Project description:We found that cardiac fibroblasts produce and secrete exosomes. miRNA profiling and TaqMan qRT-PCR experiments identified miR-21 expression to be higher in cardiac fibroblasts compared to those of miR-21*, whereas in exosomes miR-21* expression was higher compared to miR-21. The purpose of the study was to validate these findings by miRNA sequencing in cardiac fibroblasts and fibroblasts-derived exosomes.
Project description:Interleukin-21 (IL-21) has broad actions on T- and B-cells, but its actions in innate immunity are poorly understood. Here we show that IL-21 induced apoptosis of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) via STAT3 and Bim, and this was inhibited by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). ChIP-Seq analysis revealed genome-wide binding competition between GM-CSF-induced STAT5 and IL-21-induced STAT3. Expression of IL-21 in vivo decreased cDC numbers, and this was prevented by GM-CSF. Moreover, repetitive α-galactosylceramide injection of mice induced IL-21 but decreased GM-CSF production by natural killer T (NKT) cells, correlating with decreased cDC numbers. Furthermore, adoptive-transfer of wild-type CD4+ T cells caused more severe colitis with increased DCs and interferon (IFN)-γ-producing CD4+ T cells in Il21r-/-Rag2-/- mice (which lack T cells and have IL-21-unresponsive DCs) than in Rag2-/- mice. Thus, IL-21 and GM-CSF exhibit cross-regulatory actions on gene regulation and apoptosis, regulating cDC numbers and thereby the magnitude of the immune response.
Project description:In grasses, 21- and 24-nt phasiRNAs are abundantly expressed in anthers and play crucial roles in anther development and male reproduction. 21-nt phasiRNAs can act in cis to direct the cleavage of their own precursor transcripts and is thought to lack trans cleavage targets in maize. Here we show that 21-nt phasiRNAs direct the cleavage of hundreds of target mRNAs in maize, with the cleavage activity being enriched in male germ cells. Interestingly, whereas 21-nt phasiRNAs in anthers (somatic anther wall cells) do not have obvious preference for a particular nucleotide at the 5’ end and target genes implicated in stress response and cellular homeostasis, 21-nt phasiRNAs in male germ cells preferentially initiate with 5’ C and associate with ZmAGO5c/MAGO2/MS28 to target genes related to meiotic processes. Our results indicate that mRNA cleavage is a conserved mechanism used by 21-nt phasiRNAs for gene regulation. However, the sequences of 21-nt phasiRNAs and their targets show low conservation in maize and rice, suggesting that 21PHAS loci and 21-nt phasiRNA targets have undergone fast divergence in monocots.
Project description:Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a pleiotropic cytokine that induces expression of transcription factor BLIMP1 (encoded by Prdm1), which regulates plasma cell differentiation and T cell homeostasis. We identified an IL-21 response element downstream of Prdm1 that binds the transcription factors STAT3 and IRF4, which are required for optimal Prdm1 expression. Genome-wide ChIP-Seq mapping of STAT3- and IRF4-binding sites showed that most regions with IL-21-induced STAT3 binding also bound IRF4 in vivo, and furthermore, revealed that the noncanonical TTCnnnTAA GAS motif critical in Prdm1 was broadly used for STAT3 binding. Comparing genome-wide expression array data to binding sites revealed that most IL-21-regulated genes were associated with combined STAT3-IRF4 sites rather than pure STAT3 sites. Correspondingly, ChIP-Seq analysis of Irf4_/_ T cells showed greatly diminished STAT3 binding after IL-21 treatment, and Irf4_/_ mice showed impaired IL- 21-induced Tfh cell differentiation in vivo. These results reveal broad cooperative gene regulation by STAT3 and IRF4. Affymetrix expression data: Prepare CD4+ T cells from spleen. CD4+ T cells were preactivated, rested, and treated with IL-21 for 1, 6, and 24 hours. ChIP-seq data: Profiling of IRF4 and Stat3 binding with and without IL-21 stimulation in wild type and IRF4 KO mice.
Project description:Interleukin-21 (IL-21) has broad actions on T- and B-cells, but its actions in innate immunity are poorly understood. Here we show that IL-21 induced apoptosis of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) via STAT3 and Bim, and this was inhibited by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). ChIP-Seq analysis revealed genome-wide binding competition between GM-CSF-induced STAT5 and IL-21-induced STAT3. Expression of IL-21 in vivo decreased cDC numbers, and this was prevented by GM-CSF. Moreover, repetitive M-NM-1-galactosylceramide injection of mice induced IL-21 but decreased GM-CSF production by natural killer T (NKT) cells, correlating with decreased cDC numbers. Furthermore, adoptive-transfer of wild-type CD4+ T cells caused more severe colitis with increased DCs and interferon (IFN)-M-NM-3-producing CD4+ T cells in Il21r-/-Rag2-/- mice (which lack T cells and have IL-21-unresponsive DCs) than in Rag2-/- mice. Thus, IL-21 and GM-CSF exhibit cross-regulatory actions on gene regulation and apoptosis, regulating cDC numbers and thereby the magnitude of the immune response. Total 6 samples were examined. Splenic dendritic cells were treated with IL-21 and/or GM-CSF studying STAT3 and STAT5B binding in the genome