ABSTRACT
Leukocytes are classified as myelocytic or lymphocytic, and each class of leukocytes consists of several types of cells that have different phenotypes and different roles. To define the gene expression in these cells, we have performed serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) using human leukocytes and have provided the gene database for these cells not only at the resting stage but also at the activated stage. A total of 709,990 tags from 17 libraries were analyzed for the manifestation of gene expression profiles in various types of human leukocytes. Types of leukocytes analyzed were as follows: peripheral blood monocytes, colony-stimulating factor-induced macrophages, monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells, mature/activated dendritic cells, granulocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, resting B cells, activated B cells, naive T cells, CCR4(-) memory T cells (resting T(H)1 cells), CCR4(+) memory T cells (resting T(H)2 cells), activated T(H)1 cells, and activated T(H)2 cells. Among 38,961 distinct tags that appeared more than once in the combined total libraries, 27,323 tags were found to represent unique genes in certain type(s) of leukocytes. Using probability (P) and hierarchical clustering analysis, we identified the genes selectively expressed in each type of leukocytes. Identification of the genes specifically expressed in different types of leukocytes provides not only a novel molecular signature to define different subsets of resting and activated cells but also contributes to further understanding of the biologic function of leukocytes in the host defense system.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression Profiling , Leukocytes/metabolism , Databases, Factual , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Expressed Sequence Tags , Gene Expression Regulation , Gene Library , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Leukocytes/classification , Lymphocyte Activation , Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Monocytes/metabolism , Myeloid Cells/metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Cytotoxic lymphocytes, NK cells and CD8(+) T cells play a pivotal role in the host defense. To reveal the biological function of these cells through establishing a comprehensive gene expression profile, serial analysis of gene expression was performed in human peripheral blood NK cells and CD8(+) T cells. In total, 85,848 tags corresponding to >20,000 different transcripts were sequenced. The genes expressed abundantly in these libraries mostly consisted of genes encoding MHC class I and molecules related to protein synthesis. Among gene transcripts which related to cytotoxicity, granulysin, perforin, granzyme B and alpha-defensin 1 were highly expressed in NK cells. Resting CD8(+) T cells did not express the genes related to cytotoxicity, but expressed abundantly the genes encoding chemokines, tumor necrosis factor family. When CD8(+) T cells were sorted into naive, memory and effector subsets based on the expression of CD45RA and CD27, perforin and granzyme B were expressed in the CD45RA(+)CD27(-) effector subset. Alpha-defensin 1, one of the selectively expressed genes in NK cells, induced migration of naive CD8(+)CD45RA(+)CD27(+) T cells, but not memory CD8(+)CD45RA(-)CD27(+) or effector CD8(+)CD45RA(+)CD27(-) T cells. Furthermore, treatment with IL-15, a stimulator of NK cell development, differentiation, survival and cytotoxicity, rapidly enhanced the expression of alpha-defensin 1 in NK cells. The identification of the genes preferentially expressed in NK and CD8(+) T cell subsets may give important insights into the functions of these cells against virus infection and in tumor immunity.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Gene Expression Profiling , Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Chemotaxis, Leukocyte , Humans , Interleukin-15/pharmacology , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , alpha-Defensins/geneticsABSTRACT
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants that causes various biological effects on mammals. To identify the genes involved in hepatotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenesis induced by TCDD, we have conducted here serial analysis of gene expression of mouse liver 7 days after treatment with a single oral dose of 20 microg TCDD/kg body weight. We have sequenced total of 113,067 tags, including 56,420 tags and 56,647 tags from normal liver and TCDD-treated liver library, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that TCDD significantly altered 346 transcripts (p < 0.05) including 94 ESTs. The genes regulated by TCDD were not only the genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and stress response genes but also a wide variety of genes encoding cytoskeleton related proteins, signal transduction, and plasma proteins. This comprehensive gene expression analysis would provide novel genes that may help to clarify the mechanism of TCDD effects on mammalian liver, and also give a new approach for prevention and treatment.
