A CRISPR/Cas12a-empowered surface plasmon resonance platform for rapid and specific diagnosis of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was partially due to the challenge of identifying asymptomatic and presymptomatic carriers of the virus, and thus highlights a strong motivation for diagnostics with high sensitivity that can be rapidly deployed. On the other hand, several concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, are required to be identified as soon as the samples are identified as 'positive'. Unfortunately, a traditional PCR test does not allow their specific identification. Herein, for the first time, we have developed MOPCS (Methodologies of Photonic CRISPR Sensing), which combines an optical sensing technology-surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with the 'gene scissors' clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technique to achieve both high sensitivity and specificity when it comes to measurement of viral variants. MOPCS is a low-cost, CRISPR/Cas12a-system-empowered SPR gene-detecting platform that can analyze viral RNA, without the need for amplification, within 38 min from sample input to results output, and achieve a limit of detection of 15 fM. MOPCS achieves a highly sensitive analysis of SARS-CoV-2, and mutations appear in variants B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.1.529 (Omicron) and BA.1 (a subtype of Omicron). This platform was also used to analyze some recently collected patient samples from a local outbreak in China, identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This innovative CRISPR-empowered SPR platform will further contribute to the fast, sensitive and accurate detection of target nucleic acid sequences with single-base mutations.

CRISPR-Cas12a-Empowered Electrochemical Biosensor for Rapid and Ultrasensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The gold standard method for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 depends on quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction till now, which is time-consuming and requires expensive instrumentation, and the confirmation of variants relies on further sequencing techniques. Herein, we first proposed a robust technique-methodology of electrochemical CRISPR sensing with the advantages of rapid, highly sensitivity and specificity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variant. To enhance the sensing capability, gold electrodes are uniformly decorated with electro-deposited gold nanoparticles. Using DNA template identical to SARS-CoV-2 Delta spike gene sequence as model, our biosensor exhibits excellent analytical detection limit (50 fM) and high linearity (R2 = 0.987) over six orders of magnitude dynamic range from 100 fM to 10 nM without any nucleic-acid-amplification assays. The detection can be completed within 1 h with high stability and specificity which benefits from the CRISPR-Cas system. Furthermore, based on the wireless micro-electrochemical platform, the proposed biosensor reveals promising application ability in point-of-care testing.

Intracellular hydroxyproline imprinting following resolution of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with few treatment options. The poor success in developing anti-IPF strategies has impelled researchers to reconsider the importance of the choice of animal model and assessment methodologies. Currently, it is still not settled whether the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mouse model finally returns to resolution. METHODS: This study aimed to follow the dynamic fibrotic features of bleomycin-treated mouse lungs over extended durations through a combination of the latest technologies (micro-computed tomography imaging and histological detection of degraded collagens) and traditional methods. In addition, we also applied immunohistochemistry to explore the distribution of all hydroxyproline-containing molecules. RESULTS: As determined by classical biochemical methods, total lung hydroxyproline contents reached a peak at 4 weeks after bleomycin injury and maintained a steady high level thereafter until the end of the experiments (16 weeks). This result seemed to partially contradict with the changes of other fibrosis evaluation parameters, which indicated a gradual degradation of collagens and a recovery of lung aeration after the fibrosis peak. This inconsistency was well reconciled by our data from immunostaining against hydroxyproline and fluorescent peptide staining against degraded collagen, together showing large amounts of hydroxyproline-rich degraded collagen fragments detained and enriched within the intracellular regions at 10 or 16 weeks rather than at 4 weeks after bleomycin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our present data not only offer respiratory researchers a new perspective towards the resolution nature of mouse lung fibrosis, but also remind them to be cautious when using the hydroxyproline content assay to evaluate the severity of fibrosis.

Targeting of Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2) Prevents Myofibroblast Activation and Neovessel Formation During Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal human disease with short survival time and few treatment options. Herein, we demonstrated that discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), a receptor tyrosine kinase that predominantly transduces signals from fibrillar collagens, plays a critical role in the induction of fibrosis and angiogenesis in the lung. In vitro cell studies showed that DDR2 can synergize the actions of both transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and fibrillar collagen to stimulate lung fibroblasts to undergo myofibroblastic changes and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. In addition, we confirmed that late treatment of the injured mice with specific siRNA against DDR2 or its kinase inhibitor exhibited therapeutic efficacy against lung fibrosis. Thus, this study not only elucidated novel mechanisms by which DDR2 controls the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but also provided candidate target for the intervention of this stubborn disease.

[Suppression of E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b in interleukin-1 signaling].

The present study aims to investigate the effect of Cbl-b, a member of E3 ubiquitin ligase family, on interleukin-1 (IL-1) pathway in synoviocytes. The protein expression levels of Cbl-b and IL-1-induced matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in synoviocytes were analyzed by Western blot. Collagen substrates were incubated with the conditioned medium collected from synoviocytes cultures and then subjected to SDS-PAGE for analysis of collagen degradation. The results showed that compared with wild-type cells, Cbl-b-deficient cells expressed more MMP-13 protein and had enhanced ability to degrade collagens under IL-1 stimulation. These data suggest that Cbl-b may negatively regulate IL-1-triggered degradation of collagen matrix in synoviocytes.

[The attachment manner of ubiquitin to proinflammatory molecule discoidin domain receptor 2].

OBJECTIVE: To understand which lysine (K) residue in ubiquitin (Ub) is used to form a poly-Ubs chain on discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2). METHODS: The constructs encoding human DDR2 and Cbl-b were transiently transfected into HEK293T cells together with the Ub mutants with lysine mutation at different sites, and the transfected cells were stimulated with collagens in order to induce the activation of DDR2. Immunoprecipitation was performed to isolate DDR2, and the immunoprecipitates were then subjected to immunoblot analysis for the conjugation of DDR2 with Ub. RESULTS: Ub K27-only mutant displayed the strongest poly-Ub chain formation on DDR2, while Ub K33-only mutant exhibited weak ability to be conjugated with DDR2. These findings were further confirmed by Ub K27R and K33R mutants, which reduced DDR2 polyubiquitination. CONCLUSION: DDR2 is linked to a polyUb chain predominantly through K27 conjugation and slightly through K33.

Ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b acts as a negative regulator in discoidin domain receptor 2 signaling via modulation of its stability.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), a collagen receptor tyrosine kinase, initiates signal transduction upon collagen binding, but little is known as to how DDR2 signaling is negatively regulated. Herein we demonstrate that Cbl family member Cbl-b predominantly promotes the ubiquitination of DDR2 upon collagen II stimulation. Cbl-b-mediated ubiquitination accelerates the degradation of activated DDR2. Finally, the production of MMP-13, a downstream target of DDR2, is enhanced in Cbl-b-knocked down MC3T3-E1 cells and Cbl-b-deficient mouse primary synovial fibroblasts. Thus, Cbl-b, by promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of DDR2, functions as a negative regulator in the DDR2 signaling pathway.

A host deficiency of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) inhibits both tumour angiogenesis and metastasis.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is a unique receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that signals in response to collagen binding and is implicated in tumour malignant phenotypes such as invasion and metastasis. Although it has been reported that DDR2 expression is up-regulated in activated endothelial cells (ECs), functional studies are lacking. Herein, we found that enforced expression of DDR2 promoted proliferation, migration and tube formation of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results of immunohistochemical analysis showed a strikingly high level of DDR2 in human tumour ECs. Most significantly, we discovered that a host deficiency of DDR2 inhibits subcutaneous angiogenesis induced by either VEGF or tumour cells. In addition, the remaining tumour vessels in DDR2-deficient mice exhibit some normalized properties. These vascular phenotypes are accompanied by the up-regulation of anti-angiogenic genes and down-regulation of pro-angiogenic genes, as well as by alleviated tumour hypoxia. By use of a tail vein metastasis model of melanoma, we uncovered that loss of stromal DDR2 also suppresses tumour metastasis to the lung. Hence, our current data disclose a new mechanism by which DDR2 affects tumour progression, and may strengthen the feasibility of targeting DDR2 as an anticancer strategy.

An essential role of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in osteoblast differentiation and chondrocyte maturation via modulation of Runx2 activation.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) belongs to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family and is activated by collagen binding. Although the bone defects in Ddr2 null mice have been reported for a decade, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study sought to investigate the function and detailed mechanism of DDR2 in osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Herein we found that in preosteoblastic cells, DDR2 activation was enhanced by osteogenic induction but was not paralleled with the alteration of DDR2 expression. Under differentiated condition, downregulation of endogenous DDR2 through specific shRNA dramatically repressed osteoblastic marker gene expression and osteogenic differentiation. Enforced expression of constitutively activated DDR2 increased the expression of bone markers in both undifferentiated and differentiated osteoblasts. Importantly, molecular evidence showed that DDR2 regulated the transactivity of Runx2, a master transcription factor involved in skeletal development, by modulating its phosphorylation. Analysis of candidate protein kinases indicated that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation is responsive to DDR2 signaling and involved in DDR2 regulation of Runx2 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity. Notably, a gain-of-function mutant of Runx2 with enhanced ERK-independent phosphorylation rescued the impaired osteogenic phenotypes observed in Ddr2-silenced cells, whereas a Runx2 mutant devoid of phosphorylation regulation by ERK inhibited DDR2 induction of osteogenesis. In addition, DDR2 facilitated Runx2 transactivation and type X collagen expression in hypertrophic chondrocytes. Thus this study reveals for the first time that DDR2 plays an essential role in osteoblast and chondrocyte differentiation. The mechanism disclosure may provide therapeutic targets for human genetic disorders caused by DDR2 deficiency.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 is associated with the increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 in synovial fibroblasts of rheumatoid arthritis.

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) by collagen matrix in the synovial fibroblasts of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is critical event in the progressive joint destruction. Our previous study indicated that a collagen receptor, discoidin receptor 2 (DDR2), was highly expressed in the synovial fibroblasts of RA. However, the functional role of DDR2 in the regulation of MMP-13 production in synovial fibroblasts has not been elucidated. In this study, we initially demonstrated that the DDR2 and MMP-13 proteins are both highly expressed in the synovial lining layer of RA. MMP-13 mRNA and protein in synovial fibroblasts of RA were preferentially induced by collagen type II compared with MMP-1. Furthermore, stable overexpression of wild type DDR2 in murine synoviocytes dramatically augments the production of MMP-13. The activation of DDR2 also mediates the up-regulation of MMP-13 promoter activity in 293T cells. Inhibitor specific for extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK MAPK) cascade was shown to decrease MMP-13 level induced by collagen II in RA synovial fibroblasts and DDR2-induced MMP-13 promoter activity. Runx2 and activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding sites in MMP-13 promoter region are required for DDR2-induced transcription. The data in this study suggest that DDR2-mediated MMP-13 induction by collagen matrix in synovial fibroblasts of RA contributed to articular cartilage destruction.

Fusion expression of DDR2 extracellular domain in insect cells and its purification and function characterization.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is a kind of protein tyrosine kinases associated with cell proliferation and tumor metastasis, and collagen, a ligand for DDR2, up-regulates matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and MMP-2 expression in extracellular matrix (ECM). To investigate the role of DDR2 in cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we expressed the extracellular domain (ECD) of DDR2 (without signal peptide and transmembrane domain, designated DR) in insect cells, purified and characterized DR, hoping to use it as a specific antagonist of DDR2. By using Bac-To-Bac Expression System with a His tag, we successfully obtained the recombinant bacularvirus containing DDR2 ECD, purified it and characterized its function. The soluble fraction of DR was about 12% of the total fused protein. After chromatographic purification, DR with 92% purity was obtained. Competitive inhibition assay demonstrated that DR blocked the binding between DDR2 and natural DDR2 receptors on NIH3T3 and synovial cells. Results of RT-PCR, Western blotting, and gelatinase zymography showed that DR was capable of inhibiting MMP-1 and MMP-2 secretion from NIH3T3 and RA synoviocytes stimulated by collagen II. For MMP-1, inhibition was displayed at the levels of mRNA and protein, whereas for MMP-2 it was at the level of protein. These findings suggested that the expressed DR inhibited the activity of natural DDR2 and relevant MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression in RA synoviocytes and NIH3T3 cells provoked by collagen II.