Identification of Novel Genes Selectively Expressed in the Follicle-Associated Epithelium from the Meta-Analysis of Transcriptomics Data from Multiple Mouse Cell and Tissue Populations

• Authors: Atsushi Kobayashi, University of Edinburgh; David S. Donaldson, University of Edinburgh; Takashi Kanaya, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology; Shinji Fukuda, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology; J. Kenneth Baillie, University of Edinburgh; Tom C. Freeman, University of Edinburgh; Hiroshi Ohno, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology; Ifor Williams, Emory University; Neil A. Mabbott, University of Edinburgh
• Journal Title: DNA Research
• Volume: Volume 19, Number 5
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy C - Option B | 2012-10, Pages 407-422
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/dnares/dss022
• Subjects: Biology, Genetics; Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Pathology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Genetics & Heredity; GENETICS & HEREDITY; follicle-associated epithelium; M cells; intestine; meta-analysis; clustering; INTESTINAL M-CELLS; PATCH M-CELLS; PEYERS PATCH; DENDRITIC CELLS; PRION PROTEIN; DIFFERENTIATION; VISUALIZATION; LOCALIZATION; CONSTRUCTION; INFLAMMATION

Abstract

The follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying the Peyers patches and the microfold cells (M cells) within it are important sites of antigen transcytosis across the intestinal epithelium. Using a meta-analysis approach, we identified a transcriptional signature that distinguished the FAE from a large collection of mouse cells and tissues. A co-expressed cluster of 21 FAE-specific genes was identified, and the analysis of the transcription factor binding site motifs in their promoter regions indicated that these genes shared an underlying transcriptional programme. This cluster contained known FAE-(Anxa10, Ccl20, Psg18 and Ubd) and M-cell-specific (Gp2) genes, suggesting that the others were novel FAE-specific genes. Some of these novel candidate genes were expressed highly by the FAE and M cells (Calcb, Ces3b, Clca2 and Gjb2), and others only by the FAE (Ascl2, Cftr, Fgf15, Gpr133, Kcna1, Kcnj15, Mycl1, Pgap1 and Rps6kl). We also identified a subset of novel FAE-related genes that were induced in the intestinal epithelium after receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand stimulation. These included Mfge8 which was specific to FAE enterocytes. This study provides new insight into the FAE transcriptome. Further characterization of the candidate genes identified here will aid the identification of novel regulators of cell function in the FAE.