Project description:The genomes of myeloid malignancies are characterized by epigenomic abnormalities. Heterozygous, inactivating TET2 mutations and neomorphic IDH mutations are recurrent and mutually exclusive in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genomes. Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) has been shown to stimulate the catalytic activity of TET2 in vitro and thus we sought to explore its effect in a leukemic model expressing IDH1R132H. Vitamin C treatment induced an IDH1R132H dependent reduction in cell proliferation and an increase in expression of genes involved in leukocyte differentiation. Vitamin C induced differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that displayed a significant overlap with enhancers implicated in myeloid differentiation and were enriched in sequence elements for the hematopoietic transcription factors RUNX1 and PU.1. ChIP-seq of PU.1 and RUNX1 revealed a significant loss of PU.1 and increase of RUNX1 bound DNA elements accompanied by their demethylation following vitamin C treatment. Additionally, vitamin C induced an increase in H3K27ac flanking sites bound by RUNX1. Based on these data we propose a model of vitamin C induced epigenetic remodelling of transcription factor binding sites driving differentiation in a leukemic model.
Project description:Targeting T cell metabolism is an established method of immunomodulation. Following activation, T cells engage distinct metabolic programs leading to the uptake and processing of nutrients that determine cell proliferation and differentiation. Redirection of T cell fate by modulation of these metabolic programs has been shown to boost or suppress immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Using publicly available T cell transcriptomic and proteomic datasets we identified vitamin B6-dependent transaminases as key metabolic enzymes driving T cell activation and differentiation. Inhibition of vitamin B6 metabolism using the pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) inhibitor, aminoxyacetic acid (AOA), suppresses CD8+ T cell proliferation and effector differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. We show that pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase (PDXP), a negative regulator of intracellular vitamin B6 levels, is under the control of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF1), a central driver of T cell metabolism. Furthermore, by adoptive transfer of CD8 T cells into a C57BL/6 mouse melanoma model, we demonstrate the requirement for vitamin B6-dependent enzyme activity in mediating effective anti-tumor responses. Our findings show that vitamin B6 metabolism is required for CD8+ T cell proliferation and effector differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Targeting vitamin B6 metabolism may therefore serve as an immunodulatory strategy to improve anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Project description:Due to the current opioid epidemic, a better understanding of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to opioid addiction is warranted. To explore the potential causative role of VitD in opioid addiction , we used multiple pharmacologic approaches and genetic mouse models. We used profiled the transcriptome of key brain reward regions upon morphine treatment in vitamin D receptor KO and wild type mice. Our results highlight the role of VitD deficiency in the development of addiction and suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of VitD supplementation for VitD deficient individuals in the prevention and management of addiction.
Project description:The epigenetic treatment by 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep), a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, shows great potential against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the variant sensitivity and incomplete response to DZNep are commonly observed. We reveal that vitamin C (Vc) dramatically promotes DZNep response against leukemic cells in different cell lines and primary AML samples. To examine the molecular determinants underlying Vc enhanced anti-leukemia effect of DZNep, we conducted a genome-wide RNA sequencing and a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs in each group was performed.
Project description:Hippocampal apoptosis is a characteristic feature of penumococcal meningitis associated with learning and memory deficitis as a sequel of the disease. We investigated the effect of vitamin B6 using an established infant rat model of experimental pneumococcal meningitis by histomorphology, transcriptomics and measurement of cellular nicotine amide adenine dinucleotide content. The data provides evidence that vitamin B6 is neuroprotecitve in terms of reduced hippocampal apoptosis involving reduction of the inflammatory response, preservation of cellular energy stores and up-regulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of mouse white adipose tissues The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between vitamin B6 activity and chronic inflammation of white adipose tissue in mice fed a high-fat diet. Twenty-four CD-1 mice were divided into two groups (n = 12) and fed either a 1 mg pyridoxine (PN) HCl /kg diet or a 35 mg PN HCl /kg diet for 8 weeks. We isolated total RNA from epididymal white adipose tissue of each group and compared gene expression profiles by DNA microarray data analysis.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of mouse white adipose tissues The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between vitamin B6 activity and chronic inflammation of white adipose tissue in mice fed a high-fat diet. Twenty-four CD-1 mice were divided into two groups (n = 12) and fed either a 1 mg pyridoxine (PN) HCl /kg diet or a 35 mg PN HCl /kg diet for 8 weeks. We isolated total RNA from epididymal white adipose tissue of each group and compared gene expression profiles by DNA microarray data analysis. Noriyuki Yanaka