| 1. |
- Assadi, Ghazaleh, et al.
(författare)
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Functional Analyses of the Crohn's Disease Risk Gene LACC1
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, USA : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Genetic variation in the Laccase (multicopper oxidoreductase) domain-containing 1 (LACC1) gene has been shown to affect the risk of Crohn's disease, leprosy and, more recently, ulcerative colitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. LACC1 function appears to promote fatty-acid oxidation, with concomitant inflammasome activation, reactive oxygen species production, and anti-bacterial responses in macrophages. We sought to contribute to elucidating LACC1 biological function by extensive characterization of its expression in human tissues and cells, and through preliminary analyses of the regulatory mechanisms driving such expression.Methods: We implemented Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry analyses to investigate fatty acid metabolism-immune nexus (FAMIN; the LACC1 encoded protein) expression in subcellular compartments, cell lines and relevant human tissues. Gene-set enrichment analyses were performed to initially investigate modulatory mechanisms of LACC1 expression. A small-interference RNA knockdown in vitro model system was used to study the effect of FAMIN depletion on peroxisome function.Results: FAMIN expression was detected in macrophage-differentiated THP-1 cells and several human tissues, being highest in neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells among peripheral blood cells. Subcellular co-localization was exclusively confined to peroxisomes, with some additional positivity for organelle endomembrane structures. LACC1 co-expression signatures were enriched for genes involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathways, and PPAR ligands downregulated FAMIN expression in in vitro model systems.Conclusion: FAMIN is a peroxisome-associated protein with primary role(s) in macrophages and other immune cells, where its metabolic functions may be modulated by PPAR signaling events. However, the precise molecular mechanisms through which FAMIN exerts its biological effects in immune cells remain to be elucidated.
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| 2. |
- Bacos, Karl, et al.
(författare)
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Type 2 diabetes candidate genes, including PAX5, cause impaired insulin secretion in human pancreatic islets
- 2023
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Ingår i: The Journal of clinical investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 133:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is caused by insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. To identify candidates contributing to T2D pathophysiology, we studied human pancreatic islets from ~300 individuals. We found 395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in islets from individuals with T2D, including, to our knowledge, novel (OPRD1, PAX5, TET1) and previously identified (CHL1, GLRA1, IAPP) candidates. A third of the identified islet expression changes may predispose to diabetes, as they associated with HbA1c in individuals not previously diagnosed with T2D. Most DEGs were expressed in human β-cells based on single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Additionally, DEGs displayed alterations in open chromatin and associated with T2D-SNPs. Mouse knock-out strains demonstrated that T2D-associated candidates regulate glucose homeostasis and body composition in vivo. Functional validation showed that mimicking T2D-associated changes for OPRD1, PAX5, and SLC2A2 impaired insulin secretion. Impairments in Pax5-overexpressing β-cells were due to severe mitochondrial dysfunction. Finally, we discovered PAX5 as a potential transcriptional regulator of many T2D-associated DEGs in human islets. Overall, we identified molecular alterations in human pancreatic islets contributing to β-cell dysfunction in T2D pathophysiology.
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| 3. |
- Berglund, Rasmus, et al.
(författare)
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Microglial autophagy-associated phagocytosis is essential for recovery from neuroinflammation
- 2020
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Ingår i: Science Immunology. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Clinical Neuroscience. - 2470-9468.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of incurable progressive disability in young adults caused by inflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). The capacity of microglia to clear tissue debris is essential for maintaining and restoring CNS homeostasis. This capacity diminishes with age, and age strongly associates with MS disease progression, although the underlying mechanisms are still largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the recovery from CNS inflammation in a murine model of MS is dependent on the ability of microglia to clear tissue debris. Microglia-specific deletion of the autophagy regulator Atg7, but not the canonical macroautophagy protein Ulk1, led to increased intracellular accumulation of phagocytosed myelin and progressive MS-like disease. This impairment correlated with a microglial phenotype previously associated with neurodegenerative pathologies. Moreover, Atg7-deficient microglia showed notable transcriptional and functional similarities to microglia from aged wild-type mice that were also unable to clear myelin and recover from disease. In contrast, induction of autophagy in aged mice using the disaccharide trehalose found in plants and fungi led to functional myelin clearance and disease remission. Our results demonstrate that a noncanonical form of autophagy in microglia is responsible for myelin degradation and clearance leading to recovery from MS-like disease and that boosting this process has a therapeutic potential for age-related neuroinflammatory conditions.
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| 4. |
- Bergman, Petra, et al.
(författare)
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Next-generation sequencing identifies microRNAs that associate with pathogenic autoimmune neuroinflammation in rats.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - : The American Association of Immunologists. - 0022-1767 .- 1550-6606. ; 190:8, s. 4066-75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate most biological processes and have been found dysregulated in a variety of diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we characterized miRNAs that associate with susceptibility to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats, a well-established animal model of MS. Using Illumina next-generation sequencing, we detected 544 miRNAs in the lymph nodes of EAE-susceptible Dark Agouti and EAE-resistant Piebald Virol Glaxo rats during immune activation. Forty-three miRNAs were found differentially expressed between the two strains, with 81% (35 out of 43) showing higher expression in the susceptible strain. Only 33% of tested miRNAs displayed differential expression in naive lymph nodes, suggesting that a majority of regulated miRNAs are EAE dependent. Further investigation of a selected six miRNAs indicates differences in cellular source and kinetics of expression. Several of the miRNAs, including miR-146a, miR-21, miR-181a, miR-223, and let-7, have previously been implicated in immune system regulation. Moreover, 77% (33 out of 43) of the miRNAs were associated with MS and other autoimmune diseases. Target genes likely regulated by the miRNAs were identified using computational predictions combined with whole-genome expression data. Differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets involve functions important for MS and EAE, such as immune cell migration through targeting genes like Cxcr3 and cellular maintenance and signaling by regulation of Prkcd and Stat1. In addition, we demonstrated that these three genes are direct targets of miR-181a. Our study highlights the impact of multiple miRNAs, displaying diverse kinetics and cellular sources, on development of pathogenic autoimmune inflammation.
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| 5. |
- Bronge, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of four novel T cell autoantigens and personal autoreactive profiles in multiple sclerosis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 8:17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which pathological T cells, likely autoimmune, play a key role. Despite its central importance, the autoantigen repertoire remains largely uncharacterized. Using a novel in vitro antigen delivery method combined with the Human Protein Atlas library, we screened for T cell autoreactivity against 63 CNS-expressed proteins. We identified four previously unreported autoantigens in MS: fatty acid-binding protein 7, prokineticin-2, reticulon-3, and synaptosomal-associated protein 91, which were verified to induce interferon-gamma responses in MS in two cohorts. Autoreactive profiles were heterogeneous, and reactivity to several autoantigens was MS-selective. Autoreactive T cells were predominantly CD4(+) and human leukocyte antigen-DR restricted. Mouse immunization induced antigen-specific responses and CNS leukocyte infiltration. This represents one of the largest systematic efforts to date in the search for MS autoantigens, demonstrates the heterogeneity of autoreactive profiles, and highlights promising targets for future diagnostic tools and immunomodulatory therapies in MS.
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| 6. |
- dos Santos, Cristiane, et al.
(författare)
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Excess of glucocorticoids during late gestation impairs the recovery of offspring’s β-cell function after a postnatal injury
- 2021
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Ingår i: FASEB Journal. - 0892-6638. ; 35:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since prenatal glucocorticoids (GC) excess increases the risk of metabolic dysfunctions in the offspring and its effect on β-cell recovery capacity remains unknown we investigated these aspects in offspring from mice treated with dexamethasone (DEX) in the late pregnancy. Half of the pups were treated with streptozotocin (STZ) on the sixth postnatal day (PN). Functional and molecular analyses were performed in male offspring on PN25 and PN225. Prenatal DEX treatment resulted in low birth weight. At PN25, both the STZ-treated offspring developed hyperglycemia and had lower β-cell mass, in parallel with higher α-cell mass and glucose intolerance, with no impact of prenatal DEX on such parameters. At PN225, the β-cell mass was partially recovered in the STZ-treated mice, but they remained glucose-intolerant, irrespective of being insulin sensitive. Prenatal exposition to DEX predisposed adult offspring to sustained hyperglycemia and perturbed islet function (lower insulin and higher glucagon response to glucose) in parallel with exacerbated glucose intolerance. β-cell-specific knockdown of the Hnf4α in mice from the DS group resulted in exacerbated glucose intolerance. We conclude that high GC exposure during the prenatal period exacerbates the metabolic dysfunctions in adult life of mice exposed to STZ early in life, resulting in a lesser ability to recover the islets’ function over time. This study alerts to the importance of proper management of exogenous GCs during pregnancy and a healthy postnatal lifestyle since the combination of adverse factors during the prenatal and postnatal period accentuates the predisposition to metabolic disorders in adult life.
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| 7. |
- James, Tojo, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of genetic risk loci for multiple sclerosis on expression of proximal genes in patients
- 2018
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Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 27:5, s. 912-928
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite advancements in genetic studies, it is difficult to understand and characterize the functional relevance of disease-associated genetic variants, especially in the context of a complex multifactorial disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS). As a large proportion of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) are context-specific, we performed RNA-Seq in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MS patients (n = 145) to identify eQTLs in regions centered on 109 MS risk single nucleotide polymorphisms and 7 associated human leukocyte antigen variants. We identified 77 statistically significant eQTL associations, including pseudogenes and non-coding RNAs. Thirty-eight out of 40 testable eQTL effects were colocalized with the disease association signal. As many eQTLs are tissue specific, we aimed to detail their significance in different cell types. Approximately 70% of the eQTLs were replicated and characterized in at least one major peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived cell type. Furthermore, 40% of eQTLs were found to be more pronounced in MS patients compared with non-inflammatory neurological diseases patients. In addition, we found two single nucleotide polymorphisms to be significantly associated with the proportions of three different cell types. Mapping to enhancer histone marks and predicted transcription factor binding sites added additional functional evidence for eight eQTL regions. As an example, we found that rs71624119, shared with three other autoimmune diseases and located in a primed enhancer (H3K4me1) with potential binding for STAT transcription factors, significantly associates with ANKRD55 expression. This study provides many novel and validated targets for future functional characterization of MS and other diseases.
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| 8. |
- Ling, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Epigenetic epidemiology and alterations in type 2 diabetes and obesity
- 2022
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Ingår i: Epigenetic epidemiology. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 9783030944742 - 9783030944759 ; , s. 445-474
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- ype 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are multifactorial and polygenic metabolic diseases. Combinations of genetic and non-genetic risk factors such as risk SNPs, age, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity increase the risk for these diseases. Emerging data also support a key role for epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of T2D and obesity. In this chapter, we summarize current knowledge of epigenetic alterations found in individuals with T2D and obesity. We present studies performed in blood, as well as human tissues important for metabolism, i.e., adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver, and pancreatic islets. These studies have found differential DNA methylation associated with both T2D and obesity. Although some studies exist, there is still limited information regarding histone modifications in human tissues linked to metabolic diseases. We finally explore how epigenetic mechanisms may be targeted by epigenetic editing and inhibitors of epigenetic enzymes for future therapies and precision medicine in T2D and obesity.
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| 9. |
- Ruhrmann, Sabrina
(författare)
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Involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in disease inheritance and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) with a focus on genomic imprinting and DNA methylation in CD4+ T cells
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease driven by autoreactive CD4+ T cells. Disease etiology is mediated by a strong interplay between genetic and environmental factors implying a role for epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetics is defined as the study of mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, that result in changes of gene expression without altering the underlying genetic code. Genomic imprinting, one of the most-studied epigenetic marking processes, causes a gene to be expressed only from the maternally or paternally inherited chromosome. In this thesis we investigate the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to the etiology and pathogenesis of MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We investigated the impact of parent-of-origin, in particular genomic imprinting, using two large populations of reciprocal backcross rats and identified that epigenetic mechanisms play a role in EAE inheritance and pathogenesis. Using a transgenic mouse model, we discovered that the imprinted Dlk1 gene impacts the underlying immune responses in EAE. Further discovery of imprinted genes, using RNA sequencing in adult reciprocal hybrid rats, provided additional insights into the underlying mechanisms of how imprinted genes could interfere with the immune response in EAE by modulating CD4+ T cell function. Utilizing a genome-wide approach to identify DNA methylation changes between MS patients and controls in CD4+ T cells and monocytes revealed how DNA methylation as an epigenetic mark can impact the function of CD4+ T cells in MS. We identified that DNA methylation acts as a mediator of the major MS risk factor, the HLA-DRB1 gene, to impact expression of the HLA class II molecules that present antigens to CD4+ T cells. DNA methylation further affected CD4+ T cells directly through changed epigenetic marking of a microRNA, miR-21, impacting miR-21 expression and its target genes. Our findings collectively underline the importance of integrating multiple layers of gene regulation to identify novel mechanisms involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of complex diseases like MS. This will in turn open up for novel therapeutic approaches based on targeting dysregulated epigenomes in human disease.
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| 10. |
- Rönn, Tina, et al.
(författare)
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Genes with epigenetic alterations in human pancreatic islets impact mitochondrial function, insulin secretion, and type 2 diabetes
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epigenetic dysregulation may influence disease progression. Here we explore whether epigenetic alterations in human pancreatic islets impact insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In islets, 5,584 DNA methylation sites exhibit alterations in T2D cases versus controls and are associated with HbA1c in individuals not diagnosed with T2D. T2D-associated methylation changes are found in enhancers and regions bound by β-cell-specific transcription factors and associated with reduced expression of e.g. CABLES1, FOXP1, GABRA2, GLR1A, RHOT1, and TBC1D4. We find RHOT1 (MIRO1) to be a key regulator of insulin secretion in human islets. Rhot1-deficiency in β-cells leads to reduced insulin secretion, ATP/ADP ratio, mitochondrial mass, Ca2+, and respiration. Regulators of mitochondrial dynamics and metabolites, including L-proline, glycine, GABA, and carnitines, are altered in Rhot1-deficient β-cells. Islets from diabetic GK rats present Rhot1-deficiency. Finally, RHOT1methylation in blood is associated with future T2D. Together, individuals with T2D exhibit epigenetic alterations linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in pancreatic islets.
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