Project description:Autoimmune regulator (Aire) plays an indispensable role in the induction of central immune tolerance. We identify a novel subset of Rorγt-dependent innate lymphoid cell-type in secondary lymphoid organs, which presents endogenously generated antigens and contributes to peripheral T cell tolerance. In this experiment, transcriptomes of these Aire-ILC3 cells are characterized in wild-type Balb/C and Aire-/- Balb/C mice [Ramsey, C. et al. (2002) Hum Mol Genet 11:397-409] using RNA-seq method. To obtain the cells, peripheral lymph nodes were minced, enzymatically digested, and Aire-ILC3 cells were FACS-sorted as Lin-, MHCII+, CD80+, IL7Ra+ cells.
Project description:We compared gene expression profiles of lymphotoxin alpha- and lymphtoxin beta receptor-deficient thymic medullary epithelial cells with their wild-type littermates, as well as with Aire-deficient and wild-type littermates. This was done in order to determine whether there was overlap in the effects of lymphotoxin and aire. Experiment Overall Design: Individual thymi were digested with collagenase, dispase and DNAse, and meduallary epithelial cells with the phenotype CD45-G8.8+Ly51intMHCclasssIIhi were isolated by FACS.
Project description:We used freshly isolated lacrimal glands isolated from wild type and Aire-/- mice on a Balbc background. Mice were 5 weeks of age, with an n=4 for wild type and n=3 for Aire-deficient.
Project description:To explore the role of circular RNA,circTmem241, on ILC3 commitment, we isolated ILCPs from wild-type or circTmem241-deficient mice.
Project description:Aire is an important transcription regulator that mediates a role in central tolerance via promoting the promiscuous expression of tissue-specific antigens in the thymus. Although several mouse models of Aire-deficiency have been described, none has analysed the phenotype induced by a mutation that emulates the common 13bp deletion in human APECED by disrupting the first PHD domain in exon 8. Aire-deficient mice with a corresponding mutation showed some disturbance of the medullary epithelial compartment, but at the phenotypic level their T cell compartment appeared relatively normal in the thymus and periphery. An increase in the number of activated T cells was evident, and autoantibodies against several organs were detected. At the histological level, lymphocytic infiltration of several organs indicated the development of autoimmunity, though symptoms were mild and quality of life for Aire-deficient mice appeared equivalent to wild-type littermates, with the exception of male infertility. Vbeta and CDR3 length analysis suggested that each Aire-deficient mouse developed it own polyclonal autoimmune repertoire. Finally, given the prevalence of candidiasis in APECED patients, we examined the control of infection with Candida albicans in Aire-deficient mice. No increase in disease susceptibility was found for either oral or systematic infection. These observations support the view that additional genetic and/or environmental factors contribute substantially to the overt nature of autoimmunity associated with Aire mutations, even for mutations identical to those found in humans with APECED. Keywords: Gene expression comparison between genotypes In this experiment there are 5 samples altogether which consist of two biological replicates of Aire knock-out mTECs and 3 biological replicates of wild type mTECs.
Project description:Aire is an important transcription regulator that mediates a role in central tolerance via promoting the promiscuous expression of tissue-specific antigens in the thymus. Although several mouse models of Aire-deficiency have been described, none has analysed the phenotype induced by a mutation that emulates the common 13bp deletion in human APECED by disrupting the first PHD domain in exon 8. Aire-deficient mice with a corresponding mutation showed some disturbance of the medullary epithelial compartment, but at the phenotypic level their T cell compartment appeared relatively normal in the thymus and periphery. An increase in the number of activated T cells was evident, and autoantibodies against several organs were detected. At the histological level, lymphocytic infiltration of several organs indicated the development of autoimmunity, though symptoms were mild and quality of life for Aire-deficient mice appeared equivalent to wild-type littermates, with the exception of male infertility. Vbeta and CDR3 length analysis suggested that each Aire-deficient mouse developed it own polyclonal autoimmune repertoire. Finally, given the prevalence of candidiasis in APECED patients, we examined the control of infection with Candida albicans in Aire-deficient mice. No increase in disease susceptibility was found for either oral or systematic infection. These observations support the view that additional genetic and/or environmental factors contribute substantially to the overt nature of autoimmunity associated with Aire mutations, even for mutations identical to those found in humans with APECED. Keywords: Gene expression comparison between genotypes
Project description:Mutations in the gene encoding the transcription factor AutoImmune REgulator (AIRE) are responsible for the ‘Autoimmune PolyEndocrinopathy Candidiasis Ecodermal Dystrophy’ syndrome. AIRE directs expression of tissue restricted antigens in the thymic medulla and in lymph node stromal cells and thereby substantially contributes to induction of immunological tolerance to self-antigens. Data from experimental mouse models showed that AIRE-deficiency leads to impaired deletion of autospecific T cell precursors. However, a potential role for AIRE in the function of regulatory T cell populations, which are known to play a central role in prevention of immunopathology, has remained elusive. Regulatory T cells of CD8+CD28low phenotype efficiently control immune responses in experimental autoimmune and colitis models in mice. We here show that CD8+CD28low Treg from AIRE-deficient mice are transcriptionally and phenotypically normal, exert efficient suppression of in vitro immune responses, but completely fail to prevent experimental colitis in vivo. Our data therefore demonstrate that AIRE plays an important role in the in vivo function of a naturally occurring regulatory T cell population. Total RNA was extracted from CD8+CD28low regulatory T lymphocytes isolated from wildtype and Aire-deficient C57BL/6 mice for comparison of gene expression profiles.
Project description:We compared gene expression profiles of aire-deficient and wild-type littermate thymic medullary epithelial cells. This was done in order to determine whether Aire's effects differed among strains, and also among individuals of the same strain. Keywords: genetic modification