Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies revitalize anti-cancer responses by intercepting protein-protein interactions between exhausted CD8 T (Tex) cells and cancer cells (e.g. PD-1:PD-L1). However, up to 50% of patients receiving ICIs relapse, warranting further interrogation of the underpinnings of Tex. We conducted RNA-seq meta-analysis of Tex versus effector (Teff) mouse CD8 T cells, and highlighted NRF2 transcriptional targets as the most upregulated gene set in Tex cells. LCMV or cancer inoculation of mice bearing NRF2 hyperactive—or Keap1-/- (NRF2 negative regulator)—T cells demonstrated that NRF2 drives Tex; evidenced by increased co-inhibitory marker (PD-1/TIM-3) expression and reduced cytokine (IFN-g/Granzyme-B) production. RNA-seq of Keap1-/- highlight Ptgir—which encodes the prostacyclin lipid receptor— as the most upregulated gene versus WT T cells. Accordingly, PTGIR knockout in NRF2-hyperactive/ Tex cells decreased PD-1/TIM-3 expression, increased cytokine production, and attenuated tumor growth. Our data underscore PTGIR as a NRF2-regulated Tex driver and illuminate an unconventional immune checkpoint class potentially based on protein-lipid interactions
Project description:Histones were isolated from brown adipose tissue and liver from mice housed at 28, 22, or 8 C. Quantitative top- or middle-down approaches were used to quantitate histone H4 and H3.2 proteoforms. See published article for complimentary RNA-seq and RRBS datasets.
Project description:Cellular binary fate decisions require the progeny to silence genes associated with the alternative fate. The major subsets of alpha:beta T cells have been extensively studied as a model system for fate decisions. While the transcription factor RUNX3 is required for the initiation of Cd4 silencing in CD8 T cell progenitors, it is not required to maintain the silencing of Cd4 and other helper T lineage genes. The other runt domain containing protein, RUNX1, silences Cd4 in an earlier T cell progenitor, but this silencing is reversed whereas the gene silencing after RUNX3 expression is not reverse. Therefore, we hypothesized that RUNX3 and not RUNX1 recruits other factors that maintains the silencing of helper T lineage genes in CD8 T cells. To this end, we performed a proteomics screen of RUNX1 and RUNX3 to determine candidate silencing factors.
Project description:By combining extensive biochemical fractionation with quantitative mass spectrometry, we directly examined the composition of soluble multiprotein complexes among diverse animal models. The project has been jointly supervised by Andrew Emili and Edward M. Marcotte. Project website: http://metazoa.med.utoronto.ca
Project description:To understand the mechanisms through which JunB regulates Tregs-mediated immune regulation, we examined the global gene expression profiles in the JunB WT and KO Tregs by performing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis.
