Project description:To gain further insight into ageing-related changes in the superficial cervical lymphatics, we performed scRNA-seq on cells isolated from the superficial cervical lymphatic system.
Project description:Meningeal lymphatics serve as the primary outlet for cerebrospinal fluid, and their dysfunction is associated with various neurodegenerative conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated that dysfunctional meningeal lymphatics evoke behavioral deficits, but the neural mechanisms underlying those behavioral changes remained elusive. Here, we show that prolonged impairment of meningeal lymphatics alters the balance of cortical excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs by reducing inhibitory synapses, accompanied by deficits in novelty recognition tasks. These synaptic and behavioral alterations are mediated by microglia, which exhibit transcriptomic, morphological, and functional alterations as a result of lymphatic dysfunction. Notably, microglial expression of Il6 increases, thereby mediating the reduction in inhibitory synapses via neuronal signaling. Interestingly, improving the function of meningeal lymphatics in aged mice restores the numbers of functional inhibitory synapses and cortical network activity. Our findings suggest that dysfunctional meningeal lymphatics adversely impact cortical circuitry through a microglia−IL-6-dependent mechanism, providing a potential target for the treatment of aging-associated cognitive decline.
Project description:Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions. Meningeal lymphatics are essential for drainage of molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid to the peripheral immune system. Their potential role in depression-like behaviour has not been investigated. Here, we show in mice, sub-chronic variable stress as a model of depression-like behaviour impairs meningeal lymphatics in females but not in males. Manipulations of meningeal lymphatics regulate the sex difference in the susceptibility to stress-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice, as well as alterations of the medial prefrontal cortex and the ventral tegmental area, brain regions critical for emotional regulation. Together, our findings suggest meningeal lymphatic impairment contributes to susceptibility to stress in mice, and that restoration of the meningeal lymphatics might have potential for modulation of depression-like behaviour.
Project description:Transcriptomes of differentiated cells of the conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line SVI (Schiwek et al., Kidney Int. 66: 91-101, 2004) were determined as described in Warsow et al. (Kidney Int. 84: 104-115, 2013) after application of mechanical stress (Endlich et al., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 12: 413-422, 2001) as compared to control conditions. Elevated glomerular pressure represents a high risk for the development of severe kidney diseases and causes an increase of mechanical load to podocytes. In this study we investigated whether mechanical stress alters gene expression in cultured podocytes using gene arrays. We found that tetraspanin CD9 is significantly upregulated in cultured podocytes after mechanical stress. The differential expression of CD9 was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot under stretched and unstretched conditions. Furthermore, mechanical stress resulted in a relocalization of CD9. To get an insight into the functional role of CD9, podocytes were transfected with pEGFP-CD9. The expression of CD9 induced the formation of substratum-attached thin arborized protrusions (TAPs). Ca2+ depletion revealed that podocytes over-expressing CD9 possess altered adhesive properties in contrast to the control transfected cells. Finally, elevated CD9 expression increased migration of podocytes in a wound assay. In summary, our results suggest that upregulation of CD9 may play an important role in podocyte morphology, adhesion and migration. Three independent batches were used.
Project description:Cyclic mechanical loads applied to the skeleton increase bone formation. Dynamic fluid flow is a potent anabolic stimulus for cultured osteoblasts. In this study, gene profiles involved in mediating the anabolic response of MC3T3 osteoblasts to dynamic fluid flow are investigated. MC3T3 osteoblast RNA was harvested 30-minutes and 1-hour post-stimulation respectively as experimental samples for comparison to the control group without dynamic fluid flow.
Project description:Cyclic mechanical loads applied to the skeleton increase bone formation. Dynamic fluid flow is a potent anabolic stimulus for cultured osteoblasts. In this study, gene profiles involved in mediating the anabolic response of MC3T3 osteoblasts to dynamic fluid flow are investigated.
Project description:Renal epithelial cells are exposed to mechanical forces due to flow-induced shear stress within the nephrons. We applied RNA sequencing to get a comprehensive overview of fluid-shear regulated genes and pathways in the immortalized renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line. Cells were exposed to laminar fluid shear stress (1.9 dyn/cm2) in a cone-plate device and compared to static controls.
Project description:For women identified as at risk for preterm birth attributable to a sonographic short cervix, the determination of imminent delivery is crucial for patient management. The current study aimed to identify amniotic fluid proteins that could predict imminent delivery in asymptomatic patients with a short cervix. An aptamer-based multiplex platform was used to profile 1,310 AF proteins, and the significance of protein dysregulation was determined by moderated t-tests between women who destined to deliver within two weeks of amnicentesis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to determine whether protein abundance in combination with cervical length improved the prediction of imminent delivery after amnicentesis as compared to cervical length alone.
Project description:Transcriptomes of differentiated cells of the conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line SVI (Schiwek et al., Kidney Int. 66: 91-101, 2004) were determined as described in Warsow et al. (Kidney Int. 84: 104-115, 2013) after application of mechanical stress (Endlich et al., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 12: 413-422, 2001) as compared to control conditions. Elevated glomerular pressure represents a high risk for the development of severe kidney diseases and causes an increase of mechanical load to podocytes. In this study we investigated whether mechanical stress alters gene expression in cultured podocytes using gene arrays. We found that tetraspanin CD9 is significantly upregulated in cultured podocytes after mechanical stress. The differential expression of CD9 was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot under stretched and unstretched conditions. Furthermore, mechanical stress resulted in a relocalization of CD9. To get an insight into the functional role of CD9, podocytes were transfected with pEGFP-CD9. The expression of CD9 induced the formation of substratum-attached thin arborized protrusions (TAPs). Ca2+ depletion revealed that podocytes over-expressing CD9 possess altered adhesive properties in contrast to the control transfected cells. Finally, elevated CD9 expression increased migration of podocytes in a wound assay. In summary, our results suggest that upregulation of CD9 may play an important role in podocyte morphology, adhesion and migration.