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Martins-Ferreira R, Calafell-Segura J, Chaves J, Ciudad L, Martins da Silva A, Pinho e Costa P, Leal B, Ballestar E. Purinergic exposure induces epigenomic and transcriptomic-mediated preconditioning resembling epilepsy-associated microglial states. iScience 2024; 27:110546. [PMID: 39184445 PMCID: PMC11342283 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play a crucial role in a range of neuropathologies through exacerbated activation. Microglial inflammatory responses can be influenced by prior exposures to noxious stimuli, like increased levels of extracellular adenosine and ATP. These are characteristic of brain insults like epileptic seizures and could potentially shape subsequent responses through epigenetic regulation. We investigated DNA methylation and expression changes in human microglia-like cells differentiated from monocytes following ATP-mediated preconditioning. We demonstrate that microglia-like cells display homeostatic microglial features, shown by surface markers, transcriptome, and DNA methylome. After exposure to ATP, TLR-mediated activation leads to an exacerbated pro-inflammatory response. These changes are accompanied by methylation and transcriptional reprogramming associated with enhanced immune-related functions. The reprogramming associated with ATP-mediated preconditioning leads to profiles found in microglial subsets linked to epilepsy. Purine-driven microglia immune preconditioning drives epigenetic and transcriptional changes that could contribute to altered functions of microglia during seizure development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Martins-Ferreira
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group. Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josep Calafell-Segura
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - João Chaves
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group. Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
- Neurology Service, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António (CHUdSA), 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - António Martins da Silva
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group. Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
- Neurophysiology Service, CHUdSA 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Pinho e Costa
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group. Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Human Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge 4000-055 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Leal
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group. Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Epigenetics in Inflammatory and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Health Science Center (HSC), East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai 200241, China
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Ferreté-Bonastre AG, Martínez-Gallo M, Morante-Palacios O, Calvillo CL, Calafell-Segura J, Rodríguez-Ubreva J, Esteller M, Cortés-Hernández J, Ballestar E. Disease activity drives divergent epigenetic and transcriptomic reprogramming of monocyte subpopulations in systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:865-878. [PMID: 38413168 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-225433] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterised by systemic inflammation involving various immune cell types. Monocytes, pivotal in promoting and regulating inflammation in SLE, differentiate from classic monocytes into intermediate and non-classic monocytes, assuming diverse roles and changing their proportions in inflammation. In this study, we investigated the epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles of these and novel monocyte subsets in SLE in relation to activity and progression. METHODS We obtained the DNA methylomes and transcriptomes of classic, intermediate, non-classic monocytes in patients with SLE (at first and follow-up visits) and healthy donors. We integrated these data with single-cell transcriptomics of SLE and healthy donors and interrogated their relationships with activity and progression. RESULTS In addition to shared DNA methylation and transcriptomic alterations associated with a strong interferon signature, we identified monocyte subset-specific alterations, especially in DNA methylation, which reflect an impact of SLE on monocyte differentiation. SLE classic monocytes exhibited a proinflammatory profile and were primed for macrophage differentiation. SLE non-classic monocytes displayed a T cell differentiation-related phenotype, with Th17-regulating features. Changes in monocyte proportions, DNA methylation and expression occurred in relation to disease activity and involved the STAT pathway. Integration of bulk with single-cell RNA sequencing datasets revealed disease activity-dependent expansion of SLE-specific monocyte subsets, further supported the interferon signature for classic monocytes, and associated intermediate and non-classic populations with exacerbated complement activation. CONCLUSIONS Disease activity in SLE drives a subversion of the epigenome and transcriptome programme in monocyte differentiation, impacting the function of different subsets and allowing to generate predictive methods for activity and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica Martínez-Gallo
- Immunology Division, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Diagnostic Immunology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Celia Lourdes Calvillo
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Calafell-Segura
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Ubreva
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josefina Cortés-Hernández
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Vall d'Hebron and Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Epigenetics in Inflammatory and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Health Science Center (HSC), East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai, China
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Estupiñán-Moreno E, Hernández-Rodríguez J, Li T, Ciudad L, Andrés-León E, Terron-Camero LC, Prieto-González S, Espígol-Frigolé G, Cid MC, Márquez A, Martin J, Ballestar E, Ortiz-Fernández L. Decoding CD4 + T cell transcriptome in giant cell arteritis: Novel pathways and altered cross-talk with monocytes. J Autoimmun 2024; 146:103240. [PMID: 38754238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2024.103240] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an immune-mediated large-vessels vasculitis with complex etiology. Although the pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood, a central role for CD4+ T cells has been demonstrated. In this context, understanding the transcriptome dysregulation in GCA CD4+ T cells will yield new insights into its pathogenesis. METHODS Transcriptome analysis was conducted on CD4+ T cells from 70 patients with GCA with different disease activity and treatment status (active patients before treatment and patients in remission with and without glucocorticoid treatment), and 28 healthy controls. The study also evaluated potential impacts of DNA methylation on gene expression alterations and assessed cross-talk with CD14+ monocytes. RESULTS This study has uncovered a substantial number of genes and pathways potentially contributing to the pathogenicity of CD4+ T cells in GCA. Specifically, CD4+ T cells from GCA patients with active disease exhibited altered expression levels of genes involved in multiple immune-related processes, including various interleukins (IL) signaling pathways. Notably, IL-2, a decisive interleukin for regulatory T cells homeostasis, was among the most significant. Additionally, impaired apoptotic pathways appear crucial in GCA development. Our findings also suggest that histone-related epigenetic pathways may be implicated in promoting an inflammatory phenotype in GCA active patients. Finally, our study observed altered signaling communication, such as the Jagged-Notch signaling, between CD4+ T cells and monocytes that could have pathogenic relevance in GCA. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests the participation of novel cytokines and pathways and the occurrence of a disruption of monocyte-T cell crosstalk driving GCA pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elkyn Estupiñán-Moreno
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - José Hernández-Rodríguez
- Vasculitis Research Unit. Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tianlu Li
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Andrés-León
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Laura Carmen Terron-Camero
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Sergio Prieto-González
- Vasculitis Research Unit. Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Georgina Espígol-Frigolé
- Vasculitis Research Unit. Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria C Cid
- Vasculitis Research Unit. Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Márquez
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martin
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain.
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Lourdes Ortiz-Fernández
- Institute of Parastitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain.
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Matsumoto T, Murakami Y, Yoshida-Sakai N, Katsuchi D, Kanazawa K, Okamura T, Imamura Y, Ono M, Kuwano M. Enhanced ALOX12 Gene Expression Predicts Therapeutic Susceptibility to 5-Azacytidine in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4583. [PMID: 38731802 PMCID: PMC11083213 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
5-azacytidine (AZA), a representative DNA-demethylating drug, has been widely used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, it remains unclear whether AZA's DNA demethylation of any specific gene is correlated with clinical responses to AZA. In this study, we investigated genes that could contribute to the development of evidence-based epigenetic therapeutics with AZA. A DNA microarray identified that AZA specifically upregulated the expression of 438 genes in AZA-sensitive MDS-L cells but not in AZA-resistant counterpart MDS-L/CDA cells. Of these 438 genes, the ALOX12 gene was hypermethylated in MDS-L cells but not in MDS-L/CDA cells. In addition, we further found that (1) the ALOX12 gene was hypermethylated in patients with MDS compared to healthy controls; (2) MDS classes with excess blasts showed a relatively lower expression of ALOX12 than other classes; (3) a lower expression of ALOX12 correlated with higher bone marrow blasts and a shorter survival in patients with MDS; and (4) an increased ALOX12 expression after AZA treatment was associated with a favorable response to AZA treatment. Taking these factors together, an enhanced expression of the ALOX12 gene may predict favorable therapeutic responses to AZA therapy in MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Matsumoto
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Yuichi Murakami
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Nao Yoshida-Sakai
- Department of Hematology, St. Mary’s Hospital, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (N.Y.-S.); (T.O.); (Y.I.)
| | - Daisuke Katsuchi
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Kuon Kanazawa
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Takashi Okamura
- Department of Hematology, St. Mary’s Hospital, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (N.Y.-S.); (T.O.); (Y.I.)
| | - Yutaka Imamura
- Department of Hematology, St. Mary’s Hospital, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (N.Y.-S.); (T.O.); (Y.I.)
| | - Mayumi Ono
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Michihiko Kuwano
- Basic Medical Research Unit, St. Mary’s Research Center, 422, Tsubuku-Honmachi, Kurume 850-8543, Fukuoka, Japan; (Y.M.); (D.K.); (K.K.); (M.O.); (M.K.)
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Martins-Ferreira R, Leal B, Chaves J, Ciudad L, Samões R, Martins da Silva A, Pinho Costa P, Ballestar E. Circulating cell-free DNA methylation mirrors alterations in cerebral patterns in epilepsy. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:188. [PMID: 36575526 PMCID: PMC9795776 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01416-2] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation profiling of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has rapidly become a promising strategy for biomarker identification and development. The cell-type-specific nature of DNA methylation patterns and the direct relationship between cfDNA and apoptosis can potentially be used non-invasively to predict local alterations. In addition, direct detection of altered DNA methylation patterns performs well as a biomarker. In a previous study, we demonstrated marked DNA methylation alterations in brain tissue from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). RESULTS We performed DNA methylation profiling in cfDNA isolated from the serum of MTLE patients and healthy controls using BeadChip arrays followed by systematic bioinformatic analysis including deconvolution analysis and integration with DNase accessibility data sets. Differential cfDNA methylation analysis showed an overrepresentation of gene ontology terms and transcription factors related to central nervous system function and regulation. Deconvolution analysis of the DNA methylation data sets ruled out the possibility that the observed differences were due to changes in the proportional contribution of cortical neurons in cfDNA. Moreover, we found no overrepresentation of neuron- or glia-specific patterns in the described cfDNA methylation patterns. However, the MTLE-HS cfDNA methylation patterns featured a significant overrepresentation of the epileptic DNA methylation alterations previously observed in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the use of cfDNA methylation profiling as a rational approach to seeking non-invasive and reproducible epilepsy biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Martins-Ferreira
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona Spain ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), ICBAS-UPorto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Leal
- grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), ICBAS-UPorto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - João Chaves
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), ICBAS-UPorto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal ,grid.413438.90000 0004 0574 5247Neurology Service, Hospital de Santo António - Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (HSA-CHUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona Spain
| | - Raquel Samões
- grid.413438.90000 0004 0574 5247Neurology Service, Hospital de Santo António - Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (HSA-CHUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - António Martins da Silva
- Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), ICBAS-UPorto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal ,Neurophysiology Service, HSA-CHUP, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Pinho Costa
- grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology and Immunology Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar – Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UPorto), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,Autoimmunity and Neuroscience Group, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), ICBAS-UPorto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal ,grid.422270.10000 0001 2287 695XDepartment of Human Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona Spain ,grid.22069.3f0000 0004 0369 6365Epigenetics in Inflammatory and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Health Science Center (HSC), East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai, 200241 China
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Godoy-Tena G, Barmada A, Morante-Palacios O, de la Calle-Fabregat C, Martins-Ferreira R, Ferreté-Bonastre AG, Ciudad L, Ruiz-Sanmartín A, Martínez-Gallo M, Ferrer R, Ruiz-Rodriguez JC, Rodríguez-Ubreva J, Vento-Tormo R, Ballestar E. Epigenetic and transcriptomic reprogramming in monocytes of severe COVID-19 patients reflects alterations in myeloid differentiation and the influence of inflammatory cytokines. Genome Med 2022; 14:134. [PMID: 36443794 PMCID: PMC9706884 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-022-01137-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 manifests with a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes, ranging from asymptomatic and mild to severe and critical. Severe and critical COVID-19 patients are characterized by marked changes in the myeloid compartment, especially monocytes. However, little is known about the epigenetic alterations that occur in these cells during hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID-19 patients. METHODS In this study, we obtained the DNA methylome and transcriptome of peripheral blood monocytes from severe COVID-19 patients. DNA samples extracted from CD14 + CD15- monocytes of 48 severe COVID-19 patients and 11 healthy controls were hybridized on MethylationEPIC BeadChip arrays. In parallel, single-cell transcriptomics of 10 severe COVID-19 patients were generated. CellPhoneDB was used to infer changes in the crosstalk between monocytes and other immune cell types. RESULTS We observed DNA methylation changes in CpG sites associated with interferon-related genes and genes associated with antigen presentation, concordant with gene expression changes. These changes significantly overlapped with those occurring in bacterial sepsis, although specific DNA methylation alterations in genes specific to viral infection were also identified. We also found these alterations to comprise some of the DNA methylation changes occurring during myeloid differentiation and under the influence of inflammatory cytokines. A progression of DNA methylation alterations in relation to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was found to be related to interferon-related genes and T-helper 1 cell cytokine production. CellPhoneDB analysis of the single-cell transcriptomes of other immune cell types suggested the existence of altered crosstalk between monocytes and other cell types like NK cells and regulatory T cells. CONCLUSION Our findings show the occurrence of an epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming of peripheral blood monocytes, which could be associated with the release of aberrant immature monocytes, increased systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and changes in immune cell crosstalk in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Godoy-Tena
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anis Barmada
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1RQ, UK
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Octavio Morante-Palacios
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos de la Calle-Fabregat
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Martins-Ferreira
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna G Ferreté-Bonastre
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adolfo Ruiz-Sanmartín
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica Martínez-Gallo
- Immunology Division, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Diagnostic Immunology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Ferrer
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Ruiz-Rodriguez
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Ubreva
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Vento-Tormo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1RQ, UK
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Epigenetics in Inflammatory and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Health Science Center (HSC), East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai, 200241, China.
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7
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Morante-Palacios O, Godoy-Tena G, Calafell-Segura J, Ciudad L, Martínez-Cáceres EM, Sardina JL, Ballestar E. Vitamin C enhances NF-κB-driven epigenomic reprogramming and boosts the immunogenic properties of dendritic cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10981-10994. [PMID: 36305821 PMCID: PMC9638940 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, are necessary for effective activation of naïve T cells. DCs’ immunological properties are modulated in response to various stimuli. Active DNA demethylation is crucial for DC differentiation and function. Vitamin C, a known cofactor of ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, drives active demethylation. Vitamin C has recently emerged as a promising adjuvant for several types of cancer; however, its effects on human immune cells are poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the epigenomic and transcriptomic reprogramming orchestrated by vitamin C in monocyte-derived DC differentiation and maturation. Vitamin C triggers extensive demethylation at NF-κB/p65 binding sites, together with concordant upregulation of antigen-presentation and immune response-related genes during DC maturation. p65 interacts with TET2 and mediates the aforementioned vitamin C-mediated changes, as demonstrated by pharmacological inhibition. Moreover, vitamin C increases TNFβ production in DCs through NF-κB, in concordance with the upregulation of its coding gene and the demethylation of adjacent CpGs. Finally, vitamin C enhances DC’s ability to stimulate the proliferation of autologous antigen-specific T cells. We propose that vitamin C could potentially improve monocyte-derived DC-based cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Morante-Palacios
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gerard Godoy-Tena
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Calafell-Segura
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva M Martínez-Cáceres
- Division of Immunology, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, LCMN, Germans Trias iPujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, Immunology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Sardina
- Epigenetic Control of Haematopoiesis Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +34 935572800; Fax: +34 934651472;
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8
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Lemma RB, Fleischer T, Martinsen E, Ledsaak M, Kristensen V, Eskeland R, Gabrielsen OS, Mathelier A. Pioneer transcription factors are associated with the modulation of DNA methylation patterns across cancers. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:13. [PMID: 35440061 PMCID: PMC9016969 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00444-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylation of cytosines on DNA is a prominent modification associated with gene expression regulation. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have recurrently been linked to dysregulation of the regulatory program in cancer cells. To shed light on the underlying molecular mechanism driving this process, we hypothesised that aberrant methylation patterns could be controlled by the binding of specific transcription factors (TFs) across cancer types. By combining DNA methylation arrays and gene expression data with TF binding sites (TFBSs), we explored the interplay between TF binding and DNA methylation in 19 cancer types. We performed emQTL (expression-methylation quantitative trait loci) analyses independently in each cancer type and identified 13 TFs whose expression levels are correlated with local DNA methylation patterns around their binding sites in at least 2 cancer types. The 13 TFs are mainly associated with local demethylation and are enriched for pioneer function, suggesting a specific role for these TFs in modulating chromatin structure and transcription in cancer patients. Furthermore, we confirmed that de novo methylation is precluded across cancers at CpGs lying in genomic regions enriched for TF binding signatures associated with SP1, CTCF, NRF1, GABPA, KLF9, and/or YY1. The modulation of DNA methylation associated with TF binding was observed at cis-regulatory regions controlling immune- and cancer-associated pathways, corroborating that the emQTL signals were derived from both cancer and tumor-infiltrating cells. As a case example, we experimentally confirmed that FOXA1 knock-down is associated with higher methylation in regions bound by FOXA1 in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Finally, we reported physical interactions between FOXA1 with TET1 and TET2 both in an in vitro setup and in vivo at physiological levels in MCF-7 cells, adding further support for FOXA1 attracting TET1 and TET2 to induce local demethylation in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza Berhanu Lemma
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas Fleischer
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Emily Martinsen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Molecular Medicine, and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marit Ledsaak
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Molecular Medicine, and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vessela Kristensen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Eskeland
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Molecular Medicine, and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anthony Mathelier
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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9
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de la Calle-Fabregat C, Rodríguez-Ubreva J, Ciudad L, Ramírez J, Celis R, Azuaga AB, Cuervo A, Graell E, Pérez-García C, Díaz-Torné C, Salvador G, Gómez-Puerta JA, Haro I, Sanmartí R, Cañete JD, Ballestar E. The synovial and blood monocyte DNA methylomes mirror prognosis, evolution and treatment in early arthritis. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158783. [PMID: 35324478 PMCID: PMC9090240 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying predictive biomarkers at early stages of inflammatory arthritis is crucial for starting appropriate therapies to avoid poor outcomes. Monocytes (MOs) and macrophages, largely associated with arthritis, are contributors and sensors of inflammation through epigenetic modifications. In this study, we investigated associations between clinical features and DNA methylation in blood and synovial fluid (SF) MOs in a prospective cohort of patients with early inflammatory arthritis. DNA methylation profiles of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) blood MOs exhibited marked alterations in comparison with those from healthy donors. We identified additional differences both in blood and SF MOs after comparing patients with UA grouped by their future outcomes, i.e., good versus poor. Patient profiles in subsequent visits revealed a reversion toward a healthy level in both groups, those requiring disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and those who remitted spontaneously. Changes in disease activity between visits also affected DNA methylation, which was partially concomitant in the SF of UA and in blood MOs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Epigenetic similarities between arthritis types allow a common prediction of disease activity. Our results constitute a resource of DNA methylation–based biomarkers of poor prognosis, disease activity, and treatment efficacy for the personalized clinical management of early inflammatory arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Ubreva
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Ramírez
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Celis
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana B Azuaga
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Cuervo
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Graell
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
| | | | - César Díaz-Torné
- Servei de Reumatologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Georgina Salvador
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Haro
- Unit of Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Peptides, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sanmartí
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan D Cañete
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Martins-Ferreira R, Leal B, Chaves J, Li T, Ciudad L, Rangel R, Santos A, Martins da Silva A, Pinho Costa P, Ballestar E. Epilepsy progression is associated with cumulative DNA methylation changes in inflammatory genes. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 209:102207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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11
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Morante-Palacios O, Ciudad L, Micheroli R, de la Calle-Fabregat C, Li T, Barbisan G, Houtman M, Edalat SG, Frank-Bertoncelj M, Ospelt C, Ballestar E. Coordinated glucocorticoid receptor and MAFB action induces tolerogenesis and epigenome remodeling in dendritic cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:108-126. [PMID: 34893889 PMCID: PMC8754638 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert potent anti-inflammatory effects in immune cells through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Dendritic cells (DCs), central actors for coordinating immune responses, acquire tolerogenic properties in response to GCs. Tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) have emerged as a potential treatment for various inflammatory diseases. To date, the underlying cell type-specific regulatory mechanisms orchestrating GC-mediated acquisition of immunosuppressive properties remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic and epigenomic remodeling associated with differentiation to DCs in the presence of GCs. Our analysis demonstrates a major role of MAFB in this process, in synergy with GR. GR and MAFB both interact with methylcytosine dioxygenase TET2 and bind to genomic loci that undergo specific demethylation in tolDCs. We also show that the role of MAFB is more extensive, binding to thousands of genomic loci in tolDCs. Finally, MAFB knockdown erases the tolerogenic properties of tolDCs and reverts the specific DNA demethylation and gene upregulation. The preeminent role of MAFB is also demonstrated in vivo for myeloid cells from synovium in rheumatoid arthritis following GC treatment. Our results imply that, once directly activated by GR, MAFB plays a critical role in orchestrating the epigenomic and transcriptomic remodeling that define the tolerogenic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Morante-Palacios
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raphael Micheroli
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carlos de la Calle-Fabregat
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tianlu Li
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gisela Barbisan
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miranda Houtman
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sam G Edalat
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mojca Frank-Bertoncelj
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Ospelt
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Morante-Palacios O, Lorente-Sorolla C, Ciudad L, Calafell-Segura J, Garcia-Gomez A, Català-Moll F, Ruiz-Sanmartín A, Martínez-Gallo M, Ferrer R, Ruiz-Rodriguez JC, Álvarez-Errico D, Ballestar E. JAK2-STAT Epigenetically Regulates Tolerized Genes in Monocytes in the First Encounter With Gram-Negative Bacterial Endotoxins in Sepsis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:734652. [PMID: 34867954 PMCID: PMC8635809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.734652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial challenges, such as widespread bacterial infection in sepsis, induce endotoxin tolerance, a state of hyporesponsiveness to subsequent infections. The participation of DNA methylation in this process is poorly known. In this study, we perform integrated analysis of DNA methylation and transcriptional changes following in vitro exposure to gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide, together with analysis of ex vivo monocytes from septic patients. We identify TET2-mediated demethylation and transcriptional activation of inflammation-related genes that is specific to toll-like receptor stimulation. Changes also involve phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5, elements of the JAK2 pathway. JAK2 pathway inhibition impairs the activation of tolerized genes on the first encounter with lipopolysaccharide. We then confirm the implication of the JAK2-STAT pathway in the aberrant DNA methylome of patients with sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria. Finally, JAK2 inhibition in monocytes partially recapitulates the expression changes produced in the immunosuppressive cellular state acquired by monocytes from gram-negative sepsis, as described by single cell-RNA-sequencing. Our study evidences both the crucial role the JAK2-STAT pathway in epigenetic regulation and initial response of the tolerized genes to gram-negative bacterial endotoxins and provides a pharmacological target to prevent exacerbated responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clara Lorente-Sorolla
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ciudad
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Calafell-Segura
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Garcia-Gomez
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Català-Moll
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adolfo Ruiz-Sanmartín
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d' Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica Martínez-Gallo
- Immunology Division, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Diagnostic Immunology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Ferrer
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d' Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Ruiz-Rodriguez
- Intensive Care Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d' Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Damiana Álvarez-Errico
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Ballestar
- Epigenetics and Immune Disease Group, Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Epigenetic dysregulation of immune-related pathways in cancer: bioinformatics tools and visualization. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:761-771. [PMID: 33963293 PMCID: PMC8178403 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00612-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion is one of the hallmarks of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells employ multiple mechanisms to avoid immune recognition and suppress antitumor immune responses. Recently, accumulating evidence has indicated that immune-related pathways are epigenetically dysregulated in cancer. Most importantly, the epigenetic footprint of immune-related pathways is associated with the patient outcome, underscoring the crucial need to understand this process. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for epigenetic regulation of immune-related pathways in cancer and describe bioinformatics tools, informative visualization techniques, and resources to help decipher the cancer epigenome. Abnormal patterns of genomic chemical modification help tumors elude immunological destruction, but sophisticated computational tools could help identify and overcome these survival mechanisms. Immunotherapy can be a potent weapon against cancer, but many tumors evolve the ability to protect themselves by subduing the immune response. Sungjune Kim and colleagues at the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, USA, have reviewed efforts to study how chemical alterations to DNA that affect gene expression contribute to this process. Considerable evidence indicates a role for a modification called methylation in this immune evasion, and researchers now have access to vast repositories of tumor-specific gene methylation profiles. The authors describe these data resources, and highlight some of the software tools that are helping oncologists to identify patterns in the data that might lead to better therapies.
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