Project description:T cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is mostly characterized by aberrant expansion of small to medium sized pro-lymphocytes with a mature post-thymic phenotype, high aggressiveness of the disease and poor prognosis. However, T-PLL is more heterogeneous with a wide-range of clinical, morphological, and molecular features, which occasionally impedes the diagnosis. We hypothesized that T-PLL consists of phenotypic and genotypic subgroups that may explain the heterogeneity of the disease. We found that T-PLL does not show a clear skewing in T cell receptor alpha (TRA), TRB gene usage and CDR3 stereotypy. In addition, multi-dimensional immuno-phenotyping and gene expression profiling did not reveal clear T-PLL subgroups. However, based on miRNA expression profiles, T-PLL samples did clearly cluster in subgroups. We identified 35 miRNAs that were aberrantly expressed in T-PLL with miR-200c/141 as the most differentially expressed cluster. High miR-200c/141 expression was significantly correlated with increased white blood cell counts and poor survival. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of miR-200c/141 in T-PLL correlated with downregulation of their targets ZEB2 and TGFβR3, indicating that the TGFβ pathway is affected. Our results thus highlight the emerging role for aberrantly expressed oncogenic miRNAs in T-PLL, thereby paving the way for new therapeutic targets in this disease.
Project description:Previous research has linked perceived social isolation (loneliness) to reduced antiviral immunity, but the immunologic effects of the objective social isolation imposed by pandemic “shelter in place” (SIP) policies is unknown. We assessed the immunologic impact of SIP by relocating 21 adult male rhesus macaques from 2000 sq-m field cage communities of 70-132 other macaques to 2 wks of individual housing in indoor shelters. SIP was associated with down-regulation of Type I interferon (IFN) antiviral gene expression. This effect emerged within the first 48 hrs of SIP, persisted for at least 2 wks, and abated within 4 wks of return to social housing. A subsequent round of SIP in the presence of a novel juvenile macaque abrogated this effect. These results identify a significant adverse effect of SIP social isolation on antiviral immune regulation in circulating immune cells and they suggest a potential behavioral strategy for ameliorating such effects by promoting pro-social engagement during SIP.
Project description:T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare disease with rapid clinical course. Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing have identified structural alterations in T-PLL, including inversion, translocation and copy number variation. Epigenetic alterations are the hallmark of many cancers. However, genome-wide epigenomic profiles have not been reported in T-PLL. In this study, we generated genome-wide maps of regulatory regions in both T-PLL patients and healthy individuals using H3K4me3 and H3K27ac ChIP-seq. We revealed a global alteration of both promoter and enhancer landscape in T-PLL, which supported the role of epigenetic regulation in transcriptional dysregulation of oncogenes and genes involved in DNA damage response and T-cell activation.