Project description:Gene arrays were used to characterize the global transcriptional alterations in skin biopsy samples of EM lesions in comparison to controls. The transcriptional pattern in EM biopsies consisted of 254 differentially regulated genes (180 induced and 74 repressed) characterized by the induction of chemokines, cytokines, Toll-like receptors, antimicrobial peptides, monocytoid cell activation markers, and numerous genes annotated as interferon (IFN)-inducible. The IFN-inducible genes included 3 transcripts involved in tryptophan catabolism (IDO1, KMO, KYNU) that play a pivotal role in immune evasion by certain other microbial pathogens by driving the differentiation of regulatory T cells. PMCID: PMC5853807
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.
Project description:The aim of the study was to compare the global transcriptional responses elicited in NHDF cells by three different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi ss (the agent of Lyme borreliosis), representative of different stages in the life cycle of Borrelia: one reference strain isolated from a tick (strain N40), and two invasive strains isolated from skin biopsy of erythema migrans (strain Pbre c4) and acrodermatitis chronica atrophians skin lesions (strain 1408 c1).
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.
Project description:In this study, a comprehensive assessment of human miRNA was performed on leprosy skin lesions using DNA chip microarrays, which included the entire spectrum of the disease along with its reactional states. Sixty-eight samples from leprotic lesions (10TT, 10BT, 10BB, 10BL, 4LL, 14R1, and 10R2) and nine skin biopsies from healthy individuals were used as controls (CC) (ages ranged from 06 to 83 years, 48 were male and 29 female). The evaluation identified differentially expressed miRNAs [Fold Change (FC)≥2.0, p<0.05] in disease lesions versus healthy controls or between them. Some of these miRNAs were validated by RT-PCR.
Project description:Erythema migrans (EM) is a skin lesion caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi (Bb) and is a hallmark initial sign of Lyme disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that T cells and innate immune cells mediate local inflammatory cytokine production that promote the reaction. Despite the established importance of B cells and antibodies in preventing Bb infection and resolving disease, the role of B cells in the skin immune response to Bb is incompletely defined. In this study, we characterized the immunophenotype of EM lesions and used single cell RNA-Seq to investigate B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires in the EM skin lesions and peripheral blood of patients with Lyme disease. We hypothesized that B cells from the circulation, potentially primed by exposure to Bb antigens in regional draining lymph nodes, are recruited into EM lesions and play an active role in the local response to infection. We found that B cells are more abundant in the EM lesion in comparison to autologous uninvolved skin and possess distinct characteristics, including abundant expression of MHCII genes and preferential IgM isotype usage. A subset exhibited low levels of somatic hypermutation despite a gene expression profile more consistent with memory than naïve B cell subsets. Moreover, infiltrating B cells were clonally expanded and a large fraction could be directly traced to circulating relatives. By leveraging single cell gene expression with paired BCR and TCR repertoire sequencing, we demonstrate, for the first time, that B cells are recruited to the skin infection site in early Lyme disease and express a phenotype suggesting that they could play a role in local antigen presentation and antibody production.