Hepatocyte polyploidization during ageing protects against transcriptional dysregulation and chronic liver disease
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ABSTRACT: Single-nucleus RNA-seq2 method allows deep transcriptomic characterization of nuclei isolated from frozen archived tissues. We have used this approach to study the transcriptional profile of individual hepatocytes with different levels of ploidy in young and old wild-type, as well as three other haploinsufficient Mus musculus mice strains. Our data suggest that polyploidisation, a hallmark of ageing in hepatocytes, is also a mechanism by which tetraploid cells are able to buffer genomic perturbations during ageing via non-random allelic segregation of the wild type allele.
Project description:Single-nucleus RNA-seq-2 method that allows deep characterization of nuclei isolated from frozen archived tissues. We have used this approach to characterize the transcriptional profile of individual hepatocytes with different levels of ploidy. This method has the potential to explore archived samples, in order to study the development and progression of disease in complex tissues. To illustrate the potential of this method, we have deeply characterized the cellular heterogeneity driven by spatial distribution and different levels of ploidy in the young adult mouse liver.
Project description:Single-nucleus RNA-seq-2 method that allows deep characterization of nuclei isolated from frozen archived tissues. We have used this approach to characterize the transcriptional profile of individual hepatocytes with different levels of ploidy. This method has the potential to explore archived samples, for instance to study the development and progression of disease in complex tissues. To illustrate the potential of this method, we have deeply characterized the cellular heterogeneity driven by spatial distribution and different levels of ploidy in the young adult mouse liver.
Project description:Background. Ageing is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Pericytes are capillary-associated mural cells involved in the maintenance and stability of the vascular network. In the heart, the consequences of ageing on cardiac pericytes are unknown. Methods. In this study, we have combined single nucleus RNA sequencing and histological analysis to determine the effects of ageing on cardiac pericytes. Furthermore, we have conducted in vivo and in vitro analysis of RGS5 loss of function and finally have perfomed pericytes-fibroblasts co-culture studies to understand the effect of RGS5 loss of function in pericytes on the neighbouring fibroblasts. Results. We showed that ageing reduces the pericyte area and coverage. Single nucleus RNA sequencing analysis further revealed that the expression of the Regulator of G protein signalling 5 (Rgs5) is reduced in old cardiac pericytes. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that the deletion of RGS5 induces morphological changes and a pro-fibrotic gene expression signature characterized by the expression of different extracellular matrix components and growth factors like TGFB2 and PDGFB in pericytes. Indeed, the culture of fibroblasts with the supernatant of RGS5 deficient pericytes induced their activation characterized by the increased expression of α smooth muscle actin in a TFGβ2 dependent mechanism. Conclusions. Our results identify RGS5 as a crucial regulator of pericyte function during cardiac ageing. The deletion of RGS5 causes cardiac dysfunction and induces myocardial fibrosis, one of the hallmarks of cardiac ageing.
Project description:Plasmodium-specific CD4+ T cells from mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS parasites were recovered at Days 0, 4, 7, and 32 to undergo processing and to generate scATAC-seq dataset. At Day 7, CXCR5+ and CXCR6+ cells were recovered separately. At Day 32, mice were administered with either saline or artesunate (intermittent artesunate therapy - IAT). scATAC-seq dataset was analysed to investigate epigenomic landscapes of CD4+ T cells from effector to memory states.
Project description:To investigate how chromatin is shaped during inflammation geared towards the development of fibrosis in peritoneal tissue, we performed ATAC-seq in peritoneal membranes from wt and Il-6 knockout mice challenged with SES (a lyophilized cell-free supernatant prepared from Staphylococcus epidermidis ) together with Th1 polarised CD4+ T-cells administered via the intraperitoneal route. Peritoneal membrane was harvested 3 hours after injection, immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80C until processed. Tissues were diced and ground to a fine powder with intermittent addition of liquid nitrogen and Omni-ATAC-seq was performed.
Project description:Postnatal period of development is critical for mammalian tissues and is coordinated through precise activation of genetic programs that govern differentiation, growth and maturation. Here, we describe a cell type- and developmental stage-specific program of alternative splicing that drives sequential replacement of fetal-to-adult protein isoforms in the mouse liver. Using deep transcriptome analysis of loss- & gain-of-function models we identified Epithelial Splicing regulatory protein 2 (ESRP2) as the major regulator for these developmental splicing decisions. Targeted deletion of ESRP2 in mice resulted in the failure of fetal-to-adult switch in splicing for hundreds of RNA transcripts that encode proteins involved in functional competence of hepatocytes. To delineate its role in activation of adult splicing program, we generated transgenic mice with tetracycline-inducible and hepatocyte-specific expression of ESRP2. Remarkably, premature expression of ESRP2 in the livers of newborn pups forced an earlier-than-normal onset of adult splicing program. To determine the in vivo ESRP2 RNA binding landscape within hepatocytes, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to FLAG-tag the endogenous locus of ESRP2 in mice and performed FLAG-eCLIP to identify genomewide binding sites. We identified ESRP2 as a regulator of miR-122 levels in hepatocytes, wherein this axis balances the polyploidization and proliferation states in postnatal hepatocytes.
Project description:Dermal fibroblasts from human, stimulated with dsRNA (poly I:C) in a time course of 0, 2, 6 hours, profiled using the Smart-seq2 protocol
Project description:A defining feature of the mammalian liver is polyploidy, a numerical change in the entire complement of chromosomes. The first step of polyploidization involves cell division with failed cytokinesis. Although polyploidy is common, affecting ~90% of hepatocytes in mice and 50% in humans, the specialized role played by polyploid cells in liver homeostasis and disease remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to identify novel signals that regulate polyploidization, and we focused on microRNAs (miRNAs). First, to test whether miRNAs could regulate hepatic polyploidy we examined livers from Dicer1 liver-specific knockout mice, which are devoid of mature miRNAs. Loss of miRNAs resulted in a 3-fold reduction in binucleate hepatocytes, indicating that miRNAs regulate polyploidization. Secondly, we surveyed age-dependent expression of miRNAs in wild-type mice and identified a subset of miRNAs, including miR-122, that is differentially expressed at 2-3 weeks, a period when extensive polyploidization occurs. Next, we examined Mir122 knockout mice and observed profound, life-long depletion of polyploid hepatocytes, proving that miR-122 is required for complete hepatic polyploidization. Moreover, the polyploidy defect in Mir122 knockout mice was ameliorated by adenovirus-mediated over-expression of miR-122, underscoring the critical role miR-122 plays in polyploidization. Finally, we identified direct targets of miR-122 (Cux1, Rhoa, Iqgap1, Mapre1, Nedd4l and Slc25a34) that regulate cytokinesis. Inhibition of each target induced cytokinesis failure and promoted hepatic binucleation. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that miR-122 is both necessary and sufficient in liver polyploidization. Among the different signals that have been associated with hepatic polyploidy, miR-122 is the first liver-specific signal identified. These studies will serve as the foundation for future work investigating miR-122 in liver maturation, homeostasis and disease. Livers from C57Bl/6 mice were isolated at defined ages: embryonic day 15.5 (n=3; mixed gender), 2 weeks (n=3; male), 3 weeks (n=3, male) and 7 weeks (n=3; male). Differential miRNA expression was assessed using the nCounter Mouse miRNA Expression Assay Kit (nanoString).
Project description:A defining feature of the mammalian liver is polyploidy, a numerical change in the entire complement of chromosomes. The first step of polyploidization involves cell division with failed cytokinesis. Although polyploidy is common, affecting ~90% of hepatocytes in mice and 50% in humans, the specialized role played by polyploid cells in liver homeostasis and disease remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to identify novel signals that regulate polyploidization, and we focused on microRNAs (miRNAs). First, to test whether miRNAs could regulate hepatic polyploidy we examined livers from Dicer1 liver-specific knockout mice, which are devoid of mature miRNAs. Loss of miRNAs resulted in a 3-fold reduction in binucleate hepatocytes, indicating that miRNAs regulate polyploidization. Secondly, we surveyed age-dependent expression of miRNAs in wild-type mice and identified a subset of miRNAs, including miR-122, that is differentially expressed at 2-3 weeks, a period when extensive polyploidization occurs. Next, we examined Mir122 knockout mice and observed profound, life-long depletion of polyploid hepatocytes, proving that miR-122 is required for complete hepatic polyploidization. Moreover, the polyploidy defect in Mir122 knockout mice was ameliorated by adenovirus-mediated over-expression of miR-122, underscoring the critical role miR-122 plays in polyploidization. Finally, we identified direct targets of miR-122 (Cux1, Rhoa, Iqgap1, Mapre1, Nedd4l and Slc25a34) that regulate cytokinesis. Inhibition of each target induced cytokinesis failure and promoted hepatic binucleation. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that miR-122 is both necessary and sufficient in liver polyploidization. Among the different signals that have been associated with hepatic polyploidy, miR-122 is the first liver-specific signal identified. These studies will serve as the foundation for future work investigating miR-122 in liver maturation, homeostasis and disease.