Project description:Human Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic colonic inflammation and has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. Gene and protein expression profiles of ABCB1/MDR1 have been shown to be dysregulated in UC and sporadic colorectal cancer. We demonstrated that in a murine model of colitis-associated tumorigenesis, MDR1A KO mice showed reduced tumor load when compared to wildtype (WT) mice. The aim of this study was to identify gene alterations in colitis-associated tumors in the context of MDR1A deficiency. We used microarrays to assess gene expression profiles of colitis-associated colonic tumors from WT or MDR1A KO mice.
Project description:MUC1 is a tumor-associated antigen that is aberrantly expressed in cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Even though immune cells express low MUC1 levels, their modulations of MUC1 are important in tumor progression. Consistent with previous clinical data that show increased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in IBD, we now show that down-regulation of MUC1 on hematopoietic cells increases MDSCs in IBD, similar to our data in tumor-bearing mice. We hypothesize that MDSC expansion in IBD is critical for tumor progression. In order to mechanistically confirm the linkage between Muc1 down-regulation and MDSC expansion, we generated chimeric mice that did not express Muc1 in the hematopoietic compartment (KO→WT). These mice were used in 2 models of colitis and colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and their responses were compared to wildtype chimeras (WT→WT). KO→WT mice show increased levels of MDSCs during colitis that was responsible for the larger colon tumors that eventually developed in these mice. Using microarray and qRT-PCR analysis, we observed increased pro-tumorigenic signaling in the colons of KO→WT mice during colitis as compared to WT→WT mice. Our RNA (microarray and qRT-PCR analysis) and protein analysis demonstrate increased up-regulation of metalloproteinases, collagenases, defensins, complements, growth factors, cytokines and chemokines in KO→WT mice as compared to WT→WT mice. Antibody-mediated depletion of MDSCs in mice during colitis reduced colon tumor formation during CAC. Development of CAC is a serious complication of colitis and our data highlight MDSCs as a targetable link between inflammation and cancer.
Project description:To explore the underlying mechanisms of NEDD4L in regulating colitis, colonic tissues from DSS-treated Nedd4lf/f VillinCre (IEC KO) mice and Nedd4lf/f (WT) littermates were subjected to RNA-sequencing analysis.
Project description:To explore the underlying mechanisms of NEDD4L in regulating colitis, colonic tissues from DSS-treated Nedd4lf/f VillinCre (IEC KO) mice and Nedd4lf/f (WT) littermates were subjected to RNA-sequencing analysis.
Project description:This study assessed gene expression changes associated with inflammation in the colon tissue of multi-drug resistance targeted mutation (Mdr1a-/-) mice, a model of human IBD. It also tested the anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin in the colon of these mice with a particular focus on the proteome. A colonic histological injury score was determined for each mouse to assess the level of colon inflammation in Mdr1a-/- mice, and to establish the effect of curcumin on inflammation. Insights into mechanisms of colonic inflammation in the Mdr1a-/- mice were gained using transcriptome (microarray) and proteome (2-D gel electrophoresis and LCMS protein identification) analyses. These data were compared to changes in the colon proteome in response to curcumin, and to previously described transcriptomic analyses [Nones et al, PMID: 18761777; GSE10684] in response to curcumin, in this model.
Project description:Instability in the composition of gut bacterial communities, referred as dysbiosis, has been associated with important human intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer. Our data showed that Nod2-mediated risk of intestinal inflammation in colitis model is communicable to WT mice by cohousing. Here, we investigated if Nod2-deficient mice microbiota is able to change transcript profiles in Nod2-immunocompetent mice (C57Bl6/J mice) independently of colitis. Analysis used RNA extracted from colonic mucosa of C57Bl/6J mice co-housed with Nod2-deficient mice and C57Bl/6J mice alone. Direct comparisons of 4 biologicals replicates of C57Bl/6J mice cohoused with Nod2-deficient mice vs C57Bl/6J mice were performed.
Project description:Interleukin-23 (IL-23) and IL-17 are cytokines currently being targeted in clinical trials. Although inhibition of these cytokines is effective for treating psoriasis, IL-12/23 inhibition attenuates Crohn's disease, while IL-17A or IL-17RA inhibition exacerbates disease. This dichotomy between IL-23 and IL-17 was effectively modeled in the mdr1a- /- mouse model of colitis. IL-23 inhibition attenuated disease by decreasing colonic inflammation while enhancing Treg accumulation. Exacerbation of colitis by IL-17A or IL-17RA inhibition was associated with severe weakening of the intestinal epithelial barrier, culminating in increased colonic inflammation and accelerated mortality. These data show that IL-17A acts on intestinal epithelium to promote barrier function and provides insight into mechanisms underlying exacerbation of Crohn's disease when IL-17A or IL-17RA is inhibited.
Project description:Instability in the composition of gut bacterial communities, referred as dysbiosis, has been associated with important human intestinal disorders such as CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease and colorectal cancer. Here, we show that dysbiosis coupled to Nod2 or Rip2 deficiency suffices to cause an increased risk for intestinal inflammation and colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice. Aggravated epithelial lesions and dysplasia upon chemical-induced injury associated with loss of Nod2 or Rip2 can be prevented by antibiotics or anti-IL6R treatment. Nod2-mediated risk for intestinal inflammation and colitis-associated tumorigenesis is communicable through maternally-transmitted microbiota even to wild-type hosts. Disease progression was identified to drive complex NOD2-dependent changes of the colonic-associated microbiota. Reciprocal microbiota transplantation rescues the vulnerability of Nod2-deficient mice to colonic injury. Altogether, our results unveil an unexpected function for NOD2 in shaping a protective assembly of gut microbial communities, providing a rationale for intentional manipulation of genotype-dependent dysbiosis as a causative therapeutic principle in chronic intestinal inflammation. Analysis used RNA extracted from colonic mucosa of untreated, antibiotics-treated or metronidazole-treated C57Bl/6J and Nod2-deficient mice in CAC model. Direct comparisons were performed as follow: C57Bl/6J untreated mice vs Nod2-deficient untreated mice, C57Bl/6J antibiotics-treated mice vs Nod2-deficient antibiotics-treated mice, C57Bl/6J metronidazole-treated mice vs Nod2-deficient metronidazole-treated mice, C57Bl/6J untreated mice vs C57Bl/6J antibiotics-treated mice, C57Bl/6J untreated mice vs C57Bl/6J metronidazole-treated mice, Nod2-deficient untreated mice vs Nod2-deficient antibiotics-treated mice, Nod2-deficient untreated mice vs Nod2-deficient metronidazole-treated mice. Indirect comparisons with control data were made across multiple arrays with raw data pulled from different channels for data analysis.
Project description:This study assessed gene expression changes associated with inflammation in the colon tissue of multi-drug resistance targeted mutation (Mdr1a-/-) mice, a model of human IBD. It also tested the anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin in the colon of these mice with a particular focus on the proteome. A colonic histological injury score was determined for each mouse to assess the level of colon inflammation in Mdr1a-/- mice, and to establish the effect of curcumin on inflammation. Insights into mechanisms of colonic inflammation in the Mdr1a-/- mice were gained using transcriptome (microarray) and proteome (2-D gel electrophoresis and LCMS protein identification) analyses. These data were compared to changes in the colon proteome in response to curcumin, and to previously described transcriptomic analyses [Nones et al, PMID: 18761777; GSE10684] in response to curcumin, in this model. A total of 24 male Mdr1a-/- mice, and 24 male FVB/N mice, purchased from Taconic (Hudson, NY, USA) at 4-5 weeks of age, were used for this study. 12 mice were randomly assigned to each of two different dietary groups: control (AIN-76A powdered diet), or curcumin (AIN-76A + 0.2% curcumin). At 21 and 24 weeks of age, mice were euthanized and colon samples taken for histological, microarray, and proteomics analyses. The total histology score (HIS) in the colon was determined according to previously described criteria. Total RNA was isolated using TRIzolM-BM-. reagent. Colon RNA from four Mdr1a-/- mice (with high HIS) on the control diet (i.e. AIN-76A powdered diet) was compared with colon RNA from four FVB/N mice with low HIS also on the control diet (i.e. AIN-76A powdered diet). All individual RNA samples were hybridized against a common reference RNA on separate slides. The reference RNA was prepared using equimolar RNA extracts from small intestine, colon, kidney and liver of normal healthy growing Swiss mice plus RNA extracts from Swiss mouse fetuses. These data were compared with previously reported transcriptomics analysis of colon RNA from the same four Mdr1a-/- mice on the AIN-76A diet (with high HIS) compared with colon RNA from four Mdr1a-/- mice on the curcumin diet (with low HIS; Nones et al 2009, PMID: 18761777)
Project description:To uncover molecular mechanisms specifically involved in the pathogenesis of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC), we studied tumorigenesis in experimental models of CAC and sporadic CRC that mimic characteristics of human CRC. Using comparative whole genome expression profiling, we observed differential expression of epiregulin (Ereg) in mouse models of colitis-associated, but not sporadic colorectal cancer. Similarly, highly significant upregulation of Ereg expression was found in cohorts of patients with colitis-associated cancer in inflammatory bowel disease but not in sporadic colorectal cancer. Furthermore, tumor-associated fibroblasts were identified as major source of Ereg in colitis-associated neoplasias. Functional studies showed that Ereg-deficient mice, although more prone to colitis, are strongly protected from colitis-associated tumors, and data from serial endoscopic studies revealed that Ereg promotes growth rather than initiation of tumors. 4 samples of individual distal colitis-associated tumors (CAC) from 4 mice, 2 samples of tumor-free distal colon epithelium with a pool of 5 mice per sample (CAC contr), 5 samples of individual Apcmin/+ tumors from the distal colorectum of 5 mice (sporCRC) and 3 samples of tumor-free distal colon epithelium (pool of 4 mice per sample) (sporCRC contr). Colitis-associated tumorigenesis was performed by intraperitoneal injection of Azoxymethane (10mg/kg) (Sigma) into C57BL/6J wildtype mice followed by 3 cycles of Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) in drinking water. Each DSS-cycle was composed of DSS (2.5% (w/v) (MP Biomedicals) in drinking water for 7 days, followed by a recovery phase with regular drinking water for 14 days. Sporadic tumors were from C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+/J mice. All tumors were obtained from the from the lower 6th of the large intestine and they had the same size covering between ¼ and up to ½ of the colonic circumferenc as evaluated by mini-endoscopy.