Project description:To gain insight into the potential molecular mechanisms by which PGRN regulates influenza viral replication, proteomic analyses of whole mouse lung tissue from wild-type (WT) versus (vs) PGRN knockout (KO) mice were performed to identify proteins regulated by the absence vs presence of PGRN.
Project description:In the heart, the serine carboxypeptidase cathepsin A (CatA) is distributed between lysosomes and the extracellular matrix (ECM). CatA-mediated degradation of extracellular peptides may contribute to ECM-remodeling and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CatA overexpression on LV remodeling. A proteomic analysis of the secretome of adult mouse cardiac fibroblasts upon digestion by CatA identified the extracellular antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) as a novel substrate of CatA (5-fold decreased abundance; p=0.0001). In vitro, cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts expressed and secreted CatA protein. EC-SOD protein was expressed and secreted only by cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiomyocyte-specific over-expression of CatA and increased activity in the LV of transgenic mice (CatA-TG) reduced EC-SOD protein levels by 43% (p<0.001). Loss of EC-SOD-mediated anti-oxidative protection resulted in accumulation of superoxide radicals (WT: 4.54±1.2 vs. CatA-TG: 8.62±2.3µmol/mg tissue/min; p=0.0012), increased inflammation, myocyte hypertrophy (WT: 19.8±1.0 vs. CatA-TG: 21.9±1.8µm; p=0.024), cellular apoptosis, and elevated mRNA expression of hypertrophy-related and pro-fibrotic marker genes, without effecting intracellular detoxifying proteins. In CatA-TG mice LV interstitial fibrosis formation was enhanced by 19% (p=0.028) and type I/type III collagen ratio was shifted towards higher abundance of collagen I fibers (p=0.026). Cardiac remodeling in CatA-TG was accompanied by increased LV weight/body weight and LV enddiastolic volume (WT: 50.8±5.8 vs. CatA-TG: 61.9±6.2 µl; p=0.018). Thus, in the heart CatA-mediated reduction of EC-SOD protein contributes to increased oxidative stress, myocyte hypertrophy, ECM remodeling and inflammation. This implicates CatA as a potential therapeutic target to prevent ventricular remodeling.
Project description:Dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) in cystic fibrosis (CF) results in exaggerated and chronic inflammation as well as increased susceptibility to chronic pulmonary infections, in particular with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Based on the concept that host immune responses do not seem to be adequate to eradicate P.aeruginosa from the lungs of CF patients and that dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in initiating and shaping adaptive immune responses, this study analyzed the role of CFTR in bone marrow-derived murine DC from CFTR knockout (CF) mice with and without exposure to P.aeruginosa. DC expressed CFTR mRNA and protein, although at much lower levels compared to whole lung. Microarray analysis of gene expression levels in DC generated from CF and wild type (WT) mice revealed significantly different expression of 16 genes in CF DC compared to WT DC. Among the genes with lower expression in CF DC was Caveolin-1, a membrane lipid raft protein. Messenger RNA and protein levels of Caveolin-1 were decreased in the CF DC compared to WT DC. Consistently, the active form of sterol-responsive element binding protein (SREBP), a negative regulator of Caveolin-1 expression, was increased in CF DC. Following exposure to P.aeruginosa, gene expression levels in CF and WT DC changed for 912 genes involved in inflammation, chemotaxis, signaling, cell cycling and apoptosis more than 1.5-fold. Among the genes that showed a different response between WT and CF DC infected with P.aeruginosa, were 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ7 reductase (Dhcr7) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 (Scd2), two enzymes involved in the lipid metabolism that are also regulated by SREBP. These results suggest that CFTR dysfunction in non-epithelial cells results in changes in the expression of genes encoding factors involved in membrane structure and lipid-metabolism. These membrane alterations in immune cells may contribute to the abnormal inflammatory and immune response characteristic of CF. Keywords: CF control vs CF PAK vs WT control vs WT PAK
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of postpartum day 0 mouse brain, comparing TDAG51 wild-type (WT) vs TDAG51 knockout (KO), and TDAG51 KO transgenic (Tg) vs TDAG51 KO.
Project description:Whole-genome expression data from normal FVB mouse lung tissue, transgenic cyclin E overexpressing (CEO) normal mouse lung tissue, and transgenic CEO lung adenocarcinomas
Project description:Scnn1b-Tg mice overexpress the beta subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (Scnn1b) in airway Club cells. The general phenotype of these mice is described in three published manuscripts (Mall et al. 2004, Nature Medicine, 10(5):487-93; Mall et al. 2008, Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 177(7):730-42; Livraghi-Butrico et al. 2012, Physiol. Genomics 44(8):470-84; and Livraghi-Butrico et al. 2012, Mucosal Immunology 5(4):397-408). Briefly, overexpression of the Scnn1b transgene in airway Club cells leads to hyperabsorption of sodium from the airway surface liquid, which causes airway surface liquid and mucus dehydration, resulting in reduced mucus clearance and airway mucus obstruction. The data provided here represents mRNA expression data from disseccted whole lung from male WT and Scnn1b-transgenic littermates (C57Bl/6NTac background) at 4 time points [postnatal days (PND) 0, 3, 10, and 42]. Histologically, PND 0 lungs are normal, at PND 3 the intrapulmonary airways exhibit transient and spotty Club cell necrosis, and by PND 10 airway mucus obstruction is evident in the proximal portion of the intrapulmonary main stem bronchus. At PND 42, Scnn1b-Tg lungs are charactyerized by chronic low level inflammation, with activated macrophages, neutrophilia, eosinophilia and increased incidence of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue. The data from the WT mice provides a global look at mRNA post-natal developmental changes, while the data from the Scnn1b-transgenic line allows differential gene expression due to airway surface liquid dehydration and mucus obstruction to be queried. The data presented for the lung is part of a larger body of work evaluating gene expression in lung (left lobe only), trachea, and purified macrophages (from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). 24 Total lung (left lobe only) samples were analyzed; three from each timepoint for each genotype (wild type and Scnn1b-transgenic). In our manuscript, we were most interested in changes between WT and Scnn1b-Tg mice, however, the data can also be used to evaluate changes in gene expression across time (PND 0, 3, 10, and 42). We generated the following pairwise comparisons: Scnn1b-Tg vs WT mice for each PND time point; Intra-strain comparison between PND 3, or 10, or 42 vs PND 0.
Project description:Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD), the main co-morbidity in Cystic Fibrosis (CF), is associated with higher rates of lung function decline. We hypothesize that airway epithelial barrier function is impaired in CF and is further exacerbated under hyperglycemia, worsening pulmonary outcomes. Using 16HBE cells as a model cell line, we studied the effects of hyperglycemia in airway epithelial barrier function. Results show increased paracellular dye flux in CF cells in response to insulin treatment under hyperglycemia, suggesting impaired barrier integrity. Gene expression experiments identified Claudin-4 (CLDN4) as a key tight junction protein dysregulated in CF cells. Further investigation into CLDN4 protein localization by confocal microscopy showed that CLDN4 was tightly localized at tight junctions in WT cells and localization did not change under hyperglycemia. ln contrast, CLDN4 was less well-localized in CF cells at normal glucose and localization was worsened in CF cells conditioned to hyperglycemia. Treatment with highly effective modulator compounds (ETI) reversed this trend, and CFTR rescue by ETI in CF cells was not affected by insulin treatment or hyperglycemia. Bulk RNA sequencing showed differences in transcriptional responses in CF compared to WT cells under normal or high glucose, highlighting PTPRG as a promising target for further investigation.