Axin2+ peribiliary glands in the periampullary region generate biliary epithelial stem cells that give rise to ampullary carcinoma
Hayata, Y;Nakagawa, H;Kurosaki, S;Kawamura, S;Matsushita, Y;Hayakawa, Y;Suzuki, N;Hata, M;Tsuboi, M;Kinoshita, H;Miyabayashi, K;Mizutani, H;Nakagomi, R;Ikenoue, T;Hirata, Y;Arita, J;Hasegawa, K;Tateishi, K;Koike, K;
PMID: 33465373 | DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.01.028
Peribiliary glands (PBGs), clusters of epithelial cells residing in the submucosal compartment of extrahepatic bile ducts, have been suggested as biliary epithelial stem/progenitor cell niche; however, evidence to support this claim is limited due to a lack of PBG-specific markers. We therefore sought to identify PBG-specific markers to investigate the potential role of PBGs as stem/progenitor cell niches, as well as an origin of cancer. We examined the expression pattern of the Wnt target gene Axin2 in extrahepatic bile ducts. We then applied lineage tracing to investigate whether Axin2-expressing cells from PBGs contribute to biliary regeneration and carcinogenesis using Axin2-CreERT mice. Wnt signaling activation, marked by Axin2, was limited to PBGs located in the periampullary region. Lineage tracing revealed that Axin2-expressing periampullary PBG cells are capable of self-renewal and supplying new biliary epithelial cells (BECs) to the luminal surface. Additionally, the expression pattern of Axin2 and the mature ductal cell marker CK19 was mutually exclusive in periampullary region, and fate tracing of CK19+ luminal surface BECs revealed gradual replacement by CK19- cells, further supporting the continuous replenishment of new BECs from PBGs to the luminal surface. We also found that Wnt signal enhancer R-spondin3 secreted from Myh11-expressing stromal cells, corresponding to human sphincter of Oddi, maintained the periampullary Wnt signal-activating niche. Notably, introduction of PTEN deletion into Axin2+ PBG cells, but not CK19+ luminal surface BECs, induced ampullary carcinoma whose development was suppressed by Wnt inhibitor. A specific cell population receiving Wnt-activating signal in periampullary PBGs functions as biliary epithelial stem/progenitor cells and also cellular origin of ampullary carcinoma.
Shukla R, Prevot TD, French L, Isserlin R, Rocco BR, Banasr M, Bader GD, Sibille E.
PMID: - | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.09.034
Background Aging is accompanied by altered thinking (cognition) and feeling (mood), functions that depend on information processing by brain cortical cell microcircuits. We hypothesized that age-associated long-term functional and biological changes are mediated by gene transcriptomic changes within neuronal cell-types forming cortical microcircuits, namely excitatory pyramidal cells (PYC) and inhibitory GABAergic neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide (Vip), somatostatin (Sst) and parvalbumin (Pvalb). Methods To test this hypothesis, we assessed locomotor, anxiety-like and cognitive behavioral changes between young (2 months, n=9) and old (22 months, n=12) male C57BL/6 mice, and performed frontal cortex cell-type specific molecular profiling, using laser-capture microscopy and RNA sequencing. Results were analyzed by neuroinformatics and validated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Results Old-mice displayed increased anxiety and reduced working memory. The four cell-types displayed distinct age-related transcriptomes and biological pathway profiles, affecting metabolic and cell signaling pathways, and selective markers of neuronal vulnerability (Ryr3), resilience (Oxr1), and mitochondrial dynamics (Opa1), suggesting high age-related vulnerability of PYCs, and variable degree of adaptation in GABAergic neurons. Correlations between gene expression and behaviors suggest that changes in cognition and anxiety associated with age are partly mediated by normal age-related cell changes, and that additional age-independent decreases in synaptic and signaling pathways, notably in PYC and SST-neurons further contribute to behavioral changes. Conclusions Our study demonstrates cell-dependent differential vulnerability and coordinated cell-specific cortical microcircuit molecular changes with age. Collectively, the results suggest intrinsic molecular links between aging, cognition and mood-related behaviors with SST-neurons contributing evenly to both behavioral conditions.
The Australasian journal of dermatology
Kim, HN;Kim, H;Gim, JA;Baek, YS;Kim, A;Kim, C;
PMID: 36645414 | DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13965
Actinic keratosis (AK) is considered as precursor lesion of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Molecular studies on AK are limited because of too small size of the biopsy specimen to obtain enough DNA or RNA.Twenty biopsy cases of AK, followed by second same-sited biopsies, were included. Ten cases were diagnosed with total regression (regression group), while the other 10 were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma (progression group) in the follow-up biopsies. Using digital spatial profiling (DSP) technology, whole-gene expression analysis defined by specific regions of interest was performed for all 20 cases. After the clinicopathological features were assessed, separate and integrated analyses of these features and gene expression patterns were performed using machine-learning technology. All analyses were performed on both lesion keratinocytes (KT) and infiltrated stromal lymphocytes (LC).Among the 18,667 genes assessed, 33 and 72 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the regression and progression groups were found in KT and LC respectively. The primary genes distinguishing the two groups were KRT10 for KT and CARD18 for LC. Clinicopathological features were weaker in risk stratification of AK progression than the gene expression patterns. Pathways associated with various cancers were upregulated in the progression group of KT, whereas the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signalling pathway was upregulated in the progression of LC.Gene expression patterns were effective for risk stratification of AK progression, and their distinguishing power was higher than that of clinicopathological features.
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Chou, EL;Chaffin, M;Simonson, B;Pirruccello, JP;Akkad, AD;Nekoui, M;Lino Cardenas, CL;Bedi, KC;Nash, C;Juric, D;Stone, JR;Isselbacher, EM;Margulies, KB;Klattenhoff, C;Ellinor, PT;Lindsay, ME;
PMID: 36172868 | DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.122.317953
Mural cells in ascending aortic aneurysms undergo phenotypic changes that promote extracellular matrix destruction and structural weakening. To explore this biology, we analyzed the transcriptional features of thoracic aortic tissue.Single-nuclear RNA sequencing was performed on 13 samples from human donors, 6 with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and 7 without aneurysm. Individual transcriptomes were then clustered based on transcriptional profiles. Clusters were used for between-disease differential gene expression analyses, subcluster analysis, and analyzed for intersection with genetic aortic trait data.We sequenced 71 689 nuclei from human thoracic aortas and identified 14 clusters, aligning with 11 cell types, predominantly vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) consistent with aortic histology. With unbiased methodology, we found 7 vascular smooth muscle cell and 6 fibroblast subclusters. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed a vascular smooth muscle cell group accounting for the majority of differential gene expression. Fibroblast populations in aneurysm exhibit distinct behavior with almost complete disappearance of quiescent fibroblasts. Differentially expressed genes were used to prioritize genes at aortic diameter and distensibility genome-wide association study loci highlighting the genes JUN, LTBP4 (latent transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1), and IL34 (interleukin 34) in fibroblasts, ENTPD1, PDLIM5 (PDZ and LIM domain 5), ACTN4 (alpha-actinin-4), and GLRX in vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as LRP1 in macrophage populations.Using nuclear RNA sequencing, we describe the cellular diversity of healthy and aneurysmal human ascending aorta. Sporadic aortic aneurysm is characterized by differential gene expression within known cellular classes rather than by the appearance of novel cellular forms. Single-nuclear RNA sequencing of aortic tissue can be used to prioritize genes at aortic trait loci.
Journal of Comparative Pathology
Gaide, N;Crispo, M;Jbenyeni, A;Croville, G;Vergne, T;Bleuart, C;Delverdier, M;Guérin, J;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2021.11.125
Introduction: Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious disease that, during the last few years, has been occurring with increased frequency in Europe. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is commonly used to demonstrate AI virus (AIV) antigens in affected tissues. Recent studies suggest that RNAscope in-situ hybridization outperforms IHC for viral detection in human tissues. This study aims to validate and compare RNAscope with IHC routinely used for the detection of AIV. Materials and Methods: RNAscope targeting the Influenza M gene and anti-influenza A virus nucleoprotein IHC were first performed on AIV positive (n=7) and negative tissues (n=6) collected between 2009 and 2021, including seven avian species (chicken, duck, guinea fowl, quail, turkey, goose and houbara bustard) and three different AIVs (H5N8, H5N9, H6N1). A Tissue Micro-Array (TMA) with 132 cores, including 44 triplicated organs (brain, lung, heart, spleen, pancreas) originating from nine mule ducks naturally infected with H5N8 (2020) was then used to compare techniques through computer-assisted quantitative analysis. Results: AIV nucleoprotein and M gene were detected in all positive tissues of all species and for all AIVs. All uninfected birds were negative. While IHC appeared affected by autolysis, the quality of the RNAscope signal remained unchanged. On the TMA, viral detection efficacy measurements revealed higher sensitivity with RNAscope compared with IHC, in particular for brain and heart tissues. Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate that RNAscope is a suitable and sensitive tool for the detection of AIV and encourage the development of additional probes for the detection of AIV subtypes.
Science translational medicine
Tavares-Ferreira, D;Shiers, S;Ray, PR;Wangzhou, A;Jeevakumar, V;Sankaranarayanan, I;Cervantes, AM;Reese, JC;Chamessian, A;Copits, BA;Dougherty, PM;Gereau, RW;Burton, MD;Dussor, G;Price, TJ;
PMID: 35171654 | DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj8186
Nociceptors are specialized sensory neurons that detect damaging or potentially damaging stimuli and are found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia. These neurons are critical for the generation of neuronal signals that ultimately create the perception of pain. Nociceptors are also primary targets for treating acute and chronic pain. Single-cell transcriptomics on mouse nociceptors has transformed our understanding of pain mechanisms. We sought to generate equivalent information for human nociceptors with the goal of identifying transcriptomic signatures of nociceptors, identifying species differences and potential drug targets. We used spatial transcriptomics to molecularly characterize transcriptomes of single DRG neurons from eight organ donors. We identified 12 clusters of human sensory neurons, 5 of which are C nociceptors, as well as 1 C low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), 1 Aβ nociceptor, 2 Aδ, 2 Aβ, and 1 proprioceptor subtypes. By focusing on expression profiles for ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and other pharmacological targets, we provided a rich map of potential drug targets in the human DRG with direct comparison to mouse sensory neuron transcriptomes. We also compared human DRG neuronal subtypes to nonhuman primates showing conserved patterns of gene expression among many cell types but divergence among specific nociceptor subsets. Last, we identified sex differences in human DRG subpopulation transcriptomes, including a marked increase in calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (CALCA) expression in female pruritogen receptor-enriched nociceptors. This comprehensive spatial characterization of human nociceptors might open the door to development of better treatments for acute and chronic pain disorders.
Touma, A;Vang, D;Tang, W;Rasicci, D;Rai, A;Previs, S;Warshaw, D;Yengo, C;Sivaramakrishnan, S;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.1468
Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) is an important regulator of cardiac muscle contraction and is commonly implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the mechanism of regulation by cMyBP-C remains unclear due to experimental challenges in dissecting the proposed weak, transient interactions with its binding partners. Here, we utilized a nanosurf assay, containing a synthetic b-cardiac myosin thick filament, to systematically probe cMyBP-C interactions with actin and myosin. Recombinant human b-cardiac myosin subfragments (HMM or S1) were attached to DNA nanotubes, with 14 or 28 nm spacing, similar to the myosin head spacing on native thick filaments. No significant difference in thin filament velocity was observed with 14 nm vs. 28 nm motor spacing. Various N-terminal fragments of cMyBP-C were interdigitated with b-cardiac myosin on DNA nanotubes via encoded SNAP tags labeled with sequence-specific oligo attachment strands. We recapitulated inhibition of thin filament motility on b-cardiac myosin HMM and S1 nanotubes by C0-C2 (4-6 fold) and C1-C2 (4-8 fold) N-terminal cMyBP-C fragments. Equivalent inhibition of b-cardiac myosin HMM and S1 subfragments suggests the actin-cMyBP-C interaction dominates this inhibitory mechanism. We found that a C0-C1f fragment lacking the majority of the M-domain did not inhibit b-cardiac myosin nanotube motility, confirming the importance of the M-domain in regulatory interactions. Diminished inhibition by C0-C2 and C1-C2 phosphomimetic fragments (2-3 fold higher velocity compared to their phosphonull counterparts) further highlights the importance of the phosphorylatable serines in the regulatory Mdomain. These results shed light on the mechanism of cMyBP-C and highlight the utility of the nanosurf as
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Muto, M;Chakraborty, D;Varberg, KM;Moreno-Irusta, A;Iqbal, K;Scott, RL;McNally, RP;Choudhury, RH;Aplin, JD;Okae, H;Arima, T;Matsumoto, S;Ema, M;Mast, AE;Grundberg, E;Soares, MJ;
PMID: 34876522 | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2111267118
Hemochorial placentation is characterized by the development of trophoblast cells specialized to interact with the uterine vascular bed. We utilized trophoblast stem (TS) cell and mutant rat models to investigate regulatory mechanisms controlling trophoblast cell development. TS cell differentiation was characterized by acquisition of transcript signatures indicative of an endothelial cell-like phenotype, which was highlighted by the expression of anticoagulation factors including tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). TFPI localized to invasive endovascular trophoblast cells of the rat placentation site. Disruption of TFPI in rat TS cells interfered with development of the endothelial cell-like endovascular trophoblast cell phenotype. Similarly, TFPI was expressed in human invasive/extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells situated within first-trimester human placental tissues and following differentiation of human TS cells. TFPI was required for human TS cell differentiation to EVT cells. We next investigated the physiological relevance of TFPI at the placentation site. Genome-edited global TFPI loss-of-function rat models revealed critical roles for TFPI in embryonic development, resulting in homogeneous midgestation lethality prohibiting analysis of the role of TFPI as a regulator of the late-gestation wave of intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion. In vivo trophoblast-specific TFPI knockdown was compatible with pregnancy but had profound effects at the uterine-placental interface, including restriction of the depth of intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion while leading to the accumulation of natural killer cells and increased fibrin deposition. Collectively, the experimentation implicates TFPI as a conserved regulator of invasive/EVT cell development, uterine spiral artery remodeling, and hemostasis at the maternal-fetal interface.
Hepatic mitochondrial SAB deletion or knockdown alleviates diet induced metabolic syndrome, steatohepatitis and hepatic fibrosis
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
Win, S;Min, RWM;Zhang, J;Kanel, G;Wanken, B;Chen, Y;Li, M;Wang, Y;Suzuki, A;Aung, FWM;Murray, SF;Aghajan, M;Than, TA;Kaplowitz, N;
PMID: 34331779 | DOI: 10.1002/hep.32083
The hepatic MAPK cascade leading to JNK activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver /non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFL/NASH). In acute hepatotoxicity we previously identified a pivotal role for mitochondrial SH3BP5 (SAB) as a target of JNK which sustains its activation through promotion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.Assess the role of hepatic SAB in experimental NASH and metabolic syndrome.In mice fed high-fat, high-calorie, high-fructose (HFHC) diet, SAB expression progressively increased through a sustained JNK/ATF2 activation loop. Inducible deletion of hepatic SAB markedly decreased sustained JNK activation and improved systemic energy expenditure at 8 weeks followed by decreased body fat at 16 weeks of HFHC diet. After 30 weeks mice treated with control-ASO developed steatohepatitis and fibrosis which was prevented by Sab-ASO treatment. P-JNK and P-ATF2 were markedly attenuated by Sab-ASO treatment. After 52 weeks of HFHC feeding control N-acetylgalactosamine antisense oligonucleotide (GalNAc-Ctl-ASO) treated mice fed the HFHC diet exhibited progression of steatohepatitis and fibrosis but GalNAc-Sab-ASO treatment from weeks 40 to 52 reversed these findings while decreasing hepatic SAB, P-ATF2, and P-JNK to chow fed levels.Hepatic SAB expression increases in HFHC diet fed mice. Deletion or knockdown of SAB inhibited sustained JNK activation and steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and systemic metabolic effects, suggesting that induction of hepatocyte Sab is an important driver of the interplay between the liver and the systemic metabolic consequences of overfeeding. In established NASH, hepatocyte targeted GalNAc-Sab-ASO treatment reversed steatohepatitis and fibrosis.This article is protected by
Diverse midbrain dopaminergic neuron subtypes and implications for complex clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Ageing and neurodegenerative diseases
Carmichael, K;Sullivan, B;Lopez, E;Sun, L;Cai, H;
PMID: 34532720 | DOI: 10.20517/and.2021.07
Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common degenerative movement disorder, is clinically manifested with various motor and non-motor symptoms. Degeneration of midbrain substantia nigra pas compacta (SNc) dopaminergic neurons (DANs) is generally attributed to the motor syndrome. The underlying neuronal mechanisms of non-motor syndrome are largely unexplored. Besides SNc, midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) DANs also produce and release dopamine and modulate movement, reward, motivation, and memory. Degeneration of VTA DANs also occurs in postmortem brains of PD patients, implying an involvement of VTA DANs in PD-associated non-motor symptoms. However, it remains to be established that there is a distinct segregation of different SNc and VTA DAN subtypes in regulating different motor and non-motor functions, and that different DAN subpopulations are differentially affected by normal ageing or PD. Traditionally, the distinction among different DAN subtypes was mainly based on the location of cell bodies and axon terminals. With the recent advance of single cell RNA sequencing technology, DANs can be readily classified based on unique gene expression profiles. A combination of specific anatomic and molecular markers shows great promise to facilitate the identification of DAN subpopulations corresponding to different behavior modules under normal and disease conditions. In this review, we first summarize the recent progress in characterizing genetically, anatomically, and functionally diverse midbrain DAN subtypes. Then, we provide perspectives on how the preclinical research on the connectivity and functionality of DAN subpopulations improves our current understanding of cell-type and circuit specific mechanisms of the disease, which could be critically informative for designing new mechanistic treatments.
Ineffective sham-blinding assessment during 2mA transcranial direct current stimulation.
Jackson, C;Turner, C;Learmonth, G;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.055
Non-invasive electrical stimulation methods are often used in experimental settings to investigate the possible modulation of antinociceptive mechanisms. Studies using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) typically incorporate a fade-in, short-stimulation, fade-out sham (placebo) protocol, which is assumed to be indistinct from a 10-30min active protocol on the scalp. However, many studies report that participants can dissociate active stimulation from sham, even during low-intensity 1mA currents. In the present study we assessed whether delivery of a high-intensity 2mA current would exacerbate differences in the perception of active and sham protocols. Two protocols were delivered to 32 healthy, pain-free adults in a double-blinded, within-subjects design (active: 10min of 2mA, and sham: 20s of 2mA), with the anode over the left primary motor cortex and the cathode on the right forehead. Participants were asked “Is the stimulation on?” and “How sure are you?” at 30s intervals during and after stimulation. The differences between active and sham were more consistent and sustained during 2mA than during 1mA. We then quantified how well participants were able to track the presence and absence of stimulation (i.e. their sensitivity) during the experiment using cross-correlations. A good classifier of sensitivity during active tDCS was current strength, but exhibited only moderate specificity during sham. The accuracy of the end-of-study guess was no better than chance at predicting sensitivity. Our results from this methodological approach indicate that the traditional end-of-study guess poorly reflects the sensitivity of participants to stimulation, and may not be a valid method of assessing sham blinding. Further research should be carried out into inter-individual responses to sham-blinding and assessment methods in pain studies and the broader neurostimulation field. Wellcome Trust.
Comprehensive genomic profiling and prognostic analysis of cervical gastric-type mucinous adenocarcinoma
Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology
Lu, S;Shi, J;Zhang, X;Kong, F;Liu, L;Dong, X;Wang, K;Shen, D;
PMID: 33817764 | DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03080-y
Gastric-type mucinous adenocarcinoma (GAS) is an uncommon cervical adenocarcinoma, which is not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Compared with HPV-associated cervical adenocarcinoma, GAS has characteristics of larger volume, deep invasion, and easy to metastasize to distant sites. Also, GAS is typically resistant to chemo/radiotherapy. Few studies have reported the molecular genetic characteristics of GAS. In order to investigate the molecular genetic characteristics of GAS and reveal its possible pathogenesis, 15 GAS patients were enrolled from Peking University People's Hospital (2009-2019) and examined with next-generation sequencing (NGS). Based on the clinicopathologic feature analysis, we found that the presence of lymph node metastasis and extensive lymphovascular invasion were associated with poor survival outcomes of GAS (p = 0.0042 and p = 0.005, respectively). Based on the NGS testing, our results showed that the most frequently mutated gene was TP53 (8/15, 53.3%), followed by STK11, CDKN2A, and ARID1A. STK11 mutations were more frequent in well-differentiated GAS (33.3% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.026) and patients with extensive lymphovascular invasion (33.3% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.044). Survival analysis revealed that STK11 mutations were significantly associated with the poor prognosis of GAS (p = 0.01). Our results also showed that mutations in the target drug were detected in 53.3% of GAS patients. Patients with ERBB2 amplification (13.3%) presented the highest level of evidence according to OncoKB recommendations. These results indicate that the genomic alterations of GAS mainly involved the cell cycle and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and some therapeutic candidates were identified in GAS patients.
