Project description:Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) is an anti-angiogenic matricellular protein with regulatory functions in inflammation and cancer. The type 1 repeats (TSR) domains of TSP-1 have been shown to interact with a wide range of proteins that result in the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor properties of TSP-1. To evaluate potential therapeutic effects of TSRs in inflammatory bowel disease, we conducted clinical, histological and gene microarray analyses on a mouse model of induced colitis. We used Affymetrix GeneChips to determine the changes in the genetic profile underlying TSR-treatment coincident with induction of colitis using DSS. We identified differentially expressed genes among the treatment groups.
Project description:Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) is an anti-angiogenic matricellular protein with regulatory functions in inflammation and cancer. The type 1 repeats (TSR) domains of TSP-1 have been shown to interact with a wide range of proteins that result in the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor properties of TSP-1. To evaluate potential therapeutic effects of TSRs in inflammatory bowel disease, we conducted clinical, histological and gene microarray analyses on a mouse model of induced colitis. We used Affymetrix GeneChips to determine the changes in the genetic profile underlying TSR-treatment coincident with induction of colitis using DSS. We identified differentially expressed genes among the treatment groups. Using DSS (dextran sulfate sodium) to induce colitis, wild-type mice were simultaneously injected with either saline or one form of TSP-1 derived peptides, containing either the three domains of the TSR (3TSR), the two last domains (TSR2), or TSR2 with the RFK sequence (TSR2+RFK). Wt mice drinking water only was used as reference.
Project description:Characterizing the proteomic profile of extracellular vesicles isolated from the descending colon of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease and control participants
Project description:Kilian2024 - Immune cell dynamics in Cue-Induced Extended Human Colitis Model
Single-cell technologies such as scRNA-seq and flow cytometry provide critical insights into immune cell behavior in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, integrating these datasets into computational models for dynamic analysis remains challenging. Here, Kilian et al., (2024) developed a deterministic ODE-based model that incorporates these technologies to study immune cell population changes in murine colitis. The model parameters were optimized to fit experimental data, ensuring an accurate representation of immune cell behavior over time. It was then validated by comparing simulations with experimental data using Pearson’s correlation and further tested on independent datasets to confirm its robustness. Additionally, the model was applied to clinical bulk RNA-seq data from human IBD patients, providing valuable insights into immune system dynamics and potential therapeutic strategies.
Figure 4c, obtained from the simulation of human colitis model is highlighted here.
This model is described in the article:
Kilian, C., Ulrich, H., Zouboulis, V.A. et al. Longitudinal single-cell data informs deterministic modelling of inflammatory bowel disease. npj Syst Biol Appl 10, 69 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-024-00395-9
Abstract:
Single-cell-based methods such as flow cytometry or single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) allow deep molecular and cellular profiling of immunological processes. Despite their high throughput, however, these measurements represent only a snapshot in time. Here, we explore how longitudinal single-cell-based datasets can be used for deterministic ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based modelling to mechanistically describe immune dynamics. We derived longitudinal changes in cell numbers of colonic cell types during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from flow cytometry and scRNA-seq data of murine colitis using ODE-based models. Our mathematical model generalised well across different protocols and experimental techniques, and we hypothesised that the estimated model parameters reflect biological processes. We validated this prediction of cellular turnover rates with KI-67 staining and with gene expression information from the scRNA-seq data not used for model fitting. Finally, we tested the translational relevance of the mathematical model by deconvolution of longitudinal bulk mRNA-sequencing data from a cohort of human IBD patients treated with olamkicept. We found that neutrophil depletion may contribute to IBD patients entering remission. The predictive power of IBD deterministic modelling highlights its potential to advance our understanding of immune dynamics in health and disease.
This model was curated during the Hackathon hosted by BioMed X GmbH in 2024.
Project description:Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with increasing incidence worldwide. Current treatments, such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids, provide partial symptom relief but are associated to significant side effects. This highlights the need for novel therapies with fewer adverse effects. Given the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in driving tissue damage during colitis, natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are promising therapeutic candidates. We identified thinned apples (TA), an agricultural by-product, as a rich source of polyphenols (TAP) with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in a cell-based model of inflammation. This study evaluates TAP’s therapeutic potential in a DNBS-induced colitis mouse model using label-free quantitative proteomics. Proteomic analysis revealed modulation of several key pathways influenced by TAP treatment, including: (i) activation of antioxidant defence mechanisms; (ii) reversal of DNBS-induced pathways, specifically ferroptosis and heme toxicity; (iii) suppression of immune responses; and (iv) reduction of ulcerative conditions with downregulation of proteins involved in coagulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Overall, TAP demonstrated significant therapeutic potential by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting its use as a polyphenol-rich extract in health products for UC treatment. Furthermore, utilizing TA as a bioactive extract represents an innovative approach for industrial applications in therapeutic agent production.