Project description:The transcriptional repressors BCL6 and BACH2 are crucial regulators of germinal center (GC) B-cell fate, and are known to interact and repress transcription of PRDM1, a key driver of plasma cell differentiation. How these factors cooperate is not fully understood. Herein we show that while GC formation is only minimally impaired in Bcl6+/- or Bach2+/- mice, double heterozygous Bcl6+/-Bach2+/- mice exhibit profound reduction in GC formation. Splenic B-cells from Bcl6+/- Bach2+/- mice display accelerated plasmacytic differentiation and high expression of key plasma cell genes such as Prdm1, Xbp1 and CD138. ChIP-seq revealed that in B-cells BACH2 is mostly bound to genes together with its heterodimer partner MAFK. The BACH2-MAFK complex binds to sets of genes known to be involved in the GC response, 60% of which are also targets of BCL6. Approximately 30% of BACH2 peaks overlap with BCL6 including cis-regulatory sequences of the PRDM1 gene. BCL6 also modulates BACH2 protein stability and their protein levels are positively correlated in GC B-cells. Therefore, BCL6 and BACH2 cooperate to orchestrate gene expression patterning in GC B cells through both transcriptional and biochemical mechanisms, which collectively determine the proper initiation and timing of terminal differentiation. ChIP-seq using P18 antibodies in OCI-Ly7 cells
Project description:The molecular circuits that direct early T-dependent B cell responses and alternative cell-fate decisions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that either B cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 signals promoted mTORC1-dependent translation of the transcription factor Bach2. Transient up-regulation of Bach2 protein restrained activated B cell expansion and differentiation into plasma cell while promoting the germinal center (GC) and memory B cell fates at the pre-GC stage. However, enforced Bach2 expression facilitated memory B cell generation versus other cell fates. Mechanistically, Bach2 limited access of AP-1 factors and formed a reciprocal repression loop with IRF4. BCR and CD40 signals also down-regulated Bach2 transcript in antigen-activated B cells, and diversified its abundance in various effector populations, predisposing Bach2 protein expression and subsequent cell-fate choices during memory recall and GC reaction. Thus signaling-induced differential dynamics of Bach2 protein and mRNA in activated B cell control their cell-fate outcomes and imprint the fate of their descendant effector cells.
Project description:The molecular circuits that direct early T-dependent B cell responses and alternative cell-fate decisions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that either B cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 signals promoted mTORC1-dependent translation of the transcription factor Bach2. Transient up-regulation of Bach2 protein restrained activated B cell expansion and differentiation into plasma cell while promoting the germinal center (GC) and memory B cell fates at the pre-GC stage. However, enforced Bach2 expression facilitated memory B cell generation versus other cell fates. Mechanistically, Bach2 limited access of AP-1 factors and formed a reciprocal repression loop with IRF4. BCR and CD40 signals also down-regulated Bach2 transcript in antigen-activated B cells, and diversified its abundance in various effector populations, predisposing Bach2 protein expression and subsequent cell-fate choices during memory recall and GC reaction. Thus signaling-induced differential dynamics of Bach2 protein and mRNA in activated B cell control their cell-fate outcomes and imprint the fate of their descendant effector cells.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:The transcriptional repressors BCL6 and BACH2 are crucial regulators of germinal center (GC) B-cell fate, and are known to interact and repress transcription of PRDM1, a key driver of plasma cell differentiation. How these factors cooperate is not fully understood. Herein we show that while GC formation is only minimally impaired in Bcl6+/- or Bach2+/- mice, double heterozygous Bcl6+/-Bach2+/- mice exhibit profound reduction in GC formation. Splenic B-cells from Bcl6+/- Bach2+/- mice display accelerated plasmacytic differentiation and high expression of key plasma cell genes such as Prdm1, Xbp1 and CD138. ChIP-seq revealed that in B-cells BACH2 is mostly bound to genes together with its heterodimer partner MAFK. The BACH2-MAFK complex binds to sets of genes known to be involved in the GC response, 60% of which are also targets of BCL6. Approximately 30% of BACH2 peaks overlap with BCL6 including cis-regulatory sequences of the PRDM1 gene. BCL6 also modulates BACH2 protein stability and their protein levels are positively correlated in GC B-cells. Therefore, BCL6 and BACH2 cooperate to orchestrate gene expression patterning in GC B cells through both transcriptional and biochemical mechanisms, which collectively determine the proper initiation and timing of terminal differentiation.
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.