Author Of 2 Presentations
P0136 - Profiling of small non-coding RNAs across cellular and biofluid compartments in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (ID 1195)
Abstract
Background
Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in various biological contexts, such as regulation of immune system functions, homeostasis, and autoimmunity development. While the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) has attained major interest, studies investigating other sncRNA classes, especially in the target central nervous system compartment, are still scarce.
Objectives
We aimed to perform a comprehensive, comparative analysis of all classes of sncRNAs in matching peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells, and cell-free CSF from MS patients and controls.
Methods
23 relapsing-remitting (RRMS, n=12 in relapse, n=11 in remission), 6 secondary progressive (SPMS) MS patients and 16 non-inflammatory and inflammatory neurological disease controls (NINDC, n=11; INDC, n=5) were included in the analysis. We utilized Small-seq (Faridani et al., Nat Biotechnol. 2016) to quantify sncRNA transcripts.
Results
We observed distinct and variable profiles of sncRNA classes across all analyzed cellular and biofluid compartments. While miRNAs were the most abundant class of sncRNAs in PBMCs and plasma, transfer RNAs represented the most abundant class in CSF cells and cell-free CSF. Furthermore, we observed an opposing quantitative pattern of small nuclear, nucleolar, transfer RNAs, and miRNAs changes between the blood and CNS compartments. In CSF cells, 133/133 and 115/117 differentially expressed sncRNAs were increased in RRMS relapse compared to remission and RRMS compared to NINDC, respectively. In contrast, 65/67 differentially expressed PBMC sncRNAs were decreased in RRMS compared to NINDC. These findings underscore the importance of including both the peripheral and intrathecal compartments in studies investigating the role of sncRNAs in MS.
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate widespread alterations of several classes of sncRNAs, particularly during the relapse phase in CSF cells. Genome-wide small non-coding RNA profiling provides therefore an informative moleculer panel for addressing MS pathogenesis, where further research may lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and possible treatment targets.
P0980 - MicroRNA-150 controls experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by regulating CD4 T cell differentiation and function (ID 1079)
Abstract
Background
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that have an important role in the fine tuning of all biological processes and are often found to be dysregulated in diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, axonal loss and neurodegeneration. We have previously shown microRNA-150 (miR-150) levels to be elevated in cell-free cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients compared to controls.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to further understand the physiopathological function of miR-150 using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model for MS.
Methods
To establish its role in-vivo, we generated miR-150 knock-out (KO) and knock-in (KI) mice using CRISPR/Cas9. Immune profiling using flow cytometry as well as RNA sequencing were used to understand underlying mechanisms.
Results
After induction of EAE, miR-150 KO mice showed ameliorated disease compared to WT littermate controls while miR-150 KI mice presented with exacerbated disease. An ameliorated disease in miR-150 KO was accompanied by a decreased infiltration of CD4 T cells compared to WT and KI. At priming stage of EAE we found that miR-150 KO had an increase in regulatory CD4 T cells (TREGS). Furthermore, after reconstitution of T cell deficient animals, CD4 T cells from miR-150 KO mice could protect against EAE and also showed an increased FOXP3 expression. A role of miR-150 in regulating TREG cells was further substantiated by transcriptome profiling, where miR-150 KO CD4 T cells suggested an enhancement of TREG phenotype as well as a diminished translation in miR-150 KO CD4 T cells. Moreover the results implicated miR-150 with mechanisms such as translation, autophagy and metabolism as well T cell proliferation and differentiation.
Conclusions
miR-150 deficiency ameliorated EAE and favored a more anti-inflammatory environment while miR-150 expression promoted pathogenic CD4 T cells subsets, potentially associated with metabolic mechanisms.
Presenter Of 1 Presentation
P0980 - MicroRNA-150 controls experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by regulating CD4 T cell differentiation and function (ID 1079)
Abstract
Background
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that have an important role in the fine tuning of all biological processes and are often found to be dysregulated in diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, axonal loss and neurodegeneration. We have previously shown microRNA-150 (miR-150) levels to be elevated in cell-free cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients compared to controls.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to further understand the physiopathological function of miR-150 using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model for MS.
Methods
To establish its role in-vivo, we generated miR-150 knock-out (KO) and knock-in (KI) mice using CRISPR/Cas9. Immune profiling using flow cytometry as well as RNA sequencing were used to understand underlying mechanisms.
Results
After induction of EAE, miR-150 KO mice showed ameliorated disease compared to WT littermate controls while miR-150 KI mice presented with exacerbated disease. An ameliorated disease in miR-150 KO was accompanied by a decreased infiltration of CD4 T cells compared to WT and KI. At priming stage of EAE we found that miR-150 KO had an increase in regulatory CD4 T cells (TREGS). Furthermore, after reconstitution of T cell deficient animals, CD4 T cells from miR-150 KO mice could protect against EAE and also showed an increased FOXP3 expression. A role of miR-150 in regulating TREG cells was further substantiated by transcriptome profiling, where miR-150 KO CD4 T cells suggested an enhancement of TREG phenotype as well as a diminished translation in miR-150 KO CD4 T cells. Moreover the results implicated miR-150 with mechanisms such as translation, autophagy and metabolism as well T cell proliferation and differentiation.
Conclusions
miR-150 deficiency ameliorated EAE and favored a more anti-inflammatory environment while miR-150 expression promoted pathogenic CD4 T cells subsets, potentially associated with metabolic mechanisms.