as a robust and translatable model for aging studies.