Mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a major epigenetic regulator, are the predominant cause of Rett syndrome, an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder. We previously found that Mecp2-null microglia are functionally impaired, and that engraftment of wild-type monocytes into the brain of Mecp2-deficient mice attenuates pathology. In this study we show that Mecp2 is expressed in macrophage and monocyte populations throughout the body, and is indispensable for their transcriptional regulation in multiple contexts. We demonstrate that Mecp2-null mice progressively lose or are chronically deficient in several macrophage populations and resident monocytes. Postnatal re-expression of Mecp2 driven by a tamoxifen-inducible CX3CR1 promoter significantly increased the lifespan of otherwise Mecp2-null mice, suggesting that epigenetic regulation of macrophage function by Mecp2 significantly contributes to pathology. RNA-Seq of acutely isolated microglia and peritoneal macrophages (to our knowledge, the first cell-specific RNA-Seq analysis comparing Mecp2-null and wild type cells of any kind) revealed significantly increased transcription of glucocorticoid- and hypoxia-signaling genes in Mecp2-null cells compared to that in their wild-type counterparts, suggesting that Mecp2 functions as a repressor of these pathways. Furthermore, in-vitro and in vivo validation studies demonstrated that the absence of Mecp2 is associated with cell-intrinsic dysfunction of signaling underlying inflammatory activation, suggesting that Mecp2 is important for regulation of specific macrophage gene-expression programs in response to stimuli and stressors. Our findings demonstrate a fundamental role for Mecp2 in the regulation of macrophage functions, which may provide a link to pathologies in Rett syndrome across multiple organs. Overall design: Mecp2-null microglia and resident peritoneal macrophages from 10-12 week old mice were acutely isolated via AutoMACS, total RNA collected, and analyzed via RNA-Seq to compare for transcriptional differences in microglia and macrophages in the absence of Mecp2.
Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 Regulates Microglia and Macrophage Gene Expression in Response to Inflammatory Stimuli.
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View SamplesWe developed a computational framework that integrates chromosomal copy number and gene expression data for detecting aberrations that promote cancer progression. We demonstrate the utility of this framework using a melanoma dataset. Our analysis correctly identified known drivers of melanoma and predicted multiple novel tumor dependencies. Two dependencies, TBC1D16 and RAB27A, confirmed empirically, suggest that abnormal regulation of protein trafficking contributes to proliferation in melanoma. Together, these results demonstrate the ability of integrative Bayesian approaches to identify novel candidate drivers with biological, and possibly therapeutic, importance in cancer.
An integrated approach to uncover drivers of cancer.
Cell line
View SamplesMicroglia play a pivotal role in the maintenance of brain homeostasis, but lose their homeostatic function during the course of neurodegenerative disorders. We identified a specific APOE-dependent molecular signature in microglia isolated from mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease (SOD1, EAE and APP-PS1) and in microglia surrounding neuritic A?-plaques in human Alzheimer’s disease brain. This is mediated by a switch from a (M0)-homeostatic to (MGnD)-neurodegenerative phenotype following phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons via the TREM2-APOE pathway. TREM2 induces APOE signaling which is a negative regulator of the transcription program in M0-homeostatic microglia. Targeting the TREM2-APOE pathway restores the M0-homeostatic signature of microglia in APP-PS1 and SOD1 mice and prevents from neuronal loss in an acute model of neurodegeneration. In SOD1 mice, TREM2 regulates MGnD in a gender-dependent manner. APOE-mediated MGnD microglia lose their tolerogenic function. Taken together, our work identifies the TREM2-APOE pathway as a major regulator of microglial functional phenotype in neurodegenerative diseases and serves as a novel target to restore homeostatic microglia. Overall design: Illumina NextSeq500 was used to identify disease-associated vs. homeostatic molecular microglia signature in microglia in different disease models and transgenic models. Bulk microglia (1,000 cells/sample) FCRLS+ sorted microglia.
The TREM2-APOE Pathway Drives the Transcriptional Phenotype of Dysfunctional Microglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesMicroglia play a pivotal role in the maintenance of brain homeostasis, but lose their homeostatic function during the course of neurodegenerative disorders. We identified a specific APOE-dependent molecular signature in microglia isolated from mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease (SOD1, EAE and APP-PS1) and in microglia surrounding neuritic A?-plaques in human Alzheimer’s disease brain. This is mediated by a switch from a (M0)-homeostatic to (MGnD)-neurodegenerative phenotype following phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons via the TREM2-APOE pathway. TREM2 induces APOE signaling which is a negative regulator of the transcription program in M0-homeostatic microglia. Targeting the TREM2-APOE pathway restores the M0-homeostatic signature of microglia in APP-PS1 and SOD1 mice and prevents from neuronal loss in an acute model of neurodegeneration. In SOD1 mice, TREM2 regulates MGnD in a gender-dependent manner. APOE-mediated MGnD microglia lose their tolerogenic function. Taken together, our work identifies the TREM2-APOE pathway as a major regulator of microglial functional phenotype in neurodegenerative diseases and serves as a novel target to restore homeostatic microglia. Overall design: Illumina NextSeq500 was used to identify disease-associated vs. homeostatic molecular microglia signature in microglia in different disease models and transgenic models. Bulk microglia (1,000 cells/sample) FCRLS+ sorted microglia.
The TREM2-APOE Pathway Drives the Transcriptional Phenotype of Dysfunctional Microglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesMouse thymocytes can be classified into four major subsets based on expression of CD4 and CD8 co-receptors. CD4-CD8- (double negative, DN) cells become CD4+CD8+ (double positive, DP) cells following productive T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain rearrangement. A small proportion of DP cells are selected through interaction of clonal TCRalpha/beta and MHC self peptide complex expressed on thymic stromal cells. DP cell expressing MHC class I-restricted TCR become CD4-CD8+ cells, which will finally differentiate into cytotoxic T cells, while MHC class II restricted selection generates CD4+CD8- helper lineage T cells.
Transcription factor AP4 modulates reversible and epigenetic silencing of the Cd4 gene.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn theses experimetns we have analized the differential gene expression profile in human trabecular meshwork cells phagocytically challenged to E. coli and pigment under physiological and oxidative stress conditions using affymetrix microarrays
Up-regulated expression of extracellular matrix remodeling genes in phagocytically challenged trabecular meshwork cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesHuman blood monocytes were differentiated over six days with either 100 ng/ml M-CSF or 1 umol/l CXCL4
CXC chemokine ligand 4 induces a unique transcriptome in monocyte-derived macrophages.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Defining the molecular character of the developing and adult kidney podocyte.
Sex
View SamplesPeripheral whole blood transcriptome profiles of pregnant women with normal pregnancy and spontaneous preterm birth from 10-18 weeks of gestational age enrolled in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART).
Transcriptome analysis of early pregnancy vitamin D status and spontaneous preterm birth.
Sex, Race
View SamplesThe long term objective is to create an encyclopedia of the expression levels of all genes in multiple components of the developing kidney. The central thesis is straightforward. The combination of fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) plus microarray analysis offers a powerful, efficient and effective method for the creation of a global gene expression atlas of the developing kidney. Microarrays with essentially complete genome coverage can be used to quantitate expression levels of every gene in FACS isolated components of the developing kidney. The ensuing rapid read-out provides an expression atlas that is more sensitive, more economical and more complete than would be possible by in situ hybridizations alone.
Defining the molecular character of the developing and adult kidney podocyte.
Sex
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