Project description:Define the impact of Tyk2 and Tyk2K923E on the transcriptome of NK cells Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a Janus kinase (JAK) that is crucially involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis and defense against infection. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in TYK2-deficient (Tyk2-/- ) mice is severely reduced, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using Tyk2-/- mice and mice expressing a kinase-inactive version of TYK2 (Tyk2K923E), we show that NK cell function is partly independent of the enzymatic activity of TYK2. Tyk2-/- and Tyk2K923E NK cells develop normally in the bone marrow, but the maturation of splenic Tyk2-/- NK cells (and to a lesser extent of Tyk2K923E NK cells) is impaired. In contrast, the production of interferon ? (IFN?) in response to interleukin 12 (IL-12) or to stimulation through NK cell-activating receptors strictly depends on the presence of enzymatically active TYK2. The cytotoxic activity of Tyk2K923E NK cells against a range of target cells in vitro is higher than that of Tyk2-/- NK cells. Consistently, Tyk2K923E mice control the growth of NK cell-targeted tumors significantly better than TYK2-deficient mice, showing the physiological relevance of the finding. Inhibitors of TYK2’s kinase activity are being developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers, but their effects on tumor immune surveillance have not been investigated. Our finding that TYK2 has kinase-independent functions in vivo suggests that such inhibitors will leave NK cell mediated tumor surveillance largely intact and that they will be suitable for use in cancer therapy. Splenic NK cells derived from WT, Tyk2-/- and Tyk2K923E mice (DX5-MACS enriched from 3-4 mice per genotype) were grown in the presence rhIL-2 (5000 U/ml) for 7 days. Three independent expreiments (= biological replicates)
Project description:Define the impact of Tyk2 and Tyk2K923E on the transcriptome of NK cells Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a Janus kinase (JAK) that is crucially involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis and defense against infection. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in TYK2-deficient (Tyk2-/- ) mice is severely reduced, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using Tyk2-/- mice and mice expressing a kinase-inactive version of TYK2 (Tyk2K923E), we show that NK cell function is partly independent of the enzymatic activity of TYK2. Tyk2-/- and Tyk2K923E NK cells develop normally in the bone marrow, but the maturation of splenic Tyk2-/- NK cells (and to a lesser extent of Tyk2K923E NK cells) is impaired. In contrast, the production of interferon γ (IFNγ) in response to interleukin 12 (IL-12) or to stimulation through NK cell-activating receptors strictly depends on the presence of enzymatically active TYK2. The cytotoxic activity of Tyk2K923E NK cells against a range of target cells in vitro is higher than that of Tyk2-/- NK cells. Consistently, Tyk2K923E mice control the growth of NK cell-targeted tumors significantly better than TYK2-deficient mice, showing the physiological relevance of the finding. Inhibitors of TYK2’s kinase activity are being developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers, but their effects on tumor immune surveillance have not been investigated. Our finding that TYK2 has kinase-independent functions in vivo suggests that such inhibitors will leave NK cell mediated tumor surveillance largely intact and that they will be suitable for use in cancer therapy.
Project description:Comparison of transcriptional profiles of the wild-type (WT) and the phoB-mutant strain in B. fragilis strain YCH46 during phosphate (Pi) starvation.
Project description:affy_aba_ath1 - affy_aba_ath1 - In order to identify new genes implicated in ABA signalisation pathways, we have carried out a screen for suppressor mutants of the ABA deficient mutant aba3-1. Infrared thermography was used to identify plants whose cold leaf phenotype was reverted. The transcriptome analysis of four recessive suppressor mutants was undertaken to determine which genes are differentially expressed compared to the wild type or aba3-1. Such genes could represent the mutated gene itself or indicate signalling or response pathways affected by the mutation-comparison of four suppressor mutants (g-radiation induced) to wild type and the ABA deficient mutant aba3-1 Keywords: wt vs mutant comparison
Project description:Expression profiling of Rag2-deficient Ets1++ and Rag2-deficient Ets1-- mature NK cells and WT bone marrow progenitors, WT T cells, and WT Pro B cells WT Hematopoietic progenitors, CD4 T cells, Pro B cells, and WT and Ets1-deficient NK cells were FACs sorted. RNA was subsequently extracted, labelled, and hybridized to Affymetrix microarrays. The goal if this experiment was to identify Ets1 dependent genes in NK cells
Project description:Comparison of the global phospho-proteomes of Mycobacterium smegmatis wild type, and over-expressing the protein kinase PknB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis or its enzymatically inactive K40M isoform.
Project description:Caspase-8 is a protease with both pro-death and pro-survival functions: it is required for apoptosis induced by death receptors such as TNFR1 (tumour necrosis factor receptor 1), and it has a critical role in suppressing necroptosis mediated by the kinase RIPK3 (receptor interacting protein kinase 3) and the pseudokinase MLKL (mixed lineage kinase-like). Mice lacking caspase-8 display MLKL-dependent embryonic lethality, as do mice expressing catalytically inactive caspase-8 mutant C362A. However, Casp8C362A/C362A Mlkl-/- mice die in the perinatal period, whereas Casp8-/- Mlkl-/- mice are viable, indicating that inactive caspase-8 also has a pro-death scaffolding function. Here we show that caspase-8 C362A triggers ASC speck formation and caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis in MLKL-deficient intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) around embryonic day 18. Pyroptosis contributed to the perinatal lethal phenotype because a number of Casp8 C362A/C362A Mlkl-/- Casp1-/- mice survived beyond weaning. Transfection studies suggested inactive caspase-8 adopts a distinct conformation to wild-type caspase-8, enabling it to engage the caspase-1 adaptor ASC. Wild-type caspase-8 was found in the Triton X-100 soluble fraction, whereas wild-type caspase-8 inhibited with the pan-caspase inhibitor emricasan, or inactive caspase-8 mutant C362A, were detected in the insoluble fraction. Moreover, inhibited or inactive caspase-8 shifted ASC into the insoluble fraction. Perinatal lethality was recapitulated when expression of caspase-8 C362A was restricted to IECs, but intriguingly, only in the absence of MLKL. Hence, unanticipated plasticity in death pathways is revealed such that IECs can undergo caspase-1-dependent death when caspase-8-dependent apoptosis and MLKL-dependent necroptosis are inhibited.