MicroRNA profiling of mouse T regulatory cells (Tregs) reveals miRNA disruption in Tregs leads to uncontrolled autoimmunity
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ABSTRACT: A new Treg-specific, FoxP3-GFP-hCre BAC transgenic was crossed to a conditional Dicer knock-out mouse strain to analyze the role of microRNAs (miRNA) in the development and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Although thymic Tregs developed normally in this setting, the cells showed evidence of altered differentiation and dysfunction in the periphery. Dicer-deficient Treg lineage cells failed to remain stable as a subset of cells down-regulated the Treg-specific transcription factor, FoxP3, while the majority expressed altered levels of multiple genes and proteins (including Neuropilin 1, GITR and CTLA-4) associated with the Treg fingerprint. In fact, a significant percentage of the Treg lineage cells took on a Th memory phenotype including increased levels of CD127, IL-4, and interferon-g. Importantly, Dicer-deficient Tregs lost suppression activity in vivo; the mice rapidly developed fatal systemic autoimmune disease resembling the FoxP3 knockout phenotype. These results support a central role for miRNAs in maintaining the stability of differentiated Treg function in vivo and homeostasis of the adaptive immune system. Experiment Overall Design: Lymph node CD4+YFP+ T cells from FoxP3-GFP-hCre x ROSA26R-YFP Dicerwt/lox (Het) and FoxP3-GFP-hCre x ROSA26R-YFP Dicerlox/lox (KO) mice were isolated by flow cytometry. Triplicate GeneChips were used for each T cell population.
Project description:A new Treg-specific, FoxP3-GFP-hCre BAC transgenic was crossed to a conditional Dicer knock-out mouse strain to analyze the role of microRNAs (miRNA) in the development and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Although thymic Tregs developed normally in this setting, the cells showed evidence of altered differentiation and dysfunction in the periphery. Dicer-deficient Treg lineage cells failed to remain stable as a subset of cells down-regulated the Treg-specific transcription factor, FoxP3, while the majority expressed altered levels of multiple genes and proteins (including Neuropilin 1, GITR and CTLA-4) associated with the Treg fingerprint. In fact, a significant percentage of the Treg lineage cells took on a Th memory phenotype including increased levels of CD127, IL-4, and interferon-g. Importantly, Dicer-deficient Tregs lost suppression activity in vivo; the mice rapidly developed fatal systemic autoimmune disease resembling the FoxP3 knockout phenotype. These results support a central role for miRNAs in maintaining the stability of differentiated Treg function in vivo and homeostasis of the adaptive immune system.
Project description:We isolated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) Tregs from Foxp3.YFP-Cre Bmal1WT or Foxp3.YFP-Cre bmal1flox mice fed a normal lean diet or a high-fat diet. VAT Tregs were also sorted after adoptive transfer. We found that Bmal1KO Tregs are more activated in lean mice, after 4 weeks HFD and after adoptive transfer, but loseVAT Treg signature after 16 weeks of high-fat diet feeding.
Project description:A comparative analysis of gene expression of 3 different experiments; 1. Perinate or adult-tagged GFP+YFP+ and bulk GFP+YFP- Tregs, 2. FL or BM-derived Tregs 3. Perinate or adult thymic Tregs. 1. Foxp3-eGFP-Cre-ERT2 x Rosa26-YFP lineage-reporter mice were injected ip with tamoxifen (4 injections, every third day) between 0-10 (perinate) or 35-45 (adult) days of age, and keep until 8 weeks of age. Perinate or adult-tagged GFP+YFP+ cells and bulk GFP+YFP- were double-sorted. 2. Hematopoietic progenitor cells were isolated from E18.5 fetal liver of CD45.1 congenic mice or from bone marrow of 5 weeks old CD45.2 B6 mice via negative selection of Thy1.2+ cells. The two populations were mixed at a 1:1 ratio, and were iv-transferred into irradiated (1000 rad) Rag-1-KO mice. FL or BM-derived Tregs were double sorted after reconstitution. 3. Foxp3-GFP+ Tregs were double-sorted from perinate (4 days old) or adult (5 weeks old) thymi. RNA from whole samples was amplified, labeled, and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Arrays.
Project description:TIGIT+ Tregs suppress Th1 and Th17 responses while sparing Th2 responses. Analysis of global gene expression of TIGIT+ vs. TIGIT- Tregs from naive mice reveled that TIGIT+ Tregs display an activated phenotype and are enriched for Treg signature genes including the Treg effector molecule Fgl2 which enables them to selectively spare Th2 responses. TIGIT+ and TIGIT- Tregs were sorted from naïve Foxp3-GFP KI mice (pooled spleen and lymph nodes) TIGIT: T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains
Project description:expression profile in Bcl11b-deficient Treg cells versus wild type Treg cells Treg cells sorted from Bcl11bF/F/Cd4Cre/Foxp3-GFP+ mice and wild type Foxp3-GFP+ mice Treg cells sorted from Bcl11bF/F/Foxp3Cre mice and wild type mice RNA extracted from sorted Bcl11b-deficient Foxp3-GFP Treg cells form Bcl11bF/F/Cd4Cre/Foxp3-GFP+ mice and wild type Foxp3-GFP Treg cells; expression profile by microarray analysis RNA extracted from sorted Bcl11b-deficient Treg cells form Bcl11bF/F/Foxp3Cre mice and wild type Treg cells; expression profile by microarray analysis
Project description:expression profile in Bcl11b-deficient Treg cells versus wild type Treg cells Treg cells sorted from Bcl11bF/F/Cd4Cre/Foxp3-GFP+ mice and wild type Foxp3-GFP+ mice Treg cells sorted from Bcl11bF/F/Foxp3Cre mice and wild type mice
Project description:A comparative analysis of gene expression of 3 different experiments; 1. Perinate or adult-tagged GFP+YFP+ and bulk GFP+YFP- Tregs, 2. FL or BM-derived Tregs 3. Perinate or adult thymic Tregs.
Project description:The colonic lamina propria contains a distinct population of Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) that modulate responses to commensal microbes. Analysis of gene expression revealed that the transcriptome of colonic Tregs is distinct from splenic and other tissue Tregs. Rorγ and Helios in colonic Tregs mark distinct populations: Rorγ+Helios- or Rorγ-Helios+ Tregs. We uncovered an unanticipated role for Rorγ, a transcription factor generally considered to be antagonistic to Foxp3. Rorγ in colonic Tregs accounts for a small but specific part of the colon-specific Treg signature. (1) Total colonic and splenic Foxp3+ Treg comparison: Lymphocytes were isolated from colonic lamina propria and spleens of Foxp3-ires-GFP mice, where GFP reports Foxp3 expression. TCRb+CD4+GFP+ cells were double sorted into Trizol. (2) Colonic Rorγ+ and Rorγ- Treg comparison: Foxp3-ires-Thy1.1 reporter mice were crossed to Rorc-GFP reporter mice to generate mice that report both Foxp3 and Rorγ expression. Rorγ+Foxp3+ Tregs (TCRb+CD4+Thy1.1+GFP+) and Rorγ-Foxp3+ Tregs (TCRb+CD4+Thy1.1+GFP-) from colonic lamina propria were double sorted into Trizol.To reduce variability and increase cell number, cells from multiple mice were pooled for sorting and at least three replicates were generated for all groups. RNA from 1.5-3.0 x104 cells was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Arrays.
Project description:Treg cell therapy is a promising curative approach for a variety of immune-mediated conditions. CRISPR-based genome editing allows precise insertion of transgenes through homology-directed repair, but its use in human Tregs has been limited. We report an optimized protocol for CRISPR-mediated gene knock-in in human Tregs with high-yield expansion. To establish a benchmark of human Treg dysfunction, we target the master transcription factor FOXP3 in naive and memory Tregs. Although FOXP3-ablated Tregs upregulate cytokine expression, effects on suppressive capacity in vitro manifest slowly and primarily in memory Tregs. Moreover, FOXP3-ablated Tregs retain their characteristic protein, transcriptional, and DNA methylation profile. Instead, FOXP3 maintains DNA methylation at regions enriched for AP-1 binding sites. Thus, while FOXP3 is important for human Treg development, it has a limited role in maintaining mature Treg identity. Optimized gene knock-in with human Tregs will enable mechanistic studies and the development of tailored, next-generation Treg cell therapies.
Project description:Donminant negative transform growth factor receptor II (DNR) mice were served as a murine primary biliary cirrhrosis model. CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in self-tolerance and in regulating PBC. In order to determine whether DNR mice derived Tregs processed defective function compared with WT Tregs, CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells were sorted from DNR and WT mice, respectively, then gene expression analysis was performed by using the Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs were sorted from the spleen of 10-week-old DNR mice and B6 wild-type mice, respectively. RNA of each sample was then extracted and hybridized on Affymetrix microarrays to detail differences between DNR Tregs and WT Tregs in gene expression.