Project description:Lymphocytes are adversely affected during sepsis. Some CD4+ splenocytes undergo apoptosis while others become Th2 polarized. The molecular determinants of these phenotypic changes are not known. Here we compare the transcriptional response of septic CD4 splenocytes to CD4 splenocytes from sham-manipulated animals 6h after sepsis and identify an early transcriptional component to the septic CD4+ splenocyte phenotype. We used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression underlying the sepsis-induced changes in CD4+ splenocyte phenotype. Keywords: disease state analysis
Project description:Lymphocytes are adversely affected during sepsis. Some CD4+ splenocytes undergo apoptosis while others become Th2 polarized. The molecular determinants of these phenotypic changes are not known. Here we compare the transcriptional response of septic CD4 splenocytes to CD4 splenocytes from sham-manipulated animals 6h after sepsis and identify an early transcriptional component to the septic CD4+ splenocyte phenotype. CD4+ splenocytes were isolated 6h after the surgical induction of sepsis for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We sought to obtain a homogeneous cell population in order to reduce any effects of cellular heterogeneity on expression profiles. To that end, immunomagnetic negative selection was used to enrich CD4+ splenocyte populations to ~91%. (n=5 biological replicates each CLP and sham)
Project description:Cellular binary fate decisions require the progeny to silence genes associated with the alternative fate. The major subsets of alpha:beta T cells have been extensively studied as a model system for fate decisions. While the transcription factor RUNX3 is required for the initiation of Cd4 silencing in CD8 T cell progenitors, it is not required to maintain the silencing of Cd4 and other helper T lineage genes. The other runt domain containing protein, RUNX1, silences Cd4 in an earlier T cell progenitor, but this silencing is reversed whereas the gene silencing after RUNX3 expression is not reverse. Therefore, we hypothesized that RUNX3 and not RUNX1 recruits other factors that maintains the silencing of helper T lineage genes in CD8 T cells. To this end, we performed a proteomics screen of RUNX1 and RUNX3 to determine candidate silencing factors.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
