Project description:To test the cell-specific function of GPR30 in learning and memory, we generated global GPR30 knockout (KO) mice (Δ3102), astrocyte-specific GPR30 KO (AG-KO) mice and neuron-specific GPR30 KO (NG-KO) mice. We found that GPR30 in astrocytes but not neurons is required to maintain normal learning and memory. To further elucidate the signaling pathway by which GPR30 plays a role in astrocyte function, high-throughput RNA sequencing of hippocampal tissues from Δ3102, AG-KO, and NG-KO mice was performed.
Project description:GPCRs are the most productive drug targets and targeted by one third of the drugs in clinical use, however, few GPCRs are reported to participate in liver fibrosis. In this study, we have identified that KCs-enriched GPR65 is upregulated in both human and mouse fibrotic livers and KCs from fibrotic livers. To identify the roles of GPR65 in liver fibrosis, we performed RNA-seq to analyze the effect of Gpr65 deficiency on BDL-induced liver fibrosis. The mice were divided into four groups: sham operation- treated WT mice (n=3), bile duct ligation (BDL)- treated WT mice (n=3), sham operation- treated GPR65-KO mice (n=3) and BDL- treated GPR65-KO mice (n=3).
Project description:Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are transposable elements that cause host genome instability and usually play deleterious roles such as tumorigenesis. Recent advances also suggest that this 'enemy within' may encode viral mimic to induce antiviral immune responses through viral sensors. Here, through whole genome RNA-seq we discovered a full-length ERV-derived long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), designated lnc-EPAV (ERV-derived lncRNA positively regulates antiviral responses), as a positive regulator of NF-κB signaling. Lnc-EPAV expression was rapidly up-regulated by viral RNA mimic or RNA viruses to facilitate the expression of RELA, an NF-κB subunit that plays a critical role in antiviral responses. In turn, RELA promoted the transcription of lnc-EPAV to form a positive feedback loop. Transcriptome analysis of lnc-EPAV-silenced macrophages, combined with gain- and loss-of-function experiments, showed that lnc-EPAV was critical for induction of type I interferon (IFN) and inflammatory cytokine expression by RNA viruses. Consistently, lnc-EPAV-deficient mice exhibited reduced expression of type I IFNs, and consequently increased viral loads and mortality following lethal RNA virus infection. Mechanistically, lnc-EPAV promoted expression of RELA by competitively binding to and displacing SFPQ, a transcriptional repressor of RELA. The binding between ERV-derived RNAs and SFPQ also existed in human cells. Altogether, our work demonstrates an alternative mechanism by which ERVs regulate antiviral immune responses.
Project description:To investigate the mechanism of hepatic Activin A and Gpnmb in NAFLD/NASH, we studied C57BL/6J mice on a FPC NASH diet and sugar water for 16 weeks, compared with standard chow diet, and used adeno-associated viral vectors with a liver-specific thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) promoter to express Activin A or GFP (control), or AAV8-H1-shRNA to knockdown of Gpnmb or scramble control in NAFLD/NASH liver. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 3 different livers in each group.
Project description:We report ChIP-Seq data for C/EBPa in livers of mice with liver-specific KO (LSKO) of Trib1 as compared to WT controls, or in livers of mice overexpressing C/EBPa via adeno-associated virus (AAV) as compared to controls.
Project description:Purpose: To investigate the effects of phytosterols intake on systematic and tissue specific lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice. Methods: Healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control diet group (CS) and phytosterols diet group (PS, 2% phytosterols). After 28 weeks of continuous feeding, livers, lungs were collected for RNA-seq analysis. All samples were paired-end sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq PE150 platform. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level. RT–qPCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assay. Results: We mapped about 40 million sequence reads per sample to the mouse genome and identified 23,138 transcripts in the liver and 26,388 transcripts in the lung. Approximately 10% of the transcripts showed differentially expressed in the liver and lung between the two dietary groups, with a fold change ≥1.5 and p <0.05. Enrichment analysis revealed changes in lipid metabolic pathways. RT-qPCR confirmed the changes in related genes. Conclusions: Phytosterols supplementation effected tissue specific lipid metabolic regulation in the liver and lung. RNA-seq provided us with data at the transcriptome level in the liver and lung of mice.
