Besides symptoms caused by central nervous system (CNS) lesions, the majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) also exhibit gastrointestinal dysfunction that has frequently been noted, but was not directly linked to the autoimmune etiology of the disease.We studied the enteric nervous system (ENS) in a murine model of MS by histology and electron microscopy. Serum IgG against enteric neurons and enteroglia was measured by ELISA and binding to the ENS was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Target antigens were identified by mass spectrometry. Gastrointestinal dysfunction was determined by measuring dye transit time. RNA expression profiling was conducted with small intestines of MP4-immunized and control-immunized mice. Data from the mouse model were confirmed in MS patients by immunohistochemistry of the ENS in bowel resectates. In addition, ELISA was performed on plasma samples to detect antibodies against four specific target antigens as identified in the mouse model. ENS degeneration was evident already before the onset of clinical disease in the mouse model. Pathology was predominantly antibody-mediated and caused a significant decrease in gastrointestinal transit, which was associated with severe gliosis of the ENS. Unlike the dense infiltrates that developed in the perivascular compartments of the CNS of MP4-immunized mice, the infiltrates in the ENS consisted of single cells scattered throughout the tissue. RNA expression profiling could support these results, as the expression of inflammatory markers in the small intestine was similar between MP4-immunized and HEL-immunized mice. We identified four specific target antigens derived from enteric neurons and/or enteroglia. Antibodies against all four target antigens were present in MS patients. MS patients also showed gliosis and signs of ENS degeneration in the small intestine. For the first time, this study establishes a pathomechanistic link between the well-established autoimmune attack on the CNS and the ENS in MS. The presence of ENS pathology prior to CNS degeneration introduces entirely novel ways to explain MS etiology and immunopathogenesis.
The enteric nervous system is a potential autoimmune target in multiple sclerosis.
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View SamplesGene expression variation upon folate deficiency and repletion in human foreskin keratinocytes immortalized by HPV16E6E7 Overall design: Effects of folate modulation on several cellular events such as DNA stability
Folate Repletion after Deficiency Induces Irreversible Genomic and Transcriptional Changes in Human Papillomavirus Type 16 (HPV16)-Immortalized Human Keratinocytes.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesWe used freshly established immortalized human keratinocytes with a well-defined HPV16 E6 E7 expression cassette to get a more complete and less biased overview about global changes induced by HPV16 using RNA-seq. We identified novel factors regulated by HPV oncogenes that could serve an essential role in cancer development. Overall design: mRNA profiles of human Keratinocytes transduced with HPV16-E6/E7 constructs and empty vectors in triplicates, sequenced with Illumina Hiseq 2000.
Combined Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Immortalized Human Keratinocytes Expressing Human Papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) Oncogenes Reveals Novel Key Factors and Networks in HPV-Induced Carcinogenesis.
Specimen part, Subject
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