Serum amyloid A is a soluble pattern recognition receptor that drives type 2 immunity.

The molecular basis for the propensity of a small number of environmental proteins to provoke allergic responses is largely unknown. Herein, we report that mite group 13 allergens of the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) family are sensed by an evolutionarily conserved acute-phase protein, serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), that promotes pulmonary type 2 immunity. Mechanistically, SAA1 interacted directly with allergenic mite FABPs (Der p 13 and Blo t 13). The interaction between mite FABPs and SAA1 activated the SAA1-binding receptor, formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2), which drove the epithelial release of the type-2-promoting cytokine interleukin (IL)-33 in a SAA1-dependent manner. Importantly, the SAA1-FPR2-IL-33 axis was upregulated in nasal epithelial cells from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. These findings identify an unrecognized role for SAA1 as a soluble pattern recognition receptor for conserved FABPs found in common mite allergens that initiate type 2 immunity at mucosal surfaces.

A Circulating Tumor Cell-RNA Assay for Assessment of Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitor Sensitivity in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Rationale: Our objective was to develop a circulating tumor cell (CTC)-RNA assay for characterizing clinically relevant RNA signatures for the assessment of androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) sensitivity in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. Methods: We developed the NanoVelcro CTC-RNA assay by combining the Thermoresponsive (TR)-NanoVelcro CTC purification system with the NanoString nCounter platform for cellular purification and RNA analysis. Based on the well-validated, tissue-based Prostate Cancer Classification System (PCS), we focus on the most aggressive and ARSI-resistant PCS subtype, i.e., PCS1, for CTC analysis. We applied a rigorous bioinformatic process to develop the CTC-PCS1 panel that consists of prostate cancer (PCa) CTC-specific RNA signature with minimal expression in background white blood cells (WBCs). We validated the NanoVelcro CTC-RNA assay and the CTC-PCS1 panel with well-characterized PCa cell lines to demonstrate the sensitivity and dynamic range of the assay, as well as the specificity of the PCS1 Z score (the likelihood estimate of the PCS1 subtype) for identifying PCS1 subtype and ARSI resistance. We then selected 31 blood samples from 23 PCa patients receiving ARSIs to test in our assay. The PCS1 Z scores of each sample were computed and compared with ARSI treatment sensitivity. Results: The validation studies using PCa cell line samples showed that the NanoVelcro CTC-RNA assay can detect the RNA transcripts in the CTC-PCS1 panel with high sensitivity and linearity in the dynamic range of 5-100 cells. We also showed that the genes in CTC-PCS1 panel are highly expressed in PCa cell lines and lowly expressed in background WBCs. Using the artificial CTC samples simulating the blood sample conditions, we further demonstrated that the CTC-PCS1 panel is highly specific in identifying PCS1-like samples, and the high PCS1 Z score is associated with ARSI resistance samples. In patient bloods, ARSI-resistant samples (ARSI-R, n=14) had significantly higher PCS1 Z scores as compared with ARSI-sensitive samples (ARSI-S, n=17) (Rank-sum test, P=0.003). In the analysis of 8 patients who were initially sensitive to ARSI (ARSI-S) and later developed resistance (ARSI-R), we found that the PCS1 Z score increased from the time of ARSI-S to the time of ARSI-R (Pairwise T-test, P=0.016). Conclusions: Using our new methodology, we developed a first-in-class CTC-RNA assay and demonstrated the feasibility of transforming clinically-relevant tissue-based RNA profiling such as PCS into CTC tests. This approach allows for detecting RNA expression relevant to clinical drug resistance in a non-invasive fashion, which can facilitate patient-specific treatment selection and early detection of drug resistance, a goal in precision oncology.

C3a is required for ILC2 function in allergic airway inflammation.

Aberrant type 2 responses underlie the pathologies in allergic diseases like asthma, yet, our understanding of the mechanisms that drive them remains limited. Recent evidence suggests that dysregulated innate immune factors can perpetuate asthma pathogenesis. In susceptible individuals, allergen exposure triggers the activation of complement, a major arm of innate immunity, leading to the aberrant generation of the C3a anaphylatoxin. C3 and C3a have been shown to be important for the development of Th2 responses, yet remarkably, the mechanisms by which C3a regulates type 2 immunity are relatively unknown. We demonstrate a central role for C3a in driving type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2)-mediated inflammation in response to allergen and IL-33. Our data suggests that ILC2 recruitment is C3a-dependent. Further, we show that ILC2s directly respond to C3a, promoting type 2 responses by specifically: (1) inducing IL-13 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, whereas inhibiting IL-10 production from ILC2; and (2) enhancing their antigen-presenting capability during ILC-T-cell cross-talk. In summary, we identify a novel mechanism by which C3a can mediate aberrant type 2 responses to aeroallergen exposure, which involves a yet unrecognized cross-talk between two major innate immune components-complement and group 2 innate lymphoid cells.

Structure and function analysis in circulating tumor cells: using nanotechnology to study nuclear size in prostate cancer.

Professor Donald Coffey and his laboratory pioneered studies showing the relationships between nuclear shape and cellular function. In doing so, he and his students established the field of nuclear morphometry in prostate cancer. By using perioperative tissues via biopsies and surgical sampling, Dr. Coffey's team discovered that nuclear shape and other pathologic features correlated with clinical outcome measures. Cancer cells also exist outside of solid tumor masses as they can be shed from both primary and metastatic lesions into the circulatory system. The pool of these circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is heterogeneous. While some of these CTCs are passively shed into the circulation, others are active metastasizers with invasive potential. Advances in nanotechnology now make it possible to study morphologic features such as nuclear shape of CTCs in the bloodstream via liquid biopsy. Compared to traditional tissue sampling, liquid biopsy allows for minimally invasive, repetitive, and systemic disease sampling, which overcomes disease misrepresentation issues due to tumor temporospatial heterogeneity. Our team developed a novel liquid biopsy approach, the NanoVelcro assay, which allows us to identify morphologic heterogeneity in the CTC compartment. By applying classical methods of nuclear morphometry, we identified very small nuclear CTCs (vsnCTCs) in prostate cancer patients. Our initial studies showed that vsnCTCs strongly correlated with unfavorable clinical behaviors including the disposition to visceral metastases. These approaches may continue to yield additional insights into dynamic clinical behaviors, which creates an opportunity for more comprehensive and accurate cancer profiling. Ultimately, these advancements will allow physicians to employ more accurate and personalized treatments, helping the field reach the goal of true precision medicine.

Application of anterior debridement and reconstruction with anatomical screw-plate fixation for lumbosacral tuberculosis: A 2-year-plus follow-up.

This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of anterior debridement and reconstruction with anatomical screw-plate fixation in patients with lumbosacral junction tuberculosis (TB).A total of 48 patients (30 males and 18 females) diagnosed with lumbosacral junction TB were included in this study. All patients underwent surgery in our institution from January 2008 to July 2014, using anterior debridement and reconstruction with anatomical screw-plate. Outcome data were evaluated before and after surgery and included lumbosacral angle, Frankel classification, bone fusion, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores.All patients were then followed up for an average of 49.4 months (range, 24-96 months). The mean lumbosacral angle improved from 8.36°â€Š±â€Š5.92° pre-operation to 22.38°â€Š±â€Š4.52° post-operation and 21.13°â€Š±â€Š3.73° during the final follow-up (both P < .05). Solid vertebral fusion was achieved in all patients after 7.6 months on average (range, 6-12 months). No severe complications appeared during operation and post-operation. Neurological performance and VAS scores were significantly improved compared with pre-operation (P < .05).Following standard anti-TB chemotherapy, anterior debridement and reconstruction with anatomical screw-plate fixation may be a feasible and effective therapeutical option for lumbosacral junction TB. This procedure can result in satisfactory bone fusion and deformity correction, and effectively restore lumbosacral junction stability.

Regulation of C-X-C chemokine gene expression by keratin 17 and hnRNP K in skin tumor keratinocytes.

High levels of the intermediate filament keratin 17 (K17) correlate with a poor prognosis for several types of epithelial tumors. However, the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms remain undefined. A recent study suggested that K17 promotes skin tumorigenesis by fostering a specific type of inflammation. We report here that K17 interacts with the RNA-binding protein hnRNP K, which has also been implicated in cancer. K17 is required for the cytoplasmic localization of hnRNP K and for its role in regulating the expression of multiple pro-inflammatory mRNAs. Among these are the CXCR3 ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, which together form a signaling axis with an established role in tumorigenesis. The K17-hnRNP K partnership is regulated by the ser/thr kinase RSK and required for CXCR3-dependent tumor cell growth and invasion. These findings functionally integrate K17, hnRNP K, and gene expression along with RSK and CXCR3 signaling in a keratinocyte-autonomous axis and provide a potential basis for their implication in tumorigenesis.

[In vivo experimental study of lumbar nucleus replacement with pectin/polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogel].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti degenerative effect of pectin/polyvinyl alcohol composite (CoPP) hydrogel as artificial nucleus material in an animal model. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were used to build animal models, the L4₋5 intervertebral discs were pierced with a Gauge#16 needle and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or CoPP implants were inserted into the holes. For comparative purposes, L3₋4 discs underwent sham treatment or control treatment in which the disc was pierced but no implant was inserted. All the discs were divided into four groups as follows: sham disc group, pierced disc group, PVA disc group and CoPP disc group. The discs were analyzed radiologically and histologically for degenerative changes at 1, 3 or 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: None of the animals died from operative complications, such as paraplegia or infection before being killed. Macroscopically, none of the implants showed any signs of displacement at the time of harvest. The radiological analysis revealed that significantly less disc height loss was found with the PVA and CoPP replacement treatment than with the pierced treatment (P < 0.05). Changes in disc height after the replacement treatment were not significantly different from that after the sham treatment (P > 0.05). Histological degeneration of the replaced discs was delayed in comparison with that of the pierced discs (P < 0.05), but progressed with time, and PVA replacement showed faster disc degeneration than CoPP replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Degeneration of the anulus fibrosus after the CoPP prosthetic nucleus replacement treatment is delayed by preserving disc height and occupying the space of the nucleus pulposus, and it has great potential clinical application value.