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Kosinsky RL, Gonzalez MM, Saul D, Barros LL, Sagstetter MR, Fedyshyn Y, Nair A, Sun Z, Hamdan FH, Gibbons HR, Perez Pachon ME, Druliner BR, Johnsen SA, Faubion WA. The FOXP3 + Pro-Inflammatory T Cell: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology 2024; 166:631-644.e17. [PMID: 38211712 PMCID: PMC10960691 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) continues to increase worldwide. The contribution of CD4+ cell populations remains to be elucidated. We aimed to provide an in-depth transcriptional assessment of CD4+ T cells driving chronic inflammation in CD. METHODS We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing in CD4+ T cells isolated from ileal biopsies of patients with CD compared with healthy individuals. Cells underwent clustering analysis, followed by analysis of gene signaling networks. We overlapped our differentially expressed genes with publicly available microarray data sets and performed functional in vitro studies, including an in vitro suppression assay and organoid systems, to model gene expression changes observed in CD regulatory T (Treg) cells and to test predicted therapeutics. RESULTS We identified 5 distinct FOXP3+ regulatory Treg subpopulations. Tregs isolated from healthy controls represent the origin of pseudotemporal development into inflammation-associated subtypes. These proinflammatory Tregs displayed a unique responsiveness to tumor necrosis factor-α signaling with impaired suppressive activity in vitro and an elevated cytokine response in an organoid coculture system. As predicted in silico, the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat normalized gene expression patterns, rescuing the suppressive function of FOXP3+ cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS We identified a novel, proinflammatory FOXP3+ T cell subpopulation in patients with CD and developed a pipeline to specifically target these cells using the US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug vorinostat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Laura Kosinsky
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michelle M Gonzalez
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Dominik Saul
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, BG Trauma Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luísa Leite Barros
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mary R Sagstetter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Asha Nair
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Zhifu Sun
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Feda H Hamdan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Hunter R Gibbons
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Brooke R Druliner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - William A Faubion
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Sun Z, Braga-Neto MB, Xiong Y, Bhagwate AV, Gibbons HR, Sagstetter MR, Hamdan FH, Baheti S, Friton J, Nair A, Ye Z, Faubion WA. Hypomethylation and Overexpression of Th17-Associated Genes is a Hallmark of Intestinal CD4+ Lymphocytes in Crohn's Disease. J Crohns Colitis 2023; 17:1847-1857. [PMID: 37280154 PMCID: PMC10673812 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of Crohn's disease [CD] involves immune cell signalling pathways regulated by epigenetic modifications. Aberrant DNA methylation has been identified in peripheral blood and bulk intestinal tissue from CD patients. However, the DNA methylome of disease-associated intestinal CD4+ lymphocytes has not been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing was performed from terminal ileum CD4+ cells from 21 CD patients and 12 age- and sex-matched controls. Data were analysed for differentially methylated CpGs [DMCs] and methylated regions [DMRs]. Integration was performed with RNA-sequencing data to evaluate the functional impact of DNA methylation changes on gene expression. DMRs were overlapped with regions of differentially open chromatin [by ATAC-seq] and CCCTC-binding factor [CTCF] binding sites [by ChIP-seq] between peripherally derived Th17 and Treg cells. RESULTS CD4+ cells in CD patients had significantly increased DNA methylation compared to those from the controls. A total of 119 051 DMCs and 8113 DMRs were detected. While hypermethylated genes were mostly related to cell metabolism and homeostasis, hypomethylated genes were significantly enriched within the Th17 signalling pathway. The differentially enriched ATAC regions in Th17 cells [compared to Tregs] were hypomethylated in CD patients, suggesting heightened Th17 activity. There was significant overlap between hypomethylated DNA regions and CTCF-associated binding sites. CONCLUSIONS The methylome of CD patients shows an overall dominant hypermethylation yet hypomethylation is more concentrated in proinflammatory pathways, including Th17 differentiation. Hypomethylation of Th17-related genes associated with areas of open chromatin and CTCF binding sites constitutes a hallmark of CD-associated intestinal CD4+ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifu Sun
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Manuel B Braga-Neto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Yuning Xiong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Adytia V Bhagwate
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Hunter R Gibbons
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Mary R Sagstetter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Feda H Hamdan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Saurabh Baheti
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jessica Friton
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Asha Nair
- Division of Computational Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Zhenqing Ye
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - William A Faubion
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Ramos GP, Bamidele AO, Klatt EE, Sagstetter MR, Kurdi AT, Hamdan FH, Kosinsky RL, Gaballa JM, Nair A, Sun Z, Dasari S, Lanza IR, Rozeveld CN, Schott MB, Urrutia G, Westphal MS, Clarkson BD, Howe CL, Marietta EV, Luckey DH, Murray JA, Gonzalez M, Braga Neto MB, Gibbons HR, Smyrk TC, Johnsen S, Lomberk G, Faubion WA. G9a Modulates Lipid Metabolism in CD4 T Cells to Regulate Intestinal Inflammation. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:256-271.e10. [PMID: 36272457 PMCID: PMC9892272 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Although T-cell intrinsic expression of G9a has been associated with murine intestinal inflammation, mechanistic insight into the role of this methyltransferase in human T-cell differentiation is ill defined, and manipulation of G9a function for therapeutic use against inflammatory disorders is unexplored. METHODS Human naive T cells were isolated from peripheral blood and differentiated in vitro in the presence of a G9a inhibitor (UNC0642) before being characterized via the transcriptome (RNA sequencing), chromatin accessibility (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing), protein expression (cytometry by time of flight, flow cytometry), metabolism (mitochondrial stress test, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mas spectroscopy) and function (T-cell suppression assay). The in vivo role of G9a was assessed using 3 murine models. RESULTS We discovered that pharmacologic inhibition of G9a enzymatic function in human CD4 T cells led to spontaneous generation of FOXP3+ T cells (G9a-inibitors-T regulatory cells [Tregs]) in vitro that faithfully reproduce human Tregs, functionally and phenotypically. Mechanistically, G9a inhibition altered the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in T cells, resulting in increased intracellular cholesterol. Metabolomic profiling of G9a-inibitors-Tregs confirmed elevated lipid pathways that support Treg development through oxidative phosphorylation and enhanced lipid membrane composition. Pharmacologic G9a inhibition promoted Treg expansion in vivo upon antigen (gliadin) stimulation and ameliorated acute trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis secondary to tissue-specific Treg development. Finally, Tregs lacking G9a expression (G9a-knockout Tregs) remain functional chronically and can rescue T-cell transfer-induced colitis. CONCLUSION G9a inhibition promotes cholesterol metabolism in T cells, favoring a metabolic profile that facilitates Treg development in vitro and in vivo. Our data support the potential use of G9a inhibitors in the treatment of immune-mediated conditions including inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Piovezani Ramos
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Adebowale O Bamidele
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Emily E Klatt
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mary R Sagstetter
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Ahmed T Kurdi
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Feda H Hamdan
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Robyn Laura Kosinsky
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Joseph M Gaballa
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Asha Nair
- Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Zhifu Sun
- Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Ian R Lanza
- Metabolomics Core, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Cody N Rozeveld
- Department of Biology, Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa
| | - Micah B Schott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Guillermo Urrutia
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Division of Research Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Maria S Westphal
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Charles L Howe
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Eric V Marietta
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - David H Luckey
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Joseph A Murray
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Michelle Gonzalez
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Manuel B Braga Neto
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Hunter R Gibbons
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Thomas C Smyrk
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Steven Johnsen
- Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gwen Lomberk
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Division of Research Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - William A Faubion
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
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Klatt EE, Sagstetter M, Bamidele A, Gonzalez MM, Ramos GP, Gibbons HR, Wixom A, Hamdan FH, Neto MB, Faubion WA. Treg donation of sIL-6R to promote intestinal integrity and repair. The Journal of Immunology 2022. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.208.supp.113.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
IBD affects roughly 1.6 million US adults, with its prevalence increasing since the late 1990s. Characterized by unchecked intestinal inflammation, multiple proinflammatory cytokines including IL6 have been implicated as critical factors in this pathology. It has been established that EZH2 is a gene involved in the production of specific histone methyltransferase enzymes, as well as in the differentiation of Treg cells. The association between the Treg master transcription factor, Foxp3 and EZH2 results in the suppressive function of Tregs, with our previous work revealing impairment of this interaction under the influence of IL6 signaling in an inflamed intestinal setting. We investigated this further in a murine preventative T cell transfer model of colitis that involved injecting donor Treg cells that lacked IL6Ra, into immunocompromised mice. Histological scoring of the mice receiving the IL6Rko Tregs revealed a resolved inflammatory milieu and flow cytometric analysis of cells isolated from the spleens and MLNs showed increased Foxp3+ expression when compared to mice that received WT Tregs. Foxp3IL6Rako mice were subjected to a DSS model of colitis to further characterize the absence of the IL6R on Treg function in the intestinal milieu. Exacerbated signs of colitis were observed through histology and colon shortening of the conditional knockout mice when compared to their WT counterparts. We postulate that Tregs could be acting as a donor of sILR to promote intestinal integrity and healing. Further experiments will be conducted to define a role for the IL6R in the development of Foxp3+ cells, along with outlining the instrumental process of sIL6R donation in the intestinal milieu.
Supported by Mayo Clinic Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences
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5
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Navarro-Corcuera A, Sehrawat TS, Jalan-Sakrikar N, Gibbons HR, Pirius NE, Khanal S, Hamdan FH, Aseem SO, Cao S, Banales JM, Kang N, Faubion WA, LaRusso NF, Shah VH, Huebert RC. Long non-coding RNA ACTA2-AS1 promotes ductular reaction by interacting with the p300/ELK1 complex. J Hepatol 2022; 76:921-933. [PMID: 34953958 PMCID: PMC8934273 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Biliary disease is associated with a proliferative/fibrogenic ductular reaction (DR). p300 is an epigenetic regulator that acetylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27ac) and is activated during fibrosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in cholangiopathies, but little is known about how they recruit epigenetic complexes and regulate DR. We investigated epigenetic complexes, including transcription factors (TFs) and lncRNAs, contributing to p300-mediated transcription during fibrosis. METHODS We evaluated p300 in vivo using tamoxifen-inducible, cholangiocyte-selective, p300 knockout (KO) coupled with bile duct ligation (BDL) and Mdr KO mice treated with SGC-CBP30. Primary cholangiocytes and liver tissue were analyzed for expression of Acta2-as1 lncRNA by qPCR and RNA in situ hybridization. In vitro, we performed RNA-sequencing in human cholangiocytes with a p300 inhibitor. Cholangiocytes were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as an injury model. We confirmed formation of a p300/ELK1 complex by immunoprecipitation (IP). RNA IP was used to examine interactions between ACTA2-AS1 and p300. Chromatin IP assays were used to evaluate p300/ELK1 occupancy and p300-mediated H3K27ac. Organoids were generated from ACTA2-AS1-depleted cholangiocytes. RESULTS BDL-induced DR and fibrosis were reduced in Krt19-CreERT/p300fl/fl mice. Similarly, Mdr KO mice were protected from DR and fibrosis after SGC-CBP30 treatment. In vitro, depletion of ACTA2-AS1 reduced expression of proliferative/fibrogenic markers, reduced LPS-induced cholangiocyte proliferation, and impaired organoid formation. ACTA2-AS1 regulated transcription by facilitating p300/ELK1 binding to the PDGFB promoter after LPS exposure. Correspondingly, LPS-induced H3K27ac was mediated by p300/ELK1 and was reduced in ACTA2-AS1-depleted cholangiocytes. CONCLUSION Cholangiocyte-selective p300 KO or p300 inhibition attenuate DR/fibrosis in mice. ACTA2-AS1 influences recruitment of p300/ELK1 to specific promoters to drive H3K27ac and epigenetic activation of proliferative/fibrogenic genes. This suggests that cooperation between epigenetic co-activators and lncRNAs facilitates DR/fibrosis in biliary diseases. LAY SUMMARY We identified a three-part complex containing an RNA molecule, a transcription factor, and an epigenetic enzyme. The complex is active in injured bile duct cells and contributes to activation of genes involved in proliferation and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaia Navarro-Corcuera
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Tejasav S. Sehrawat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Nidhi Jalan-Sakrikar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Hunter R. Gibbons
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Nicholas E. Pirius
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Shalil Khanal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Feda H. Hamdan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Sayed Obaidullah Aseem
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Sheng Cao
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Jesus M. Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, CIBERehd, Ikerbasque, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Ningling Kang
- The Hormel Institute; University of Minnesota, Austin, MN
| | - William A. Faubion
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Nicholas F. LaRusso
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Vijay H. Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
| | - Robert C. Huebert
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN.,Gastroenterology Research Unit; Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
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Saul D, Leite Barros L, Wixom AQ, Gellhaus B, Gibbons HR, Faubion WA, Kosinsky RL. Cell Type-Specific Induction of Inflammation-Associated Genes in Crohn’s Disease and Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063082. [PMID: 35328501 PMCID: PMC8955412 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the rapid increase in incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the identification of susceptibility genes and cell populations contributing to this condition is essential. Previous studies suggested multiple genes associated with the susceptibility of IBD; however, due to the analysis of whole-tissue samples, the contribution of individual cell populations remains widely unresolved. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides the opportunity to identify underlying cellular populations. We determined the enrichment of Crohn’s disease (CD)-induced genes in a publicly available Crohn’s disease scRNA-seq dataset and detected the strongest induction of these genes in innate lymphoid cells (ILC1), highly activated T cells and dendritic cells, pericytes and activated fibroblasts, as well as epithelial cells. Notably, these genes were highly enriched in IBD-associated neoplasia, as well as sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). Indeed, the same six cell populations displayed an upregulation of CD-induced genes in a CRC scRNA-seq dataset. Finally, after integrating and harmonizing the CD and CRC scRNA-seq data, we demonstrated that these six cell types display a gradual increase in gene expression levels from a healthy state to an inflammatory and tumorous state. Together, we identified cell populations that specifically upregulate CD-induced genes in CD and CRC patients and could, therefore, contribute to inflammation-associated tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Saul
- Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Department of Trauma, Orthopedics and Reconstructive Surgery, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (D.S.); (R.L.K.)
| | - Luísa Leite Barros
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (L.L.B.); (A.Q.W.); (H.R.G.); (W.A.F.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Alexander Q. Wixom
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (L.L.B.); (A.Q.W.); (H.R.G.); (W.A.F.)
| | - Benjamin Gellhaus
- Department of Trauma, Orthopedics and Reconstructive Surgery, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Hunter R. Gibbons
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (L.L.B.); (A.Q.W.); (H.R.G.); (W.A.F.)
| | - William A. Faubion
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (L.L.B.); (A.Q.W.); (H.R.G.); (W.A.F.)
| | - Robyn Laura Kosinsky
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (L.L.B.); (A.Q.W.); (H.R.G.); (W.A.F.)
- Correspondence: (D.S.); (R.L.K.)
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7
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Gonzalez MM, Bamidele AO, Svingen PA, Sagstetter MR, Smyrk TC, Gaballa JM, Hamdan FH, Kosinsky RL, Gibbons HR, Sun Z, Ye Z, Nair A, Ramos GP, Braga Neto MB, Wixom AQ, Mathison AJ, Johnsen SA, Urrutia R, Faubion WA. BMI1 maintains the Treg epigenomic landscape to prevent inflammatory bowel disease. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e140755. [PMID: 34128475 DOI: 10.1172/jci140755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FOXP3+ Tregs are expanded within the inflamed intestine of human Crohn's disease, yet FOXP3-mediated gene repression within these cells is lost. The polycomb repressive complexes play a role in FOXP3 target gene regulation, but deeper mechanistic insight is incomplete. We have now specifically identified the polycomb-repressive complex 1 (PRC1) family member, BMI1 in the regulation of a proinflammatory enhancer network in both human and murine Tregs. Using human Tregs and lamina propria T cells, we inferred PRC1 to regulate Crohn's associated gene networks through assays of chromatin accessibility. Conditional deletion of BMI1 in murine FOXP3+ cells led to systemic inflammation. BMI1-deficient Tregs beared a TH1/TH17-like phenotype as assessed by assays of genome wide transcription, chromatin accessibility and proteomic techniques. Finally, BMI1 mutant FOXP3+ cells did not suppress colitis in the adoptive transfer model of human inflammatory bowel disease. We propose that BMI1 plays an important role in enforcing Treg identity in vitro and in vivo. Loss of Treg identity via genetic or transient BMI1 depletion perturbs the epigenome and converts Tregs into Th1/Th17-like proinflammatory cells, a transition relevant to human Crohn's disease associated CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Gonzalez
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Adebowale O Bamidele
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Phyllis A Svingen
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Mary R Sagstetter
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | | | - Joseph M Gaballa
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Feda H Hamdan
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Robyn Laura Kosinsky
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Hunter R Gibbons
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Zhifu Sun
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zhenqing Ye
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Asha Nair
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Guilherme P Ramos
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Manuel B Braga Neto
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Alexander Q Wixom
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Angela J Mathison
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
| | - Raul Urrutia
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - William A Faubion
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Translational Epigenomic Program, Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM)
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Abstract
Formation of DNA:RNA hybrids or R-loops contributes to numerous biologic processes. The development of the S9.6 antibody makes the analysis of R-Loops (DNA:RNA hybrids) possible through immunoprecipitation. Here, we describe the isolation of DNA:RNA hybrid structures using the S9.6 antibody. Using this protocol, both the DNA and RNA binding partners of the R-loop can be analyzed via qPCR, whole genome sequencing, or other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas M Aune
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Gibbons HR, Shaginurova G, Kim LC, Chapman N, Spurlock CF, Aune TM. Divergent lncRNA GATA3-AS1 Regulates GATA3 Transcription in T-Helper 2 Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2512. [PMID: 30420860 PMCID: PMC6215836 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) possess a diverse array of regulatory functions including activation and silencing of gene transcription, regulation of splicing, and coordinating epigenetic modifications. GATA3-AS1 is a divergent lncRNA gene neighboring GATA3. GATA3 is considered the master regulator of TH2 lineage commitment enabling TH2 effector cells to efficiently transcribe genes encoding cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Here, we show that the GATA3-AS1 lncRNA is selectively expressed under TH2 polarizing conditions and is necessary for efficient transcription of GATA3, IL5, and IL13 genes, while being sufficient for GATA3 transcription. GATA3-AS1 is required for formation of permissive chromatin marks, H3K27 acetylation and H3K4 di/tri-methylation, at the GATA3-AS1-GATA3 locus. Further, GATA3-AS1 binds components of the MLL methyltransferase and forms a DNA-RNA hybrid (R-loop) thus tethering the MLL methyltransferase to the gene locus. Our results indicate a novel regulatory function for a divergent lncRNA and provide new insight into the function of lncRNAs in T helper cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter R. Gibbons
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Guzel Shaginurova
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Laura C. Kim
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Nathaniel Chapman
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Charles F. Spurlock
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Thomas M. Aune
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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