技术资料

Murine models of myeloid neoplasia show how leukemia infiltration alters the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche to reinforce malignancy at the expense of healthy hematopoiesis. However,little is known about the bone marrow architecture in humans and its impact on clinical outcome. Here,we dissect the bone marrow niche in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at first diagnosis. We combined immunohistochemical stainings with global gene expression analyses from these AML patients and correlated them with clinical features. Mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells (MSPCs) lost quiescence and significantly expanded in the bone marrow of AML patients. Strikingly,their HSC- and niche-regulating capacities were impaired with significant inhibition of osteogenesis and bone formation in a cell contact-dependent manner through inhibition of cytoplasmic $\beta$-catenin. Assessment of bone metabolism by quantifying peripheral blood osteocalcin levels revealed 30{\%} lower expression in AML patients at first diagnosis than in non-leukemic donors. Furthermore,patients with osteocalcin levels ≤11 ng/mL showed inferior overall survival with a 1-year survival rate of 38.7{\%} whereas patients with higher osteocalcin levels reached a survival rate of 66.8{\%}. These novel insights into the human AML bone marrow microenvironment help translate findings from preclinical models and detect new targets which might pave the way for niche-targeted therapies in AML patients. View Publication

Air-liquid interface (ALI) culture of nasal epithelial cells is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and research of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Ex vivo samples often display secondary dyskinesia from cell damage during sampling,infection or inflammation confounding PCD diagnostic results. ALI culture enables regeneration of healthy cilia facilitating differentiation of primary from secondary ciliary dyskinesia. We describe a revised ALI culture method adopted from April 2018 across three collaborating PCD diagnostic sites,including current University Hospital Southampton COVID-19 risk mitigation measures,and present results. Two hundred and forty nasal epithelial cell samples were seeded for ALI culture and 199 (82.9{\%}) were ciliated. Fifty-four of 83 (63.9{\%}) ex vivo samples which were originally equivocal or insufficient provided diagnostic information following in vitro culture. Surplus basal epithelial cells from 181 nasal brushing samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen; 39 samples were ALI-cultured after cryostorage and all ciliated. The ciliary beat patterns of ex vivo samples (by high-speed video microscopy) were recapitulated,scanning electron microscopy demonstrated excellent ciliation,and cilia could be immuno-fluorescently labelled (anti-alpha-tubulin and anti-RSPH4a) in representative cases that were ALI-cultured after cryostorage. In summary,our ALI culture protocol provides high ciliation rates across three centres,minimising patient recall for repeat brushing biopsies and improving diagnostic certainty. Cryostorage of surplus diagnostic samples was successful,facilitating PCD research. View Publication

Skeletal aging is a complex process,characterized by a decrease in bone formation,an increase in marrow fat,and stem cell exhaustion. Loss of H3K9me3,a heterochromatin mark,has been proposed to be associated with aging. Here,we report that loss of KDM4B in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exacerbated skeletal aging and osteoporosis by reducing bone formation and increasing marrow adiposity via increasing H3K9me3. KDM4B epigenetically coordinated $\beta$-catenin/Smad1-mediated transcription by removing repressive H3K9me3. Importantly,KDM4B ablation impaired MSC self-renewal and promoted MSC exhaustion by inducing senescence-associated heterochromatin foci formation,providing a mechanistic explanation for stem cell exhaustion with aging. Moreover,while KDM4B was required for parathyroid hormone-mediated bone anabolism,KDM4B depletion accelerated bone loss and marrow adiposity induced by a high-fat diet. Our results suggest that the epigenetic rejuvenation and reversing bone-fat imbalance might be new strategies for preventing and treating skeletal aging and osteoporosis by activating KDM4B in MSCs. View Publication

Eltrombopag is a first-in-class,orally bioavailable,small-molecule,nonpeptide agonist of the thrombopoietin receptor (TpoR),which is being developed as a treatment for thrombocytopenia of various etiologies. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the activity of eltrombopag is dependent on expression of TpoR,which activates the signaling transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways. The objective of this preclinical study is to determine if eltrombopag interacts selectively with the TpoR to facilitate megakaryocyte differentiation in platelets. Functional thrombopoietic activity was demonstrated by the proliferation and differentiation of primary human CD34(+) bone marrow cells into CD41(+) megakaryocytes. Measurements in platelets in several species indicated that eltrombopag specifically activates only the human and chimpanzee STAT pathways. The in vivo activity of eltrombopag was demonstrated by an increase of up to 100{\%} in platelet numbers when administered orally (10 mg/kg per day for 5 days) to chimpanzees. In conclusion,eltrombopag interacts selectively with the TpoR without competing with Tpo,leading to the increased proliferation and differentiation of human bone marrow progenitor cells into megakaryocytes and increased platelet production. These results suggest that eltrombopag and Tpo may be able to act additively to increase platelet production. View Publication

Metastases kill 90{\%} of cancer patients. It is thus a major challenge in cancer therapy to inhibit the spreading of tumor cells from primary tumor sites to those particular organs where metastases are likely to occur. Whereas the actin cytoskeleton is a key component involved in cell migration,agents targeting actin dynamics have been relatively poorly investigated. Consequently,valuable in vitro pharmacological tools are needed to selectively identify this type of agent. In response to the absence of any standardized process,the present work aims to develop a multi-assay strategy for screening actin-affecting drugs with anti-migratory potentials. To validate our approach,we used two cancer cell lines (MCF7 and A549) and three actin-affecting drugs (cytochalasin D,latrunculin A,and jasplakinolide). We quantified the effects of these drugs on the kinetics of actin polymerization in tubes (by means of spectrofluorimetry) and on the dynamics of actin cytoskeletons within whole cells (by means of fluorescence microscopy). Using quantitative videomicroscopy,we investigated the actual effects of the drugs on cell motility. Finally,the combined drug effects on cell motility and cell growth were evaluated by means of a scratch-wound assay. While our results showed concordant drug-induced effects on actin polymerization occurring in vitro in test tubes and within whole cells,the whole cell assay appeared more sensitive than the tube assay. The inhibition of actin polymerization induced by cytochalasin D was paralleled by a decrease in cell motility for both cell types. In the case of jasplakinolide,which induces actin polymerization,while it significantly enhanced the locomotion of the A549 cells,it significantly inhibited that of the MCF-7 ones. All these effects were confirmed by means of the scratch-wound assay except of the jasplakinolide-induced effects on MCF-7 cell motility. These later seemed compensated by an additional effect occurring during wound recolonization (possibly acting on the cell growth features). In conclusion,the use of multi-assays with different levels of sophistication and biological relevance is recommended in the screening of new actin-affecting drugs with potentially anti-migratory effects. View Publication

Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gammaGCS),a rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis,plays a central role in glutathione homeostasis and is a target for development of potential therapeutic agents against parasites and cancer. We have determined the crystal structures of Escherichia coli gammaGCS unliganded and complexed with a sulfoximine-based transition-state analog inhibitor at resolutions of 2.5 and 2.1 A,respectively. In the crystal structure of the complex,the bound inhibitor is phosphorylated at the sulfoximido nitrogen and is coordinated to three Mg2+ ions. The cysteine-binding site was identified; it is formed inductively at the transition state. In the unliganded structure,an open space exists around the representative cysteine-binding site and is probably responsible for the competitive binding of glutathione. Upon inhibitor binding,the side chains of Tyr-241 and Tyr-300 turn,forming a hydrogen-bonding triad with the carboxyl group of the inhibitor's cysteine moiety,allowing this moiety to fit tightly into the cysteine-binding site with concomitant accommodation of its side chain into a shallow pocket. This movement is caused by a conformational change of a switch loop (residues 240-249). Based on this crystal structure,the cysteine-binding sites of mammalian and parasitic gammaGCSs were predicted by multiple sequence alignment,although no significant sequence identity exists between the E. coli gammaGCS and its eukaryotic homologues. The identification of this cysteine-binding site provides important information for the rational design of novel gammaGCS inhibitors. View Publication

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of serious respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. Recently it was shown that the RSV G glycoprotein mediates attachment to cells using CX3CR1 as a receptor,and that G-specific neutralizing antibodies can be detected using human airway epithelial (HAE) cell cultures. To investigate the contributions of G-specific antibodies to RSV neutralization,we performed HAE neutralization assays on sera from RSV G-immunized mice or RSV-infected infants. We confirmed that G-specific neutralization using serum from mice or humans could only be detected on HAE cultures. We also found that RSV G-specific antibodies in infants were either subgroup specific or cross-neutralizing. Altogether,our results suggest that G is an important target for generating neutralizing antibodies and would be beneficial to include in an RSV vaccine. Further,inclusion of G antigens from both RSV subgroups may enhance the vaccine cross protection potency. View Publication

Two groups recently reported the in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into insulin-secreting cells,achieving an elusive goal for regenerative medicine. Herein we provide a perspective regarding these developments,compare phenotypes of the insulin-containing cells to human $\beta$ cells,and discuss implications for type 1 diabetes research and clinical care. View Publication

INTRODUCTION Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation,allergen-induced hypersensitivity and dyspnea. Most asthmatic patients demonstrate oscillations of disease symptoms within 24 hours regulated by circadian clock genes. We hypothesized that these genes may be regulators of childhood asthma risk. OBJECTIVES The aim was to investigate whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the circadian clock genes are associated with childhood asthma risk. We also aimed to analyze the mRNA level of clock genes in the blood of asthmatic children and NHBE cells stimulated with IL-13. MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral blood was collected from 165 asthmatic and 138 healthy Polish children. NHBE cells were culture at the air-liquid interface (ALI) with IL-13 as an in vitro model of allergic inflammation. Using TaqMan probes,we genotyped 32 SNPs in: CLOCK,BMAL1,PER3 and TIMELESS. Expression analysis for TIMELESS was performed using real-time PCR with SYBR Green. For haplotype and genotype statistical analysis we used Haploview 4.2 and STATISTICA version 12,respectively. Gene expression analysis was performed in DataAssist v3.01. RESULTS We found that three polymorphisms in TIMELESS (rs2291739,rs10876890,rs11171856) and two haplotypes (TTTT and CTAC) were associated with asthma risk. We also found significantly decreased expression of TIMELESS in the blood of asthmatic children as compared to the healthy children (P = 0.0289) and in NHBE cells stimulated with IL-13 (P = 0.0302). CONCLUSIONS In our study,we showed for the first time that TIMELESS variants and expression may be associated with childhood asthma. View Publication

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death that was discovered in recent years and is usually accompanied by a large amount of iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the cell death process; the occurrence of ferroptosis is iron-dependent. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can directly or indirectly affect glutathione peroxidase through different pathways,resulting in a decrease in antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells,ultimately leading to oxidative cell death. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of many diseases,such as tumors,nervous system diseases,ischemia-reperfusion injury,kidney injury,and blood diseases. How to intervene in the occurrence and development of related diseases by regulating cell ferroptosis has become a hotspot and focus of etiological research and treatment,but the functional changes and specific molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis still need to be further explored. This paper systematically summarizes the latest progress in ferroptosis research,with a focus on providing references for further understanding of its pathogenesis and for proposing new targets for the treatment of related diseases. View Publication

B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) blasts hijack the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment to form chemoprotective leukemic BM niches facilitating chemoresistance and,ultimately,disease relapse. However,the ability to dissect these evolving,heterogeneous interactions among distinct B-ALL subtypes and their varying BM niches is limited with current in vivo methods. Here,we demonstrated an in vitro organotypic leukemia-on-a-chip" model to emulate the in vivo B-ALL BM pathology and comparatively studied the spatial and genetic heterogeneity of the BM niche in regulating B-ALL chemotherapy resistance. We revealed the heterogeneous chemoresistance mechanisms across various B-ALL cell lines and patient-derived samples. We showed that the leukemic perivascular endosteal and hematopoietic niche-derived factors maintain B-ALL survival and quiescence (e.g. CXCL12 cytokine signal VCAM-1/OPN adhesive signals and enhanced downstream leukemia-intrinsic NF-$\kappa$B pathway). Furthermore we demonstrated the preclinical use of our model to test niche-cotargeting regimens which may translate to patient-specific therapy screening and response prediction." View Publication

Protein arginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) plays a key role in the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis,rheumatoid arthritis,and breast cancer. To date,no PAD2-selective inhibitor has been developed. Such a compound will be critical for elucidating the biological roles of this isozyme and may ultimately be useful for treating specific diseases in which PAD2 activity is dysregulated. To achieve this goal,we synthesized a series of benzimidazole-based derivatives of Cl-amidine,hypothesizing that this scaffold would allow access to a series of PAD2-selective inhibitors with enhanced cellular efficacy. Herein,we demonstrate that substitutions at both the N-terminus and C-terminus of Cl-amidine result in {\textgreater}100-fold increases in PAD2 potency and selectivity (30a,41a,and 49a) as well as cellular efficacy (30a). Notably,these compounds use the far less reactive fluoroacetamidine warhead. In total,we predict that 30a will be a critical tool for understanding cellular PAD2 function and sets the stage for treating diseases in which PAD2 activity is dysregulated. View Publication