PD-1H/VISTA mediates immune evasion in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents a pressing medical need in that it is largely resistant to standard chemotherapy as well as modern therapeutics, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, including anti-programmed cell death protein (anti-PD) therapy. We demonstrate that programmed death-1 homolog (PD-1H), an immune coinhibitory molecule, is highly expressed in blasts from the bone marrow of AML patients, while normal myeloid cell subsets and T cells express PD-1H. In studies employing syngeneic and humanized AML mouse models, overexpression of PD-1H promoted the growth of AML cells, mainly by evading T cell-mediated immune responses. Importantly, ablation of AML cell-surface PD-1H by antibody blockade or genetic knockout significantly inhibited AML progression by promoting T cell activity. In addition, the genetic deletion of PD-1H from host normal myeloid cells inhibited AML progression, and the combination of PD-1H blockade with anti-PD therapy conferred a synergistic antileukemia effect. Our findings provide the basis for PD-1H as a potential therapeutic target for treating human AML.

LAIR-1 agonism as a therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Effective eradication of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) remains the greatest challenge in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The immune receptor LAIR-1 has been shown to regulate LSC survival; however, the therapeutic potential of this pathway remains unexplored. We developed a therapeutic LAIR-1 agonist antibody, NC525, that induced cell death of LSCs, but not healthy hematopoietic stem cells in vitro, and killed LSCs and AML blasts in both cell- and patient-derived xenograft models. We showed that LAIR-1 agonism drives a unique apoptotic signaling program in leukemic cells that was enhanced in the presence of collagen. NC525 also significantly improved the activity of azacitidine and venetoclax to establish LAIR-1 targeting as a therapeutic strategy for AML that may synergize with standard-of-care therapies.

VISTA (PD-1H) Is a Crucial Immune Regulator to Limit Pulmonary Fibrosis.

VISTA (V domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation, also called PD-1H [programmed death-1 homolog]), a novel immune regulator expressed on myeloid and T lymphocyte lineages, is upregulated in mouse and human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the significance of VISTA and its therapeutic potential in regulating IPF has yet to be defined. To determine the role of VISTA and its therapeutic potential in IPF, the expression profile of VISTA was evaluated from human single-cell RNA sequencing data (IPF Cell Atlas). Inflammatory response and lung fibrosis were assessed in bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis models in VISTA-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. In addition, these outcomes were evaluated after VISTA agonistic antibody treatment in the wild-type pulmonary fibrosis mice. VISTA expression was increased in lung tissue-infiltrating monocytes of patients with IPF. VISTA was induced in the myeloid population, mainly circulating monocyte-derived macrophages, during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Genetic ablation of VISTA drastically promoted pulmonary fibrosis, and bleomycin-induced fibroblast activation was dependent on the interaction between VISTA-expressing myeloid cells and fibroblasts. Treatment with VISTA agonistic antibody reduced fibrotic phenotypes accompanied by the suppression of lung innate immune and fibrotic mediators. In conclusion, these results suggest that VISTA upregulation in pulmonary fibrosis may be a compensatory mechanism to limit inflammation and fibrosis, and stimulation of VISTA signaling using VISTA agonists effectively limits the fibrotic innate immune landscape and consequent tissue fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to test VISTA as a novel therapeutic target for the IPF treatment.

Phylogenetic analysis of two single-copy nuclear genes revealed origin and complex relationships of polyploid species of Hordeum in Triticeae (Poaceae).

Two single-copy nuclear genes, the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and thioredoxin-like gene (HTL), were used to explore the phylogeny and origin of polyploid species in Hordeum. Our results were partly in accord with previous studies, but disclosed additional complexity. Both RPB2 and HTL trees confirmed the presence of Xa genome in H. capense and H. secalinum, and that H. depressum originated from H. californicum together with other American diploids, either H. intercedens or H. pusillum. American diploids solely contributed to the origin of H. depressum. The Asian diploids, either H. bogdanii or H. brevisubulatum, contributed to the formation of American polyploids except H. depressum. RPB2 and HTL sequences showed that H. roshevitzii did not contribute to the origin of American tetraploids. Our data showed a close relationship between the hexaploids H. procerum and H. parodii and the tetraploids H. brachyantherum, H. fuegianum, H. guatemalense, H. jubatum, and H. tetraploidum. The involvement of the diploid H. pusillum and the tetraploid H. jubatum in the formation of H. arizonicum was also indicated in the HTL phylogeny. Our results suggested a possible gene introgression of W- and P-genome species into the tetraploid H. jubatum and the hexaploid H. procerum.

Delivery of Soluble Heme Oxygenase 1 Cell-Penetrating Peptide into Liver Cells in in vitro and ex vivo Models of Cold Ischemia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice in patients with end-stage liver disease. During liver transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) occurs, which is an inevitable consequence of the transplantation process. To reduce the extent of cellular injury, one of the proteins that have been extensively investigated is heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which plays an important role in protecting the organs against IRI. The aim of this study was to introduce an active and functional HO-1 protein conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) in vitro and ex vivo into liver cells in hypothermic and anoxic conditions and to assert its cytoprotective effects. METHODS: We generated an enzymatically active soluble (s)HO-1-CPP recombinant protein. The ability of the sHO-1-CPP protein to penetrate McA-RH7777, Clone 9, and Hep G2 cells, primary hepatocytes, and Kupffer and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, as well as its ability to penetrate a whole liver ex vivo under hypothermic and anoxic conditions, was assessed. An in vitro hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) model was used to determine the cytoprotective effect of the sHO-1-CPP protein. RESULTS: We showed that our recombinant protein sHO-1-CPP can cross cell membranes into rodent and human liver cells in vitro, and the results were further validated ex vivo, where rodent livers were perfused with an organ preservation solution supplemented with sHO-1-CPP under anoxic and hypothermic conditions. Immunohistochemistry revealed an intracellular localization of sHO-1-CPP in zones 1-3 of the perfused livers. The CPP did not exert any significant toxicity on the cells. Treating cells with sHO-1-CPP showed significant cytoprotection in the in vitro HR model. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the recombinant protein sHO-1-CPP can be successfully delivered to cells of a whole organ in an ex vivo hypothermic and anoxic perfusion model and that it provides cytoprotection to hepatocytes in an in vitro HR model. These results hold great potential for future repair and protection of donor organs. Future experiments are planned to confirm these data in in vivo models of IRI.

Effects of mTOR Inhibitors in Prevention of Abdominal Adhesions.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Postsurgical adhesions can occur after laparotomy and can cause morbidity. Local delivery of sirolimus prevented adhesion formation in various experiments. We analyzed the impact of orally dosed mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors on abdominal adhesion formation and wound tensile strength in an experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar albino rats were divided into sirolimus, everolimus, and control groups (n = 6 per group). Experimental animals underwent midline laparotomy and adhesion induction procedure which included cecum abrasion and mesh implantation. Animals were administered oral sirolimus (4 mg/kg), everolimus (3 mg/kg), or placebo starting on postoperative day 1. Treatments were given until postoperative day 7. At postoperative day 21, adhesions were scored. Meshes were resected with the attached abdominal wall and cecal segment and stained with Sirius red for collagen density analysis. Midline scars were excised for tensile strength measurement. Effects of sirolimus and everolimus on fibroblast proliferation were also assessed. RESULTS: Mean adhesion score of the everolimus group (7.83 ± 1.17) was significantly lower compared to sirolimus (11.00 ± 0.63) and control (11.66 ± 0.51) groups. Mean collagen density of the everolimus group (33.5 ± 7.8) was significantly lower compared to sirolimus (50.7 ± 9.69) and control (53.8 ± 12.4) groups. Mean tensile strength of the control group (26.41 ± 2.10) was significantly higher compared to sirolimus (17.89 ± 1.9) and everolimus (21.37 ± 1.25) groups. It was significantly lower in sirolimus group than everolimus group. Both sirolimus and everolimus treated media inhibited fibroblast proliferation significantly compared to media alone. CONCLUSIONS: Everolimus effectively reduced adhesions. Nevertheless, it also reduced wound tensile strength: an effect which seemed to be due to inhibition of fibroblast proliferation.

Mitochondrial Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (MTDs) Are Released during Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion and Induce Inflammatory Responses.

Ischemia / reperfusion injury (IRI) during the course of liver transplantation enhances the immunogenicity of allografts and thus impacts overall graft outcome. This sterile inflammatory insult is known to activate innate immunity and propagate organ damage through the recognition of damage-associate molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of mitochondrial DAMPs (MTDs) in the pathogenesis of hepatic IRI. Using in vitro models we observed that levels of MTDs were significantly higher in both transplantation-associated and warm IR, and that co-culture of MTDs with human and rat hepatocytes significantly increased cell death. MTDs were also released in an in vivo rat model of hepatic IRI and associated with increased secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and increased liver injury compared to the sham group. Our results suggest that hepatic IR results in a significant increase of MTDs both in vitro and in vivo suggesting that MTDs may serve as a novel marker in hepatic IRI. Co-culture of MTDs with hepatocytes showed a decrease in cell viability in a concentration dependent manner, which indicates that MTDs is a toxic mediator participating in the pathogenesis of liver IR injury.

Molecular phylogeny revealed distinct origin of the Y and St genome in Elymus longearistatus (Triticeae: Poaceae).

Cytogenetic data has indicated the presence of St and Y genome in Elymus longearistatus (Boiss.) Tzvelev. However, a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) based sequence tagged site (STS) study suggested one accession of Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á Löve (St genome) as a potential Y genome donor candidate in tetraploid E. longearistatus. To examine the origin of Y genome in and the phylogeny of tetraploid E. longearistatus, sequences of cpDNA (RPS16 and TrnD/T intergenic spacer) and single copy nuclear genes (EF-G and HTL) from eight accessions of E. longearistatus, six StY genomic Elymus species and 62 accessions of diploid in Triticeae were analyzed. The cpDNA data suggested that P. stipifolia (St) is the most likely maternal donor of these six Iranian accessions of E. longearistatus, although P. strigosa could not be excluded. Two nuclear gene data convincingly showed that tetraploid E. longearistatus contains two distinct genomes, St and Y genome. The phylogenetic analyses from both the EF-G and HTL rejected the previous suggestion that accession PI232134 of Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á Löve (St genome) was potential Y genome donor to E. longearistatus. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a separation of the Y genome sequences in Iranian accessions of E. longearistatus from the sequences in the Pakistan accession, indicating that geographic isolation might influence the evolution of the Y genome in E. longearistatus.

Nuclear and chloroplast DNA phylogeny reveals complex evolutionary history of Elymus pendulinus.

Evidence accumulated over the last decade has shown that allopolyploid genomes may undergo complex reticulate evolution. In this study, 13 accessions of tetraploid Elymus pendulinus were analyzed using two low-copy nuclear genes (RPB2 and PepC) and two regions of chloroplast genome (Rps16 and trnD-trnT). Previous studies suggested that Pseudoroegneria (St) and an unknown diploid (Y) were genome donors to E. pendulinus, and that Pseudoroegneria was the maternal donor. Our results revealed an extreme reticulate pattern, with at least four distinct gene lineages coexisting within this species that might be acquired through a possible combination of allotetraploidization and introgression from both within and outside the tribe Hordeeae. Chloroplast DNA data identified two potential maternal genome donors (Pseudoroegneria and an unknown species outside Hordeeae) to E. pendulinus. Nuclear gene data indicated that both Pseudoroegneria and an unknown Y diploid have contributed to the nuclear genome of E. pendulinus, in agreement with cytogenetic data. However, unexpected contributions from Hordeum and unknown aliens from within or outside Hordeeae to E. pendulinus without genome duplication were observed. Elymus pendulinus provides a remarkable instance of the previously unsuspected chimerical nature of some plant genomes and the resulting phylogenetic complexity produced by multiple historical reticulation events.

Phylogenetic analysis revealed reticulate evolution of allotetraploid Elymus ciliaris.

Increasing evidence has shown the complex and dynamic nature of polyploids. Two single copy nuclear genes were used to explore genome evolutionary dynamics and the origin of tetraploid E. ciliaris: the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK1) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) together with a chloroplast gene encoding ribosomal protein S16 (RPS16). RPS16 data confirmed that the maternal origin of E. ciliaris is the St genome species. Both RPB2 and PGK1 data supported that E. ciliairs has multiple origins, and originated from the Pseudorogneria (St) and unknown donor (Y) diploids. The St genome in E. ciliaris species has a complex evolutionary history. Both RPB2 and PGK1 data suggested the absence of St genome in accession PI 377532 of E. ciliaris. However, cpDNA RPS16 clearly indicated that its maternal origin is the same as other E. ciliaris accessions, and is St genomic diploid species. Results suggest that there are two lineages of St genome present in E. ciliaris species; one is grouped with Pseudoroegneria diploid species, the other is grouped with Hordeum (H) species (named St?). The Japanese accession PI 377532 might have introgression either from HordeumH genome species or from ElymusStH genome species with replacement of at least some nuclear St-loci by H-loci. The correlation between genome differentiation and geographical distribution is also discussed.

Isolation and characterization of a laccase gene potentially involved in proanthocyanidin polymerization in Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs, condensed tannins) are important health-promoting phytochemicals that are abundant in many plants. Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) is an excellent source of PAs because of its unique ability to accumulate large quantities of these compounds in its young fruit. There are two different spontaneous mutant phenotypes of oriental persimmons which lose their astringent taste naturally on the tree; while plants without these mutations remain rich in soluble PAs until the fruit fully ripened. The mutations are referred to as pollination-constant non-astringent genotypes named J-PCNA and C-PCNA, and are from Japan and China respectively. In this work we speculated that the loss of astringency in C-PCNA fruit is due to the soluble PAs transferred into insoluble upon polymerization, which was quite different from that of the J-PCNA. A DkLAC1 gene was isolated by the homology-based clone method. The predicted protein product of this gene showed that the DkLAC1 is a plant laccase which is phylogenetically related to the known enzyme AtLAC15 involved in the polymerization of PAs. Expression patterns of PAs biosynthetic genes associated with soluble PAs contents in three types of Oriental persimmons. Expression levels of DkLAC1 in C-PCNA type plants were linked with the reduction of soluble PAs in the flesh of the fruit. In addition the cis-elements in the DkLAC1 promoter regions indicated that the gene might also be regulated by the DkMYB4 as is seen with other well-known structural genes in Oriental persimmon. We conclude that DkLAC1 is potentially involved in PA polymerization in C-PCNA during normal ripening in C-PCNA persimmon.