Post_Mortem_Tissue_COVID19_spatial
Single cell analysis of post mortem tissue samples from SARS-CoV2-infected patients
We aim to directly identify the human cell types infected by SARS-CoV-2 and measure the cellular response to COVID19 infection across 20 different tissues from infected patient autopsies. We have examined the expression pattern of viral entry receptors across healthy human tissues to predict several candidate target cell types across the airway and heart. In addition, high prevalence of cardiac failure and abnormal renal function in COVID19 patients implicates heart and kidney involvement, but the pathogenesis of organ specific damage - whether via a direct cytopathic mechanism or an indirect inflammatory response - remains unknown . Currently, we lack confirmation of target cell types and cellular processes in infected tissues as autopsies are discouraged in most countries due to health and safety risks. Our collaborators Drs Michael Osborn and Brian Hanley (Imperial College) have outlined guidelines to perform post-mortem in COVID19 patients (Hanley et al., 2020) and have established a programme of autopsies for research to be performed in a high-risk facility at Westminster Public Mortuary. Here, we propose to identify infected cell types and aberrant molecular pathologies in this precious tissue resource using single cell and spatial genomics. We will prioritise three organ systems: the human airway, heart and the kidney. We will directly examine the cellular identities of SARS-CoV-2 infected cell types and identify the cellular responses to infection across these organs. This fundamental knowledge will help guide future treatment choices for COVID19.
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
EGAS00001004441
Regenerative effects of MSC treatment on busulfan-induced small intestine damaged organoids.
Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative treatment for leukemia and a range of non-malignant disorders. The success of the therapy is hampered by occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD); an inflammatory response damaging recipient organs, with gut, liver, and skin being the most susceptible. Intestinal GvHD injury is often a life-threatening complication in patients unresponsive to steroid treatment. Second-line available therapies are immunosuppressants or mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) infusions. Data from our institution and others demonstrate rescue of approximately 40-50% of patients suffering from aGvHD with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) and minor side effects. Although promising, the better understanding of MSC mode of action and patient response to MSC-based therapy is essential to improve this lifesaving treatment. Here, we developed a novel 3D co-culture model of human small intestinal organoids and MSCs, which allows to study the regenerative effects of MSCs on intestinal epithelium in a more physiologically relevant setting than existing in vitro systems. Using this model we mimicked chemotherapy-mediated damage of the intestinal epithelium. The treatment with busulfan, the chemotherapeutic commonly used as conditioning regiment before the HSCT, affected pathways regulating EMT, proliferation, and apoptosis in small intestinal organoids, as shown by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. The co-culture of busulfan treated intestinal organoids with MSCs reversed the effects of busulfan on the transcriptome and proteome of intestinal epithelium, which we also confirmed by functional evaluation of proliferation and apoptosis. Collectively, we demonstrate that our novel in vitro co-culture system is a new valuable tool to facilitate the investigation of the molecular mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of MSCs on damaged intestinal epithelium.
Study
EGAS00001007432
Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the histological hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hypoxia and inflammation (i.e., interleukin (IL)-1β signalling) are independent mediators of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. However, the physiological response of human kidney tubular cells to IL-1β/IL-1RI signalling under the hypoxic conditions of CKD is poorly understood and remains a clinical imperative for therapeutic targeting. This study reports that hypoxia and IL-1β act in synergy to trigger cell cycle arrest/cellular senescence of ex vivo patient-derived primary proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs).
Hypoxia and interleukin (IL)-1β are independent mediators of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, the histological hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we examine how hypoxia and IL-1β act in synergy to augment maladaptive proximal tubular epithelial cell (PTEC) repair in human CKD. Ex vivo patient-derived PTECs were cultured under normoxic (21% O2) or hypoxic (1% O2) conditions in the absence or presence of IL-1β and examined for maladaptive repair signatures. Hypoxic PTECs incubated with IL-1β displayed a discrete transcriptomic profile distinct from PTECs cultured under hypoxia alone, IL-1β alone or under normoxia. Hypoxia+IL-1β-treated PTECs had 692 ‘unique’ differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to normoxic PTECs, with ‘cell cycle’ the most significantly enriched KEGG pathway based on ‘unique’ down-regulated DEGs (including CCNA2, CCNB1 and CCNB2). Hypoxia+IL-1β-treated PTECs displayed signatures of cellular senescence, with reduced proliferation, G2/M cell cycle arrest, elevated senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity and increased production of pro-inflammatory/fibrotic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors compared to normoxic conditions. Treatment of Hypoxia+IL-1β-treated PTECs with either a senolytic drug combination, quercetin+dasatinib, or a type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI) neutralizing antibody attenuated senescent cell burden. Our data identify a mechanism whereby hypoxia in combination with IL-1β/IL-1RI signalling trigger PTEC senescence, providing novel therapeutic and diagnostic check-points for restoring tubular regeneration in human CKD.
Study
EGAS00001007904
ImmunAID
The ImmunAID study is a multi-center research program aimed at improving the diagnosis and understanding of systemic autoinflammatory diseases. The study integrates immunological, and molecular data from patients across several European cohorts. Its objective is to identify biomarkers and biological pathways that characterize disease mechanisms and help differentiate between inflammatory conditions.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 779295.
The project has generated genomic datasets, which are available through the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA). In addition, it has produced several non-genomic datasets, listed below.
All datasets have been fully anonymized in accordance with applicable ethical and regulatory frameworks.
These non-genomic data are available upon request.
To request access to these datasets, please contact:
immunaid2024@gmail.com
Your request will be studied by the Data Access Committee, and data will be made available upon approval.
Non-genomic datasets available:
Flow cytometry (general immune phenotype) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021569, size: 23 GB, 342 patients
Somascan proteomics data — Dataset ID: ICKD2021570, size: 59 MB, 444 patients
ELISA panel (Ferritin, CRP, HO1, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-γ, TNF-α) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021571, size: 295 KB, 439 patients
Mass spectrometry (MS/MS) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021572, size: 1.8 TB, 447 patients
ELISA (CRP/ SAA) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021573, size: 321 KB, 443 patients
Flow cytometry (inflammasome activity) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021574, size: 899 KB, 307 patients
Plasma lipidomics — Dataset ID: ICKD2021575, size: 1.1 MB, 427 patients
Urine lipidomics — Dataset ID: ICKD2021576, size: 833 KB, 368 patients
ELISA (alarmins) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021577, size: 129 KB, 108 patients
ELISA (IL-18 / IL-1) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021578, size: 271 KB, 330 patients
Flow cytometry (NK cell alterations) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021579, size: 14 GB, 216 patients
Chemokine measurements — Dataset ID: ICKD2021580, size: 489 KB, 404 patients
Luminex (multiple analyte measurements) — Dataset ID: ICKD2021581, size: 759 KB, 369 patients
Study
EGAS50000001393
Mapping the epigenomic landscape of human monocytes following innate immune activation reveals context-specific mechanisms driving endotoxin tolerance
Background
Monocytes are key mediators of innate immunity to infection, undergoing profound and dynamic changes in epigenetic state and immune function which are broadly protective but may be dysregulated in disease. Here, we aimed to advance understanding of epigenetic regulation following innate immune activation, acutely and in endotoxin tolerant states.
Methods
We exposed human primary monocytes from healthy donors (n=6) to interferon-γ or differing combinations of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), including acute response (2hr) and two models of endotoxin tolerance: repeated stimulations (6+6hr) and prolonged exposure to endotoxin (24hr). Another subset of monocytes was left untreated (naïve). We identified context-specific regulatory elements based on epigenetic signatures for chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) and regulatory non-coding RNAs from total RNA sequencing.
Results
We present an atlas of differential gene expression for endotoxin and interferon response, identifying widespread context specific changes. Across assayed states, only 24-29% of genes showing differential exon usage are also differential at the gene level. Overall, 19.9% (6884 of 34616) of repeatedly observed ATAC peaks were differential in at least one condition, the majority upregulated on stimulation and located in distal regions (64.1% vs 45.9% of non-differential peaks) within which sequences were less conserved than non-differential peaks. We identified enhancer-derived RNA signatures specific to different monocyte states that correlated with chromatin accessibility changes. The endotoxin tolerance models showed distinct chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic signatures, with integrated analysis identifying genes and pathways involved in the inflammatory response, detoxification, metabolism and wound healing. We leveraged eQTL mapping for the same monocyte activation states to link potential enhancers with specific genes, identifying 1,946 unique differential ATAC peaks with 1,340 expression associated genes. We further use this to inform understanding of reported GWAS, for example involving FCHO1 and coronary artery disease.
Conclusion
This study reports context-specific regulatory elements based on transcriptomic profiling and epigenetic signatures for enhancer-derived RNAs and chromatin accessibility in immune tolerant monocyte states, and demonstrates the informativeness of linking such elements and eQTL to inform future mechanistic studies aimed at defining therapeutic targets of immunosuppression and diseases.
Study
EGAS00001007362
Foundation Medicine Genomic Data Used to Identify Prognostic Markers and Fusion Genes in Multiple Myeloma
The purpose of this study is to identify prognostic markers and treatment targets using a clinically certified sequencing panel in multiple myeloma. Mutational burden was associated with maf and proliferation gene expression groups, and a high-mutational burden was associated with a poor prognosis. We identified homozygous deletions that were present in multiple myeloma within key genes, including CDKN2C, RB1, TRAF3, BIRC3 and TP53, and that bi-allelic inactivation was significantly enriched at relapse. Alterations in CDKN2C, TP53, RB1 and the t(4;14) were associated with poor prognosis. Alterations in RB1 were predominantly homozygous deletions and were associated with relapse and a poor prognosis which was independent of other genetic markers, including t(4;14), after multivariate analysis. Bi-allelic inactivation of key tumor suppressor genes in myeloma was enriched at relapse, especially in RB1, CDKN2C and TP53 where they have prognostic significance.
In addition, chromosomal rearrangements that result in oncogenic kinase activation are present in many solid and hematological malignancies, but none have been reported in multiple myeloma (MM). Here we detected fusion genes in 1.5% of patients. These fusion genes were in-frame and the majority of them contained kinase domains from either receptor tyrosine kinases (ALK, ROS1, NTRK3, and FGFR1) or cytoplasmic kinases (BRAF, MAP3K14, and MAPK14) which would result in the activation of MEK/ERK, NF-κB or inflammatory signaling pathways. Fusion genes were present in smoldering MM, newly diagnosed MM and relapse patient samples indicating they are not solely late events. Most fusion genes were subclonal in nature, but one EML4-ALK fusion was clonal indicating it is a driver of disease pathogenesis. Samples with fusions of receptor tyrosine kinases were not found in conjunction with clonal Ras/Raf mutations indicating a parallel mechanism of MEK/ERK pathway activation. Fusion genes involving MAP3K14 (NIK), which regulates the NF-κB pathway, were detected as were t(14;17) rearrangements involving NIK in 2% of MM samples. Activation of kinases in myeloma through rearrangements presents an opportunity to use treatments existing in other cancers.
Study
EGAS00001002874
Comparison of the treated celiac disease microbiome to that of controls
Coeliac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated disorder primarily affecting the small intestine, characterised by an inflammatory immune reaction to dietary gluten. CeD onset results from a multifaceted interplay of genetic and environmental factors. While recent data show that alterations in gut microbiome composition could play an important role, many current studies are constrained by small sample sizes and limited resolution. To address these limitations, we analysed faecal gut microbiota from two Dutch cohorts, CeDNN (128 treated CeD patients (tCeD), 106 controls) and the Lifelines Dutch Microbiome Project (24 self-reported tCeD, 654 controls), using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Self-reported IBS (570 cases, 1710 controls) and IBD (93 cases, 465 controls) were used as comparative conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Interindividual variation within the case and control groups was calculated at whole microbiome and strain level. Finally, species-specific gene repertoires were analysed in tCeD patients and controls. Within-individual microbiome diversity was decreased in patients with self-reported IBS and IBD but not in tCeD patients. Each condition displayed a unique microbial pattern and, in addition to confirming previously reported microbiome associations, we identify an increase in the levels of Clostridium sp. CAG:253, Roseburia hominis, and Eggerthella lenta, amongst others. We further show that the observed changes can partially be explained by gluten-free diet adherence. We also observe increased interindividual variation of gut microbiome composition among tCeD patients and a higher bacterial mutation frequency in tCeD that contributes to higher interindividual variation at strain level. In addition, the immotile European subspecies of Eubacterium rectale, which has a distinct carbohydrate metabolism potential, was nearly absent in tCeD patients. Our study sheds light on the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and CeD, revealing increased interindividual variation and strain-level variation in tCeD patients. These findings expand our understanding of the microbiome’s role in intestinal health and disease.
Note that some of the data in this study belong to the Lifelines cohort. Access to this dataset can be requested via the page of the EGA data access committee EGAC00001001996. The phenotype data can be requested, for a fee, by filling the application form at https://www.lifelines.nl/researcher/how-to-apply/apply-here.
Study
EGAS50000000959
sn-RNAseq profiling of the impact of a cytokine storm model in human cardiac organoids
We developed conditions to model conditions of diastolic dysfunction caused by inflammatory factors in human cardiac organoids. Our organoid model is based on conditions promoting maturation (Mills et al., PNAS, 2017 and Voges et al., In Revision) and incorporating human pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes, epicardial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and pericytes. Following 15 days of differentiation (Voges et al., Development, 2017) we formed human cardiac organoids incorporating both our multicellular differentiation (Mills et al., PNAS, 2017) and additional endothelial cells (Voges et al., In Revision). After another 12 days of maturation in 5 days maturation medium and 5 days weaning medium (Voges et al., In Revision) human cardiac organoids were either treated with weaning medium or “cardiac cytokine storm” comprised of 100 ng/ml IFNg, 10 ng/ml IL-1 β and 10 µg/ml poly(I:C). After 48 hours human cardiac organoids were harvested and snap frozen in -80C before nuclei isolation and single nuclei RNA sequencing.Pooled hCO (~40) were homogenized in 4 mL lysis buffer (300 mM sucrose, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH = 8), 5 mM CaCl2, 5 mM magnesium acetate, 2 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM EGTA, 1 mM DTT)(all Sigma-Aldrich) with 30 strokes of a dounce tissue grinder (Wheaton). Large pieces of hCO were allowed to settle and homogenate was passed through pre-wetted 40 µm cell strainers (Becton Dickinson). Remaining hCO material in the douncer was resuspended in 4 mL and the douncing and filtering steps were repeated twice. All steps of the homogenization were performed on ice. The filtered homogenate was centrifuged at 1500 x g for 5 min at 4oC. Nuclei pellets were then re-suspended in PBS. A fraction of resuspended nuclei were then stained with hoechst nuclear stain (1:500 dilution) and counted on a haemocytometer under fluorescent microscope.The nuclei were then re-centrifuged (1500 x g for 5 min at 4°C) and resuspended at a density to load ~5,000 nuclei per sample. Cell were loaded into the Chromium Controller (10X Genomics) for gel bead emulsion (GEM) formation. Library preparation was conducted according to the manufacturer’s recommended protocol using the Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3’ GEM, Library & Gel Bead Kit v3.1. Libraries were sequenced on the NextSeq 500/550 v2 (Illumina) with 150 bp reads.In the snRNA-seq we note the lower than expected percentage of non-myocytes and the loss of endothelial cells (Mills et al., PNAS, 2017 and Voges et al., In Revision), indicating the protocol requires further optimization for hCO samples.
Study
EGAS00001005174
Shifted assembly and function of mSWI/SNF family subcomplexes underlie targetable dependencies in endometriod carcinomas
The mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) family of chromatin remodelers govern cell type-specific chromatin accessibility and gene expression and assemble as three distinct complexes: canonical BAF (cBAF), Polybromo-associated BAF (PBAF), and non-canonical BAF (ncBAF). ARID1A and ARID1B are paralog subunits that specifically nucleate the assembly of cBAF complexes and are frequently dual deleted in highly aggressive differentiated endometrial carcinomas (DECs). Here, in cellular models and primary human tumors, we find that ARID1A/B-mediated cBAF loss results in increased ncBAF and PBAF biochemical abundance and function genome-wide to maintain the DEC oncogenic signature. Further, treatment of ARID1A/1B-mutant cell lines and PDX models in vivo with a clinical-grade SMARCA4/2 ATPase inhibitor, FHD-286, markedly attenuates cell proliferation and tumor growth, and synergizes with carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Taken together, these findings reveal the oncogenic contributions of shifted of mSWI/SNF family complex abundance and chromatin-level gene regulatory functions and suggest therapeutic utility of mSWI/SNF complex small molecule inhibitors in dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma and other cBAF-disrupted cancer types.
Study
EGAS50000001004
Pancreatic cancer RNA sequencing
Study
EGAS00001004706
Systematic Growth Factor Profiling Platform for 3D Tumor Models Reveals EstradiolResponsive Cellular Mechanisms of Immunotherapy Resistance
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) exhibits significant molecular heterogeneity, which is thought to be influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the specific factors driving this heterogeneity remain poorly understood.
In this study, we integrated growth factoromics and genomic data to identify TME factors contributing to EOC heterogeneity and immunosuppression. Our analysis revealed distinct subgroups of EOC samples with differential responsiveness to specific growth factors, particularly estradiol and R-spondin. Notably, samples with high responsiveness to estradiol and Wnt (C1 cluster) were enriched in the Mesenchymal (MES) molecular subtype, while samples with high responsiveness to R-spondin (C2 cluster) were associated with the Differentiated (DIF) and Immunoreactive (IMR) subtypes. We discovered that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), rather than the classical estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), was the key mediator of estrogen responsiveness and a determinant of molecular subtype classification. Single-cell sequencing analysis identified subsets of estrogen-responsive malignant cell (MAL.PDCD5) and cancer-associated fibroblast (FB.TNFSF10), which were associated with immunosuppressive patterns in the TCGA cohort. Importantly, the interaction between these cell populations significantly increased upon estrogen treatment, suggesting a potential mechanism by which estrogen signaling may contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive TME.
Our findings highlight the critical role of estrogen signaling in shaping the molecular heterogeneity and immunosuppressive TME of EOC and provide novel insights into potential therapeutic targets for overcoming immunosuppression in this malignancy.
Study
EGAS50000000422
Paired DNA and RNA sequencing uncovers common and rare genomic variants regulating gene expression in the human retina
In this study, we uncovered common and rare genomic variants shaping retinal expression profiles. This includes 1,483,595 significant cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) impacting 9,959 and 3,699 genes in NSR and RPE, respectively, with associated genomic variants enriched to cis-candidate regulatory elements and notable shared eGenes between NSR and RPE. We also detected 1051 expression outliers and prioritised 299 rare non-coding single-nucleotide, structural variants or copy number variants as plausible drivers for 28% of outlier events. This study increases understanding of gene expression regulation in the human retina.
Study
EGAS50000001443
BLUEPRINT ChIP-seq data for cells in the haematopoietic lineages, from adult and cord blood samples.
ChIP-seq data for cells in the haematopoietic lineages, from adult and cord blood samples.
Study
EGAS00001000326
Blina_Tumour_project
The aim of this study is to reconstruct the embryology of childhood tumours.
Study
EGAS00001006486
BLUEPRINT Bisulfite-seq (CNAG)
Bisulfite-Seq
Study
EGAS00001000418
