scholarly journals Cell-specific and region-specific transcriptomics in the multiple sclerosis model: Focus on astrocytes

2017 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. E302-E309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriko Itoh ◽  
Yuichiro Itoh ◽  
Alessia Tassoni ◽  
Emily Ren ◽  
Max Kaito ◽  
...  

Changes in gene expression that occur across the central nervous system (CNS) during neurological diseases do not address the heterogeneity of cell types from one CNS region to another and are complicated by alterations in cellular composition during disease. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is multifocal by definition. Here, a cell-specific and region-specific transcriptomics approach was used to determine gene expression changes in astrocytes in the most widely used MS model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Astrocyte-specific RNAs from various neuroanatomic regions were attained using RiboTag technology. Sequencing and bioinformatics analyses showed that EAE-induced gene expression changes differed between neuroanatomic regions when comparing astrocytes from spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus. The top gene pathways that were changed in astrocytes from spinal cord during chronic EAE involved decreases in expression of cholesterol synthesis genes while immune pathway gene expression in astrocytes was increased. Optic nerve from EAE and optic chiasm from MS also showed decreased cholesterol synthesis gene expression. The potential role of cholesterol synthesized by astrocytes during EAE and MS is discussed. Together, this provides proof-of-concept that a cell-specific and region-specific gene expression approach can provide potential treatment targets in distinct neuroanatomic regions during multifocal neurological diseases.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana J. Chucair-Elliott ◽  
Sarah R. Ocañas ◽  
David R. Stanford ◽  
Victor A. Ansere ◽  
Kyla B. Buettner ◽  
...  

AbstractEpigenetic regulation of gene expression occurs in a cell type-specific manner. Current cell-type specific neuroepigenetic studies rely on cell sorting methods that can alter cell phenotype and introduce potential confounds. Here we demonstrate and validate a Nuclear Tagging and Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (NuTRAP) approach for temporally controlled labeling and isolation of ribosomes and nuclei, and thus RNA and DNA, from specific central nervous system cell types. Analysis of gene expression and DNA modifications in astrocytes or microglia from the same animal demonstrates differential usage of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in CpG and non-CpG contexts that corresponds to cell type-specific gene expression. Application of this approach in LPS treated mice uncovers microglia-specific transcriptome and epigenome changes in inflammatory pathways that cannot be detected with tissue-level analysis. The NuTRAP model and the validation approaches presented can be applied to any brain cell type for which a cell type-specific cre is available.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana J. Chucair-Elliott ◽  
Sarah R. Ocañas ◽  
David R. Stanford ◽  
Victor A. Ansere ◽  
Kyla B. Buettner ◽  
...  

AbstractEpigenetic regulation of gene expression occurs in a cell type-specific manner. Current cell-type specific neuroepigenetic studies rely on cell sorting methods that can alter cell phenotype and introduce potential confounds. Here we demonstrate and validate a Nuclear Tagging and Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (NuTRAP) approach for temporally controlled labeling and isolation of ribosomes and nuclei, and thus RNA and DNA, from specific CNS cell types. Paired analysis of the transcriptome and DNA modifications in astrocytes and microglia demonstrates differential usage of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in CG and non-CG contexts that corresponds to cell type-specific gene expression. Application of this approach in LPS treated mice uncovers microglia-specific transcriptome and epigenome changes in inflammatory pathways that cannot be detected with tissue-level analysis. The NuTRAP model and the validation approaches presented can be applied to any CNS cell type for which a cell type-specific cre is available.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiruntita Chankeaw ◽  
Sandra Lignier ◽  
Christophe Richard ◽  
Theodoros Ntallaris ◽  
Mariam Raliou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A number of studies have examined mRNA expression profiles of bovine endometrium at estrus and around the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. However, to date, these studies have been performed on the whole endometrium which is a complex tissue. Consequently, the knowledge of cell-specific gene expression, when analysis performed with whole endometrium, is still weak and obviously limits the relevance of the results of gene expression studies. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize specific transcriptome of the three main cell-types of the bovine endometrium at day-15 of the estrus cycle. Results In the RNA-Seq analysis, the number of expressed genes detected over 10 transcripts per million was 6622, 7814 and 8242 for LE, GE and ST respectively. ST expressed exclusively 1236 genes while only 551 transcripts were specific to the GE and 330 specific to LE. For ST, over-represented biological processes included many regulation processes and response to stimulus, cell communication and cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization as well as developmental process. For GE, cilium organization, cilium movement, protein localization to cilium and microtubule-based process were the only four main biological processes enriched. For LE, over-represented biological processes were enzyme linked receptor protein signaling pathway, cell-substrate adhesion and circulatory system process. Conclusion The data show that each endometrial cell-type has a distinct molecular signature and provide a significantly improved overview on the biological process supported by specific cell-types. The most interesting result is that stromal cells express more genes than the two epithelial types and are associated with a greater number of pathways and ontology terms.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1202-1208
Author(s):  
R A Graves ◽  
P Tontonoz ◽  
B M Spiegelman

The molecular basis of adipocyte-specific gene expression is not well understood. We have previously identified a 518-bp enhancer from the adipocyte P2 gene that stimulates adipose-specific gene expression in both cultured cells and transgenic mice. In this analysis of the enhancer, we have defined and characterized a 122-bp DNA fragment that directs differentiation-dependent gene expression in cultured preadipocytes and adipocytes. Several cis-acting elements have been identified and shown by mutational analysis to be important for full enhancer activity. One pair of sequences, ARE2 and ARE4, binds a nuclear factor (ARF2) present in extracts derived from many cell types. Multiple copies of these elements stimulate gene expression from a minimal promoter in preadipocytes, adipocytes, and several other cultured cell lines. A second pair of elements, ARE6 and ARE7, binds a separate factor (ARF6) that is detected only in nuclear extracts derived from adipocytes. The ability of multimers of ARE6 or ARE7 to stimulate promoter activity is strictly adipocyte specific. Mutations in the ARE6 sequence greatly reduce the activity of the 518-bp enhancer. These data demonstrate that several cis- and trans-acting components contribute to the activity of the adipocyte P2 enhancer and suggest that ARF6, a novel differentiation-dependent factor, may be a key regulator of adipogenic gene expression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Hong Li ◽  
Ying Cao ◽  
Fen Liu ◽  
Qian Zhao ◽  
Dilare Adi ◽  
...  

Background: Spatial transcriptomics enables gene expression events to be pinpointed to a specific location in biological tissues. We developed a molecular approach for low-cell and high-fiber Stanford type A aortic dissection and preliminarily explored and visualized the heterogeneity of ascending aortic types and mapping cell-type-specific gene expression to specific anatomical domains.Methods: We collected aortic samples from 15 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection and a case of ascending aorta was randomly selected followed by 10x Genomics and spatial transcriptomics sequencing. In data processing of normalization, component analysis and dimensionality reduction analysis, different algorithms were compared to establish the pipeline suitable for human aortic tissue.Results: We identified 19,879 genes based on the count level of gene expression at different locations and they were divided into seven groups based on gene expression trends. Major cell that the population may contain are indicated, and we can find different main distribution of different cell types, among which the tearing sites were mainly macrophages and stem cells. The gene expression of these different locations and the cell types they may contain are correlated and discussed in terms of their involvement in immunity, regulation of oxygen homeostasis, regulation of cell structure and basic function.Conclusion: This approach provides a spatially resolved transcriptome− and tissue-wide perspective of the adult human aorta and will allow the application of human fibrous aortic tissues without any effect on genes in different layers with low RNA expression levels. Our findings will pave the way toward both a better understanding of Stanford type A aortic dissection pathogenesis and heterogeneity and the implementation of more effective personalized therapeutic approaches.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Ahmadzadeh ◽  
N. Sumru Bayin ◽  
Xinli Qu ◽  
Aditi Singh ◽  
Linda Madisen ◽  
...  

AbstractThanks to many advances in genetic manipulation, mouse models have become very powerful in their ability to interrogate biological processes. In order to precisely target expression of a gene of interest to particular cell types, intersectional genetic approaches utilizing two promoter/enhancers unique to a cell type are ideal. Within these methodologies, variants that add temporal control of gene expression are the most powerful. We describe the development, validation and application of an intersectional approach that involves three transgenes, requiring the intersection of two promoter/enhancers to target gene expression to precise cell types. Furthermore, the approach utilizes available lines expressing tTA/rTA to control timing of gene expression based on whether doxycycline is absent or present, respectively. We also show that the approach can be extended to other animal models, using chicken embryos. We generated three mouse lines targeted at the Tigre (Igs7) locus with TRE-loxP-tdTomato-loxP upstream of three genes (p21, DTA and Ctgf) and combined them with Cre and tTA/rtTA lines that target expression to the cerebellum and limbs. Our tools will facilitate unraveling biological questions in multiple fields and organisms.Summary statementAhmadzadeh et al. present a collection of four mouse lines and genetic tools for misexpression-mediated manipulation of cellular activity with high spatiotemporal control, in a reversible manner.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana Dobreva ◽  
David Brown ◽  
Jong Hwee Park ◽  
Matt Thomson

AbstractAn individual’s immune system is driven by both genetic and environmental factors that vary over time. To better understand the temporal and inter-individual variability of gene expression within distinct immune cell types, we developed a platform that leverages multiplexed single-cell sequencing and out-of-clinic capillary blood extraction to enable simplified, cost-effective profiling of the human immune system across people and time at single-cell resolution. Using the platform, we detect widespread differences in cell type-specific gene expression between subjects that are stable over multiple days.SummaryIncreasing evidence implicates the immune system in an overwhelming number of diseases, and distinct cell types play specific roles in their pathogenesis.1,2 Studies of peripheral blood have uncovered a wealth of associations between gene expression, environmental factors, disease risk, and therapeutic efficacy.4 For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple mechanistic paths have been found that lead to disease, and gene expression of specific immune cell types can be used as a predictor of therapeutic non-response.12 Furthermore, vaccines, drugs, and chemotherapy have been shown to yield different efficacy based on time of administration, and such findings have been linked to the time-dependence of gene expression in downstream pathways.21,22,23 However, human immune studies of gene expression between individuals and across time remain limited to a few cell types or time points per subject, constraining our understanding of how networks of heterogeneous cells making up each individual’s immune system respond to adverse events and change over time.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Rayon ◽  
Rory J. Maizels ◽  
Christopher Barrington ◽  
James Briscoe

AbstractThe spinal cord receives input from peripheral sensory neurons and controls motor output by regulating muscle innervating motor neurons. These functions are carried out by neural circuits comprising molecularly and physiologically distinct neuronal subtypes that are generated in a characteristic spatial-temporal arrangement from progenitors in the embryonic neural tube. The systematic mapping of gene expression in mouse embryos has provided insight into the diversity and complexity of cells in the neural tube. For human embryos, however, less information has been available. To address this, we used single cell mRNA sequencing to profile cervical and thoracic regions in four human embryos of Carnegie Stages (CS) CS12, CS14, CS17 and CS19 from Gestational Weeks (W) 4-7. In total we recovered the transcriptomes of 71,219 cells. Analysis of progenitor and neuronal populations from the neural tube, as well as cells of the peripheral nervous system, in dorsal root ganglia adjacent to the neural tube, identified dozens of distinct cell types and facilitated the reconstruction of the differentiation pathways of specific neuronal subtypes. Comparison with existing mouse datasets revealed the overall similarity of mouse and human neural tube development while highlighting specific features that differed between species. These data provide a catalogue of gene expression and cell type identity in the developing neural tube that will support future studies of sensory and motor control systems and can be explored at https://shiny.crick.ac.uk/scviewer/neuraltube/.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Mačinković ◽  
Ina Theofel ◽  
Tim Hundertmark ◽  
Kristina Kovač ◽  
Stephan Awe ◽  
...  

Abstract CoREST has been identified as a subunit of several protein complexes that generate transcriptionally repressive chromatin structures during development. However, a comprehensive analysis of the CoREST interactome has not been carried out. We use proteomic approaches to define the interactomes of two dCoREST isoforms, dCoREST-L and dCoREST-M, in Drosophila. We identify three distinct histone deacetylase complexes built around a common dCoREST/dRPD3 core: A dLSD1/dCoREST complex, the LINT complex and a dG9a/dCoREST complex. The latter two complexes can incorporate both dCoREST isoforms. By contrast, the dLSD1/dCoREST complex exclusively assembles with the dCoREST-L isoform. Genome-wide studies show that the three dCoREST complexes associate with chromatin predominantly at promoters. Transcriptome analyses in S2 cells and testes reveal that different cell lineages utilize distinct dCoREST complexes to maintain cell-type-specific gene expression programmes: In macrophage-like S2 cells, LINT represses germ line-related genes whereas other dCoREST complexes are largely dispensable. By contrast, in testes, the dLSD1/dCoREST complex prevents transcription of germ line-inappropriate genes and is essential for spermatogenesis and fertility, whereas depletion of other dCoREST complexes has no effect. Our study uncovers three distinct dCoREST complexes that function in a lineage-restricted fashion to repress specific sets of genes thereby maintaining cell-type-specific gene expression programmes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document