Project description:Analysis of progenitor cells of P0 rats overexpressing Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4). Klf4 is a key transcriptional regulator of differentiation potential. Results provide insight into the role of Klf4 in the retina.
Project description:Atheroprotective flow (e.g., pulsatile shear stress) and statins drastically induce the expression of krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). We therefore investigated the role of KLF4 in EC function through comparing the transciptional profiling of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that were infected with adenovirus overexpression KLF4 (Ad-KLF4) or with empty vector (Ad-null) control. Gene ontology analysis revealed that KLF4 not only regulates EC homeostasis through the upregulation of nitric oxide synthesis and vascular development, but also mediates response to lipid. Among the lipid responsive genes, KLF4 exhibited induction of cholesterol efflux and oxidation [i.e., liver X receptor (LXR) and cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (Ch25h)], while suppressing cholesterol biosynthesis [i.e., sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2)].
Project description:Various retinal disorder such as glaucomatous, retinal ischemia reperfusion, and traumatic optic neuropathy, are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration via glutamate exicitotoxicity. However, the proteomic characteristics and modulation of the neural-microenvironment with NMDA-induced neurodegeneration in retina and optic nerve remain partly understood. We established a protein sketch of NMDA-induced injury by comparing the proteomes of the PBS-operated, NMDA-operated and control groups. We carried out mass spectrometry-based label-free quantitative proteomics to investigate the exicitotoxic neurodegeneration mechanisms and identify key proteins that regulated neural cell death related signaling pathway in retina and optic nerve spatially. Using LC-MS/MS proteomics analysis, in total, we identified 3532 proteins in retina, 2593 proteins in optic nerve. According to Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the protein changes and energy metabolism in retina and optic nerve tissue were comprehensively evaluated.
Project description:Various retinal disorder such as glaucomatous, retinal ischemia reperfusion, and traumatic optic neuropathy, are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration via glutamate exicitotoxicity. However, the proteomic characteristics and modulation of the neural-microenvironment with NMDA-induced neurodegeneration in retina and optic nerve remain partly understood. We established a protein sketch of NMDA-induced injury by comparing the proteomes of the PBS-operated, NMDA-operated and control groups. We carried out mass spectrometry-based label-free quantitative proteomics to investigate the exicitotoxic neurodegeneration mechanisms and identify key proteins that regulated neural cell death related signaling pathway in retina and optic nerve spatially. Using LC-MS/MS proteomics analysis, in total, we identified 3532 proteins in retina, 2593 proteins in optic nerve. According to Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the protein changes and energy metabolism in retina and optic nerve tissue were comprehensively evaluated.
Project description:Five ovariectomized (OVX) Brown Norway rats (Charles Rivers Laboratories, Wilmington, DE, USA) weighing 200-250 g received 10 µL of 17β-estradiol (E2) eye drops once daily in both eyes for three weeks [20]. The eye drops contained 0.1% (w/v) E2 in saline vehicle containing 20% (w/v) 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Five OVX control rats received 10 µL of this vehicle as eye drops for the same dosing regimen and duration. After 24 h of the last treatment, the animals were euthanized by CO2 overexposure, and their eyes were immediately enucleated followed by the isolation of the retina. The tissue samples were rinsed with saline and, then, blotted dry for preparation to label-free shotgun proteomic analyses. All procedures involving animals were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of North Texas Health Science Center before the initiation of the studies (approval number: 2018-0028). Directions to sample names CF1: Control (female) retina sample #1 CF2: Control (female) retina sample #2 CF3: Control (female) retina sample #3 CF4: Control (female) retina sample #4 CF5: Control (female) retina sample #5 EF1: E2-treated (female) retina sample #1 EF2: E2-treated (female) retina sample #2 EF3: E2-treated (female) retina sample #3 EF4: E2-treated (female) retina sample #4 EF5: E2-treated (female) retina sample #5
Project description:Characteristic extinguishing of B-cell phenotype in cHL is believed to be a result of transcription factor network deregulation due to the overexpression of repressor proteins ID2 and ABF-1. KLF4 is a versatile transcription factor, participating in regulation of differentiation processes in various tissues. Epigenetic silencing of KLF4 in cHL hints that KLF4 is involved in the complex mechanism of extinguishing of B-cell phenotype in cHL. To clarify this issue we investigated transcriptome changes, induced by KLF4 activation in two cHL cell lines KM-H2 and L428.
Project description:Klf4 is the zinc finger transcription factor indispensable for terminal maturation of epithelial tissues and part of group of proteins for the generation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells from differentiated tissues. No definitive in-vivo-function of Klf4 in the hematopoietic system has been established yet. We show here that Klf4 directly guides the transcriptional program for terminal differentiation of Ly-6Chigh monocytes. Klf4 suppresses transcripts of the interferon immune response and induces a proinflammatory cytokine transcriptional program. Concordantly, Klf4 hematopoietic deficiency in mice results in an enhanced Th1 but impaired Th17 immune response, and, consequently, those mice are resistant towards the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE). We here identify Klf4 is a transcription factor required for ontogenesis and function of Ly-6Chigh monocytes at the interface of innate and acquired immunity.