Project description:We identified a novel subset of iNKT cells, C2 iNKT cells, that circulate in the periphery. Correspondingly, we characterized the tissue-resident iNKT cell subset, C1 iNKT cells. We also found the precursor of these two subsets of iNKT cells, C0 iNKT cells in thymus. The development and terminal maturation of C2 iNKT cells completely depended on the thymic epithelial IL-15 niche, whereas C1 iNKT cells were regulated also by local IL-15 niches in peripheral tissues. C2 iNKT cells expressed high levels of genes related to cytotoxicity and exhibited more NK cell-like features. Here we characterized the C2 iNKT cells, C1 iNKT cells, and C0 iNKT cells using RNA-seq. We also performed RNA-seq for CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and NK cells as a comparison. To investigate the effect of CD4, we performed the RNA-seq for the CD4+ and CD4- C2 iNKT cells.
Project description:We identified two novel subsets of iNKT cells in mouse, C2 iNKT cells (the circulating subset) and C1 iNKT cells (the tissue-resident subset). Here, we characterized the cells of these two subsets in human peripheral blood.
Project description:We identified a novel subset of iNKT cells, C2 iNKT cells, that circulate in the periphery. Correspondingly, we characterized the tissue-resident iNKT cell subset, C1 iNKT cells. The development and terminal maturation of C2 iNKT cells completely depended on the thymic epithelial IL-15 niche, whereas C1 iNKT cells were regulated also by local IL-15 niches in peripheral tissues. C2 iNKT cells expressed high levels of genes related to cytotoxicity and exhibited more NK cell-like features. Functionally, C2 iNKT cells regulated self-antigen expression for immune tolerance in the thymus and mediated cancer immunosurveillance in the periphery.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression patterns at single cell level of parental HMLER cells and HMLER-derived non-convertible clone C1 and convertible clone C2. Two conditions were used including independently cultured or cultured together in vitro.
Project description:Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1/C2 (hnRNPC1/C2) functions as an RNA splicing regulator through co-transcriptional association with nascent mRNA. HnRNPC1/C2 can also bind to double-stranded DNA as a vitamin D response element-binding protein (VDRE-BP), thereby regulating transcriptional activity of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). In this way hnRNPC1/C2 may act as a coupling factor for 1,25(OH)2D-directed transcription and RNA splicing. Studies using MG63 osteoblastic cells confirmed that 1,25(OH)2D-VDR mediated induction of the gene for the enzyme 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1), involved CYP24A1-specific chromatin and RNA immunoprecipitation of hnRNPC1/C2. Furthermore, small interfering (siRNA) knockdown of hnRNPC1/C2 in MG63 cells and was associated with dysregulated expression of CYP24A1 and an alternatively spliced form of CYP24A1 (CYP24A1-variant 2). Genome-wide analysis of RNA expression and alternative splicing indicated that dual role of hnRNPC1/C2 in directing 1,25(OH)2D-mediated gene expression is not restricted to the classical VDR-target CYP24A1. Knockdown of hnRNPC1/C2 resulted in 3500 differentially expressed genes (DEG), and treatment with 1,25(OH)2D 324 DEG. A further 87 DEG were only observed in 1,25(OH)2D-treated cells in hnRNPC1/C2 knockdown cells. HnRNPC1/C2 knockdown or 1,25(OH)2D treatment also induced alternative splicing (AS) (5039 and 310 AS events respectively). Combined hnRNPC1/C2 knockdown and 1,25(OH)2D treatment resulted in significant overlap between DEG and AS genes, but this was not observed for 1,25(OH)2D treatment alone. These data indicate that hnRNPC1/C2 can act to couple transcriptional and splicing responses to 1,25(OH)2D by binding to both DNA and RNA. Similar mechanisms may also exist for other members of the hnRNP and steroid receptor family.
Project description:iNKT cells are a T lymphocyte subset displaying an innate effector phenotype that is acquired through a thymic developmental program controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs). iNKT cells lacking all miRNAs by the deletion of Dicer (Dicer KO) are markedly reduced and display a complete maturation block. In this study, we sought to gain insight into the miRNA-regulated genetic program required for iNKT cell development. By systemic analysis, we identified transcripts differentially expressed between thymic WT or Dicer KO iNKT cells and targeted by the iNKT cell-specific miRNAs. TGF-βRII, a molecule critically implicated in iNKT cell maturation, was found upregulated in Dicer KO iNKT cells together with increased TGF-β-dependent signaling. miRNAs belonging to the paralog miR-106a~363, miR-106b~25 and miR-17~92 clusters were predicted to target TGF-βRII mRNA during iNKT cell development. Thymic iNKT cells lacking all three miRNA clusters displayed both increased TGF-βRII expression and signaling and a maturation block, recapitulating those found in Dicer KO iNKT cells. Consistently, inhibition of TGF-β-dependent signaling in the absence of miRNAs, by crossing TGF-βRII KO and Dicer KO mice, rescued iNKT cell maturation. Collectively, our results highlight a fundamental requirement of the modulation of TGF-β-dependent signaling by miRNAs for iNKT cell development
Project description:Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) differentiate into thymic NKT1, NKT2 and NKT17 subsets that are also peripheral. We determined if the gene programs associated with these thymic subsets were maintained in peripheral sites, the influence of tissue location, and if there were large-scale changes after antigen exposure. RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses showed that iNKT cells in any subset were similar, regardless of tissue location. Lung iNKT cell subsets shared the most distinct location-specific features, shared with other innate lymphocytes in the lung, possibly consistent with increased activation. After antigenic stimulation, iNKT cells underwent chromatin and transcription changes leading to two populations: one similar to follicular helper T cells and the other like NK cells. Phenotypic analysis indicated these changes were observed long-term, suggesting that iNKT cells gene programs are not fixed, but they are capable of chromatin remodeling after antigen to give rise to several new subsets.