Potential genes and pathways along with immune cells infiltration in the progression of atherosclerosis identified via microarray gene expression dataset re-analysis
VASCULAR
Authors: Xu, Jing; Yang, Yuejin
Abstract
Objective Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process characterized by the accumulation and formation of lipid-rich plaques within the layers of the arterial wall. Although numerous studies have reported the underlying pathogenesis, no data-based studies have been conducted to analyze the potential genes and immune cells infiltration in the different stages of atherosclerosis via bioinformatics analysis. Methods In this study, we downloaded GSE100927 and GSE28829 from NCBI-GEO database. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment were performed via the DAVID database. The protein interaction network was constructed via STRING. Enriched hub genes were analyzed by the Cytoscape software. The evaluation of the infiltrating immune cells in the dataset samples was performed by the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results We identified 114 common upregulated differentially expressed genes and 22 common downregulated differentially expressed genes. (adjust p value < 0.01 and log FC >= 1). A cluster of 10 genes including CYBA, SLC11A1, FCER1G, ITGAM, ITGB2, CD53, ITGAX, VAMP8, CLEC5A, and CD300A were found to be significant. Through the deconvolution algorithm CIBERSORT, we analyzed the significant alteration of immune cells infiltration in the progression of atherosclerosis with the threshold of the Wilcoxon test at p value Conclusions These results may reveal the underlying correlations between genes and immune cells in atherosclerosis, which enable us to investigate the novel insights for the development of treatments and drugs.
The Transcription Factor ZEB2 Is Required to Maintain the Tissue-Specific Identities of Macrophages
IMMUNITY
Authors: Scott, Charlotte L.; T'Jonck, Wouter; Martens, Liesbet; Todorov, Helena; Sichien, Dorine; Soen, Bieke; Bonnardel, Johnny; De Prijck, Sofie; Vandamme, Niels; Cannoodt, Robrecht; Saelens, Wouter; Vanneste, Bavo; Toussaint, Wendy; De Bleser, Pieter; Takahashi, Nozomi; Vandenabeele, Peter; Henri, Sandrine; Pridans, Clare; Hume, David A.; Lambrecht, Bart N.; De Baetselier, Patrick; Milling, Simon W. F.; Van Ginderachter, Jo A.; Malissen, Bernard; Berx, Geert; Beschin, Alain; Saeys, Yvan; Guilliams, Martin
Abstract
Heterogeneity between different macrophage populations has become a defining feature of this lineage. However, the conserved factors defining macrophages remain largely unknown. The transcription factor ZEB2 is best described for its role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition; however, its role within the immune system is only now being elucidated. We show here that Zeb2 expression is a conserved feature of macrophages. Using Clec4f-cre, Itgax-cre, and Fcgr1-cre mice to target five different macrophage populations, we found that loss of ZEB2 resulted in macrophage disappearance from the tissues, coupled with their subsequent replenishment from bone-marrow precursors in open niches. Mechanistically, we found that ZEB2 functioned to maintain the tissue-specific identities of macrophages. In Kupffer cells, ZEB2 achieved this by regulating expression of the transcription factor LXR alpha, removal of which recapitulated the loss of Kupffer cell identity and disappearance. Thus, ZEB2 expression is required in macrophages to preserve their tissue-specific identities.