Automated deep learning segmentation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer disease brain sections using a proprietary software.

Neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) relies on semiquantitative analysis of phosphorylated tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuritic plaques (NPs), without consideration of lesion heterogeneity in individual cases. We developed a deep learning workflow for automated annotation and segmentation of NPs and NFTs from AT8-immunostained whole slide images (WSIs) of AD brain sections. Fifteen WSIs of frontal cortex from 4 biobanks with varying tissue quality, staining intensity, and scanning formats were analyzed. We established an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven iterative procedure to improve the generation of expert-validated annotation datasets for NPs and NFTs thereby increasing annotation quality by >50%. This strategy yielded an expert-validated annotation database with 5013 NPs and 5143 NFTs. We next trained two U-Net convolutional neural networks for detection and segmentation of NPs or NFTs, achieving high accuracy and consistency (mean Dice similarity coefficient: NPs, 0.77; NFTs, 0.81). The workflow showed high generalization performance across different cases. This study serves as a proof-of-concept for the utilization of proprietary image analysis software (Visiopharm) in the automated deep learning segmentation of NPs and NFTs, demonstrating that AI can significantly improve the annotation quality of complex neuropathological features and enable the creation of highly precise models for identifying these markers in AD brain sections.

Golgi localization of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and interaction with furin in cerebral COVID-19 microangiopathy: a clue to the central nervous system involvement?

In a neuropathological series of 20 COVID-19 cases, we analyzed six cases (three biopsies and three autopsies) with multiple foci predominantly affecting the white matter as shown by MRI. The cases presented with microhemorrhages evocative of small artery diseases. This COVID-19 associated cerebral microangiopathy (CCM) was characterized by perivascular changes: arterioles were surrounded by vacuolized tissue, clustered macrophages, large axonal swellings and a crown arrangement of aquaporin-4 immunoreactivity. There was evidence of blood-brain-barrier leakage. Fibrinoid necrosis, vascular occlusion, perivascular cuffing and demyelination were absent. While no viral particle or viral RNA was found in the brain, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was detected in the Golgi apparatus of brain endothelial cells where it closely associated with furin, a host protease known to play a key role in virus replication. Endothelial cells in culture were not permissive to SARS-CoV-2 replication. The distribution of the spike protein in brain endothelial cells differed from that observed in pneumocytes. In the latter, the diffuse cytoplasmic labeling suggested a complete replication cycle with viral release, notably through the lysosomal pathway. In contrast, in cerebral endothelial cells the excretion cycle was blocked in the Golgi apparatus. Interruption of the excretion cycle could explain the difficulty of SARS-CoV-2 to infect endothelial cells in vitro and to produce viral RNA in the brain. Specific metabolism of the virus in brain endothelial cells could weaken the cell walls and eventually lead to the characteristic lesions of COVID-19 associated cerebral microangiopathy. Furin as a modulator of vascular permeability could provide some clues for the control of late effects of microangiopathy.

Recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein quality modifies evolution of experimental autoimmune encephalitis in macaques.

Experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) is a well-recognized model for the study of human acquired demyelinating diseases (ADD), a group of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation, myelin loss, and neurological impairment of variable severity. In rodents, EAE is typically induced by active immunization with a combination of myelin-derived antigen and a strong adjuvant as complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), containing components of the mycobacterial wall, while myelin antigen alone or associated with other bacterial components, as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), often fails to induce EAE. In contrast to this, EAE can be efficiently induced in non-human primates by immunization with the recombinant human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (rhMOG), produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli), purified and formulated with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), which lacks bacterial elements. Here, we provide evidence indicating how trace amounts of bacterial contaminants within rhMOG may influence the course and severity of EAE in the cynomolgus macaque immunized with rhMOG/IFA. The residual amount of E. coli contaminants, as detected with mass spectrometry within rhMOG protein stocks, were found to significantly modulate the severity of clinical, radiological, and histologic hallmarks of EAE in macaques. Indeed, animals receiving the purest rhMOG showed milder disease severity, increased numbers of remissions, and reduced brain damage. Histologically, these animals presented a wider diversity of lesion types, including changes in normal-appearing white matter and prephagocytic lesions. Non-human primates EAE model with milder histologic lesions reflect more accurately ADD and permits to study of the pathogenesis of disease initiation and progression.

Vaccine Inoculation Route Modulates Early Immunity and Consequently Antigen-Specific Immune Response.

Vaccination is one of the most efficient public healthcare measures to fight infectious diseases. Nevertheless, the immune mechanisms induced in vivo by vaccination are still unclear. The route of administration, an important vaccination parameter, can substantially modify the quality of the response. How the route of administration affects the generation and profile of immune responses is of major interest. Here, we aimed to extensively characterize the profiles of the innate and adaptive response to vaccination induced after intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration with a modified vaccinia virus Ankara model vaccine in non-human primates. The adaptive response following subcutaneous immunization was clearly different from that following intradermal or intramuscular immunization. The subcutaneous route induced a higher level of neutralizing antibodies than the intradermal and intramuscular vaccination routes. In contrast, polyfunctional CD8+ T-cell responses were preferentially induced after intradermal or intramuscular injection. We observed the same dichotomy when analyzing the early molecular and cellular immune events, highlighting the recruitment of cell populations, such as CD8+ T lymphocytes and myeloid-derived suppressive cells, and the activation of key immunomodulatory gene pathways. These results demonstrate that the quality of the vaccine response induced by an attenuated vaccine is shaped by early and subtle modifications of the innate immune response. In this immunization context, the route of administration must be tailored to the desired type of protective immune response. This will be achieved through systems vaccinology and mathematical modeling, which will be critical for predicting the efficacy of the vaccination route for personalized medicine.

Neuronal tau species transfer to astrocytes and induce their loss according to tau aggregation state.

Deposits of different abnormal forms of tau in neurons and astrocytes represent key anatomo-pathological features of tauopathies. Although tau protein is highly enriched in neurons and poorly expressed by astrocytes, the origin of astrocytic tau is still elusive. Here, we used innovative gene transfer tools to model tauopathies in adult mouse brains and to investigate the origin of astrocytic tau. We showed in our adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based models and in Thy-Tau22 transgenic mice that astrocytic tau pathology can emerge secondarily to neuronal pathology. By designing an in vivo reporter system, we further demonstrated bidirectional exchanges of tau species between neurons and astrocytes. We then determined the consequences of tau accumulation in astrocytes on their survival in models displaying various status of tau aggregation. Using stereological counting of astrocytes, we report that, as for neurons, soluble tau species are highly toxic to some subpopulations of astrocytes in the hippocampus, whereas the accumulation of tau aggregates does not affect their survival. Thus, astrocytes are not mere bystanders of neuronal pathology. Our results strongly suggest that tau pathology in astrocytes may significantly contribute to clinical symptoms.

Long-term exposure to monoclonal anti-TNF is associated with an increased risk of lymphoma in BAFF-transgenic mice.

The impact of treatment on the risk of lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. Here, we aimed to assess if the risk of lymphoma differs according to the type of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), comparing monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies to the soluble TNF receptor. We used B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF)-transgenic (Tg) mice as a model of autoimmunity-associated lymphoma. Six-month-old BAFF-Tg mice were treated with TNFi for 12 months. Histological examination of the spleen, assessment of the cellular composition of the spleen by flow cytometry and assessment of B cell clonality were performed at euthanasia. Crude mortality and incidence of lymphoma were significantly higher in mice treated with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies compared to both controls and mice treated with the soluble TNF receptor, even at a high dose. Flow cytometry analysis revealed decreased splenic macrophage infiltration in mice treated with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies. Overall, this study demonstrates, for the first time, that a very prolonged treatment with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies increase the risk of lymphoma in B cell-driven autoimmunity. These data suggest a closer monitoring for lymphoma development in patients suffering from B cell-driven autoimmune disease with long-term exposure to monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies.

Impairment of Glycolysis-Derived l-Serine Production in Astrocytes Contributes to Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alteration of brain aerobic glycolysis is often observed early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether and how such metabolic dysregulation contributes to both synaptic plasticity and behavioral deficits in AD is not known. Here, we show that the astrocytic l-serine biosynthesis pathway, which branches from glycolysis, is impaired in young AD mice and in AD patients. l-serine is the precursor of d-serine, a co-agonist of synaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) required for synaptic plasticity. Accordingly, AD mice display a lower occupancy of the NMDAR co-agonist site as well as synaptic and behavioral deficits. Similar deficits are observed following inactivation of the l-serine synthetic pathway in hippocampal astrocytes, supporting the key role of astrocytic l-serine. Supplementation with l-serine in the diet prevents both synaptic and behavioral deficits in AD mice. Our findings reveal that astrocytic glycolysis controls cognitive functions and suggest oral l-serine as a ready-to-use therapy for AD.

Anti-MOG autoantibodies pathogenicity in children and macaques demyelinating diseases.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG-Abs) occur in a majority of children with acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) and physiopathology is still under investigation. As cynomolgus macaques immunized with rhMOG, all develop an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we assessed relatedness between anti-MOG-Abs associated diseases in both species. METHODS: The study includes 27 children followed for ADS and nine macaques with rhMOG-induced EAE. MRI lesions, cytokines in blood, and CSF at onset of ADS or EAE, as well as histopathological features of brain lesions were compared. RESULTS: Twelve children with anti-MOG-Abs ADS (ADS MOG+) and nine macaques with EAE, presented increased IL-6 and G-CSF in the CSF, whereas no such signature was found in 15 ADS MOG-. Furthermore, IgG and C1q were associated to myelin and phagocytic cells in brains with EAE (n = 8) and in biopsies of ADS MOG+ (n = 2) but not ADS MOG- children (n = 1). Macaque brains also revealed prephagocytic lesions with IgG and C1q depositions but no leukocyte infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADS MOG+ and macaques with EAE induced with rhMOG, present a similar cytokine signature in the CSF and a comparable aspect of brain lesions indicating analogous pathophysiological processes. In EAE, prephagocytic lesions points at IgG as an initial effector of myelin attack. These results support the pertinence of modeling ADS MOG+ in non-human primates to apprehend the natural development of anti-MOG-associated disease, find markers of evolution, and above all explore the efficacy of targeted therapies to test primate-restricted molecules.

Intradermal vaccination prevents anti-MOG autoimmune encephalomyelitis in macaques.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune demyelinating diseases (ADD) are a major cause of neurological disability due to autoreactive cellular and humoral immune responses against brain antigens. A cure for chronic ADD could be obtained by appropriate immunomodulation. METHODS: We implemented a preclinical scheme to foster immune tolerance to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), in a cynomolgus-macaque model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), in which administration of recombinant human MOG (rhMOG) elicits brain inflammation mediated by MOG-autoreactive CD4+ lymphocytes and anti-MOG IgG. For immunotherapy, we used a recombinant antibody (Ab) directed against the dendritic cell-asialoglycoprotein receptor (DC-ASGPR) fused either to MOG or a control antigen PSA (prostate-specific antigen). FINDINGS: rhMOG and the anti-DC-ASGPR-MOG were respectively detected in CD1a+ DCs or CD163+ cells in the skin of macaques. Intradermal administration of anti-DC-ASGPR-MOG, but not control anti-DC-ASGPR-PSA, was protective against EAE. The treatment prevented the CD4+ T cell activation and proinflammatory cytokine production observed in controls. Moreover, the administration of anti-DC-ASGPR-MOG induced MOG-specific CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CD39+ regulatory lymphocytes and favoured an upsurge in systemic TGFß and IL-8 upon rhMOG re-administration in vivo. INTERPRETATION: We show that the delivery of an anti-DC-ASGPR-MOG allows antigen-specific adaptive immune modulation to prevent the breach of immune tolerance to MOG. Our findings pave the way for therapeutic vaccines for long-lasting remission to grave encephalomyelitis with identified autoantigens, such as ADD associated with anti-MOG autoantibodies. FUND: Work supported by the French ANR (ANR-11-INBS-0008 and ANR-10-EQPX-02-01), NIH (NIH 1 R01 AI 105066), the Baylor Scott and White Healthcare System funding and Roche Research Collaborative grants.

Establishment and Characterization of a Reliable Xenograft Model of Hodgkin Lymphoma Suitable for the Study of Tumor Origin and the Design of New Therapies.

To identify the cells responsible for the initiation and maintenance of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cells, we have characterized a subpopulation of HL cells grown in vitro and in vivo with the aim of establishing a reliable and robust animal model for HL. To validate our model, we challenged the tumor cells in vivo by injecting the alkylating histone-deacetylase inhibitor, EDO-S101, a salvage regimen for HL patients, into xenografted mice. Methodology: Blood lymphocytes from 50 HL patients and seven HL cell lines were used. Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and cytogenetics analyses were performed. The in vitro and in vivo effects of EDO-S101 were assessed. Results: We have successfully determined conditions for in vitro amplification and characterization of the HL L428-c subline, containing a higher proportion of CD30-/CD15- cells than the parental L428 cell line. This subline displayed excellent clonogenic potential and reliable reproducibility upon xenografting into immunodeficient NOD-SCID-gamma (-/-)(NSG) mice. Using cell sorting, we demonstrate that CD30-/CD15- subpopulations can gain the phenotype of the L428-c cell line in vitro. Moreover, the human cells recovered from the seventh week after injection of L428-c cells into NSG mice were small cells characterized by a high frequency of CD30-/CD15- cells. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated that they were diploid and showed high telomere instability and telomerase activity. Accordingly, chromosomal instability emerged, as shown by the formation of dicentric chromosomes, ring chromosomes, and breakage/fusion/bridge cycles. Similarly, high telomerase activity and telomere instability were detected in circulating lymphocytes from HL patients. The beneficial effect of the histone-deacetylase inhibitor EDO-S101 as an anti-tumor drug validated our animal model. Conclusion: Our HL animal model requires only 10³ cells and is characterized by a high survival/toxicity ratio and high reproducibility. Moreover, the cells that engraft in mice are characterized by a high frequency of small CD30-/CD15- cells exhibiting high telomerase activity and telomere dysfunction.

Impact of ring size and drug loading on the pharmacokinetics of a combination dapivirine-darunavir vaginal ring in cynomolgus macaques.

This work investigates the impact of vaginal ring size and drug loading on the in vitro release, safety, ease of fit, and pharmacokinetics in cynomolgus macaques of matrix-type silicone elastomer vaginal rings containing a combination of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor dapivirine and the protease inhibitor darunavir. Drug-free and drug-loaded vaginal rings having three different geometries were manufactured by reaction injection molding. In vitro drug release was assessed using both a solvent/water mixture and a vaginal fluid simulant. Macaques fitted with drug-free vaginal rings for 28 days were assessed by colposcopy, cytological evaluation of cervico-vaginal lavage and histological evaluation of tissue after ring removal. The 20 × 4.5 mm combination ring, deemed most appropriate for vaginal fit and comfort in the macaques, was evaluated for pharmacokinetics over 28 days. Substantial differences were observed in the in vitro release profiles between the three ring sizes. However, these differences were not manifest in vivo, where measured drug concentrations after 20 × 4.5 mm ring use were not significantly different from those reported previously with a 25 × 6 mm ring. These results suggest that ring placement and fit is an important species-specific study parameter that should be optimised prior to pharmacokinetic testing.

Molecular and Cellular Dynamics in the Skin, the Lymph Nodes, and the Blood of the Immune Response to Intradermal Injection of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vaccine.

New vaccine design approaches would be greatly facilitated by a better understanding of the early systemic changes, and those that occur at the site of injection, responsible for the installation of a durable and oriented protective response. We performed a detailed characterization of very early infection and host response events following the intradermal administration of the modified vaccinia virus Ankara as a live attenuated vaccine model in non-human primates. Integrated analysis of the data obtained from in vivo imaging, histology, flow cytometry, multiplex cytokine, and transcriptomic analysis using tools derived from systems biology, such as co-expression networks, showed a strong early local and systemic inflammatory response that peaked at 24 h, which was then progressively replaced by an adaptive response during the installation of the host response to the vaccine. Granulocytes, macrophages, and monocytoid cells were massively recruited during the local innate response in association with local productions of GM-CSF, IL-1ß, MIP1α, MIP1ß, and TNFα. We also observed a rapid and transient granulocyte recruitment and the release of IL-6 and IL-1RA, followed by a persistent phase involving inflammatory monocytes. This systemic inflammation was confirmed by molecular signatures, such as upregulations of IL-6 and TNF pathways and acute phase response signaling. Such comprehensive approaches improve our understanding of the spatiotemporal orchestration of vaccine-elicited immune response, in a live-attenuated vaccine model, and thus contribute to rational vaccine development.

The striatal kinase DCLK3 produces neuroprotection against mutant huntingtin.

The neurobiological functions of a number of kinases expressed in the brain are unknown. Here, we report new findings on DCLK3 (doublecortin like kinase 3), which is preferentially expressed in neurons in the striatum and dentate gyrus. Its function has never been investigated. DCLK3 expression is markedly reduced in Huntington's disease. Recent data obtained in studies related to cancer suggest DCLK3 could have an anti-apoptotic effect. Thus, we hypothesized that early loss of DCLK3 in Huntington's disease may render striatal neurons more susceptible to mutant huntingtin (mHtt). We discovered that DCLK3 silencing in the striatum of mice exacerbated the toxicity of an N-terminal fragment of mHtt. Conversely, overexpression of DCLK3 reduced neurodegeneration produced by mHtt. DCLK3 also produced beneficial effects on motor symptoms in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease. Using different mutants of DCLK3, we found that the kinase activity of the protein plays a key role in neuroprotection. To investigate the potential mechanisms underlying DCLK3 effects, we studied the transcriptional changes produced by the kinase domain in human striatal neurons in culture. Results show that DCLK3 regulates in a kinase-dependent manner the expression of many genes involved in transcription regulation and nucleosome/chromatin remodelling. Consistent with this, histological evaluation showed DCLK3 is present in the nucleus of striatal neurons and, protein-protein interaction experiments suggested that the kinase domain interacts with zinc finger proteins, including the transcriptional activator adaptor TADA3, a core component of the Spt-ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex which links histone acetylation to the transcription machinery. Our novel findings suggest that the presence of DCLK3 in striatal neurons may play a key role in transcription regulation and chromatin remodelling in these brain cells, and show that reduced expression of the kinase in Huntington's disease could render the striatum highly vulnerable to neurodegeneration.

Potentiating tangle formation reduces acute toxicity of soluble tau species in the rat.

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the aggregation of tau protein. These pathologies exhibit a wide variety of clinical and anatomo-pathological presentations, which may result from different pathological mechanisms. Although tau inclusions are a common feature in all these diseases, recent evidence instead implicates small oligomeric aggregates as drivers of tau-induced toxicity. Hence in vivo model systems displaying either soluble or fibrillary forms of wild-type or mutant tau are needed to better identify their respective pathological pathways. Here we used adeno-associated viruses to mediate gene transfer of human tau to the rat brain to develop models of pure tauopathies. Two different constructs were used, each giving rise to a specific phenotype developing in less than 3 months. First, hTAUWT overexpression led to a strong hyperphosphorylation of the protein, which was associated with neurotoxicity in the absence of any significant aggregation. In sharp contrast, its co-expression with the pro-aggregation peptide TauRD-ΔK280 in the hTAUProAggr group strongly promoted its aggregation into Gallyas-positive neurofibrillary tangles, while preserving neuronal survival. Our results support the hypothesis that soluble tau species are key players of tau-induced neurodegeneration.

Experimental Models of Autoimmune Demyelinating Diseases in Nonhuman Primates.

Human idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IIDD) are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune inflammatory and demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). These include multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common chronic IIDD, but also rarer disorders such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Great efforts have been made to understand the pathophysiology of MS, leading to the development of a few effective treatments. Nonetheless, IIDD still require a better understanding of the causes and underlying mechanisms to implement more effective therapies and diagnostic methods. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a commonly used animal model to study the pathophysiology of IIDD. EAE is principally induced through immunization with myelin antigens combined with immune-activating adjuvants. Nonhuman primates (NHP), the phylogenetically closest relatives of humans, challenged by similar microorganisms as other primates may recapitulate comparable immune responses to that of humans. In this review, the authors describe EAE models in 3 NHP species: rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta), cynomolgus macaques ( Macaca fascicularis), and common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus), evaluating their respective contribution to the understanding of human IIDD. EAE in NHP is a heterogeneous disease, including acute monophasic and chronic polyphasic forms. This diversity makes it a versatile model to use in translational research. This clinical variability also creates an opportunity to explore multiple facets of immune-mediated mechanisms of neuro-inflammation and demyelination as well as intrinsic protective mechanisms. Here, the authors review current insights into the pathogenesis and immunopathological mechanisms implicated in the development of EAE in NHP.

Inhibition of factor IXa by the pegnivacogin system during cardiopulmonary bypass: a potential substitute for heparin. A study in baboons.

OBJECTIVES: Heparin and protamine are standard for anticoagulation and reversal for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The REGADO biosciences protocol 1 (REG1) anticoagulant system, consisting of the Factor IXa (FIXa)-inhibitor pegnivacogin and its reversal agent (anivamersen), has been studied in patients undergoing coronary catheterization and in CPB in sheep and pigs. Prior to first human use in CPB, we wanted to test the safety and efficacy of REG1 in a primate model. METHODS: Fourteen baboons undergoing 2 h of CPB followed by 1 h of reperfusion were studied. Three received heparin/protamine and 11 received 1 of 2 doses of pegnivacogin followed by anivamersen. Thrombin-generating capacity was tested in additional in vitro experiments. RESULTS: Targeted drug levels and near-complete FIXa inhibition were achieved. Bypass was run uneventfully in all animals without any clotting in the circuit and bleeding was minimal in the two groups. However, in contrast to heparin-treated baboons, those receiving pegnivacogin/anivamersen displayed thrombi in the bypass cannulae upon cannulation and kidney cortical infarcts. Inter-species comparisons revealed that in the presence of high levels of FIXa inhibition, tissue factor-mediated thrombin generation in baboons was much higher than that in other species. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the limitations of the baboon model for assessing factor-specific coagulation inhibitors during CPB. The justification for Phase 1 human studies using REG1 for CPB is unclear.

Human breast cancer and lymph node metastases express Gb3 and can be targeted by STxB-vectorized chemotherapeutic compounds.

BACKGROUND: The B-subunit of Shiga toxin (STxB) specifically binds to the glycosphingolipid Gb3 that is highly expressed on a number of human tumors and has been shown to target tumor cells in mouse models and ex vivo on primary colon carcinoma specimen. METHODS: Using a novel ex vivo STxB labeling (ESL) method we studied Gb3 expression in cytological specimens of primary human breast tumors from 107 patients, and in synchronous lymph node metastases from 20 patients. Fluorescent STxB was incubated with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens, and Gb3 expression was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, 11 patient-derived human breast cancer xenografts (HBCx) were evaluated for expression of Gb3 by ESL and FACS. In addition, the biodistribution of fluorescent STxB conjugate was studied after intravenous injection in a Gb3 positive HBCx model. RESULTS: Gb3 expression was detected in 62 of 107 patients (57.9%), mainly in epithelial tumor cells. Gb3 positivity correlated with estrogen receptor expression (p≤0.01), whereas absence of Gb3 expression in primary tumors was correlated with the presence of lymph node metastases (p≤0.03). 65% of lymph node metastases were Gb3 positive and in 40% of tested patients, we observed a statistically significant increase of metastatic Gb3 expression (p≤0.04). Using concordant ESL and flow cytometry analysis, 6 out of 11 HBCx samples were scored positive. Intravenous injections of fluorescent STxB into HBC xenografted mice showed preferential STxB accumulation in epithelial cells and cells with endothelial morphology of the tumor. CONCLUSION: The enhanced expression of Gb3 in primary breast carcinomas and its lymph node metastases indicate that the development of STxB-based therapeutic strategies is of interest in this pathology. Gb3 expressing HBCx can be used as a model for preclinical studies with STxB conjugates. Finally, the ESL technique on FNA represents a rapid and cost effective method for the stratification of patients in future clinical trials.

Concomitant Notch activation and p53 deletion trigger epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in mouse gut.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like (EMT-like) is a critical process allowing initiation of metastases during tumour progression. Here, to investigate its role in intestinal cancer, we combine computational network-based and experimental approaches to create a mouse model with high metastatic potential. Construction and analysis of this network map depicting molecular mechanisms of EMT regulation based on the literature suggests that Notch activation and p53 deletion have a synergistic effect in activating EMT-like processes. To confirm this prediction, we generate transgenic mice by conditionally activating the Notch1 receptor and deleting p53 in the digestive epithelium (NICD/p53(-/-)). These mice develop metastatic tumours with high penetrance. Using GFP lineage tracing, we identify single malignant cells with mesenchymal features in primary and metastatic tumours in vivo. The development of such a model that recapitulates the cellular features observed in invasive human colorectal tumours is appealing for innovative drug discovery.

Viral protein expression and phenotyping of inflammatory responses in the central nervous system of phocine distemper virus-infected harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

The central nervous system (CNS) represents an important target organ of the phocine distemper virus (PDV). The aim of the present study was to characterize pathological changes in the CNS of harbor seals suffering from natural PDV-infection. The distribution of virus protein and mRNA was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization, respectively. In addition, inflammatory and glial cells were characterized by IHC. Polioencephalitis with glial activation, neuronal death and perivascular mononuclear infiltrations in the cerebral cortex was the main histopathological finding. Inflammatory responses, dominated by CD3(+) T-cells and activated microglia/macrophages were associated with a prominent MHC-II upregulation within the CNS. Viral protein was found predominantly in neurofilament-expressing neurons within inflamed areas as demonstrated by immunohistochemical double-labeling. Morbillivirus nucleo-, phospho-, matrix-, fusion- and hemagglutinin-proteins were found in CNS-lesions. The expressions of viral matrix- and fusion-proteins were reduced in severely inflamed plaques. Comparison of viral protein and mRNA expression revealed a diminished amount of viral phosphoprotein preferentially associated with perivascular inflammation. In summary, CNS-lesions in PDV-infected seals are similar to canine distemper virus-induced acute polioencephalitis in dogs and measles virus inclusion body polioencephalitis in men, respectively.