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Efficient in vivo selection increases survival of gene-corrected hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and protects hematopoiesis,even if initial gene transfer efficiency is low. Moreover,selection of a limited number of transduced HSCs lowers the number of cell clones at risk of gene activation by insertional mutagenesis. However,a limited clonal repertoire greatly increases the proliferation stress of each individual clone. Therefore,understanding the impact of in vivo selection on proliferation and lineage differentiation of stem-cell clones is essential for its clinical use. We established minimal cell and drug dosage requirements for selection of P140K mutant O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT P140K)-expressing HSCs and monitored their differentiation potential and clonality under long-term selective stress. Up to 17 administrations of O6-benzylguanine (O6-BG) and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitroso-urea (BCNU) did not impair long-term differentiation and proliferation of MGMT P140K-expressing stem-cell clones in mice that underwent serial transplantation and did not lead to clonal exhaustion. Interestingly,not all gene-modified hematopoietic repopulating cell clones were efficiently selectable. Our studies demonstrate that the normal function of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is not compromised by reduced-intensity long-term in vivo selection,thus underscoring the potential value of MGMT P140K selection for clinical gene therapy. View Publication

Trypanosoma congolense is an African trypanosome that causes serious disease in cattle in Sub-Saharan Africa. The four major life cycle stages of T. congolense can be grown in vitro,which has led to the identification of several cell-surface molecules expressed on the parasite during its transit through the tsetse vector. One of these,glutamic acid/alanine-rich protein (GARP),is the first expressed on procyclic forms in the tsetse midgut and is of particular interest because it replaces the major surface coat molecule of bloodstream forms,the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) that protects the parasite membrane,and is involved in antigenic variation. Unlike VSG,however,the function of GARP is not known,which necessarily limits our understanding of parasite survival in the tsetse. Toward establishing the function of GARP,we report its three-dimensional structure solved by iodide phasing to a resolution of 1.65 Å. An extended helical bundle structure displays an unexpected and significant degree of homology to the core structure of VSG,the only other major surface molecule of trypanosomes to be structurally characterized. Immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoaffinity-tandem mass spectrometry were used in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies to map both non-surface-disposed and surface epitopes. Collectively,these studies enabled us to derive a model describing the orientation and assembly of GARP on the surface of trypanosomes. The data presented here suggest the possible structure-function relationships involved in replacement of the bloodstream form VSG by GARP as trypanosomes differentiate in the tsetse vector after a blood meal. View Publication

To investigate the influence of antibody structure and specificity on antibody efficacy against Streptococcus pneumoniae,human monospecific antibodies (MAbs) to serotype 3 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS-3) were generated from transgenic mice reconstituted with human immunoglobulin loci (XenoMouse mice) vaccinated with a PPS-3-tetanus toxoid conjugate and their molecular genetic structures,epitope specificities,and protective efficacies in normal and complement-deficient mice were determined. Nucleic acid sequence analysis of three MAbs (A7,1A2,and 7C5) revealed that they use two different V(H)3 genes (A7 and 1A2 both use V3-15) and three different V(kappa) gene segments. The MAbs were found to have similar affinities for PPS-3 but different epitope specificities and CDR3 regions. Both A7 and 7C5 had a lysine at the V(H)-D junction,whereas 1A2 had a threonine. Challenge experiments with serotype 3 S. pneumoniae in BALB/c mice revealed that both 10- and 1- micro g doses of A7 and 7C5 were protective,while only a 10- micro g dose of 1A2 was protective. Both A7 and 7C5 were also protective in mice lacking either an intact alternative (FB(-/-)) or classical (C4(-/-)) complement pathway,but 1A2 was not protective in either strain. Our data suggest that PPS-3 consists of epitopes that can elicit both highly protective and less protective antibodies and that the superior efficacies of certain antibodies may be a function of their structures and/or specificities. Further investigation of relationships between structure,specificity,and efficacy for defined MAbs to PPS may identify antibody features that might be useful surrogates for antibody (and vaccine) efficacy. View Publication

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emerging evidence suggests that highly treatment-resistant tumour-initiating cells (TICs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is considered to be a novel anticancer agent; however,recent studies have shown that many pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL due to TRAIL-activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signalling. Several chemopreventive agents are able to inhibit NF-kappaB,and favourable results have been obtained--for example,for the broccoli compound sulforaphane-in preventing metastasis in clinical studies. The aim of the study was to identify TICs in pancreatic carcinoma for analysis of resistance mechanisms and for definition of sensitising agents. METHODS: TICs were defined by expression patterns of a CD44(+)/CD24(-),CD44(+)/CD24(+) or CD44(+)/CD133(+) phenotype and correlation to growth in immunodeficient mice,differentiation grade,clonogenic growth,sphere formation,aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and therapy resistance. RESULTS: Mechanistically,specific binding of transcriptionally active cRel-containing NF-kappaB complexes in TICs was observed. Sulforaphane prevented NF-kappaB binding,downregulated apoptosis inhibitors and induced apoptosis,together with prevention of clonogenicity. Gemcitabine,the chemopreventive agents resveratrol and wogonin,and the death ligand TRAIL were less effective. In a xenograft model,sulforaphane strongly blocked tumour growth and angiogenesis,while combination with TRAIL had an additive effect without obvious cytotoxicity in normal cells. Freshly isolated patient tumour cells expressing markers for TICs could be sensitised by sulforaphane for TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: The data provide new insights into resistance mechanisms of TICs and suggest the combination of sulforaphane with TRAIL as a promising strategy for targeting of pancreatic TICs. View Publication

Multiple myeloma is a highly radiosensitive skeletal malignancy,but bone-seeking radionuclides have not yet found their place in disease management. We previously reported that the proteasome inhibitor PS-341 selectively sensitizes myeloma cells to the lethal effects of ionizing radiation. To extend these observations to an in vivo model,we combined PS-341 with the bone-seeking radionuclide 153-Sm-EDTMP. In vitro clonogenic assays demonstrated synergistic killing of myeloma cells exposed to both PS-341 and 153-Sm-EDTMP. Using the orthotopic,syngeneic 5TGM1 myeloma model,the median survivals of mice treated with saline,2 doses of PS-341 (0.5 mg/kg),or a single nonmyeloablative dose of 153-Sm-EDTMP (22.5 MBq) were 21,22,and 28 days,respectively. In contrast,mice treated with combination therapy comprising 2 doses of PS-341 (0.5 mg/kg),1 day prior to and 1 day following 153-Sm-EDTMP (22.5 MBq) showed a significantly prolonged median survival of 49 days (P textless .001). In addition to prolonged survival,this treatment combination yielded reduced clonogenicity of bone marrow-resident 5TGM1 cells,reduced serum myeloma-associated paraprotein levels,and better preservation of bone mineral density. Myelosuppression,determined by peripheral blood cell counts and clonogenicity assays of hematopoietic progenitors,did not differ between animals treated with 153-Sm-EDTMP alone versus those treated with the combination of PS-341 plus 153-Sm-EDTMP. PS-341 is a potent,selective in vivo radiosensitizer that may substantially affect the efficacy of skeletal-targeted radiotherapy in multiple myeloma. View Publication

Summary The cytokine TWEAK and its cognate receptor Fn14 are members of the TNF/TNFR superfamily and are upregulated in tumors. We found that Fn14,when expressed in tumors,causes cachexia and that antibodies against Fn14 dramatically extended lifespan by inhibiting tumor-induced weight loss although having only moderate inhibitory effects on tumor growth. Anti-Fn14 antibodies prevented tumor-induced inflammation and loss of fat and muscle mass. Fn14 signaling in the tumor,rather than host,is responsible for inducing this cachexia because tumors in Fn14- and TWEAK-deficient hosts developed cachexia that was comparable to that of wild-type mice. These results extend the role of Fn14 in wound repair and muscle development to involvement in the etiology of cachexia and indicate that Fn14 antibodies may be a promising approach to treat cachexia,thereby extending lifespan and improving quality of life for cancer patients. View Publication

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD),an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC),can cause carcinogenesis,immunosuppression,and teratogenesis,through a ligand-activated transcription factor,the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Despite remarkable recent advances in stem cell biology,the influence of TCDD on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs),which possess the ability to reconstitute long-term multilineage hematopoiesis,has not been well investigated. In this study we examined the influence of TCDD on HSCs enriched for CD34(-),c-kit(+),Sca-1(+),lineage negative (CD34-KSL) cells. The number of the CD34-KSL cells was found to be increased about four-fold upon a single oral administration of TCDD (40 micro g/kg body weight). Surprisingly,we found that these TCDD-treated cells almost lost long-term reconstitution activity. This defect was not present in AhR(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that modulation of AhR/ARNT system activity may have an effect on HSC function or survival. View Publication

There is an urgent need for new and advanced approaches to modeling the pathological mechanisms of complex human neurological disorders. This is underscored by the decline in pharmaceutical research and development efficiency resulting in a relative decrease in new drug launches in the last several decades. Induced pluripotent stem cells represent a new tool to overcome many of the shortcomings of conventional methods,enabling live human neural cell modeling of complex conditions relating to aberrant neurodevelopment,such as schizophrenia,epilepsy and autism as well as age-associated neurodegeneration. This review considers the current status of induced pluripotent stem cell-based modeling of neurological disorders,canvassing proven and putative advantages,current constraints,and future prospects of next-generation culture systems for biomedical research and translation. View Publication

The trypsin-like serine protease marapsin is a member of the large protease gene cluster at human chromosome 16p13.3,which also contains the structurally related proteases testisin,tryptase epsilon,tryptase gamma,and EOS. To gain insight into the biological functions of marapsin,we undertook a detailed gene expression analysis. It showed that marapsin expression was restricted to tissues containing stratified squamous epithelia and was absent or only weakly expressed in all other tissues,including the pancreas. Marapsin was constitutively expressed in nonkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelia of human esophagus,tonsil,cervix,larynx,and cornea. In the keratinizing stratified squamous epidermis of skin,however,its expression was induced only during epidermal hyperproliferation,such as in psoriasis and in murine wound healing. In fact,marapsin was the second most strongly up-regulated protease in psoriatic lesions,where expression was localized to the upper region of the hyperplastic epidermis. Similarly,in the hyperproliferative epithelium of regenerating murine skin wounds,marapsin localized to the suprabasal layers,where keratinocytes undergo squamous differentiation. The transient up-regulation of marapsin,which closely correlated with re-epithelialization,was virtually absent in a genetic mouse model of delayed wound closure. These results suggested a function during the process of re-epithelialization. Furthermore,in reconstituted human epidermis,a model system of epidermal differentiation,members of the IL-20 subfamily of cytokines,such as IL-22,induced marapsin expression. Consistent with a physiologic role in marapsin regulation,IL-22 was also strongly expressed in re-epithelializing skin wounds. Marapsin's restricted expression,localization,and cytokine-inducible expression suggest a role in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes in hyperproliferating squamous epithelia. View Publication

Cardiomyocytes (CM) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are used for cardio-toxicity evaluation and tested in many preclinical trials for their potential use in regenerative therapeutics. As more efficient CM differentiation protocols are developed,reliable automated platforms for characterization and detection are needed. An automated time-resolved video analysis and management system (TVAMS) has been developed for the evaluation of hESC differentiation to CM. The system was used for monitoring the kinetics of embryoid bodies (EB) generation (numbers and size) and differentiation into beating EBs (percentage beating area and beating EB count) in two differentiation protocols. We show that the percentage beating areas of EBs (from total area of the EBs) is a more sensitive and better predictor of CM differentiation efficiency than percentage of beating EBs (from total EBs) as the percentage beating areas of EBs correlates with cardiac troponin-T and myosin heavy chain expression levels. TVAMS can also be used to evaluate the effect of drugs and inhibitors (e.g. isoproterenol and ZD7288) on CM beating frequency. TVAMS can reliably replace the commonly practiced,time consuming,manual counting of total and beating EBs during CM differentiation. TVAMS is a high-throughput non-invasive video imaging platform that can be applied for the development of new CM differentiation protocols,as well as a tool to conduct CM toxicology assays. View Publication

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates the carcinogenicity of a family of environmental contaminants,the most potent being 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Increased incidence of lymphoma and leukemia in humans is associated with TCDD exposure. Although AhR activation by TCDD has profound effects on the immune system,precise cellular and molecular mechanisms have yet to be determined. These studies tested the hypothesis that alteration of marrow populations following treatment of mice with TCDD is due to an effect on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Treatment with TCDD resulted in an increased number and proliferation of bone marrow (BM) populations enriched for HSCs. There was a time-dependent decrease in B-lineage cells with a concomitant increase in myeloid populations. The decrease in the B-cell lineage colony-forming unit-preB progenitors along with a transient increase in myeloid progenitors were consistent with a skewing of lineage development from lymphoid to myeloid populations. However,HSCs from TCDD-treated mice exhibited diminished capacity to reconstitute and home to marrow of irradiated recipients. AhR messenger RNA was expressed in progenitor subsets but is downregulated during HSC proliferation. This result was consistent with the lack of response following the exposure of 5-fluorouracil-treated mice to TCDD. The direct exposure of cultured BM cells to TCDD inhibited the growth of immature hematopoietic progenitor cells,but not more mature lineage-restricted progenitors. Overall,these data are consistent with the hypothesis that TCDD,through AhR activation,alters the ability of HSCs to respond appropriately to signals within the marrow microenvironment. View Publication