Baricitinib and ß-Cell Function in Patients with New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, including baricitinib, block cytokine signaling and are effective disease-modifying treatments for several autoimmune diseases. Whether baricitinib preserves ß-cell function in type 1 diabetes is unclear. METHODS: In this phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned patients with type 1 diabetes diagnosed during the previous 100 days to receive baricitinib (4 mg once per day) or matched placebo orally for 48 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean C-peptide level, determined from the area under the concentration-time curve, during a 2-hour mixed-meal tolerance test at week 48. Secondary outcomes included the change from baseline in the glycated hemoglobin level, the daily insulin dose, and measures of glycemic control assessed with the use of continuous glucose monitoring. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients received baricitinib (60 patients) or placebo (31 patients). The median of the mixed-meal-stimulated mean C-peptide level at week 48 was 0.65 nmol per liter per minute (interquartile range, 0.31 to 0.82) in the baricitinib group and 0.43 nmol per liter per minute (interquartile range, 0.13 to 0.63) in the placebo group (P = 0.001). The mean daily insulin dose at 48 weeks was 0.41 U per kilogram of body weight per day (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.48) in the baricitinib group and 0.52 U per kilogram per day (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.60) in the placebo group. The levels of glycated hemoglobin were similar in the two trial groups. However, the mean coefficient of variation of the glucose level at 48 weeks, as measured by continuous glucose monitoring, was 29.6% (95% CI, 27.8 to 31.3) in the baricitinib group and 33.8% (95% CI, 31.5 to 36.2) in the placebo group. The frequency and severity of adverse events were similar in the two trial groups, and no serious adverse events were attributed to baricitinib or placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 1 diabetes of recent onset, daily treatment with baricitinib over 48 weeks appeared to preserve ß-cell function as estimated by the mixed-meal-stimulated mean C-peptide level. (Funded by JDRF International and others; BANDIT Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12620000239965.).

JAK2 is dispensable for maintenance of JAK2 mutant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

Activating JAK2 point mutations are implicated in the pathogenesis of myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, including high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In preclinical studies, treatment of JAK2 mutant leukemias with type I JAK2 inhibitors (e.g., Food and Drug Administration [FDA]-approved ruxolitinib) provided limited single-agent responses, possibly due to paradoxical JAK2Y1007/1008 hyperphosphorylation induced by these agents. To determine the importance of mutant JAK2 in B-ALL initiation and maintenance, we developed unique genetically engineered mouse models of B-ALL driven by overexpressed Crlf2 and mutant Jak2, recapitulating the genetic aberrations found in human B-ALL. While expression of mutant Jak2 was necessary for leukemia induction, neither its continued expression nor enzymatic activity was required to maintain leukemia survival and rapid proliferation. CRLF2/JAK2 mutant B-ALLs with sustained depletion or pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 exhibited enhanced expression of c-Myc and prominent up-regulation of c-Myc target genes. Combined indirect targeting of c-Myc using the BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 and direct targeting of JAK2 with ruxolitinib potently killed JAK2 mutant B-ALLs.

T-cell acute leukaemia exhibits dynamic interactions with bone marrow microenvironments.

It is widely accepted that complex interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment contribute to disease development, chemo-resistance and disease relapse. In light of this observed interdependency, novel therapeutic interventions that target specific cancer stroma cell lineages and their interactions are being sought. Here we studied a mouse model of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) and used intravital microscopy to monitor the progression of disease within the bone marrow at both the tissue-wide and single-cell level over time, from bone marrow seeding to development/selection of chemo-resistance. We observed highly dynamic cellular interactions and promiscuous distribution of leukaemia cells that migrated across the bone marrow, without showing any preferential association with bone marrow sub-compartments. Unexpectedly, this behaviour was maintained throughout disease development, from the earliest bone marrow seeding to response and resistance to chemotherapy. Our results reveal that T-ALL cells do not depend on specific bone marrow microenvironments for propagation of disease, nor for the selection of chemo-resistant clones, suggesting that a stochastic mechanism underlies these processes. Yet, although T-ALL infiltration and progression are independent of the stroma, accumulated disease burden leads to rapid, selective remodelling of the endosteal space, resulting in a complete loss of mature osteoblastic cells while perivascular cells are maintained. This outcome leads to a shift in the balance of endogenous bone marrow stroma, towards a composition associated with less efficient haematopoietic stem cell function. This novel, dynamic analysis of T-ALL interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment in vivo, supported by evidence from human T-ALL samples, highlights that future therapeutic interventions should target the migration and promiscuous interactions of cancer cells with the surrounding microenvironment, rather than specific bone marrow stroma, to combat the invasion by and survival of chemo-resistant T-ALL cells.

E2f8 and Dlg2 genes have independent effects on impaired insulin secretion associated with hyperglycaemia.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Reduced insulin secretion results in hyperglycaemia and diabetes involving a complex aetiology that is yet to be fully elucidated. Genetic susceptibility is a key factor in beta cell dysfunction and hyperglycaemia but the responsible genes have not been defined. The Collaborative Cross (CC) is a recombinant inbred mouse panel with diverse genetic backgrounds allowing the identification of complex trait genes that are relevant to human diseases. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise genes associated with hyperglycaemia. METHODS: Using an unbiased genome-wide association study, we examined random blood glucose and insulin sensitivity in 53 genetically unique mouse strains from the CC population. The influences of hyperglycaemia susceptibility quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were investigated by examining glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, pancreatic histology and gene expression in the susceptible mice. Expression of candidate genes and their association with insulin secretion were examined in human islets. Mechanisms underlying reduced insulin secretion were studied in MIN6 cells using RNA interference. RESULTS: Wide variations in blood glucose levels and the related metabolic traits (insulin sensitivity and body weight) were observed in the CC population. We showed that elevated blood glucose in the CC strains was not due to insulin resistance nor obesity but resulted from reduced insulin secretion. This insulin secretory defect was demonstrated to be independent of abnormalities in islet morphology, beta cell mass and pancreatic insulin content. Gene mapping identified the E2f8 (p = 2.19 × 10-15) and Dlg2 loci (p = 3.83 × 10-8) on chromosome 7 to be significantly associated with hyperglycaemia susceptibility. Fine mapping the implicated regions using congenic mice demonstrated that these two loci have independent effects on insulin secretion in vivo. Significantly, our results revealed that increased E2F8 and DLG2 gene expression are correlated with enhanced insulin secretory function in human islets. Furthermore, loss-of-function studies in MIN6 cells demonstrated that E2f8 is involved in insulin secretion through an ATP-sensitive K+ channel-dependent pathway, which leads to a 30% reduction in Abcc8 expression. Similarly, knockdown of Dlg2 gene expression resulted in impaired insulin secretion in response to glucose and non-glucose stimuli. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Collectively, these findings suggest that E2F transcription factor 8 (E2F8) and discs large homologue 2 (DLG2) regulate insulin secretion. The CC resource enables the identification of E2f8 and Dlg2 as novel genes associated with hyperglycaemia due to reduced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. Taken together, our results provide better understanding of the molecular control of insulin secretion and further support the use of the CC resource to identify novel genes relevant to human diseases.

Rational combination therapies targeting survival signaling in aggressive B-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The identification of oncogenic 'driver' mutations and activated survival pathways in selected aggressive B-cell malignancies directs the development of novel adjunctive therapies using targeted small molecule inhibitors. With a focus on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma 'not otherwise specified', Hodgkin lymphoma and childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, this review will provide an up-to-date account of the current literature on the development of new molecularly targeted treatment modalities for aggressive B-cell malignancies. RECENT FINDINGS: Subclassification of B-cell malignancies depending on their particular genetic 'driver' lesions and transcriptional and/or signaling signatures has led to the development of targeted therapeutic approaches using small molecule inhibitors to amend current combination chemotherapy. SUMMARY: Treatment outcome with current combination chemotherapy is still poor for subsets of aggressive B-cell malignancies, and demands development of targeted therapeutic approaches. Advanced gene expression profiling and genomic sequencing have revealed a more detailed landscape of recurrent alterations, allowing a better subclassification of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. Many alterations directly or indirectly lead to activation of survival signaling pathways and expression of key oncoproteins and prosurvival molecules, including Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR), avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCLl-2). Small molecule inhibitors targeting these proteins and pathways are currently being tested in clinical trials and preclinically to improve chemotherapeutic regimes and treatment outcomes.

Longitudinal Assessment of Pancreas Volume by MRI Predicts Progression to Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This multicenter prospective cohort study compared pancreas volume as assessed by MRI, metabolic scores derived from oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), and a combination of pancreas volume and metabolic scores for predicting progression to stage 3 type 1 diabetes (T1D) in individuals with multiple diabetes-related autoantibodies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Pancreas MRI was performed in 65 multiple autoantibody-positive participants enrolled in the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study. Prediction of progression to stage 3 T1D was assessed using pancreas volume index (PVI), OGTT-derived Index60 score and Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 Risk Score (DPTRS), and a combination of PVI and DPTRS. RESULTS: PVI, Index60, and DPTRS were all significantly different at study entry in 11 individuals who subsequently experienced progression to stage 3 T1D compared with 54 participants who did not experience progression (P < 0.005). PVI did not correlate with metabolic testing across individual study participants. PVI declined longitudinally in the 11 individuals diagnosed with stage 3 T1D, whereas Index60 and DPTRS increased. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting progression to stage 3 from measurements at study entry was 0.76 for PVI, 0.79 for Index60, 0.79 for DPTRS, and 0.91 for PVI plus DPTRS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that measures of pancreas volume and metabolism reflect distinct components of risk for developing stage 3 type 1 diabetes and that a combination of these measures may provide superior prediction than either alone.

Cell surface externalization of annexin A1 as a failsafe mechanism preventing inflammatory responses during secondary necrosis.

The engulfment of apoptotic cells is of crucial importance for tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. A failure of this process results in secondary necrosis triggering proinflammatory cytokine production and autoimmune disease. In the present study, we investigated the role of annexin A1, an intracellular protein that has been implicated in the efficient removal of apoptotic cells. Consistent with its function as bridging protein in the phagocyte synapse, opsonization of apoptotic cells with purified annexin A1 strongly enhanced their phagocytic uptake. A detailed analysis, however, surprisingly revealed that annexin A1 was hardly exposed to the cell surface of primary apoptotic cells, but was strongly externalized only on secondary necrotic cells. Interestingly, while the exposure of annexin A1 failed to promote the uptake of these late secondary necrotic cells, it efficiently prevented induction of cytokine production in macrophages during engulfment of secondary necrotic cells. Our results therefore suggest that annexin A1 exposure during secondary necrosis provides an important failsafe mechanism counteracting inflammatory responses, even when the timely clearance of apoptotic cells has failed.

Brain Energy Metabolism in Two States of Mind Measured by Phosphorous Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Introduction: Various functional neuroimaging studies help to better understand the changes in brain activity during meditation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how brain energy metabolism changes during focused attention meditation (FAM) state, measured by phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). Methods: 31P-MRS imaging was carried out in 27 participants after 7 weeks of FAM training. Metabolite ratios and the absolute values of metabolites were assessed after meditation training in two MRI measurements, by comparing effects in a FAM state with those in a distinct focused attention awake state during a backwards counting task. Results: The results showed decreased phosphocreatine/ATP (PCr/ATP), PCr/ inorganic phosphate (Pi), and intracellular pH values in the entire brain, but especially in basal ganglia, frontal lobes, and occipital lobes, and increased Pi/ATP ratio, cerebral Mg, and Pi absolute values were found in the same areas during FAM compared to the control focused attention awake state. Conclusions: Changes in the temporal areas and basal ganglia may be interpreted as a higher energetic state induced by meditation, whereas the frontal and occipital areas showed changes that may be related to a down-regulation in ATP turnover, energy state, and oxidative capacity.

Short-term meditation training influences brain energy metabolism: A pilot study on 31 P MR spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Meditation is increasingly attracting interest among neuroimaging researchers for its relevance as a cognitive enhancement technique and several cross-sectional studies have indicated cerebral changes. This longitudinal study applied a distinct and standardized meditative technique with a group of volunteers in a short-term training program to analyze brain metabolic changes. METHODS: The effect of 7 weeks of meditation exercises (focused attention meditation, FAM) was assessed on 27 healthy volunteers. Changes in cerebral energy metabolism were investigated using 31 P-MR spectroscopy. Metabolite ratios were compared before (T1) and after training (T2). Additional questionnaire assessments were included. RESULTS: The participants performed FAM daily. Depression and anxiety scores revealed a lower level of state anxiety at T2 compared to T1. From T1 to T2, energy metabolism ratios showed the following differences: PCr/ATP increased right occipitally; Pi/ATP decreased bilaterally in the basal ganglia and temporal lobe on the right; PCr/Pi increased in occipital lobe bilaterally, in the basal ganglia and in the temporal lobe on the right side. The pH decreased temporal on the left side and frontal in the right side. The observed changes in the temporal areas and basal ganglia may be interpreted as a higher energetic state, whereas the frontal and occipital areas showed changes that may be related to a down-regulation in ATP turnover, energy state, and oxidative capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study indicate for the first time in a longitudinal study that even short-term training in FAM may have considerable effects on brain energy state with different local energy management in specific brain regions. Especially higher energetic state in basal ganglia may represent altered function in their central role in complex cerebral distributed networks including frontal and temporal areas. Further studies including different forms of relaxation techniques should be performed for more specific and reliable insights.

Development of a standardized MRI protocol for pancreas assessment in humans.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has detected changes in pancreas volume and other characteristics in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, differences in MRI technology and approaches across locations currently limit the incorporation of pancreas imaging into multisite trials. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized MRI protocol for pancreas imaging and to define the reproducibility of these measurements. Calibrated phantoms with known MRI properties were imaged at five sites with differing MRI hardware and software to develop a harmonized MRI imaging protocol. Subsequently, five healthy volunteers underwent MRI at four sites using the harmonized protocol to assess pancreas size, shape, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), longitudinal relaxation time (T1), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), and pancreas and hepatic fat fraction. Following harmonization, pancreas size, surface area to volume ratio, diffusion, and longitudinal relaxation time were reproducible, with coefficients of variation less than 10%. In contrast, non-standardized image processing led to greater variation in MRI measurements. By using a standardized MRI image acquisition and processing protocol, quantitative MRI of the pancreas performed at multiple locations can be incorporated into clinical trials comparing pancreas imaging measures and metabolic state in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Cortical reorganization processes in meditation naïve participants induced by 7 weeks focused attention meditation training.

BACKGROUND: Based on the evidence that meditation is associated with numerous beneficial effects on well-being and reduced stress-related symptoms, mindfulness-based techniques were increasingly implemented into psychotherapeutic programs. However, different meditation styles and the cross-sectional nature of most previous analyses resulted in a great variety of morphometric findings. The present study aims to elucidate cortical reorganization processes and altered axonal integrity caused by short-term meditation training, and benefits from solely using focused attention meditation (FAM). METHODS: 3 T MRI, including T1-MPRAGE and diffusion-weighted sequences, was performed in 27 healthy, meditation naïve participants (age: 43 ± 12.4 years) pre and post FAM meditation training (duration: 7.3 ± 0.4 weeks). Voxel-based morphometry was applied to assess brain changes in gray and white matter. Questionnaires were filled out by the individuals at both time-points to evaluate quality of life and self-awareness deficits. RESULTS: The major findings comprised (i) gray matter increases in the insula, the caudate nucleus and frontal cortices, (ii) decreases in extended parietotemporal regions, the right medial prefrontal cortex and the parahippocampal gyrus, as well as (iii) fractional anisotropy increases of the right hippocampus, the basal ganglia and adjacent regions. Regression analysis revealed an association of specific alterations with reduced levels of state anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: FAM training induced a broad range of dynamic brain alterations even within few weeks of training. Interestingly, this cohort revealed more, and partially different patterns of structural gray matter change compared to prior studies. The broad impact on neuronal organization processes may reflect more general outcomes related to health and well-being.

Facile preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds with pore size gradients using the muesli effect and their application to cell spheroid encapsulation.

Porous biodegradable scaffolds have many applications in bioengineering, ranging from cell culture and transplantation, to support structures, to induce blood vessel and tissue formation in vivo. While numerous strategies have been developed for the manufacture of porous scaffolds, it remains challenging to control the spatial organization of the pores. In this study, we introduce the use of the granular convection effect, also known as the muesli or brazil nut effect, to rapidly engineer particulate templates with a vertical size gradient. These templates can then be used to prepare scaffolds with pore size gradients. To demonstrate this approach, we prepared templates with particle size gradients, which were then infused with a prepolymer solution consisting of the pentaerythritol ethoxylate (polyol), sebacoyl chloride (acid chloride), and poly(caprolactone). Following curing, the template was dissolved to yield biodegradable polyester-ether scaffolds with pore size gradients that could be tuned depending on the size range of the particulates used. The application of these scaffolds was demonstrated using pancreatic islets, which were loaded via centrifugation and retained within the scaffold's pores without a decrease in viability. The proposed strategy provides a facile approach to prepare templates with spatially organized pores that could potentially be used for cell transplantation, or guided tissue formation.

Effects of bacterial N-acyl homoserine lactones on human Jurkat T lymphocytes-OdDHL induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

Diverse Gram-negative bacteria communicate with each other by using diffusible N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signaling molecules to coordinate gene expression with cell population density. This mechanism termed 'quorum sensing' is involved in the regulation of physiological functions as well as multiple virulence determinants. It becomes more and more evident, that bacteria communicate not only with each other but also with their host. Up to now, little is known about this interkingdom communication. The AHL quorum sensing molecule N-3-(oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OdDHL) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been shown to influence the immune system of the host. The role and potential influence of other AHL molecules from other bacteria have so far not been determined. In this paper, we investigated the role of 7 different AHLs on apoptosis of human Jurkat T lymphocytes. We found, that among all homoserine lactones tested, only OdDHL rapidly induced apoptosis which was accompanied by the breakdown of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). Since overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 completely abrogated the apoptotic effect, we presume that OdDHL induces apoptosis by activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. The reason that bacteria induce apoptosis is largely unknown. We suspect that through apoptosis an anti-inflammatory response is triggered.

Replica moulded poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwell arrays induce localized endothelial cell immobilization for coculture with pancreatic islets.

PolyJet three-dimensional (3D) printing allows for the rapid manufacturing of 3D moulds for the fabrication of cross-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwell arrays (PMAs). As this 3D printing technique has a resolution on the micrometer scale, the moulds exhibit a distinct surface roughness. In this study, the authors demonstrate by optical profilometry that the topography of the 3D printed moulds can be transferred to the PMAs and that this roughness induced cell adhesive properties to the material. In particular, the topography facilitated immobilization of endothelial cells on the internal walls of the microwells. The authors also demonstrate that upon immobilization of endothelial cells to the microwells, a second population of cells, namely, pancreatic islets could be introduced, thus producing a 3D coculture platform.

Oxygen-permeable microwell device maintains islet mass and integrity during shipping.

Islet transplantation is currently the only minimally invasive therapy available for patients with type 1 diabetes that can lead to insulin independence; however, it is limited to only a small number of patients. Although clinical procedures have improved in the isolation and culture of islets, a large number of islets are still lost in the pre-transplant period, limiting the success of this treatment. Moreover, current practice includes islets being prepared at specialized centers, which are sometimes remote to the transplant location. Thus, a critical point of intervention to maintain the quality and quantity of isolated islets is during transportation between isolation centers and the transplanting hospitals, during which 20-40% of functional islets can be lost. The current study investigated the use of an oxygen-permeable PDMS microwell device for long-distance transportation of isolated islets. We demonstrate that the microwell device protected islets from aggregation during transport, maintaining viability and average islet size during shipping.

Non-invasive, in vitro analysis of islet insulin production enabled by an optical porous silicon biosensor.

A label-free porous silicon (pSi) based, optical biosensor, using both an antibody and aptamer bioreceptor motif has been developed for the detection of insulin. Two parallel biosensors were designed and optimised independently, based on each bioreceptor. Both bioreceptors were covalently attached to a thermally hydrosilylated pSi surface though amide coupling, with unreacted surface area rendered stable and low fouling by incorporation of PEG moieties. The insulin detection ability of each biosensor was determined using interferometric reflectance spectroscopy, using a range of different media both with and without serum. Sensing performance was compared in terms of response value, response time and limit of detection (LOD) for each platform. In order to demonstrate the capability of the best performing biosensor to detect insulin from real samples, an in vitro investigation with the aptamer-modified surface was performed. This biosensor was exposed to buffer conditioned by glucose-stimulated human islets, with the result showing a positive response and a high degree of selectivity towards insulin capture. The obtained results correlated well with the ELISA used in the clinic for assaying glucose-stimulated insulin release from donor islets. We anticipate that this type of sensor can be applied as a rapid point-of-use biosensor to assess the quality of donor islets in terms of their insulin production efficiency, prior to transplantation.

Inhibition of Y1 receptor signaling improves islet transplant outcome.

Failure to secrete sufficient quantities of insulin is a pathological feature of type-1 and type-2 diabetes, and also reduces the success of islet cell transplantation. Here we demonstrate that Y1 receptor signaling inhibits insulin release in ß-cells, and show that this can be pharmacologically exploited to boost insulin secretion. Transplanting islets with Y1 receptor deficiency accelerates the normalization of hyperglycemia in chemically induced diabetic recipient mice, which can also be achieved by short-term pharmacological blockade of Y1 receptors in transplanted mouse and human islets. Furthermore, treatment of non-obese diabetic mice with a Y1 receptor antagonist delays the onset of diabetes. Mechanistically, Y1 receptor signaling inhibits the production of cAMP in islets, which via CREB mediated pathways results in the down-regulation of several key enzymes in glycolysis and ATP production. Thus, manipulating Y1 receptor signaling in ß-cells offers a unique therapeutic opportunity for correcting insulin deficiency as it occurs in the pathological state of type-1 diabetes as well as during islet transplantation.Islet transplantation is considered one of the potential treatments for T1DM but limited islet survival and their impaired function pose limitations to this approach. Here Loh et al. show that the Y1 receptor is expressed in ß- cells and inhibition of its signalling, both genetic and pharmacological, improves mouse and human islet function.

A Combinatorial Protein Microarray for Probing Materials Interaction with Pancreatic Islet Cell Populations.

Pancreatic islet transplantation has become a recognized therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. During isolation from pancreatic tissue, the islet microenvironment is disrupted. The extracellular matrix (ECM) within this space not only provides structural support, but also actively signals to regulate islet survival and function. In addition, the ECM is responsible for growth factor presentation and sequestration. By designing biomaterials that recapture elements of the native islet environment, losses in islet function and number can potentially be reduced. Cell microarrays are a high throughput screening tool able to recreate a multitude of cellular niches on a single chip. Here, we present a screening methodology for identifying components that might promote islet survival. Automated fluorescence microscopy is used to rapidly identify islet derived cell interaction with ECM proteins and immobilized growth factors printed on arrays. MIN6 mouse insulinoma cells, mouse islets and, finally, human islets are progressively screened. We demonstrate the capability of the platform to identify ECM and growth factor protein candidates that support islet viability and function and reveal synergies in cell response.

Manipulation of B-cell responses with histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are approved for treating certain haematological malignancies, however, recent evidence also illustrates they are modulators of the immune system. In experimental models, HDACi are particularly potent against malignancies originating from the B-lymphocyte lineage. Here we examine the ability of this class of compounds to modify both protective and autoimmune antibody responses. In vitro, HDACi affect B-cell proliferation, survival and differentiation in an HDAC-class-dependent manner. Strikingly, treatment of lupus-prone Mrl/lpr mice with the HDACi panobinostat significantly reduces autoreactive plasma-cell numbers, autoantibodies and nephritis, while other immune parameters remain largely unaffected. Immunized control mice treated with panobinostat or the clinically approved HDACi vorinostat have significantly impaired primary antibody responses, but these treatments surprisingly spare circulating memory B cells. These studies indicate that panobinostat is a potential therapy for B-cell-driven autoimmune conditions and HDACi do not induce major long-term detrimental effects on B-cell memory.

Differential induction of apoptosis and senescence by the DNA methyltransferase inhibitors 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in solid tumor cells.

Epigenetic alterations are a hallmark of cancer that govern the silencing of genes. Up to now, 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CR, Vidaza) and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC, Dacogen) are the only clinically approved DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi). Current effort tries to exploit DNMTi application beyond acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, especially to solid tumors. Although both drugs only differ by a minimal structural difference, they trigger distinct molecular mechanisms that are highly relevant for a rational choice of new combination therapies. Therefore, we investigated cell death pathways in vitro in human hepatoma, colon, renal, and lung cancer cells and in vivo in chorioallantoic membrane and xenograft models. Real-time cancer cell monitoring and cytokine profiling revealed a profoundly distinct response pattern to both drugs. 5-aza-dC induced p53-dependent tumor cell senescence and a high number of DNA double-strand breaks. In contrast, 5-aza-CR downregulated p53, induced caspase activation and apoptosis. These individual response patterns of tumor cells could be verified in vivo in chorioallantoic membrane assays and in a hepatoma xenograft model. Although 5-aza-CR and 5-aza-dC are viewed as drugs with similar therapeutic activity, they induce a diverse molecular response in tumor cells. These findings together with other reported differences enable and facilitate a rational design of new combination strategies to further exploit the epigenetic mode of action of these two drugs in different areas of clinical oncology.