Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with limited therapeutic options. The diversity and composition of intra-tumoral microbiota are associated with PDAC outcomes, and modulating the tumor microbiota has the potential to influence tumor growth and host-immune response. Here, we explore whether intervention with butyrate-producing probiotic can limit PDAC progression. By analyzing TCGA (PAAD) dataset, we found that tumoral butyrate-producing microbiota links to better prognosis and less aggressive features of PDAC. Intervention with Clostridium butyricum or its metabolite butyrate triggered superoxidative stress and intracellular lipid accumulation, which enhanced ferroptosis susceptibility of PDAC. Our study reveals a novel antitumor mechanism of butyrate, and suggests the therapeutic potential of butyrate-producing probiotics in PDAC.
Project description:Gaucher Disease: Transcriptome Analyses Using Microarray or mRNA Sequencing in a Mouse Model Treated with velaglucerase alfa or imiglucerase [RNA-Seq]
Project description:After an injury in the adult mammalian central nervous system, lesioned axons fail to regenerate. This failure to regenerate contrasts with the remarkable potential of axons to grow following an injury in the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral sensory neurons with cell soma in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) switch to a regenerative state after nerve injury to enable axon regeneration and functional recovery. Decades of research have focused on the signaling pathways elicited by injury in sensory neurons and in Schwann cells that insulate axons as central mechanisms regulating nerve repair. However, neuronal microenvironment is far more complex and is composed of multiple cell types including endothelial, immune and glial cells. Whether the microenvironment surrounding neuronal soma contribute to the poor regenerative outcomes following central injuries remains largely unexplored. To answer this question, we performed a single cell transcriptional profiling of the DRG neuronal microenvironment response to peripheral and central injuries. In dissecting the roles of the microenvironment contribution, we have focused on a poorly studied glia population of Satellite Glial Cells (SGC) surrounding the neuronal cell soma. Upon a peripheral injury, SGC contribute to axon regeneration via Fatty acid synthase (Fasn)-PPARα signaling pathway. Our analysis reveals that in response to central injuries, SGC do not activate the PPAR signaling pathway. However, induction of this pathway with fenofibrate, an FDA- approved PPARα agonist used for dyslipidemia treatment, rescued axon regeneration following an injury to the central nerves. Collectively, our results uncovered a previously unappreciated role of the neuronal microenvironment differential response in central and peripheral injuries.
Project description:Commensal bacteria shape the gut immune system. Colonization bacteria increase the frequency of regulatory T cells, however, the molecular mechanisms are not yet known. To reveal the mechanism, we isolated naïve CD4+ T cells from the spleen of C57BL/6 mice and cultured the cells under Treg-inducing condition culture in the presence or absence of butyrate, a metabolite produced by commensal bacteria. Naïve T cells were isolated from spleen and were cultured in the presence of IL-2, TGF-beta and in the presence or absene of Butyrate. RNA was extracted at Day 2.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2)3. Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.
Project description:Serotonergic neurons have multiple roles, including regulating mood and behavior1,2, yet it remains unclear which of these phenotypes are caused by serotonin produced by the central versus the peripheral nervous system. Neuronal serotonin is produced by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2)3. Mice that lack Tph2 exhibit decreased gut motility4 and several behavioral disorders, including decreased anxiety-like behavior and increased aggression5. To clarify the specific role of peripheral serotonergic circuits, here we engineered mice with intact Tph2 in central neurons but lacking Tph2 in peripheral neurons (Tph2fl/fl; Hand2-Cre). We discovered that PSN contribute to gut motility and are important in the control of anxiety-like behavior but do not contribute to impulsive aggression. Thus, central and peripheral serotonergic neurons have different roles in behavioral regulation. Intriguingly, animals lacking peripheral neuronal Tph2 had deficiencies in enteric immune cells, including reduced abundance of dendritic cells (DC) and IgA+ B cells in the small intestine and elevated susceptibility to oral Salmonella infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that serotonin produced by PSN promotes activation of DC through the 5-HT7 receptor, thereby facilitating DC-mediated differentiation of IgA+ B cells. Our findings highlight the importance of serotonin produced by peripheral neurons for control of behavior and gut defense and suggest that these circuits could be valuable targets for therapeutics.