技术资料

TFF1,a secreted protein,plays an essential role in keeping the integrity of gastric mucosa and its barrier function. Loss of TFF1 expression in the TFF1-knockout (KO) mouse leads to a pro-inflammatory phenotype with a cascade of gastric lesions that include low-grade dysplasia,high-grade dysplasia,and adenocarcinomas. In this study,we demonstrate nuclear localization of p-STATY705,with significant overexpression of several STAT3 target genes in gastric glands from the TFF1-KO mice. We also show frequent loss of TFF1 with nuclear localization of STAT3 in human gastric cancers. The reconstitution of TFF1 protein in human gastric cancer cells and 3D gastric glands organoids from TFF1-KO mice abrogates IL6-induced nuclear p-STAT3Y705 expression. Reconstitution of TFF1 inhibits IL6-induced STAT3 transcription activity,suppressing expression of its target genes. TFF1 blocks IL6R$\alpha$-GP130 complex formation through interfering with binding of IL6 to its receptor IL6R$\alpha$. These findings demonstrate a functional role of TFF1 in suppressing gastric tumorigenesis by impeding the IL6-STAT3 pro-inflammatory signaling axis. View Publication

Immunosuppression increases the risk of cancers that are associated with viral infection1. In particular,the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin-which has been associated with beta human papillomavirus ($\beta$-HPV) infection-is increased by more than 100-fold in immunosuppressed patients2-4. Previous studies have not established a causative role for HPVs in driving the development of skin cancer. Here we show that T cell immunity against commensal papillomaviruses suppresses skin cancer in immunocompetent hosts,and the loss of this immunity-rather than the oncogenic effect of HPVs-causes the markedly increased risk of skin cancer in immunosuppressed patients. To investigate the effects of papillomavirus on carcinogen-driven skin cancer,we colonized several strains of immunocompetent mice with mouse papillomavirus type 1 (MmuPV1)5. Mice with natural immunity against MmuPV1 after colonization and acquired immunity through the transfer of T cells from immune mice or by MmuPV1 vaccination were protected against skin carcinogenesis induced by chemicals or by ultraviolet radiation in a manner dependent on CD8+ T cells. RNA and DNA in situ hybridization probes for 25 commensal $\beta$-HPVs revealed a significant reduction in viral activity and load in human skin cancer compared with the adjacent healthy skin,suggesting a strong immune selection against virus-positive malignant cells. Consistently,E7 peptides from $\beta$-HPVs activated CD8+ T cells from unaffected human skin. Our findings reveal a beneficial role for commensal viruses and establish a foundation for immune-based approaches that could block the development of skin cancer by boosting immunity against the commensal HPVs present in all of our skin. View Publication

Decidua is a transient uterine tissue shared by mammals with hemochorial placenta and is essential for pregnancy. The decidua is infiltrated by many immune cells promoting pregnancy. Adult bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMDCs) differentiate into rare populations of nonhematopoietic endometrial cells in the uterus. However,whether adult BMDCs become nonhematopoietic decidual cells and contribute functionally to pregnancy is unknown. Here,we show that pregnancy mobilizes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the circulation and that pregnancy induces considerable adult BMDCs recruitment to decidua,where some differentiate into nonhematopoietic prolactin-expressing decidual cells. To explore the functional importance of nonhematopoietic BMDCs to pregnancy,we used Homeobox a11 (Hoxa11)-deficient mice,having endometrial stromal-specific defects precluding decidualization and successful pregnancy. Hoxa11 expression in BM is restricted to nonhematopoietic cells. BM transplant (BMT) from wild-type (WT) to Hoxa11-/- mice results in stromal expansion,gland formation,and marked decidualization otherwise absent in Hoxa11-/- mice. Moreover,in Hoxa11+/- mice,which have increased pregnancy losses,BMT from WT donors leads to normalized uterine expression of numerous decidualization-related genes and rescue of pregnancy loss. Collectively,these findings reveal that adult BMDCs have a previously unrecognized nonhematopoietic physiologic contribution to decidual stroma,thereby playing important roles in decidualization and pregnancy. View Publication

Mammalian focal adhesion proteins Pinch1 and Pinch2 regulate integrin activation and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and migration. Here,we show that deleting Pinch1 in osteocytes and mature osteoblasts using the 10-kb mouse Dmp1-Cre and Pinch2 globally (double KO; dKO) results in severe osteopenia throughout life,while ablating either gene does not cause bone loss,suggesting a functional redundancy of both factors in bone. Pinch deletion in osteocytes and mature osteoblasts generates signals that inhibit osteoblast and bone formation. Pinch-deficient osteocytes and conditioned media from dKO bone slice cultures contain abundant sclerostin protein and potently suppress osteoblast differentiation in primary BM stromal cells (BMSC) and calvarial cultures. Pinch deletion increases adiposity in the BM cavity. Primary dKO BMSC cultures display decreased osteoblastic but enhanced adipogenic,differentiation capacity. Pinch loss decreases expression of integrin $\beta$3,integrin-linked kinase (ILK),and $\alpha$-parvin and increases that of active caspase-3 and -8 in osteocytes. Pinch loss increases osteocyte apoptosis in vitro and in bone. Pinch loss upregulates expression of both Rankl and Opg in the cortical bone and does not increase osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Finally,Pinch ablation exacerbates hindlimb unloading-induced bone loss and impairs active ulna loading-stimulated bone formation. Thus,we establish a critical role of Pinch in control of bone homeostasis. View Publication

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the commonest disorder derived from the B-lymphocytes. Inhibiting the immune checkpoint through naturalizing programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is proved to be a successful therapeutic regime for lymphoma. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are unceasingly reported to be promising biological targets for the cancer therapies. This study planned to explore the regulation of small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) on DLBCL. SNHG14 level in DLBCL samples and cell lines was analyzed by GEPIA bioinformatics tool and RT-qPCR. Biological functions of SNHG14 in DLBCL were detected by CCK-8,colony formation,and transwell invasion assays. Molecular interaction was determined by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. MiR-5590-3p-related pathway was identified through KEGG pathway analysis applying DAVID6.8 online bioinformatics tool. Effect of SNHG14 on CD8+ T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results depicted that SNHG14 was upregulated in DLBCL and its depletion retarded proliferation,migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically,SNHG14 sponged miR-5590-3p to upregulate Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1),and ZEB1 transcriptionally activated SNHG14 and PD-L1 to promote the immune evasion of DLBCL cells. In conclusion,we firstly showed that SNHG14/miR-5590-3p/ZEB1 positive feedback loop promoted diffuse large B cell lymphoma progression and immune evasion through regulating PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint,indicating that targeting SNHG14 was a potential approach to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in DLBCL. View Publication

The association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathogenesis and immune-mediated tissue damage and insulin resistance suggests that T2D patients might benefit from the suppression of pathogenic inflammation. Foxp3+ Treg cells are crucial suppressors of inflammation,but the differentiation of Foxp3+ Treg cells is not static and is subject to conversion into IL-17-producing Th17-like cells upon receiving external signals. In this study,we examined the production of IL-17 by Treg cells. Compared to non-T2D controls,T2D patients presented significantly higher levels of IL-17-expressing cells in both Foxp3- CD4 T cells and Foxp3+ Treg cells. The frequencies of IL-17-nonexpressing Foxp3+ Treg cells,on the other hand,were not changed. Interestingly,IL-17-expressing Foxp3+ Treg cells were mutually exclusive from IL-10-expressing and TGF-$\beta$-expressing Foxp3+ Treg cells,suggesting that multiple subpopulations exist within the Foxp3+ Treg cells from T2D patients. In T2D patients,the frequencies of IL-17-expressing Foxp3+ Treg cells were positively correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and the HbA1c levels of T2D patients. The frequencies of IL-10-expressing Treg cells,on the other hand,were inversely associated with the BMI of both non-T2D controls and T2D patients. In addition,the suppressive activity of Treg cells was significantly lower in T2D patients than in non-T2D controls. Together,our study uncovered a dysregulation in Foxp3+ Treg cells from T2D patients,characterized by high IL-17 expression and low suppression activity. View Publication

In Finland,the frequency of isolated cleft palate (CP) is higher than that of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P). This trend contrasts to that in other European countries but its genetic underpinnings are unknown. We conducted a genome-wide association study in the Finnish population and identified rs570516915,a single nucleotide polymorphism highly enriched in Finns,as strongly associated with CP (P?=?5.25 × 10?34,OR?=?8.65,95% CI 6.11–12.25),but not with CL/P (P?=?7.2 × 10?5),with genome-wide significance. The risk allele frequency of rs570516915 parallels the regional variation of CP prevalence in Finland,and the association was replicated in independent cohorts of CP cases from Finland (P?=?8.82 × 10?28) and Estonia (P?=?1.25 × 10?5). The risk allele of rs570516915 alters a conserved binding site for the transcription factor IRF6 within an enhancer (MCS-9.7) upstream of the IRF6 gene and diminishes the enhancer activity. Oral epithelial cells derived from CRISPR-Cas9 edited induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrate that the CP-associated allele of rs570516915 concomitantly decreases the binding of IRF6 and the expression level of IRF6,suggesting impaired IRF6 autoregulation as a molecular mechanism underlying the risk for CP. Here,the authors perform a genome-wide study and identify a genetic variant enriched in the Finnish population that is strongly associated with isolated cleft palate. This finding suggests a genetic basis for the high prevalence of cleft palate in Finland. View Publication

Rationale: Brain pericytes can acquire multipotency to produce multi-lineage cells following injury. However,pericytes are a heterogenous population and it remains unknown whether there are different potencies from different subsets of pericytes in response to injury.Methods: We used an ischemic stroke model combined with pericyte lineage tracing animal models to investigate brain pericyte heterogeneity under both naïve and brain injury conditions via single-cell RNA-sequencing and immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition,we developed an NG2+ pericyte neural reprogramming culture model from both murine and humans to unveil the role of energy sensor,AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK),activity in modulating the reprogramming/differentiation process to convert pericytes to functional neurons by targeting a Ser 436 phosphorylation on CREB-binding protein (CBP),a histone acetyltransferase.Results: We showed that two distinct pericyte subpopulations,marked by NG2+ and Tbx18+,had different potency following brain injury. NG2+ pericytes expressed dominant neural reprogramming potential to produce newborn neurons,while Tbx18+ pericytes displayed dominant multipotency to produce endothelial cells,fibroblasts,and microglia following ischemic stroke. In addition,we discovered that AMPK modulators facilitated pericyte-to-neuron conversion by modulating Ser436 phosphorylation status of CBP,to coordinate an acetylation shift between Sox2 and histone H2B,and to regulate Sox2 nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking during the reprogramming/differentiation process. Finally,we showed that sequential treatment of compound C (CpdC) and metformin,AMPK inhibitor and activator respectively,robustly facilitated the conversion of human pericytes into functional neurons.Conclusion: We revealed that two distinct subtypes of pericytes possess different reprogramming potencies in response to physical and ischemic injuries. We also developed a genomic integration-free methodology to reprogram human pericytes into functional neurons by targeting NG2+ pericytes. View Publication

Extraembryonic mesoderm (ExM) is crucial for human development,yet its specification is poorly understood. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based models,including embryoids and differentiated derivatives,are emerging as promising tools for studying ExM development. Despite this,the signaling mechanisms and developmental dynamics that underlie ExM specification from hESCs remain challenging to study. Here,we report that the modulation of BMP,WNT,and Nodal signaling pathways can rapidly (4-5 days) and efficiently (?~90%) induce the differentiation of both naive and primed hESCs into ExM-like cells (ExMs). We reveal that ExM specification from hESCs predominantly proceeds through intermediates exhibiting a primitive streak (PS)-like gene expression pattern and delineate the regulatory roles of WNT and Nodal signaling in this process. Furthermore,we find that the initial pluripotent state governs hESC-based ExM specification by influencing signal response,cellular composition,developmental progression,and transcriptional characteristics of the resulting ExMs. Our study provides promising models for dissecting human ExM development and sheds light on the signaling principles,developmental dynamics,and influences of pluripotency states underlying ExM specification from hESCs. Extraembryonic mesoderm (ExM) is crucial but its formation is unclear. Here,authors develop efficient systems to specify ExM from hESCs and dissect the signaling mechanisms,specification dynamics,and impact of pluripotent states in ExM formation. View Publication

Proteomic analysis of human cerebral organoids may reveal how psychedelics regulate biological processes,shedding light on drug-induced changes in the brain. This study elucidates the proteomic alterations induced by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in human cerebral organoids. By employing high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics,we quantitatively analyzed the differential abundance of proteins in cerebral organoids exposed to LSD. Our findings indicate changes in proteostasis,energy metabolism,and neuroplasticity-related pathways. Specifically,LSD exposure led to alterations in protein synthesis,folding,autophagy,and proteasomal degradation,suggesting a complex interplay in the regulation of neural cell function. Additionally,we observed modulation in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation,crucial for cellular energy management and synaptic function. In support of the proteomic data,complementary experiments demonstrated LSD’s potential to enhance neurite outgrowth in vitro,confirming its impact on neuroplasticity. Collectively,our results provide a comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms through which LSD may affect neuroplasticity and potentially contribute to therapeutic effects for neuropsychiatric disorders. View Publication

Oral facial cleft (OFC) comprises cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) or cleft palate only. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) of isolated OFC have identified common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in many genomic loci where the presumed effector gene (for example,IRF6 in the 1q32 locus) is expressed in embryonic oral epithelium. To identify candidates for functional SNPs at eight such loci we conduct a massively parallel reporter assay in a fetal oral epithelial cell line,revealing SNPs with allele-specific effects on enhancer activity. We filter these SNPs against chromatin-mark evidence of enhancers and test a subset in traditional reporter assays,which support the candidacy of SNPs at loci containing FOXE1, IRF6, MAFB, TFAP2A,and TP63. For two SNPs near IRF6 and one near FOXE1,we engineer the genome of induced pluripotent stem cells,differentiate the cells into embryonic oral epithelium,and discover allele-specific effects on the levels of effector gene expression,and,in two cases,the binding affinity of transcription factors FOXE1 or ETS2. Conditional analyses of GWAS data suggest the two functional SNPs near IRF6 account for the majority of risk for CL/P at this locus. This study connects genetic variation associated with OFC to mechanisms of pathogenesis. Non-syndromic orofacial cleft is a relatively common congenital anomaly. Many non-coding genetic variants are associated with this disorder but only a subset is functional. Here the authors use reporter assays and stem cells to reveal members of this subset. View Publication

AbstractThe hippocampus is a brain area linked to cognition. The mechanisms that maintain cognitive activity in humans are poorly understood. Centenarians display extreme longevity which is generally accompanied by better quality of life,lower cognitive impairment,and reduced incidence of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases. We performed transcriptomic studies in hippocampus samples from individuals of different ages (centenarians [?97 years],old,and young) and identified a differential gene expression pattern in centenarians compared to the other two groups. In particular,several isoforms of metallothioneins (MTs) were highly expressed in centenarians. Moreover,we identified that MTs were mainly expressed in astrocytes. Functional studies in human primary astrocytes revealed that MT1 and MT3 are necessary for their homeostasis maintenance. Overall,these results indicate that the expression of MTs specifically in astrocytes is a mechanism for protection during aging. Higher levels of MT1 and MT3 are detected in hippocampus of very old individuals (over 90) compared with old and young individuals. MTs colocalize with astrocytic markers. View Publication