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T helper 17 (Th17) cells are pathogenic in many inflammatory diseases,but also support the integrity of the intestinal barrier in a non-inflammatory manner. It is unclear what distinguishes inflammatory Th17 cells elicited by pathogens and tissue-resident homeostatic Th17 cells elicited by commensals. Here,we compared the characteristics of Th17 cells differentiating in response to commensal bacteria (SFB) to those differentiating in response to a pathogen (Citrobacter rodentium). Homeostatic Th17 cells exhibited little plasticity towards expression of inflammatory cytokines,were characterized by a metabolism typical of quiescent or memory T cells,and did not participate in inflammatory processes. In contrast,infection-induced Th17 cells showed extensive plasticity towards pro-inflammatory cytokines,disseminated widely into the periphery,and engaged aerobic glycolysis in addition to oxidative phosphorylation typical for inflammatory effector cells. These findings will help ensure that future therapies directed against inflammatory Th17 cells do not inadvertently damage the resident gut population. View Publication

Tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) is one of four identified members of the TIMP family. We evaluated the role of TIMP1 in gastric cancer using human and mouse tissues along with gastric organoids and in vitro cell models. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR,we detected significant overexpression of TIMP1 in the human gastric cancer samples,as compared to normal stomach samples (P {\textless} 0.01). We also detected overexpression of Timp1 in neoplastic gastric lesions of the Tff1-knockout (KO) mice,as compared to normal stomach tissues. Reconstitution of TFF1 in human gastric cancer cell lines led to a significant decrease in the mRNA expression level of TIMP1 (P {\textless} 0.05). In vitro analysis demonstrated that TIMP1 mRNA expression is induced by TNF-alpha and activation of NF-kappaB whereas inhibition of NF-kappaB using BAY11-7082 led to inhibition of NF-kappaB and downregulation of TIMP1. Western blot analysis confirmed the decrease in TIMP1 protein level following reconstitution of TFF1. By using immunofluorescence,we showed nuclear localization of NF-kappaB and expression of TIMP1 in gastric organoids established from the Tff1-KO stomach where reconstitution of Tff1 using recombinant protein led to a notable reduction in the expression of both NF-kappaB and TIMP1. Using EDU assay,as a measure of proliferating cells,we found that TIMP1 promotes cellular proliferation whereas TFF1 reconstitution leads to a significant decrease in cellular proliferation (P {\textless} 0.05). In summary,our findings demonstrate overexpression of TIMP1 in mouse and human gastric cancers through NF-kB-dependent mechanism. We also show that TFF1 suppresses NF-kappaB and inhibits TIMP1-mediated proliferative potential in gastric cancer. View Publication

Antibodies secreted into mucosal barriers serve to protect the host from a variety of pathogens,and are the basis for successful vaccines1. In type I mucosa (such as the intestinal tract),dimeric IgA secreted by local plasma cells is transported through polymeric immunoglobulin receptors2 and mediates robust protection against viruses3,4. However,owing to the paucity of polymeric immunoglobulin receptors and plasma cells,how and whether antibodies are delivered to the type II mucosa represented by the lumen of the lower female reproductive tract remains unclear. Here,using genital herpes infection in mice,we show that primary infection does not establish plasma cells in the lamina propria of the female reproductive tract. Instead,upon secondary challenge with herpes simplex virus 2,circulating memory B cells that enter the female reproductive tract serve as the source of rapid and robust antibody secretion into the lumen of this tract. CD4 tissue-resident memory T cells secrete interferon-gamma,which induces expression of chemokines,including CXCL9 and CXCL10. Circulating memory B cells are recruited to the vaginal mucosa in a CXCR3-dependent manner,and secrete virus-specific IgG2b,IgG2c and IgA into the lumen. These results reveal that circulating memory B cells act as a rapidly inducible source of mucosal antibodies in the female reproductive tract. View Publication

Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) exaggerates inflammation and tissue injury in sepsis. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are released by activated neutrophils during sepsis. NETs contribute to pathogen clearance,but excessive NET formation (NETosis) causes inflammation and tissue damage. Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is associated with NETosis by increasing histone citrullination and chromatin decondensation. We hypothesized that CIRP induces NETosis in the lungs during sepsis via upregulating PAD4 expression. Sepsis was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and CIRP-/- mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). After 20 h of CLP induction,NETs in the lungs of WT and CIRP-/- mice were quantified by flow cytometry by staining the single cell suspensions with MPO and CitH3 Abs. PAD4 expression in the lungs of WT and CIRP-/- mice after sepsis was assessed by Western blotting. In vitro effects of recombinant mouse (rm) CIRP for NETosis and PAD4 expression in the bone marrow-derived neutrophils (BMDN) were assessed by flow cytometry and Western blotting,respectively. After 20 h of CLP,NETosis in the lungs was significantly decreased in CIRP-/- mice compared to WT mice,which also correlated with the decreased PAD4 expression. Intratracheal administration of rmCIRP into WT mice significantly increased NETosis and PAD4 expression in the lungs compared to vehicle-injected mice. In vitro culture of BMDN with rmCIRP significantly increased NETosis and PAD4 expression compared to PBS-treated control. Fluorescence microscopy revealed typical web-like structures consistent with NETs in rmCIRP-treated BMDN. Thus,CIRP serves as a novel inducer of NETosis via PAD4 during sepsis. View Publication

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence is a tightly regulated process crucial for hematopoietic regeneration,which requires a healthy and supportive microenvironmental niche within the bone marrow (BM). Here,we show that deletion of Ptpn21,a protein tyrosine phosphatase highly expressed in HSCs,induces stem cell egress from the niche due to impaired retention within the BM. Ptpn21-/- HSCs exhibit enhanced mobility,decreased quiescence,increased apoptosis,and defective reconstitution capacity. Ptpn21 deletion also decreased HSC stiffness and increased physical deformability,in part by dephosphorylating Spetin1 (Tyr246),a poorly described component of the cytoskeleton. Elevated phosphorylation of Spetin1 in Ptpn21-/- cells impaired cytoskeletal remodeling,contributed to cortical instability,and decreased cell rigidity. Collectively,these findings show that Ptpn21 maintains cellular mechanics,which is correlated with its important functions in HSC niche retention and preservation of hematopoietic regeneration capacity. View Publication

CD4 T cells from HIV-1 infected patients die at excessive rates compared to those from uninfected patients,causing immunodeficiency. We previously identified a dominant negative ligand that antagonizes the TRAIL-dependent pathway of cell death,which we called TRAILshort. Because the TRAIL pathway has been implicated in CD4 T cell death occurring during HIV-1 infection,we used short hairpin RNA knockdown,CRISPR deletion,or Abs specific for TRAILshort to determine the effect of inhibiting TRAILshort on the outcome of experimental acute HIV infection in vitro. Strikingly,all three approaches to TRAILshort deletion/inhibition enhanced HIV-induced death of both infected and uninfected human CD4 T cells. Thus,TRAILshort impacts T cell dynamics during HIV infection,and inhibiting TRAILshort causes more HIV-infected and uninfected bystander cells to die. TRAILshort is,therefore,a host-derived,host-adaptive mechanism to limit the effects of TRAIL-induced cell death. Further studies on the effects of TRAILshort in other disease states are warranted. View Publication

Immune activation may underlie the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),but the evidence is conflicting. We examined whether peripheral CD4+ T-cells from IBS patients demonstrated immune activation and changes in cytokine production. To gain mechanistic insight,we examined whether immune activation correlated with psychological stress and changing symptoms over time. IBS patients (n = 29) and healthy volunteers (HV; n = 29) completed symptom and psychological questionnaires. IBS patients had a significant increase in CD4+ T-cells expressing the gut homing marker integrin beta7 (p = 0.023) and lymphoid marker CD62L (p = 0.026) compared to HV. Furthermore,phytohaemagglutinin stimulated CD4+ T-cells from IBS-D patients demonstrated increased TNFalpha secretion when compared to HV (p = 0.044). Increased psychological scores in IBS did not correlate with TNFalpha production,while stress hormones inhibited cytokine secretion from CD4+ T-cells of HV in vitro. IBS symptoms,but not markers of immune activation,decreased over time. CD4+ T-cells from IBS-D patients exhibit immune activation,but this did not appear to correlate with psychological stress measurements or changing symptoms over time. This could suggest that immune activation is a surrogate of an initial trigger and/or ongoing parallel peripheral mechanisms. View Publication

Various preclinical models have been developed to clarify the pathophysiology of prostate cancer (PCa). Traditional PCa cell lines from clinical metastatic lesions,as exemplified by DU-145,PC-3,and LNCaP cells,are useful tools to define mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Cell line-based experiments,however,have limitations for preclinical studies because those cells are basically adapted to 2-dimensional monolayer culture conditions,in which the majority of primary PCa cells cannot survive. Recent tissue engineering enables generation of PCa patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from both primary and metastatic lesions. Compared with fresh PCa tissue transplantation in athymic mice,co-injection of PCa tissues with extracellular matrix in highly immunodeficient mice has remarkably improved the success rate of PDX generation. PDX models have advantages to appropriately recapitulate the molecular diversity,cellular heterogeneity,and histology of original patient tumors. In contrast to PDX models,patient-derived organoid and spheroid PCa models in 3-dimensional culture are more feasible tools for in vitro studies for retaining the characteristics of patient tumors. In this article,we review PCa preclinical model cell lines and their sublines,PDXs,and patient-derived organoid and spheroid models. These PCa models will be applied to the development of new strategies for cancer precision medicine. View Publication

A large body of evidence suggests that B-cell lymphomas with enhanced Myc expression are associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis,which makes Myc a compelling therapeutic target. Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B),a main hydrolyzer of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in B cells,was shown to be involved in cell survival and drug resistance in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL). However,the interrelationship between Myc and PDE4B remains unclear. Here,we first demonstrate the presence of the Myc-PDE4B feed-forward loop,in which Myc and PDE4B mutually reinforce the expression of each other. Next,the combined targeting of Myc and PDE4 synergistically prevented the proliferation and survival of B lymphoma cells in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model. We finally recapitulated this combinatorial effect in Emu-myc transgenic mice; co-inhibition of Myc and PDE4 suppressed lymphomagenesis and restored B cell development to the wild type level that was associated with marked reduction in Myc levels,unveiling the critical role of the Myc-PDE4B amplification loop in the regulation of Myc expression and the pathogenesis of B cell lymphoma. These findings suggest that the disruption of the Myc-PDE4B circuitry can be exploited in the treatment of B cell malignancies. View Publication

Serrated adenocarcinoma,an alternative pathway for colorectal cancer (CRC) development,accounts for 15{\%}-30{\%} of all CRCs and is aggressive and treatment resistant. We show that the expression of atypical protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta) and PKClambda/iota was reduced in human serrated tumors. Simultaneous inactivation of the encoding genes in the mouse intestinal epithelium resulted in spontaneous serrated tumorigenesis that progressed to advanced cancer with a strongly reactive and immunosuppressive stroma. Whereas epithelial PKClambda/iota deficiency led to immunogenic cell death and the infiltration of CD8+ T cells,which repressed tumor initiation,PKCzeta loss impaired interferon and CD8+ T cell responses,which resulted in tumorigenesis. Combined treatment with a TGF-beta receptor inhibitor plus anti-PD-L1 checkpoint blockade showed synergistic curative activity. Analysis of human samples supported the relevance of these kinases in the immunosurveillance defects of human serrated CRC. These findings provide insight into avenues for the detection and treatment of this poor-prognosis subtype of CRC. View Publication