Limited efficacy of APRIL CAR in patients with multiple myeloma indicate challenges in the use of natural ligands for CAR T-cell therapy.

BACKGROUND: We used a proliferating ligand (APRIL) to construct a ligand-based third generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) able to target two myeloma antigens, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor. METHODS: The APRIL CAR was evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03287804, AUTO2) in patients with relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma. Eleven patients received 13 doses, the first 15×106 CARs, and subsequent patients received 75,225,600 and 900×106 CARs in a 3+3 escalation design. RESULTS: The APRIL CAR was well tolerated. Five (45.5%) patients developed Grade 1 cytokine release syndrome and there was no neurotoxicity. However, responses were only observed in 45.5% patients (1×very good partial response, 3×partial response, 1×minimal response). Exploring the mechanistic basis for poor responses, we then compared the APRIL CAR to two other BCMA CARs in a series of in vitro assays, observing reduced interleukin-2 secretion and lack of sustained tumor control by APRIL CAR regardless of transduction method or co-stimulatory domain. There was also impaired interferon signaling of APRIL CAR and no evidence of autoactivation. Thus focusing on APRIL itself, we confirmed similar affinity to BCMA and protein stability in comparison to BCMA CAR binders but reduced binding by cell-expressed APRIL to soluble BCMA and reduced avidity to tumor cells. This indicated either suboptimal folding or stability of membrane-bound APRIL attenuating CAR activation. CONCLUSIONS: The APRIL CAR was well tolerated, but the clinical responses observed in AUTO2 were disappointing. Subsequently, when comparing the APRIL CAR to other BCMA CARs, we observed in vitro functional deficiencies due to reduced target binding by cell-expressed ligand.

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Consequences of DMSO Treatment on HepaRG Cells.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used to sustain or favor hepatocyte differentiation in vitro. Thus, DMSO is used in the differentiation protocol of the HepaRG cells that present the closest drug-metabolizing enzyme activities to primary human hepatocytes in culture. The aim of our study is to clarify its influence on liver-specific gene expression. For that purpose, we performed a large-scale analysis (gene expression and histone modification) to determine the global role of DMSO exposure during the differentiation process of the HepaRG cells. The addition of DMSO drives the upregulation of genes mainly regulated by PXR and PPARα whereas genes not affected by this addition are regulated by HNF1α, HNF4α, and PPARα. DMSO-differentiated-HepaRG cells show a differential expression for genes regulated by histone acetylation, while differentiated-HepaRG cells without DMSO show gene signatures associated with histone deacetylases. In addition, we observed an interplay between cytoskeleton organization and EMC remodeling with hepatocyte maturation.

Whole genome RNA expression profiling of endoscopic biliary brushings provides data suitable for biomarker discovery in cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Molecular analyses of biliary brushings using microarray and qPCR have the potential to provide valuable information on the biology of biliary diseases. Microarray analysis of biliary strictures has rarely been applied to endoscopic biliary brushings. METHODS: Biliary brushings were obtained from patients with benign and malignant biliary disease at the time of ERCP. Microarray analysis of mRNA isolated using brushings from 10 patients was validated for a selection of genes by qPCR using the same source mRNA and a second fresh set of nine biliary brushings as well as surgical resection tissue. Cultured cholangiocytes were used to assess the impact of bile or X-ray contrast solution on RNA quality. RESULTS: RNA was of variable quantity (100-1500 ng) and poor quality (Agilent RNA Integrity Number (RIN)<5, estimated to be fragments 100 to 600 base pairs long). Reliable qPCR results required primer pairs designed to produce amplicons <130 bp. Differential gene expression by microarray analysis identified 1140 up-regulated genes and 1001 down-regulated genes between benign and malignant biliary strictures. The trends in a selection of 45 up-regulated genes, including various HOX genes, collagens, PVT1, MUC4, MUC5AC, and LEF1, were validated by qPCR using RNA from biliary strictures with a moderate to strong correlation coefficient between microarray and qPCR (r=0.41 to r=0.57). Immunohistochemistry of surgical resection tissues (n=23) showed elevated CD9, SERPINA3, and PNMA2 protein expression in cancer samples. CONCLUSIONS: RNA isolated from biliary brushings is suitable for molecular analysis of biliary diseases using qPCR and microarray.

CYP4F3B expression is associated with differentiation of HepaRG human hepatocytes and unaffected by fatty acid overload.

Fatty acid microsomal ω-oxidation involves cytochrome P450 enzymes. Some of them belonging to the CYP4F3 family are mainly expressed in the liver, making this organ a major player in energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. To study this important regulation pathway, we used HepaRG cells, which gradually undergo a complete differentiation process. Even at the early stage of the differentiation process, CYP4F3B generated by alternative splicing of the CYP4F3 gene represented the prevalent isoform in HepaRG cells as in the liver. Its increasing expression associated with hepatocyte differentiation status suggested a hepatic-specific control of this isoform. As in liver microsomes, the catalytic hydroxylation of the CYP4F3B substrate [1-¹4C]Z9(10)-epoxystearic acid led to major production of 18-hydroxy-9(10)-epoxystearic acid. When treated with saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids, CYP4F3B and CYP4A11 expression remained unchanged whereas CYP4F2 and CYP4F12 expression was transiently up-regulated. A 24-h exposure of differentiated HepaRG cells to various polyunsaturated fatty acids and derivatives induced microvesicular steatosis; down-regulation of lipid metabolism gene regulators such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), PPARα, and decreased expression of glucose-dependent metabolism genes, which could limit de novo lipogenesis. Docosahexaenoic acid seemed to be the most effective compound. These results suggest that a PPARα-independent pathway could participate to limit lipogenesis and emphasize the role of hepatocytes in the fatty acid ω-hydroxylation pathway. They also give insights on the use of HepaRG hepatocytes to open new avenues of investigations on factors mediating the lipid metabolic pathway and finding new hypolipidemic molecules.

Targeting the polyamine transport system with benzazepine- and azepine-polyamine conjugates.

The polyamine transport system (PTS) whose activity is up-regulated in cancer cells is an attractive target for drug design. Two heterocyclic (azepine and benzazepine) systems were conjugated to various polyamine moieties through an amidine bound to afford 18 compounds which were evaluated for their affinity for the PTS and their ability to use the PTS for cell delivery. Structure-activity relationship studies and lead optimization afforded two attractive PTS targeting compounds. The azepine-spermidine conjugate 14 is a very selective substrate of the PTS that may serve as a vector for radioelements used for diagnoses or therapeutics in nuclear medicine. The nitrobenzazepine-spermine conjugate 28 is a very powerful PTS inhibitor with very low intrinsic cytotoxicity, able to prevent the growth of polyamine depleted cells in presence of exogenous polyamines.

Transdifferentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from the human hepatoma HepaRG cell line through bipotent progenitor.

UNLABELLED: Hepatic tumors, exhibiting mature hepatocytes and undifferentiated cells merging with cholangiocyte and hepatocyte phenotypes, are frequently described. The mechanisms by which they occur remain unclear. We report differentiation and transdifferentiation behaviors of human HepaRG cells isolated from a differentiated tumor developed consecutively to chronic HCV infection. We demonstrate that, in vitro, proliferating HepaRG cells differentiate toward hepatocyte-like and biliary-like cells at confluence. If hepatocyte-like cells are selectively isolated and cultured at high cell density, they proliferate and preserve their differentiation status. However, when plated at low density, they transdifferentiate into hepatocytic and biliary lineages through a bipotent progenitor. In accordance, transplantation of either undifferentiated or differentiated HepaRG cells in uPA/SCID mouse damaged liver gives rise mainly to functional human hepatocytes infiltrating mouse parenchyma. Analysis of the differentiation/transdifferentiation process reveals that: (1) the reversible differentiation fate of HepaRG cells is related to the absence of p21(CIP1) and p53 accumulation in differentiated cells; (2) HepaRG bipotent progenitors express the main markers of in vivo hepatic progenitors, and that cell differentiation process is linked to loss of their expression; (3) early and transient changes of beta-catenin localization and HNF3beta expression are correlated to Notch3 upregulation during hepatobiliary commitment of HepaRG cells. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the great plasticity of transformed hepatic progenitor cells and suggest that the transdifferentiation process could supply the pool of hepatic progenitor cells. Moreover, they highlight possible mechanisms by which transdifferentiation and proliferation of unipotent hepatocytes might cooperate in the development of mixed and differentiated tumors.

Multiple pathways for cationic amino acid transport in rat seminiferous tubule cells.

Arginine and ornithine are known to be important for various biological processes in the testis, but the delivery of extracellular cationic amino acids to the seminiferous tubule cells remains poorly understood. We investigated the activity and expression of cationic amino acid transporters in isolated rat Sertoli cells, peritubular cells, pachytene spermatocytes, and early spermatids. We assessed the l-arginine uptake kinetics, Na(+) dependence of transport, profiles of cis inhibition of uptake by cationic and neutral amino acids, and sensitivity to trans stimulation of cationic amino acid transporters, and studied the expression of the genes encoding them by RT-PCR. Our data suggest that l-arginine is taken up by Sertoli cells and peritubular cells, principally via system y(+)L (SLC3A2/SLC7A6) and system y(+) (SLC7A1 and SLC7A2), with system B(0+) making a minor contribution. By contrast, system B(0+), associated with system y(+)L (SLC3A2/SLC7A7 and SLC7A6), made a major contribution to the transport of cationic amino acids in pachytene spermatocytes and early spermatids. Sertoli cells had higher rates of l-arginine transport than the other seminiferous tubule cells. This high efficiency of arginine transport in Sertoli cells and the properties of the y(+)L system predominating in these cells strongly suggest that Sertoli cells play a key role in supplying germ cells with l-arginine and other cationic amino acids. Furthermore, whereas cytokines induce nitric oxide (NO) production in peritubular and Sertoli cells, little or no upregulation of arginine transport by cytokines was observed in these cells. Thus, NO synthesis does not depend on the stimulation of arginine transport in these somatic tubular cells.