Giant Redox Entropy in the Intercalation vs Surface Chemistry of Nanocrystal Frameworks with Confined Pores.

Redox intercalation involves coupled ion-electron motion within host materials, finding extensive application in energy storage, electrocatalysis, sensing, and optoelectronics. Monodisperse MOF nanocrystals, compared to their bulk phases, exhibit accelerated mass transport kinetics that promote redox intercalation inside nanoconfined pores. However, nanosizing MOFs significantly increases their external surface-to-volume ratios, making the intercalation redox chemistry into MOF nanocrystals difficult to understand due to the challenge of differentiating redox sites at the exterior of MOF particles from the internal nanoconfined pores. Here, we report that Fe(1,2,3-triazolate)2 possesses an intercalation-based redox process shifted ca. 1.2 V from redox at the particle surface. Such distinct chemical environments do not appear in idealized MOF crystal structures but become magnified in MOF nanoparticles. Quartz crystal microbalance and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry combined with electrochemical studies identify the existence of a distinct and highly reversible Fe2+/Fe3+ redox event occurring within the MOF interior. Systematic manipulation of experimental parameters (e.g., film thickness, electrolyte species, solvent, and reaction temperature) reveals that this feature arises from the nanoconfined (4.54 Å) pores gating the entry of charge-compensating anions. Due to the requirement for full desolvation and reorganization of electrolyte outside the MOF particle, the anion-coupled oxidation of internal Fe2+ sites involves a giant redox entropy change (i.e., 164 J K-1 mol-1). Taken together, this study establishes a microscopic picture of ion-intercalation redox chemistry in nanoconfined environments and demonstrates the synthetic possibility of tuning electrode potentials by over a volt, with profound implications for energy capture and storage technologies.

Pseudocapacitance: From Fundamental Understanding to High Power Energy Storage Materials.

There is an urgent global need for electrochemical energy storage that includes materials that can provide simultaneous high power and high energy density. One strategy to achieve this goal is with pseudocapacitive materials that take advantage of reversible surface or near-surface Faradaic reactions to store charge. This allows them to surpass the capacity limitations of electrical double-layer capacitors and the mass transfer limitations of batteries. The past decade has seen tremendous growth in the understanding of pseudocapacitance as well as materials that exhibit this phenomenon. The purpose of this Review is to examine the fundamental development of the concept of pseudocapacitance and how it came to prominence in electrochemical energy storage as well as to describe new classes of materials whose electrochemical energy storage behavior can be described as pseudocapacitive.

Radiation-Induced Senescence Reprograms Secretory and Metabolic Pathways in Colon Cancer HCT-116 Cells.

Understanding the global metabolic changes during the senescence of tumor cells can have implications for developing effective anti-cancer treatment strategies. Ionizing radiation (IR) was used to induce senescence in a human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 to examine secretome and metabolome profiles. Control proliferating and senescent cancer cells (SCC) exhibited distinct morphological differences and expression of senescent markers. Enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and IL-1, anti-inflammatory IL-27, and TGF-ß1 was observed in SCC. Significantly reduced levels of VEGF-A indicated anti-angiogenic activities of SCC. Elevated levels of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases from SCC support the maintenance of the extracellular matrix. Adenylate and guanylate energy charge levels and redox components NAD and NADP and glutathione were maintained at near optimal levels indicating the viability of SCC. Significant accumulation of pyruvate, lactate, and suppression of the TCA cycle in SCC indicated aerobic glycolysis as the predominant energy source for SCC. Levels of several key amino acids decreased significantly, suggesting augmented utilization for protein synthesis and for use as intermediates for energy metabolism in SCC. These observations may provide a better understanding of cellular senescence basic mechanisms in tumor tissues and provide opportunities to improve cancer treatment.

Multimodal Functional Imaging for Cancer/Tumor Microenvironments Based on MRI, EPRI, and PET.

Radiation therapy is one of the main modalities to treat cancer/tumor. The response to radiation therapy, however, can be influenced by physiological and/or pathological conditions in the target tissues, especially by the low partial oxygen pressure and altered redox status in cancer/tumor tissues. Visualizing such cancer/tumor patho-physiological microenvironment would be a useful not only for planning radiotherapy but also to detect cancer/tumor in an earlier stage. Tumor hypoxia could be sensed by positron emission tomography (PET), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oxygen mapping, and in vivo dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) MRI. Tissue oxygenation could be visualized on a real-time basis by blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) and/or tissue oxygen level dependent (TOLD) MRI signal. EPR imaging (EPRI) and/or T1-weighted MRI techniques can visualize tissue redox status non-invasively based on paramagnetic and diamagnetic conversions of nitroxyl radical contrast agent. 13C-DNP MRI can visualize glycometabolism of tumor/cancer tissues. Accurate co-registration of those multimodal images could make mechanisms of drug and/or relation of resulted biological effects clear. A multimodal instrument, such as PET-MRI, may have another possibility to link multiple functions. Functional imaging techniques individually developed to date have been converged on the concept of theranostics.

Effect of body temperature on the pharmacokinetics of a triarylmethyl-type paramagnetic contrast agent used in EPR oximetry.

PURPOSE: Pharmacokinetics of the tri[8-carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetrakis(2-hydroxymethyl)benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d']bis(1,3)dithio-4-yl]methyl radical (Oxo63) after a single bolus and/or continuous intravenous infusion was investigated in tumor-bearing C3H mice with or without body temperature control while under anesthesia. METHOD: The in vivo time course of Oxo63 in blood was measured using X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Distribution of Oxo63 in normal muscle and tumor tissues was obtained using a surface coil resonator and a 700-MHz electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer. The whole-body distribution of Oxo63 was obtained by 300-MHz continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance imaging. The high-resolution 300-MHz time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance imaging was also carried out to probe the distribution of Oxo63. RESULTS: Urination of mice was retarded at low body temperature, causing the concentration of Oxo63 in blood to attain high levels. However, the concentration of Oxo63 in tumor tissue was lower with no control of body temperature than active body temperature control. The nonsystemized blood flow in the tumor tissues may pool Oxo63 at lower body temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacokinetics of the contrast agent were found to be significantly affected by body temperature of the experimental animal, and can influence the probe distribution and the image patterns. Magn Reson Med 79:1212-1218, 2018. © Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Wireless implantable coil with parametric amplification for in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance oximetric applications.

PURPOSE: To develop an implantable wireless coil with parametric amplification capabilities for time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy operating at 300 MHz. METHODS: The wireless coil and lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc), a solid paramagnetic probe, were each embedded individually in a biocompatible polymer polydimethoxysiloxane (PDMS). EPR signals from the LiPc embedded in PDMS (LiPc/PDMS) were generated by a transmit-receive surface coil tuned to 300 MHz. Parametric amplification was configured with an external pumping coil tuned to 600 MHz and placed between the surface coil resonator and the wireless coil. RESULTS: Phantom studies showed significant enhancement in signal to noise using the pumping coil. However, no influence of the pumping coil on the oxygen-dependent EPR spectral linewidth of LiPc/PDMS was observed, suggesting the validity of parametric amplification of EPR signals for oximetry by implantation of the encapsulated wireless coil and LiPc/PDMS in deep regions of live objects. In vivo studies demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to longitudinally monitor tissue pO2 in vivo and also monitor acute changes in response to pharmacologic challenges. The encapsulated wireless coil and LiPc/PDMS engendered no host immune response when implanted for ∼3 weeks and were found to be well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: This approach may find applications for monitoring tissue oxygenation to better understand the pathophysiology associated with wound healing, organ transplantation, and ischemic diseases.

Oral administration of the nitroxide radical TEMPOL exhibits immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties in multiple sclerosis models.

Therapies with both immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties are thought to have the greatest promise in reducing the severity and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are implicated in inflammatory-mediated damage to the central nervous system (CNS) in MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). TEMPOL (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) is a stable nitroxide radical with potent antioxidant activity. The goal of our studies was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects and therapeutic potential of orally-delivered TEMPOL in the mouse EAE model. Mice receiving TEMPOL chow ad libitum for 2weeks prior to induction of active EAE showed delayed onset and reduced incidence of disease compared to control-fed animals. Reduced disease severity was associated with limited microglial activation and fewer inflammatory infiltrates. TEMPOL's effects were immunomodulatory, not immunosuppressive: T cells produced less interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, and TEMPOL-fed mice exhibited a shift towards TH2-type antibody responses. Both myeloid and myeloid-dendritic cells of TEMPOL-fed EAE animals had significantly lower levels of MHC class II expression than controls; CD40 was also significantly reduced. TEMPOL administration was associated with an enrichment of CD8+ T cell populations and CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory populations. TEMPOL reduced the severity of clinical disease when administered after the induction of disease, and also after the onset of clinical symptoms. To exclude effects on T cell priming in vivo, TEMPOL was tested with the passive transfer of encephalitogenic T cells and was found to reduce the incidence and peak severity of disease. Protection was associated with reduced infiltrates and a relative sparing of neurofilaments and axons. The ability of oral TEMPOL to reduce inflammation and axonal damage and loss demonstrate both anti-inflammatory and protective properties, with significant promise for the treatment of MS and related neurological disorders.

Effect of amifostine, a radiation-protecting drug, on oxygen concentration in tissue measured by EPR oximetry and imaging.

Effect of amifostine, a radiation-protecting drug, on muscle tissue partial pressure of oxygen was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. When amifostine was administered intraperitoneally or intravenously to mice, the linewidth of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the lithium octa-n-butoxy-substituted naphthalocyanine implanted in the mouse leg muscle decreased. Electron paramagnetic resonance oximetry using a lithium octa-n-butoxy-substituted naphthalocyanine probe and electron paramagnetic resonance oxygen mapping using a triarylmethyl radical paramagnetic probe was useful to quantify pressure of oxygen in the tissues of living mice. The result of electron paramagnetic resonance oximetric imaging showed that administration of amifostine could decrease pressure of oxygen in the muscle and also tumor tissues. This finding suggests that lowering pressure of oxygen in tissues might contribute in part to the radioprotection of amifostine.

Adsorption studies of divalent, dinuclear coordination complexes as molecular spacers on SWCNTs.

In order to enhance the electrical energy storage capabilities of nanostructured carbon materials, inter-particle spacer strategies are needed to maintain ion-accessible surface area between the nanoparticles. This paper presents a comparison between different classes of divalent, dinuclear coordination complexes which both show strong adsorption to SWCNTs and have molecular spacer properties that maintain electrochemical activity. We find that a novel, dinuclear zinc hydrazone complex binds as an ion-pair at very high loading while not inducing significant aggregation as compared to our previously studies of dinuclear ruthenium complexes. These conclusions are supported by conductivity and dispersion stability data. Moreover, since zinc is an earth abundant metal, these complexes can be used as components in sustainable energy storage materials. Binding kinetics and binding equilibrium data are presented. Modeling of the adsorption isotherm is best fit with the BET model. Kinetics data support an independent binding model. Preliminary capacitance and membrane resistance data are consistent with the complexes acting as molecular spacers between the SWCNTs in a condensed thin film.

Metabolomics reveals that tumor xenografts induce liver dysfunction.

Metabolomics, based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry, was used to explore metabolic signatures of tumor growth in mice. Urine samples were collected from control mice and mice injected with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII) tumor cells. When tumors reached ∼2 cm, all mice were killed and blood and liver samples collected. The urine metabolites hexanoylglycine, nicotinamide 1-oxide, and 11ß,20α-dihydroxy-3-oxopregn-4-en-21-oic acid were elevated in tumor-bearing mice, as was asymmetric dimethylarginine, a biomarker for oxidative stress. Interestingly, SCCVII tumor growth resulted in hepatomegaly, reduced albumin/globulin ratios, and elevated serum triglycerides, suggesting liver dysfunction. Alterations in liver metabolites between SCCVII-tumor-bearing and control mice confirmed the presence of liver injury. Hepatic mRNA analysis indicated that inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α, and transforming growth factor ß were enhanced in SCCVII-tumor-bearing mice, and the expression of cytochromes P450 was decreased in tumor-bearing mice. Further, genes involved in fatty acid oxidation were decreased, suggesting impaired fatty acid oxidation in SCCVII-tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, activated phospholipid metabolism and a disrupted tricarboxylic acid cycle were observed in SCCVII-tumor-bearing mice. These data suggest that tumor growth imposes a global inflammatory response that results in liver dysfunction and underscore the use of metabolomics to temporally examine these changes and potentially use metabolite changes to monitor tumor treatment response.

Early responses to adenoviral-mediated transfer of the aquaporin-1 cDNA for radiation-induced salivary hypofunction.

No conventional therapy exists for salivary hypofunction in surviving head and neck cancer patients with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group late grade 2-3 toxicity. We conducted a phase I clinical trial to test the safety and biologic efficacy of serotype 5, adenoviral-mediated aquaporin-1 cDNA transfer to a single previously irradiated parotid gland in 11 subjects using an open label, single-dose, dose-escalation design (AdhAQP1 vector; four dose tiers from 4.8 × 10(7) to 5.8 × 10(9) vector particles per gland). Treated subjects were followed at scheduled intervals. Multiple safety parameters were measured and biologic efficacy was evaluated with measurements of parotid salivary flow rate. Symptoms were assessed with a visual analog scale. All subjects tolerated vector delivery and study procedures well over the 42-d study period reported. No deaths, serious adverse events, or dose-limiting toxicities occurred. Generally, few adverse events occurred, and all were considered mild or moderate. No consistent changes were found in any clinical chemistry and hematology parameters measured. Objective responses were seen in six subjects, all at doses <5.8 × 10(9) vector particles per gland. Five of these six subjects also experienced subjective improvement in xerostomia. AdhAQP1 vector delivery to a single parotid gland was safe and transfer of the hAQP1 cDNA increased parotid flow and relieved symptoms in a subset of subjects.

SCORHE: a novel and practical approach to video monitoring of laboratory mice housed in vivarium cage racks.

The System for Continuous Observation of Rodents in Home-cage Environment (SCORHE) was developed to demonstrate the viability of compact and scalable designs for quantifying activity levels and behavior patterns for mice housed within a commercial ventilated cage rack. The SCORHE in-rack design provides day- and night-time monitoring with the consistency and convenience of the home-cage environment. The dual-video camera custom hardware design makes efficient use of space, does not require home-cage modification, and is animal-facility user-friendly. Given the system's low cost and suitability for use in existing vivariums without modification to the animal husbandry procedures or housing setup, SCORHE opens up the potential for the wider use of automated video monitoring in animal facilities. SCORHE's potential uses include day-to-day health monitoring, as well as advanced behavioral screening and ethology experiments, ranging from the assessment of the short- and long-term effects of experimental cancer treatments to the evaluation of mouse models. When used for phenotyping and animal model studies, SCORHE aims to eliminate the concerns often associated with many mouse-monitoring methods, such as circadian rhythm disruption, acclimation periods, lack of night-time measurements, and short monitoring periods. Custom software integrates two video streams to extract several mouse activity and behavior measures. Studies comparing the activity levels of ABCB5 knockout and HMGN1 overexpresser mice with their respective C57BL parental strains demonstrate SCORHE's efficacy in characterizing the activity profiles for singly- and doubly-housed mice. Another study was conducted to demonstrate the ability of SCORHE to detect a change in activity resulting from administering a sedative.

An efficient synthesis of 3-(N-piperidinemethyl)-2, 2, 5, 5-tetramethyl-1-oxy-3-pyrroline, a promising radioprotector for cancer radiotherapy.

Nitroxides can ameliorate the toxic effects of radiation during cancer therapy. Nitroxides are paramagnetic and can be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) to monitor in vivo oxidative stress status. Compound 5 (3-(N-piperidinemethyl)-2, 2, 5, 5-tetramethyl-1-oxy-3-pyrroline) was found to be the most effective nitroxide radioprotector. An efficient synthesis for this promising radioprotector was developed.

Multiomic-Based Molecular Landscape of FaDu Xenograft Tumors in Mice after a Combinatorial Treatment with Radiation and an HSP90 Inhibitor Identifies Adaptation-Induced Targets of Resistance and Therapeutic Intervention.

Treatments involving radiation and chemotherapy alone or in combination have improved patient survival and quality of life. However, cancers frequently evade these therapies due to adaptation and tumor evolution. Given the complexity of predicting response based solely on the initial genetic profile of a patient, a predetermined treatment course may miss critical adaptation that can cause resistance or induce new targets for drug and immunotherapy. To address the timescale for these evasive mechanisms, using a mouse xenograft tumor model, we investigated the rapidity of gene expression (mRNA), molecular pathway, and phosphoproteome changes after radiation, an HSP90 inhibitor, or combination. Animals received radiation, drug, or combination treatment for 1 or 2 weeks and were then euthanized along with a time-matched untreated group for comparison. Changes in gene expression occur as early as 1 week after treatment initiation. Apoptosis and cell death pathways were activated in irradiated tumor samples. For the HSP90 inhibitor and combination treatment at weeks 1 and 2 compared with Control Day 1, gene-expression changes induced inhibition of pathways including invasion of cells, vasculogenesis, and viral infection among others. The combination group included both drug-alone and radiation-alone changes. Our data demonstrate the rapidity of gene expression and functional pathway changes in the evolving tumor as it responds to treatment. Discovering these phenotypic adaptations may help elucidate the challenges in using sustained treatment regimens and could also define evolving targets for therapeutic efficacy.

Stable isotope- and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics as tools in drug metabolism: a study expanding tempol pharmacology.

The application of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in the field of drug metabolism has yielded important insights not only into the metabolic routes of drugs but has provided unbiased, global perspectives of the endogenous metabolome that can be useful for identifying biomarkers associated with mechanism of action, efficacy, and toxicity. In this report, a stable isotope- and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach that captures both drug metabolism and changes in the endogenous metabolome in a single experiment is described. Here the antioxidant drug tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) was chosen because its mechanism of action is not completely understood and its metabolic fate has not been studied extensively. Furthermore, its small size (MW = 172.2) and chemical composition (C(9)H(18)NO(2)) make it challenging to distinguish from endogenous metabolites. In this study, mice were dosed with tempol or deuterated tempol (C(9)D(17)HNO(2)) and their urine was profiled using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis of the urinary metabolomics data generated a Y-shaped scatter plot containing drug metabolites (protonated and deuterated) that were clearly distinct from the endogenous metabolites. Ten tempol drug metabolites, including eight novel metabolites, were identified. Phase II metabolism was the major metabolic pathway of tempol in vivo, including glucuronidation and glucosidation. Urinary endogenous metabolites significantly elevated by tempol treatment included 2,8-dihydroxyquinoline (8.0-fold, P < 0.05) and 2,8-dihydroxyquinoline-ß-d-glucuronide (6.8-fold, P < 0.05). Urinary endogenous metabolites significantly attenuated by tempol treatment including pantothenic acid (1.3-fold, P < 0.05) and isobutrylcarnitine (5.3-fold, P < 0.01). This study underscores the power of a stable isotope- and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in expanding the view of drug pharmacology.

Evaluation of partial k-space strategies to speed up time-domain EPR imaging.

Narrow-line spin probes derived from the trityl radical have led to the development of fast in vivo time-domain EPR imaging. Pure phase-encoding imaging modalities based on the single-point imaging scheme have demonstrated the feasibility of three-dimensional oximetric images with functional information in minutes. In this article, we explore techniques to improve the temporal resolution and circumvent the relatively short biological half-lives of trityl probes using partial k-space strategies. There are two main approaches: one involves the use of the Hermitian character of the k-space by which only part of the k-space is measured and the unmeasured part is generated using the Hermitian symmetry. This approach is limited in success by the accuracy of numerical estimate of the phase roll in the k-space that corrupts the Hermiticy. The other approach is to measure only a judicially chosen reduced region of k-space (a centrosymmetric ellipsoid region) that more or less accounts for >70% of the k-space energy. Both of these aspects were explored in Fourier transform-EPR imaging with a doubling of scan speed demonstrated by considering ellipsoid geometry of the k-space. Partial k-space strategies help improve the temporal resolution in studying fast dynamics of functional aspects in vivo with infused spin probes.

EPR oxygen imaging and hyperpolarized 13C MRI of pyruvate metabolism as noninvasive biomarkers of tumor treatment response to a glycolysis inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate.

The hypoxic nature of tumors results in treatment resistance and poor prognosis. To spare limited oxygen for more crucial pathways, hypoxic cancerous cells suppress mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and promote glycolysis for energy production. Thereby, inhibition of glycolysis has the potential to overcome treatment resistance of hypoxic tumors. Here, EPR imaging was used to evaluate oxygen dependent efficacy on hypoxia-sensitive drug. The small molecule 3-bromopyruvate blocks glycolysis pathway by inhibiting hypoxia inducible enzymes and enhanced cytotoxicity of 3-bromopyruvate under hypoxic conditions has been reported in vitro. However, the efficacy of 3-bromopyruvate was substantially attenuated in hypoxic tumor regions (pO2<10 mmHg) in vivo using squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII)-bearing mouse model. Metabolic MRI studies using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled pyruvate showed that monocarboxylate transporter-1 is the major transporter for pyruvate and the analog 3-bromopyruvate in SCCVII tumor. The discrepant results between in vitro and in vivo data were attributed to biphasic oxygen dependent expression of monocarboxylate transporter-1 in vivo. Expression of monocarboxylate transporter-1 was enhanced in moderately hypoxic (8-15 mmHg) tumor regions but down regulated in severely hypoxic (<5 mmHg) tumor regions. These results emphasize the importance of noninvasive imaging biomarkers to confirm the action of hypoxia-activated drugs.

Magnetic resonance imaging of tumor oxygenation and metabolic profile.

The tumor microenvironment is distinct from normal tissue as a result of abnormal vascular network characterized by hypoxia, low pH, high interstitial fluid pressure and elevated glycolytic activity. This poses a barrier to treatments including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Imaging methods which can characterize such features non-invasively and repeatedly will be of significant value in planning treatment as well as monitoring response to treatment. The three techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are reviewed here. Tumor pO2 can be measured by two MRI methods requiring an exogenous contrast agent: electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) and Overhauser magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI). Tumor metabolic profile can be assessed by a third method, hyperpolarized metabolic MR, based on injection of hyperpolarized biological molecules labeled with (13)C or (15)N and MR spectroscopic imaging. Imaging pO2 in tumors is now a robust pre-clinical imaging modality with potential for implementation clinically. Pre-clinical studies and an initial clinical study with hyperpolarized metabolic MR have been successful and suggest that the method may be part of image-guided radiotherapy to select patients for tailored individual treatment regimens.

The effect of modulation of gut microbiome profile on radiation-induced carcinogenesis and survival.

Non-lethal doses of ionizing radiation (IR) delivered to humans because of terrorist events, nuclear accidents or radiotherapy can result in carcinogenesis. Means of protecting against carcinogenesis are lacking. We questioned the role of the gut microbiome in IR-induced carcinogenesis. The gut microbiome was modulated by administering broad spectrum antibiotics (Ab) in the drinking water. Mice were given Ab 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after 3 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) or for 6 weeks one month after TBI. Three weeks of Ab treatment resulted in a 98% reduction in total 16S rRNA counts for 4 out of 6 of the phylum groups detected. However, 3 more weeks of Ab treatment (6 weeks total) saw an expansion in the phylum groups Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The Ab treatment altered the bacteria diversity in the gut, and shortened the lifespan when Ab were administered before and after TBI. Mortality studies indicated that the adverse Ab lifespan effects were due to a decrease in the time in which solid tumors started to appear and not to any changes in hematopoietic or benign tumors. In contrast, when Ab were administered one month after TBI, lifespan was unchanged compared to the control TBI group. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to simulate the germ-free condition did not afford an advantage on carcinogenesis or lifespan.

Combined Inhibition of IAPs and WEE1 Enhances TNFα- and Radiation-Induced Cell Death in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a prevalent diagnosis with current treatment options that include radiotherapy and immune-mediated therapies, in which tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) is a key mediator of cytotoxicity. However, HNSCC and other cancers often display TNFα resistance due to activation of the canonical IKK-NFκB/RELA pathway, which is activated by, and induces expression of, cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs). Our previous studies have demonstrated that the IAP inhibitor birinapant sensitized HNSCC to TNFα-dependent cell death in vitro and radiotherapy in vivo. Furthermore, we recently demonstrated that the inhibition of the G2/M checkpoint kinase WEE1 also sensitized HNSCC cells to TNFα-dependent cell death, due to the inhibition of the pro-survival IKK-NFκB/RELA complex. Given these observations, we hypothesized that dual-antagonist therapy targeting both IAP and WEE1 proteins may have the potential to synergistically sensitize HNSCC to TNFα-dependent cell death. Using the IAP inhibitor birinapant and the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775, we show that combination treatment reduced cell viability, proliferation and survival when compared with individual treatment. Furthermore, combination treatment enhanced the sensitivity of HNSCC cells to TNFα-induced cytotoxicity via the induction of apoptosis and DNA damage. Additionally, birinapant and AZD1775 combination treatment decreased cell proliferation and survival in combination with radiotherapy, a critical source of TNFα. These results support further investigation of IAP and WEE1 inhibitor combinations in preclinical and clinical studies in HNSCC.