Project description:Mammalian microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of the development and function of the immune system. Here, we report a strong but transient induction of miR-155 in mouse bone marrow after injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) correlated with granulocyte/monocyte (GM) expansion. Demonstrating the sufficiency of miR-155 to drive GM expansion, enforced expression in mouse bone marrow cells caused GM proliferation in a manner reminiscent of LPS treatment. However, the mir-155-induced GM populations displayed pathological features characteristic of myeloid neoplasia. Extending possible relevance to human disease, miR-155 was overexpressed in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Furthermore, miR-155 repressed a subset of genes implicated in hematopoietic development and disease. These data implicate miR-155 as a contributor to physiological GM expansion during inflammation and to certain pathological features associated with AML, emphasizing the importance of proper miR-155 regulation in developing myeloid cells during times of inflammatory stress. Experiment Overall Design: Construct stable RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cell lines expressing mir-155 or empty vector. RNA is extracted and global gene expression analysis performed to identify mir-155 regulated mRNAs.
Project description:Classically activated (M1) macrophages protect from infection but can cause inflammatory disease and tissue damage while alternatively activated (M2) macrophages reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. Modulation of macrophage phenotype may be therapeutically beneficial and requires further understanding of the molecular programs that control macrophage differentiation. A potential mechanism by which macrophages differentiate may be through microRNA (miRNA), which bind to messenger RNA and post-transcriptionally modify gene expression, cell phenotype and function. The inflammation-associated miRNA, miR-155, was rapidly up-regulated over 100-fold in M1, but not M2, macrophages. Inflammatory M1 genes and proteins iNOS, IL-1b and TNF-a were reduced up to 72% in miR-155 knockout mouse macrophages, but miR-155 deficiency did not affect expression of genes associated with M2 macrophages (e.g., Arginase-1). Additionally, a miR-155 oligonucleotide inhibitor efficiently suppressed iNOS and TNF-a gene expression in wild-type M1 macrophages. Comparative transcriptional profiling of unactivated (M0) and M1 macrophages derived from wild-type and miR-155 knockout (KO) mice revealed an M1 signature of approximately 1300 genes, half of which were dependent on miR-155. Real-Time PCR of independent datasets validated miR-155's contribution to induction of iNOS, IL-1b, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-12, as well as suppression of miR-155 targets Inpp5d, Tspan14, Ptprj and Mafb. Overall, these data indicate that miR-155 plays an essential role in driving the differentiation and effector potential of inflammatory M1 macrophages. Total RNA was prepared from bone marrow-derived macrophages of miR-155 knockout mice (n=2 independent mice) treated in M0, M1 or M2 conditions (n=2 replicates per condition originating from different mice)
Project description:Classically activated (M1) macrophages protect from infection but can cause inflammatory disease and tissue damage while alternatively activated (M2) macrophages reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. Modulation of macrophage phenotype may be therapeutically beneficial and requires further understanding of the molecular programs that control macrophage differentiation. A potential mechanism by which macrophages differentiate may be through microRNA (miRNA), which bind to messenger RNA and post-transcriptionally modify gene expression, cell phenotype and function. The inflammation-associated miRNA, miR-155, was rapidly up-regulated over 100-fold in M1, but not M2, macrophages. Inflammatory M1 genes and proteins iNOS, IL-1b and TNF-a were reduced up to 72% in miR-155 knockout mouse macrophages, but miR-155 deficiency did not affect expression of genes associated with M2 macrophages (e.g., Arginase-1). Additionally, a miR-155 oligonucleotide inhibitor efficiently suppressed iNOS and TNF-a gene expression in wild-type M1 macrophages. Comparative transcriptional profiling of unactivated (M0) and M1 macrophages derived from wild-type and miR-155 knockout (KO) mice revealed an M1 signature of approximately 1300 genes, half of which were dependent on miR-155. Real-Time PCR of independent datasets validated miR-155's contribution to induction of iNOS, IL-1b, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-12, as well as suppression of miR-155 targets Inpp5d, Tspan14, Ptprj and Mafb. Overall, these data indicate that miR-155 plays an essential role in driving the differentiation and effector potential of inflammatory M1 macrophages.
Project description:The innate inflammatory response must be tightly regulated to ensure effective immune protection while avoiding inflammation-related pathologies. The transcription factor NF-kB is a critical mediator of the inflammatory response, and its dysregulation has been associated with immune related malignancies. We herein show that miR-155, miR-146a and NF-kB form a regulatory network that tunes the macrophage inflammatory response in mice. We show that elevated miR-155 expression potentiates NF-kB activity in miR-146a deficient mice, thus leading to an overactive acute inflammatory response and chronic inflammation. Enforced miR-155 expression overrides miR-146a-mediated repression of NF-kB activation, thus emphasizing that miR-155 plays a dominant, downstream role in promoting inflammation. We further show that miR-155 deficient macrophages exhibit a suboptimal inflammatory response when exposed to low levels of inflammatory stimuli. Importantly, we demonstrate a temporal asymmetry between miR-155 and miR-146a expression during macrophage activation, which forms a combined positive and negative feedback network on NF-kB activity. This miRNA based regulatory network enables a robust and time-limited inflammatory response essential for functional immunity.
Project description:MYC regulates the expression of multiple microRNA (miRNA) genes and defines the Burkitt lymphoma (BL) miRNA signature. Here, we investigate the role of the MYC-regulated miRNAs by gain- and loss-of-function analysis. Overexpression of 5 miRNAs that were significantly downregulated by MYC resulted in strong (miR-150, miR-26a, miR-26b) and mild (miR-29a, let-7a) impaired cell growth. Overexpression of miR-155 increased proliferation of BL cells. By RNA immunoprecipitation of Argonaute 2 in BL cells with and without miR-155 we identified 54 miR-155 target genes. Using an shRNA approach we identified TBRG1 (NIAM1) as a miR-155 target gene that copied the miR-155-induced phenotype upon its inhibition. Analysis of TBRG1 protein expression and miR-155 levels in primary cases of B-cell lymphoma revealed that miR-155 levels are significantly lower in TBRG1 positive cases suggesting that TBRG1 is also regulated by miR-155 in primary B-cell lymphoma. Our data demonstrate that overexpression of individual MYC-repressed miRNAs has a strong suppressive effect on BL cell growth, whereas overexpression of miR-155 enhances B-cell lymphoma growth by targeting the tumor suppressor gene TBRG1. Gene expression profile was performed in ST486 Burkitt lymphoma cell line in 4 samples: ST486 EV (empty MXW-PGK-IRES-GFP vector) total cell lysate, ST486 EV Ago2-IP, ST486 miR-155 (ST486 with ectopic miR-155) total cell lysate, ST486 miR-155 Ago2-IP.
Project description:The cellular microRNA, miR-155 has been shown to be involved in lymphocyte activation and is expressed in EBV infected cells displaying type III latency gene expression but not type I latency gene expression. We show here that the elevated levels of miR-155 in type III latency cells is due to EBV gene expression and not epigenetic differences in cell lines tested and we show that expression in EBV infected cells requires a conserved AP-1 element in the miR-155 promoter. Gene expression analysis was carried out in a type I latency cell line transduced with a miR-155 expressing retrovirus. This analysis identified both miR-155 suppressed and induced cellular mRNAs and suggested that in addition to direct targeting of 3’ UTRs, miR-155 alters gene expression in part through the alteration of signal transduction pathways. 3’ UTR reporter analysis of predicted miR-155 target genes identified the transcriptional regulatory genes, BACH1, ZIC3, HIVEP2, CEBPB, ZNF652, ARID2, and SMAD5 as miR-155 targets. Western blot analysis of the most highly suppressed of these, BACH1, showed lower expression in cells transduced with a miR-155 retrovirus. Inspection of the promoters from genes regulated in EBV infected cells and in cells infected with a miR-155 retrovirus identified potential binding sequences for BACH1 and ZIC3. Together, these experiments suggest that the induction of miR-155 by EBV contributes to EBV mediated signaling in part through the modulation of transcriptional regulatory factors. Keywords: Differential expression of miR-155 vs cntl expressing cells The EBV positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, Akata was infected with a control (pEhyg-miRCntl) or a microRNA-155 expressing (pEhyg-miR-155) retrovirus. Duplicate infections with the control retrovirus and with the miR-155 retrovirus were carried out. Control and miR-155 infection pair 1 were run on an array as well as a dye swap. Control and miR-155 infection pair 2 were similarly run on an array as well as a second array containing a dye swap.
Project description:Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan with anti-tumor activity against a variety of cancers. However, the therapeutic effect of T. gondii on colorectal cancer is unclear, and using direct Toxoplasma infection in immunotherapy involves safety concerns. This study investigated the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of exosomes derived from dendritic cells (DC) infected with T. gondii (Me49-DC-Exo). We used the density gradient centrifugation to isolate exosomes from uninfected DCs (DC-Exo) and T. gondii Me49-infected DCs (Me49-DC-Exo). The isolated exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blotting. Me49-DC-Exo significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced the proportion of M2 macrophages in the blood of tumor-bearing mice. In vitro, Me49-DC-Exo suppressed macrophage (RAW264.7) polarization to M2 phenotype. miRNA sequencing revealed that multiple miRNAs in Me49-DC-Exo were differentially expressed compared with DC-Exo. miR-182-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-125b-2-3p, and miR-155-3p were up-regulated, while miR-9-5p was significantly down-regulated. Transfecting mimics or inhibitors of these differential miRNAs into RAW264.7 cells showed that miR-155-5p promoted M1 macrophage polarization while inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization. Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) as a direct target of miR-155-5p. Silencing SOCS1 gene expression in RAW264.7 cells increased CD86 + CD206 - M1 macrophage proportion and inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA levels. However, arginase1 and transglutaminase 2 expression levels decreased. These results suggest that the exosomes inhibit macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype and regulate SOCS1 expression by delivering functional miR-155-5p. These findings provide new ideas for colorectal cancer immunotherapy.
Project description:The cellular microRNA, miR-155 has been shown to be involved in lymphocyte activation and is expressed in EBV infected cells displaying type III latency gene expression but not type I latency gene expression. We show here that the elevated levels of miR-155 in type III latency cells is due to EBV gene expression and not epigenetic differences in cell lines tested and we show that expression in EBV infected cells requires a conserved AP-1 element in the miR-155 promoter. Gene expression analysis was carried out in a type I latency cell line transduced with a miR-155 expressing retrovirus. This analysis identified both miR-155 suppressed and induced cellular mRNAs and suggested that in addition to direct targeting of 3’ UTRs, miR-155 alters gene expression in part through the alteration of signal transduction pathways. 3’ UTR reporter analysis of predicted miR-155 target genes identified the transcriptional regulatory genes, BACH1, ZIC3, HIVEP2, CEBPB, ZNF652, ARID2, and SMAD5 as miR-155 targets. Western blot analysis of the most highly suppressed of these, BACH1, showed lower expression in cells transduced with a miR-155 retrovirus. Inspection of the promoters from genes regulated in EBV infected cells and in cells infected with a miR-155 retrovirus identified potential binding sequences for BACH1 and ZIC3. Together, these experiments suggest that the induction of miR-155 by EBV contributes to EBV mediated signaling in part through the modulation of transcriptional regulatory factors. Keywords: Differential expression of miR-155 vs cntl expressing cells
Project description:The cellular microRNA, miR-155 has been shown to be involved in lymphocyte activation and is expressed in EBV infected cells displaying type III latency gene expression but not type I latency gene expression. We show here that the elevated levels of miR-155 in type III latency cells is due to EBV gene expression and not epigenetic differences in cell lines tested and we show that expression in EBV infected cells requires a conserved AP-1 element in the miR-155 promoter. Gene expression analysis was carried out in a type I latency cell line transduced with a miR-155 expressing retrovirus. This analysis identified both miR-155 suppressed and induced cellular mRNAs and suggested that in addition to direct targeting of 3’ UTRs, miR-155 alters gene expression in part through the alteration of signal transduction pathways. 3’ UTR reporter analysis of predicted miR-155 target genes identified the transcriptional regulatory genes, BACH1, ZIC3, HIVEP2, CEBPB, ZNF652, ARID2, and SMAD5 as miR-155 targets. Western blot analysis of the most highly suppressed of these, BACH1, showed lower expression in cells transduced with a miR-155 retrovirus. Inspection of the promoters from genes regulated in EBV infected cells and in cells infected with a miR-155 retrovirus identified potential binding sequences for BACH1 and ZIC3. Together, these experiments suggest that the induction of miR-155 by EBV contributes to EBV mediated signaling in part through the modulation of transcriptional regulatory factors. Keywords: Gene expression analysis in EBV positive vs EBV negative cells
Project description:The molecular response to hypoxia is a critical cellular process implicated in cancer, and a target for drug development. The activity of the major player, HIF1M-NM-1,M-BM- is regulated at different levels, including the transcriptional level by the Ets factor ELK3. The molecular mechanisms of this intimate transcriptional connection remain largely unknown. Whilst investigating global ELK3-chromatin interactions, we uncovered an unexpected connection that involves the microRNA hsa-miR-155-5p, a hypoxia-inducible oncomir that targets HIF1M-NM-1. One of the ELK3 chromatin binding sites, detected by Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation Sequencing (ChIP-seq) of normal Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC), is located at the transcription start site of the MIR155HG genes that expresses hsa-miR-155-5p. We confirmed that ELK3 binds to this promoter by ChIP and QPCR. We showed that ELK3 and hsa-miR-155-5p form a double-negative regulatory loop. ELK3 depletion induced hsa-miR-155-5p expression, and hsa-miR-155-5p expression decreased ELK3 expression at the RNA level through a conserved target sequence in its 3M-bM-^@M-^Y-UTR. We further showed that the activities of hsa-miR-155-5p and ELK3 are functionally linked. Pathway analysis indicates that both factors are implicated in related processes, including cancer and angiogenesis. hsa-miR-155-5p expression and ELK3 depletion have similar effects on expression of known ELK3 target genes, and in-vitro angiogenesis and wound closure. Bioinformatic analysis of cancer RNA-seq data shows that hsa-miR-155-5p and ELK3 expression are significantly anti-correlated, as would be expected from hsa-miR-155-5p targeting ELK3 RNA. Hypoxia (0% oxygen) down-regulates ELK3 mRNA in a microRNA and hsa-miR-155-5p dependent manner. These results tie ELK3 into the hypoxia response pathway through an oncogenic microRNA and into a circuit implicated in the dynamics of the hypoxic response.M-BM- This crosstalk could be important in the development of new treatments for a range of pathologies. Examination of ELK3 DNA interactions in HUVEC cells under normal oxygen conditions