Regulatory T cells and bioenergetics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells linked to pediatric obesity.

Background: Obesity-associated inflammation drives the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We sought to identify associations of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg) with the degree of obesity (eg, body mass index -score [BMIz]), insulin resistance (homeostatic model of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]), and glycemic control (HbA1c) in children and adolescents. We further sought to examine associations among bioenergetics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4 T cells and BMIz, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c.

Developmental trichloroethylene exposure enhances predictive markers of autoimmunity in a sex-specific manner in disease-resistant female mice.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used industrial chemical and common environmental pollutant. Exposure to TCE promotes CD4 T cell-driven autoimmunity including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in both humans and female autoimmune-prone mice. Because the developing immune system is more sensitive during development, we predicted that non- autoimmune-prone, C57/Bl6 (B6) mice would exhibit some autoimmune-related changes using the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) model of exposure.

Integrated microRNA-mRNA Expression Profiling Identifies Novel Targets and Networks Associated with Autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, with mutations in hundreds of genes contributing to its risk. Herein, we studied lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from children diagnosed with autistic disorder ( = 10) and controls ( = 7) using RNA and miRNA sequencing profiles. The sequencing analysis identified 1700 genes and 102 miRNAs differentially expressed between the ASD and control LCLs ( ≤ 0.

Continuous Developmental and Early Life Trichloroethylene Exposure Promoted DNA Methylation Alterations in Polycomb Protein Binding Sites in Effector/Memory CD4 T Cells.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an industrial solvent and drinking water pollutant associated with CD4 T cell-mediated autoimmunity. In our mouse model, discontinuation of TCE exposure during adulthood after developmental exposure did not prevent immunotoxicity. To determine whether persistent effects were linked to epigenetic changes we conducted whole genome reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to evaluate methylation of CpG sites in autosomal chromosomes in activated effector/memory CD4 T cells.

Trichloroethylene-induced alterations in DNA methylation were enriched in polycomb protein binding sites in effector/memory CD4 T cells.

Exposure to industrial solvent and water pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE) can promote autoimmunity, and expand effector/memory (CD62L) CD4 T cells. In order to better understand etiology reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was used to study how a 40-week exposure to TCE in drinking water altered methylation of ∼337 770 CpG sites across the entire genome of effector/memory CD4 T cells from MRL+/+ mice. Regardless of TCE exposure, 62% of CpG sites in autosomal chromosomes were hypomethylated (0-15% methylation), and 25% were hypermethylated (85-100% methylation).