技术资料

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy targeting CD19 has yielded remarkable outcomes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To identify potential CAR targets in acute myeloid leukemia (AML),we probed the AML surfaceome for overexpressed molecules with tolerable systemic expression. We integrated large transcriptomics and proteomics datasets from malignant and normal tissues,and developed an algorithm to identify potential targets expressed in leukemia stem cells,but not in normal CD34+CD38- hematopoietic cells,T cells,or vital tissues. As these investigations did not uncover candidate targets with a profile as favorable as CD19,we developed a generalizable combinatorial targeting strategy fulfilling stringent efficacy and safety criteria. Our findings indicate that several target pairings hold great promise for CAR therapy of AML. View Publication

Differentiation of totipotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to various lymphohematopoietic cells is an in vitro model of the hematopoietic cell development during embryogenesis. To understand this process at cellular levels,differentiation intermediates were investigated. ES cells generated progeny expressing CD34,which was significantly enhanced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The isolated CD34+ cells were enriched for myeloid colony-forming cells but not significantly for erythroid colony-forming cells. When cultured on OP9 stroma cells in the presence of interleukin-2 and interleukin-7,the CD34+ cells developed two types of B220+ CD34- lymphocytes: CD3- cytotoxic lymphocytes and CD19+ pre-B cells,and such lymphoid potential was highly enriched in the CD34+ population. Interestingly,the cytotoxic cells expressed the natural killer (NK) cell markers,such as NKR-P1,perforin,and granzymes,classified into two types,one of which showed target specificity of NK cells. Thus,ES cells have potential to generate NK-type cytotoxic lymphocytes in vitro in addition to erythro-myeloid cells and pre-B cells,and both myeloid and lymphoid cells seem to be derived from the CD34+ intermediate,on which VEGF may play an important role. View Publication

An efficient system was developed that induced the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into blood cells of erythroid,myeloid,and B cell lineages by coculture with the stromal cell line OP9. This cell line does not express functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The presence of M-CSF had inhibitory effects on the differentiation of ES cells to blood cells other than macrophages. Embryoid body formation or addition of exogenous growth factors was not required,and differentiation was highly reproducible even after the selection of ES cells with the antibiotic G418. Combined with the ability to genetically manipulate ES cells,this system will facilitate the study of molecular mechanisms involved in development and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. View Publication

Erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor are expressed in a wide variety of tissues,including the central nervous system. Local expression of both EPO and its receptor is upregulated upon injury or stress and plays a role in tissue homeostasis and cytoprotection. High-dose systemic administration or local injection of recombinant human EPO has demonstrated encouraging results in several models of tissue protection and organ injury,while poor tissue availability of the protein limits its efficacy. Here,we describe the discovery and characterization of the nonpeptidyl compound STS-E412 (2-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)ethoxy]-5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine),which selectively activates the tissue-protective EPO receptor,comprising an EPO receptor subunit (EPOR) and the common β-chain (CD131). STS-E412 triggered EPO receptor phosphorylation in human neuronal cells. STS-E412 also increased phosphorylation of EPOR,CD131,and the EPO-associated signaling molecules JAK2 and AKT in HEK293 transfectants expressing EPOR and CD131. At low nanomolar concentrations,STS-E412 provided EPO-like cytoprotective effects in primary neuronal cells and renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. The receptor selectivity of STS-E412 was confirmed by a lack of phosphorylation of the EPOR/EPOR homodimer,lack of activity in off-target selectivity screening,and lack of functional effects in erythroleukemia cell line TF-1 and CD34(+) progenitor cells. Permeability through artificial membranes and Caco-2 cell monolayers in vitro and penetrance across the blood-brain barrier in vivo suggest potential for central nervous system availability of the compound. To our knowledge,STS-E412 is the first nonpeptidyl,selective activator of the tissue-protective EPOR/CD131 receptor. Further evaluation of the potential of STS-E412 in central nervous system diseases and organ protection is warranted. View Publication

Without effective therapy,chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) evolves into an acute leukemia (blast crisis [BC]) that displays either myeloid or B-lymphoid characteristics. This transition is often preceded by a clinically recognized,but biologically poorly characterized,accelerated phase (AP). Here,we report that IKAROS protein is absent or reduced in bone marrow blasts from most CML patients with advanced myeloid disease (AP or BC). This contrasts with primitive CP-CML cells and BCR-ABL1-negative acute myeloid leukemia blasts,which express readily detectable IKAROS. To investigate whether loss of IKAROS contributes to myeloid disease progression in CP-CML,we examined the effects of forced expression of a dominant-negative isoform of IKAROS (IK6) in CP-CML patients' CD34(+) cells. We confirmed that IK6 disrupts IKAROS activity in transduced CP-CML cells and showed that it confers on them features of AP-CML,including a prolonged increased output in vitro and in xenografted mice of primitive cells with an enhanced ability to differentiate into basophils. Expression of IK6 in CD34(+) CP-CML cells also led to activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 and transcriptional repression of its negative regulators. These findings implicate loss of IKAROS as a frequent step and potential diagnostic harbinger of progressive myeloid disease in CML patients. View Publication

Despite the fact that glucocorticoids and long acting beta agonists are effective treatments for asthma,their effects on human mast cells (MC) appear to be modest. Although MC are one of the major effector cells in the underlying inflammatory reactions associated with asthma,their regulation by these drugs is not yet fully understood and,in some cases,controversial. Using a human immortalized MC line (LAD2),we studied the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SM),on the release of early and late phase mediators. LAD2 cells were pretreated with FP (100 nM),SM (1 µM),alone and in combination,at various incubation times and subsequently stimulated with agonists substance P,C3a and IgE/anti-IgE. Degranulation was measured by the release of β-hexosaminidase. Cytokine and chemokine expression were measured using quantitative PCR,ELISA and cytometric bead array (CBA) assays. The combination of FP and SM synergistically inhibited degranulation of MC stimulated with substance P (33% inhibition compared to control,n = 3,P>05). Degranulation was inhibited by FP alone,but not SM,when MC were stimulated with C3a (48% inhibition,n = 3,P>05). As previously reported,FP and SM did not inhibit degranulation when MC were stimulated with IgE/anti-IgE. FP and SM in combination inhibited substance P-induced release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF),CCL2,and CXCL8 (98%,99% and 92% inhibition,respectively,n = 4,P>05). Fluticasone and salmeterol synergistically inhibited mediator production by human MC stimulated with the neuropeptide substance P. This synergistic effect on mast cell signaling may be relevant to the therapeutic benefit of combination therapy in asthma. View Publication