The ontogeny of human Langerhans cells (LCs) remains poorly characterized, in particular the nature of LC precursors and the factors that may drive LC differentiation. Through a systematic transcriptomic analysis of TSLP-activated dendritic cells (DCs), we unexpectedly identified markers that have been associated with a skin-homing potential as well as with a LC phenotype. We performed transcriptomic analysis of TSLP-activated blood DCs, as compared to freshly purified, Medium-, and TNF-activated DCs. Among TSLP up-regulated genes, we identified molecules associated with skin homing, LC phenotype, and LC function, as determined by a literature-based survey. Conversely, genes not expressed in LCs were not found among TSLP-induced genes. Further experiments showed that TGF- synergized with TSLP leading to the differentiation of blood BDCA-1+ DCs into bona fide Birbeck granule-positive LCs.
Human blood BDCA-1 dendritic cells differentiate into Langerhans-like cells with thymic stromal lymphopoietin and TGF-β.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe lack of mouse models permitting the specific ablation of tissue-resident macrophages and monocyte-derived cells complicates understanding of their contribution to tissue integrity and to immune responses. Here we use a new model permitting diphtheria-toxin (DT)-mediated depletion of those cells and in which dendritic cells are spared. We showed that the myeloid cells of the mouse ear skin dermis are dominated by a population of melanin-laden macrophages, called melanophages, that has been missed in most previous studies. By using gene expression profiling, DT-mediated ablation and parabiosis, we determined their identity including their similarity to other skin macrophages, their origin and their dynamics. Limited information exist on the identity of the skin cells responsible for long-term tattoo persistence. Benefiting of our knowledge on melanophages, we showed that they are responsible for retaining tattoo pigment particles through a dynamic process which characterization has direct implications for improving strategies aiming at removing tattoos.
Unveiling skin macrophage dynamics explains both tattoo persistence and strenuous removal.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesABSTRACT: Furin is a proprotein convertase (PC) responsible for proteolytic activation of a wide array of precursor proteins within the secretory pathway. It maps to the PRC1 locus, a type 2 diabetes susceptibility locus, yet its specific role in pancreatic β cells is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of furin in glucose homeostasis. We show that furin is highly expressed in human islets, while PCs that potentially could provide redundancy are expressed at considerably lower levels. β cell-specific furin knockout (βfurKO) mice are glucose intolerant, due to smaller islets with lower insulin content and abnormal dense core secretory granule morphology. RNA expression analysis and differential proteomics on βfurKO islets revealed activation of Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4), which was mediated by mammalian target of rapamycin C1 (mTORC1). βfurKO cells show impaired cleavage of the accessory V-ATPase subunit Ac45, and by blocking this pump in β cells the mTORC1 pathway is activated. Furthermore, βfurKO cells show lack of insulin receptor cleavage and impaired response to insulin. Taken together, these results suggest a model of mTORC1-ATF4 hyperactivation in β cells lacking furin, which causes β cell dysfunction.
Loss of <i>Furin</i> in β-Cells Induces an mTORC1-ATF4 Anabolic Pathway That Leads to β-Cell Dysfunction.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptome analysis comparing naive, protective and non-protective spleen memory CD8 T lymphocytes were conducted to identify key functions associated with memory CD8-mediated immune protection. Memory CD8 T cells generated in response to influenza or vaccinia infection (Flu-memory and VV-memory) were compared to inflammatory memory cells (TIM) that were generated by peptide in inflammatory context. Gene expression analysis was performed on quiescent and re-stimulated CD8 T cells.
Immune signatures of protective spleen memory CD8 T cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesMost human cancers present hyperactivated sumoylation, and cancer cell lines are usually highly sensitive to the lack of it, supporting potential application of sumoylation chemical inhibitors in cancer therapy. Here, we explored the impact of hyposumoylation (Ubc9 haploinsufficiency) on cancer development in mice using Apc loss-driven intestinal tumorigenesis model.
An unanticipated tumor-suppressive role of the SUMO pathway in the intestine unveiled by Ubc9 haploinsufficiency.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell, Paneth and transit-amplifying cell compartment constitute the intestinal crypt which is the constant source of differentiated epithelial cells that replenish the intestinal villi ensuring organ maintenance and regeneration. The Lgr5+ crypt-based columnar (CBC) cells have been identified as the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and, importantly, as cells-of-origin of intestinal cancer.
An unanticipated tumor-suppressive role of the SUMO pathway in the intestine unveiled by Ubc9 haploinsufficiency.
Specimen part
View SamplesAn increasing number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are implicated in various human diseases including cancer; however ncRNA transcriptome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unexplored. We use CAGE (Cap Analysis of Gene Expression) to comprehensively map transcription start sites (TSSs) across different etiologies of human HCC as well as mouse HCC, with particular emphasis on ncRNAs distant from protein-coding genes. We find thousands of significantly up-regulated distal ncRNAs in HCC tumors compared to their matched non-tumors, which are as many as protein-coding genes. Moreover, we identify many LTR retroviral promoters activated in HCC tissues and expressed in a subfamily-specific manner, which account for approximately 20% of the up-regulated distal ncRNAs. The transcripts derived from LTRs, determined by 3'' RACE, are multi-exon nuclear ncRNAs typically 0.5-2kb in length. This study sheds light on ncRNA transcriptome of human and mouse HCC. Overall design: Expression profiles using CAGE for 37 mouse HCC. The human data are archived at dbGaP (phs000885.v1.p1). An umbrella BioProject has been created to associate the GEO and dbGaP BioProjects: PRJNA278792
Deficiency of multidrug resistance 2 contributes to cell transformation through oxidative stress.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells that orchestrate immune responses. The human DC population comprises two main functionally-specialized lineages, whose origins and differentiation pathways remain incompletely defined. Here we combine two high-dimensional technologies — single-cell mRNA sequencing and Cytometry by Time-of-Flight (CyTOF), to identify human blood CD123+CD33+CD45RA+ DC precursors (pre-DC). Pre-DC share surface markers with plasmacytoid DC (pDC) but have distinct functional properties that were previously attributed to pDC. Tracing the differentiation of DC from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood revealed that the pre-DC compartment contains distinct lineage-committed sub-populations including one early uncommitted CD123high pre-DC subset and two CD45RA+CD123low lineage-committed subsets exhibiting functional differences. The discovery of multiple committed pre-DC populations opens promising new avenues for the therapeutic exploitation of DC subset-specific targeting. Overall design: Single cell mRNA sequencing was used to investigate the transcriptomic relationships within the dendritic cell precursors within the peripheral blood.
Mapping the human DC lineage through the integration of high-dimensional techniques.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesDendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells that orchestrate immune responses. The human DC population comprises two main functionally-specialized lineages, whose origins and differentiation pathways remain incompletely defined. Here we combine two high-dimensional technologies — single-cell mRNA sequencing and Cytometry by Time-of-Flight (CyTOF), to identify human blood CD123+CD33+CD45RA+ DC precursors (pre-DC). Pre-DC share surface markers with plasmacytoid DC (pDC) but have distinct functional properties that were previously attributed to pDC. Tracing the differentiation of DC from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood revealed that the pre-DC compartment contains distinct lineage-committed sub-populations including one early uncommitted CD123high pre-DC subset and two CD45RA+CD123low lineage-committed subsets exhibiting functional differences. The discovery of multiple committed pre-DC populations opens promising new avenues for the therapeutic exploitation of DC subset-specific targeting. Overall design: single-cell RNA Seq of human dendritic cells
Mapping the human DC lineage through the integration of high-dimensional techniques.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesTranscriptome analysis of 12 zebrafish tissues
Gene evolution and gene expression after whole genome duplication in fish: the PhyloFish database.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples