技术资料

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for cartilage repair therapy due to their self-renewal,chondrogenic,and immunomodulatory capacities. It is widely recognized that a shift from fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing medium toward a fully chemically defined serum-free (SF) medium would be necessary for clinical applications of MSCs to eliminate issues such as xeno-contamination and batch-to-batch variation. However,there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the evaluation of the chondrogenic ability of SF-expanded MSCs (SF-MSCs). In this study,we compared the in vivo regeneration effect of FBS-MSCs and SF-MSCs in a rat osteochondral defect model and found poor cartilage repair outcomes for SF-MSCs. Consequently,a comparative analysis of FBS-MSCs and SF-MSCs expanded using two SF media,MesenCult™-ACF (ACF),and Custom StemPro™ MSC SFM XenoFree (XF) was conducted in vitro. Our results show that SF-expanded MSCs constitute variations in morphology,surface markers,senescence status,differentiation capacity,and senescence/apoptosis status. Highly proliferative MSCs supported by SF medium do not always correlate to their chondrogenic and cartilage repair ability. Prior determination of the SF medium’s ability to support the chondrogenic ability of expanded MSCs is therefore crucial when choosing an SF medium to manufacture MSCs for clinical application in cartilage repair. View Publication

Despite a record number of clinical studies investigating various anti-myeloma treatments,the 5-year survival rate for multiple myeloma (MM) patients in the US is only 55%,and almost all patients relapse. Poor patient outcomes demonstrate that myeloma cells are “born to survive” which means they can adapt and evolve following treatment. Thus,new therapeutic approaches to combat survival mechanisms and target treatment resistance are required. Importantly,Mcl-1,anti-apoptotic protein,is required for the development of MM and treatment resistance. This study looks at the possibility of KS18,a selective Mcl-1 inhibitor,to treat MM and overcome resistance. Our investigation demonstrates that KS18 effectively induces cell death in MM by dual regulatory mechanisms targeting the Mcl-1 protein at both transcriptional and post-translational levels. Specifically,KS18 suppresses Mcl-1 activation via STAT-3 pathway and promotes Mcl-1 phosphorylation/ubiquitination/proteasome-dependent protein degradation (UPS). Significantly,KS18 triggered caspase-dependent apoptosis in MM patient samples and bortezomib-resistant cells,synergizing with venetoclax to boost apoptosis. KS18 promises to overcome bortezomib and venetoclax resistance and re-sensitize myeloma cells to chemotherapy. Furthermore,the study shows the tremendous impact of KS18 in inhibiting colony formation in bortezomib-resistant cells and demonstrates significant tumor shrinkage in KS18-treated NSG mice without notable toxicity signs after 4 weeks of therapy with a single acceptable dose each week,indicating its powerful anti-neoplastic and anti-resistance characteristics. This study strongly implies that KS18 may treat MM and provide new hope to patients who are experiencing recurrence or resistance. View Publication

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors. In recent years,a pharmacological mouse model of ASD involving maternal administration of valproic acid (VPA) has become widely used. Newborn pups in this model show an abnormal balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) signaling in neurons and exhibit ASD-like behavior. However,the molecular basis of this model and its implications for the pathogenesis of ASD in humans remain unknown. Using quantitative secretome analysis,we found that the level of leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein 2 (Lingo2) was upregulated in the conditioned medium of VPA model neurons. This upregulation was associated with excitatory synaptic organizer activity. The secreted form of the extracellular domain of Lingo2 (sLingo2) is produced by the transmembrane metalloprotease ADAM10 through proteolytic processing. sLingo2 was found to induce the formation of excitatory synapses in both mouse and human neurons,and treatment with sLingo2 resulted in an increased frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in human neurons. These findings suggest that sLingo2 is an excitatory synapse organizer involved in ASD,and further understanding of the mechanisms by which sLingo2 induces excitatory synaptogenesis is expected to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of ASD. Subject terms: Autism spectrum disorders,Neuroscience View Publication

Wound healing in adults largely depends on the functional state of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Human fetal tissues at the early stages of development are known to heal quickly with a full-quality restoration of the original structure. The differences in the molecular mechanisms that determine the functional activity of mesodermal cells in fetuses and adults remain virtually unknown. Using two independent human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines,we examined the effects of the initial WNT and BMP activation on the differentiation of iPSCs via mesodermal progenitors into MSCs and highlighted the functions of these cells that are altered by the proinflammatory microenvironment. The WNT-induced mesoderm commitment of the iPSCs enhanced the expression of paraxial mesoderm (PM)-specific markers,while the BMP4-primed iPSCs exhibited increased levels of lateral mesoderm (LM)-specific genes. The inflammatory status and migration rate of the isogenic iPSC-derived mesoderm cells were assessed via gene expression analysis and scratch assay under the receptor-dependent activation of the proinflammatory IFN-γ or TNF-α signaling pathway. Reduced IDO1 and ICAM1 expression levels were detected in the WNT- and BMP-induced MSC progenitors compared to the isogenic MSCs in response to stimulation with IFN-γ and TNF-α. The WNT- and BMP-induced MSC progenitors exhibited a higher migration rate than isogenic MSCs upon IFN-γ exposure. The established isogenic cellular model will provide new opportunities to elucidate the mechanisms of regeneration and novel therapeutics for wound healing. View Publication

NAD(P)-dependent steroid dehydrogenase-like protein (NSDHL),which is involved in breast tumor growth and metastasis,has been implicated in the maintenance of cancer stem cells. However,its role in regulating breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSCs) remains unclear. We have previously reported the clinical significance of NSDHL in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER +) breast cancer. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which NSDHL regulates the capacity of BCSCs in the ER + human breast cancer cell line,MCF-7. NSDHL knockdown suppressed tumor spheroid formation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells grown on ultralow-attachment plates. RNA sequencing revealed that NSDHL knockdown induced widespread transcriptional changes in the MCF-7 spheroids. TGF-β signaling pathway was the most significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway (fold change ≥ 2,P ≤ 0.05) identified in NSDHL-knockdown MCF-7 spheroids compared with the control. In orthotopic tumor models injected with NSDHL-knockdown MCF-7 spheroids,tumor initiation and growth were strongly suppressed compared with those in the control. BCSC populations with CD44+/CD24- and CD49f+/EpCAM + phenotypes and high ALDH activity were decreased in NSDHL-knockdown MCF-7 spheroids and xenograft tumors relative to controls,along with decreased secretion of TGF-β1 and 3,phosphorylation of Smad2/3,and expression of SOX2. In RNA-sequencing data from The (TCGA) database,a positive correlation between the expression of NSDHL and SOX2 was found in luminal-type breast cancer specimens ( n = 998). Our findings revealed that NSDHL plays an important role in maintaining the BCSC population and tumor-initiating capacity of ER-positive MCF-7 spheroids,suggesting that NSDHL is an attractive therapeutic target for eliminating BCSCs,thus preventing breast cancer initiation and progression. Our findings suggest that NSDHL regulates the BCSC/tumor-initiating cell population in MCF-7 spheroids and xenograft tumors. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-024-13143-3. View Publication

A comprehensive understanding of the cardio-spleen-bone marrow immune cell axis is essential for elucidating the alterations occurring during the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigates the dynamics of immune cell kinetics in DM after myocardial infarction (MI) over time. MI was induced in diabetic and healthy control groups using C57BL/N6 mice,with sacrifices occurring at days 1,3,7,and 28 post-MI to collect heart,peripheral blood (PB),spleen,and bone marrow (BM) samples. Cell suspensions from each organ were isolated and analyzed via flow cytometry. Additionally,the endothelial progenitor cell-colony-forming assay (EPC-CFA) was performed using mononuclear cells derived from BM,PB,and the spleen. The results indicated that,despite normal production in BM and the spleen,CD45+ cells were lower in the PB of DM mice at days 1 to 3. Further analysis revealed a reduction in total and pro-inflammatory neutrophils (N1s) in PB at days 1 to 3 and in the spleen at days 3 to 7 in DM mice,suggesting that DM-induced alterations in splenic neutrophils fail to meet the demand in PB and ischemic tissues. Infiltrating macrophages (total,M1,M2) were reduced at day 3 in the DM-ischemic heart,with total and M1 (days 1–3) and M2 (days 3–7) macrophages being significantly decreased in DM-PB compared to controls,indicating impaired macrophage recruitment and polarization in DM. Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in the heart were higher from days 1 to 7,which corresponded with the enhanced recruitment of CD8+ cells from days 1 to 28 in the DM-infarcted myocardium. Total CD4+ cells decreased in DM-PB at days 1 to 3,suggesting a delayed adaptive immune response to MI. B cells were reduced in PB at days 1 to 3,in myocardium at day 3,and in the spleen at day 7,indicating compromised mobilization from BM. EPC-CFA results showed a marked decrease in definitive EPC colonies in the spleen and BM from days 1 to 28 in DM mice compared to controls in vitro,highlighting that DM severely impairs EPC colony-forming activity by limiting the differentiation of EPCs from primitive to definitive forms. Taking together,this study underscores significant disruptions in the cardio-spleen-bone marrow immune cell axis following MI in DM,revealing delayed innate and adaptive immune responses along with impaired EPC differentiation. View Publication

Self-renewal programs in leukemia stem cells (LSCs) predict poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We identify CD4 + T cell-derived interleukin (IL)-21 as an important negative regulator of self-renewal of LSCs. IL-21/IL-21R signaling favors asymmetric cell division and differentiation in LSCs through the activation of p38-MAPK signaling,resulting in reduced LSC numbers and significantly prolonged survival in murine AML models. In human AML,serum IL-21 at diagnosis is identified as an independent positive prognostic biomarker for outcome and correlates with improved survival and higher complete remission rates in patients that underwent high-dose chemotherapy. IL-21 treatment inhibits primary LSC function and enhances the effect of cytarabine and CD70 CAR T cell treatment on LSCs in vitro . Low-dose IL-21 treatment prolongs the survival of AML mice in syngeneic and xenograft experiments. Therefore,promoting IL-21/IL-21R signaling on LSCs may be an approach to reduce stemness and increase differentiation in AML. View Publication

In clinical chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy,one of the strongest correlates of favorable patient responses is lower levels of differentiation in T cells from the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) starting material or the CAR T cell product. T cells from older patients are inherently more differentiated,but we hypothesised that specific activation protocols could be used to limit CAR T cell differentiation during manufacturing,particularly in older patients. We used PBMCs from young (20–30 years old) and older (60+ years old) healthy donors to generate CAR T cells using two activation protocols: soluble anti‐(α) CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) vs immune complexes of αCD3 and αCD28 mAbs. Products were assessed for yield,function and differentiation,which was used as a measure of CAR T cell quality. T cells in PBMCs were assessed for CD28 expression and correlative analyses were performed. Older samples generated fewer,more differentiated CAR T cells than young samples,and the αCD3/CD28 mAb protocol exacerbated this,further reducing yield and quality. CD28 expression by T cells correlated with CAR T cell differentiation,but T cell differentiation in PBMC starting material was a stronger correlate of CAR T cell differentiation. Choice of activation protocol can substantially impact on the yield and quality of CAR T cells during manufacturing. This is a key consideration for older patients whose samples already generate a poorer yield and lower quality of CAR T cells. View Publication

The hippocampus is associated with mood disorders,and the activation of quiescent neurogenesis has been linked to anxiolytic effects. Near-infrared (NIR) light has shown potential to improve learning and memory in human and animal models. Despite the vast amount of information regarding the effect of visible light,there is a significant gap in our understanding regarding the response of neural stem cells (NSCs) to NIR stimulation,particularly in anxiety-like behavior. The present study aimed to develop a new optical manipulation approach to stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis and understand the mechanisms underlying its anxiolytic effects. We used 940 nm NIR (40 Hz) light exposure to stimulate hippocampal stem cells in C57BL/6 mice. The enhanced proliferation and astrocyte differentiation of NIR-treated NSCs were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation and immunofluorescence assays. Additionally,we evaluated calcium activity of NIR light-treated astrocytes using GCaMP6f recording through fluorescence fiber photometry. The effects of NIR illumination of the hippocampus on anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using elevated plus maze and open-field test. NIR light effectively promoted NSC proliferation and astrocyte differentiation via the OPN4 photoreceptor. Furthermore,NIR stimulation significantly enhanced neurogenesis and calcium-dependent astrocytic activity. Moreover,activating hippocampal astrocytes with 40-Hz NIR light substantially improved anxiety-like behaviors in mice. We found that flickering NIR (940 nm/40Hz) light illumination improved neurogenesis in the hippocampus with anxiolytic effects. This innovative approach holds promise as a novel preventive treatment for depression. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-024-04114-3. View Publication

Irradiation with X-rays has been widely utilized in the clinical treatment of solid tumors and certain hematopoietic malignancies. However,this method fails to completely distinguish between malignant and normal cells. Prolonged or repeated exposure to radiation,whether due to occupational hazards or therapeutical interventions,can cause damage to normal tissues,particularly impacting the hematopoietic system. Therefore,it is important to investigate the effects of total body irradiation on the hematopoietic system of mice and to compare the inhibitory effects of various doses of irradiation on this system. In this study,we primarily employed flow cytometry to analyze mature lineage cells in the peripheral blood,as well as immature hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the bone marrow and spleen. Additionally,we evaluated the multilineage differentiation capacity of HSPCs through colony-forming cell assays. Our results indicated that peripheral B and T cells demonstrated increased sensitivity to irradiation,with significant cell death observed 1-day post-irradiation. Common lymphoid progenitor cells exhibited greater radiotolerance compared to other progenitor cell types,enabling them to maintain a certain population even at elevated doses. Moreover,notable differences were observed between intramedullary and extramedullary hematopoietic stem cells and common lymphoid progenitor cells regarding the extent of damage and recovery rate following irradiation. The multilineage differentiation capacity of HSPCs was also compromised during radiation exposure. In conclusion,different types of mature blood cells,along with immature HSPCs,exhibited varying degrees of sensitivity and tolerance to irradiation,resulting in distinct alterations in cell percentages and numbers. View Publication

Although acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affects hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-supportive microenvironment,it is largely unknown whether leukemia-modified bone marrow (BM) microenvironment can be remodeled to support normal hematopoiesis after complete remission (CR). As a key element of BM microenvironment,endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) provide a feasible way to investigate BM microenvironment remodeling. Here,we find reduced and dysfunctional BM EPCs in AML patients,characterized by impaired angiogenesis and high ROS levels,could be partially remodeled after CR and improved by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Importantly,HSC-supporting ability of BM EPCs is partially recovered,whereas leukemia-supporting ability is decreased in CR patients. Mechanistically,the transcriptome characteristics of leukemia-modified BM EPCs return to near-normal after CR. In a classic AML mouse and chemotherapy model,BM vasculature and normal hematopoiesis are reversed after CR. In summary,we provide further insights into how leukemia-modified BM microenvironment can be remodeled to support normal hematopoiesis after CR,which can be further improved by NAC. Subject terms: Translational research,Acute myeloid leukaemia View Publication

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown remarkable clinical efficacy,they can also induce a paradoxical cancer acceleration,known as hyperprogressive disease (HPD),whose causative mechanisms are still unclear. This study investigated the mechanisms of ICI resistance in an HPD-NSCLC model. Two primary cell cultures were established from samples of a NSCLC patient,before ICI initiation (“baseline”,NSCLC-B) and during HPD (“hyperprogression”,NSCLC-H). The cell lines were phenotypically and molecularly characterized through immunofluorescence,Western Blotting and RNA-Seq analysis. To assess cell plasticity and aggressiveness,cellular growth patterns were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo through 2D and 3D cell growth assays and patient-derived xenografts establishment. In vitro investigations,including the evaluation of cell sensitivity to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and cell response to PD-L1 modulation,were conducted to explore the influence of these factors on cell plasticity regulation. NSCLC-H exhibited increased expression of specific CD44 isoforms and a more aggressive phenotype,including organoid formation ability,compared to NSCLC-B. Plastic changes in NSCLC-H were well described by a deep transcriptome shift,that also affected IFN-γ–related genes,including PD-L1. IFN-γ–mediated cell growth inhibition was compromised in both 2D-cultured NSCLC-B and NSCLC-H cells. Further,the cytokine induced a partial activation of both type I and type II IFN-pathway mediators,together with a striking increase in NSCLC-B growth in 3D cell culture systems. Finally,low IFN-γ doses and PD-L1 modulation both promoted plastic changes in NSCLC-B,increasing CD44 expression and its ability to produce spheres. Our findings identified plasticity as a relevant hallmark of ICI-mediated HPD by demonstrating that ICIs can modulate the IFN-γ and PD-L1 pathways,driving tumor cell plasticity and fueling HPD development. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-024-06023-8. View Publication