Project description:The RNase Regnase-1 is a master RNA regulator in macrophages and T cells that degrades cellular and viral RNA upon NF-kB signaling. The roles of the other Regnase family-members remain largely unknown. Here, we analyze Regnase-3 deficient mice, which develop hypertrophic lymph nodes. We used various mice with immune cell specific deletions of Regnase-3 to demonstrate that Regnase-3 acts specifically within myeloid cells. Regnase-3 deficiency systemically increased interferon signaling, which increased the proportion of immature B and innate immune cells and suppressed follicles and germinal center formation. Expression analysis revealed that Regnase-3 and Regnase-1 share protein degradation pathways. Nevertheless, Regnase-3 expression is specifically high in macrophages and transcriptionally controlled by interferon signaling. Although direct targets in macrophages remain unknown, Regnase-3 can bind, degrade and regulate mRNAs, such Zc3h12a encoding Regnase-1, in vitro. These data indicate that Regnase-3, like Regnase-1, is an RNase and essential for immune homeostasis, but has diverged as a key regulator for the interferon pathway in macrophages.
Project description:Regnase-1 plays essential roles in restricting inflammation by acting as a RNase degrading mRNAs involved in immune reactions via the recognition of stem-loop structures in the 3’untranslated regions (UTRs). Dysregulated expression of Regnase-1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in mice and humans. Here we developed a novel therapeutic strategy to suppress inflammatory responses by blocking Regnase-1 self-regulation, which was enabled by the simultaneous use of two antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) to alter the binding affinity of Regnase-1 towards the stem-loop structures present in its 3’UTR. The Regnase-1-targeting MOs successfully stabilized Regnase-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, increasing the abundance of Regnase-1 by MO treatment effectively reduced multiple pro-inflammatory transcripts that were controlled by Regnase-1 in BMDMs. Collectively, these data suggested that MO-mediated disruption of the Regnase-1 self-regulation pathway is an attractive therapeutic strategy to enhance Regnase-1 abundance, which could provide clinical benefits for treating inflammatory diseases through the suppression of inflammation.
Project description:Regulation of lineage biases in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is pivotal for balanced hematopoietic output. However, little is known about the mechanism behind lineage choice in HSPCs. Here, we show that mRNA decay factors Regnase-1 (Zc3h12a) and Regnase-3 (Zc3h12c) are critical for induction of myeloid lineage priming, restricting lymphoid differentiation in HSPCs. Regnase-1- and Regnase-3-mediated control of mRNA encoding Nfkbiz, a transcriptional and epigenetic regulator, was essential for balancing lymphoid/myeloid lineage output in HSPCs in vivo. Furthermore, single cell-assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) analysis revealed that Regnase-1 and Regnase-3 control the epigenetic landscape on myeloid-related gene loci in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) via Nfkbiz. Consistently, an antisense oligonucleotide designed to inhibit Regnase-1- and Regnase-3-mediated Nfkbiz mRNA degradation primed HSCs toward myeloid lineages by enhancing Nfkbiz expression. Collectively, the collaboration between post-transcriptional control and chromatin remodeling by the Regnase-1/Regnase-3-Nfkbiz axis governs lineage priming, instructing HSC lineage specification.
Project description:The balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) maintains hematopoietic homeostasis, failure of which can lead to hematopoietic disorder. HSPC fate is controlled by signals from the bone marrow niche resulting in alteration of the stem cell transcription network. Regnase-1, a member of the CCCH zinc finger protein family possessing RNAse activity, mediates post-transcriptional regulatory activity through degradation of target mRNAs. The precise function of Regnase-1 has been explored in inflammation-related cytokine expression but its function in hematopoiesis has not been elucidated. To clarify the role of Regnase-1 for hematopoiesis, we performed gene expression analysis on sorted HSC from control and Regnase1 null mice.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Regnase-2/MCPIP2/ZC3H12B is a protein belonging to the ZC3H12 protein family. There are three other proteins of this family present in humans of which Regnase-1/MCPIP1/ZC3H12A is the founder member as well as the best-described protein. All proteins of this family contain a NYN domain with endoribonuclease activity and a CCCH-type zinc finger responsible for interaction with substrate RNA. Although the NYN domain has a high degree of similarity across all four members the in vitro RNase activity was shown only for two of them, namely Regnase-1 and Regnase-3. Interestingly the ZC3H12 family proteins have unique expression patterns with Regnase-2 being expressed almost solely in the central nervous system. What is more, Regnase-2 is downregulated in human glioblastoma, and its expression is inversely correlated with tumor grade. To decipher the role of Regnase-2 in human glioblastoma we performed RNA sequencing of U-251 MG cells overexpressing Regnase-2 and control, mock-transfected cells.
Project description:Regulation of lineage biases in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is pivotal for balanced hematopoietic output. However, little is known about the mechanism behind lineage choice in HSPCs. Here, we show that mRNA decay factors Regnase-1 (Zc3h12a) and Regnase-3 (Zc3h12c) are critical for induction of myeloid lineage priming, restricting lymphoid differentiation in HSPCs. Regnase-1- and Regnase-3-mediated control of mRNA encoding Nfkbiz, a transcriptional and epigenetic regulator, was essential for balancing lymphoid/myeloid lineage output in HSPCs in vivo. Furthermore, single cell-assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) analysis revealed that Regnase-1 and Regnase-3 control the epigenetic landscape on myeloid-related gene loci in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) via Nfkbiz. Consistently, an antisense oligonucleotide designed to inhibit Regnase-1- and Regnase-3-mediated Nfkbiz mRNA degradation primed HSCs toward myeloid lineages by enhancing Nfkbiz expression. Collectively, the collaboration between post-transcriptional control and chromatin remodeling by the Regnase-1/Regnase-3-Nfkbiz axis governs lineage priming, instructing HSC lineage specification.