Project description:To compare subpopulations of Treg cells in wild type mice based upon Nrp1 Expression, differentiating nTreg and iTreg Cells were FACS sorted based upon expression of CD4, Foxp3 and expression of Nrp1.
Project description:Obesity gives rise to metabolic complications by mechanisms that are poorly understood. While chronic inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue is typically associated with metabolic deficiencies linked to excessive weight gain, we identified a subset of NRP1-expressing myeloid cells that accumulate in adipose tissue and protect against obesity and metabolic syndrome. Ablation of NRP1 in macrophages compromised lipid uptake in these cells, which reduced substrates for fatty acid β-oxidation and shifted energy metabolism of these macrophages towards a more inflammatory glycolytic metabolism. Conditional deletion of NRP1 in LysM Cre-expressing cells lead to inadequate adipose vascularization, accelerated weight gain and reduced insulin sensitivity even independent of weight gain. Transfer of NRP1+ hematopoietic cells improved glucose homeostasis, resulting in the reversal of a prediabetic phenotype. Our findings suggest a pivotal role for adipose tissue resident NRP1+-expressing macrophages in driving healthy weight gain and maintaining glucose tolerance.
Project description:Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) play critical roles in driving the pathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of ILC2s remain to be fully understood. Here, we identified neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) as a surface marker of ILC2s in response to IL-33 stimulation. Nrp1 was abundantly expressed in ILC2s from lung under steady state, which was significantly reduced upon IL-33 stimulation. ILC2s with high expression of Nrp1 (Nrp1high) displayed lower response to IL-33, as compared with Nrp1low ILC2s. Transcriptional profiling and flow cytometric analysis showed that downregulation of AKT-mTOR signaling participated in the diminished functionality of Nrp1high ILC2s. These observations revealed a potential role of Nrp1 in ILC2s responses under allergic inflammatory condition.
Project description:HUVECs transfected with siRNA targeting Neuropilin 1(NRP1) (si-NRP1) or a control non-targeting sequence (si-control) and exposed to unidirectional shear stress (20dyns/cm2), oscillatory flow (5dyn/cm2) or kept in absence of flow.