Project description:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. The role of 15-oxo-5Z,8Z,11Z,13E-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-oxoETE), a 15-HETE metabolite catalyzed by 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), has been relatively unexplored in asthma. In this study, we used RNA-seq to explore the effect of 15-KETE on the transcriptome of airway epithelial cells, aiming to identify its potential downstream targets and mechanisms of action.
Project description:We performed genome-wide profiling of miRNA expression in the airway epithelial compartment in asthma to identify miRNA pathways associated with epithelial abnormalities using miRNA microarrays and real-time PCR. We also sought to identify the effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on airway epithelial miRNA expression Samples were obtained from airway epithelial cells by bronchoscopic brushing from three groups of subjects: Healthy Controls ( N=12), Steroid Naïve Asthma (N=16), Steroid-requiring Asthma (N=19).
Project description:We performed genome-wide profiling of miRNA expression in the airway epithelial compartment in asthma to identify miRNA pathways associated with epithelial abnormalities using miRNA microarrays and real-time PCR. We also sought to identify the effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on airway epithelial miRNA expression
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Airway inflammation is the hallmark of asthma and suggests a dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, necessary for the proper function of cellular processes. We used miRNA microarrays to compare the profiles of human bronchial epithelial cells from healthy and asthmatic donors
Project description:Airway inflammation is the hallmark of asthma and suggests a dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, necessary for the proper function of cellular processes. We used miRNA microarrays to compare the profiles of human bronchial epithelial cells from healthy and asthmatic donors Human bronchial epithelial cells were isolated from healthy and asthmatic donors. RNA was extracted and miRNA expression was analyzed on Affymetrix miRNA microarrays. We sought to utilize miRNA expression as a tool for understanding underlying biological differences in BECs from healthy and asthmatic donors.
Project description:Recent evidence suggests that bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic patients exhibit altered metabolic signatures. This metabolic shift of energetically demanding cells leads to increased inflammation, excessive reactive oxygen species production (ROS), and oxidative stress—all hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction. While mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in asthmatic epithelial cells, the mechanistic link between bronchoconstriction and these metabolic alterations remains poorly defined. Club cell secretory protein (CC16) is the most abundant protein found in the lung and exerts key anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, culminating in protection against airway remodeling. Decreased levels of CC16 are characteristic of asthma and worsening respiratory disease. Using a well-established transmembrane compression system to model bronchoconstriction coupled with mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics, we investigated how modeling bronchoconstriction in airway cells impacts CC16 expression and cell metabolic pathway changes over time. Additionally, using rCC16, we examined the direct impact on airway cell metabolism. Using naïve mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTECs) and normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), we observed that rCC16 induces the expression of proteins related to various metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway and that compression of airway cells results in acute decreases in CC16 expression, as well as decreases in metabolic processes. MTECs deficient in CC16 (CC16-/-) had lower mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) compared to WT cells, both of which could be increased by exogenous addition of rCC16. Our findings suggest a novel role for CC16 in mediating airway epithelial cell metabolic processes, which could be decreased by bronchoconstrictive events in asthma patients.