Integrative analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression profiles of monocyte-derived dendritic cells differentiation during experimental cerebral malaria. Issue 4 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Assis, Patrícia Aparecida; Durso, Danielle Fernandes; Cavalcante, Fernanda Chacon; Zaniratto, Ricardo; Carvalho-Silva, Ana Carolina; Cunha-Neto, Edecio; Golenbock, Douglas Taylor; Ferreira, Ludmila Rodrigues Pinto; Gazzinelli, Ricardo Tostes
• Is Part Of: Journal of leukocyte biology. Volume 108:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 1183
• Page End: 1197
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Plasmodium -- MODC -- cell differentiation -- miRNA -- systems biology; Leucocytes -- Periodicals; Reticulo-endothelial system -- Periodicals; 571.96
• DOI: 10.1002/JLB.1MA0320-731R
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-5400

Abstract

Abstract: Heterogeneity and high plasticity are common features of cells from the mononuclear phagocyte system: monocytes (MOs), macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs). Upon activation by microbial agents, MO can differentiate into MO-derived DCs (MODCs). In previous work, we have shown that during acute infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA ( Pb A), MODCs become, transiently, the main CD11b + myeloid population in the spleen (SP) and once recruited to the brain play an important role in the development of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). Here, we isolated 4 cell populations: bone marrow (BM) MOs (BM-MOs) and SP-MOs from uninfected mice; BM inflammatory MOs (BM-iMOs) and SP-MODCs from Pb A-infected mice and used a system biology approach to a holistic transcriptomic comparison and provide an interactome analysis by integrating differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and their differentially expressed gene targets (DEGs) data. The Jaccard index (JI) was used for gauging the similarity and diversity among these cell populations. Whereas BM-MOs, BM-iMOs, and SP-MOs presented high similarity of DEGs, SP-MODCs distinguished by showing a greater number of DEGs. Moreover, functional analysis identified an enrichment in canonical pathways, such as DC maturation, neuroinflammation, and IFN signaling. Upstream regulator analysis identified IFNγ as the potential upstream molecule that can explain the observed DEMs–Target DEGs intersections in SP-MODCs. Finally, directed target analysis and in vivo/ex vivo assays indicate that SP-MODCs differentiate in the SP and IFNγ is a main driver of this process. Graphical Abstract: Interactome analysis between miRNAs and their target genes in IFNγ-mediated differentiation of splenic MODCs during Plasmodium infection.