Besides symptoms caused by central nervous system (CNS) lesions, the majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) also exhibit gastrointestinal dysfunction that has frequently been noted, but was not directly linked to the autoimmune etiology of the disease.We studied the enteric nervous system (ENS) in a murine model of MS by histology and electron microscopy. Serum IgG against enteric neurons and enteroglia was measured by ELISA and binding to the ENS was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Target antigens were identified by mass spectrometry. Gastrointestinal dysfunction was determined by measuring dye transit time. RNA expression profiling was conducted with small intestines of MP4-immunized and control-immunized mice. Data from the mouse model were confirmed in MS patients by immunohistochemistry of the ENS in bowel resectates. In addition, ELISA was performed on plasma samples to detect antibodies against four specific target antigens as identified in the mouse model. ENS degeneration was evident already before the onset of clinical disease in the mouse model. Pathology was predominantly antibody-mediated and caused a significant decrease in gastrointestinal transit, which was associated with severe gliosis of the ENS. Unlike the dense infiltrates that developed in the perivascular compartments of the CNS of MP4-immunized mice, the infiltrates in the ENS consisted of single cells scattered throughout the tissue. RNA expression profiling could support these results, as the expression of inflammatory markers in the small intestine was similar between MP4-immunized and HEL-immunized mice. We identified four specific target antigens derived from enteric neurons and/or enteroglia. Antibodies against all four target antigens were present in MS patients. MS patients also showed gliosis and signs of ENS degeneration in the small intestine. For the first time, this study establishes a pathomechanistic link between the well-established autoimmune attack on the CNS and the ENS in MS. The presence of ENS pathology prior to CNS degeneration introduces entirely novel ways to explain MS etiology and immunopathogenesis.
The enteric nervous system is a potential autoimmune target in multiple sclerosis.
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View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Choice of binding sites for CTCFL compared to CTCF is driven by chromatin and by sequence preference.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Differential roles for MBD2 and MBD3 at methylated CpG islands, active promoters and binding to exon sequences.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe heterogeneous collection of NuRD complexes can be grouped into the MBD2 or MBD3 containing complexes MBD2-NuRD and MBD3-NuRD. MBD2 is known to bind to methylated CpG sequences in vitro in contrast to MBD3. Although functional differences have been described, a direct comparison of MBD2 and MBD3 in respect to genome-wide binding and function has been lacking. Here we show when depleting cells for MBD2, the MBD2 bound genes increase their activity, whereas MBD2 plus MBD3 bound genes reduce their activity. Most strikingly, MBD3 is enriched at active promoters, whereas MBD2 is bound at methylated promoters and enriched at exon sequences of active genes. This suggests a functional connection between MBD2 binding to chromatin and splicing.
Differential roles for MBD2 and MBD3 at methylated CpG islands, active promoters and binding to exon sequences.
Cell line
View SamplesChromatin in eukaryotic nuclei is organized at multiple scales, from individual nucleosomes to specific loops between regulatory sequences, to the folding of large genomic regions into topological domains and segregation of whole chromosomes into territories. Many of the chromatin proteins that regulate this architecture, including the essential Polycomb Group (PcG) proteins, are themselves organized into subnuclear structures. Deciphering mechanistic links between protein organization and genome architecture requires precise description and mechanistic perturbations of both. Using super-resolution microscopy, we characterized the nanoscale organization of PcG proteins in Drosophila cells and find hundreds of small protein clusters, distinct from the large PcG bodies present in just a few copies per cell that have been the focus of previous investigations. We manipulated PcG clusters either by disrupting the polymerization activity of the conserved Sterile Alpha Motif (SAM) of the PcG protein Polyhomeotic (Ph) or increasing Ph levels in Drosophila S2 cells. Disrupting clustering using Ph SAM mutations disrupts chromatin interactions on scales from 50kb to 13Mb while increasing Ph levels increases both cluster number and long range chromatin interactions. RNA-seq and qPCR indicate that both perturbations also alter expression levels of many genes. Molecular simulations suggest a model in which PcG cluster formation on chromatin is governed by the kinetics of association between Ph SAMs and PcG cluster size is bounded by the affinity and occupancy of chromatin binding sites. Our results suggest that nanoscale organization of PcG proteins into small, abundant clusters on chromatin through the polymerization activity of Ph SAM shapes genome architecture by mediating numerous long-range chromatin interactions. Overall design: Two biological replicates of three RNA-seq samples from S2 cells, cells overexpresing wild-type Ph, and cells overexpressing polymerization defective Ph-ML
Chromatin topology is coupled to Polycomb group protein subnuclear organization.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesGene expression is tightly linked to histone acetylation on lysine residues that can be recognized by bromodomains. The testis-specific bromodomain protein tBRD-1 is essential for male fertility and might act as a co-factor of testis-specifc TAFs. Here, we perform microarray analyses and demonstrate that tBRD-1 selectively controls gene expression in male germ cells
tBRD-1 selectively controls gene activity in the Drosophila testis and interacts with two new members of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe high-mobility-group (HMG) proteins are the most abundant non-histone chromatin-associated proteins. Here we deciphered the role of the high mobility group AT-hook protein 2 (HMGA2) during lung development by analyzing the lung of Hmga2 deficient mice (Hmga2-/-).We found that Hmga2 is expressed in the mouse embryonic lung at the distal airways. Analysis of Hmga2-/- mice showed that Hmga2 is required for proper cell proliferation and distal epithelium differentiation during embryonic lung development. Hmga2 knockout (KO) led to enhanced canonical WNT signaling due to an increased expression of secreted WNT glycoproteins Wnt2b, Wnt7b and Wnt11 as well as a reduction of the WNT signaling antagonizing proteins GATA6 (GATA binding protein 6) and FZD2 (frizzled homolog 2).
Hmga2 is required for canonical WNT signaling during lung development.
Specimen part
View SamplesHyperglycemia can contribute to the detrimental effects of diabetes in the vasculature.
Elevated Glucose Levels Promote Contractile and Cytoskeletal Gene Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle via Rho/Protein Kinase C and Actin Polymerization.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe right ventricle (RV) differs in several aspects from the left ventricle (LV) including its embryonic origin, physiological role and anatomical design. In contrast to LV hypertrophy, little is known about the molecular circuits, which are activated upon RV hypertrophy (RVH). We established a highly reproducible model of RVH in mice using pulmonary artery clipping (PAC), which avoids detrimental RV pressure overload and thus allows long-term survival of operated mice. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed pathognomonic changes with striking similarities to human congenital heart disease- or pulmonary arterial hypertension- patients. Comparative, microarray based transcriptome analysis of right- and left-ventricular remodeling identified distinct transcriptional responses to pressure-induced hypertrophy of either ventricle, which were mainly characterized by stronger transcriptional responses of the RV compared to the LV myocardium. Hierarchic cluster analysis revealed a RV- and LV-specific pattern of gene activity after induction of hypertrophy, however, we did not find evidence for qualitatively distinct regulatory pathways in RV compared to LV. Data mining of nearly three thousand RV-enriched genes under PAC disclosed novel potential (co)-regulators of long-term RV remodeling and hypertrophy. We reason that specific inhibitory mechanisms in RV restrict excessive myocardial hypertrophy and thereby contribute to its vulnerability to pressure overload.
Identification of right heart-enriched genes in a murine model of chronic outflow tract obstruction.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesExpression profiles of 917 pathway repoter genes were determined by AmpliSeq-RNA in primary human hepatocytes treated with Diclofenac and a test compound 3 hours after treatment. Overall design: Vehicle control, diclofenac, and three doses of the test compound (small-molecule neurotransmitter receptor antagonist) were applied to three primary cell lines, with three biological replicates in each group. In some treatment groups read-outs were only available for two samples. All together 41 samples were profiled.
Pathway reporter genes define molecular phenotypes of human cells.
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