Project description:SUMOylation, a posttranslational modification, regulates proteins by covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins to a lysine (Lys) residue on target proteins. Here we use TAK-981, a selective SUMO-activating enzyme (SAE) inhibitor, to inhibit global SUMOylation in glucocorticoid sensitive and resistant multiple myeloma cell lines.
Project description:The aim of this experiment was to investigate the regulation of gene expression by KLF3 and KLF8 in fetal erythroid cells by analyzing single and double mutant mouse models. Affymetrix microarrays were performed on RNA from TER119+ fetal liver cells from E13.5 wildtype, Klf8gt/gt, Klf3-/- and Klf3-/- Klf8gt/gt mice. Four wildtype replicates, four Klf8gt/gt replicates, three Klf3-/- replicates and four Klf3-/- Klf8gt/gt replicates of E13.5 TER119+ fetal liver cell samples, litter-matched where possible.
Project description:The aim of this experiment was to investigate the regulation of gene expression by KLF3 and KLF8 in fetal erythroid cells by analyzing single and double mutant mouse models. Affymetrix microarrays were performed on RNA from TER119+ fetal liver cells from E13.5 wildtype, Klf8gt/gt, Klf3-/- and Klf3-/- Klf8gt/gt mice.
Project description:IL-17 and TNF-alpha synergistically induce surface expression of IL-13Ra2 on primary lung fibroblasts, rendering them unresponsive to IL-13. Neutralizing antibodies to IL-13Ra2 restored IL-13-mediated signaling and transcriptome studies confirmed IL-13Ra2 is an IL-13 decoy receptor.
Project description:Post-translational modification with SUMO is known to regulate the activity of transcription factors, but how SUMOylation of individual proteins might influence immunity is mostly unexplored. The NFAT transcription factors play an essential role in antigen receptor-mediated gene regulation. SUMOylation of NFATc1 represses IL-2 in vitro, but its role in T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo is not clear. To this end, we generated a novel Nfatc1 transgenic mouse, which prevents SUMO modification of NFATc1. Avoidance of NFATc1 SUMOylation ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as well as graft-versus-host disease. An elevated IL-2 production promoted Treg expansion and suppressed autoreactive or alloreactive T cells. Mechanistically, increased IL-2 secretion counteracted IL-17 and IFN-γ expression through STAT5 and Blimp-1 induction. Then, Blimp-1 repressed IL-2 itself and the as well induced, proliferation-associated survival factor Bcl2A1. Collectively, we demonstrate that prevention of NFATc1 SUMOylation fine-tunes T-cell responses towards lasting tolerance. Thus, targeting NFATc1 SUMOylation presents a novel and promising strategy to treat T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Project description:ROR?t is a transcription factor required for T helper 17 (Th17) cell development. We identified three ROR?t-specific inhibitors that suppress Th17 cell responses including Th17 cell-mediated autoimmune disease. We systemically characterized ROR?t binding data in the presence and absence of drug with corresponding whole-transcriptome sequencing for wild-type and ROR?t-deficient cells. ROR?t is central in a densely interconnected regulatory network, acting both as a direct activator of genes important for Th17 cell differentiation and as a direct repressor of genes from other T-cell lineages. The three inhibitors identified here reversed both of these modes of action, but to varying extents and through distinct mechanisms. Whereas one inhibitor displaced ROR?t from its target-loci, the two more potent inhibitors affected transcription predominantly without removing DNA-binding. Our work illustrates the power of a system-scale analysis of transcriptional regulation to characterize potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit pathogenic Th17 cells and suppress autoimmunity. Transcriptional profiling of Th17 cells under chemical perturbations of ROR?t, DMSO, and knockout of ROR?t
Project description:To gain insight into the impact of THO complex sumoylation on gene expression in yeast S. cerevisiae, total RNAs were extracted from wt and hpr1-KR cells and transcriptome profiles were analyzed by Agilent microarrays. The hpr1 K-R mutant is a version of the hpr1 THO subunit in which lysines 60-65 were simultaneously mutated, which abrogated the sumoylation of the protein.
Project description:Post-translational modification with SUMO is known to regulate the activity of transcription factors, but how SUMOylation of individual proteins might influence immunity is mostly unexplored. NFATc1 is a transcription factor of the family of ‘Nuclear Factors of Activated T-cells’ which plays an essential role in antigen receptor-mediated gene regulation. It is expressed in multiple isoforms of which the longer isoforms can be modified by SUMOylation. SUMO modification of NFATc1 represses IL-2 in vitro, but its role in T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo is not clear. To this end, we generated a novel Nfatc1 transgenic mouse with lysine to arginine mutations, which abolish the SUMO modification within NFATc1’s C-terminal domain. Inhibition of NFATc1 SUMOylation ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as well as graft-versus-host disease. This was due to elevated IL-2 production that promoted Treg expansion and suppressed autoreactive or alloreactive T cells. Mechanistically, increased IL-2 secretion counteracted IL-17 and IFN-γ expression through STAT5 and Blimp-1 induction. Blimp-1 also repressed IL-2 itself and the as well induced survival factor Bcl2A1. Still, lack of NFATc1 sumoylation fine-tunes T-cell responses towards lasting tolerance implying a novel approach to treat inflammatory diseases.