The BMP2 variant L51P restores the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells in the presence of intervertebral disc cells.

Spinal fusion is hampered by the presence of remaining intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue and leads to spinal non-union. While the exact mechanism remains unknown, we hypothesise that factors preventing disc ossification, such as antagonists of the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), could be responsible for this process. The objective of this study was to investigate spinal non-union using an in vitro human model with a focus on the BMP signalling components and to identify factors contributing to the incomplete and delayed ossification. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were cocultured with IVD cells in the presence of L51P, a BMP2 variant with osteoinductive potential. The ossification of MSC was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and alizarin red staining. Endogenous expression of major BMP antagonists, namely Gremlin (GREM1), Noggin (NOG) and Chordin (CHRD) was detected in IVD-derived cells, with abundance in nucleus pulposus cells. Osteogenesis of MSC was hindered by IVD cells as shown by reduced alizarin red staining, ALP activity and qPCR. L51P, added to the cocultures, restored mineralisation, blocking the activity of the BMP antagonists secreted by IVD cells. It is possible that the BMP antagonists secreted by IVD cells are responsible for spinal non-unions. The inhibition of BMP antagonists with L51P may result in an efficient and more physiological osteoinduction rather than delivery of exogenous osteogenic factors. Therefore, L51P might represent an attractive therapeutic candidate for bone healing.

The complex biology and contribution of Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis, current and future therapies.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting more than 10% of U.K. children and is a major cause of occupation-related disability. A subset of patients, particularly those with severe AD, are persistently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus and exacerbation of disease is commonly associated with this bacterium by virtue of increased inflammation and allergic sensitization, aggravated by skin barrier defects. Understanding the complex biology of S. aureus is an important factor when developing new drugs to combat infection. Staphylococcus aureus generates exoproteins that enable invasion and dissemination within the host skin but can also damage the skin and activate the host immune system. Antibiotics are often used by dermatologists to aid clearance of S. aureus; however, these are becoming less effective and chronic usage is discouraged with the emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains. New ways to target S. aureus using monoclonal antibodies and vaccines are now being developed. This review will attempt to evaluate the key biology of S. aureus, current treatment of S. aureus infections in AD and recent advances in developing new anti-S. aureus therapies that have potential in severe AD.

Distinct roles for S100a8 in early embryo development and in the maternal deciduum.

S100a8 is a cytosolic protein expressed in myeloid cells where it forms a stable heterodimer with another S100 protein family member, S100a9. The S100a9(-/-) mouse is viable and phenotypically normal, whereas the S100a8(-/-) condition is embryonic lethal. We present evidence that S100a8, without S100a9, has a previously unrecognized role in embryo development between fertilization and the 8-cell stage at embryonic day (E) 2.5. S100a8 also has a second role in the maternal deciduum, where expression is associated with the vasculature from the E8.5 stage to the formation of mature placenta. Uterine natural killer cells that have a role in vascular remodelling colocalise with the S100a8 vascular expression in the metrial triangle. In inflammatory responses in peripheral tissues, S100a8 is a potent chemoattractant and also an anti-oxidant. Both roles may be important in the developing placenta. Thus we highlight two new S100a9-independent roles for S100a8 in early embryo development.

Redesigning nature's poisons to create anti-tumor reagents.

Immunotoxins are conjugates of cell-reactive antibodies and toxins or their subunits. In this report, the chemistry, biology, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor effects of first generation immunotoxins; the preparation of improved second generation immunotoxins that display greater anti-tumor efficacy; and the role of genetic engineering in creating third-generation immunotoxins are discussed.

Chlorine chemistry on polar stratospheric cloud particles in the arctic winter.

Simultaneous in situ measurements of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and chlorine monoxide (ClO) in the Arctic winter vortex showed large HCl losses, of up to 1 part per billion by volume (ppbv), which were correlated with high ClO levels of up to 1.4 ppbv. Air parcel trajectory analysis identified that this conversion of inorganic chlorine occurred at air temperatures of less than 196 +/- 4 kelvin. High ClO was always accompanied by loss of HCI mixing ratios equal to (1/2)(ClO + 2Cl(2)O(2)). These data indicate that the heterogeneous reaction HCl + ClONO(2) --> Cl(2) + HNO(3) on particles of polar stratospheric clouds establishes the chlorine partitioning, which, contrary to earlier notions, begins with an excess of ClONO(2), not HCl.

Removal of Stratospheric O3 by Radicals: In Situ Measurements of OH, HO2, NO, NO2, ClO, and BrO.

Simultaneous in situ measurements of the concentrations of OH, HO(2), ClO, BrO, NO, and NO(2) demonstrate the predominance of odd-hydrogen and halogen free-radical catalysis in determining the rate of removal of ozone in the lower stratosphere during May 1993. A single catalytic cycle, in which the rate-limiting step is the reaction of HO(2) with ozone, accounted for nearly one-half of the total O(3) removal in this region of the atmosphere. Halogen-radical chemistry was responsible for approximately one-third of the photochemical removal of O(3); reactions involving BrO account for one-half of this loss. Catalytic destruction by NO(2), which for two decades was considered to be the predominant loss process, accounted for less than 20 percent of the O(3) removal. The measurements demonstrate quantitatively the coupling that exists between the radical families. The concentrations of HO(2) and ClO are inversely correlated with those of NO and NO(2). The direct determination of the relative importance of the catalytic loss processes, combined with a demonstration of the reactions linking the hydrogen, halogen, and nitrogen radical concentrations, shows that in the air sampled the rate of O(3) removal was inversely correlated with total NOx, loading.

Chemical loss of ozone in the arctic polar vortex in the winter of 1991-1992.

In situ measurements of chlorine monoxide, bromine monoxide, and ozone are extrapolated globally, with the use of meteorological tracers, to infer the loss rates for ozone in the Arctic lower stratosphere during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition II (AASE II) in the winter of 1991-1992. The analysis indicates removal of 15 to 20 percent of ambient ozone because of elevated concentrations of chlorine monoxide and bromine monoxide. Observations during AASE II define rates of removal of chlorine monoxide attributable to reaction with nitrogen dioxide (produced by photolysis of nitric acid) and to production of hydrochloric acid. Ozone loss ceased in March as concentrations of chlorine monoxide declined. Ozone losses could approach 50 percent if regeneration of nitrogen dioxide were inhibited by irreversible removal of nitrogen oxides (denitrification), as presently observed in the Antarctic, or without denitrification if inorganic chlorine concentrations were to double.

Structural Characterisation Reveals Mechanism of IL-13-Neutralising Monoclonal Antibody Tralokinumab as Inhibition of Binding to IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2.

Interleukin (IL)-13 is a pleiotropic T helper type 2 cytokine frequently associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis. IL-13-mediated signalling is initiated by binding to IL-13Rα1, which then recruits IL-4Rα to form a heterodimeric receptor complex. IL-13 also binds to IL-13Rα2, considered as either a decoy or a key mediator of fibrosis. IL-13-neutralising antibodies act by preventing IL-13 binding to IL-13Rα1, IL-4Rα and/or IL-13Rα2. Tralokinumab (CAT-354) is an IL-13-neutralising human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that has shown clinical benefit in patients with asthma. To decipher how tralokinumab inhibits the effects of IL-13, we determined the structure of tralokinumab Fab in complex with human IL-13 to 2 Å resolution. The structure analysis reveals that tralokinumab prevents IL-13 from binding to both IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2. This is supported by biochemical ligand-receptor interaction assay data. The tralokinumab epitope is mainly composed of residues in helices D and A of IL-13. It is mostly light chain complementarity-determining regions that are driving paratope interactions; the variable light complementarity-determining region 2 plays a key role by providing residue contacts for a network of hydrogen bonds and a salt bridge in the core of binding. The key residues within the paratope contributing to binding were identified as Asp50, Asp51, Ser30 and Lys31. This study demonstrates that tralokinumab prevents the IL-13 pharmacodynamic effect by binding to IL-13 helices A and D, thus preventing IL-13 from interacting with IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2.

An assay that predicts the ability of monoclonal antibodies to form potent ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins.

In this report, we describe an assay for screening monoclonal antibodies for their cytotoxic potential as ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins. The assay involves treating cells with dilutions of the test antibody followed by a Fab fragment of a secondary antibody coupled to ricin A chain ("indirect assay"). The cytotoxicity of the indirect assay is compared to that of the direct assay where the monoclonal antibody is coupled to ricin A chain. Indirect and direct assays were carried out using 14 antibodies and a panel of 8 human and mouse cell types. The two assays showed virtually 100% correlation. The indirect assay, therefore, predicts the potency of a given monoclonal antibody to make an effective immunotoxin and should be useful in screening monoclonal antibodies for use as immunotoxins.

Cancer dormancy: studies of the murine BCL1 lymphoma.

Dormancy in the murine BCL1 lymphoma can be induced by several strategies including cytoreductive therapy of mice with large tumor burdens and challenge of allogeneic chimeric mice or idiotype-immunized mice with BCL1 tumor. Dormant tumor cells were isolated from the spleens of the chimeric mice and the majority were shown to be noncycling. In idiotype-immunized mice that had lost dormancy, tumor growth occurred at a relatively rapid rate. A proportion of idiotype-immunized mice that had lost dormancy spontaneously regressed and then again relapsed; in these mice, the serum antiidiotypic levels were inversely related to the tumor burden.

Evaluation of ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins directed against CD19 and CD22 antigens on normal and malignant human B-cells as potential reagents for in vivo therapy.

Ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins (IT-As) specific for the human B-cell antigens, CD22 and CD19, were constructed using the monoclonal antibodies, HD6 and HD37, respectively. IT-As were prepared by coupling intact antibodies, F(ab')2, or Fab' fragments to native or chemically deglycosylated ricin A chain. The IT-As were then evaluated for cytotoxicity to normal and neoplastic human B-cells in vitro with the major objective of appraising their suitability for in vivo therapy of human B-cell tumors. The IT-As prepared with both the HD6 and HD37 antibodies were specifically toxic to normal B-cells and to most of the neoplastic B-cell lines tested. However, the IT-As prepared from HD6 were generally more potent than those prepared from HD37. On Daudi cells, to which the two antibodies bound in similar numbers and with similar affinities, IT-As prepared with intact HD6 antibody or its Fab' fragment were 10-fold and 1.5- to 4-fold more potent, respectively, than the corresponding HD37 IT-As. The IT-As constructed from intact HD6 antibody and native or deglycosylated A chain reduced protein synthesis in Daudi cells by 50% at a concentration of 1.2 X 10(-11) M indicating that they were only 5-fold less toxic to the cells than ricin itself. Intact HD37 IT-As produced equivalent inhibition of protein synthesis at 1.5 X 10(-10) M. With both antibodies, IT-As constructed from the Fab' fragments were 10- to 20-fold less potent than their intact antibody counterparts. Different neoplastic B-cell lines varied in sensitivity to the IT-As. In most cases, their sensitivity correlated with the levels of CD19 and CD22 antigens expressed. Neither HD6 nor HD37 IT-As affected the ability of normal human bone marrow cells to form granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units in soft agar, suggesting that both antigens are absent from these progenitor cells. Examination of sections of frozen human tissues using immunoperoxidase staining procedures indicated that the antibodies did not bind to a panel of normal tissues lacking B-lymphocytes. These results suggest that HD6 and HD37 IT-As are candidates for in vivo therapy in humans with certain B-cell tumors. However, HD6 IT-As are more potent, reduce protein synthesis more completely, and hence appear to be the ITs of choice for treating tumors expressing the CD22 antigen.

Carcinogenicity of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine in mice.

2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC) is a synthetic pyrimidine nucleoside analogue approved for treatment of HIV-positive patients. Previous studies indicated that ddC has the potential to cause thymic lymphoma in C57BL/6 x C3H F1 (hereafter called B6C3F1) mice. In this study, we evaluated the carcinogenic potential of ddC in two different mouse models. B6C3F1 hybrid mice carry ecotropic endogenous proviral sequences that may be activated to cause lymphoma, whereas NIH Swiss mice lack proviral sequences that can be expressed. The mice were treated with ddC by gavage at 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day for up to 6 months (human dose, 2.25 mg/day) and evaluated for toxicity, plasma levels of ddC, and pathological changes. Lymphocyte cell markers from the thymic lymphomas were assessed by immunophenotyping. Expression of p53 protein was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. Treatment-related thymic lymphomas were present in both mouse models with a higher incidence in NIH Swiss than in B6C3F1 mice. The lymphomas were more prevalent in females than in males of both mouse models. Most mice with thymic lymphoma died during the course of the study. In addition to the thymus, lymphoma was often present in lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs. Lymphomas arose more frequently in mice that lack endogenous ecotropic retroviral sequences and thus were not due to activation of endogenous provirus. During the third month of the study, a few NIH Swiss mice that died had granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Treatment-related but reversible thymic atrophy was observed in both mouse models. There was a very high correlation between the internal dose of ddC and the incidence of thymic lymphoma in both mouse models. Most of the lymphocytes from control thymuses and ddC-induced lymphomas were positive for Thy-1.2 (pan-T), heat stable antigen, and CD4 and CD8 markers, with no marked differences in the lymphocyte markers of the tumors between sexes or dose groups. p53 protein was detected in only 20% (23/115) of the ddC-induced lymphomas with mostly minimal expression in scattered cells. Because ddC induced lymphomas in two different mouse models, the potential carcinogenic risk should be considered in long-term treatment of HIV-positive patients, especially children and adolescent patients treated with ddC.

Immunoconjugates containing ricin A chain and either human anti-gp41 or CD4 kill H9 cells infected with different isolates of HIV, but do not inhibit normal T or B cell function.

We have previously reported that immunoconjugates composed of deglycosylated ricin A chain coupled to either recombinant (r) CD4 or two different monoclonal human anti-gp41 antibodies (rCD4-dgA and anti-gp41-dgA, respectively) are specifically toxic to HIV-infected lines of human T cells (H9) and monocytes (U937). In order to further evaluate these immunoconjugates as potential therapeutic reagents for killing HIV-infected cells, H9 cells infected with five different isolates of HIV were used as target cells in vitro. All three HIV-specific immunoconjugates were toxic to H9 cells infected with each HIV isolate, but were virtually nontoxic to uninfected cells. Chloroquine markedly potentiated the specific toxicity of all three conjugates, particularly the anti-gp41-dgAs. None of the conjugates affected the ability of normal peripheral blood B cells to respond to mitogen or the ability of normal T cells to respond to alloantigens.

Myocardial protection: a comparison of cold blood and cold crystalloid cardioplegia.

Two hundred seven consecutive patients were randomized into four groups based on left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and subsequently into groups receiving crystalloid cardioplegia or blood cardioplegia. Hemodynamic data and enzymatic evidence of myocardial ischemia were examined postoperatively. We found slight but significant improvement in the blood cardioplegia group regarding left ventricular stroke work index. Similarly, the levels of creatine kinase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were slightly but significantly better with blood cardioplegia. We believe that the technique of blood cardioplegia offers a slight but statistically significant advantage.

A technique for avoidance of hypothermia during prolonged mechanical circulatory support with centrifugal pumps.

Systemic hypothermia became a major problem in one of our patients undergoing postcardiotomy mechanical circulatory support with a centrifugal pump. We have developed a technique to prevent systemic hypothermia in this setting by applying an adapted topical cardiac cooling device to the centrifugal pump heads.

Differential toxicity of camptothecin, topotecan and 9-aminocamptothecin to human, canine, and murine myeloid progenitors (CFU-GM) in vitro.

PURPOSE: 20(S)-Camptothecin (CAM), topotecan (TPT, active ingredient in Hycamtin) and 9-amino-20(S)-camptothecin (9AC) are topoisomerase I inhibitors that cause similar dose-limiting toxicities to rapidly renewing tissues, such as hematopoietic tissues, in humans, mice, and dogs. However, dose-limiting toxicity occurs at tenfold lower doses in humans than in mice. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether hematopoietic progenitors of the myeloid lineage from humans, mice, and dogs exhibit the differential sensitivity to these compounds that is evident in vivo. METHODS: Drug-induced inhibition of in vitro colony formation by a myeloid progenitor in human, murine, and canine marrow colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) provided the basis for interspecies comparisons at concentrations which inhibited colony formation by 50% (IC50) and 90% (IC90). RESULTS: Murine IC90 values were 2.6-, 2.3-, 10-, 21-, 5.9-, and 11-fold higher than human values for CAM lactone (NSC-94600) and sodium salt (NSC-100880), TPT (NSC-609699), and racemic (NSC-629971), semisynthetic and synthetic preparations (NSC-603071) of 9AC, respectively. In contrast, canine IC90 values were the same as, or lower than, the human IC90 values for all six compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The greater susceptibility of humans and dogs to the myelotoxicity of camptothecins, compared to mice, was evident in vitro at the cellular level. Differential sensitivity between murine and human myeloid progenitors explains why the curative doses of TPT and 9AC in mice with human tumor xenografts are not achievable in patients. Realizing the curative potential of these compounds in humans will require the development of therapies to increase drug tolerance of human CFU-GM at least to a level equal to that of murine CFU-GM. Because these interspecies differences are complicated by species-specific effects of plasma proteins on drug stability, not all in vitro assay conditions will yield results which can contribute to the development of such therapies.

Altered immunomodulating and toxicological properties of degraded Quillaja saponaria Molina saponins.

Quillaja saponins are readily hydrolyzed under physiological conditions, yielding deacylated forms that are significantly less toxic than their precursors. Yet, deacylated saponins are unable to stimulate a strong primary immune response. Although deacylated saponins elicit a strong total IgG response, their capacity to stimulate a Thl type IgG isotype profile (i.e. high levels of IgG2a and IgG2b) has been significantly diminished. Instead, an IgG profile closer to that of a Th2 immune response is stimulated (i.e. high IgG1 levels). Deacylated saponins have also lost their capacity to elicit an effective T cell immunity, as shown by their stimulation of a marginal lymphoproliferative response and their inability to elicit the production of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). Modification of the immune-modulating properties brought by the degradation of quillaja saponins during vaccine storage may change the intended immune response from a Th1 to a Th2 type. This alteration would have negligible effects on vaccines depending on Th2 immunity mediated by neutralizing antibodies. However, the performance of vaccines directed against intracellular pathogens as well as therapeutic cancer vaccines may be seriously affected by the loss of their capacity to stimulate both a Th1 immune response and the production of CTL.

Autologous blood retrieval in thoracic, cardiovascular, and orthopedic surgery.

A significant amount of red blood cells were conserved with use of the Cell Saver in cardiac surgery patients and in some orthopedic and vascular surgery patients. No major complications have been associated with its use in our cases. Our results are similar to those of others who have reported on the use of this device. In the cardiac surgery patients we observed significant serum protein losses which had to be replaced. We recommend the use of intraoperative albumin to help maintain adequate urinary output and hemodynamic stability.

Dectin-2 sensing of house dust mite is critical for the initiation of airway inflammation.

How the immune system senses aeroallergens and triggers an aberrant inflammation is poorly understood. Dectin-2 is a house dust mite (HDM)-sensing pattern recognition receptor. In a 3-week mouse model of repeated intranasal HDM challenge, anti-Dectin-2 potently attenuated the characteristic allergic inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness. Anti-Dectin-2 also prevented neutrophil influx following a single HDM challenge. Interestingly, cysteinyl leukotrienes, but not chemokine and cytokine levels were inhibited by anti-Dectin-2 in this acute model, and in ex vivo challenge of cultured alveolar macrophages with HDM. Furthermore in the single-challenge model, zileuton, an inhibitor of leukotriene production, produced a similar effect as Dectin-2 blockade. Together these data suggest alveolar macrophage sensing of HDM by Dectin-2 elicits the production of cysteinyl leukotrienes, and this axis is key for the initiation of airway inflammation to this aeroallergen. Finally, we found Dectin-2-positive infiltrating cells present in bronchial biopsies from asthmatic subjects.

Preclinical development of CAT-354, an IL-13 neutralizing antibody, for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: IL-13 is a pleiotropic Th2 cytokine considered likely to play a pivotal role in asthma. Here we describe the preclinical in vitro and in vivo characterization of CAT-354, an IL-13-neutralizing IgG4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), currently in clinical development. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro the potency, specificity and species selectivity of CAT-354 was assayed in TF-1 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HDLM-2 cells. The ability of CAT-354 to modulate disease-relevant mechanisms was tested in human cells measuring bronchial smooth muscle calcium flux induced by histamine, eotaxin generation by normal lung fibroblasts, CD23 upregulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and IgE production by B cells. In vivo CAT-354 was tested on human IL-13-induced air pouch inflammation in mice, ovalbumin-sensitization and challenge in IL-13 humanized mice and antigen challenge in cynomolgus monkeys. KEY RESULTS: CAT-354 has a 165 pM affinity for human IL-13 and functionally neutralized human, human variant associated with asthma and atopy (R130Q) and cynomolgus monkey, but not mouse, IL-13. CAT-354 did not neutralize human IL-4. In vitro CAT-354 functionally inhibited IL-13-induced eotaxin production, an analogue of smooth muscle airways hyperresponsiveness, CD23 upregulation and IgE production. In vivo in humanized mouse and cynomolgus monkey antigen challenge models CAT-354 inhibited airways hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: CAT-354 is a potent and selective IL-13-neutralizing IgG4 mAb. The preclinical data presented here support the trialling of this mAb in patients with moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma.