Project description:In psoriasis lesions, a diverse mixture of cytokines is upregulated which influence each other generating a complex inflammatory situation. Although this is the case, the inhibition of Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) alone showed unprecedented clinical results in patients, indicating that IL-17A is a critical inducer of psoriasis pathogenesis. To elucidate IL-17A-driven keratinocyte-intrinsic signaling pathways, we treated monolayers of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro with a mixture of 6 cytokines (IL-17A, TNF-a, IL-17C, IL-22, IL-36g and IFN-g) involved in psoriasis, to mimic the inflammatory milieu in psoriasis lesions. Microarray and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that this cytokine mixture induced similar gene expression changes with the previous transcriptome studies using psoriasis lesions. Importantly, we identified a set of IL-17A-regulated genes in keratinocytes, which recapitulate typical psoriasis genes exemplified by DEFB4A, S100A7, IL19 and CSF3, based on differences in the expression profiles of cells stimulated with 6 cytokines versus cells stimulated with only 5 cytokines lacking IL-17A. Furthermore a specific IL-17A-induced gene, NFKBIZ, which encodes IkappaB-zeta, a transcriptional regulator for NF-kappaB, was demonstrated to have a significant role for IL-17A-induced gene expression. Thus, we present novel in vitro data from normal human keratinocytes that would help elucidating the IL-17A-driven keratinocyte activation in psoriasis. Cytokine mixture-induced gene expression in primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) was measured at 24 hours after exposure. NHEKs were exposed to the combination of selected six cytokines (IL-17A: 100 ng/ml, TNF-a: 10 ng/ml, IFN-g: 10 ng/ml, IL-17C: 100 ng/ml, IL-22: 100 ng/ml, IL-36g: 500 ng/ml) , or to the different combinations of five of the six cytokines (in total, 7 different treatments and one untreated control). No replicate experiments were conducted.
Project description:In psoriasis lesions, a diverse mixture of cytokines is upregulated which influence each other generating a complex inflammatory situation. Although this is the case, the inhibition of Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) alone showed unprecedented clinical results in patients, indicating that IL-17A is a critical inducer of psoriasis pathogenesis. To elucidate IL-17A-driven keratinocyte-intrinsic signaling pathways, we treated monolayers of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro with a mixture of 6 cytokines (IL-17A, TNF-a, IL-17C, IL-22, IL-36g and IFN-g) involved in psoriasis, to mimic the inflammatory milieu in psoriasis lesions. Microarray and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that this cytokine mixture induced similar gene expression changes with the previous transcriptome studies using psoriasis lesions. Importantly, we identified a set of IL-17A-regulated genes in keratinocytes, which recapitulate typical psoriasis genes exemplified by DEFB4A, S100A7, IL19 and CSF3, based on differences in the expression profiles of cells stimulated with 6 cytokines versus cells stimulated with only 5 cytokines lacking IL-17A. Furthermore a specific IL-17A-induced gene, NFKBIZ, which encodes IkappaB-zeta, a transcriptional regulator for NF-kappaB, was demonstrated to have a significant role for IL-17A-induced gene expression. Thus, we present novel in vitro data from normal human keratinocytes that would help elucidating the IL-17A-driven keratinocyte activation in psoriasis.
Project description:Analysis of MIN6 murine beta cell line transfected with Pla2g6 RNAi and treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma.
Project description:The clinical features of psoriasis, characterized by sharply demarcated scaly erythematous plaques, are typically so distinctive that a diagnosis can easily be made on these grounds alone. However, there is great variability in treatment response between individual patients, and this may reflect heterogeneity of inflammatory networks driving the disease. In this study, whole-genome transcriptional profiling was used to characterize inflammatory and cytokine networks in 62 lesional skin samples obtained from patients with stable chronic plaque psoriasis. We were able to stratify lesions according to their inflammatory gene expression signatures, identifying those associated with strong (37% of patients), moderate (39%) and weak inflammatory infiltrates (24%). Additionally, we identified differences in cytokine signatures with heightened cytokine-response patterns in one sub-group of lesions (IL-13-strong; 50%) and attenuation of these patterns in a second sub-group (IL-13-weak; 50%). These sub-groups correlated with the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate, but were only weakly associated with increased risk allele frequency at some psoriasis susceptibility loci (e.g., REL, TRAF3IP2 and NOS2). Our findings highlight variable points in the inflammatory and cytokine networks known to drive chronic plaque psoriasis. Such heterogeneous aspects may shape clinical course and treatment responses, and can provide avenues for development of personalized treatments. We used Affymetrix microarrays to evaluate genome-wide expression in primary human keratinocytes exposed to cytokines. Cytokine activity signatures were used to interpret the shifts in gene expression that occur in psoriasis plaques relative to normal uninvolved skin. Primary keratinocytes from three donors (subjects 1, 2, and 3) were obtained and were either untreated (control) or exposed to cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma and TNF). For the IL17A samples, primary keratinocytes were obtained from six donors, with cells derived from three donors treated with IL-17A and cells derived from the other three donors left untreated (i.e., unpaired control samples).
Project description:Background: IL-17 is the defining cytokine of the Th17, Tc17, and γδ T cell populations that plays a critical role in mediating inflammation and autoimmunity. Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease mediated by Th1 and Th17 cytokines with relevant contributions of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17. Despite the pivotal role IL-17 plays in psoriasis, and in contrast to the other key mediators involved in the psoriasis cytokine cascade that are capable of inducing broad effects on keratinocytes, IL-17 was demonstrated to regulate the expression of a limited number of genes in monolayer keratinocytes cultured in vitro. Methodology/Principal Findings: Given the clinical efficacy of anti-IL-17 agents is associated with an impressive reduction in a large set of inflammatory genes, we sought a full-thickness skin model that more closely resemble in vivo epidermal architecture. Using a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), IL-17 was able to upregulate 419 gene probes and downregulate 216 gene probes. As possible explanation for the increased gene induction in the RHE model is that CEBPβ, the transcription factor regulating IL-17-responsive genes, is expressed in differentiated KCs. Conclusions/Significance: The genes identified in IL-17-treated RHE are likely relevant to the IL-17 effects in psoriasis, since ixekizumab (anti-IL-17A agent) strongly suppressed the “RHE” genes in psoriasis patients treated in vivo with this IL-17 antagonist. RHE samples were treated with IFNg, IL-22 and IL-17 and compared with control
Project description:CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a major role in defense against intracellular pathogens, and their functions are specified by antigen recognition and innate cytokines. While effector CTLs eliminate the infection, a small population of memory cells are retained that yields more rapid and robust response upon re-infection. Antigen presenting cells secrete an array of innate cytokines including IL-12 and IFN-α after recognition of pathogens. Both IL-12 and IFN-α have been shown to act as the third signal regulating the development of CTLs. We have shown that these two cytokines have a non-redundant effect in generation of human effector CTL. IL-12 alone is sufficient for effector CTL genesis marked by IFN-γ and TNF-α production, as well as increased cytolytic activity. Even in the presence of IFN-α, IL-12 programs CTLs that express the chemokine receptor CXCR3 and effector cytokines. Using microarray analysis we have investigated how IL-12 and IFN-α differentially regulate the genetic programming pathways that give rise to effector CTLs among multiple human donors. We have also analyzed the gene expression patterns of cells sorted from healthy human peripheral blood that display surface markers of effector memory CTL (designated as ex vivo) samples. 5 healthy human donor samples were used for the in vitro cultures. For each donor the CFSE labeled cells (CD8+CD45RA+) were cultured in the presence of neutralized, IL-12, IFN-a, and IL-12+IFN-a conditions and plate-bound anti-CD3+anti-CD28 for 3.5 days. Total RNA from CFSEhi (Undiv) and CFSElo (Div) sorted cells were used for Illumina Bead Array. 4 healthy human donor samples were used for the ex vivo samples. Total RNA was collected from FACS sorted CD8+CCR7hiCXCR3lo and CD8+CCR7loCXCR3hi cells without any stimulation.
Project description:SLE patients are always with various disease manifestation. Various cytokines are pointed interacting and playing pathological roles in SLE although the etiopathology is still obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of cytokine interactions in the immune response of SLE patients. Overexpressed interferon-inducible(IFI) genes were confirmed in peripheral blood from SLE patients. Using network-based analysis on the immune response-related genes, several networks including cytokines such as TNF and IFN-γ, or beta-estradiol(E2), were constructed. TNF-regulated genes were dominant in these networks but in vitro TNF stimulation on PBMCs showed no different responses in the expressions of these genes between SLE and healthy individuals. Co-stimulating experiments by TNF, IFN-γ, and E2 with IFN-α, revealed that TNF has repressive while IFN-γ essentially has synergistic effect with IFN-α on IFI gene expressions in vitro. E2 showed different effects on IFI gene expressions among 3 individuals.
Project description:SLE patients are always with various disease manifestation. Various cytokines are pointed interacting and playing pathological roles in SLE although the etiopathology is still obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of cytokine interactions in the immune response of SLE patients. Overexpressed interferon-inducible(IFI) genes were confirmed in peripheral blood from SLE patients. Using network-based analysis on the immune response-related genes, several networks including cytokines such as TNF and IFN-γ, or beta-estradiol(E2), were constructed. TNF-regulated genes were dominant in these networks but in vitro TNF stimulation on PBMCs showed no different responses in the expressions of these genes between SLE and healthy individuals. Co-stimulating experiments by TNF, IFN-γ, and E2 with IFN-α, revealed that TNF has repressive while IFN-γ essentially has synergistic effect with IFN-α on IFI gene expressions in vitro. E2 showed different effects on IFI gene expressions among 3 individuals. Peripheral blood was obtained from patients with SLE (n=11) and healthy women (n=6). Gene expression profile was analyzed using DNA microarray covering 30,000 human genes. Differentially expressed immune response-related genes were selected and analyzed by using Expression Analysis Systemic Explorer (EASE) based on Gene Ontology (GO) followed by network pathway analysis with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA).
Project description:A protein microarray kit (QAR-INF-1-2, RayBiotech Life Inc., Norcross, GA, USA) was used to detect 10 kinds of inflammatory factors in the CSF and serum (nN=5 per group), including IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, MCP-1, and TNF-α.