Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 45
Filter
1.
Diseases ; 11(3)2023 Jul 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37489448

ABSTRACT

Decades ago, the treatment for acute myeloid leukemia relied on cytarabine and anthracycline. However, advancements in medical research have introduced targeted therapies, initially employing monoclonal antibodies such as ant-CD52 and anti-CD123, and subsequently utilizing specific inhibitors that target molecular mutations like anti-IDH1, IDH2, or FLT3. The challenge lies in determining the role of these therapeutic options, considering the inherent tumor heterogeneity associated with leukemia diagnosis and the clonal drift that this type of tumor can undergo. Targeted drugs necessitate an examination of various therapeutic targets at the individual cell level rather than assessing the entire population. It is crucial to differentiate between the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of a specific molecular target, depending on whether it is found in a terminally differentiated cell with limited proliferative potential or a stem cell with robust capabilities for both proliferation and self-renewal. However, this cell-by-cell analysis is accompanied by several challenges. Firstly, the scientific aspect poses difficulties in comparing different single cell analysis experiments despite efforts to standardize the results through various techniques. Secondly, there are practical obstacles as each individual cell experiment incurs significant financial costs and consumes a substantial amount of time. A viable solution lies in the ability to process multiple samples simultaneously, which is a distinctive feature of the cell hashing technique. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of the cell hashing technique for analyzing acute myeloid leukemia cells. By comparing it to standard single cell analysis, we establish a strong correlation in various parameters such as quality control, gene expression, and the analysis of leukemic blast markers in patients. Consequently, this technique holds the potential to become an integral part of the biological assessment of acute myeloid leukemia, contributing to the personalized and optimized management of the disease, particularly in the context of employing targeted therapies.

2.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2650: 43-52, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37310622

ABSTRACT

Different epithelia line the body and organs and form a continuous lining of cells. The junction of two different types of epithelia represents a special region called transition zone (TZ). TZ are small areas found in numerous places in the body such as between the esophagus and the stomach, in the cervix, in the eye, and between the anal canal and the rectum. These zones are associated with diverse pathologies such as cancers; however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in tumor progression are poorly investigated. We recently characterized the role of anorectal TZ cells during homeostasis and after injury using an in vivo (lineage tracing) approach. To follow TZ cells, we previously developed a mouse model of lineage tracing using cytokeratin 17 (Krt17) as a promoter and GFP as a reporter. Krt17 is expressed by TZ but also by anal glands located below the TZ in the stroma that can interfere with TZ cell population isolation and analysis afterward. In this chapter, we provide a new dissection method to remove specifically anal glands without affecting anorectal TZ cells. This protocol allows the specific dissection and isolation of anal canal, TZ, and rectum epithelia.


Subject(s)
Epithelial Cells , Rectum , Female , Animals , Mice , Epithelium , Cell Separation , Disease Models, Animal
3.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2650: 89-103, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37310626

ABSTRACT

Special regions called transition zones (TZs) are found at numerous places in the body. TZs represent the junction between two different types of epithelia and are located between the esophagus and the stomach, in the cervix, in the eye, and between the anal canal and the rectum. TZ is a heterogeneous population, and the detailed characterization of its populations requires an analysis at the single-cell level. In this chapter, we provide a protocol to do single-cell RNA sequencing primary analysis of anal canal, TZ, and rectum epithelia.


Subject(s)
RNA , Rectum , Female , Humans , Epithelium , Stomach , Sequence Analysis, RNA
4.
Diseases ; 12(1)2023 Dec 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38275564

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The application of single-cell RNA sequencing has greatly improved our understanding of various cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, obtaining living cells for this technique can be difficult under certain conditions. To solve this problem, the methanol fixation method appeared as a promising alternative for routine clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we selected two AML samples that had been fixed in methanol for 12-18 months. Once the cells were rehydrated, these samples were subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing. We then compared the results obtained from these samples with those obtained from the same samples cryopreserved in DMSO. RESULTS: We used a previously validated methanol fixation protocol to perform scRNA-seq on DMSO cryopreserved cells and cells fixed in methanol for more than one year. Preliminary results show that methanol fixation induces some genetic and transcriptional modification compared with DMSO cryopreservation but remains a valuable method for single-cell analysis of primary human leukemia cells. CONCLUSIONS: The initial findings from this study highlight certain resemblances in methanol fixation over a 12-month period and cryopreservation with DMSO, along with associated transcriptional level modifications. However, we observed genetic degradation in the fixation condition when extending beyond one year. Despite certain study limitations, it is evident that short-term methanol fixation can be effectively used for leukemia blast samples. Its ease of implementation holds the potential to simplify the integration of this technique into routine clinical practice.

5.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(2)2022 Jan 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35055007

ABSTRACT

Mortality due to sepsis remains unacceptably high, especially for septic shock patients. Murine models have been used to better understand pathophysiology mechanisms. However, the mouse model is still under debate. Herein we investigated the transcriptional response of mice injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and compared it to either human cells stimulated in vitro with LPS or to the blood cells of septic patients. We identified a molecular signature composed of 2331 genes with an FDR median of 0%. This molecular signature is highly enriched in regulated genes in peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS. There is significant enrichment in several inflammatory signaling pathways, and in disease terms, such as pneumonia, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, severe sepsis, an inflammatory disorder, immune suppression, and septic shock. A significant overlap between the genes upregulated in mouse and human cells stimulated with LPS has been demonstrated. Finally, genes upregulated in mouse cells stimulated with LPS are enriched in genes upregulated in human cells stimulated in vitro and in septic patients, who are at high risk of death. Our results support the hypothesis of common molecular and cellular mechanisms between mouse and human sepsis.


Subject(s)
Disease Susceptibility , Gene Expression Regulation , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Sepsis/etiology , Transcription, Genetic , Animals , Biomarkers , Computational Biology/methods , Cytokines/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Profiling , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects , Macrophages/immunology , Macrophages/metabolism , Macrophages/pathology , Mice , Monocytes/immunology , Monocytes/metabolism , Monocytes/pathology , Sepsis/diagnosis , Sepsis/metabolism
6.
Biomark Res ; 9(1): 50, 2021 Jun 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34176517

ABSTRACT

After decades during which the treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia was limited to variations around a skeleton of cytarabine/anthracycline, targeted therapies appeared. These therapies, first based on monoclonal antibodies, also rely on specific inhibitors of various molecular abnormalities. A significant but modest prognosis improvement has been observed thanks to these new treatments that are limited by a high rate of relapse, due to the intrinsic chemo and immune-resistance of leukemia stem cell, together with the acquisition of these resistances by clonal evolution. Relapses are also influenced by the equilibrium between the pro or anti-tumor signals from the bone marrow stromal microenvironment and immune effectors. What should be the place of the targeted therapeutic options in light of the tumor heterogeneity inherent to leukemia and the clonal drift of which this type of tumor is capable? Novel approaches by single cell analysis and next generation sequencing precisely define clonal heterogeneity and evolution, leading to a personalized and time variable adapted treatment. Indeed, the evolution of leukemia, either spontaneous or under therapy selection pressure, is a very complex phenomenon. The model of linear evolution is to be forgotten because single cell analysis of samples at diagnosis and at relapse show that tumor escape to therapy occurs from ancestral as well as terminal clones. The determination by the single cell technique of the trajectories of the different tumor sub-populations allows the identification of clones that accumulate factors of resistance to chemo/immunotherapy ("pan-resistant clones"), making possible to choose the combinatorial agents most likely to eradicate these cells. In addition, the single cell technique identifies the nature of each cell and can analyze, on the same sample, both the tumor cells and their environment. It is thus possible to evaluate the populations of immune effectors (T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells) for the leukemia stress-induced alteration of their functions. Finally, the single cells techniques are an invaluable tool for evaluation of the measurable residual disease since not only able to quantify but also to determine the most appropriate treatment according to the sensitivity profile to immuno-chemotherapy of remaining leukemic cells.

7.
Plants (Basel) ; 9(9)2020 Sep 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32899727

ABSTRACT

Global change scenarios in the Mediterranean basin predict a precipitation reduction within the coming hundred years. Therefore, increased drought will affect forests both in terms of adaptive ecology and ecosystemic services. However, how vegetation might adapt to drought is poorly understood. In this report, four years of climate change was simulated by excluding 35% of precipitation above a downy oak forest. RNASeq data allowed us to assemble a genome-guided transcriptome. This led to the identification of differentially expressed features, which was supported by the characterization of target metabolites using a metabolomics approach. We provided 2.5 Tb of RNASeq data and the assembly of the first genome guided transcriptome of Quercus pubescens. Up to 5724 differentially expressed transcripts were obtained; 42 involved in plant response to drought. Transcript set enrichment analysis showed that drought induces an increase in oxidative pressure that is mitigated by the upregulation of ubiquitin-like protein protease, ferrochelatase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase and oxo-acid-lyase activities. Furthermore, the downregulation of auxin biosynthesis and transport, carbohydrate storage metabolism were observed as well as the concomitant accumulation of metabolites, such as oxalic acid, malate and isocitrate. Our data suggest that early metabolic changes in the resistance of Q. pubescens to drought involve a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle shunt through the glyoxylate pathway, galactose metabolism by reducing carbohydrate storage and increased proteolytic activity.

8.
FASEB J ; 34(11): 14905-14919, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32924159

ABSTRACT

In utero environment is crucial to ensure normal development of the fetus and to program metabolic health throughout the life. Beside macronutrients, the role of micronutrients, including vitamin D, begins to be explore. The aim of this study was to decipher the impact of maternal vitamin D deficiency (VDD), in normal and high-fat (HF) diet context, on adipose tissue metabolism and energy homeostasis in offspring, considering sex-specific responses. Body weight, energy expenditure, and spontaneous activity was differential impacted in juvenile male and female offspring born from VDD mice. In adulthood, a HF diet combined with maternal VDD disrupted glucose homeostasis and adiposity in male offspring but not in females. Such phenotypes were associated to different transcriptomic profiles in adipose tissue, which could be related to differential modulation of plasma 17ß-estradiol concentrations. Thus, maternal VDD sex-dependently modulated metabolic fate of the offspring, especially when associated with HF diet in adulthood.


Subject(s)
Adipose Tissue/metabolism , Energy Metabolism , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/metabolism , Vitamin D Deficiency/metabolism , Adiposity , Animals , Body Weight , Estradiol/blood , Female , Glucose/metabolism , Homeostasis , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Pregnancy , Sex Factors
9.
Intensive Care Med Exp ; 7(1): 50, 2019 Aug 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31428883

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to better understand phenotypic differences between male and female rats during sepsis, to characterise the contribution of the beta1-adrenergic blocker landiolol to septic cardiomyopathy and to determine why landiolol induces divergent effects in males and females. METHODS: The myocardial transcriptional profiles in male and female Wistar rats were assessed after the induction of sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture and addition of landiolol. RESULTS: Our results showed major differences in the biological processes activated during sepsis in male and female rats. In particular, a significant decrease in processes related to cell organisation, contractile function, ionic transport and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/AKT (PI3K/AKT) signalling was observed only in males. The transcript of ATPase sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting 3 (SERCA3) was sex-differently regulated. In males, landiolol reversed several signalling pathways dysregulated during sepsis. The expression level of genes encoding tubulin alpha 8 (TUBA8) and myosin heavy chain 7B (MYH7) contractile proteins, phosphatase 2 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP2CA), G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) and A-kinase anchoring protein 6 (AKAP6) returned to their basal levels. In contrast, in females, landiolol had limited effects. CONCLUSION: In males, landiolol reversed the expression of many genes that were deregulated in sepsis. Conversely, sepsis-induced deregulation of gene expression was less pronounced in females than in males, and was maintained in the landiolol-treated females. These findings highlight important sex-related differences and confirm previous observations on the important benefit of landiolol intake on cardiac function in male rats.

10.
Sci Rep ; 9(1): 4707, 2019 03 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30886319

ABSTRACT

Normal T-cell differentiation requires a complex regulatory network which supports a series of maturation steps, including lineage commitment, T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement, and thymic positive and negative selection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are difficult to assess due to limited T-cell models. Here we explore the use of the pro-T-cell line P5424 to study early T-cell differentiation. Stimulation of P5424 cells by the calcium ionophore ionomycin together with PMA resulted in gene regulation of T-cell differentiation and activation markers, partially mimicking the CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) to double positive (DP) transition and some aspects of subsequent T-cell maturation and activation. Global analysis of gene expression, along with kinetic experiments, revealed a significant association between the dynamic expression of coding genes and neighbor lncRNAs including many newly-discovered transcripts, thus suggesting potential co-regulation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic deletion of Robnr, an inducible lncRNA located downstream of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2, demonstrated a critical role of the Robnr locus in the induction of Bcl2. Thus, the pro-T-cell line P5424 is a powerful model system to characterize regulatory networks involved in early T-cell differentiation and maturation.


Subject(s)
Cell Differentiation/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism , T-Lymphocytes/physiology , Animals , Apoptosis/genetics , CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Gene Knockdown Techniques , Genetic Loci , Ionomycin/pharmacology , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Lymphocyte Activation/genetics , Mice , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/analogs & derivatives , Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology
11.
Exp Hematol ; 65: 49-56, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29885947

ABSTRACT

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the standard treatment for multiple myeloma and relapsed or refractory lymphomas. After autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, hematologic reconstitution and infectious complications are the two most critical issues. Although many patients develop infectious complications after therapeutic intensification, it remains impossible to predict infection for each individual. The goal of this work was to determine and identify a predictive transcriptomic signature of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and/or sepsis in patients receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. High-throughput transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis were performed to analyze gene expression modulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 21 patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies (lymphoma or multiple myeloma). Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples collected just after conditioning regimen identified an 11-gene signature (CHAT, CNN3, ANKRD42, LOC100505725, EDAR, GPAT2, ENST00000390425, MTRM8, C6orf192, LOC10289230, and XLOC-005643) that was able to early predict (at least 2-7 days before its occurrence) the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis. The possibility of systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis occurrence early prediction (2-7 days before occurrence) opens up new therapeutic strategies based on preemptive antibiotic and/or antifungal prophylaxis adapted to the specific risk profile of each patient.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Sepsis/diagnosis , Transcriptome/genetics , Transplantation, Autologous , Fever/complications , Gene Expression , Genetic Testing , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects , Humans , Prospective Studies , RNA/genetics , Sepsis/complications , Transplantation, Autologous/adverse effects
12.
FEMS Microbiol Lett ; 365(13)2018 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29566166

ABSTRACT

Shewanella algae C6G3 can dissimilatively reduce nitrate into ammonium and manganese oxide (MnIV) into MnII. It has the unusual ability to anaerobically produce nitrite from ammonium in the presence of MnIV. To gain insight into their metabolic capabilities, global mRNA expression patterns were investigated by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR in cells growing with lactate and ammonium as carbon and nitrogen sources, and with either MnIV or nitrate as electron acceptors. Genes exhibiting higher expression levels in the presence of MnIV belonged to functional categories of carbohydrate, coenzyme, lipid metabolisms and inorganic ion transport. The comparative transcriptomic pattern between MnIV and NO3 revealed that the strain presented an ammonium limitation status with MnIV, despite the presence of a non-limiting concentration of ammonium under both culture conditions. In addition, in the presence of MnIV, ntrB/nrtC regulators, ammonium channel, nitrogen regulatory protein P-II, glutamine synthetase and asparagine synthetase glutamine-dependent genes were over-represented. Under the nitrate condition, the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of several amino acids was increased. Finally, the expression level of genes associated with the general stress response was also amplified in both conditions and among them, katE, a putative catalase/peroxidase present on several Shewanella genomes, was highly expressed with a median value relatively higher in the MnIV condition.


Subject(s)
Ammonium Compounds/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial , Manganese Compounds/metabolism , Nitrates/metabolism , Oxides/metabolism , Shewanella/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Catalase/genetics , Catalase/metabolism , Electron Transport , Electrons , Peroxidase/genetics , Peroxidase/metabolism , Shewanella/genetics , Shewanella/growth & development
13.
Front Immunol ; 8: 876, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28804485

ABSTRACT

Our previous transcriptomic analysis of Glossina palpalis gambiensis experimentally infected or not with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense aimed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with infection. Specifically, we selected candidate genes governing tsetse fly vector competence that could be used in the context of an anti-vector strategy, to control human and/or animal trypanosomiasis. The present study aimed to verify whether gene expression in field tsetse flies (G. p. palpalis) is modified in response to natural infection by trypanosomes (T. congolense), as reported when insectary-raised flies (G. p. gambiensis) are experimentally infected with T. b. gambiense. This was achieved using the RNA-seq approach, which identified 524 DEGs in infected vs. non-infected tsetse flies, including 285 downregulated genes and 239 upregulated genes (identified using DESeq2). Several of these genes were highly differentially expressed, with log2 fold change values in the vicinity of either +40 or -40. Downregulated genes were primarily involved in transcription/translation processes, whereas encoded upregulated genes governed amino acid and nucleotide biosynthesis pathways. The BioCyc metabolic pathways associated with infection also revealed that downregulated genes were mainly involved in fly immunity processes. Importantly, our study demonstrates that data on the molecular cross-talk between the host and the parasite (as well as the always present fly microbiome) recorded from an experimental biological model has a counterpart in field flies, which in turn validates the use of experimental host/parasite couples.

14.
Gene ; 600: 90-100, 2017 Feb 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27871923

ABSTRACT

The identification of common gene/protein profiles related to brain alterations, if they exist, may indicate the convergence of the pathogenic mechanisms driving brain disorders. Six genetically engineered mouse lines modelling neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders were considered. Omics approaches, including transcriptomic and proteomic methods, were used. The gene/protein lists were used for inter-disease comparisons and further functional and network investigations. When the inter-disease comparison was performed using the gene symbol identifiers, the number of genes/proteins involved in multiple diseases decreased rapidly. Thus, no genes/proteins were shared by all 6 mouse models. Only one gene/protein (Gfap) was shared among 4 disorders, providing strong evidence that a common molecular signature does not exist among brain diseases. The inter-disease comparison of functional processes showed the involvement of a few major biological processes indicating that brain diseases of diverse aetiologies might utilize common biological pathways in the nervous system, without necessarily involving similar molecules.


Subject(s)
Brain Diseases/genetics , Brain Diseases/metabolism , Genomics/methods , Proteomics/methods , Animals , Behavior, Animal , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Regulatory Networks , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/genetics , Mental Disorders/metabolism , Metabolic Networks and Pathways , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Mice, Transgenic , Neurodegenerative Diseases/genetics , Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism
15.
Cell Rep ; 17(8): 2151-2160, 2016 11 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27851975

ABSTRACT

To better understand why human neonates show a poor response to intracellular pathogens, we compared gene expression and histone modification profiles of neonatal naive CD8+ T cells with that of their adult counterparts. We found that neonatal lymphocytes have a distinct epigenomic landscape associated with a lower expression of genes involved in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and cytotoxicity and a higher expression of genes involved in the cell cycle and innate immunity. Functional studies corroborated that neonatal CD8+ T cells are less cytotoxic, transcribe antimicrobial peptides, and produce reactive oxygen species. Altogether, our results show that neonatal CD8+ T cells have a specific genetic program biased toward the innate immune response. These findings will contribute to better diagnosis and management of the neonatal immune response.


Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Immunity, Innate/immunology , Adult , Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics , Epigenesis, Genetic , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Humans , Immunity, Innate/genetics , Infant, Newborn , Transcription Factors/metabolism
16.
Environ Microbiol Rep ; 8(4): 520-6, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27264199

ABSTRACT

Desulfovibrio piezophilus strain C1TLV30(T) is a mesophilic piezophilic sulfate-reducer isolated from Wood Falls at 1700 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we analysed the effect of the hydrostatic pressure on this deep-sea living bacterium at the physiologic and transcriptomic levels. Our results showed that lactate oxidation and energy metabolism were affected by the hydrostatic pressure. Especially, acetyl-CoA oxidation pathway and energy conservation through hydrogen and formate recycling would be more important when the hydrostatic pressure is above (26 MPa) than below (0.1 MPa) the optimal one (10 MPa). This work underlines also the role of the amino acid glutamate as a piezolyte for the Desulfovibrio genus. The transcriptomic analysis revealed 146 differentially expressed genes emphasizing energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism and cell motility and signal transduction mechanisms as hydrostatic pressure responding processes. This dataset allowed us to identify a sequence motif upstream of a subset of differentially expressed genes as putative pressure-dependent regulatory element.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological , Desulfovibrio/physiology , Hydrostatic Pressure , Stress, Physiological , Acetyl Coenzyme A/metabolism , Energy Metabolism , Formates/metabolism , Gene Expression Profiling , Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Hydrogen/metabolism , Lactates/metabolism , Mediterranean Sea , Metabolomics , Oxidation-Reduction
17.
Mol Neurodegener ; 11: 22, 2016 Mar 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26932723

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of vitamin D supplementation against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although studies have shown improvements in cognitive performance and decreases in markers of the pathology after chronic treatment, the mechanisms by which vitamin D acts on brain cells are multiple and remain to be thoroughly studied. We analyzed the molecular changes observed after 5 months of vitamin D3 supplementation in the brains of transgenic 5xFAD (Tg) mice, a recognized mouse model of AD, and their wild type (Wt) littermates. We first performed a kinematic behavioural examination at 4, 6 and 8 months of age (M4, M6 and M8) followed by a histologic assessment of AD markers. We then performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of mRNA regulation in the neocortex and hippocampus of 9 months old (M9) female mice. RESULTS: Transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus and neocortex of both Wt and Tg mice at M9, following 5 months of vitamin D3 treatment, reveals a large panel of dysregulated pathways related to i) immune and inflammatory response, ii) neurotransmitter activity, iii) endothelial and vascular processes and iv) hormonal alterations. The differentially expressed genes are not all direct targets of the vitamin D-VDR pathway and it appears that vitamin D action engages in the crosstalk with estrogen and insulin signaling. The misexpression of the large number of genes observed in this study translates into improved learning and memory performance and a decrease in amyloid plaques and astrogliosis in Tg animals. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlies the multiplicity of action of this potent neurosteroid in an aging and AD-like brain. The classical and non-classical actions of vitamin D3 can act in an additive and possibly synergistic manner to induce neuroprotective activities in a context-specific way.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism , Hippocampus/metabolism , Vitamin D/metabolism , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Estrogen Receptor alpha/genetics , Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism , Maze Learning/physiology , Memory Disorders/metabolism , Mice, Transgenic , Plaque, Amyloid/metabolism , Plaque, Amyloid/pathology
18.
Mol Neurodegener ; 9: 33, 2014 Sep 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25213090

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The 5XFAD early onset mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is gaining momentum. Behavioral, electrophysiological and anatomical studies have identified age-dependent alterations that can be reminiscent of human AD. However, transcriptional changes during disease progression have not yet been investigated. To this end, we carried out a transcriptomic analysis on RNAs from the neocortex and the hippocampus of 5XFAD female mice at the ages of one, four, six and nine months (M1, M4, M6, M9). RESULTS: Our results show a clear shift in gene expression patterns between M1 and M4. At M1, 5XFAD animals exhibit region-specific variations in gene expression patterns whereas M4 to M9 mice share a larger proportion of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that are common to both regions. Analysis of DEGs from M4 to M9 underlines the predominance of inflammatory and immune processes in this AD mouse model. The rise in inflammation, sustained by the overexpression of genes from the complement and integrin families, is accompanied by an increased expression of transcripts involved in the NADPH oxidase complex, phagocytic processes and IFN-γ related pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our data suggest that, from M4 to M9, sustained microglial activation becomes the predominant feature and point out that both detrimental and neuroprotective mechanisms appear to be at play in this model. Furthermore, our study identifies a number of genes already known to be altered in human AD, thus confirming the use of the 5XFAD strain as a valid model for understanding AD pathogenesis and for screening potential therapeutic molecules.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/immunology , Microglia/immunology , Transcriptome , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Animals , Brain/immunology , Brain/metabolism , Brain/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Microglia/metabolism , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
19.
Front Microbiol ; 5: 255, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24904565

ABSTRACT

Sodalis glossinidius, one of the three tsetse fly maternally inherited symbionts, was previously shown to favor fly infection by trypanosomes, the parasites causing human sleeping sickness. Among a population of flies taking a trypanosome-infected blood meal, only a few individuals will acquire the parasite; the others will escape infection and be considered as refractory to trypanosome infection. The aim of the work was to investigate whether fly refractoriness could be associated with specific Sodalis gene expression. The transcriptome of S. glossinidius harbored by flies that were fed either with a non-infected blood meal (control) or with a trypanosome-infected meal but that did not develop infection were analyzed, using microarray technology, and compared. The analysis using the microarray procedure yielded 17 genes that were found to have a significant differential expression between the two groups. Interestingly, all these genes were overexpressed in self-cured (refractory) flies. Further analysis of functional annotation of these genes indicated that most associated biological process terms were related to metabolic and biosynthetic processes as well as to oxido-reduction mechanisms. These results evidence the occurrence of molecular crosstalk between the different partners, induced by the passage of the trypanosomes through the fly's gut even though the parasites were unable to establish in the gut and to develop a permanent infection.

20.
Infect Genet Evol ; 24: 41-56, 2014 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24637266

ABSTRACT

Tsetse flies, such as Glossina palpalis gambiensis, are blood-feeding insects that could be subverted as hosts of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: initiated in the tsetse fly mid gut, the developmental program of this parasite further proceeds in the salivary glands. The flies act as vectors of this human-invasive parasite when their salivary glands sustain the generation of metacyclic trypomastigotes, the exclusive morphotypes pre-programmed to further develop in the human individuals. Briefly, once the metacyclic trypomastigotes have been deposited in the skin of humans from whom the parasite-hosting tsetse flies are taking their blood meals, the complex developmental program of this Trypanosoma brucei subspecies can result in a severe disease named sleeping sickness. Unveiling the processes that could prevent, in tsetse flies, the developmental program of T. b. gambiense could contribute reducing the prevalence of the disease. Using a global approach, we were curious to extract transcriptional signatures of Sodalis glossinidius, a symbiont hosted by three distinct groups of tsetse flies. To meet this objective, the transcriptome of S. glossinidius from susceptible and refractory tsetse flies was analyzed at 3, 10 and 20 days after flies blood feed on T. b. gambiense-hosting mice. Within this temporal window, 176 trypanosome responsive genes were shown to interact in well-defined patterns making it possible to distinguish flies susceptible to the parasite infection from refractory flies. Among the modulated transcripts in the symbiont population of flies refractory to trypanosome infection many were shown to cluster within the following networks: "lysozyme activity, bacteriolytic enzyme, bacterial cytolysis, cell wall macromolecule catabolic process". These novel data are further delineated in the following questions: could the activation of prophage hosted by S. glossinidius lead to the release of bacterial agonists that trigger the tsetse fly immune system along a profile that no more allows the parasite developmental program?


Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis , Enterobacteriaceae/genetics , Prophages/genetics , Tsetse Flies/microbiology , Tsetse Flies/parasitology , Animals , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Enterobacteriaceae/virology , Muramidase/biosynthesis , Muramidase/genetics , N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase/biosynthesis , N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase/genetics , Peptidoglycan/metabolism , Prophages/growth & development , Salivary Glands/parasitology , Trypanosoma brucei gambiense , Trypanosomiasis, African/parasitology , Trypanosomiasis, African/transmission , Viral Proteins/biosynthesis , Viral Proteins/genetics
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...