Distinct Chemokine Receptor Expression Profiles in De Novo DLBCL, Transformed Follicular Lymphoma, Richter's Trans-Formed DLBCL and Germinal Center B-Cells.

Chemokine receptors and their ligands have been identified as playing an important role in the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma, and Richter syndrome (RS). Our aim was to investigate the different expression profiles in de novo DLBCL, transformed follicular lymphoma (tFL), and RS. Here, we profiled the mRNA expression levels of 18 chemokine receptors (CCR1-CCR9, CXCR1-CXCR7, CX3CR1 and XCR1) using RQ-PCR, as well as immunohistochemistry of seven chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR4-CCR8 and CXCR2) in RS, de novo DLBCL, and tFL biopsy-derived tissues. Tonsil-derived germinal center B-cells (GC-B) served as non-neoplastic controls. The chemokine receptor expression profiles of de novo DLBCL and tFL substantially differed from those of GC-B, with at least 5-fold higher expression of 15 out of the 18 investigated chemokine receptors (CCR1-CCR9, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR6, CXCR7, CX3CR1 and XCR1) in these lymphoma subtypes. Interestingly, the de novo DLBCL and tFL exhibited at least 22-fold higher expression of CCR1, CCR5, CCR8, and CXCR6 compared with RS, whereas no significant difference in chemokine receptor expression profile was detected when comparing de novo DLBCL with tFL. Furthermore, in de novo DLBCL and tFLs, a high expression of CCR7 was associated with a poor overall survival in our study cohort, as well as in an independent patient cohort. Our data indicate that the chemokine receptor expression profile of RS differs substantially from that of de novo DLBCL and tFL. Thus, these multiple dysregulated chemokine receptors could represent novel clinical markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools. Moreover, this study highlights the relevance of chemokine signaling crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment of aggressive lymphomas.

Design of the HEM-POWR study: a prospective, observational study of real-world treatment with damoctocog alfa pegol in patients with haemophilia A.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilia A is a rare bleeding disorder caused by defects in coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Damoctocog alfa pegol (BAY 94-9027, Jivi, Bayer, Germany) is a site-specifically PEGylated, extended-half-life, recombinant FVIII, approved for use in previously treated patients (PTPs) aged ≥12 years with haemophilia A. However, a real-world evidence regarding routine clinical use of damoctocog alfa pegol is limited. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: HEM-POWR is a multinational, multicentre, non-interventional, prospective, postmarketing cohort study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of real-world treatment with damoctocog alfa pegol. Estimated enrolment is ≥200 PTPs with haemophilia A, receiving damoctocog alfa pegol (on-demand, prophylaxis or intermittent prophylaxis (as per local label)), observed for 36 months. Primary outcomes are total bleeding events and annualised bleeding rate; secondary outcomes include long-term safety, joint health, pharmacokinetics, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from validated questionnaires and perioperative haemostasis. Where applicable, reasons for switching to damoctocog alfa pegol, choice of treatment regimen and dose will also be captured. Exploratory and descriptive statistical analyses will be performed, and will be stratified by parameters including, but not limited to, prophylaxis regimen and haemophilia severity. Patients can record bleeds and consumption in electronic (e) Diaries, ePROs, and can access non-promotional study information (videos explaining study procedures) via an online patient portal. Optionally, patients can enrol in the LIFE-ACTIVE substudy designed to investigate the relationship between activity (measured by the ActiGraph CP Insight watch) and effectiveness parameters collected from HEM-POWR. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study approval was obtained by local independent ethics committees and authorities in participating study centres across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Informed consent from patients or their legal representative is a requirement for participation. The study results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and presented at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT03932201, EUPAS26416. PROTOCOL VERSION AND DATE: V.1.2, 27 September 2019.

A noninterventional study to monitor patients with diabetic macular oedema starting treatment with ranibizumab (POLARIS).

PURPOSE: Antivascular endothelial growth factor agents are increasingly used in diabetic macular oedema (DME); however, there are few studies exploring their use in DME in real-world settings. METHODS: POLARIS was a noninterventional, multicentre study to monitor 12-month outcomes in patients starting ranibizumab treatment in routine practices. The primary outcome was mean change in visual acuity (VA) from baseline to month 12 (last observation carried forward approach). Other outcomes included mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) and resource utilization. Visual acuity (VA) outcomes were also stratified by country, baseline visual acuity score (VAS), sex, age and injection frequency. RESULTS: Outcomes were analysed from all treated patients (n = 804) and from first-year completers (patients who had a visual acuity assessment at 12 months; n = 568). The mean (SD) baseline VAS was 59.4 (15.9) letters, and the mean change in visual acuity was 4.4 letters (95% confidence interval: 3.3-5.4) at month 12 (study eye; first-year completers). The mean number of injections (study eye) was 4.9, and the mean number of all visits (any eye) was 10 (58% were injection visits) over 12 months (first-year completers). The mean (SD) baseline CRT was 410.6 (128.8) µm, and the mean change in CRT was -115.2 µm at month 12 (study eye; first-year completers). Visual acuity (VA) outcomes were generally comparable across most countries and subgroups and were greatest in patients with the lowest baseline VAS (≤60 letters). CONCLUSION: POLARIS showed that real-world outcomes in DME patients starting treatment with ranibizumab were lower than those observed in clinical studies, in spite of extensive monitoring.

Small molecule AKAP-protein kinase A (PKA) interaction disruptors that activate PKA interfere with compartmentalized cAMP signaling in cardiac myocytes.

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) tether protein kinase A (PKA) and other signaling proteins to defined intracellular sites, thereby establishing compartmentalized cAMP signaling. AKAP-PKA interactions play key roles in various cellular processes, including the regulation of cardiac myocyte contractility. We discovered small molecules, 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane (FMP-API-1) and its derivatives, which inhibit AKAP-PKA interactions in vitro and in cultured cardiac myocytes. The molecules bind to an allosteric site of regulatory subunits of PKA identifying a hitherto unrecognized region that controls AKAP-PKA interactions. FMP-API-1 also activates PKA. The net effect of FMP-API-1 is a selective interference with compartmentalized cAMP signaling. In cardiac myocytes, FMP-API-1 reveals a novel mechanism involved in terminating ß-adrenoreceptor-induced cAMP synthesis. In addition, FMP-API-1 leads to an increase in contractility of cultured rat cardiac myocytes and intact hearts. Thus, FMP-API-1 represents not only a novel means to study compartmentalized cAMP/PKA signaling but, due to its effects on cardiac myocytes and intact hearts, provides the basis for a new concept in the treatment of chronic heart failure.

Partial proteolysis of simian virus 40 T antigen reveals intramolecular contacts between domains and conformation changes upon hexamer assembly.

Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (Tag) is a multi-functional viral protein that binds specifically to SV40 origin DNA, serves as the replicative DNA helicase, and orchestrates the assembly and operation of the viral replisome. Tag associated with Mg-ATP forms hexamers and, in the presence of SV40 origin DNA, double hexamers. Limited tryptic digestion of monomeric Tag revealed three major stable structural domains. The N-terminal domain spans amino acids 1-130, the central domain comprises amino acids 131-476, and the C-terminal domain extends from amino acid 513 to amino acid 698. Co-immunoprecipitation of digestion products of monomeric Tag suggests that the N-terminal domain associates stably with sequences located in the central region of the same Tag molecule. Hexamer formation protected the tryptic cleavage sites in the exposed region between the central and C-terminal domains. Upon hexamerization, this exposed region also became less accessible to a monoclonal antibody whose epitope maps in that region. The tryptic digestion products of the soluble hexamer and the DNA-bound double hexamer were indistinguishable. A low-resolution model of the intramolecular and intermolecular interactions among Tag domains in the double hexamer is proposed.