技术资料

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women diagnosed in the U.S. and worldwide. Obesity increases breast cancer risk without clear underlying molecular mechanisms. Our studies demonstrate that circulating adipose fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP,or FABP4) links obesity-induced dysregulated lipid metabolism and breast cancer risk,thus potentially offering a new target for breast cancer treatment. We immunized FABP4 knockout mice with recombinant human FABP4 and screened hybridoma clones with specific binding to FABP4. The potential effects of antibodies on breast cancer cells in vitro were evaluated using migration,invasion,and limiting dilution assays. Tumor progression in vivo was evaluated in various types of tumorigenesis models including C57BL/6 mice,Balb/c mice,and SCID mice. The phenotype and function of immune cells in tumor microenvironment were characterized with multi-color flow cytometry. Tumor stemness was detected by ALDH assays. To characterize antigen-antibody binding capacity,we determined the dissociation constant of selected anti-FABP4 antibodies via surface plasmon resonance. Further analyses in tumor tissue were performed using 10X Genomics Visium spatial single cell technology. Herein,we report the generation of humanized monoclonal antibodies blocking FABP4 activity for breast cancer treatment in mouse models. One clone,named 12G2,which significantly reduced circulating levels of FABP4 and inhibited mammary tumor growth,was selected for further characterization. After confirming the therapeutic efficacy of the chimeric 12G2 monoclonal antibody consisting of mouse variable regions and human IgG1 constant regions,16 humanized 12G2 monoclonal antibody variants were generated by grafting its complementary determining regions to selected human germline sequences. Humanized V9 monoclonal antibody showed consistent results in inhibiting mammary tumor growth and metastasis by affecting tumor cell mitochondrial metabolism. Our current evidence suggests that targeting FABP4 with humanized monoclonal antibodies may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of breast cancer and possibly other obesity- associated diseases. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-024-01873-y. View Publication

Olanzapine (OLZ) reverses chronic stress-induced anxiety. Chronic stress promotes cancer development via abnormal neuro-endocrine activation. However,how intervention of brain-body interaction reverses chronic stress-induced tumorigenesis remains elusive. Kras LSL−G12D/WT lung cancer model and LLC1 syngeneic tumor model were used to study the effect of OLZ on cancer stemness and anxiety-like behaviors. Cancer stemness was evaluated by qPCR,western-blotting,immunohistology staining and flow-cytometry analysis of stemness markers,and cancer stem-like function was assessed by serial dilution tumorigenesis in mice and extreme limiting dilution analysis in primary tumor cells. Anxiety-like behaviors in mice were detected by elevated plus maze and open field test. Depression-like behaviors in mice were detected by tail suspension test. Anxiety and depression states in human were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Chemo-sensitivity of lung cancer was assessed by in vivo syngeneic tumor model and in vitro CCK-8 assay in lung cancer cell lines. In this study,we found that OLZ reversed chronic stress-enhanced lung tumorigenesis in both Kras LSL−G12D/WT lung cancer model and LLC1 syngeneic tumor model. OLZ relieved anxiety and depression-like behaviors by suppressing neuro-activity in the mPFC and reducing norepinephrine (NE) releasing under chronic stress. NE activated ADRB2-cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway to promote CLOCK transcription,leading to cancer stem-like traits. As such,CLOCK-deficiency or OLZ reverses NE/chronic stress-induced gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in lung cancer. Of note,tumoral CLOCK expression is positively associated with stress status,serum NE level and poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. We identify a new mechanism by which OLZ ameliorates chronic stress-enhanced tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. OLZ suppresses mPFC-NE-CLOCK axis to reverse chronic stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors and lung cancer stemness. Decreased NE-releasing prevents activation of ADRB2-cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway to inhibit CLOCK transcription,thus reversing lung cancer stem-like traits and chemoresistance under chronic stress. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-024-01747-y. View Publication

Hematopoietic aging is associated with decreased hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal capacity and myeloid skewing. We report that culture of bone marrow (BM) HSCs from aged mice with epidermal growth factor (EGF) suppressed myeloid skewing,increased multipotent colony formation,and increased HSC repopulation in primary and secondary transplantation assays. Mice transplanted with aged,EGF-treated HSCs displayed increased donor cell engraftment within BM HSCs and systemic administration of EGF to aged mice increased HSC self-renewal capacity in primary and secondary transplantation assays. Expression of a dominant negative EGFR in Scl/Tal1 + hematopoietic cells caused increased myeloid skewing and depletion of long term-HSCs in 15-month-old mice. EGF treatment decreased DNA damage in aged HSCs and shifted the transcriptome of aged HSCs from genes regulating cell death to genes involved in HSC self-renewal and DNA repair but had no effect on HSC senescence. These data suggest that EGFR signaling regulates the repopulating capacity of aged HSCs. Subject areas: Human physiology,cellular physiology,molecular medicine,stem cells research,functional aspects of cell biology View Publication

Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ),the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB),is the most common coinfection among people living with HIV-1. This coinfection is associated with accelerated HIV-1 disease progression and reduced survival. However,the impact of the HIV-1/TB coinfection on HIV-1 replication and latency in CD4 + T cells remains poorly studied. Using the acellular fraction of tuberculous pleural effusion (TB-PE),we investigated whether viral replication and HIV-1 latency in CD4 + T cells are affected by a TB-associated microenvironment. Our results revealed that TB-PE impaired T cell receptor-dependent cell activation and decreased HIV-1 replication in CD4 + T cells. Moreover,this immunosuppressive TB microenvironment promoted viral latency and inhibited HIV-1 reactivation. This study indicates that the TB-induced immune response may contribute to the persistence of the viral reservoir by silencing HIV-1 expression,allowing the virus to persist undetected by the immune system,and increasing the size of the latent HIV-1 reservoir. Subject areas: Immunology,Virology View Publication

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a disabling side effect of cancer chemotherapy that can often limit treatment options for cancer patients or have life-long neurodegenerative consequences that reduce the patient’s quality of life. CIPN is caused by the detrimental actions of various chemotherapeutic agents on peripheral axons. Currently,there are no approved preventative measures or treatment options for CIPN,highlighting the need for the discovery of novel therapeutics and improving our understanding of disease mechanisms. In this study,we utilized human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motor neurons as a platform to mimic axonal damage after treatment with vincristine,a chemotherapeutic used for the treatment of breast cancers,osteosarcomas,and leukemia. We screened a total of 1902 small molecules for neuroprotective properties in rescuing vincristine-induced axon growth deficits. From our primary screen,we identified 38 hit compounds that were subjected to secondary dose response screens. Six compounds showed favorable pharmacological profiles – AZD7762,A-674563,Blebbistatin,Glesatinib,KW-2449,and Pelitinib,all novel neuroprotectants against vincristine toxicity to neurons. In addition,four of these six compounds also showed efficacy against vincristine-induced growth arrest in human iPSC-derived sensory neurons. In this study,we utilized high-throughput screening of a large library of compounds in a therapeutically relevant assay. We identified several novel compounds that are efficacious in protecting different neuronal subtypes from the toxicity induced by a common chemotherapeutic agent,vincristine which could have therapeutic potential in the clinic. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-024-05340-x. View Publication

Previous studies have shown that aggregated alpha-synuclein (α-s) protein,a key pathological marker of Parkinson’s disease (PD),can propagate between cells,thus participating in disease progression. This prion-like propagation has been widely studied using in vivo and in vitro models,including rodent and human cell cultures. In this study,our focus was on temporal assessment of functional changes during α-s aggregation and propagation in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal cultures and in engineered networks. Here,we report an engineered circular tripartite human neuronal network model in a microfluidic chip integrated with microelectrode arrays (MEAs) as a platform to study functional markers during α-s aggregation and propagation. We observed progressive aggregation of α-s in conventional neuronal cultures and in the exposed (proximal) compartments of circular tripartite networks following exposure to preformed α-s fibrils (PFF). Furthermore,aggregated forms propagated to distal compartments of the circular tripartite networks through axonal transport. We observed impacts of α-s aggregation on both the structure and function of neuronal cells,such as in presynaptic proteins,mitochondrial motility,calcium oscillations and neuronal activity. The model enabled an assessment of the early,middle,and late phases of α-s aggregation and its propagation during a 13-day follow-up period. While our temporal analysis suggested a complex interplay of structural and functional changes during the in vitro propagation of α-s aggregates,further investigation is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Taken together,this study demonstrates the technical potential of our introduced model for conducting in-depth analyses for revealing such mechanisms. Subject terms: Parkinson's disease,Neurological models View Publication

Intestinal epithelial cells line the luminal surface to establish the intestinal barrier,where the cells play essential roles in the digestion of food,absorption of nutrients and water,protection from microbial infections,and maintaining symbiotic interactions with the commensal microbial populations. Maintaining and coordinating all these functions requires tight regulatory signaling,which is essential for intestinal homeostasis and organismal health. Dysfunction of intestinal epithelial cells,indeed,is linked to gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome,inflammatory bowel disease,and gluten-related enteropathies. Emerging evidence suggests that peroxisome metabolic functions are crucial in maintaining intestinal epithelial cell functions and intestinal epithelium regeneration and,therefore,homeostasis. Here,we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which peroxisome metabolism impacts enteric health using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and murine model organisms and clinical samples. We show that peroxisomes control cellular cholesterol,which in turn regulates the conserved yes-associated protein-signaling and contributes to intestinal epithelial structure and epithelial barrier function. Moreover,analysis of intestinal organoid cultures derived from biopsies of patients affected by Crohn’s Disease revealed that the dysregulation of peroxisome number,excessive cellular cholesterol,and inhibition of Yap-signaling are markers of disease and could be novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets for treating Crohn’s Disease. Our studies provided mechanistic insights on peroxisomal signaling in intestinal epithelial cell functions and identified cholesterol as a novel metabolic regulator of yes-associated protein-signaling in tissue homeostasis. Subject terms: Cell biology,Medical research View Publication

Delivering macromolecules across biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier limits their application in vivo. Previous work has demonstrated that Toxoplasma gondii,a parasite that naturally travels from the human gut to the central nervous system (CNS),can deliver proteins to host cells. Here we engineered T. gondii ’s endogenous secretion systems,the rhoptries and dense granules,to deliver multiple large (>100 kDa) therapeutic proteins into neurons via translational fusions to toxofilin and GRA16. We demonstrate delivery in cultured cells,brain organoids and in vivo,and probe protein activity using imaging,pull-down assays,scRNA-seq and fluorescent reporters. We demonstrate robust delivery after intraperitoneal administration in mice and characterize 3D distribution throughout the brain. As proof of concept,we demonstrate GRA16-mediated brain delivery of the MeCP2 protein,a putative therapeutic target for Rett syndrome. By characterizing the potential and current limitations of the system,we aim to guide future improvements that will be required for broader application. Subject terms: Parasitology,Biologics,Synthetic biology View Publication

Hematopoiesis in mammal is a complex and highly regulated process in which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all types of differentiated blood cells. Previous studies have shown that hairy and enhancer of split (HES) repressors are essential regulators of adult HSC development downstream of Notch signaling. In this study,we investigated the role of HES1,a member of HES family,in fetal hematopoiesis using an embryonic hematopoietic specific Hes1 conditional knockout mouse model by using phenotypic flow cytometry,histopathology analysis,and functional in vitro colony forming unit (CFU) assay and in vivo bone marrow transplant (BMT) assay. We found that loss of Hes1 in early embryonic stage leads to smaller embryos and fetal livers,decreases hematopoietic stem progenitor cell (HSPC) pool,results in defective multi-lineage differentiation. Functionally,fetal hematopoietic cells deficient for Hes1 exhibit reduced in vitro progenitor activity and compromised in vivo repopulation capacity in the transplanted recipients. Further analysis shows that fetal hematopoiesis defects in Hes1 fl/fl Flt3Cre embryos are resulted from decreased proliferation and elevated apoptosis,associated with de-repressed HES1 targets,p27 and PTEN in Hes1 -KO fetal HSPCs. Finally,pharmacological inhibition of p27 or PTEN improves fetal HSPCs function both in vitro and in vivo. Together,our findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for HES1 in regulating fetal hematopoiesis,and provide new insight into the differences between fetal and adult HSC maintenance. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-024-03836-8. View Publication

Most studies used animal serum-containing medium for bioengineered-root regeneration,but ethical and safety issues raised by animal serum are a potentially significant risk for clinical use. Thus,this study aimed to find a safer method for bioengineered-root regeneration. The biological properties of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) cultured in animal component-free (ACF) medium or serum-containing medium (5%,10% serum-containing medium,SCM) were compared in vitro . hDPSCs were cultured in a three-dimensional (3D) environment with human-treated dentin matrix (hTDM). The capacity for odontogenesis was compared using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. Subsequently,the hDPSCs/hTDM complexes were transplanted into nude mice subcutaneously. Histological staining was then used to verify the regeneration effect in vivo . ACF medium promoted the migration of hDPSCs,but slightly inhibited the proliferation of hDPSCs in the first three days of culture compared to SCM. However,it had no significant effect on cell aging and apoptosis. After 7 days of 3D culture in ACF medium with hTDM,qPCR showed that DMP1,DSPP,OCN,RUNX2,and β-tubulin III were highly expressed in hDPSCs. In addition,3D cultured hDPSCs/hTDM complexes in ACF medium regenerated dentin,pulp,and periodontal ligament-like tissues similar to SCM groups in vivo . ACF medium was proved to be an alternative medium for bioengineered-root regeneration. The strategy of using ACF medium to regenerate bioengineered-root can improve clinical safety for tooth tissue engineering. View Publication

PU.1 ( SPI1 ) is pivotal in hematopoiesis,yet its role in human endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT) remains unclear. Comparing human in vivo and in vitro EHT transcriptomes revealed SPI1 ’s regulatory role. Knocking down SPI1 during in vitro EHT led to a decrease in the generation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and their differentiation potential. Through multi-omic analysis,we identified KLF1 and LYL1 - transcription factors specific to erythroid/myeloid and lymphoid cells,respectively - as downstream targets of SPI1 . Overexpressing KLF1 or LYL1 partially rescues the SPI1 knockdown-induced reduction in HPC formation. Specifically,KLF1 overexpression restores myeloid lineage potential,while LYL1 overexpression re-establishes lymphoid lineage potential. We also observed a SPI1 - LYL1 axis in the regulatory network in in vivo EHT. Taken together,our findings shed new light on the role of SPI1 in regulating lineage commitment during EHT,potentially contributing to the heterogeneity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Subject areas: Biological sciences,Molecular biology,Molecular interaction,Cell biology; View Publication

Riboflavin transporter deficiency type 2 (RTD2) is a rare neurodegenerative autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the SLC52A2 gene encoding the riboflavin transporters,RFVT2. Riboflavin (Rf) is the precursor of FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) and FMN (flavin mononucleotide),which are involved in different redox reactions,including the energetic metabolism processes occurring in mitochondria. To date,human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have given the opportunity to characterize RTD2 motoneurons,which reflect the most affected cell type. Previous works have demonstrated mitochondrial and peroxisomal altered energy metabolism as well as cytoskeletal derangement in RTD2 iPSCs and iPSC-derived motoneurons. So far,no attention has been dedicated to astrocytes. Here,we demonstrate that in vitro differentiation of astrocytes,which guarantee trophic and metabolic support to neurons,from RTD2 iPSCs is not compromised. These cells do not exhibit evident morphological differences nor significant changes in the survival rate when compared to astrocytes derived from iPSCs of healthy individuals. These findings indicate that differently from what had previously been documented for neurons,RTD2 does not compromise the morpho-functional features of astrocytes. View Publication