Project description:We've recently shown that we can accelerate disease in a model of SLE (the NZB/W F1 model) using an anti-Ox40 mAb treatment regimen. The disease acceleration is rapid (within 2 weeks) but its unclear, mechanistically, how OX40 functions to promote disease. To that end we want to perform RNASeq on the sorted OX40-expressing CD4 T cells during treatment to understand how they function in response to OX40 signaling in vivo
Project description:We've recently shown that we can accelerate disease in a model of SLE (the NZB/W F1 model) using an anti-Ox40 mAb treatment regimen. The disease acceleration is rapid (within 2 weeks) but its unclear, mechanistically, how Ox40 promotes disease. To that end we performed RNASeq on in vitro cultured CD4 T cells during Ox40 and TCR stimulation (in a reductionist setting) to understand how Ox40 signaling impacts cellular phenotype and function, including with and without TCR stimulation
Project description:NZB/WF1 female mice spontaneously develop autoimmune lupus nephritis. Expression profiling of kidney tissue from (a) 12 week NZB/W F1 female mice defined as asymptomatic for lupus nephritis, (b) 36 and 42 week NZB/W F1 female mice defined as diseased/symptomatic for lupus nephritis and (c) 36 and 42 week NZB/W F1 female mice that are diseased/symptomatic for lupus nephritis and treated with Sirolimus was carried out. The goal of the study was to identify genes associated with lupus nephritis and modulated by Sirolimus, an inhibitor of mTOR. In addition, lupus nephritis genes resistant to Sirolimus therapy were also identfied This series of samples comprises of kidney tissue from (a) 12 week old NZB/W F1 female mice defined as asymptomatic for lupus nephritis (N=4), (b) 36 (N=3) and 42 week (N=3) old NZB/W F1 female mice defined as diseased/symptomatic for lupus nephritis and (c) 36 (N=3)and 42 (N=3) week old NZB/W F1 female mice that are asymptomatic for lupus nephritis on treatment with Sirolimus
Project description:NZB/WF1 female mice spontaneously develop autoimmune lupus nephritis. Expression profiling of kidney tissue from (a) 12 week NZB/W F1 female mice defined as asymptomatic for lupus nephritis, (b) 36 and 42 week NZB/W F1 female mice defined as diseased/symptomatic for lupus nephritis and (c) 36 and 42 week NZB/W F1 female mice that are diseased/symptomatic for lupus nephritis and treated with Sirolimus was carried out. The goal of the study was to identify genes associated with lupus nephritis and modulated by Sirolimus, an inhibitor of mTOR. In addition, lupus nephritis genes resistant to Sirolimus therapy were also identfied
Project description:Regulatory T (Treg) maintain the tumor microenvironment in an immunosuppressive state preventing effective anti-tumor immune response. A possible strategy to overcome Treg cell suppression focuses on OX40, a costimulatory molecule expressed constitutively by Treg cells while induced in activated effector T (Teff) cells. OX40 stimulation by the agonist mAb OX86 inhibits Treg cell suppression and boosts Teff cell activation. Here we uncover the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic activity of OX86 treatment dissecting its distinct effects on Treg and on effector memory T (Tem) cells, which are the most abundant CD4+ populations strongly expressing OX40 at the tumor site. In response to OX86, tumor-infiltrating Treg cells produced significantly less interleukin 10 (IL-10), possibly in relation to a decrease in the transcription factor IRF1. Tem cells responded to OX86 by upregulating surface CD40L expression, providing a licensing signal to dendritic cells (DCs). The CD40L/CD40 axis was required for Tem cell-mediated in vitro DC maturation and in vivo DC migration. Accordingly, OX86 treatment was no longer therapeutic in CD40 KO mice. In conclusion, following OX40 stimulation, blockade of Treg cell suppression and enhancement of the Tem cell adjuvant effect both concurred to free DCs from immunosuppression and to activate the immune response against the tumor. Total RNA obtained from sorted mouse FoxP3-GFP+ Treg activated in vitro with anti-CD3 in the presence of an OX40-agonist mAb (OX86) or isotype control.
Project description:Current treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases may not sufficiently control aberrant metabolism in B-cells. To address this concern, we investigated a biguanide derivative, IM156, as a potential regulator for B-cell metabolism in vitro and in vivo on overactive B-cells stimulated by the pro-inflammatory receptor TLR-9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, a mimic of viral/bacterial DNA. Using RNA sequencing, we analyzed the B-cell transcriptome expression, identifying the major molecular pathways affected by IM156 in vivo. We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of IM156 in lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice. CD19+B-cells exhibited higher mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial membrane potential compared to T-cells and were more susceptible to IM156-mediated oxidative phosphorylation inhibition. In vivo, IM156 inhibited mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, cell cycle progression, plasmablast differentiation, and activation marker levels in CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-stimulated mouse spleen B-cells. Interestingly, IM156 treatment significantly increased overall survival, reduced glomerulonephritis and inhibited B-cell activation in the NZB/W F1 mice. Thus, our data indicated that IM156 suppressed the mitochondrial membrane potentials of activated B-cells in mice, contributing to the mitigation of lupus activity. Hence, IM156 may represent a therapeutic alternative for autoimmune disease mediated by B-cell hyperactivity.
Project description:Purpose: to investigate the method of action (MOA) of BTK small molecule inhibitor, G7744, in a pre-clinical mouse lupus model (NZB/W F1). Hypothesis: BTK inhibition will affect B cell and myeloid cell pathways.
Project description:Transcriptomic analysis of gene expression of splenocytes from 16-week-old female NZB/NZW F1 (BWF1) mice, which are prone to lupus, and comparison to gene expression of splenocytes from male BWF1 and female BALB/c mice, which are not prone to lupus. Results provide insight into the differences in immunological activities that make female BWF1 mice more susceptible to lupus.
Project description:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by failure of self-tolerance mechanisms and the resultant production of autoreactive antibodies. The NZBWF1 mouse spontaneously develops a lupus-like syndrome and is used as model of SLE. The NZBWF1 model represents the F1 generation of a cross between New Zealand Black (NZB) and New Zealand White (NZW) mice. In this study we investigated the model and its progenitors (NZB, NZW) gene expression with single cell RNA sequencing on cells isolated from bone marrow and processed with the 10X Chromium.
Project description:PD-1+CD8+ T cells are exhausted in infection and cancer, their roles in lupus nephritis (LN) are largely unknown. PD-1+CD8+ and PD-1-CD8+ cells from spleens of NZB/W F1 mice were sorted for RNA-seq.