Project description:We identify arachidonic acid (AA), as a direct proliferation promoter of intestinal epithelial cells, facilitating small intestinal regeneration. In the transcriptomes, it shows that AA treatment upregulated proliferation-related genes including Wnt signaling target genes, while downregulated differentiation-related genes including enterocyte, goblet cell, Paneth cell, enteroendocrine cell, and tuft cell markers. Additionally, AA could also upregulate stem cell-associated genes which have been highly expressed three days after 12Gy IR injury (e.g. Clu, Lamc2, Anxa1, Areg, and Ly6d). The study shows that AA treatment can be considered a potential therapy for irradiation injury repair and tissue regeneration.
Project description:We evaluated the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on intestinal stem cell regeneration by RNA-seq and found that AA treatment led to strong upregulation of genes that are associated with stem cell reprogramming across the time points. AA elicits a conserved stem cell regeneration program in mouse intestinal organoids.
Project description:We performed HDAC5 knockdown in pancreatic cancer cells along with RNA sequencing. The result helped us to verify that HDAC5 regulates GATA1 dependent cPLA2 expression and arachidonic acid metabolism.
Project description:Free fatty acids play an important role during infection by modulating immune responses, but also by directly functioning as antimicrobials. Particularly, the host’s long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, not commonly found in bacterial pathogens, have significant antibacterial potential. Of these arachidonic acid (AA) is in high abundance, and in this study we show that upon infection with the Streptococcus pneumoniae the AA concentration in the blood increases. Hence, we investigated the transcriptmoic effects of AA on this extremely problematic bacterial pathogen.
Project description:A central factor in maintenance of tissue integrity is the response of stem cells to variations in the levels of niche signals. In the gut, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) depend on Wnt ligands for self-renewal and proliferation. Transient increases in Wnt signaling promote regeneration after injury or in inflammatory bowel diseases, whereas constitutive activation of this pathway leads to colorectal cancer. Here, we report that Discs large 1 (Dlg1) is dispensable for polarity and cellular turnover during intestinal homeostasis; however, Dlg1 is required for ISC survival in the context of increased Wnt signaling. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and genetic mouse models demonstrated that DLG1 regulates the cellular response to increased canonical Wnt signaling. This occurs via transcriptional regulation of Arhgap31, a GTPase-activating protein that deactivates CDC42, an effector of the non-canonical Wnt pathway. These findings reveal a DLG1-ARHGAP31-CDC42 axis that is essential for the ISC response to fluctuating niche Wnt signaling.
Project description:For a short period of time in mammalian neonates, the mammalian heart can regenerate via cardiomyocyte proliferation. This regenerative capacity is largely absent in adults. In other organisms, including zebrafish, damaged hearts can regenerate throughout their lifespans. Many studies have been performed to understand the mechanisms of cardiomyocyte de-differentiation and proliferation during heart regeneration however, the underlying reason why adult zebrafish and young mammalian cardiomyocytes are primed to enter cell cycle have not been identified. Here we show the primed state of a pro-regenerative cardiomyocyte is dictated by its amino acid profile and metabolic state. Adult zebrafish cardiomyocyte regeneration is a result of amino acid-primed mTOR activation. Zebrafish and neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes display elevated glutamine levels, predisposing them to amino acid-driven activation of mTORC1. Injury initiates Wnt/β-catenin signalling that instigates primed mTORC1 activation, Lin28 expression and metabolic remodeling necessary for zebrafish cardiomyocyte regeneration. These studies reveal a unique mTORC1 primed state in zebrafish and mammalian regeneration competent cardiomyocytes.