技术资料

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) residing in colorectal cancer tissues have tumorigenic capacity and contribute to chemotherapeutic resistance and disease relapse. It is well known that the survival of colorectal CSCs after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapy leads to cancer recurrence. Thus CSCs represent a promising drug target. Here,we designed and synthesized novel hybrid molecules linking 5-FU with the plant-derived compound thymoquinone (TQ) and tested the potential of individual compounds and their combination to eliminate colorectal CSCs. Both,Combi and SARB hybrid showed augmented cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cells,but were non-toxic to organoids prepared from healthy murine small intestine. NanoString analysis revealed a unique signature of deregulated gene expression in response to the combination of TQ and 5-FU (Combi) and SARB treatment. Importantly,two principle stem cell regulatory pathways WNT/{\ss}-Catenin and PI3K/AKT were found to be downregulated after Combi and hybrid treatment. Furthermore,both treatments strikingly eliminated CD133+ CSC population,accompanying the depleted self-renewal capacity by eradicating long-term propagated 3D tumor cell spheres at sub-toxic doses. In vivo xenografts on chicken eggs of SARB-treated HCT116 cells showed a prominent nuclear {\ss}-Catenin and E-cadherin staining. This was in line with the reduced transcriptional activity of {\ss}-Catenin and diminished cell adhesion under SARB exposure. In contrast to 5-FU,both,Combi and SARB treatment effectively reduced the angiogenic capacity of the remaining resistant tumor cells. Taken together,combination or hybridization of single compounds target simultaneously a broader spectrum of oncogenic pathways leading to an effective eradication of colorectal cancer cells. View Publication

PURPOSE The radiosensitivity of the normal intestinal epithelium is the major limiting factor for definitive radiotherapy against abdominal malignancies. Radiosensitizers,which can be used without augmenting radiation toxicity to normal tissue,are still an unmet need. Inhibition of proteosomal degradation is being developed as a major therapeutic strategy for anticancer therapy as cancer cells are more susceptible to proteasomal inhibition-induced cytotoxicity compared with normal cells. Auranofin,a gold-containing antirheumatoid drug,blocks proteosomal degradation by inhibiting deubiquitinase inhibitors. In this study,we have examined whether auranofin selectively radiosensitizes colon tumors without promoting radiation toxicity in normal intestine. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The effect of auranofin (10 mg/kg i.p.) on the radiation response of subcutaneous CT26 colon tumors and the normal gastrointestinal epithelium was determined using a mouse model of abdominal radiation. The effect of auranofin was also examined in a paired human colonic organoid system using malignant and nonmalignant tissues from the same patient. RESULTS Both in the mouse model of intestinal injury and in the human nonmalignant colon organoid culture,auranofin pretreatment prevented radiation toxicity and improved survival with the activation of p53/p21-mediated reversible cell-cycle arrest. However,in a mouse model of abdominal tumor and in human malignant colonic organoids,auranofin inhibited malignant tissue growth with inhibition of proteosomal degradation,induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress/unfolded protein response,and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that auranofin is a potential candidate to be considered as a combination therapy with radiation to improve therapeutic efficacy against abdominal malignancies. View Publication

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is a mouse model of human autoimmune uveitis marked by ocular autoantigen-specific regulatory immunity in the spleen. The melanocortin 5 receptor (MC5r) and adenosine 2 A receptor (A2Ar) are required for induction of post-EAU regulatory T cells (Tregs) which provide resistance to EAU. We show that blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway prevented suppression of EAU by post-EAU Tregs. A2Ar induction of PD-1+FoxP3+ Tregs in uveitis patients was similar compared to healthy controls,but was significantly reduced with melanocortin stimulation. Further,lower body mass index correlated with responsiveness to stimulation of this pathway. These observations indicate an importance of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to provide resistance to relapsing uveitis and shows a reduced capacity of uveitis patients to induce Tregs when stimulated through melanocortin receptors,but that it is possible to bypass this part of the pathway through direct stimulation of A2Ar. View Publication

Aim Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by enzymes of the NADPH oxidase family serve as second messengers for cellular signaling. Processes such as differentiation and proliferation are regulated by NADPH oxidases. In the intestine,due to the exceedingly fast and constant renewal of the epithelium both processes have to be highly controlled and balanced. Nox1 is the major NADPH oxidase expressed in the gut,and its function is regulated by cytosolic subunits such as NoxO1. We hypothesize that the NoxO1-controlled activity of Nox1 contributes to a proper epithelial homeostasis and renewal in the gut. Results NoxO1 is highly expressed in the colon. Knockout of NoxO1 reduces the production of superoxide in colon crypts and is not subsidized by an elevated expression of its homolog p47phox. Knockout of NoxO1 increases the proliferative capacity and prevents apoptosis of colon epithelial cells. In mouse models of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and azoxymethane/DSS induced colon cancer,NoxO1 has a protective role and may influence the population of natural killer cells. Conclusion NoxO1 affects colon epithelium homeostasis and prevents inflammation. View Publication

Dysplasia is considered a key transition state between pre-cancer and cancer in gastric carcinogenesis. However,the cellular or phenotypic heterogeneity and mechanisms of dysplasia progression have not been elucidated. We have established metaplastic and dysplastic organoid lines,derived from Mist1-Kras(G12D) mouse stomach corpus and studied distinct cellular behaviors and characteristics of metaplastic and dysplastic organoids. We also examined functional roles for Kras activation in dysplasia progression using Selumetinib,a MEK inhibitor,which is a downstream mediator of Kras signaling. Here,we report that dysplastic organoids die or show altered cellular behaviors and diminished aggressive behavior in response to MEK inhibition. However,the organoids surviving after MEK inhibition maintain cellular heterogeneity. Two dysplastic stem cell (DSC) populations are also identified in dysplastic cells,which exhibited different clonogenic potentials. Therefore,Kras activation controls cellular dynamics and progression to dysplasia,and DSCs might contribute to cellular heterogeneity in dysplastic cell lineages. View Publication

Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T (Trm) cells mediate potent local innate and adaptive immune responses and play a central role against solid tumors. However,whether Trm cells cross-talk with dendritic cells (DCs) to support anti-tumor immunity remains unclear. Here we show that antigen-specific activation of skin Trm cells leads to maturation and migration to draining lymph nodes of cross-presenting dermal DCs. Tumor rejection mediated by Trm cells triggers the spread of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses against tumor-derived neo- and self-antigens via dermal DCs. These responses suppress the growth of intradermal tumors and disseminated melanoma lacking the Trm cell-targeted epitope. Moreover,analysis of RNA sequencing data from human melanoma tumors reveals that enrichment of a Trm cell gene signature associates with DC activation and improved survival. This work unveils the ability of Trm cells to amplify the breath of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses through DCs,thereby strengthening anti-tumor immunity. View Publication

Gastrointestinal dysfunction in cystic fibrosis (CF) is a prominent source of pain among patients with CF. Linaclotide,a guanylate cyclase C (GCC) receptor agonist,is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug prescribed for chronic constipation but has not been widely used in CF,as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the main mechanism of action. However,anecdotal clinical evidence suggests that linaclotide may be effective for treating some gastrointestinal symptoms in CF. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness and mechanism of linaclotide in treating CF gastrointestinal disorders using CF mouse models. Intestinal transit,chloride secretion,and intestinal lumen fluidity were assessed in wild-type and CF mouse models in response to linaclotide. CFTR and sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) response to linaclotide was also evaluated. Linaclotide treatment improved intestinal transit in mice carrying either F508del or null Cftr mutations but did not induce detectable Cl- secretion. Linaclotide increased fluid retention and fluidity of CF intestinal contents,suggesting inhibition of fluid absorption. Targeted inhibition of sodium absorption by the NHE3 inhibitor tenapanor produced improvements in gastrointestinal transit similar to those produced by linaclotide treatment,suggesting that inhibition of fluid absorption by linaclotide contributes to improved gastrointestinal transit in CF. Our results demonstrate that linaclotide improves gastrointestinal transit in CF mouse models by increasing luminal fluidity through inhibiting NHE3-mediated sodium absorption. Further studies are necessary to assess whether linaclotide could improve CF intestinal pathologies in patients. GCC signaling and NHE3 inhibition may be therapeutic targets for CF intestinal manifestations. NEW {\&} NOTEWORTHY Linaclotide's primary mechanism of action in alleviating chronic constipation is through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR),negating its use in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). For the first time,our findings suggest that in the absence of CFTR,linaclotide can improve fluidity of the intestinal lumen through the inhibition of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3. These findings suggest that linaclotide could improve CF intestinal pathologies in patients. View Publication

Secreted factors derived from Lactobacillus are able to dampen pro-inflammatory cytokine responses. Still,the nature of these components and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here,we aimed to identify the components and the mechanism involved in the Lactobacillus-mediated modulation of immune cell activation. PBMC were stimulated in the presence of the cell free supernatants (CFS) of cultured Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938,followed by evaluation of cytokine responses. We show that lactobacilli-CFS effectively dampen induced IFN-$\gamma$ and IL-17A responses from T- and NK cells in a monocyte dependent manner by a soluble factor. A proteomic array analysis highlighted Lactobacillus-induced IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra) as a potential candidate responsible for the IFN-$\gamma$ dampening activity. Indeed,addition of recombinant IL-1ra to stimulated PBMC resulted in reduced IFN-$\gamma$ production. Further characterization of the lactobacilli-CFS revealed the presence of extracellular membrane vesicles with a similar immune regulatory activity to that observed with the lactobacilli-CFS. In conclusion,we have shown that lactobacilli produce extracellular MVs,which are able to dampen pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in a monocyte-dependent manner. View Publication

Sustained,indolent immune injury of the vasculature of a heart transplant limits long-term graft and recipient survival. This injury is mitigated by a poorly characterized,maladaptive repair response. Vascular endothelial cells respond to proangiogenic cues in the embryo by differentiation to specialized phenotypes,associated with expression of apelin. In the adult,the role of developmental proangiogenic cues in repair of the established vasculature is largely unknown. We found that human and minor histocompatibility-mismatched donor mouse heart allografts with alloimmune-mediated vasculopathy upregulated expression of apelin in arteries and myocardial microvessels. In vivo,loss of donor heart expression of apelin facilitated graft immune cell infiltration,blunted vascular repair,and worsened occlusive vasculopathy in mice. In vitro,an apelin receptor agonist analog elicited endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation to promote endothelial monolayer wound repair and reduce immune cell adhesion. Thus,apelin acted as an autocrine growth cue to sustain vascular repair and mitigate the effects of immune injury. Treatment with an apelin receptor agonist after vasculopathy was established markedly reduced progression of arterial occlusion in mice. Together,these initial data identify proangiogenic apelin as a key mediator of coronary vascular repair and a pharmacotherapeutic target for immune-mediated injury of the coronary vasculature. View Publication

Peripheral serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) synthesized in the intestine by enterochromaffin cells (ECs),plays an important role in the regulation of peristaltic of the gut,epithelial secretion and promotes the development and maintenance of the enteric neurons. Recent studies showed that the indigenous gut microbiota modulates 5-HT signalling and that ECs use sensory receptors to detect dietary and microbiota-derived signals from the lumen to subsequently transduce the information to the nervous system. We hypothesized that Clostridium ramosum by increasing gut 5-HT availability consequently contributes to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Using germ-free mice and mice monoassociated with C. ramosum,intestinal cell lines and mouse organoids,we demonstrated that bacterial cell components stimulate host 5-HT secretion and program the differentiation of colonic intestinal stem progenitors toward the secretory 5-HT-producing lineage. An elevated 5-HT level regulates the expression of major proteins involved in intestinal fatty acid absorption in vitro,suggesting that the presence of C. ramosum in the gut promotes 5-HT secretion and thereby could facilitates intestinal lipid absorption and the development of obesity. View Publication

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs in a sequence specific manner,thereby determining their degradation or inhibiting translation. They are involved in processes such as proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis by fine-tuning the expression of genes underlying such events. The expression of specific miRNAs is involved in hematopoietic differentiation and their deregulation contributes to the development of hematopoietic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). miR-130a is over-expressed in AML. Here we show that miR-130a is physiologically expressed in myeloblasts and down-regulated during monocyte differentiation. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments performed on CD34+ human hematopoietic stem cells confirmed that expression of miR-130a inhibits monocyte differentiation by interfering with the expression of key transcription factors HOXA10,IRF8,KLF4,MAFB and PU-1. The data obtained in this study highlight that the correct modulation of miR-130a is necessary for normal differentiation to occur and confirming that deregulation of this miRNA might underlie the differentiation block occurring in AML. View Publication

Despite the key role that antibodies play in protection,the cellular processes mediating the acquisition of humoral immunity against malaria are not fully understood. Using an infection model of severe malaria,we find that germinal center (GC) B cells upregulate the transcription factor T-bet during infection. Molecular and cellular analyses reveal that T-bet in B cells is required not only for IgG2c switching but also favors commitment of B cells to the dark zone of the GC. T-bet was found to regulate the expression of Rgs13 and CXCR3,both of which contribute to the impaired GC polarization observed in the absence of T-bet,resulting in reduced IghV gene mutations and lower antibody avidity. These results demonstrate that T-bet modulates GC dynamics,thereby promoting the differentiation of B cells with increased affinity for antigen. View Publication