Project description:Wild type or Aristolochic acid (AAI) nephropathy (AAN) mice were immunized with NP-KLH in Alum (100ug/mouse) On day 12 post-immunization, live NP-GcB cells were FACS-sorted from spleen according to B220+ GL7+ CD95+ NP+ expression directly into SmartSeq low-input RNA kit lysis buffer
Project description:W614A-3S peptide is a modified 3S motif of the HIV-gp41 (mutation W614A). We previously detected the presence of natural neutralizing antibodies directed against W614A-3S peptide (NAbs) in long-term non-progressor HIV+ patients. Here, we compared the efficacy of W614A-3S peptide formulated in either squalene emulsion (SQE) or in aluminum hydroxide (Alum) in inducing broadly-NAbs (bNAbs). Rabbit and mouse models were used to screen the induction of bNAbs following 4 immunizations. SQE was more efficient than Alum formulation in inducing W614A-3S-specific bNAbs with up to 67-93% of HIV strains neutralized. We then analyzed the quality of peptide-specific murine B cells by single-cell gene expression by quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR and single-cell V(D)J sequencing. We found more frequent germinal center B cells in SQE than in Alum, albeit with a different gene expression profile. The V(D)J sequencing of W614A-3S-specific BCR showed significant differences in BCR sequences and validates the dichotomy between adjuvant formulations. All sixteen BCR sequences which were cloned were specific of peptide. Adjuvant formulations of W614A-3S-peptide-conjugated immunogen impact the quantity and quality of B cell immune responses at both the gene expression level and BCR sequence. We used a single-cell quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) approach to compare between the two formulations the quality of W614A-3S-specific B cell populations isolated from draining lymph nodes, one week after 2nd and 3rd immunizations (W3 and W5, respectively).
Project description:Recent data from our group, demonstrate that infusion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) peptide, leads to induction of MOG35-55-specific Tregs and subsequent suppression of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), the mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Amelioration of EAE was accompanied by reduced MOG-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs). Phenotypic analysis of the dLNs of MOG-infused mice revealed a significant Treg-mediated reduction in the recruitment of 7AAD-CD3-CD19-CD11c+CD11bhighGr-1+ iDCs compared to non-infused control immunized mice. Focusing on the delineation of novel molecules/genes that are involved in the MOG-specific Treg-mediated suppression of autoimmune responses, we have isolated highly purified iDCs from MOG infused and non-infused control immunized mice. Gene expression profiles of iDCs isolated from tolerized or immunized mice. Affymetrix MG 430 2.0 whole genome arrays were performed in triplicates for tolerized iDCs and immunized iDCs (6 arrays in total, 5 of them were analyzed). To obtain genes significantly regulated in iDCs upon tolerization with MOG35-55, the expression profiles of iDCs isolated from tolerized or immunized mice were compared to each other. After total RNA extraction, reverse transcription, cDNA extraction, the biotinylated cRNA was transcribed, fragmented, and 15 µg cRNA hybridized to the 6 GeneChip arrays: Group1 iDCs isolated from tolerized mice, Group2 iDCs isolated from immunized mice.
Project description:Although DNA methylation plays a critical role in the development and function of mammalian central nervous system (CNS), its role in peripheral neurons has not been elucidated. To address this issue, we produced conditional knockout mice (CKO) specifically deleting the gene for maintenance DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) during the development of neural crest cells. Despite global hypomethylation in the embryonic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the CKO mice, the number of sensory neurons was relatively unaffected. However, expression of many genes required for sensory neuron development was altered in embryonic mutant DRG, including down-regulation of Runx1 and TrkA genes as well as up-regulation of Id1 and Dtx1, two negative regulators for neurogenesis. Accompanied with the downregulation of an NGF receptor TrkA, the peripheral axonal projection and the branching of sensory neurons were impaired. Furthermore, the expression of the neuropeptide Galanin and several vanilloid receptors such as TrpV1 and TrpM8 were not detected in the DRG of the CKO mice during late embryonic and neonatal stages, suggesting that DNA methylation regulates the differentiation program for a subset of nociceptive sensory neurons. Taken together, our findings suggest that through transcriptional regulation of key developmental genes in sensory neurons, DNA methylation play a key role in the control of the axonal projection and fate specification of peripheral sensory neurons. We compared gene expression patterns in Wildtype and DNA methylation deficient (Wnt1-cre; Dnmt1 mutant) mouse dorsal cortex. We performed 4 replicates using different each individual mouse strain. The Sample GSM565172 table is the average log ratio for the 4 replicatesArrays were performed.
Project description:The Canarypox/gp120/Alum vaccines decreased the risk of HIV acquisition in humans. We demonstrate here the efficacy of this vaccine regimen also in the SIVmac251 macaque model when we used the alum but not the MF59 adjuvant. Analysis of innate and adaptive cell responses, envelope antibodies Fc profiles and glycoforms demonstrated a lower inflammatory response with alum than MF59. Alum elicited mucosal V2 peptide-specific IgG associated with vaccine efficacy whereas the MF59 induced mucosal V2 peptide-specific IgG associated with increased risk of infection. Alum modulated the expression of 12 genes, 7 of which are part of the RAS pathway, that correlates with vaccine efficacy and were linked to innate responses that preserve mucosal integrity and adaptive mucosal antibody response to V2. Thus, activation of the RAS pathway, preservation of mucosal integrity and mucosal antibody to V2 in concert, reduce the risk of SIVmac251 acquisition.
Project description:Although DNA methylation plays a critical role in the development and function of mammalian central nervous system (CNS), its role in peripheral neurons has not been elucidated. To address this issue, we produced conditional knockout mice (CKO) specifically deleting the gene for maintenance DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) during the development of neural crest cells. Despite global hypomethylation in the embryonic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the CKO mice, the number of sensory neurons was relatively unaffected. However, expression of many genes required for sensory neuron development was altered in embryonic mutant DRG, including down-regulation of Runx1 and TrkA genes as well as up-regulation of Id1 and Dtx1, two negative regulators for neurogenesis. Accompanied with the downregulation of an NGF receptor TrkA, the peripheral axonal projection and the branching of sensory neurons were impaired. Furthermore, the expression of the neuropeptide Galanin and several vanilloid receptors such as TrpV1 and TrpM8 were not detected in the DRG of the CKO mice during late embryonic and neonatal stages, suggesting that DNA methylation regulates the differentiation program for a subset of nociceptive sensory neurons. Taken together, our findings suggest that through transcriptional regulation of key developmental genes in sensory neurons, DNA methylation play a key role in the control of the axonal projection and fate specification of peripheral sensory neurons.
Project description:We compared the efficacy of W614A-3S peptide formulated in either squalene emulsion (SQE) or in aluminum hydroxide (Alum) in BCR repertoire of peptide-specific B cells after 4 immunizations (at week 11 after the first intramuscular injection). The V(D)J sequencing of W614A-3S-specific BCR showed significant differences in BCR sequences and validates the dichotomy between adjuvant formulations.
Project description:Recent data from our group, demonstrate that infusion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) peptide, leads to induction of MOG35-55-specific Tregs and subsequent suppression of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), the mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Amelioration of EAE was accompanied by reduced MOG-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs). Phenotypic analysis of the dLNs of MOG-infused mice revealed a significant Treg-mediated reduction in the recruitment of 7AAD-CD3-CD19-CD11c+CD11bhighGr-1+ iDCs compared to non-infused control immunized mice. Focusing on the delineation of novel molecules/genes that are involved in the MOG-specific Treg-mediated suppression of autoimmune responses, we have isolated highly purified iDCs from MOG infused and non-infused control immunized mice.
Project description:We study the repertoire of immunoglobulin sequences after immunization in a cohort of rats. Animals were immunized with dinitrophenol modified KLH or with recombinant human HuD. In the immune repertoire, and also in the matching proteomics data, we observe that the animals produce a repertoire that has many shared motifs for those immunized with the same antigen. Cluster analysis allows the samples to be segregated according to the immunogen used.