Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 736
Filter
1.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 735: 150663, 2024 Sep 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39276521

ABSTRACT

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited targeted therapies and high rates of recurrence. We previously showed that Efp promotes TNBC cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle-related gene expression. Recent studies showed that ZCCHC3 interacts with Efp, promoting Efp signaling in innate immune responses. We here characterize whether ZCCHC3 plays a pathophysiological role in TNBC tumorigenesis. We showed that ZCCHC3 silencing significantly repressed the proliferation of TNBC conventional cultured cells and three-dimensional patient-derived spheroid culture, which we established from a clinical TNBC tissue. RNA-sequencing in TNBC cells defined that "cell division" was a major pathway commonly downregulated by ZCCHC3 and Efp silencing, and NCAPH was a cell division-related gene highly downregulated by ZCCHC3 silencing. In a TNBC cell-derived xenograft model, ZCCHC3-specific siRNA injection successfully reduced in vivo TNBC tumor growth and downregulated NCAPH expression. Overall, our findings demonstrate that ZCCHC3 and Efp coordinately promote TNBC progression by regulating NCAPH expression and that ZCCHC3/Efp/NCAPH pathway can be applied to clinical TNBC management.

2.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(37): e2406854121, 2024 Sep 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39231208

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline and learning/memory impairment associated with neuronal cell loss. Estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) and ERRγ, which are highly expressed in the brain, have emerged as potential AD regulators, with unelucidated underlying mechanisms. Here, we identified genome-wide binding sites for ERRα and ERRγ in human neuronal cells. They commonly target a subset of genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. Notably, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a Wnt signaling pathway antagonist, was transcriptionally repressed by both ERRα and ERRγ in human neuronal cells and brain. ERRα and ERRγ repress RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) accessibility at the DKK1 promoter by modulating a specific active histone modification, histone H3 lysine acetylation (H3K9ac), with the potential contribution of their corepressor. This transcriptional repression maintains Wnt signaling activity, preventing tau phosphorylation and promoting a healthy neuronal state in the context of AD.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Receptors, Estrogen , Animals , Humans , Mice , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Neurons/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism , Receptors, Estrogen/genetics , RNA Polymerase II/metabolism , RNA Polymerase II/genetics , tau Proteins/metabolism , tau Proteins/genetics , Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics
3.
Ophthalmol Sci ; 4(6): 100583, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39263579

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To construct a comprehensive reference database (RDB) for a novel binocular automated perimeter. Design: A four-site prospective randomized clinical trial. Subjects and Controls: Three hundred fifty-six healthy subjects without ocular conditions that might affect visual function were categorized into 7 age groups. Methods: Subjects underwent comprehensive ocular examination of both eyes before enrollment. Using the TEMPO/IMOvifa automated perimeter (Topcon Healthcare/CREWT Medical Systems), each subject completed 4 binocular threshold visual field (VF) tests during a single visit: First, practice 24-2 and 10-2 tests were obtained from both eyes. Next, study 24-2 and 10-2 tests were obtained from both eyes. Test order of each sequence was randomized, and the tests were conducted under standard automated perimetry testing conditions: Goldmann stimulus size III, 3183 cd/m2 maximum stimulus intensity, and background intensity of 10 cd/m2, using AIZE-Rapid test strategy. Standard VF reliability indices were assessed. For each subject, 24-2 and 10-2 test results from 1 randomly selected eye were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: Perimetric threshold sensitivity and reference limits for each test analysis parameter. Results: The ages of the study cohort were widely distributed, with a mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of 52.3 (18.5) years. Sex assignment was 44.0% male and 56.0% female. The majority of subjects self-identified as White (67.4%), followed by Black or African American (13.5%) and Asian (8.7%), with 14.6% self-identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Mean sensitivity (SD) was 29.1 (1.3) decibels (dB) for the 24-2 and 32.4 (1.0) dB for the 10-2 test. For the 24-2 and 10-2, mean sensitivity (SD) age-related changes averaged -0.06 (0.01) dB and -0.05 (0.01) dB per year, respectively. The normal range of pointwise threshold sensitivity increased with eccentricity and showed asymmetry around the mean, particularly notable in the 24-2 test. Mean (SD) binocular test duration was 3.18 (0.38) minutes (1 minute 35 seconds per eye) for the 24-2 test and 3.58 (0.43) minutes (1 minute 47 seconds per eye) for the 10-2 test. Conclusions: An RDB for the TEMPO/IMOvifa perimeter was established, highlighting the significance of considering both age and stimulus eccentricity in interpreting threshold VF test results. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

4.
Antiviral Res ; 229: 105977, 2024 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39089332

ABSTRACT

Rabies is a fatal neurological disorder caused by rabies virus (RABV) infection. Approximately 60,000 patients die from rabies annually, and there are no effective treatments for this disease. Nucleoside analogs are employed as antiviral drugs based on their broad antiviral spectrum, and certain nucleoside analogs have been reported to exhibit anti-RABV activity. The nucleoside analog ß-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) has antiviral effects against a range of RNA viruses. Molnupiravir (MPV), a prodrug of NHC, is clinically used as an oral antiviral drug for coronavirus infections. Despite its broad-spectrum activity, the antiviral activity of NHC against RABV remains unclear. In this study, we reveal that NHC exhibits comparable in vitro anti-RABV activity as ribavirin and favipiravir (also known as T-705) with a 90% effective concentration of 6 µM in mouse neuroblastoma cells. NHC reduced viral loads in neuronal and nonneuronal cells in a dose-dependent manner. Both laboratory and field RABVs (fixed and street strains, respectively) were susceptible to NHC. However, no increase in survival or reduction in viral titers in the brain was observed in RABV-infected mice treated prophylactically with MPV. These findings highlight the potential and challenges of NHC in the treatment of RABV infection.


Subject(s)
Amides , Antiviral Agents , Cytidine , Rabies virus , Rabies , Viral Load , Animals , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Cytidine/analogs & derivatives , Cytidine/pharmacology , Rabies virus/drug effects , Mice , Rabies/drug therapy , Rabies/virology , Amides/pharmacology , Viral Load/drug effects , Pyrazines/pharmacology , Ribavirin/pharmacology , Hydroxylamines/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Line
5.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 18509, 2024 08 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39122768

ABSTRACT

Rabies virus (RABV) is the causative agent of rabies, a lethal neurological disease in mammals. RABV strains can be classified into fixed strains (laboratory strains) and street strains (field/clinical strains), which have different properties including cell tropism and neuroinvasiveness. RABV Toyohashi strain is a street strain isolated in Japan from an imported case which had been bitten by rabid dog in the Philippines. In order to facilitate molecular studies of RABV, we established a reverse genetics (RG) system for the study of the Toyohashi strain. The recombinant virus was obtained from a cDNA clone of Toyohashi strain and exhibited similar growth efficiency as the original virus in cultured cell lines. Both the original and recombinant strains showed similar pathogenicity with high neuroinvasiveness in mice, and the infected mice developed a long and inconsistent incubation period, which is characteristic of street strains. We also generated a recombinant Toyohashi strain expressing viral phosphoprotein (P protein) fused with the fluorescent protein mCherry, and tracked the intracellular dynamics of the viral P protein using live-cell imaging. The presented reverse genetics system for Toyohashi strain will be a useful tool to explore the fundamental molecular mechanisms of the replication of RABV street strains.


Subject(s)
Rabies virus , Rabies , Reverse Genetics , Rabies virus/genetics , Rabies virus/pathogenicity , Animals , Reverse Genetics/methods , Mice , Rabies/virology , Dogs , Humans , Cell Line , Virus Replication/genetics , Philippines
6.
Aging Cell ; : e14316, 2024 Aug 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39155453

ABSTRACT

Dysfunctional RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been implicated in several geriatric diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about the nuclear molecular actions and cooperative functions mediated by RBPs that affect gene regulation in sporadic AD or aging. In the present study, we investigated aging- and AD-associated changes in the expression of PSF and G3BP2, which are representative RBPs associated with sex hormone activity. We determined that both PSF and G3BP2 levels were decreased in aged brains compared to young brains of mice. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of human neuronal cells has shown that PSF is responsible for neuron-specific functions and sustains cell viability. In addition, we showed that PSF interacted with G3BP2 in the nucleus and stress granules (SGs) at the protein level. Moreover, PSF-mediated gene regulation at the RNA level correlated with G3BP2. Interestingly, PSF and G3BP2 target genes are associated with AD development. Mechanistically, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that the interaction of RBPs with the pre-mRNA of target genes enhanced post-transcriptional mRNA stability, suggesting a possible role for these RBPs in preserving neuronal cell viability. Notably, in the brains of patients with sporadic AD, decreased expression of PSF and G3BP2 in neurons was observed compared to non-AD patients. Overall, our findings suggest that the cooperative action of PSF and G3BP2 in the nucleus is important for preventing aging and AD development.

7.
Nagoya J Med Sci ; 86(2): 169-180, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38962407

ABSTRACT

Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors combined with androgen deprivation therapy have become the standard of care for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), regardless of tumor volume or risk. However, survival of approximately one-third of these patients has not improved, necessitating further treatment escalation. On the other hand, for patients with oligometastatic mCSPC, there is an emerging role for local radiation therapy. Although data remain scarce, it is expected that treatment of both primary tumor as well as metastasis-directed therapy may improve survival outcomes. In these patients, systemic therapy may be de-escalated to intermittent therapy. However, precise risk stratification is necessary for risk-based treatment escalation or de-escalation. In addition to risk stratification based on clinical parameters, research has been conducted to incorporate genomic and/or transcriptomic data into risk stratification. In future, an integrated risk model is expected to precisely stratify patients and guide treatment strategies. Here, we first review the transition of the standard treatment for mCSPC over the last decade and further discuss the newest concept of escalating or de-escalating treatment using a multi-modal approach based on the currently available literature.


Subject(s)
Neoplasm Metastasis , Humans , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/therapy , Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy , Androgen Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use
9.
J Pain Symptom Manage ; 68(3): 246-254, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38810949

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Delirium is a significant concern in end-of-life care. Continuous monitoring of agitation levels using objective methods may have advantages over existing measurement scales. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether an objective measure of activity scores measured using a sheet-type non-wearable sensor (Nemuri SCAN [NSCAN]) was correlated with agitation levels measured using the modified Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) in terminally ill patients with cancer. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, prospective, observational study in a palliative care unit using the NSCAN to measure activity scores and the RASS to assess agitation levels. RASS scores were prospectively measured by ward nurses blinded to the NSCAN variables. A database was created to pair the RASS scores and activity scores at night on the same day. RESULTS: During the observation period, 1209 patients were hospitalized, and 3028 pairs of assessments of 971 patients were analyzed. The NSCAN activity scores significantly increased with increasing RASS scores (Jonckheere-Terpstra test, p < 0.001). The mean values of the activity scores for each RASS score were RASS -5, 28.9; RASS -4, 36.4; RASS -3, 41.7; RASS -2, 57.4; RASS -1, 58.8; RASS 0, 62.6; RASS 1, 79.6; RASS 2, 106.5; and RASS 3, 118.7. CONCLUSION: The NSCAN activity significantly correlated with modified RASS agitation scores. Real-time NSCAN data on agitation may aid timely interventions for optimal symptom control. To improve outcomes for patients suffering from terminal delirium, more research on monitoring tools is warranted.


Subject(s)
Delirium , Palliative Care , Psychomotor Agitation , Humans , Delirium/diagnosis , Male , Female , Prospective Studies , Aged , Middle Aged , Palliative Care/methods , Terminal Care , Terminally Ill , Neoplasms/complications , Aged, 80 and over , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation
10.
Viruses ; 16(5)2024 04 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38793581

ABSTRACT

Rabies is a fatal encephalitic infectious disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV). RABV is highly neurotropic and replicates in neuronal cell lines in vitro. The RABV fixed strain, HEP-Flury, was produced via passaging in primary chicken embryonic fibroblast cells. HEP-Flury showed rapid adaptation when propagated in mouse neuroblastoma (MNA) cells. In this study, we compared the growth of our previously constructed recombinant HEP (rHEP) strain-based on the sequence of the HEP (HEP-Flury) strain-with that of the original HEP strain. The original HEP strain exhibited higher titer than rHEP and a single substitution at position 80 in the matrix (M) protein M(D80N) after incubation in MNA cells, which was absent in rHEP. In vivo, intracerebral inoculation of the rHEP-M(D80N) strain with this substitution resulted in enhanced viral growth in the mouse brain and a significant loss of body weight in the adult mice. The number of viral antigen-positive cells in the brains of adult mice inoculated with the rHEP-M(D80N) strain was significantly higher than that with the rHEP strain at 5 days post-inoculation. Our findings demonstrate that a single amino acid substitution in the M protein M(D80N) is associated with neurovirulence in mice owing to adaptation to mouse neuronal cells.


Subject(s)
Amino Acid Substitution , Rabies virus , Rabies , Viral Matrix Proteins , Virulence , Animals , Mice , Brain/virology , Cell Line , Neurons/virology , Neurons/pathology , Rabies/virology , Rabies virus/genetics , Rabies virus/pathogenicity , Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics , Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolism , Virulence/genetics , Virus Replication
11.
BMC Cancer ; 24(1): 554, 2024 May 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38698344

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has proven effective in targeting prostate cancer. However, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) eventually emerges. AR signaling inhibitors (ARSI) have been also used, but resistance to these agents develops due to genetic AR alterations and epigenetic dysregulation. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the role of OCT1, a member of the OCT family, in an AR-positive CRPC patient-derived xenograft established from a patient with resistance to ARSI and chemotherapy. We conducted a genome-wide analysis chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing and bioinformatic analyses using public database. RESULTS: Genome-wide analysis of OCT1 target genes in PDX 201.1 A revealed distinct OCT1 binding sites compared to treatment-naïve cells. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that OCT1-regulated genes were associated with cell migration and immune system regulation. In particular, C-terminal Binding Protein 2 (CTBP2), an OCT1/AR target gene, was correlated with poor prognosis and immunosuppressive effects in the tumor microenvironment. Metascape revealed that CTBP2 knockdown affects genes related to the immune response to bacteria. Furthermore, TISIDB analysis suggested the relationship between CTBP2 expression and immune cell infiltration in prostate cancer, suggesting that it may contribute to immune evasion in CRPC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings shed light on the genome-wide network of OCT1 and AR in AR-positive CRPC and highlight the potential role of CTBP2 in immune response and tumor progression. Targeting CTBP2 may represent a promising therapeutic approach for aggressive AR-positive CRPC. Further validation will be required to explore novel therapeutic strategies for CRPC management.


Subject(s)
Alcohol Oxidoreductases , Co-Repressor Proteins , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Octamer Transcription Factor-1 , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Receptors, Androgen , Male , Humans , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/metabolism , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Mice , Animals , Octamer Transcription Factor-1/metabolism , Octamer Transcription Factor-1/genetics , Alcohol Oxidoreductases/genetics , Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Up-Regulation , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Tumor Microenvironment , Signal Transduction
12.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 12559, 2024 05 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38822013

ABSTRACT

Rabies virus (RABV) causes fatal neurological disease. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using inactivated-virus vaccines are the most effective measures to prevent rabies. In Japan, HEP-Flury, the viral strain, used as a human rabies vaccine, has historically been propagated in primary fibroblast cells derived from chicken embryos. In the present study, to reduce the cost and labor of vaccine production, we sought to adapt the original HEP-Flury (HEP) to Vero cells. HEP was repeatedly passaged in Vero cells to generate ten- (HEP-10V) and thirty-passaged (HEP-30V) strains. Both HEP-10V and HEP-30V grew significantly better than HEP in Vero cells, with virulence and antigenicity similar to HEP. Comparison of the complete genomes with HEP revealed three non-synonymous mutations in HEP-10V and four additional non-synonymous mutations in HEP-30V. Comparison among 18 recombinant HEP strains constructed by reverse genetics and vesicular stomatitis viruses pseudotyped with RABV glycoproteins indicated that the substitution P(L115H) in the phosphoprotein and G(S15R) in the glycoprotein improved viral propagation in HEP-10V, while in HEP-30V, G(V164E), G(L183P), and G(A286V) in the glycoprotein enhanced entry into Vero cells. The obtained recombinant RABV strain, rHEP-PG4 strain, with these five substitutions, is a strong candidate for production of human rabies vaccine.


Subject(s)
Amino Acid Substitution , Rabies Vaccines , Rabies virus , Animals , Vero Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Rabies Vaccines/genetics , Rabies Vaccines/immunology , Rabies virus/genetics , Rabies virus/immunology , Humans , Rabies/prevention & control , Rabies/virology , Genome, Viral
13.
Development ; 151(8)2024 Apr 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38657972

ABSTRACT

Advances in fluorescence microscopy and tissue-clearing have revolutionised 3D imaging of fluorescently labelled tissues, organs and embryos. However, the complexity and high cost of existing software and computing solutions limit their widespread adoption, especially by researchers with limited resources. Here, we present Acto3D, an open-source software, designed to streamline the generation and analysis of high-resolution 3D images of targets labelled with multiple fluorescent probes. Acto3D provides an intuitive interface for easy 3D data import and visualisation. Although Acto3D offers straightforward 3D viewing, it performs all computations explicitly, giving users detailed control over the displayed images. Leveraging an integrated graphics processing unit, Acto3D deploys all pixel data to system memory, reducing visualisation latency. This approach facilitates accurate image reconstruction and efficient data processing in 3D, eliminating the need for expensive high-performance computers and dedicated graphics processing units. We have also introduced a method for efficiently extracting lumen structures in 3D. We have validated Acto3D by imaging mouse embryonic structures and by performing 3D reconstruction of pharyngeal arch arteries while preserving fluorescence information. Acto3D is a cost-effective and efficient platform for biological research.


Subject(s)
Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Software , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods , Animals , Mice , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods , Optical Imaging/methods , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Embryo, Mammalian/diagnostic imaging
14.
Cell Rep Med ; 5(5): 101526, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38670095

ABSTRACT

The efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cell therapy is suboptimal in most cancers, necessitating further improvement in their therapeutic actions. However, enhancing antitumor T cell response inevitably confers an increased risk of cytokine release syndrome associated with monocyte-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6). Thus, an approach to simultaneously enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety is warranted. Here, we develop a chimeric cytokine receptor composed of the extracellular domains of GP130 and IL6RA linked to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain of IL-7R mutant that constitutively activates the JAK-STAT pathway (G6/7R or G6/7R-M452L). CAR-T cells with G6/7R efficiently absorb and degrade monocyte-derived IL-6 in vitro. The G6/7R-expressing CAR-T cells show superior expansion and persistence in vivo, resulting in durable antitumor response in both liquid and solid tumor mouse models. Our strategy can be widely applicable to CAR-T cell therapy to enhance its efficacy and safety, irrespective of the target antigen.


Subject(s)
Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Interleukin-6 , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , T-Lymphocytes , Animals , Humans , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Interleukin-6/immunology , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Mice , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cytokine Receptor gp130/metabolism , Neoplasms/immunology , Neoplasms/therapy , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Receptors, Cytokine/metabolism , Receptors, Cytokine/genetics , Receptors, Interleukin-6/metabolism , Receptors, Interleukin-7/metabolism
15.
RNA Biol ; 21(1): 1-17, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38551131

ABSTRACT

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play crucial roles in the functions and homoeostasis of various tissues by regulating multiple events of RNA processing including RNA splicing, intracellular RNA transport, and mRNA translation. The Drosophila behavior and human splicing (DBHS) family proteins including PSF/SFPQ, NONO, and PSPC1 are ubiquitously expressed RBPs that contribute to the physiology of several tissues. In mammals, DBHS proteins have been reported to contribute to neurological diseases and play crucial roles in cancers, such as prostate, breast, and liver cancers, by regulating cancer-specific gene expression. Notably, in recent years, multiple small molecules targeting DBHS family proteins have been developed for application as cancer therapeutics. This review provides a recent overview of the functions of DBHS family in physiology and pathophysiology, and discusses the application of DBHS family proteins as promising diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancers.


Subject(s)
Drosophila , Neoplasms , Male , Animals , Humans , Drosophila/genetics , Drosophila/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , RNA Splicing , RNA/metabolism , Neoplasms/genetics , PTB-Associated Splicing Factor/metabolism , Mammals/genetics
16.
Int Immunol ; 36(7): 353-364, 2024 Jun 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38517027

ABSTRACT

The efficient generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is highly influenced by the quality of apheresed T cells. Healthy donor-derived T cells usually proliferate better than patients-derived T cells and are precious resources to generate off-the-shelf CAR-T cells. However, relatively little is known about the determinants that affect the efficient generation of CAR-T cells from healthy donor-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared with those from the patients' own PBMCs. We here examined the efficiency of CAR-T cell generation from multiple healthy donor samples and analyzed its association with the phenotypic features of the starting peripheral blood T cells. We found that CD62L expression levels within CD8+ T cells were significantly correlated with CAR-T cell expansion. Moreover, high CD62L expression within naïve T cells was associated with the efficient expansion of T cells with a stem cell-like memory phenotype, an indicator of high-quality infusion products. Intriguingly, genetic disruption of CD62L significantly impaired CAR-T cell proliferation and cytokine production upon antigen stimulation. Conversely, ectopic expression of a shedding-resistant CD62L mutant augmented CAR-T cell effector functions compared to unmodified CAR-T cells, resulting in improved antitumor activity in vivo. Collectively, we identified the surface expression of CD62L as a concise indicator of potent T-cell proliferation. CD62L expression is also associated with the functional properties of CAR-T cells. These findings are potentially applicable to selecting optimal donors to massively generate CAR-T cell products.


Subject(s)
Immunotherapy, Adoptive , L-Selectin , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , L-Selectin/metabolism , L-Selectin/immunology , Humans , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism , Animals , Mice , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Cell Proliferation
17.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 2192, 2024 Mar 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38467634

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the worst prognosis of all cancers. To improve PDAC therapy, we establish screening systems based on organoid and co-culture technologies and find a payload of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), a bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein degrader named EBET. We select CEACAM6/CD66c as an ADC target and developed an antibody, #84.7, with minimal reactivity to CEACAM6-expressing normal cells. EBET-conjugated #84.7 (84-EBET) has lethal effects on various PDAC organoids and bystander efficacy on CEACAM6-negative PDAC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts. In mouse studies, a single injection of 84-EBET induces marked tumor regression in various PDAC-patient-derived xenografts, with a decrease in the inflammatory phenotype of stromal cells and without significant body weight loss. Combination with standard chemotherapy or PD-1 antibody induces more profound and sustained regression without toxicity enhancement. Our preclinical evidence demonstrates potential efficacy by delivering BET protein degrader to PDAC and its microenvironment via CEACAM6-targeted ADC.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Immunoconjugates , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Mice , Animals , Immunoconjugates/pharmacology , Immunoconjugates/therapeutic use , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Tumor Microenvironment , Antigens, CD , Cell Adhesion Molecules , GPI-Linked Proteins
18.
Inflamm Regen ; 44(1): 13, 2024 Mar 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38468282

ABSTRACT

Adoptive immunotherapy, in which tumor-reactive T cells are prepared in vitro for adoptive transfer to the patient, can induce an objective clinical response in specific types of cancer. In particular, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T-cell therapy has shown robust responses in hematologic malignancies. However, its efficacy against most of the other tumors is still insufficient, which remains an unmet medical need. Accumulating evidence suggests that modifying specific genes can enhance antitumor T-cell properties. Epigenetic factors have been particularly implicated in the remodeling of T-cell functions, including changes to dysfunctional states such as terminal differentiation and exhaustion. Genetic ablation of key epigenetic molecules prevents the dysfunctional reprogramming of T cells and preserves their functional properties.Clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas)-based gene editing is a valuable tool to enable efficient and specific gene editing in cultured T cells. A number of studies have already identified promising targets to improve the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T cells using genome-wide or focused CRISPR screening. In this review, we will present recent representative findings on molecular insights into T-cell dysfunction and how genetic modification contributes to overcoming it. We will also discuss several technical advances to achieve efficient gene modification using the CRISPR and other novel platforms.

19.
Surg Neurol Int ; 15: 40, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38468660

ABSTRACT

Background: In the treatment of giant cerebral aneurysms with flow-diverting stents, access to the distal parent artery is critical but occasionally challenging. This article provides our experience with a novel steerable microcatheter in such a situation, as well as a review of the literature. Case Description: A 73-year-old woman presented with right ptosis and external ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a giant right cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm. Endovascular treatment was planned with flow diversion, but distal access was not possible using the standard technique. A 2.4-Fr steerable microcatheter, Leonis Mova Selective, was implemented, and by bending the catheter tip toward the distal parent artery, a guidewire could be guided distally. After the catheter exchange, two flow-diverting stents were deployed successfully. Conclusion: Steerable microcatheters may provide an option in treatment with flow-diverting stents for giant cerebral aneurysms where access to the distal parent artery is compromised.

20.
Int J Urol ; 31(6): 590-597, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38345202

ABSTRACT

Androgen deprivation therapy has achieved significant success in treating prostate cancer through strategies centered on the androgen receptor. However, the emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer highlights this therapy limitation, underscoring the need to elucidate the mechanisms of treatment resistance. This review aimed to focus on multifaceted resistance mechanisms, including androgen receptor overexpression, splice variants, missense mutations, the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor, and alterations in coregulators and transcription factors, revealing their roles in castration-resistant prostate cancer progression. These mechanisms promote cell survival and proliferation, depending on the androgen receptor signaling pathway, leading to resistance to conventional therapies. Amplification and mutations in the androgen receptor gene facilitate selective adaptation in treatment-resistant cells, consequently diminishing therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the activation of glucocorticoid receptors and aberrant regulation of specific coregulators and transcription factors contribute to the activation of androgen receptor-independent signaling pathways, promoting cell survival and proliferation. These findings hold promise for identifying new targets for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer and developing personalized treatment strategies. The development of future therapies will hinge on precisely targeting the androgen receptor signaling pathway, necessitating a deeper understanding of the molecular targets unique to castration-resistant prostate cancer.


Subject(s)
Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Receptors, Androgen , Signal Transduction , Humans , Male , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Cell Proliferation , Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL