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Lapp T, Kammrath Betancor P, Schlunck G, Auw-Hädrich C, Maier P, Lange C, Reinhard T, Wolf J. Transcriptional profiling specifies the pathogen-specific human host response to infectious keratitis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1285676. [PMID: 38274739 PMCID: PMC10808294 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1285676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Corneal infections are a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Here we applied high-resolution transcriptomic profiling to assess the general and pathogen-specific molecular and cellular mechanisms during human corneal infection. Methods Clinical diagnoses of herpes simplex virus (HSV) (n=5) and bacterial/fungal (n=5) keratitis were confirmed by histology. Healthy corneas (n=7) and keratoconus (n=4) samples served as controls. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human corneal specimens were analyzed using the 3' RNA sequencing method Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE RNA-seq). The cellular host response was investigated using comprehensive bioinformatic deconvolution (xCell and CYBERSORTx) analyses and by integration with published single cell RNA-seq data of the human cornea. Results Our analysis identified 216 and 561 genes, that were specifically overexpressed in viral or bacterial/fungal keratitis, respectively, and allowed to distinguish the two etiologies. The virus-specific host response was driven by adaptive immunity and associated molecular signaling pathways, whereas the bacterial/fungal-specific host response mainly involved innate immunity signaling pathways and cell types. We identified several genes and pathways involved in the host response to infectious keratitis, including CXCL9, CXCR3, and MMP9 for viral, and S100A8/A9, MMP9, and the IL17 pathway for bacterial/fungal keratitis. Conclusions High-resolution molecular profiling provides new insights into the human corneal host response to viral and bacterial/fungal infection. Pathogen-specific molecular profiles may provide the foundation for novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic approaches that target inflammation-induced damage to corneal host cells with the goal to improve the outcome of infectious keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Paola Kammrath Betancor
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Claudia Auw-Hädrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Philip Maier
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Omics Laboratory, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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2
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Zong L, Zhu Y, Jiang Y, Xia Y, Liu Q, Jiang S. A comprehensive assessment of exome capture methods for RNA sequencing of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:777. [PMID: 38102591 PMCID: PMC10722801 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-Seq analysis of Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples has emerged as a highly effective approach and is increasingly being used in clinical research and drug development. However, the processing and storage of FFPE samples are known to cause extensive degradation of RNAs, which limits the discovery of gene expression or gene fusion-based biomarkers using RNA sequencing, particularly methods reliant on Poly(A) enrichment. Recently, researchers have developed an exome targeted RNA-Seq methodology that utilizes biotinylated oligonucleotide probes to enrich RNA transcripts of interest, which could overcome these limitations. Nevertheless, the standardization of this experimental framework, including probe designs, sample multiplexing, sequencing read length, and bioinformatic pipelines, remains an essential requirement. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of three main commercially available exome capture kits and evaluated key experimental parameters, to provide the overview of the advantages and limitations associated with the selection of library preparation protocols and sequencing platforms. The results provide valuable insights into the best practices for obtaining high-quality data from FFPE samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zong
- Wuhan BGI Technology Service Co., Ltd. BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yabing Zhu
- BGI Tech Solutions Co., Ltd. BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Wuhan BGI Technology Service Co., Ltd. BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Xia
- Wuhan BGI Technology Service Co., Ltd. BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Qun Liu
- Wuhan BGI Technology Service Co., Ltd. BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Sanjie Jiang
- BGI Tech Solutions Co., Ltd. BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.
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3
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Koll FJ, Döring C, Herwig L, Hoeh B, Wenzel M, Cano Garcia C, Banek S, Kluth L, Köllermann J, Weigert A, Chun FKH, Wild P, Reis H. Impact of consensus molecular subtypes on survival with and without adjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer. J Clin Pathol 2023:jcp-2023-208973. [PMID: 37989554 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2023-208973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Adjuvant chemotherapy after radical cystectomy can reduce the risk of recurrence and death in advanced muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (MIBC). Molecular subtypes have been shown to be associated with survival. However, their predictive value to guide treatment decisions is controversial and data to use subtypes as guidance for adjuvant chemotherapy is sparse. We aimed to assess survival rates based on MIBC consensus molecular subtypes with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS Gene expression profiles of 143 patients with MIBC undergoing radical cystectomy were determined from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimen to assign consensus molecular subtypes. Expression of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and immune cell infiltration were determined using multiplex immunofluorescence. Matched-pair analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) for molecular subtypes applying Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analyses. RESULTS Samples were luminal papillary: 9.1% (n=13), luminal non-specified: 6.3% (n=9), luminal unstable: 4.9% (n=7), stroma-rich: 27.9% (n=40), basal/squamous (Ba/Sq): 48.9% (n=70) and neuroendocrine-like (NE-like): 2.8% (n=4). Ba/Sq tumours had the highest concentration of PD-L1+ tumour and immune cells. Patients with luminal subtypes had better OS than those with NE-like (HR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.7, p<0.05) and Ba/Sq (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9, p<0.05). No survival benefit with adjuvant chemotherapy was observed for luminal tumours, whereas Ba/Sq had significantly improved survival rates with adjuvant chemotherapy. Retrospective design and sample size are the main limitations. CONCLUSION Consensus molecular subtypes can be used to stratify patients with MIBC. Luminal tumours have the best prognosis and less benefit when receiving adjuvant chemotherapy compared with Ba/Sq tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florestan J Koll
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Claudia Döring
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Leon Herwig
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Benedikt Hoeh
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Mike Wenzel
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Cristina Cano Garcia
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Severine Banek
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Luis Kluth
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Jens Köllermann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Weigert
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Felix K-H Chun
- Department of Urology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Peter Wild
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Henning Reis
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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4
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Koll FJ, Döring C, Olah C, Szarvas T, Köllermann J, Hoeh B, Chun FKH, Reis H, Wild PJ. Optimizing identification of consensus molecular subtypes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a comparison of two sequencing methods and gene sets using FFPE specimens. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:504. [PMID: 37270477 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11016-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular subtypes predict prognosis in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and are explored as predictive markers. To provide a common base for molecular subtyping and facilitate clinical applications, a consensus classification has been developed. However, methods to determine consensus molecular subtypes require validation, particularly when FFPE specimens are used. Here, we aimed to evaluate two gene expression analysis methods on FFPE samples and to compare reduced gene sets to classify tumors into molecular subtypes. METHODS RNA was isolated from FFPE blocks of 15 MIBC patients. Massive analysis of 3' cDNA ends (MACE) and the HTG transcriptome panel (HTP) were used to retrieve gene expression. We used normalized, log2-transformed data to call consensus and TCGA subtypes with the consensusMIBC package for R using all available genes, a 68-gene panel (ESSEN1), and a 48-gene panel (ESSEN2). RESULTS Fifteen MACE-samples and 14 HTP-samples were available for molecular subtyping. The 14 samples were classified as Ba/Sq in 7 (50%), LumP in 2 (14.3%), LumU in 1 (7.1%), LumNS in 1 (7.1%), stroma-rich in 2 (14.3%) and NE-like in 1 (7.1%) case based on MACE- or HTP-derived transcriptome data. Consensus subtypes were concordant in 71% (10/14) of cases when comparing MACE with HTP data. Four cases with aberrant subtypes had a stroma-rich molecular subtype with either method. The overlap of the molecular consensus subtypes with the reduced ESSEN1 and ESSEN2 panels were 86% and 100%, respectively, with HTP data and 86% with MACE data. CONCLUSION Determination of consensus molecular subtypes of MIBC from FFPE samples is feasible using various RNA sequencing methods. Inconsistent classification mainly involves the stroma-rich molecular subtype, which may be the consequence of sample heterogeneity with (stroma)-cell sampling bias and highlights the limitations of bulk RNA-based subclassification. Classification is still reliable when analysis is reduced to selected genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florestan J Koll
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University Hospital, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, University Hospital, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
| | - Claudia Döring
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Csilla Olah
- Department of Urology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tibor Szarvas
- Department of Urology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Urology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jens Köllermann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Benedikt Hoeh
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Felix K-H Chun
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Henning Reis
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Peter J Wild
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University Hospital, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), 60438, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
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Majed SO, Mustafa SA. The profiles of miR-4510 expression level in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2262. [PMID: 36755123 PMCID: PMC9908886 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25292-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA that is abnormally produced in breast cells can disrupt biological processes, which can lead to cancer. This study aims to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and ncRNAs (DEncRNAs) in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of breast cancer (BC) as compared with the normal adjacent tissues (NAT), and identify miR-4510 as a novel biomarker of BC. This study looked at differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using MACE-Seq and differentially expressed ncRNAs (DEncRNAs) using the small RNA-Seq. Real-time qPCR was used to determine the level of expression of miR-4510. In this study, MACE-Seq results showed that 26,795 genes, with a p-value < 0.05, were differentially expressed in BC paraffin tissues as compared with NAT. Small RNA-Seq results revealed that 1326 ncRNAs, with a p-value < 0.05, were differentially expressed. We confirmed that miR-4510 was significantly down-expressed (p-value = 0.001) by qRT-PCR in the paraffin tissue of 120 BC patients. Based on eleven computational prediction programs, TP53, TP53INP1, MMP11, and COL1A1 for the miR-4510 were identified as miR-4510 targets. The MACE-seq result showed that the gene of TP53 (p-value = 0.001) and TP53INP1 (p-value = 0.02) was significantly down-regulated, but the gene of MMP11 (p-value = 0.004) and COL1A1 (p-value = 0.0001) was significantly over-expressed in 20 paired specimens of the BC and NAT. We discovered that a single SNP inside the miR-4510 binding site occurred only in BC, in which Guanine (G) changed into Adenine (A). Two SNPs outside the miR-4510 binding site occurred, and Guanine (G) in both BC and NAT was changed into Thymine (T), as compared to the reference sequence (RefSeq). Overall, our results suggested that miR-4510 functions as a tumor suppressor in the BC. Mir-4510 may act as a tumor suppressor, however additional experimental data is needed to corroborate these assumptions and can be exploited as a biomarker for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevan Omer Majed
- Biology Department, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Suhad Asad Mustafa
- General Directorate of Scientific Research Center, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq.
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6
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Lebedeva MA, Dobychkina DA, Yashenkova YS, Romanyuk DA, Lutova LA. Local and systemic targets of the MtCLE35-SUNN pathway in the roots of Medicago truncatula. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 281:153922. [PMID: 36669364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
CLE (CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION-related) peptides are systemic regulators of legume-rhizobium symbiosis that negatively control the number of nitrogen-fixing nodules. CLE peptides are produced in the root in response to rhizobia inoculation and/or nitrate treatment and are transported to the shoot where they are recognized by the CLV1-like (CLAVATA1-like) receptor kinase. As a result, a shoot-derived signaling pathway is activated that inhibits subsequent nodule development in the root. In Medicago truncatula, MtCLE35 is activated in response to rhizobia and nitrate treatment and the overexpression of this gene systemically inhibits nodulation. The inhibitory effect of MtCLE35 overexpression is dependent on the CLV1-like receptor kinase MtSUNN (SUPER NUMERIC NODULES), suggesting that MtSUNN could be involved in the reception of the MtCLE35 peptide. Yet little is known about the downstream genes regulated by a MtCLE35-activated response in the root. In order to identify genes whose expression levels could be regulated by the MtCLE35-MtSUNN pathway, we performed a MACE-Seq (Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends) transcriptomic analysis of MtCLE35-overexpressing roots. Among upregulated genes, the gene MtSUNN that encodes a putative receptor of MtCLE35 was detected. Moreover, we found that MtSUNN, as well as several other differentially expressed genes, were upregulated locally in MtCLE35-overexpressing roots whereas the MtTML1 and MtTML2 genes were upregulated systemically. Our data suggest that MtCLE35 has both local and systemic effects on target genes in the root.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Lebedeva
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb.7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
| | - D A Dobychkina
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb.7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ya S Yashenkova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb.7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - D A Romanyuk
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), Laboratory of Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Podbelsky Sh. 3, 196608, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - L A Lutova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb.7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia; Center for Genetic Technologies, N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), 190000 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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7
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Transcriptional Profiling Identifies Prognostic Gene Signatures for Conjunctival Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010115. [PMID: 36671500 PMCID: PMC9855408 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This study characterizes the transcriptional profile and the cellular tumor microenvironment of conjunctival extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) and identifies prognostically relevant biomarkers. Ten formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded conjunctival EMZL and eight healthy conjunctival specimens were analyzed by Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE) RNA sequencing. The 3417 upregulated genes in conjunctival EMZL were involved in processes such as B cell proliferation and Rac protein signaling, whereas the 1188 downregulated genes contributed most significantly to oxidative phosphorylation and UV protection. The tumor microenvironment, as determined by deconvolution analysis, was mainly composed of multiple B cell subtypes which reflects the tumor's B cell lineage. However, several T cell types, including T helper 2 cells and regulatory T cells, as well as innate immune cell types, such as anti-inflammatory macrophages and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, were also strongly enriched in conjunctival EMZL. A 13-biomarker prognostic panel, including S100A8 and S100A9, classified ocular and extraocular tumor recurrence, exceeded prognostic accuracy of Ann Arbor and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, and demonstrated prognostic value for patient survival in 21 different cancer types in a database of 12,332 tumor patients. These findings may lead to new options of targeted therapy and may improve prognostic prediction for conjunctival EMZL.
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8
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Wolf J, Lapp T, Reinhard T, Agostini H, Schlunck G, Lange C. Web-based gene expression analysis-paving the way to decode healthy and diseased ocular tissue. DIE OPHTHALMOLOGIE 2023; 120:59-65. [PMID: 36098765 PMCID: PMC9469811 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-022-01721-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression analysis using RNA sequencing has helped to improve the understanding of many diseases. Databases, such as the Gene Expression Omnibus database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information provide RNA sequencing raw data from various diseased tissue types but their analysis requires advanced bioinformatics skills. Therefore, specific ocular databases provide the transcriptional profiles of different ocular tissues and in addition enable intuitive web-based data analysis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of ocular transcriptome databases and to compare them with the Human Eye Transcriptome Atlas newly established in Freiburg. METHODS PubMed literature search. RESULTS A total of nine ocular transcriptome databases focusing on different aspects were identified. The iSyTE and Express platforms specialize in gene expression during lens and retinal development in mice, whereas retina.tigem.it, Eye in a Disk, and Spectacle focus on selected ocular tissues such as the retina. Spectacle, UCSC Cell Browser and Single Cell Portal allow intuitive exploration of single cell RNA sequencing data derived from retinal, choroid, cornea, iris, trabecular meshwork and sclera specimens. The microarray profiles of a variety of healthy ocular tissues are included in the Ocular Tissue Database. The Human Eye Transcriptome Atlas provides the largest collection of different ocular tissue types, contains the highest number of ocular diseases and is characterized by a high level of quality achieved by methodological consistency. CONCLUSION Ocular transcriptome databases provide comprehensive and intuitive insights into the transcriptional profiles of a variety of healthy and diseased ocular tissues. Thus, they improve our understanding of the underlying molecular mediators, support hypothesis generation and help in the search for new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for various ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany.
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9
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Wolf J, Lange C, Reinhard T, Schlunck G. [Next-generation sequencing in ophthalmology]. DIE OPHTHALMOLOGIE 2022; 119:1317-1328. [PMID: 36418561 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-022-01765-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
New methods for basic research are finding their way into ophthalmology and expand the options for research, diagnostics and treatment. This article centers on the study of gene activity in cells and tissues by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Following a brief introduction to the basic principles of NGS, this article focuses on transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing using examples from ophthalmology. The RNA sequencing provides a comprehensive and unbiased overview of gene activity in cells and tissues and thus forms an important foundation for generating new testable scientific hypotheses. It thus contributes to the in-depth characterization of pathological changes and supports the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland.,Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland.,Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Clemens Lange
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland.,Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland.,Ophtha-Lab, Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital, Münster, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland.,Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland. .,Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland.
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10
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Wolf J, Kammrath Betancor P, Maier P, Heinzelmann SU, Jiang J, Lange C, Reinhard T, Schlunck G, Lapp T. Transcriptional Profiling Provides New Insights into Organ Culture-Induced Changes in Human Donor Corneas. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314507. [PMID: 36498835 PMCID: PMC9735924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal transplantation is one of the most common forms of tissue transplantation worldwide. Donor corneal tissue used in transplantation is provided by eye banks, which store the tissue in culture medium after procurement. To date, the effects of cell culture on human corneal tissue have not been fully elucidated. Using the 3' RNA sequencing method for massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE), we show that cultivation of corneal tissue leads to significant changes in a variety of molecular processes in human corneal tissue that go well beyond aspects of previously known culture effects. Functionally grouped network analysis revealed nine major groups of biological processes that were affected by corneal organ culture, among them keratinization, hypoxia, and angiogenesis, with genes from each group being affected by culture time. A cell type deconvolution analysis revealed significant modulations of the corneal immune cell profile in a time dependent manner. The results suggest that current culture conditions should be further refined and that prolonged cultivation may be detrimental. Recently, we showed that MACE enables transcriptional profiling of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) conjunctival tissue with high accuracy even after more than 10 years of storage. Here we demonstrate that MACE provides comparable results for native and FFPE corneal tissue, confirming that the technology is suitable for transcriptome analysis of a wide range of archived diseased corneal samples stored in histological archives. Finally, our data underscore the feasibility of bioinformatics cell-type enrichment analysis in bulk RNA-seq data to profile immune cell composition in fixed and archived corneal tissue samples, for which RNA-seq analysis of individual cells is often not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Omics Laboratory, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Paola Kammrath Betancor
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Philip Maier
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Sonja Ute Heinzelmann
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jana Jiang
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, 48145 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (T.L.)
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11
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Transcriptional and Distributional Profiling of Microglia in Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073443. [PMID: 35408803 PMCID: PMC8998238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Macular neovascularization type 3, formerly known as retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), is a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration and is associated with an accumulation of myeloid cells, such as microglia (MG) and infiltrating blood-derived macrophages (MAC). However, the contribution of MG and MAC to the myeloid cell pool at RAP sites and their exact functions remain unknown. In this study, we combined a microglia-specific reporter mouse line with a mouse model for RAP to identify the contribution of MG and MAC to myeloid cell accumulation at RAP and determined the transcriptional profile of MG using RNA sequencing. We found that MG are the most abundant myeloid cell population around RAP, whereas MAC are rarely, if ever, associated with late stages of RAP. RNA sequencing of RAP-associated MG showed that differentially expressed genes mainly contribute to immune-associated processes, including chemotaxis and migration in early RAP and proliferative capacity in late RAP, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, MG upregulated only a few angiomodulatory factors, suggesting a rather low angiogenic potential. In summary, we showed that MG are the dominant myeloid cell population at RAP sites. Moreover, MG significantly altered their transcriptional profile during RAP formation, activating immune-associated processes and exhibiting enhanced proliferation, however, without showing substantial upregulation of angiomodulatory factors.
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12
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Wolf J, Boneva S, Rosmus DD, Agostini H, Schlunck G, Wieghofer P, Schlecht A, Lange C. In-Depth Molecular Profiling Specifies Human Retinal Microglia Identity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:863158. [PMID: 35371110 PMCID: PMC8971200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the retina and brain, being critically involved in organ development, tissue homeostasis, and response to cellular damage. Until now, little is known about the molecular signature of human retinal microglia and how it differs from the one of brain microglia and peripheral monocytes. In addition, it is not yet clear to what extent murine retinal microglia resemble those of humans, which represents an important prerequisite for translational research. The present study applies fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate human retinal microglia from enucleated eyes and compares their transcriptional profile with the one of whole retinal tissue, human brain microglia as well as classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes. Finally, human retinal microglia are compared to murine retinal microglia, isolated from Cx3cr1GFP/+ mice. Whereas human retinal microglia exhibited a high grade of similarity in comparison to their counterparts in the brain, several enriched genes were identified in retinal microglia when compared to whole retinal tissue, as well as classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes. In relation to whole retina sequencing, several risk genes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) were preferentially expressed in retinal microglia, indicating their potential pathophysiological involvement. Although a high degree of similarity was observed between human and murine retinal microglia, several species-specific genes were identified, which should be kept in mind when employing mouse models to investigate retinal microglia biology. In summary, this study provides detailed insights into the molecular profile of human retinal microglia, identifies a plethora of tissue-specific and species-specific genes in comparison to human brain microglia and murine retinal microglia, and thus highlights the significance of retinal microglia in human retinal diseases and for translational research approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Wieghofer
- Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Cellular Neuroanatomy, Institute of Theoretical Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Clemens Lange,
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13
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Wolf J, Lapp T, Reinhard T, Agostini H, Schlunck G, Lange C. [Web-based gene expression analysis-paving the way to decode healthy and diseased ocular tissue]. Ophthalmologe 2022; 119:929-936. [PMID: 35194679 PMCID: PMC8863098 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-022-01592-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression analysis using RNA sequencing has helped to improve the understanding of many diseases. Databases, such as the Gene Expression Omnibus database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information provide RNA sequencing raw data from various diseased tissue types but their analysis requires advanced bioinformatics skills. Therefore, specific ocular databases provide the transcriptional profiles of different ocular tissues and in addition enable intuitive web-based data analysis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of ocular transcriptome databases and to compare them with the Human Eye Transcriptome Atlas newly established in Freiburg. METHODS PubMed literature search. RESULTS A total of nine ocular transcriptome databases focusing on different aspects were identified. The iSyTE and Express platforms specialize in gene expression during lens and retinal development in mice, whereas retina.tigem.it, Eye in a Disk, and Spectacle focus on selected ocular tissues such as the retina. Spectacle, UCSC Cell Browser and Single Cell Portal allow intuitive exploration of single cell RNA sequencing data derived from retinal, choroid, cornea, iris, trabecular meshwork and sclera specimens. The microarray profiles of a variety of healthy ocular tissues are included in the Ocular Tissue Database. The Human Eye Transcriptome Atlas provides the largest collection of different ocular tissue types, contains the highest number of ocular diseases and is characterized by a high level of quality achieved by methodological consistency. CONCLUSION Ocular transcriptome databases provide comprehensive and intuitive insights into the transcriptional profiles of a variety of healthy and diseased ocular tissues. Thus, they improve our understanding of the underlying molecular mediators, support hypothesis generation and help in the search for new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for various ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland.
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Clemens Lange
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland. .,Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Muenster, Deutschland.
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14
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Wolf J, Boneva S, Schlecht A, Lapp T, Auw-Haedrich C, Lagrèze W, Agostini H, Reinhard T, Schlunck G, Lange C. The Human Eye Transcriptome Atlas: A searchable comparative transcriptome database for healthy and diseased human eye tissue. Genomics 2022; 114:110286. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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15
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Wolf J, Hajdu RI, Boneva S, Schlecht A, Lapp T, Wacker K, Agostini H, Reinhard T, Auw-Hädrich C, Schlunck G, Lange C. Characterization of the Cellular Microenvironment and Novel Specific Biomarkers in Pterygia Using RNA Sequencing. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:714458. [PMID: 35174178 PMCID: PMC8841401 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.714458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
With a worldwide prevalence of ~12%, pterygium is a common degenerative and environmentally triggered ocular surface disorder characterized by wing-shaped growth of conjunctival tissue onto the cornea that can lead to blindness if left untreated. This study characterizes the transcriptional profile and the cellular microenvironment of conjunctival pterygia and identifies novel pterygia-specific biomarkers. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded pterygia as well as healthy conjunctival specimens were analyzed using MACE RNA sequencing (n = 8 each) and immunohistochemistry (pterygia n = 7, control n = 3). According to the bioinformatic cell type enrichment analysis using xCell, the cellular microenvironment of pterygia was characterized by an enrichment of myofibroblasts, T-lymphocytes and various antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells and macrophages. Differentially expressed genes that were increased in pterygia compared to control tissue were mainly involved in autophagy (including DCN, TMBIM6), cellular response to stress (including TPT1, DDX5) as well as fibroblast proliferation and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (including CTNNB1, TGFBR1, and FN1). Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed a significantly increased FN1 stromal immunoreactivity in pterygia when compared to control tissue. In addition, a variety of factors involved in apoptosis were significantly downregulated in pterygia, including LCN2, CTSD, and NISCH. Furthermore, 450 pterygia-specific biomarkers were identified by including transcriptional data of different ocular surface pathologies serving as controls (training group), which were then validated using transcriptional data of cultured human pterygium cells. Among the most pterygia-specific factors were transcripts such as AHNAK, RTN4, TPT1, FSTL1, and SPARC. Immunohistochemical validation of SPARC revealed a significantly increased stromal immunoreactivity in pterygia when compared to controls, most notably in vessels and intravascular vessel wall-adherent mononuclear cells. Taken together, the present study provides new insights into the cellular microenvironment and the transcriptional profile of pterygia, identifies new and specific biomarkers and in addition to fibrosis-related genes, uncovers autophagy, stress response and apoptosis modulation as pterygium-associated processes. These findings expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of pterygia, provide new diagnostic tools, and may enable new targeted therapeutic options for this common and sight-threatening ocular surface disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Rozina Ida Hajdu
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Katrin Wacker
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Claudia Auw-Hädrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Clemens Lange
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16
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Wolf J, Schlecht A, Rosmus DD, Boneva S, Agostini H, Schlunck G, Wieghofer P, Lange C. Comparative transcriptome analysis of human and murine choroidal neovascularization identifies fibroblast growth factor inducible-14 as phylogenetically conserved mediator of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166340. [PMID: 35032596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual outcome of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration has significantly improved during the last years following the introduction of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. However, about one third of patients show persistent exudation and decreasing visual acuity despite recurrent anti-VEGF treatment, which implies a role of other, still unknown proangiogenic mediators. METHODS The present study applied transcriptional profiling of human and mouse (C57BL/6J wildtype) choroidal neovascularization (CNV) membranes each with reference to healthy control tissue to identify yet unrecognized mediators of CNV formation. Key factors were further investigated by immunohistochemistry as well as by intravitreal inhibition experiments and multiplex protein assays in the laser-induced CNV mouse model. FINDINGS Transcriptional profiles of CNV membranes were characterized by enhanced activation of blood vessel development, cytoskeletal organization, and cytokine production, with angiogenesis and wound healing processes predominating in humans and activation of immune processes in mice. Besides several species-specific factors, 95 phylogenetically conserved CNV-associated genes were detected, among which fibroblast growth factor inducible-14 (FN14), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, was identified as a key player of CNV formation. Blocking the pathway by intravitreal injection of a FN14 decoy receptor modulated the cytokine profile - most notably IL-6 - and led to a significant reduction of CNV size in vivo. INTERPRETATION This study characterizes the transcriptome of human and mouse CNV membranes in an unprejudiced manner and identifies FN14 as a phylogenetically conserved mediator of CNV formation and a promising new therapeutic target for neovascular AMD. FUNDING This study was funded by the Helmut Ecker Foundation and the Volker Homann Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Institute of Anatomy, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Wieghofer
- Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany; Cellular Neuroanatomy, Institute of Theoretical Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
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17
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Immunosenescence in Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV)-Transcriptional Profiling of Naïve and CNV-Associated Retinal Myeloid Cells during Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413318. [PMID: 34948115 PMCID: PMC8707893 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence is considered a possible factor in the development of age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). However, age-related changes of myeloid cells (MCs), such as microglia and macrophages, in the healthy retina or during CNV formation are ill-defined. In this study, Cx3cr1-positive MCs were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from six-week (young) and two-year-old (old) Cx3cr1GFP/+ mice, both during physiological aging and laser-induced CNV development. High-throughput RNA-sequencing was performed to define the age-dependent transcriptional differences in MCs during physiological aging and CNV development, complemented by immunohistochemical characterization and the quantification of MCs, as well as CNV size measurements. These analyses revealed that myeloid cells change their transcriptional profile during both aging and CNV development. In the steady state, senescent MCs demonstrated an upregulation of factors contributing to cell proliferation and chemotaxis, such as Cxcl13 and Cxcl14, as well as the downregulation of microglial signature genes. During CNV formation, aged myeloid cells revealed a significant upregulation of angiogenic factors such as Arg1 and Lrg1 concomitant with significantly enlarged CNV and an increased accumulation of MCs in aged mice in comparison to young mice. Future studies need to clarify whether this observation is an epiphenomenon or a causal relationship to determine the role of immunosenescence in CNV formation.
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18
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Jang JS, Holicky E, Lau J, McDonough S, Mutawe M, Koster MJ, Warrington KJ, Cuninngham JM. Application of the 3' mRNA-Seq using unique molecular identifiers in highly degraded RNA derived from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:759. [PMID: 34689749 PMCID: PMC8543821 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08068-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples with clinical and histological data are a singularly valuable resource for developing new molecular biomarkers. However, transcriptome analysis remains challenging with standard mRNA-seq methods as FFPE derived-RNA samples are often highly modified and fragmented. The recently developed 3′ mRNA-seq method sequences the 3′ region of mRNA using unique molecular identifiers (UMI), thus generating gene expression data with minimal PCR bias. In this study, we evaluated the performance of 3′ mRNA-Seq using Lexogen QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq Library Prep Kit FWD with UMI, comparing with TruSeq Stranded mRNA-Seq and RNA Exome Capture kit. The fresh-frozen (FF) and FFPE tissues yielded nucleotide sizes range from 13 to > 70% of DV200 values; input amounts ranged from 1 ng to 100 ng for validation. Results The total mapped reads of QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq to the reference genome ranged from 99 to 74% across all samples. After PCR bias correction, 3 to 56% of total sequenced reads were retained. QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq data showed highly reproducible data across replicates in Universal Human Reference RNA (UHR, R > 0.94) at input amounts from 1 ng to 100 ng, and FF and FFPE paired samples (R = 0.92) at 10 ng. Severely degraded FFPE RNA with ≤30% of DV200 value showed good concordance (R > 0.87) with 100 ng input. A moderate correlation was observed when directly comparing QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq data with TruSeq Stranded mRNA-Seq (R = 0.78) and RNA Exome Capture data (R > 0.67). Conclusion In this study, QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq with PCR bias correction using UMI is shown to be a suitable method for gene quantification in both FF and FFPE RNAs. 3′ mRNA-Seq with UMI may be applied to severely degraded RNA from FFPE tissues generating high-quality sequencing data. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08068-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Sung Jang
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. .,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Eileen Holicky
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Julie Lau
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Samantha McDonough
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Mark Mutawe
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Matthew J Koster
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Kenneth J Warrington
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Julie M Cuninngham
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Stabile Research Building, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. .,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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19
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Bräuninger H, Stoffers B, Fitzek ADE, Meißner K, Aleshcheva G, Schweizer M, Weimann J, Rotter B, Warnke S, Edler C, Braun F, Roedl K, Scherschel K, Escher F, Kluge S, Huber TB, Ondruschka B, Schultheiss HP, Kirchhof P, Blankenberg S, Püschel K, Westermann D, Lindner D. Cardiac SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with pro-inflammatory transcriptomic alterations within the heart. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:542-555. [PMID: 34647998 PMCID: PMC8803085 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is associated with adverse outcome. However, it is unclear whether cell-specific consequences are associated with cardiac SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we investigated heart tissue utilizing in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and RNA-sequencing in consecutive autopsy cases to quantify virus load and characterize cardiac involvement in COVID-19. Methods and results In this study, 95 SARS-CoV-2-positive autopsy cases were included. A relevant SARS-CoV-2 virus load in the cardiac tissue was detected in 41/95 deceased (43%). Massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE)-RNA-sequencing was performed to identify molecular pathomechanisms caused by the infection of the heart. A signature matrix was generated based on the single-cell dataset ‘Heart Cell Atlas’ and used for digital cytometry on the MACE-RNA-sequencing data. Thus, immune cell fractions were estimated and revealed no difference in immune cell numbers in cases with and without cardiac infection. This result was confirmed by quantitative immunohistological diagnosis. MACE-RNA-sequencing revealed 19 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a q-value <0.05 (e.g. up: IFI44L, IFT3, TRIM25; down: NPPB, MB, MYPN). The upregulated DEGs were linked to interferon pathways and originate predominantly from endothelial cells. In contrast, the downregulated DEGs originate predominately from cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescent staining showed viral protein in cells positive for the endothelial marker ICAM1 but rarely in cardiomyocytes. The Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis revealed that downregulated GO terms were linked to cardiomyocyte structure, whereas upregulated GO terms were linked to anti-virus immune response. Conclusion This study reveals that cardiac infection induced transcriptomic alterations mainly linked to immune response and destruction of cardiomyocytes. While endothelial cells are primarily targeted by the virus, we suggest cardiomyocyte destruction by paracrine effects. Increased pro-inflammatory gene expression was detected in SARS-CoV-2-infected cardiac tissue but no increased SARS-CoV-2 associated immune cell infiltration was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Bräuninger
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /
| | - Bastian Stoffers
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /
| | - Antonia D E Fitzek
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Kira Meißner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | | | - Michaela Schweizer
- Department of Electron Microscopy, Centre for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Jessica Weimann
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany
| | - Björn Rotter
- GenXPro GmbH, Frankfurter Innovationszentrum, Biotechnologie (FIZ), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Svenja Warnke
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Edler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Braun
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Kevin Roedl
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Scherschel
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,Division of Cardiology (cNEP), EVK Düsseldorf, Germany.,Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felicitas Escher
- Institute for Cardiac Diagnostics and Therapy, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Cardiology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Kluge
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | | | - Paulus Kirchhof
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /.,Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Stefan Blankenberg
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /
| | - Klaus Püschel
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Dirk Westermann
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /
| | - Diana Lindner
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel, Lübeck, /
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Martin G, Wolf J, Lapp T, Agostini HT, Schlunck G, Auw-Hädrich C, Lange CAK. Viral S protein histochemistry reveals few potential SARS-CoV-2 entry sites in human ocular tissues. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19140. [PMID: 34580409 PMCID: PMC8476534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the reported low expression of the primary SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in distinct ocular tissues, some clinical evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the eye. In this study, we explored potential entry sites for SARS-CoV-2 by viral S protein histochemistry on various ocular tissues and compared the staining patterns with RNA and protein expression of TMPRSS2 and ACE2. Potential viral entry sites were investigated by histochemistry using tagged recombinant viral S protein on 52 ocular tissue samples including specimens of the cornea, conjunctiva, lid margin, lacrimal gland tissue, retina, choroid, and RPE. In addition, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 immunohistochemistry were performed on the same ocular tissue, each with distinct antibodies binding to different epitopes. Lung tissue samples were used as positive controls. Finally, bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to determine the expression of ACE2 and its auxiliary factors in the tissues mentioned above. S protein histochemistry revealed a positive staining in lung tissue but absent staining in the cornea, the conjunctiva, eye lid samples, the lacrimal glands, the retina and the optic nerve which was supported by hardly any immunoreactivity for ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and scarce ACE2 and TMPRSS2 RNA expression. Negligible staining with antibodies targeting ACE2 or TMPRSS2 was seen in the main and accessory lacrimal glands. In contrast, ocular staining (S protein, ACE2, TMPRSS2) was distinctly present in pigmented cells of the RPE and choroid, as well as in the ciliary body and the iris stroma. S protein histochemistry revealed hardly any SARS-CoV-2 entry sites in all ocular tissues examined. Similarly, no significant ACE2 or TMPRSS2 expression was found in extra- and intraocular tissue. While this study suggest a rather low risk of ocular infection with SARS-CoV-2, it should be noted, that potential viral entry sites may increase in response to inflammation or in certain disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gottfried Martin
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen T Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Auw-Hädrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens A K Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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21
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Zhuang X, Schlunck G, Wolf J, Rosmus DD, Bleul T, Luo R, Böhringer D, Wieghofer P, Lange C, Reinhard T, Lapp T. Time- and Stimulus-Dependent Characteristics of Innate Immune Cells in Organ-Cultured Human Corneal Tissue. J Innate Immun 2021; 14:98-111. [PMID: 34182556 DOI: 10.1159/000516669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The pattern of immune cells infiltrating the corneal stroma has been extensively studied in mice, but data on human tissue have been far less elaborate. To further characterize the number and differentiation state of resident immune cells in organ-cultured human corneal tissue, we employed a comprehensive bioinformatic deconvolution (xCell) of bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and flow cytometry (FC). METHODS A transcriptome-based analysis of immune cell types in human corneal samples was performed. The results were validated by IHC, focusing on the identification of pro-inflammatory (M1) and regulatory (M2) macrophages. A protocol was established to identify these 2 different macrophage populations in human corneal tissue by means of FC. Subsequently, corneal samples in organ culture were differentially stimulated by IL-10, IL-4 & IL-13, or LPS and macrophage populations were evaluated regarding their response to these stimuli. Furthermore, cell survival was analyzed in correlation with time in organ culture. RESULTS xCell-based mathematical deconvolution of bulk RNA-seq data revealed the presence of CD8 T cells, Th17 cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages as the predominant immune cell types in organ-cultured human corneal tissue. Furthermore, RNA-seq allowed the detection of different macrophage marker genes in corneal samples, including PTPRC (CD45), ITGAM (CD11b), CD14, and CD74. Our RNA-seq data showed no evidence of a relevant presence of monocytes in human corneal tissue. The presence of different macrophage subtypes was confirmed by IHC. The disintegration and subsequent FC analysis of human corneal samples showed the presence of both M1 (HLA-DR+, CD282+, CD86+, and CD284+) and M2 (CD163+ and CD206+) macrophage subtypes. Furthermore, we found that the total number of macrophages in corneal samples decreased more than the total cell count with increasing tissue culture time. Treatment with IL-10 led to higher total cell counts per cornea and to an increased expression of the M2 marker CD163 (p < 0.05) while expression levels of various M1 macrophage markers were not significantly reduced by interleukin treatment. CONCLUSIONS Regarding different macrophage populations, untreated human corneas showed more M1 than M2 macrophages. With increasing organ culture time, these macrophages decreased. In terms of cell dynamics, adding interleukins to the organ culture medium influenced the phenotype of macrophages within the cornea as detected by FC. Modifying the immunomodulatory properties of human grafts appears a promising approach to further reduce the risk of graft rejection in patients. In this context, treatment with interleukins was more effective in upregulating M2 macrophages than in suppressing M1 macrophages in corneal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhuang
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | | | - Tim Bleul
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ren Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Böhringer
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | | | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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22
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Wieghofer P, Hagemeyer N, Sankowski R, Schlecht A, Staszewski O, Amann L, Gruber M, Koch J, Hausmann A, Zhang P, Boneva S, Masuda T, Hilgendorf I, Goldmann T, Böttcher C, Priller J, Rossi FM, Lange C, Prinz M. Mapping the origin and fate of myeloid cells in distinct compartments of the eye by single-cell profiling. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105123. [PMID: 33555074 PMCID: PMC7957431 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar to the brain, the eye is considered an immune‐privileged organ where tissue‐resident macrophages provide the major immune cell constituents. However, little is known about spatially restricted macrophage subsets within different eye compartments with regard to their origin, function, and fate during health and disease. Here, we combined single‐cell analysis, fate mapping, parabiosis, and computational modeling to comprehensively examine myeloid subsets in distinct parts of the eye during homeostasis. This approach allowed us to identify myeloid subsets displaying diverse transcriptional states. During choroidal neovascularization, a typical hallmark of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), we recognized disease‐specific macrophage subpopulations with distinct molecular signatures. Our results highlight the heterogeneity of myeloid subsets and their dynamics in the eye that provide new insights into the innate immune system in this organ which may offer new therapeutic targets for ophthalmological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Wieghofer
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nora Hagemeyer
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Roman Sankowski
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Berta-Ottenstein-Programme for Clinician Scientists, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ori Staszewski
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Berta-Ottenstein-Programme for Clinician Scientists, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Amann
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Gruber
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jana Koch
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annika Hausmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Takahiro Masuda
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Hilgendorf
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Medical Faculty, University Heart Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Goldmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chotima Böttcher
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,DZNE and BIH, Berlin, Germany.,University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Fabio Mv Rossi
- Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia & Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in NeuroModulation (NeuroModulBasics), Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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23
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Schlecht A, Zhang P, Wolf J, Thien A, Rosmus DD, Boneva S, Schlunck G, Lange C, Wieghofer P. Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 Expression in Retinal Mononuclear Phagocytes Links Murine to Human Choroidal Neovascularization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:618598. [PMID: 33585455 PMCID: PMC7876283 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.618598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents the most common cause of blindness in the elderly in the Western world. An impairment of the outer blood-retina barrier and a localized inflammatory microenvironment cause sprouting of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) in neovascular AMD that are in intimate contact with surrounding myeloid cells, such as retinal microglia, and ultimately lead to visual impairment. The discovery of novel target molecules to interfere with angiogenesis and inflammation is vital for future treatment approaches in AMD patients. To explore the transcriptional profile and the function of retinal microglia at sites of CNV, we performed a comprehensive RNA-seq analysis of retinal microglia in the mouse model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Here, we identified the angiogenic factor Osteopontin (Opn), also known as "secreted phosphoprotein 1" (Spp1), as one of the most highly expressed genes in retinal microglia in the course of CNV formation. We confirmed the presence of SPP1 at the lesion site in recruited retinal microglia in Cx3cr1 CreER:Rosa26-tdTomato reporter mice by confocal microscopy and in whole retinal tissue lysates by ELISA highlighting a massive local production of SPP1. Inhibition of SPP1 by intravitreal injection of an anti-SPP1 antibody significantly increased the lesion size compared to IgG-treated control eyes. In line with our results in rodents, we found an increased SPP1 mRNA expression in surgically extracted human choroidal neovascular (hCNV) membranes by the quantitative RNA-seq approach of massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE). Numerous IBA1+SPP1+ myeloid cells were detected in human CNV membranes. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of SPP1 in the formation of CNV and potentially offer new opportunities for therapeutic intervention by modulating the SPP1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Adrian Thien
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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24
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MACE RNA sequencing analysis of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma and papilloma using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21292. [PMID: 33277602 PMCID: PMC7718249 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78339-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the field of biomedical research allow for elucidation of the transcriptional signature of rare tumors such as conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this study we compare its expression profile to conjunctival papilloma (Pap) and healthy conjunctival tissue (Ctrl) and develop a classification tool to differentiate these entities. Seven conjunctival SCC, seven Pap and ten Ctrl were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and analyzed using Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE) RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) and gene ontology (GO) clusters were explored and the abundance of involved cell types was quantified by xCell. Finally, a classification model was developed to distinguish SCC from Pap and Ctrl. Among the most prominent DEG in SCC a plethora of keratins were upregulated when compared to Pap and Ctrl. xCell analysis revealed an enrichment of immune cells, including activated dendritic cells and T-helper type 1 cells (Th1), in SCC when compared to Ctrl. The generated classification model could reliably discriminate between the three entities according to the expression pattern of 30 factors. This study provides a transcriptome-wide gene expression profile of rare conjunctival SCC. The analysis identifies distinct keratins, as well as dendritic and Th1 cells as important mediators in SCC. Finally, the provided gene expression classifier may become an aid to the conventional histological classification of conjunctival tumors in uncertain cases.
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25
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Wolf J, Auw-Haedrich C, Schlecht A, Boneva S, Mittelviefhaus H, Lapp T, Agostini H, Reinhard T, Schlunck G, Lange CAK. Transcriptional characterization of conjunctival melanoma identifies the cellular tumor microenvironment and prognostic gene signatures. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17022. [PMID: 33046735 PMCID: PMC7550331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72864-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study characterizes the transcriptome and the cellular tumor microenvironment (TME) of conjunctival melanoma (CM) and identifies prognostically relevant biomarkers. 12 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded CM were analyzed by MACE RNA sequencing, including six cases each with good or poor clinical outcome, the latter being defined by local recurrence and/or systemic metastases. Eight healthy conjunctival specimens served as controls. The TME of CM, as determined by bioinformatic cell type enrichment analysis, was characterized by the enrichment of melanocytes, pericytes and especially various immune cell types, such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells, natural killer T cells, B cells and mast cells. Differentially expressed genes between CM and control were mainly involved in inhibition of apoptosis, proteolysis and response to growth factors. POU3F3, BIRC5 and 7 were among the top expressed genes associated with inhibition of apoptosis. 20 genes, among them CENPK, INHA, USP33, CASP3, SNORA73B, AAR2, SNRNP48 and GPN1, were identified as prognostically relevant factors reaching high classification accuracy (area under the curve: 1.0). The present study provides new insights into the TME and the transcriptional profile of CM and additionally identifies new prognostic biomarkers. These results add new diagnostic tools and may lead to new options of targeted therapy for CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Wolf
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Auw-Haedrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anja Schlecht
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefaniya Boneva
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans Mittelviefhaus
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thabo Lapp
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Agostini
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens A K Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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