Project description:Many patients with advanced cancers develop cachexia. Despite the high prevalence and catastrophic impact on quality of life and survival, the critical pathobiological mediators responsible for the cancer cachexia development remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a distinct subset of neutrophil-like monocytes, which we term cachexia-inducible monocytes (CiMs), emerges in advanced cancer pathogenesis and promotes skeletal muscle loss. Unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed that IL36G-producing CD38+ CiMs are induced during cachexia progression in the pathogenesis of chronic monocytic blood cancer characterized by persistent monocytosis and cachexia. The emergence of CiMs and activation of CiM-related gene signature in inflammatory monocytes were confirmed in multiple mouse models and patients with advanced solid cancers. Notably, genetic inhibition of IL36G/IL1RL2 signaling attenuated skeletal muscle loss and rescued cachexia phenotypes derived by both blood and solid cancers in mice. These data highlight the critical role for a subset of neutrophil-like monocyte induced in cancer pathogenesis.
Project description:Many patients with advanced cancers develop cachexia. Despite the high prevalence and catastrophic impact on quality of life and survival, the critical pathobiological mediators responsible for the cancer cachexia development remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a distinct subset of neutrophil-like monocytes, which we term cachexia-inducible monocytes (CiMs), emerges in advanced cancer pathogenesis and promotes skeletal muscle loss. Unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed that IL36G-producing CD38+ CiMs are induced during cachexia progression in the pathogenesis of chronic monocytic blood cancer characterized by persistent monocytosis and cachexia. The emergence of CiMs and activation of CiM-related gene signature in inflammatory monocytes were confirmed in multiple mouse models and patients with advanced solid cancers. Notably, genetic inhibition of IL36G/IL1RL2 signaling attenuated skeletal muscle loss and rescued cachexia phenotypes derived by both blood and solid cancers in mice. These data highlight the critical role for a subset of neutrophil-like monocyte induced in cancer pathogenesis.
Project description:Epigenetic changes including DNA methylation caused by environmental exposures may contribute to the heterogeneous inflammatory response in asthma. Here we investigate alterations in DNA methylation of purified blood monocytes that are associated with inflammatory phenotypes of asthma.
Project description:Objectives: Pinolenic acid (PNLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid from pine nuts, has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. We aimed to investigate the direct anti-inflammatory effect and anti-atherogenic effects of PNLA on activated purified CD14 monocytes from peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in vitro. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess the proportions of CD14 monocytes expressing TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 in purified monocytes from patients with RA after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation with/without PNLA pre-treatment. The whole genomic transcriptome (WGT) profile of PNLA-treated, and LPS-activated monocytes from patients with active RA was investigated by RNA-sequencing. Results: PNLA reduced percentage of monocytes expressing cytokines: TNF-a by 23% (p=0.048), IL-6 by 25% (p=0.011), IL-1B by 23% (p=0.050), IL-8 by 20% (p=0.066). Pathway analysis identified upstream activation of peroxisomes proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), sirtuin3, and let7miRNA, KLF15 which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidative. In contrast, DAP3, LIF and STAT3, which are involved in TNF-a, and IL-6 signal transduction, were inhibited. Canonical Pathway analysis showed that PNLA inhibited oxidative phosphorylation (p=9.14E-09) and mitochondrial dysfunction (p=4.18E-08), while the sirtuin (SIRTs) signalling pathway was activated (p=8.89E-06) which interfere with the pathophysiologic process of atherosclerosis. Many miRNAs were modulated by PNLA suggesting potential post-transcriptional regulation of metabolic and immune response that has not been described previously. Multiple miRNAs target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4), single-immunoglobulin interleukin-1 receptor molecule (SIGIRR), mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase membrane subunit 6 (MT-ATP6) and Acetyl-CoA Acyltranferase2 (ACAA2); genes implicated in regulation of lipid and cell metabolism, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion: PNLA has potential anti-atherogenic and immune-metabolic effects on monocytes that are pathogenic in RA and atherosclerosis. Dietary PNLA supplementation regulates key miRNAs that are involved in metabolic, mitochondrial, and inflammatory pathways.
Project description:Excessive alcohol consumption adversely affects the immune system and triggers the activation of peripheral blood (PB) monocytes and tissue macrophages, contributing to alcohol- related organ damage. This study aimed to analyze the M1/M2 and inflammatory phenotypes of circulating monocytes and macrophage-derived monocytes (MDMs). This single-center cross- sectional study included 20 excessive alcohol drinkers (EADs) and 22 healthy controls. PB samples were collected under fasting conditions for isolation of CD14+ monocytes and short-term culture without stimulation, LPS/IFNγ, or IL4/IL13. These conditions were also used to polarize monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) into M0, M1, or M2 phenotypes. Cytokine production was assessed in the blood samples and supernatants. M1/M2 related markers in PB monocytes and MDMs were analyzed using mRNA expression and surface marker analyses. In addition, the miRNA profile was analyzed in CD14+ monocytes. PB samples from EADs exhibited increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Project description:We report the application of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq) in mouse monocyte cells by integrating scRNA-seq, transcriptionfactor binding motifs, and ATAC-seq data using machine learning. We generated scRNA-seqdata from mouse monocytes treated with PBS, SD-LPS, 4-PBA, and SD-LPS + 4-PBA tounderstand the gene regulatory networks of monocytes under the low-grade inflammatorycondition and the mechanism of action for 4-PBA. We find two novelsubpopulations of monocyte cells in response to SD-LPS. We show that 4-PBApotently reprograms an anti-inflammatory monocyte phenotype and masks theeffects of subclinical low dose LPS. Together with TF binding motifs and ATAC-seqdata, a machine learning method, using guided, regularized random forest (GRRF)and feature selection was developed to select the best candidate TFs that areinvolved in the activation of monocytes within different clusters. Our results suggestthat our new machine learning method can select candidate regulatory genes aspotential targets for developing new therapeutics against low-gradeinflammation.