Browsing by Author "Turner, Abigail"

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    IFN-α Induces Heterogenous ROS Production in Human β-Cells
    (bioRxiv, 2025-02-20) Wagner, Leslie E.; Melnyk, Olha; Turner, Abigail; Duffett, Bryce E.; Muralidharan, Charanya; Martinez-Irizarry, Michelle M.; Arvin, Matthew C.; Orr, Kara S.; Manduchi, Elisabetta; Kaestner, Klaus H.; Brozinick, Joseph T.; Linnemann, Amelia K.; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine
    Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disease involving genetic and environmental factors, including viral infection. We investigated the impact of interferon alpha (IFN-α), a cytokine produced during the immune response to viral infection or the presence of un-edited endogenous double-stranded RNAs, on human β-cell physiology. Intravital microscopy on transplanted human islets using a β-cell-selective reactive oxygen species (ROS) biosensor (RIP1-GRX1-roGFP2), revealed a subset of human β-cells that acutely produce ROS in response to IFN-α. Comparison to Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) phenotypic data revealed that healthier donors had more ROS accumulating cells. In vitro IFN-α treatment of human islets similarly elicited a heterogenous increase in superoxide production that originated in the mitochondria. To determine the unique molecular signature predisposing cells to IFN-α stimulated ROS production, we flow sorted human islets treated with IFN-α. RNA sequencing identified genes involved in inflammatory and immune response in the ROS-producing cells. Comparison with single cell RNA-Seq datasets available through the Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) showed that genes upregulated in ROS-producing cells are enriched in control β-cells rather than T1D donors. Combined, these data suggest that IFN-α stimulates mitochondrial ROS production in healthy human β-cells, potentially predicting a more efficient antiviral response.