Biology subjects

Ensbey, K. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Ensbey, K. S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Activation of the Zinc-sensing receptor GPR39 promotes T cell reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Prolonged lymphopenia represents a major clinical problem after cytoreductive therapies such as chemotherapy and the conditioning required for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT), contributing toward the risk of infections and malignant relapse. Restoration of T cell immunity is dependent on tissue regeneration in the thymus, the primary site of T cell development; although the capacity of the thymus to repair itself diminishes over lifespan. However, although boosting thymic function and T cell reconstitution is of considerable clinical importance, there are currently no approved therapies for treating lymphopenia. Here we found that Zinc (Zn), is critically important for both normal T cell development as well as repair after acute damage. Accumulated Zn in thymocytes during development was released into the extracellular milieu after HCT conditioning, where it triggered regeneration by stimulating endothelial cell-production of BMP4 via the cell surface receptor GPR39. Dietary supplementation of Zn was sufficient to promote thymic function in a mouse model of allogeneic HCT, including enhancing the number of recent thymic emigrants in circulation; although direct targeting of GPR39 with a small molecule agonist enhanced thymic function without the need for prior Zn accumulation in thymocytes. Together, these findings not only define an important pathway underlying tissue regeneration, but also offer an innovative preclinical approach to treat lymphopenia in HCT recipients. KEY POINTSO_LIThymocytes release zinc after HCT conditioning is sensed by GPR39 and promotes epithelial repair C_LIO_LIPharmacologic stimulation of GPR39 promotes T cell reconstitution after HCT C_LI

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Direct evidence for transport of RNA from the mouse brain to the germline and offspring

BackgroundThe traditional concept that heritability occurs exclusively from the transfer of germline-restricted genetics is being challenged by the increasing accumulation of evidence confirming the existence of experience-dependent transgenerational inheritance. However, questions remain unanswered as to how heritable information can be passed from somatic cells. Previous studies have implicated the critical involvement of RNA in heritable transgenerational effects and the high degree of mobility and genomic impact of RNAs in all organisms is an attractive model for the efficient transfer of genetic information.\n\nResultsWe hypothesized that RNA may be transported from a somatic tissue, in this case the brain, of an adult male mouse to the germline, and subsequently to offspring. To investigate this, we injected one hemisphere of the male mouse striatum with an AAV1/9 virus expressing human pre-MIR941 (MIR941). After 2, 8 and 16 weeks following injection, we used an LNA-based qPCR system to detect the presence of virus and human MIR941 in brain, peripheral tissues and offspring, from injected male mice mated with uninjected females. Virus was never detected outside of the brain. Verification of single bands of the correct size for MIR941 was performed using Sanger sequencing while quantitation demonstrated that a small percentage ([~] 1-8%) of MIR941 is transported to the germline and to offspring in about a third of the cases.\n\nConclusionsWe show that somatic RNA can be transported to the germline and passed on to offspring, thereby providing additional evidence of a role for RNA in somatic cell-derived transgenerational effects.

evolutionary biology↗