scholarly journals Targeting a central feature of asthma using a cell type-selective IL-13-responsive enhancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung Duk Koh ◽  
Luke R Bonser ◽  
Walter L Eckalbar ◽  
Jiangshan Shen ◽  
Ofer Yizhar-Barnea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Mucin Production ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Cell

IL-13 is a central mediator of asthma. Here, we used genome-wide approaches to characterize genes and regulatory elements modulated by IL-13 and other asthma-associated cytokines in airway epithelial cells and showed how they can be used for therapeutic purposes. Using bulk and single cell RNA-seq, we found distinctive responses to IL-13, IL-17, and interferons in human bronchial epithelial basal, ciliated, and secretory cells. H3K27ac ChIP-seq revealed that IL-13 had widespread effects on regulatory elements. Detailed characterization of an enhancer of SPDEF, a transcription factor required for pathologic mucin production, revealed that STAT6 and KLF5 binding sites cooperate to drive IL-13-dependent transcription selectively in secretory cells. Using this enhancer to drive CRISPRi and knockdown either SPDEF or the mucin MUC5AC showed the potential use of this approach for asthma therapeutics. This work identifies numerous genes and regulatory elements involved in cell type-selective cytokine responses and showcases their use for therapeutic purposes.

scholarly journals Looping of upstream cis-regulatory elements is required for CFTR expression in human airway epithelial cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 3513-3524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monali NandyMazumdar ◽  
Shiyi Yin ◽  
Alekh Paranjapye ◽  
Jenny L Kerschner ◽  
Hannah Swahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Long Range Interactions ◽  
Cell Type Specific

Abstract The CFTR gene lies within an invariant topologically associated domain (TAD) demarcated by CTCF and cohesin, but shows cell-type specific control mechanisms utilizing different cis-regulatory elements (CRE) within the TAD. Within the respiratory epithelium, more than one cell type expresses CFTR and the molecular mechanisms controlling its transcription are likely divergent between them. Here, we determine how two extragenic CREs that are prominent in epithelial cells in the lung, regulate expression of the gene. We showed earlier that these CREs, located at −44 and −35 kb upstream of the promoter, have strong cell-type-selective enhancer function. They are also responsive to inflammatory mediators and to oxidative stress, consistent with a key role in CF lung disease. Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to remove these CREs from the endogenous locus in human bronchial epithelial cells. Loss of either site extinguished CFTR expression and abolished long-range interactions between these sites and the gene promoter, suggesting non-redundant enhancers. The deletions also greatly reduced promoter interactions with the 5′ TAD boundary. We show substantial recruitment of RNAPII to the −35 kb element and identify CEBPβ as a key activator of airway expression of CFTR, likely through occupancy at this CRE and the gene promoter.

Effects of dexamethasone on Muc5ac mucin production by primary airway goblet cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. L52-L60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenju Lu ◽  
Erik P. Lillehoj ◽  
K. Chul Kim
Keyword(s):  
A549 Cells ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Mucus Production ◽  
Mucin Production ◽  
Proinflammatory Mediators ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The Stability

Mucus hypersecretion associated with airway inflammation is reduced by glucocorticoids. Two mechanisms of glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of mucus production have been proposed, direct inhibition of mucus production by airway epithelial cells and indirectly through inhibition of proinflammatory mediators that stimulate mucus production. In this study, we examined the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on mRNA expression and synthesis of MUC5AC by A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells as well as Muc5ac and total high-molecular-weight (HMW) mucins by primary rat tracheal surface epithelial (RTSE) cells. Our results showed that in primary RTSE cells, DEX 1) dose dependently suppressed Muc5ac mRNA levels, but the levels of cellular Muc5ac protein and HMW mucins were unaffected; 2) did not affect constitutive or UTP-stimulated mucin secretion; 3) enhanced the translation of Muc5ac; and 4) increased the stability of intracellular Muc5ac protein by a mechanism other than the inhibition of the proteasomal degradation. In A549 cells, however, DEX suppressed both MUC5AC mRNA levels and MUC5AC protein secretion in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that whereas DEX inhibits the levels of Muc5ac mRNA in primary RTSE cells, the levels of Muc5ac protein remain unchanged as a consequence of increases in both translation and protein stability. Interestingly, some of the effects of DEX were opposite in a cell line.

scholarly journals Autophagy of mucin granules contributes to resolution of airway mucous metaplasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Sweeter ◽  
K. Kudrna ◽  
K. Hunt ◽  
P. Thomes ◽  
B. F. Dickey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Airway Disease ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Mtor Inhibition ◽  
Mucin Production ◽  
Mucous Metaplasia ◽  
Autophagy Pathway ◽  
Secretion Pathways

AbstractExacerbations of muco-obstructive airway diseases such as COPD and asthma are associated with epithelial changes termed mucous metaplasia (MM). Many molecular pathways triggering MM have been identified; however, the factors that regulate resolution are less well understood. We hypothesized that the autophagy pathway is required for resolution of MM by eliminating excess non-secreted intracellular mucin granules. We found increased intracellular levels of mucins Muc5ac and Muc5b in mice deficient in autophagy regulatory protein, Atg16L1, and that this difference was not due to defects in the known baseline or stimulated mucin secretion pathways. Instead, we found that, in mucous secretory cells, Lc3/Lamp1 vesicles colocalized with mucin granules particularly adjacent to the nucleus, suggesting that some granules were being eliminated in the autophagy pathway rather than secreted. Using a mouse model of MM resolution, we found increased lysosomal proteolytic activity that peaked in the days after mucin production began to decline. In purified lysosomal fractions, Atg16L1-deficient mice had reduced proteolytic degradation of Lc3 and Sqstm1 and persistent accumulation of mucin granules associated with impaired resolution of mucous metaplasia. In normal and COPD derived human airway epithelial cells (AECs), activation of autophagy by mTOR inhibition led to a reduction of intracellular mucin granules in AECs. Our findings indicate that during peak and resolution phases of MM, autophagy activity rather than secretion is required for elimination of some remaining mucin granules. Manipulation of autophagy activation offers a therapeutic target to speed resolution of MM in airway disease exacerbations.

scholarly journals The Emergence of Human Coronavirus EMC: How Scared Should We Be?

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee W. Y. Chan ◽  
Leo L. M. Poon
Keyword(s):  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Human Coronavirus ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Human Airway Epithelium ◽  
Mammalian Cell Lines ◽  
Physiological Relevance

ABSTRACT A novel betacoronavirus, human coronavirus (HCoV-EMC), has recently been detected in humans with severe respiratory disease. Further characterization of HCoV-EMC suggests that this virus is different from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) because it is able to replicate in multiple mammalian cell lines and it does not use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as a receptor to achieve infection. Additional research is urgently needed to better understand the pathogenicity and tissue tropism of this virus in humans. In their recent study published in mBio, Kindler et al. shed some light on these important topics (E. Kindler, H. R. Jónsdóttir, M. Muth, O. J. Hamming, R. Hartmann, R. Rodriguez, R. Geffers, R. A. Fouchier, C. Drosten, M. A. Müller, R. Dijkman, and V. Thiel, mBio 4[1]:e00611-12, 2013). These authors report the use of differentiated pseudostratified human primary airway epithelial cells, an in vitro model with high physiological relevance to the human airway epithelium, to characterize the cellular tropism of HCoV-EMC. More importantly, the authors demonstrate the potential use of type I and type III interferons (IFNs) to control viral infection.

scholarly journals Simultaneous profiling of multiple chromatin proteins in the same cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sneha Gopalan ◽  
Yuqing Wang ◽  
Nicholas W. Harper ◽  
Manuel Garber ◽  
Thomas G Fazzio
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Direct Analysis ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Distinct Cell ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Chromatin Proteins

Methods derived from CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag enable genome-wide mapping of the localization of proteins on chromatin from as few as one cell. These and other mapping approaches focus on one protein at a time, preventing direct measurements of co-localization of different chromatin proteins in the same cells and requiring prioritization of targets where samples are limiting. Here we describe multi-CUT&Tag, an adaptation of CUT&Tag that overcomes these hurdles by using antibody-specific barcodes to simultaneously map multiple proteins in the same cells. Highly specific multi-CUT&Tag maps of histone marks and RNA Polymerase II uncovered sites of co-localization in the same cells, active and repressed genes, and candidate cis-regulatory elements. Single-cell multi-CUT&Tag profiling facilitated identification of distinct cell types from a mixed population and characterization of cell type-specific chromatin architecture. In sum, multi-CUT&Tag increases the information content per cell of epigenomic maps, facilitating direct analysis of the interplay of different proteins on chromatin.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Systematic Characterization of the NPF Family Genes and Their Transcriptional Responses to Multiple Nutrient Stresses in Allotetraploid Rapeseed

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Mengyao Shi ◽  
Sheliang Wang ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Peptide Transporter ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Ammonium Toxicity ◽  
Genome Wide

NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1 (NRT1)/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER (PTR) family (NPF) proteins can transport various substrates, and play crucial roles in governing plant nitrogen (N) uptake and distribution. However, little is known about the NPF genes in Brassica napus. Here, a comprehensive genome-wide systematic characterization of the NPF family led to the identification of 193 NPF genes in the whole genome of B. napus. The BnaNPF family exhibited high levels of genetic diversity among sub-families but this was conserved within each subfamily. Whole-genome duplication and segmental duplication played a major role in BnaNPF evolution. The expression analysis indicated that a broad range of expression patterns for individual gene occurred in response to multiple nutrient stresses, including N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) deficiencies, as well as ammonium toxicity. Furthermore, 10 core BnaNPF genes in response to N stress were identified. These genes contained 6–13 transmembrane domains, located in plasma membrane, that respond discrepantly to N deficiency in different tissues. Robust cis-regulatory elements were identified within the promoter regions of the core genes. Taken together, our results suggest that BnaNPFs are versatile transporters that might evolve new functions in B. napus. Our findings benefit future research on this gene family.

scholarly journals Distinct CoREST complexes act in a cell-type-specific manner

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Mačinković ◽  
Ina Theofel ◽  
Tim Hundertmark ◽  
Kristina Kovač ◽  
Stephan Awe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
S2 Cells ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Specific Gene Expression ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Type Specific

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.

scholarly journals Testing cell-type-specific mediation effects in genome-wide epigenetic studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyu Luo ◽  
Joel Schwartz ◽  
Andrea Baccarelli ◽  
Zhonghua Liu
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Methylation Data ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Multiple Testing Procedure ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Cpg Sites ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Type Specific

Abstract Epigenome-wide mediation analysis aims to identify DNA methylation CpG sites that mediate the causal effects of genetic/environmental exposures on health outcomes. However, DNA methylations in the peripheral blood tissues are usually measured at the bulk level based on a heterogeneous population of white blood cells. Using the bulk level DNA methylation data in mediation analysis might cause confounding bias and reduce study power. Therefore, it is crucial to get fine-grained results by detecting mediation CpG sites in a cell-type-specific way. However, there is a lack of methods and software to achieve this goal. We propose a novel method (Mediation In a Cell-type-Specific fashion, MICS) to identify cell-type-specific mediation effects in genome-wide epigenetic studies using only the bulk-level DNA methylation data. MICS follows the standard mediation analysis paradigm and consists of three key steps. In step1, we assess the exposure-mediator association for each cell type; in step 2, we assess the mediator-outcome association for each cell type; in step 3, we combine the cell-type-specific exposure-mediator and mediator-outcome associations using a multiple testing procedure named MultiMed [Sampson JN, Boca SM, Moore SC, et al. FWER and FDR control when testing multiple mediators. Bioinformatics 2018;34:2418–24] to identify significant CpGs with cell-type-specific mediation effects. We conduct simulation studies to demonstrate that our method has correct FDR control. We also apply the MICS procedure to the Normative Aging Study and identify nine DNA methylation CpG sites in the lymphocytes that might mediate the effect of cigarette smoking on the lung function.

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