Selected Grantee Publications
- Clear All
- 7 results found
- Rodent Models
- niams
- nibib
Transcriptomic Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration Across Mouse Lifespan Identifies Altered Stem Cell States
Walter et al., Nature Aging. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39578558
Age-related skeletal muscle regeneration dysfunction is poorly understood. Using single-cell transcriptomics and high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, researchers evaluated factors contributing to age-related decline in skeletal muscle regeneration after injury in young, old, and geriatric male and female mice (5, 20, and 26 months old). Eight immune cell types were identified and associated with age-related dynamics and distinct muscle stem cell states specific to old and geriatric tissue. The findings emphasize the role of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including cellular senescence, in disrupting muscle repair. This study provides a spatial and molecular framework for understanding regenerative decline and cellular heterogeneity in aging skeletal muscle. Supported by ORIP (F30OD032097), NIA, NIAID, NIAMS, NICHD, and NIDA.
Deletion of Mouse Lysyl Oxidase in Megakaryocytes Affects Bone Properties in a Sex-Dependent Manner
Karagianni, Cell. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38635757/
Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a facilitator of extracellular matrix cross-linking, and the importance of LOX in bone formation has been addressed in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Using newly developed megakaryocyte-specific LOX knockout mice, the researchers show that LOX expressed in these scarce bone marrow cells leads to changes in bone volume and mechanical strength in male mice; however, no significant changes were observed within the female experimental groups. The authors’ findings suggest that sex hormones could contribute to differences within these dynamics. Supported by ORIP (K01OD025290) and NIAMS.
Loss of Lymphatic IKKα Disrupts Lung Immune Homeostasis, Drives BALT Formation, and Protects Against Influenza
Cully et al., Immunohorizons. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39007717/
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have context-specific roles, and more work is needed to understand how they function in separate diseases to drive or reduce pathology. Researchers showed previously that lymph node formation is ablated in mice constitutively lacking IκB kinase alpha (IKKα) in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). In this study, they demonstrated that loss of IKKα in lymphatic endothelial cells leads to the formation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in the lung. Additionally, they showed that male and female mice challenged with influenza A virus (IAV) exhibited markedly improved survival rates and reduced weight loss, compared with littermate controls. They concluded that ablating IKKα in this tissue reduces the susceptibility of the mice to IAV infection through a decrease in proinflammatory stimuli. This work provides a new model to explore the mechanisms of TLS formation and the immunoregulatory function of lung lymphatics. Supported by ORIP (T35OD010919), NHLBI, NIAID, and NIAMS.
Time of Sample Collection Is Critical for the Replicability of Microbiome Analyses
Allaband et al., Nature Metabolism. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38951660/
Lack of replicability remains a challenge in microbiome studies. As the microbiome field moves from descriptive and associative research to mechanistic and interventional studies, being able to account for all confounding variables in the experimental design will be critical. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 16S amplicon sequencing studies in male mice. They report that sample collection time affects the conclusions drawn from microbiome studies. The lack of consistency in the time of sample collection could help explain poor cross-study replicability in microbiome research. The effect of diurnal rhythms on the outcomes and study designs of other fields is unknown but is likely significant. Supported by ORIP (T32OD017863), NCATS, NCI, NHLBI, NIAAA, NIAID, NIBIB, NIDDK, and NIGMS.
The Eotaxin-1/CCR3 Axis and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Are Critical in Anti-NC16A IgE-Induced Bullous Pemphigoid
Jordan et al., Journal of Immunology. 2023.
Bullous pemphigoid is associated with eosinophilic inflammation and circulating and tissue-bound IgG and IgE autoantibodies. Researchers previously established the pathogenicity of anti-NC16A IgE through passive transfer of patient-derived autoantibodies to double-humanized mice. In this study, they characterized the molecular and cellular events that underlie eosinophil recruitment and eosinophil-dependent tissue injury. Their work establishes the eotaxin-1/CCR3 axis and matrix metalloproteinase-9 as key players in the disease and as candidate therapeutic targets for drug development and testing. Supported by ORIP (T32OD011130) and NIAMS.
PGRN Deficiency Exacerbates, Whereas a Brain Penetrant PGRN Derivative Protects, GBA1 Mutation–Associated Pathologies and Diseases
Zhao et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2023.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2210442120
Mutations in GBA1 are associated with Gaucher disease (GD) and are also genetic risks in developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Investigators created a mouse model and demonstrated that progranulin (PGRN) deficiency in Gba1 mutant mice caused early onset and exacerbated GD phenotypes, leading to substantial increases in substrate accumulation and inflammation in visceral organs and the central nervous system. These in vivo and ex vivo data demonstrated that PGRN plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression. In addition, the mouse model provides a clinically relevant system for testing therapeutic approaches for GD and PD. Supported by ORIP (R21OD033660), NIAMS, and NINDS.
Promoting Validation and Cross-Phylogenetic Integration in Model Organism Research
Cheng et al., Disease Models & Mechanisms. 2022.
https://www.doi.org/10.1242/dmm.049600
Model organisms are essential for biomedical research and therapeutic development, but translation of such research to the clinic is low. The authors summarized discussions from an NIH virtual workshop series, titled “Validation of Animal Models and Tools for Biomedical Research,” held from 2020 to 2021. They described challenges and opportunities for developing and integrating tools and resources and provided suggestions for improving the rigor, validation, reproducibility, and translatability of model organism research. Supported by ORIP (R01OD011116, R24OD031447, R03OD030597, R24OD018559, R24OD017870, R24OD026591, R24OD022005, U42OD026645, U42OD012210, U54OD030165, UM1OD023221, P51OD011107), NIAMS, NIDDK, NIGMS, NHGRI, and NINDS.