Autor: |
Jamie L. McCall, Melinda E. Varney, Emily Rice, Sebastian A. Dziadowicz, Casey Hall, Kathryn E. Blethen, Gangqing Hu, John B. Barnett, Ivan Martinez |
Jazyk: |
angličtina |
Rok vydání: |
2022 |
Předmět: |
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Zdroj: |
Frontiers in Immunology, Vol 12 (2022) |
Druh dokumentu: |
article |
ISSN: |
1664-3224 |
DOI: |
10.3389/fimmu.2021.720635 |
Popis: |
ObjectivePrenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure leads to immunotoxic phenotypes in the offspring affecting coding and non-coding genes. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are integral to T cell regulation. Here, we investigated the role of long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (lncSnhg7) in T cell proliferation.MethodsRNA sequencing was used to analyze the expression of lncRNAs in splenic CD4+ T cells with and without CD3/CD28 stimulation. Next, T cells isolated from offspring exposed to control or Cd water throughout mating and gestation were analyzed with and without stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 beads. Quantitative qPCR and western blotting were used to detect RNA and protein levels of specific genes. Overexpression of a miR-34a mimic was achieved using nucleofection. Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry and luminescence assays. Flow cytometry was also used to measure T cell proliferation in culture. Finally, lncSnhg7 was knocked down in splenic CD4+ T cells with lentivirus to assess its effect on proliferation.ResultsWe identified 23 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed in stimulated versus unstimulated T cells, including lncSnhg7. LncSnhg7 and a downstream protein, GALNT7, are upregulated in T cells from offspring exposed to Cd during gestation. Overexpression of miR-34a, a regulator of lncSnhg7 and GALNT7, suppresses GALNT7 protein levels in primary T cells, but not in a mouse T lymphocyte cell line. The T cells isolated from Cd-exposed offspring exhibit increased proliferation after activation in vitro, but Treg suppression and CD4+ T cell apoptosis are not affected by prenatal Cd exposure. Knockdown on lncSnhg7 inhibits proliferation of CD4+ T cells.ConclusionPrenatal Cd exposure alters the expression of lncRNAs during T cell activation. The induction of lncSnhg7 is enhanced in splenic T cells from Cd offspring resulting in the upregulation of GALNT7 protein and increased proliferation following activation. miR-34a overexpression decreased GALNT7 expression and knockdown of lncSnhg7 inhibited proliferation suggesting that the lncSnhg7/miR-34a/GALNT7 is an important pathway in primary CD4+ T cells. These data highlight the need to understand the consequences of environmental exposures on lncRNA functions in non-cancerous cells as well as the effects in utero. |
Databáze: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
Externí odkaz: |
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