CHFR and Paclitaxel Sensitivity of Ovarian Cancer.

The poly(ADP-ribose) binding protein CHFR regulates cellular responses to mitotic stress. The deubiquitinase UBC13, which regulates CHFR levels, has been associated with better overall survival in paclitaxel-treated ovarian cancer. Despite the extensive use of taxanes in the treatment of ovarian cancer, little is known about expression of CHFR itself in this disease. In the present study, tissue microarrays containing ovarian carcinoma samples from 417 women who underwent initial surgical debulking were stained with anti-CHFR antibody and scored in a blinded fashion. CHFR levels, expressed as a modified H-score, were examined for association with histology, grade, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). In addition, patient-derived xenografts from 69 ovarian carcinoma patients were examined for CHFR expression and sensitivity to paclitaxel monotherapy. In clinical ovarian cancer specimens, CHFR expression was positively associated with serous histology (p = 0.0048), higher grade (p = 0.000014) and higher stage (p = 0.016). After correction for stage and debulking, there was no significant association between CHFR staining and overall survival (p = 0.62) or time to progression (p = 0.91) in patients with high grade serous cancers treated with platinum/taxane chemotherapy (N = 249). Likewise, no association between CHFR expression and paclitaxel sensitivity was observed in ovarian cancer PDXs treated with paclitaxel monotherapy. Accordingly, differences in CHFR expression are unlikely to play a major role in paclitaxel sensitivity of high grade serous ovarian cancer.

Synthesis of a peptide-universal nucleotide antigen: towards next-generation antibodies to detect topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes.

The topoisomerase (topo) I-DNA covalent complex represents an attractive target for developing diagnostic antibodies to measure responsiveness to drugs. We report a new antigen, peptide , and four murine monoclonal antibodies raised against that exhibit excellent specificity for recognition of in comparison to structurally similar peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Although topo I-DNA complex detection was not achieved in cellular samples by these new antibodies, a new strategy for antigen design is reported.

Immunodetection of human topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes.

A number of established and investigational anticancer drugs slow the religation step of DNA topoisomerase I (topo I). These agents induce cytotoxicity by stabilizing topo I-DNA covalent complexes, which in turn interact with advancing replication forks or transcription complexes to generate lethal lesions. Despite the importance of topo I-DNA covalent complexes, it has been difficult to detect these lesions within intact cells and tumors. Here, we report development of a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes covalent topo I-DNA complexes, but not free topo I or DNA, by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence or flow cytometry. Utilizing this antibody, we demonstrate readily detectable topo I-DNA covalent complexes after treatment with camptothecins, indenoisoquinolines and cisplatin but not nucleoside analogues. Topotecan-induced topo I-DNA complexes peak at 15-30 min after drug addition and then decrease, whereas indotecan-induced complexes persist for at least 4 h. Interestingly, simultaneous staining for covalent topo I-DNA complexes, phospho-H2AX and Rad51 suggests that topotecan-induced DNA double-strand breaks occur at sites distinct from stabilized topo I-DNA covalent complexes. These studies not only provide new insight into the action of topo I-directed agents, but also illustrate a strategy that can be applied to study additional topoisomerases and their inhibitors in vitro and in vivo.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human sclerostin.

We developed and characterized monoclonal antibodies directed against the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal regions of human and mouse sclerostin (scl). Amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal scl peptides with limited homology to scl domain-containing protein-1 were synthesized using f-moc chemistry. The peptides were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and the conjugates were used for immunization of mice. Monoclonal antibodies were obtained and characterized using bacterially expressed and insect cell-expressed recombinant scl. The amino-terminal (IgG 2aK) and carboxy-terminal (IgG 2bK) antibodies bound bioactive sclerostin that was expressed in an insect-cell expression system with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. The antibodies are potentially useful agents that can be used for modulating sclerostin bioactivity.

Characterization of PKD protein-positive exosome-like vesicles.

Proteins associated with autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (polycystin-1, polycystin-2, and fibrocystin) localize to various subcellular compartments, but their functional site is thought to be on primary cilia. PC1+ vesicles surround cilia in Pkhd1(del2/del2) mice, which led us to analyze these structures in detail. We subfractionated urinary exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) and isolated a subpopulation abundant in polycystin-1, fibrocystin (in their cleaved forms), and polycystin-2. This removed Tamm-Horsfall protein, the major contaminant, and subfractionated ELVs into at least three different populations, demarcated by the presence of aquaporin-2, polycystin-1, and podocin. Proteomic analysis of PKD ELVs identified 552 proteins (232 not yet in urinary proteomic databases), many of which have been implicated in signaling, including the molecule Smoothened. We also detected two other protein products of genes involved in cystic disease: Cystin, the product of the mouse cpk locus, and ADP-ribosylation factor-like 6, the product of the human Bardet-Biedl syndrome gene (BBS3). Our proteomic analysis confirmed that cleavage of polycystin-1 and fibrocystin occurs in vivo, in manners consistent with cleavage at the GPS site in polycystin-1 and the proprotein convertase site in fibrocystin. In vitro, these PKD ELVs preferentially interacted with primary cilia of kidney and biliary epithelial cells in a rapid and highly specific manner. These data suggest that PKD proteins are shed in membrane particles in the urine, and these particles interact with primary cilia.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the glaucoma-associated protein myocilin.

Although the glaucoma-associated protein myocilin has been the focus of intensive research, its biological function is still unknown. One of the limiting factors has been the lack of well-characterized antibodies, particularly monoclonal antibodies. We describe the development of six monoclonal antibodies specific to myocilin and characterize their suitability in Western blot and immunohistochemical applications. Three of the six monoclonal antibodies recognize the N-terminus of myocilin (amino acids 33-214), two antibodies recognize the middle third of the protein (amino acids 215-368), and one antibody recognizes the C-terminus (amino acids 369-504). Isotyping revealed that all antibodies are of the IgG1 kappa class except one, which is IgG2b kappa. Purified myocilin monoclonal antibodies were able to recognize myocilin in human aqueous humor separated on denatured/reduced and native gels, and human trabecular meshwork lysate by Western blot. Myocilin was also detected by immunohistochemistry in trabecular meshwork, ciliary body, iris, cornea, sclera, choroid, and retinal pigment epithelial cells.