Project description:To explore the biological role of Stat3 oxidation we created murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that express either WT-Stat3 or a redox-insensitive mutant of Stat3 (Stat3-C3S). The Stat3-C3S cells differed from WT-Stat3 cells in morphology, proliferation and resistance to oxidative stress; in response to cytokine stimulation they displayed elevated Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation and Socs3 expression, implying that Stat3-C3S is insensitive to oxidative inhibition.
Project description:Alterations of metabolic and biological processes occur in ferroptotic cells. We analyzed transcriptional responses of murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) exposed to a ferroptosis inducer erastin. We found that a set of genes related to protection against oxidative stress was induced upon ferroptosis and Bach1 promoted ferroptosis by repressing a set of these genes involved in synthesis of glutathione or metabolism of intracellular labile iron. Our findings suggests that ferroptosis is programmed at transcriptional level and Bach1 works as a controller in setting a threshold of ferroptosis.
Project description:Quantitative proteomics analysis of primary murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from Il17rd+/+ and Il17rd-/- mice stimulated with or without IL17A to identify novel targets of the IL17A/IL17RD signaling axis.
Project description:We utilized chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to analyze the binding of HSF1 and HSF2 to chromatin under oxidative stress and heat shock. ChIP-seq was performed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that were exposed to heat shock (HS) or oxidative stress induced by menadione (MD). Antibodies against HSF1 and HSF2 were used for immunoprecipitation.
Project description:To explore the biological role of Stat3 oxidation we created murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that express either WT-Stat3 or a redox-insensitive mutant of Stat3 (Stat3-C3S). The Stat3-C3S cells differed from WT-Stat3 cells in morphology, proliferation and resistance to oxidative stress; in response to cytokine stimulation they displayed elevated Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation and Socs3 expression, implying that Stat3-C3S is insensitive to oxidative inhibition. Comparative analysis of global gene expression in WT-Stat3 and Stat3-C3S cells revealed differential expression (DE) of genes both under basal conditions and during oxidative stress. Using differential gene regulation pattern analysis, we identified 199 genes clustered into 10 distinct patterns that are selectively responsive to Stat3 oxidation. GO term analysis identified down-regulated genes to be enriched for tissue/organ development and morphogenesis and up-regulated genes to be enriched for cell-cell adhesion, immune responses and transport related processes. Although most DE gene promoters contain consensus Stat3 inducible elements (SIEs), our chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and ChIP-seq analyses did not detect Stat3 binding at these sites in control or oxidant-stimulated cells, suggesting that oxidised Stat3 regulates these genes indirectly.
Project description:We utilized precicion run-on sequencing (PRO-seq) to analyze the roles of HSF1 and HSF2 in the reprogramming of transcription under oxidative stress and heat shock. PRO-seq was performed in wild-type (WT), HSF1 knock-out (HSF1 KO) and HSF2 knock-out (HSF2 KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that were treated with heat shock (HS) or oxidative stress induced by menadione (MD).
Project description:Fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed to induced renal tubular epithelial cells (iRECs) using four transcription factors. These engineered cells may be used for disease modeling, cell replacement therapy or drug and toxicity testing. Direct reprogramming induces drastic changes in the transcriptional landscape, protein expression, morphological and functional properties of cells. However, how the metabolome is changed by reprogramming and to what degree it resembles the target cell type remains unknown. Using untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and targeted liquid chromatography-MS, we characterized the metabolome of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), iRECs, mIMCD-3 cells, and whole kidneys. Metabolic fingerprinting can distinguish each cell type reliably, revealing iRECs are most similar to mIMCD-3 cells and clearly separate from MEFs used for reprogramming. Treatment with the cytotoxic drug cisplatin induced typical changes in the metabolic profile of iRECs commonly occurring in acute renal injury. Interestingly, metabolites in the medium of iRECs, but not of mIMCD-3 cells or fibroblast could distinguish treated and non-treated cells by cluster analysis. In conclusion, direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into renal tubular epithelial cells strongly influences the metabolome of engineered cells, suggesting that metabolic profiling may aid in establishing iRECs as in vitro models for nephrotoxicity testing in the future.