Project description:Here we studied the role of oxidized phospholipids in mediating phenotype switching of endothelial cells between quiescent and angiogenic states. Two oxPAPC datasets, a microRNA array and global run-on sequencing (GRO-seq), was combined with Nuclear factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) binding model to select candidate miRNAs for further studies. The pre-screening resulted in a selection of miR-106b~25 cluster for further studies. The cluster was shown to be both oxPAPC-responsive and NRF2-regulated, and its diagnostic and prognostic potential was investigated in pericardial fluid samples of heart failure and atherosclerosis patients. As the most abundant member of the cluster in both endothelial cells and pericardial fluid of atherosclerosis patients, miR-93-5p was selected for more detailed studies. RNA-seq from miR-93 overexpressing cells revealed significant changes in pathways related to angiogenesis. Together with NRF2, miR-93 was shown to control endothelial plasticity through regulation of the key players, namely Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) for quiescence, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) for glycolysis, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) and MYC proto-oncogene protein (MYC) for growth and proliferation.The findings show that NRF2 and miR-93 control the activity of endothelial cells and mediate the effects of oxPAPC on endothelial activation, collectively providing novel mechanisms for the control of endothelial plasticity and oxPAPC response.
Project description:Modulation of miRNA expression in glomerular cells is associated with renal disease. Here, we investigated the role of miR-93-5p in mitigating glomerular damage in Alport syndrome and whether the disease-modifying activity of extracellular vesicles from human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSC-EVs) is mediated by their miR-93-5p-specific cargo. We identified downregulation of miR-93-5p specifically in glomerular endothelial cells in Alport syndrome along disease progression. Silencing of miR-93-5p in hAFSC-EVs changed the transcriptomic and proteomic profile, regulating EV disease-modifying activity. Compared to naive hAFSC-EVs, silenced hAFSC-EVs did not rescue glomerular endothelial function in vitro and did not restore kidney function in vivo. We established that hAFSC-EVs regulate VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 signaling by miR-93-5p cargo transfer, highlighting that miR-93-5p can restore glomerular endothelial cell biology. Spatial Transcriptomics analysis of hAFSC-EVs injected kidneys showed that EVs can reverse pathways altered during disease progression by stimulating pro-regenerative processes, specifically in the glomerulus, by regulating miR-93-5p targets. Alteration of glomerular endothelial cell transcriptomics and miR-93-5p targets was also confirmed in biopsies of human Alport patients using Spatial Molecular Imaging. We demonstrated the critical role of miR-93-5p in glomerular endothelial cells and the capability of hAFSC-EVs to regulate miR-93-5p and its targets in Alport syndrome.
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.
Project description:Analysis of ex vivo isolated lymphatic endothelial cells from the dermis of patients to define type 2 diabetes-induced changes. Results preveal aberrant dermal lymphangiogenesis and provide insight into its role in the pathogenesis of persistent skin inflammation in type 2 diabetes. The ex vivo dLEC transcriptome reveals a dramatic influence of the T2D environment on multiple molecular and cellular processes, mirroring the phenotypic changes seen in T2D affected skin. The positively and negatively correlated dLEC transcripts directly cohere to prolonged inflammatory periods and reduced infectious resistance of patients´ skin. Further, lymphatic vessels might be involved in tissue remodeling processes during T2D induced skin alterations associated with impaired wound healing and altered dermal architecture. Hence, dermal lymphatic vessels might be directly associated with T2D disease promotion. Global gene expression profile of normal dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (ndLECs) compared to dermal lymphatic endothelial cells derived from type 2 diabetic patients (dLECs).Quadruplicate biological samples were analyzed from human lymphatic endothelial cells (4 x diabetic; 4 x non-diabetic). subsets: 1 disease state set (dLECs), 1 control set (ndLECs)