技术资料

Shifts in cellular metabolic phenotypes have the potential to cause disease-driving processes in respiratory disease. The respiratory epithelium is particularly susceptible to metabolic shifts in disease,but our understanding of these processes is limited by the incompatibility of the technology required to measure metabolism in real-time with the cell culture platforms used to generate differentiated respiratory epithelial cell types. Thus,to date,our understanding of respiratory epithelial metabolism has been restricted to that of basal epithelial cells in submerged culture,or via indirect end point metabolomics readouts in lung tissue. Here we present a novel methodology using the widely available Seahorse Analyzer platform to monitor real-time changes in the cellular metabolism of fully differentiated primary human airway epithelial cells grown at air-liquid interface (ALI). We show increased glycolytic,but not mitochondrial,ATP production rates in response to physiologically relevant increases in glucose availability. We also show that pharmacological inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase is able to reduce glucose-induced shifts toward aerobic glycolysis. This method is timely given the recent advances in our understanding of new respiratory epithelial subtypes that can only be observed in vitro through culture at ALI and will open new avenues to measure real-time metabolic changes in healthy and diseased respiratory epithelium,and in turn the potential for the development of novel therapeutics targeting metabolic-driven disease phenotypes. View Publication

Extremely premature infants are prone to severe respiratory infections,and the mechanisms underlying this exceptional susceptibility are largely unknown. Nasal epithelial cells (NEC) represent the first-line of defense and adult-derived ALI cell culture models show promising results in mimicking in vivo physiology. Therefore,the aim of this study was to develop a robust and reliable protocol for generating well-differentiated cell culture models from NECs of extremely premature infants. Nasal brushing was performed in 13 extremely premature infants at term corrected age and in 11 healthy adult controls to obtain NECs for differentiation at air-liquid interface (ALI). Differentiation was verified using imaging and functional analysis. Successful isolation and differentiation was achieved for 5 (38.5{\%}) preterm and 5 (45.5{\%}) adult samples. Preterm and adult ALI-cultures both showed well-differentiated morphology and ciliary function,however,preterm cultures required significantly longer cultivation times for acquiring full differentiation (44 ± 3.92 vs. 23 ± 1.83 days; p {\textless} 0.0001). Moreover,we observed that recent respiratory support may impair successful NECs isolation. Herewithin,we describe a safe,reliable and reproducible method to generate well-differentiated ALI-models from NECs of extremely premature infants. These models provide a valuable foundation for further studies regarding immunological and inflammatory responses and respiratory disorders in extremely premature infants. View Publication

Glutathione (GSH) depletion is widely used to sensitize cells to anticancer treatment inducing the progression of programmed cell death and overcoming chemoresistance. It has been reported that neuroblastoma cells with MYCN amplification are unable to start TRAIL-dependent death and MYCN,in concert with cytotoxic drugs,efficiently induces the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis through oxidative mechanisms. In this study,we show that GSH loss induced by L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO),an inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis,leads to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers apoptosis of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. BSO susceptibility of SK-N-BE-2C,a representative example of MYCN-amplified cells,has been attributed to stimulation of total SOD activity in the absence of changes in the level and the activity of catalase. Therefore,the unbalanced intracellular redox milieu has been demonstrated to be critical for the progression of neuroblastoma cell death that was efficiently prevented by antioxidants and rottlerin. These results describe a novel pathway of apoptosis dependent on ROS formation and PKC-delta activation and independent of p53,bcl-2,and bax levels; the selective redox modulation of PKC-delta might be suggested as a potential strategy for sensitizing MYCN-amplified cells to therapeutic approaches. View Publication

COVID-19 pathogenesis is associated with an exaggerated immune response. However,the specific cellular mediators and inflammatory components driving diverse clinical disease outcomes remain poorly understood. We undertook longitudinal immune profiling on both whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of hospitalized patients during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Here,we report key immune signatures present shortly after hospital admission that were associated with the severity of COVID-19. Immune signatures were related to shifts in neutrophil to T cell ratio,elevated serum IL-6,MCP-1 and IP-10,and most strikingly,modulation of CD14+ monocyte phenotype and function. Modified features of CD14+ monocytes included poor induction of the prostaglandin-producing enzyme,COX-2,as well as enhanced expression of the cell cycle marker Ki-67. Longitudinal analysis revealed reversion of some immune features back to the healthy median level in patients with a good eventual outcome. These findings identify previously unappreciated alterations in the innate immune compartment of COVID-19 patients and lend support to the idea that therapeutic strategies targeting release of myeloid cells from bone marrow should be considered in this disease. Moreover,they demonstrate that features of an exaggerated immune response are present early after hospital admission suggesting immune-modulating therapies would be most beneficial at early timepoints. View Publication

OBJECTIVE To review the literature concerning the mechanism of action and pharmacodynamics of mifepristone (RU486),potential new uses of RU486,and its current use not only as an abortifacient but also as therapy for endometriosis,leiomyoma,breast cancer,and meningioma. DATA IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION Studies that relate to RU486 were identified through a MEDLINE search. CONCLUSION(S) RU486 is an 11 beta-dimethyl-amino-phenyl derivative of norethindrone with a high affinity for P and glucocorticoid receptors. The receptor binding is not followed by transcription of P-dependent genes. Mifepristone effectively blocks P receptors in the placenta,resulting in the termination of pregnancy. In addition,it has been used in the treatment of leiomyomata,endometriosis,advanced breast cancer,and meningioma. It is a powerful tool to study the molecular action of P and in the future may be used as an estrogen-free contraceptive. Through an online search of MEDLINE,the authors reviewed the literature on the development of mifepristone (RU-486); RU-486's mechanism of action,pharmacodynamics,and distribution; the physiologic action of RU-486; potential new uses for RU-486; and its current use as both an abortifacient and therapy for endometriosis,leiomyoma,breast cancer,and meningioma. RU-486 is an 11beta-dimethyl-amino-phenyl derivative of norethindrone with a high affinity for P and glucocorticoid receptors. Receptor binding is not followed by the transcription of P-dependent genes. RU-486 effectively blocks P receptors in the placenta,resulting in the termination of pregnancy. It has also been used to treat leiomyomata,endometriosis,advanced breast cancer,and meningioma. The following therapeutic uses of RU-486 are discussed: the termination of early pregnancy,treatment with RU-486 in combination with prostaglandins,the termination of second-trimester pregnancy,cervical ripening,labor induction,postcoital contraception,uterine leiomyomata,endometriosis,breast cancer,and meningioma. View Publication

Secretory diarrhea is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries and a major cause of morbidity in adults. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is required for fluid secretion in the intestine and airways and,when defective,causes the lethal genetic disease cystic fibrosis. We screened 50,000 chemically diverse compounds for inhibition of cAMP/flavone-stimulated Cl(-) transport in epithelial cells expressing CFTR. Six CFTR inhibitors of the 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone chemical class were identified. The most potent compound discovered by screening of structural analogs,CFTR(inh)-172,reversibly inhibited CFTR short-circuit current in less than 2 minutes in a voltage-independent manner with K(I) approximately 300 nM. CFTR(inh)-172 was nontoxic at high concentrations in cell culture and mouse models. At concentrations fully inhibiting CFTR,CFTR(inh)-172 did not prevent elevation of cellular cAMP or inhibit non-CFTR Cl(-) channels,multidrug resistance protein-1 (MDR-1),ATP-sensitive K(+) channels,or a series of other transporters. A single intraperitoneal injection of CFTR(inh)-172 (250 micro g/kg) in mice reduced by more than 90{\%} cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion in the small intestine over 6 hours. Thiazolidinone CFTR inhibitors may be useful in developing large-animal models of cystic fibrosis and in reducing intestinal fluid loss in cholera and other secretory diarrheas. View Publication

Recent studies have provided insights into the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1-4. However,the longitudinal immunological correlates of disease outcome remain unclear. Here we serially analysed immune responses in 113 patients with moderate or severe COVID-19. Immune profiling revealed an overall increase in innate cell lineages,with a concomitant reduction in T cell number. An early elevation in cytokine levels was associated with worse disease outcomes. Following an early increase in cytokines,patients with moderate COVID-19 displayed a progressive reduction in type 1 (antiviral) and type 3 (antifungal) responses. By contrast,patients with severe COVID-19 maintained these elevated responses throughout the course of the disease. Moreover,severe COVID-19 was accompanied by an increase in multiple type 2 (anti-helminths) effectors,including interleukin-5 (IL-5),IL-13,immunoglobulin E and eosinophils. Unsupervised clustering analysis identified four immune signatures,representing growth factors (A),type-2/3 cytokines (B),mixed type-1/2/3 cytokines (C),and chemokines (D) that correlated with three distinct disease trajectories. The immune profiles of patients who recovered from moderate COVID-19 were enriched in tissue reparative growth factor signature A,whereas the profiles of those with who developed severe disease had elevated levels of all four signatures. Thus,we have identified a maladapted immune response profile associated with severe COVID-19 and poor clinical outcome,as well as early immune signatures that correlate with divergent disease trajectories. View Publication

The Drosophila TEAD ortholog Scalloped is required for Yki-mediated overgrowth but is largely dispensable for normal tissue growth,suggesting that its mammalian counterpart may be exploited for selective inhibition of oncogenic growth driven by YAP hyperactivation. Here we test this hypothesis genetically and pharmacologically. We show that a dominant-negative TEAD molecule does not perturb normal liver growth but potently suppresses hepatomegaly/tumorigenesis resulting from YAP overexpression or Neurofibromin 2 (NF2)/Merlin inactivation. We further identify verteporfin as a small molecule that inhibits TEAD-YAP association and YAP-induced liver overgrowth. These findings provide proof of principle that inhibiting TEAD-YAP interactions is a pharmacologically viable strategy against the YAP oncoprotein. View Publication

Re-activation and clonal expansion of tumor-specific antigen (TSA)-reactive T cells are critical to the success of checkpoint blockade and adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-based therapies. There are no reliable markers to specifically identify the repertoire of TSA-reactive T cells due to their heterogeneous composition. We introduce FucoID as a general platform to detect endogenous antigen-specific T cells for studying their biology. Through this interaction-dependent labeling approach,intratumoral TSA-reactive CD4+,CD8+ T cells,and TSA-suppressive CD4+ T cells can be detected and separated from bystander T cells based on their cell-surface enzymatic fucosyl-biotinylation. Compared to bystander TILs,TSA-reactive TILs possess a distinct T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and unique gene features. Although exhibiting a dysfunctional phenotype,TSA-reactive CD8+ TILs possess substantial capabilities of proliferation and tumor-specific killing. Featuring genetic manipulation-free procedures and a quick turnover cycle,FucoID should have the potential of accelerating the pace of personalized cancer treatment. View Publication

Motile cilia are cellular beating machines that play a critical role in mucociliary clearance,cerebrospinal fluid movement,and fertility. In the airways,hundreds of motile cilia present on the surface of a multiciliated epithelia cell beat coordinately to protect the epithelium from bacteria,viruses,and harmful particulates. During multiciliated cell differentiation,motile cilia are templated from basal bodies,each extending a basal foot-an appendage linking motile cilia together to ensure coordinated beating. Here,we demonstrate that among the many motile cilia of a multiciliated cell,a hybrid cilium with structural features of both primary and motile cilia is harbored. The hybrid cilium is conserved in mammalian multiciliated cells,originates from parental centrioles,and its cellular position is biased and dependent on ciliary beating. Furthermore,we show that the hybrid cilium emerges independently of other motile cilia and functions in regulating basal body alignment. View Publication

Inhibiting ADP-ribosyl transferases with PARP-inhibitors is considered a promising strategy for the treatment of many cancers and ischemia,but most of the cellular targets are poorly characterized. Here,we describe an inhibitor of ADP-ribosyltransferase-3/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-3 (ARTD3),a regulator of DNA repair and mitotic progression. In vitro profiling against 12 members of the enzyme family suggests selectivity for ARTD3,and crystal structures illustrate the molecular basis for inhibitor selectivity. The compound is active in cells,where it elicits ARTD3-specific effects at submicromolar concentration. Our results show that by targeting the nicotinamide binding site,selective inhibition can be achieved among the closest relatives of the validated clinical target,ADP-ribosyltransferase-1/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. View Publication

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death that was discovered in recent years and is usually accompanied by a large amount of iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the cell death process; the occurrence of ferroptosis is iron-dependent. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can directly or indirectly affect glutathione peroxidase through different pathways,resulting in a decrease in antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells,ultimately leading to oxidative cell death. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of many diseases,such as tumors,nervous system diseases,ischemia-reperfusion injury,kidney injury,and blood diseases. How to intervene in the occurrence and development of related diseases by regulating cell ferroptosis has become a hotspot and focus of etiological research and treatment,but the functional changes and specific molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis still need to be further explored. This paper systematically summarizes the latest progress in ferroptosis research,with a focus on providing references for further understanding of its pathogenesis and for proposing new targets for the treatment of related diseases. View Publication