Transcriptional_reprogramming_from_innate_immune_functions_to_a_pro_thrombotic_signature_upon_SARS_CoV_2_sensing_by_monocytes_in_COVID_19
Alterations in the myeloid immune compartment have been observed in COVID-19, but the specific mechanisms underlying these impairments are not completely understood. Here we examined the functionality of classical CD14+ monocytes as a main myeloid cell component in well-defined cohorts of patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 during the acute phase of infection and compared them to that of healthy individuals. We found that ex vivo isolated CD14+ monocytes from mild and moderate COVID-19 patients display specific expression patterns of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors that clearly distinguish them from healthy monocytes, as well as an altered metabolic profile. In addition, decreased NFB activation in COVID-19 monocytes ex vivo is accompanied by an intact type I IFN antiviral response. Secondary pathogen sensing ex vivo led to a state of functional unresponsiveness characterized by a defect in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, NFB-driven cytokine responses and defective type I IFN response in moderate COVID-19 monocytes, together with defects in the metabolic reprogramming that innate immune cells usually undergo upon pathogen sensing. Transcriptionally and functionally, COVID-19 monocytes switched their gene expression signature from canonical innate immune functions to a pro-thrombotic phenotype characterized by enrichment of pathways involved in hemostasis, immunothrombosis, platelet aggregation and other accessory pathways to platelet activation, accumulation and clot formation, including extracellular matrix reorganization, integrin cell surface interactions and signaling by PDGF. These results provide a potential mechanism by which innate immune dysfunction in COVID-19 may contribute to disease pathology
Study
EGAS00001006788
Germline biallelic mutation affecting the transcription factor Helios causes pleiotropic defects of immunity
We studied a patient with recurrent respiratory infections and hypogammaglobulinemia and identified a germline homozygous missense mutation in IKZF2 encoding Helios (p.Ile325Val).
We show that HeliosI325V retains DNA-binding and dimerization properties, but loses interaction with several partners, including epigenetic remodelers HDAC1, HDAC3 and the ATAC complex.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed gene expression signatures indicative of a shift towards pro-inflammatory, effector-like status in the patient’s T cells.
We observed an upregulation of the anti-inflammatory gene, TSC22D3, encoding the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ), whose expression was reported to increase upon IL-2 deprivation.
We validated this finding in primary T cells, where we observed a pronounced reduction in IL-2 production upon their stimulation, together with a defect in their ability to proliferate, rendering them more anergic.
Collectively, we identify a novel germline-encoded inborn error of immunity and define a role for Helios in conventional T cells, whereby interactions with specific binding partners is necessary to mediate the transcriptional programs that enable T-cell homeostasis in health and disease.
Study
EGAS00001005675
Single cell transcriptomic analysis of the immune cell compartment in the human small intestine and in Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which ingestion of dietary gluten triggers an immune reaction in the small intestine leading to destruction of the lining epithelium. Current treatment focusses on lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. Gluten-specific CD4+ T cells and cytotoxic intraepithelial CD8+ T cells have been proposed to be central in disease pathogenesis. Here we use unbiased single-cell RNA-sequencing and explore the heterogeneity of CD45+ immune cells in the human small intestine. We show altered myeloid cell transcriptomes present in active celiac lesions. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells transcriptomes show extensive changes and we define a natural intraepithelial lymphocyte population that is reduced in celiac disease. We show that the immune landscape in Celiac patients on a gluten-free diet is only partially restored compared to control samples. Altogether, we provide a single cell transcriptome resource that can inform the immune landscape of the small intestine during Celiac disease.
Study
EGAS00001003751
Single_cell_analysis_of_cytokine_induced_T_cell_states
We isolated T cells from healthy platelet donors and cultured them in resting and stimulated conditions with addition of a range of cytokines. We performed scRNA sequencing to assess the variability of polarization in different cytokines treated cells.
Cytokines affect T cell responses by polarising them to different phenotypes. Given that the inflammation and and autoimmune tissue distruction is driven by the local production of cytokines, we investigated cytokine induced changes in T cells by using a combination of immunological and genomics approaches. To characterize, the efficacy of cytokine induced porization, here we stimulated naive and memory CD4+ T cells in the presence of cytokine polarizing coctails and profiled single cell transcriptome five days following polarization.
This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/
Study
EGAS00001003215
Immune Landscape of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Multiple Sclerosis
This study aimed to investigate the cellular compartment of deep cervical lymph nodes (dcLNs) during early MS before the influence of immunosuppressive treatments. We used ultrasound-guided FNAs followed by scRNA-seq,CITE-seq, TCR and BCR seq to characterize the immune landscape in MS patients compared to controls within the dcLNs.
Study
EGAS50000000843
Epigenetic memory of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in monocyte-derived macrophages
Immune memory is key to effective antimicrobial responses, but the impact of mRNA vaccines on this process is not fully understood. Our research shows that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines alter the epigenetic profile of human macrophages, specifically enhancing histone acetylation, which is linked to immune training. Significant epigenetic changes, along with increased cytokine release, require two vaccine doses. However, these effects diminish over time but can be restored with a booster dose six months later, maintaining a strong pro-inflammatory response.
Study
EGAS50000000341
Identification_of_low_frequency_variants_associated_with_ulcerative_colitis_using_whole_genome_sequencing
2000 ulcerative colitis cases drawn from the UKIBD Genetics Consortium cohort and whole-genome sequenced at 2X depth. A case control association study using control samples whole-genome sequenced by UK10K will be undertaken to identify common, low-frequency and rare variants associated with ulcerative colitis. Data will be combined with similar data across 3000 Crohn's disease cases from the same cohort to identify inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) loci and better understand the genetic differences and similarities of the two common forms of IBD.
Study
EGAS00001000329
Novel optineurin frameshift insertion causing familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a common cause of Young Onset Dementia and has diverse clinical manifestations involving behaviour, executive function, language and motor function, including parkinsonism. Up to 50% of FTD patients report a positive family history, supporting a strong genetic basis, particularly in cases with both FTD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS). Mutations in three genes are associated with the majority of familial FTD (fFTD) cases - microtubule associated protein tau gene (MAPT), progranulin gene (PGRN), and hexanucleotide repeat expansions in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), whilst mutations in other genes such as optineurin (OPTN) have rarely been reported. Mutations in OPTN have been reported mostly in familial and sporadic cases of ALS, or in rare cases of FTD-ALS, but not in association with pure or predominant FTD and/or parkinsonian phenotype. Here, we report for the first time, a family from the Philippines with 4 affected members harbouring the same OPTN frameshift insertion, presenting with FTD-related phenotypes, including one sibling with predominant parkinsonism resembling corticobasal syndrome. Notably, none of the affected members showed any evidence of motor neuron disease or ALS at the time of writing, both clinically and on electrophysiological testing, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of OPTN mutations. Close follow-up of mutation carriers for the development of new clinical features and wider investigation of additional family members with further genetic analyses will be conducted to investigate the possibility of other genetic modifiers in this family which could explain phenotypic heterogeneity.
Study
EGAS00001005220
Transcriptional effect of 4HTBZ on Caco-2 cells
This study was performed to investigate the transcriptional effect of the H2S donor 4HTBZ on intestinal epithelial cells upon inflammatory stimulation. Caco-2/TC7 cells were pre-stimulated with interferon gamma (IFNG, 2.5 ng/mL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF, 10 ng/mL), followed by treatment with 4HTBZ (50 µM) or vehicle (0.1% DMSO) for 72 hours. Total RNA was extracted using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), and cDNA libraries were prepared with the QuantSeq 3′ mRNA-Seq Kit (Lexogen, Inc.) and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq4000 system.
Study
EGAS50000001237
RNASeq of PDX and CDX tumours treated with ADC
Enapotamab vedotin (EnaV), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting AXL, effectively targets tumors that display insensitivity to immunotherapy and/or tumor-specific T cells in several melanoma and lung cancer models. Mechanistically, EnaV treatment induced an inflammatory response and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells, and promoted induction of a memory-like phenotype in cytotoxic T cells. Combining EnaV with tumor-specific T cells proved superior to any treatment alone in models of melanoma and lung cancer, and increased ICB benefit in models otherwise insensitive to anti-PD-1 treatment.
Study
EGAS00001004562