技术资料

BACKGROUND The combination of serum $\beta$2-microglubulin and albumin levels is highly prognostic in multiple myeloma (MM),defined as the International Staging System (ISS). Recurrent genomic abnormalities present in myeloma cells also have a strong prognostic power. This study aimed to assess,in a routine diagnostic setting,whether genomic aberrations can be used to identify sub-groups in ISS staging,as this system does not incorporate intrinsic myeloma cell variability at the molecular level. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective population-based study of 123 patients newly diagnosed with MM with ISS staging were included for karyotyping,interphase nuclei fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) and oligo-based array comparative genomic hybridization (oaCGH) analyses. RESULTS Clonal abnormalities were identified in 27{\%} of analyses by karyotyping,in 83{\%} by iFISH,and in 99{\%} by oaCGH analysis. ISS staging combined with oaCGH aberrations identified ISS sub-groups. CONCLUSION oaCGH analysis is a valuable asset in detecting prognostically relevant genomic abnormalities. The combination of oaCGH data with ISS staging might help define new sub-groups in MM. View Publication

In addition to antigen-driven signals,T cells need co-stimulatory signals for robust activation. Several receptors,including members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF),can deliver co-stimulatory signals to T cells. Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) is an important inhibitor of glucose uptake and cell proliferation,but it is unknown how TXNIP is regulated in T cells. The aim of this study was to determine expression levels and regulation of TXNIP in human T cells. We found that na{\{i}}ve T cells express high levels of TXNIP and that treatment of blood samples with TNF results in rapid down-regulation of TXNIP in the T cells. TNF-induced TXNIP down-regulation correlated with increased glucose uptake. Furthermore we found that density gradient centrifugation (DGC) induced down-regulation of TXNIP. We demonstrate that DGC induced TNF production that paralleled the TXNIP down-regulation. Treatment of blood with toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands induced TNF production and TXNIP down-regulation suggesting that damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as endogenous TLR ligands released during DGC play a role in DGC-induced TXNIP down-regulation. Finally we demonstrate that TNF-induced TXNIP down-regulation is dependent on caspase activity and is caused by caspase-mediated cleavage of TXNIP." View Publication

BACKGROUND Upregulation of RNA polymerase (Pol) III products,including tRNAs and 5S rRNA,in tumor cells leads to enhanced protein synthesis and tumor formation,making it a potential target for cancer treatment. In this study,we evaluated the inhibition of Pol III transcription by triptolide and the anti-cancer effect of this drug in colorectal tumorigenesis. METHODS The effect of triptolide on colorectal cancer development was assessed in colorectal cancer mouse models,3D organoids,and cultured cells. Colorectal cancer cells were treated with triptolide. Pol III transcription was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The formation of TFIIIB,a multi-subunit transcription factor for Pol III,was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP),co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP),and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). RESULTS Triptolide reduced both tumor number and tumor size in adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) mutated (ApcMin/+) mice as well as AOM/DSS-induced mice. Moreover,triptolide effectively inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation,colony formation,and organoid growth in vitro,which was associated with decreased Pol III target genes. Mechanistically,triptolide treatment blocked TBP/Brf1interaction,leading to the reduced formation of TFIIIB at the promoters of tRNAs and 5S rRNA. CONCLUSIONS Together,our data suggest that inhibition of Pol III transcription with existing drugs such as triptolide provides a new avenue for developing novel therapies for colorectal cancer. 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

Cyclic dinucleotides are second messengers in the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway,which plays an important role in recognizing tumor cells and viral or bacterial infections. They bind to the STING adaptor protein and trigger expression of cytokines via TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and inhibitor of nuclear factor-$\kappa$B (I$\kappa$B) kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-$\kappa$B (NF$\kappa$B) signaling cascades. In this work,we describe an enzymatic preparation of 2'-5',3'-5'-cyclic dinucleotides (2'3'CDNs) with use of cyclic GMP-AMP synthases (cGAS) from human,mouse,and chicken. We profile substrate specificity of these enzymes by employing a small library of nucleotide-5'-triphosphate (NTP) analogues and use them to prepare 33 2'3'CDNs. We also determine affinity of these CDNs to five different STING haplotypes in cell-based and biochemical assays and describe properties needed for their optimal activity toward all STING haplotypes. Next,we study their effect on cytokine and chemokine induction by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and evaluate their cytotoxic effect on monocytes. Additionally,we report X-ray crystal structures of two new CDNs bound to STING protein and discuss structure-activity relationship by using quantum and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) computational modeling. View Publication

Environmental factors contribute to Type 1 diabetes (T1D) susceptibility. The gut microbiome,which includes bacteria,viruses,and fungi,contributes to this environmental influence,and can induce immunological changes. The gut viral component of the microbiome,related to T1D has mostly focused on coxsackieviruses and rotavirus. The role of norovirus,another common enteric virus,in susceptibility to T1D was hitherto unknown. Norovirus is highly infectious and encountered by many children. We studied the mouse norovirus 4 (MNV4),related to human noroviruses,in the Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model,to determine its role in influencing susceptibility to T1D. We infected MNV-free NOD mice with MNV4 by exposing the mice to MNV4-positive bedding from an endemically-infected mouse colony to mimic a natural infection. Control MNV-free NOD mice were exposed to MNV-free bedding from the same colony. Interestingly,MNV4 infection protected NOD mice from the development of T1D and was associated with an expansion of Tregs and reduced proinflammatory T cells. We also found MNV4 significantly modified the gut commensal bacteria composition,promoting increased $\alpha$-diversity and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. To elucidate whether T1D protection was directly related to MNV4,or indirectly through modulating gut microbiota,we colonized germ-free (GF) NOD mice with the MNV4-containing or non-MNV4-containing viral filtrate,isolated from filtered fecal material. We found that MNV4 induced significant changes in mucosal immunity,including altered Tuft cell markers,cytokine secretion,antiviral immune signaling markers,and the concentration of mucosal antibodies. Systemically,MNV4-infection altered the immune cells including B cell subsets,macrophages and T cells,and especially induced an increase in Treg number and function. Furthermore,in vitro primary exposure of the norovirus filtrate to na{\{i}}ve splenocytes identified significant increases in the proportion of activated and CTLA4-expressing Tregs. Our data provide novel knowledge that norovirus can protect NOD mice from T1D development by inducing the expansion of Tregs and reducing inflammatory T cells. Our study also highlights the importance of distinguishing the mucosal immunity mediated by bacteria from that by enteric viruses." View Publication

AIMS Current treatment for congenital long QT syndrome Type 2 (cLQTS2),an electrical disorder that increases the risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias,is aimed at reducing the incidence of arrhythmia triggers (beta-blockers) or terminating the arrhythmia after onset (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator). An alternative strategy is to target the underlying disease mechanism,which is reduced rapid delayed rectifier current (IKr) passed by Kv11.1 channels. Small molecule activators of Kv11.1 have been identified but the extent to which these can restore normal cardiac signalling in cLQTS2 backgrounds remains unclear. Here,we examined the ability of ICA-105574,an activator of Kv11.1 that impairs transition to the inactivated state,to restore function to heterozygous Kv11.1 channels containing either inactivation enhanced (T618S,N633S) or expression deficient (A422T) mutations. METHODS AND RESULTS ICA-105574 effectively restored Kv11.1 current from heterozygous inactivation enhanced or expression defective mutant channels in heterologous expression systems. In a human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) model of cLQTS2 containing the expression defective Kv11.1 mutant A422T,cardiac repolarization,estimated from the duration of calcium transients in isolated cells and the rate corrected field potential duration (FPDc) in culture monolayers of cells,was significantly prolonged. The Kv11.1 activator ICA-105574 was able to reverse the prolonged repolarization in a concentration-dependent manner. However,at higher doses,ICA-105574 produced a shortening of the FPDc compared to controls. In vitro and in silico analysis suggests that this overcorrection occurs as a result of a temporal redistribution of the peak IKr to much earlier in the plateau phase of the action potential,which results in early repolarization. CONCLUSION Kv11.1 activators,which target the primary disease mechanism,provide a possible treatment option for cLQTS2,with the caveat that there may be a risk of overcorrection that could itself be pro-arrhythmic. View Publication

As the prognosis of invasive aspergillosis remains unacceptably poor in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT),there is a growing interest in the adoptive transfer of antifungal effector cells,such as Natural Killer (NK) cells. Because immunosuppressive agents are required in most HSCT recipients,knowledge of the impact of these compounds on the antifungal activity of NK cells is a prerequisite for clinical trials. We,therefore,assessed the effect of methylprednisolone (mPRED),cyclosporin A (CsA) and mycophenolic acid (MPA) at different concentrations on proliferation,apoptosis/necrosis,and the direct and indirect anti-Aspergillus activity of human NK cells. Methylprednisolone decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of NK cells in a significant manner. After seven days,a reduction of viable NK cells was seen for all three immunosuppressants,which was significant for MPA only. Cyclosporin A significantly inhibited the direct hyphal damage by NK cells in a dose-dependent manner. None of the immunosuppressive compounds had a major impact on the measured levels of interferon-$\gamma$,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and RANTES (regulated on activation,normal T cell expressed and secreted; CCL5). Our data demonstrate that commonly used immunosuppressive compounds have distinct effects on proliferation,viability and antifungal activity of human NK cells,which should be considered in designing studies on the use of NK cells for adoptive antifungal immunotherapy. View Publication

The sodium potassium pump (Na/K-ATPase) ensures the electrochemical gradient of a cell through an energy-dependent process that consumes about one-third of regenerated ATP. We report that the G protein-coupled receptor GPR35 interacted with the $\alpha$ chain of Na/K-ATPase and promotes its ion transport and Src signaling activity in a ligand-independent manner. Deletion of Gpr35 increased baseline Ca2+ to maximal levels and reduced Src activation and overall metabolic activity in macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In contrast,a common T108M polymorphism in GPR35 was hypermorphic and had the opposite effects to Gpr35 deletion on Src activation and metabolic activity. The T108M polymorphism is associated with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis,inflammatory diseases with a high cancer risk. GPR35 promoted homeostatic IEC turnover,whereas Gpr35 deletion or inhibition by a selective pepducin prevented inflammation-associated and spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in mice. Thus,GPR35 acts as a central signaling and metabolic pacesetter,which reveals an unexpected role of Na/K-ATPase in macrophage and IEC biology. View Publication

TFF1,a secreted protein,plays an essential role in keeping the integrity of gastric mucosa and its barrier function. Loss of TFF1 expression in the TFF1-knockout (KO) mouse leads to a pro-inflammatory phenotype with a cascade of gastric lesions that include low-grade dysplasia,high-grade dysplasia,and adenocarcinomas. In this study,we demonstrate nuclear localization of p-STATY705,with significant overexpression of several STAT3 target genes in gastric glands from the TFF1-KO mice. We also show frequent loss of TFF1 with nuclear localization of STAT3 in human gastric cancers. The reconstitution of TFF1 protein in human gastric cancer cells and 3D gastric glands organoids from TFF1-KO mice abrogates IL6-induced nuclear p-STAT3Y705 expression. Reconstitution of TFF1 inhibits IL6-induced STAT3 transcription activity,suppressing expression of its target genes. TFF1 blocks IL6R$\alpha$-GP130 complex formation through interfering with binding of IL6 to its receptor IL6R$\alpha$. These findings demonstrate a functional role of TFF1 in suppressing gastric tumorigenesis by impeding the IL6-STAT3 pro-inflammatory signaling axis. View Publication

Immunosuppression increases the risk of cancers that are associated with viral infection1. In particular,the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin-which has been associated with beta human papillomavirus ($\beta$-HPV) infection-is increased by more than 100-fold in immunosuppressed patients2-4. Previous studies have not established a causative role for HPVs in driving the development of skin cancer. Here we show that T cell immunity against commensal papillomaviruses suppresses skin cancer in immunocompetent hosts,and the loss of this immunity-rather than the oncogenic effect of HPVs-causes the markedly increased risk of skin cancer in immunosuppressed patients. To investigate the effects of papillomavirus on carcinogen-driven skin cancer,we colonized several strains of immunocompetent mice with mouse papillomavirus type 1 (MmuPV1)5. Mice with natural immunity against MmuPV1 after colonization and acquired immunity through the transfer of T cells from immune mice or by MmuPV1 vaccination were protected against skin carcinogenesis induced by chemicals or by ultraviolet radiation in a manner dependent on CD8+ T cells. RNA and DNA in situ hybridization probes for 25 commensal $\beta$-HPVs revealed a significant reduction in viral activity and load in human skin cancer compared with the adjacent healthy skin,suggesting a strong immune selection against virus-positive malignant cells. Consistently,E7 peptides from $\beta$-HPVs activated CD8+ T cells from unaffected human skin. Our findings reveal a beneficial role for commensal viruses and establish a foundation for immune-based approaches that could block the development of skin cancer by boosting immunity against the commensal HPVs present in all of our skin. View Publication

Decidua is a transient uterine tissue shared by mammals with hemochorial placenta and is essential for pregnancy. The decidua is infiltrated by many immune cells promoting pregnancy. Adult bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMDCs) differentiate into rare populations of nonhematopoietic endometrial cells in the uterus. However,whether adult BMDCs become nonhematopoietic decidual cells and contribute functionally to pregnancy is unknown. Here,we show that pregnancy mobilizes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the circulation and that pregnancy induces considerable adult BMDCs recruitment to decidua,where some differentiate into nonhematopoietic prolactin-expressing decidual cells. To explore the functional importance of nonhematopoietic BMDCs to pregnancy,we used Homeobox a11 (Hoxa11)-deficient mice,having endometrial stromal-specific defects precluding decidualization and successful pregnancy. Hoxa11 expression in BM is restricted to nonhematopoietic cells. BM transplant (BMT) from wild-type (WT) to Hoxa11-/- mice results in stromal expansion,gland formation,and marked decidualization otherwise absent in Hoxa11-/- mice. Moreover,in Hoxa11+/- mice,which have increased pregnancy losses,BMT from WT donors leads to normalized uterine expression of numerous decidualization-related genes and rescue of pregnancy loss. Collectively,these findings reveal that adult BMDCs have a previously unrecognized nonhematopoietic physiologic contribution to decidual stroma,thereby playing important roles in decidualization and pregnancy. View Publication