Project description:Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that has an unclear etiology and disproportionately affects African Americans (AA). Additionally, monocytes show heightened activation in SSc, and in AA relative to European ancestry (EA) individuals. Monocytes are thus a good target tissue for elucidating disease mechanisms. In this study, we sought to identify differentially expressed genes in classical monocytes from AA SSc patients relative to unaffected AA controls. We performed RNAseq to profile the transcriptome on FACS-isolated classical monocytes (CD14++CD16-) from 16 female AA SSc cases and 18 female AA controls. We observed modest gene expression differences between cases and controls. The genes harboring the top differentially methylated cytosines are enriched for metabolic processes. The relatively modest differences in gene expression observed between patients and controls is consistent with prior evidence of stronger inflammatory signatures in AA.
Project description:Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that has an unclear etiology and disproportionately affects African Americans (AA). Additionally, monocytes show heightened activation in SSc, and in AA relative to European ancestry (EA) individuals. Monocytes are thus a good target tissue for elucidating disease mechanisms. In this study, we sought to investigate differentially methylated loci in classical monocytes from AA SSc patients and unaffected AA controls. We used Illumina’s MethylationEPIC BeadChip to profile DNA methylation patterns on FACS-isolated classical monocytes (CD14++CD16-) from 12 female AA SSc cases and 12 female AA controls. We observed modest DNA methylation differences between cases and controls. The genes harboring the top differentially methylated cytosines are enriched for immune pathways and metabolic processes. The relatively modest differences in DNA methylation observed between patients and controls is consistent with prior evidence of stronger inflammatory signatures in AA.
Project description:To clarify the characteristics of CEACAM-positive monocytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc), we performed gene expression microarrays between CEACAM-positive and CEACAM-negative classical monocytes from diffused cutaneous systemic sclerosis(dcSSc) patients. We further analyzed expression levels of each subtype of CEACAM on monocytes from dcSSc by flow cytometry and performed gene expression microarrays between CEACAM1+CEACAM6- and CEACAM1-CEACAM6+ monocytes.
Project description:To clarify the characteristics of CEACAM-positive monocytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc), we performed gene expression microarrays between CEACAM-positive and CEACAM-negative classical monocytes from diffused cutaneous systemic sclerosis(dcSSc) patients. We further analyzed expression levels of each subtype of CEACAM on monocytes from dcSSc by flow cytometry and performed gene expression microarrays between CEACAM1+CEACAM6- and CEACAM1-CEACAM6+ monocytes.
Project description:Patients with the diffuse avascular form of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls (N) were used as sources of microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC). MVEC were obtained from biopsies of involved skin of the hands in 6 SSc patients and from 6 healthy patients undergoing surgery for traumatic events at the hands. The controls were matched by age and sex to the SSc cases. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SSc, as well as the criteria for the diffuse form of the disease.
Project description:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease which leads to different levels of serum autoantibodies to RNA-binding proteins (anti-RBP) and interferon-α (IFN-α), which plays an important pathogenic role in SLE, between European-American (EA) and African-American (AA) patients. We aimed to explore how IFN-related gene expression pathways differ in patients according to their ancestry and anti-RBP profile
Project description:The incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer are significantly higher in African-American men when compared to European-American men. We tested the hypothesis that differences in tumor biology contribute to this survival health disparity. Using microarray technology, we obtained gene expression profiles of primary prostate tumors resected from 33 African-American and 36 European-American patients. These tumors were matched on clinical parameters. We also evaluated 18 non-tumor prostate tissues from 7 African-American and 11 European-American patients. The resulting datasets were analyzed for expression differences on the gene and pathway level comparing African-American with European-American patients. Our analysis revealed a significant number of genes, e.g., 162 transcripts at a false-discovery rate less than 5%, to be differently expressed between African-American and European-American patients. Using a disease association analysis, we identified a common relationship of these transcripts with autoimmunity and inflammation. These findings were corroborated on the pathway level with numerous differently expressed genes clustering in immune response, stress response, cytokine signaling, and chemotaxis pathways. Furthermore, a two-gene tumor signature was identified that accurately differentiated between African-American and European-American patients. This finding was confirmed in a blinded analysis of a second sample set. In conclusion, the gene expression profiles of prostate tumors indicate prominent differences in tumor immunobiology between African-American and European-American men. The profiles portray the existence of a distinct tumor microenvironment in these two patient groups. Keywords: Microdissected tissue analysis