Tumor necrosis factor receptor subfamily 9 (Tnfrsf9) gene is expressed in distinct cell populations in mouse uterus and conceptus during implantation period of pregnancy

Proteomic analysis of plasma in healthy adults receiving recombinant vaccinia virus provides novel insights into HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still a global public health issue, and the development of an effective prophylactic vaccine inducing potent neutralizing antibodies remains a significant challenge. This study aims to explore the inflammation-related proteins associated with the neutralizing antibodies induced by the DNA/rTV vaccine. In this study, we employed the Olink chip to analyze the inflammation-related proteins in plasma in healthy individuals receiving HIV candidate vaccine (DNA priming and recombinant vaccinia virus rTV boosting) and compared the differences between neutralizing antibody-positive (nab + ) and -negative(nab-) groups. We identified 25 differentially expressed factors and conducted enrichment and correlation analysis on them. Our results revealed that significant expression differences in artemin (ARTN) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 23 (CCL23) between nab+ and -nab- groups. Notably, the expression of CCL23 was negatively corelated to the ID50 of neutralizing antibodies and the intensity of the CD4+ T cell responses. This study enriches our understanding of the immune picture induced by the DNA/rTV vaccine, and provides insights for future HIV vaccine development.

Characterization and application of a lactate and branched chain amino acid metabolism related gene signature in a prognosis risk model for multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

About 10% of hematologic malignancies are multiple myeloma (MM), an untreatable cancer. Although lactate and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are involved in supporting various tumor growth, it is unknown whether they have any bearing on MM prognosis.

METHODS

MM-related datasets (GSE4581, GSE136337, and TCGA-MM) were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Lactate and BCAA metabolism-related subtypes were acquired separately via the R package "ConsensusClusterPlus" in the GSE4281 dataset. The R package "limma" and Venn diagram were both employed to identify lactate-BCAA metabolism-related genes. Subsequently, a lactate-BCAA metabolism-related prognostic risk model for MM patients was constructed by univariate Cox, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and R package "clusterProfiler"were applied to explore the biological variations between two groups. Moreover, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCPcounte), and xCell techniques were applied to assess tumor microenvironment (TME) scores in MM. Finally, the drug's IC50 for treating MM was calculated using the "oncoPredict" package, and further drug identification was performed by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Cluster 1 demonstrated a worse prognosis than cluster 2 in both lactate metabolism-related subtypes and BCAA metabolism-related subtypes. 244 genes were determined to be involved in lactate-BCAA metabolism in MM. The prognostic risk model was constructed by CKS2 and LYZ selected from this group of genes for MM, then the prognostic risk model was also stable in external datasets. For the high-risk group, a total of 13 entries were enriched. 16 entries were enriched to the low-risk group. Immune scores, stromal scores, immune infiltrating cells (except Type 17 T helper cells in ssGSEA algorithm), and 168 drugs'IC50 were statistically different between two groups. Alkylating potentially serves as a new agent for MM treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

CKS2 and LYZ were identified as lactate-BCAA metabolism-related genes in MM, then a novel prognostic risk model was built by using them. In summary, this research may uncover novel characteristic genes signature for the treatment and prognostic of MM.

Mapping the single-cell landscape of acral melanoma and analysis of the molecular regulatory network of the tumor microenvironments

Acral melanoma (AM) exhibits a high incidence in Asian patients with melanoma, and it is not well treated with immunotherapy. However, little attention has been paid to the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in AM. Therefore, in this study, we collected clinical samples from Chinese patients with AM and conducted single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the heterogeneity of its tumor microenvironments (TMEs) and the molecular regulatory network. Our analysis revealed that genes, such as TWIST1, EREG, TNFRSF9, and CTGF could drive the deregulation of various TME components. The molecular interaction relationships between TME cells, such as MIF-CD44 and TNFSF9-TNFRSF9, might be an attractive target for developing novel immunotherapeutic agents.

Acral melanoma is a type of cancer that affects the hands and feet. It tends to form on the palms, soles, and under the nails. It is rare in people of European descent, but in Asian populations it makes up more than half of all melanoma cases. Unlike other types of skin cancer, it does not respond well to immunotherapy, but scientists did not understand why.

Historically, cancer research has focused on the genetics of whole tumors. But cancer is complicated. Malignant cells recruit other cells to help them survive and grow, and to protect them from attacks by the immune system. Together, they create their own ecosystem, called the tumor microenvironment. The exact makeup of the tumor microenvironment differs depending on the type of cancer and on the genetics of the individual. Investigating the cells that ‘support’ the tumor could help to explain how acral melanoma develops and why it does not respond to treatment.

To address these questions, He et al. collected samples from six patients with acral melanoma and examined the genes used by more than 60,000 individual cells. This revealed nine different types of cells in the tumor microenvironment. Most were cancer cells, but there were also immune cells, blood vessel cells, skin cells, and a type of cell that makes connective tissue. He et al. also identified four genes that most likely shape the tumor microenvironment, and two gene pairs that may control some of the interactions between the cells.

Investigating these early findings in more detail could open new treatment avenues for acral melanoma. The number of samples in this study was small, but it provides a starting point for future investigation. With more data, researchers could start to develop treatments that target the unique tumor microenvironment of this type of cancer.

Hyaluronan control of the primary vascular barrier during early mouse pregnancy is mediated by uterine NK cells

Successful implantation is associated with a unique spatial pattern of vascular remodeling, characterized by profound peripheral neovascularization surrounding a periembryo avascular niche. We hypothesized that hyaluronan controls the formation of this distinctive vascular pattern encompassing the embryo. This hypothesis was evaluated by genetic modification of hyaluronan metabolism, specifically targeted to embryonic trophoblast cells. The outcome of altered hyaluronan deposition on uterine vascular remodeling and postimplantation development were analyzed by MRI, detailed histological examinations, and RNA sequencing of uterine NK cells. Our experiments revealed that disruption of hyaluronan synthesis, as well as its increased cleavage at the embryonic niche, impaired implantation by induction of decidual vascular permeability, defective vascular sinus folds formation, breach of the maternal-embryo barrier, elevated MMP-9 expression, and interrupted uterine NK cell recruitment and function. Conversely, enhanced deposition of hyaluronan resulted in the expansion of the maternal-embryo barrier and increased diffusion distance, leading to compromised implantation. The deposition of hyaluronan at the embryonic niche is regulated by progesterone-progesterone receptor signaling. These results demonstrate a pivotal role for hyaluronan in successful pregnancy by fine-tuning the periembryo avascular niche and maternal vascular morphogenesis.

Hyaluronan fine-tunes the periembryo avascular niche and maternal vascular morphogenesis during implantation.

Perspectives in glycomics and lectin engineering

This chapter would like to provide a short survey of the most promising concepts applied recently in analysis of glycoproteins based on lectins. The first part describes the most exciting analytical approaches used in the field of glycoprofiling based on integration of nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, or nanochannels or using novel transducing platforms allowing to detect very low levels of glycoproteins in a label-free mode of operation. The second part describes application of recombinant lectins containing several tags applied for oriented and ordered immobilization of lectins. Besides already established concepts of glycoprofiling several novel aspects, which we think will be taken into account for future, more robust glycan analysis, are described including modified lectins, peptide lectin aptamers, and DNA aptamers with lectin-like specificity introduced by modified nucleotides. The last part of the chapter describes a novel concept of a glycocodon, which can lead to a better understanding of glycan-lectin interaction and for design of novel lectins with unknown specificities and/or better affinities toward glycan target or for rational design of peptide lectin aptamers or DNA aptamers.

Maternal age effects on myometrial expression of contractile proteins, uterine gene expression, and contractile activity during labor in the rat

Advanced maternal age of first time pregnant mothers is associated with prolonged and dysfunctional labor and significant risk of emergency cesarean section. We investigated the influence of maternal age on myometrial contractility, expression of contractile associated proteins (CAPs), and global gene expression in the parturient uterus. Female Wistar rats either 8 (YOUNG n = 10) or 24 (OLDER n = 10) weeks old were fed laboratory chow, mated, and killed during parturition. Myometrial strips were dissected to determine contractile activity, cholesterol (CHOL) and triglycerides (TAG) content, protein expression of connexin-43 (GJA1), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and caveolin 1 (CAV-1). Maternal plasma concentrations of prostaglandins PGE2, PGF2α, and progesterone were determined by RIA. Global gene expression in uterine samples was compared using Affymetrix Genechip Gene 2.0 ST arrays and Ingenuity Pathway analysis (IPA). Spontaneous contractility in myometrium exhibited by YOUNG rats was threefold greater than OLDER animals (P < 0.027) but maternal age had no significant effect on myometrial CAP expression, lipid profiles, or pregnancy-related hormones. OLDER myometrium increased contractile activity in response to PGF2α, phenylephrine, and carbachol, a response absent in YOUNG rats (all P < 0.002). Microarray analysis identified that maternal age affected expression of genes related to immune and inflammatory responses, lipid transport and metabolism, steroid metabolism, tissue remodeling, and smooth muscle contraction. In conclusion YOUNG laboring rat myometrium seems primed to contract maximally, whereas activity is blunted in OLDER animals and requires stimulation to meet contractile potential. Further work investigating maternal age effects on myometrial function is required with focus on lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals T helper cells synthesizing steroids de novo to contribute to immune homeostasis

T helper 2 (Th2) cells regulate helminth infections, allergic disorders, tumor immunity, and pregnancy by secreting various cytokines. It is likely that there are undiscovered Th2 signaling molecules. Although steroids are known to be immunoregulators, de novo steroid production from immune cells has not been previously characterized. Here, we demonstrate production of the steroid pregnenolone by Th2 cells in vitro and in vivo in a helminth infection model. Single-cell RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR analysis suggest that pregnenolone synthesis in Th2 cells is related to immunosuppression. In support of this, we show that pregnenolone inhibits Th cell proliferation and B cell immunoglobulin class switching. We also show that steroidogenic Th2 cells inhibit Th cell proliferation in a Cyp11a1 enzyme-dependent manner. We propose pregnenolone as a “lymphosteroid,” a steroid produced by lymphocytes. We speculate that this de novo steroid production may be an intrinsic phenomenon of Th2-mediated immune responses to actively restore immune homeostasis.

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Differential upregulation of the steroid biosynthetic pathway during Th2 differentiation

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T helper cells produce the steroid pregnenolone in vitro and in vivo

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Steroidogenic Th2 cells suppress Th cell proliferation in a Cyp11a1-dependent manner

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Pregnenolone inhibits B cell immunoglobulin class switching in vitro

Genome wide screening of candidate genes for improving piglet birth weight using high and low estimated breeding value populations

Birth weight is an economically important trait in pig production because it directly impacts piglet growth and survival rate. In the present study, we performed a genome wide survey of candidate genes and pathways associated with individual birth weight (IBW) using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip on 24 high (HEBV) and 24 low estimated breeding value (LEBV) animals. These animals were selected from a reference population of 522 individuals produced by three sires and six dam lines, which were crossbreds with multiple breeds. After quality-control, 43,257 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), including 42,243 autosomal SNPs and 1,014 SNPs on chromosome X, were used in the data analysis. A total of 27 differentially selected regions (DSRs), including 1 on Sus scrofa chromosome 1 (SSC1), 1 on SSC4, 2 on SSC5, 4 on SSC6, 2 on SSC7, 5 on SSC8, 3 on SSC9, 1 on SSC14, 3 on SSC18, and 5 on SSCX, were identified to show the genome wide separations between the HEBV and LEBV groups for IBW in piglets. A DSR with the most number of significant SNPs (including 7 top 0.1% and 31 top 5% SNPs) was located on SSC6, while another DSR with the largest genetic differences in F_ST was found on SSC18. These regions harbor known functionally important genes involved in growth and development, such as TNFRSF9 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9), CA6 (carbonic anhydrase VI) and MDFIC (MyoD family inhibitor domain containing). A DSR rich in imprinting genes appeared on SSC9, which included PEG10 (paternally expressed 10), SGCE (sarcoglycan, epsilon), PPP1R9A (protein phosphatase 1, regulatory subunit 9A) and ASB4 (ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 4). More importantly, our present study provided evidence to support six quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions for pig birth weight, six QTL regions for average birth weight (ABW) and three QTL regions for litter birth weight (LBW) reported previously by other groups. Furthermore, gene ontology analysis with 183 genes harbored in these 27 DSRs suggested that protein, metal, ion and ATP binding, viral process and innate immune response present important pathways for deciphering their roles in fetal growth or development. Overall, our study provides useful information on candidate genes and pathways for regulating birth weight in piglets, thus improving our understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in porcine embryonic or fetal development.

4-1BB signaling breaks the tolerance of maternal CD8+ T cells that are reactive with alloantigens

4-1BB (CD137, TNFRSF9), a member of the activation-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is a powerful T-cell costimulatory molecule. It generally enhances CD8(+) T responses and even breaks the tolerance of CD8(+) T cells in an antigen-specific manner. In the present study we found that it was expressed in the placentas of pregnant mice and that its expression coincided with that of the immunesuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Therefore, we investigated whether 4-1BB signaling is involved in fetal rejection using agonistic anti-4-1BB mAb and 4-1BB-deficient mice. Treatment with agonistic anti-4-1BB mAb markedly increased the rate of rejection of allogeneic but not syngeneic fetuses, and this was primarily dependent on CD8(+) T cells. Complement component 3 (C3) seemed to be the effector molecule because 4-1BB triggering resulting in accumulation of C3 in the placenta, and this accumulation was also reversed by anti-CD8 mAb treatment. These findings demonstrate that 4-1BB triggering breaks the tolerance of CD8(+) T cells to alloantigens in the placenta. Moreover, triggering 4-1BB protected the pregnant mice from Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection, but led to rejection of semi-allogeneic fetuses. Therefore, given the cross-recognition of alloantigen by pathogen-reactive CD8(+) T cells, the true function of 4-1BB may be to reverse the hypo-responsiveness of pathogen-reactive CD8(+) T cells in the placenta in cases of infection, even if that risks losing the fetus.

Angiopoietin-like gene expression in the mouse uterus during implantation and in response to steroids

The purpose of this work was to determine if and where Angiopoietin-like genes are expressed in the mouse uterus during the implantation period of pregnancy and to determine if uterine expression of such genes is controlled by estrogen or progesterone. We found that all six known murine angiopoietin-like genes were expressed in the mouse uterus during implantation. The expression of four genes was controlled by either estrogen or progesterone. Only the levels of angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) mRNA dramatically increased in implantation segments of the uterus during decidualization and was conceptus-independent. Due to this increased expression and the fact that angiopoietin-like 4 protein plays a role in lipid metabolism and angiogenesis in other tissues, only the expression of Angptl4 was further examined in the uterus and developing placenta. Angptl4 mRNA was localized to subpopulations of the endometrial stromal fibroblast and endothelial cell populations during decidualization. It was also localized to the ectoplacental cone, trophoblast giant cells and parietal endoderm of the conceptus at this time. By mid-pregnancy, Angptl4 mRNA was localized mainly to the mesometrial lymphoid aggregate region plus mesometrial endothelial cells of the uterus, as well as in various cell types of the conceptus. Additional work showed that Angptl4 expression increases in mouse endometrial stromal cells as they undergo decidualization in vitro. As in other cell types, the expression of Angptl4 in endometrial stromal cells was increased in response to an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors. Taken together, the results of this work support the hypothesis that locally expressed Angptl4 might play a role in local uterine/placental lipid metabolism and vascular changes during implantation and thus provide a basis for future research.

Analysis of uterine gene expression in interleukin-15 knockout mice reveals uterine natural killer cells do not play a major role in decidualization and associated angiogenesis

During decidualization, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are the most abundant immune cell types found in the uterus. Although it is well known that they play key roles in spiral arteriole modification and the maintenance of decidual integrity seen after mid-pregnancy, their roles in the differentiation of decidual cells and accompanying angiogenesis during the process of decidualization is less well characterized. To address this, we used whole-genome Illumina BeadChip analysis to compare the gene expression profiles in implantation segments of the uterus during decidualization on day 7.5 of pregnancy between wild-type and uNK cell-deficient (interleukin-15-knockout) mice. We found almost 300 differentially expressed genes and verified the differential expression of ~60 using quantitative RT-PCR. Notably, there was a lack of differential expression of genes involved in decidualization and angiogenesis and this was also verified by quantitative RT-PCR. Similar endothelial cell densities and proliferation indices were also found in the endometrium between the implantation site tissues of wild-type and knockout mice undergoing decidualization. Overall, the results of this study reveal that uNK cells likely do not play a major role in decidualization and accompanying angiogenesis during implantation. In addition, the study identifies a large number of genes whose expression in implantation-site uterine tissue during decidualization depends on interleukin-15 expression in mice.