Lymph Node Follicle-Targeting STING Agonist Nanoshells Enable Single-Shot M2e Vaccination for Broad and Durable Influenza Protection.

The highly conserved matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e) of influenza viruses presents a compelling vaccine antigen candidate for stemming the pandemic threat of the mutation-prone pathogen, yet the low immunogenicity of the diminutive M2e peptide renders vaccine development challenging. A highly potent M2e nanoshell vaccine that confers broad and durable influenza protectivity under a single vaccination is shown. Prepared via asymmetric ionic stabilization for nanoscopic curvature formation, polymeric nanoshells co-encapsulating high densities of M2e peptides and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists are prepared. Robust and long-lasting protectivity against heterotypic influenza viruses is achieved with a single administration of the M2e nanoshells in mice. Mechanistically, molecular adjuvancy by the STING agonist and nanoshell-mediated prolongation of M2e antigen exposure in the lymph node follicles synergistically contribute to the heightened anti-M2e humoral responses. STING agonist-triggered T cell helper functions and extended residence of M2e peptides in the follicular dendritic cell network provide a favorable microenvironment that induces Th1-biased antibody production against the diminutive antigen. These findings highlight a versatile nanoparticulate design that leverages innate immune pathways for enhancing the immunogenicity of weak immunogens. The single-shot nanovaccine further provides a translationally viable platform for pandemic preparedness.

A microRNA signature for clinical outcomes of pediatric ALL patients treated with TPOG protocols.

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is reportedly associated with clinical outcomes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Here, we aimed at investigating whether miRNA expression is associated with clinical outcomes in pediatric ALL patients treated with the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) protocols. The expression of 397 miRNAs was measured using stem-loop quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction miRNA arrays in 60 pediatric ALL patients treated with TPOG-ALL-93 or TPOG-ALL-97 VHR (very high-risk) protocols. In order to identify prognosis-related miRNAs, original cohort was randomly split into the training and testing cohort in a 2:1 ratio, and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression was applied to identify associations between event-free survival (EFS) and expressions of miRNAs. Four prognosis-related miRNAs were selected and validated in another independent cohort composed of 103 patients treated with the TPOG-ALL-2002 protocol. Risk score, including the impact of four prognosis-related miRNAs, was calculated for each patients, followed by grouping patients into the high or low risk-score groups. Irrespective of the training, testing, or validation cohort, risk-score group was significantly associated with EFS and overall survival (OS). Risk-score group combining with clinical characteristics including the age onset (≥10 years), white blood cell counts (≥100 × 109/L), cell type (T- or B-cell), sex, and risk groups of the treatment protocols were used as predictors of EFS using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results showed that the risk-score group was the strongest predictor. In the validation cohort, hazard ratios (HRs) of the risk-score group were 7.06 (95% CI=1.93-25.84, p-value =0.003) and 14.03 (95% CI=3.34-59.04, p-value =0.003) for EFS and OS, respectively. High risk-score group had higher risk of having poor prognosis and risk of death than that in the low risk group. Accuracy of the prediction model for 5-year EFS could reach 0.76. For the prediction of 5-year OS, accuracy was 0.75. In conclusion, a miRNA signature was associated with clinical outcomes in childhood ALL patients treated with TPOG protocols and might be a suitable prognostic biomarker.

CD248 Regulates Wnt Signaling in Pericytes to Promote Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth in Lung Cancer.

The tumor microenvironment plays a central role in cancer initiation and progression. CD248 is expressed in tumor-associated stromal cells, particularly fibroblasts and pericytes. Exploring the function of CD248 has the potential to provide biological insights into tumor-supportive stroma and potential therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated the role of stromal CD248 in lung cancer. In orthotopic lung cancer transplantation models, tumor volume, density of vessels and pericytes, and functionality of tumor vessels were all lower in mice lacking Cd248 (Cd248LacZ/LacZ) compared with Cd248 wild-type or haploinsufficient mice. Two angiogenic factors, OPN and SERPINE1, were decreased in Cd248LacZ/LacZ pericytes, and supplementation with both factors rescued their proliferation and endothelial cell tube formation-promoting ability. Mechanistically, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling induced Opn and Serpine1 expression and was suppressed in Cd248LacZ/LacZ pericytes. CD248 interacted with Wnt pathway repressors IGFBP4 and LGALS3BP, leading to increased Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Correspondingly, administration of a ß-catenin inhibitor in Cd248+/LacZ mice mimicked the effect of Cd248 loss and blocked the growth of transplanted lung tumor cells that were resistant to this inhibitor in vitro. In addition, CD248+ pericytes coexpressed OPN and SERPINE1 and correlated with increased tumor size in human lung cancer. Additionally, high expression of CD248, OPN, and SERPINE1 was associated with poor survival in lung cancer patients. In summary, CD248 derepresses Wnt signaling and upregulates OPN and SERPINE1 in pericytes, resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and lung cancer growth. This novel axis of CD248-Wnt signaling-angiogenic factors in pericytes provides a potential target for lung cancer therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings demonstrate that CD248 maintains pericyte function in lung cancer through the Wnt signaling pathway and present CD248 as a potential therapeutic target.

Characterization of congenital factor XII deficiency in Taiwanese patients: identification of one novel and one common mutation.

BACKGROUND: Factor XII (FXII) deficiency is an interesting condition that causes prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time without bleeding diathesis. FXII may be not important in hemostasis, but still plays roles in thrombosis and inflammation. In order to raise clinical awareness about this condition, we studied patients with severe FXII deficiency and their relatives. METHODS: Consecutive severely FXII deficient patients presenting from 1995 to 2020 were recruited from two medical centers in Taiwan. Index patients and their families were tested for FXII function, antigen and F12 gene. F12 variants were constructed into the pIRES-hrGFP vector and expressed on human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T). FXII antigen and activity were analyzed. RESULTS: We found five severely FXII deficient patients, three women and two men, aged 44-71 years. FXII antigen results ranged from undetectable to 43.7%. Three different mutations were identified: c.1681C>A (p.Gly542Ser), c.1561G>A (p.Glu502Lys), and a novel mutation c.1556T>A (p.Leu500Gln). HEK293T cells expressed consistently low FXII activity with all mutations. FXII antigen expression was similar to the wild type in c.1681C>A (p.Gly542Ser), but reduced in c.1556T>A (p.Leu500Gln) and c.1561G>A (p.Glu502Lys). CONCLUSIONS: We report five unrelated patients with severe FXII deficiency, one of whom carried a novel, cross-reacting material negative mutation c.1556T>A (p.Leu500Gln).

Incidence and risk factors for venous thromboembolism in a cohort of Taiwanese patients with lung, gastric, pancreatic cancers or lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a distinct pathological entity with much higher incidence and unique risk factors compared to general VTE. A previous study reported that cancer associated-VTE incidence in Taiwan is much lower than that reported for western countries and also lower than our anecdotal observations. To address this issue further, we initiated an investigation locally using a more detailed approach than used previously with comprehensive review of medical records to gain new insight into the incidence and risk factors for cancer-associated VTE. METHODS: Medical records of all adult patients with lung, pancreatic and gastric cancers, and lymphoma diagnosed from January 2011 to December 2013 in National Taiwan University Hospital indexed through the local cancer registry database were reviewed. VTE patients were identified through diagnosis coding and comprehensive medical chart review. RESULTS: Among 5620 consecutive lung, gastric and pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma patients, VTE was diagnosed in 246 (4.4%). Overall VTE incidence was 36.3 per 1000 patient-year. Multivariate analysis showed that not only high but also low body mass index (BMI) was associated with VTE risk with different cutoff levels by gender. Mildly to moderately anemic patients were at higher risk of VTE. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) had proportionally and reversely correlation to VTE risk. CONCLUSION: We reported higher incidence of cancer associated VTE in Taiwan. Low BMI and short aPTT were found to be related to higher VTE risk that was not reported before.

Targeting fibroblast CD248 attenuates CCL17-expressing macrophages and tissue fibrosis.

The role of fibroblasts in tissue fibrosis has been extensively studied. Activated fibroblasts, namely myofibroblasts, produce pathological extracellular matrix. CD248, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, is expressed in fibroblasts after birth. In human chronic kidney disease, upregulated CD248 in myofibroblasts is linked to poor renal survival. In this study, we demonstrated a novel interaction between CD248 and macrophages to be a key step in mediating tissue fibrosis. CD248 was upregulated in myofibroblasts in murine models of renal and peritoneal fibrosis. Cd248 knockout (Cd248-/-) could attenuate both renal and peritoneal fibrosis. By parabiosis of GFP reporter mice and Cd248-/- mice, we showed that attenuation of renal fibrosis was associated with a decrease of macrophage infiltration in Cd248-/- mice. Moreover, decrease of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 and Ccl22 was found in macrophages isolated from the fibrotic kidneys of Cd248-/- mice. Because galectin-3-deficient macrophages showed decreased Ccl17 and Ccl22 in fibrotic kidneys, we further demonstrated that CD248 interacted specifically with galectin-3 of macrophages who then expressed CCL17 to activate collagen production in myofibroblasts. Mice with DNA vaccination targeting CD248 showed decreased fibrosis. We thus propose that CD248 targeting should be studied in the clinical tissue fibrosis setting.

Embryonic Cul4b is important for epiblast growth and location of primitive streak layer cells.

Cul4b-null (Cul4bΔ/Y) mice undergo growth arrest and degeneration during the early embryonic stages and die at E9.5. The pathogenic causes of this lethality remain incompletely characterized. However, it has been hypothesized that the loss of Cul4b function in extraembryonic tissues plays a key role. In this study, we investigated possible causes of death for Cul4b-null embryos, particularly in regard to the role of embryonic Cul4b. First, we show that the loss of embryonic Cul4b affects the growth of the inner cell mass in vitro and delays epiblast development during the gastrulation period at E6.5~E7.5 in vivo, as highlighted by the absence of the epiblastic transcription factor Brachyury from E6.5~E7.5. Additionally, at E7.5, strong and laterally expanded expression of Eomes and Fgf8 signaling was detected. Sectioning of these embryos showed disorganized primitive streak layer cells. Second, we observed that Mash2-expressing cells were present in the extraembryonic tissues of Cul4b-deficient embryos at E6.5 but were absent at E7.5. In addition, the loss of Cul4b resulted in decreased expression of cyclin proteins, which are required for the cell cycle transition from G1 to S. Taken together, these observations suggest that the embryonic expression of Cul4b is important for epiblast growth during E6.5~E7.5, and the loss of Cul4b results in either delayed growth of the epiblast or defective localization of primitive streak layer cells. As a result, the signaling activity mediated by the epiblast for subsequent ectoplacental cone development is affected, with the potential to induce growth retardation and lethality in Cul4bΔ/Y embryos.

Lack of Thromboxane Synthase Prevents Hypertension and Fetal Growth Restriction after High Salt Treatment during Pregnancy.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a potentially fatal pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder characterized by poor placenta development that can cause fetal growth restriction. PE-associated pathologies, including thrombosis, hypertension, and impaired placental development, may result from imbalances between thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin. Low-dose aspirin, which selectively inhibits TXA2 production, is used to prevent high-risk PE. However, the role of TXA2 in aspirin-mediated protective effects in women with PE is not understood fully. In this study, we examined the role of prostanoids in PE using human samples and an induced PE mouse model. We demonstrated that the administration of salted drinking water (2.7% NaCl) to wild-type mice resulted in elevated placental TXA2 synthase (TXAS) and plasma TXA2, but not prostacyclin, levels, which was also found in our clinical PE placenta samples. The high salt-treated wild-type pregnant mice had shown unchanged maternal body weight, hypertension (MAP increase 15 mmHg), and decreased pup weight (~50%) and size (~24%), but these adverse effects were ameliorated in TXAS knockout (KO) mice. Moreover, increased expression of interleukin-1ß and downstream phosphorylated-p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase were concordant with apoptosis induction in the placentas of salt water-treated wild-type mice. These alterations were not observed in TXAS KO mice. Together, our data suggest that TXA2 depletion has anti-PE effects due to the prevention of hypertension and placental damage through downregulation of the interleukin-1ß pathway.

A Double Negative Loop Comprising ETV6/RUNX1 and MIR181A1 Contributes to Differentiation Block in t(12;21)-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with t(12;21), which results in expression of the ETV6/RUNX1 fusion gene, is the most common chromosomal lesion in precursor-B (pre-B) ALL. We identified 17 microRNAs that were downregulated in ETV6/RUNX1+ compared with ETV6/RUNX1- clinical samples. Among these microRNAs, miR-181a-1 was the most significantly reduced (by ~75%; P < 0.001). Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that ETV6/RUNX1 directly binds the regulatory region of MIR181A1, and knockdown of ETV6/RUNX1 increased miR-181a-1 level. We further showed that miR-181a (functional counterpart of miR-181a-1) could target ETV6/RUNX1 and cause a reduction in the level of the oncoprotein ETV6/RUNX1, cell growth arrest, an increase in apoptosis, and induction of cell differentiation in ETV6/RUNX1+ cell line. Moreover, ectopic expression of miR-181a also resulted in decreased CD10 hyperexpression in ETV6/RUNX1+ primary patient samples. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MIR181A1 and ETV6/RUNX1 regulate each other, and we propose that a double negative loop involving MIR181A1 and ETV6/RUNX1 may contribute to ETV6/RUNX1-driven arrest of differentiation in pre-B ALL.