技术资料

Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive disease with late diagnosis and no efficacious treatment. The Hippo-Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) signaling pathway has emerged as a target for the development of new therapeutic interventions in cancers. However,the role of the Hippo-targeted therapy has not been addressed in advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). This study aimed to evaluate the expression of the major Hippo pathway components mammalian Ste20-like protein kinase 1 (MST1),YAP1 and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and examined the effects of Verteporfin (VP),a small molecular inhibitor of YAP1-TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD) protein interaction,in metastatic GBC cell lines and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that advanced GBC patients had high nuclear expression of YAP1. High nuclear expression of YAP1 was associated with poor survival in GBC patients with subserosal invasion (pT2). Additionally,advanced GBC cases showed reduced expression of MST1 compared to chronic cholecystitis. Both VP treatment and YAP1 siRNA inhibited the migration ability in GBC cell lines. Interestingly,gemcitabine resistant PDOs with high nuclear expression of YAP1 were sensitive to VP treatment. Taken together,our results suggest that key components of the Hippo-YAP1 signaling pathway are dysregulated in advanced gallbladder cancer and reveal that the inhibition YAP1 may be a candidate for targeted therapy. View Publication

Approaches to deplete persistent HIV infection are needed. We investigated the combined impact of the latency reversing agent vorinostat (VOR) and AGS-004,an autologous dendritic cell immunotherapeutic,on the HIV reservoir. HIV+,stably treated participants in whom resting CD4+ T cell-associated HIV RNA (rca-RNA) increased after VOR exposure ex vivo and in vivo received 4 doses of AGS-004 every 3 weeks,followed by VOR every 72 hours for 30 days,and then the cycle repeated. Change in VOR-responsive host gene expression,HIV-specific T cell responses,low-level HIV viremia,rca-RNA,and the frequency of resting CD4+ T-cell infection (RCI) was measured at baseline and after each cycle. No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed among five participants. As predicted,VOR-responsive host genes responded uniformly to VOR dosing. Following cycles of AGS-004 and VOR,rca-RNA decreased significantly in only two participants,with a significant decrease in SCA observed in one of these participants. However,unlike other cohorts dosed with AGS-004,no uniform increase in HIV-specific immune responses following vaccination was observed. Finally,no reproducible decline of RCI,defined as a decrease of {\textgreater}50{\%},was observed. AGS-004 and VOR were safe and well-tolerated,but no substantial impact on RCI was measured. In contrast to previous clinical data,AGS-004 did not induce HIV-specific immune responses greater than those measured at baseline. More efficacious antiviral immune interventions,perhaps paired with more effective latency reversal,must be developed to clear persistent HIV infection. View Publication

The development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) against factor VIII (FVIII) is a major complication of hemophilia A treatment. The sole clinical therapy to restore FVIII tolerance in patients with inhibitors remains immune tolerance induction (ITI) which is expensive,difficult to administer and not always successful. Although not fully understood,the mechanism of ITI is thought to rely on inhibition of FVIII-specific B cells (1). Its efficacy might therefore be improved through more aggressive B cell suppression. Fc$\gamma$RIIB is an inhibitory Fc receptor that down-regulates B cell signaling when cross-linked with the B cell receptor (BCR). We sought to investigate if recombinant FVIII Fc (rFVIIIFc),an Fc fusion molecule composed of FVIII and the Fc region of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) (2),is able to inhibit B cell activation more readily than FVIII. rFVIIIFc was able to bind FVIII-exposed and na{\{i}}ve B cells from hemophilia A mice as well as a FVIII-specific murine B cell hybridoma line (413 cells). An anti-Fc$\gamma$RIIB antibody and FVIII inhibited binding suggesting that rFVIIIFc is able to interact with both Fc$\gamma$RIIB and the BCR. Furthermore incubation of B cells from FVIII-exposed mice and 413 cells with rFVIIIFc resulted in increased phosphorylation of SH-2 containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP) when compared to FVIII. B cells from FVIII-exposed hemophilia A mice also exhibited decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation when exposed to rFVIIIFc. These differences were absent in B cells from na{\"{i}}ve non-FVIII exposed hemophilic mice suggesting an antigen-dependent effect. Finally rFVIIIFc was able to inhibit B cell calcium flux induced by anti-Ig F(ab)2. Our results therefore indicate that rFVIIIFc is able to crosslink Fc$\gamma$RIIB and the BCR of FVIII-specific B cells causing inhibitory signaling in these cells.""" View Publication

CD47 deficient mice are resistant to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. The underlying mechanism,however,remains incompletely understood. In this study,we characterized the role of CD47 in modulating homeostasis of gastrointestinal tract. We found that CD47 expression in both human and mouse intestinal epithelium was upregulated in colitic condition compared to that under normal condition. In line with this,CD47 deficiency protected mice from DSS-induced colitis. Analysis based on both intestinal organoid and cultured cell assays showed that CD47 deficiency accelerated intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically,western blot and functional assays indicated that CD47 deficiency promoting mouse intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and migration follow cell injury is likely through upregulating expression of four Yamanaka transcriptional factors Oct4,Sox2,Klf4 and c-Myc (OSKM in abbreviation). Our studies thus reveal CD47 as a negative regulator in intestinal epithelial cell renewal during colitis through downregulating OSKM transcriptional factors. View Publication

The widely varying therapeutic response of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to raise questions regarding the unclarified heterogeneity of pathological mechanisms promoting disease progression. While biomarkers for the differentiation of Crohn's disease (CD) versus ulcerative colitis (UC) have been suggested,specific markers for a CD subclassification in ileal CD versus colonic CD are still rare. Since an altered signature of the tryptophan metabolism is associated with chronic inflammatory disease,we sought to characterize potential biomarkers by focusing on the downstream enzymes and metabolites of kynurenine metabolism. Using immunohistochemical stainings,we analyzed and compared the mucosal tryptophan immune metabolism in bioptic samples from patients with active inflammation due to UC or CD versus healthy controls. Localization-specific quantification of immune cell infiltration,tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme expression and mucosal tryptophan downstream metabolite levels was performed. We found generally increased immune cell infiltrates in the tissue of all patients with IBD. However,in patients with CD,significant differences were found between regulatory T cell and neutrophil granulocyte infiltration in the ileum compared with the colon. Furthermore,we observed decreased kynurenine levels as well as strong kynureninase (KYNU) expression specifically in patients with ileal CD. Correspondingly,significantly elevated levels of the kynurenine metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid were detected in the ileal CD samples. Highlighting the heterogeneity of the different phenotypes of CD,we identified KYNU as a potential mucosal biomarker allowing the localization-specific differentiation of ileal CD versus colonic CD. View Publication

This study reports the use of cell-type-specific in vivo bioluminescence to measure intraocular immune cell population dynamics during the course of inflammation in a mouse model of uveitis. Transgenic lines expressing luciferase in inflammatory cell subsets (myeloid cells,T cells,and B cells) were generated and ocular bioluminescence was measured serially for 35 days following uveitis induction. Ocular leukocyte populations were identified using flow cytometry and compared to the ocular bioluminescence profile. Acute inflammation is neutrophilic (75{\%} of ocular CD45 + cells) which is reflected by a significant increase in ocular bioluminescence in one myeloid reporter line on day 2. By day 7,the ocular T cell population increases to 50{\%} of CD45 + cells,leading to a significant increase in ocular bioluminescence in the T cell reporter line. While initially negligible ({\textless} 1{\%} of CD45 + cells),the ocular B cell population increases to {\textgreater} 4{\%} by day 35. This change is reflected by a significant increase in the ocular bioluminescence of the B cell reporter line starting on day 28. Our data demonstrates that cell-type-specific in vivo bioluminescence accurately detects changes in multiple intraocular immune cell populations over time in experimental uveitis. This assay could also be useful in other inflammatory disease models. View Publication

Control of established chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection requires the production of neutralizing antibodies,but it remains unknown how the ensemble of antibodies evolves during ongoing infection. Here,we analyze the evolution of antibody responses during acute or chronic LCMV infection,combining quantitative functional assays and time-resolved antibody repertoire sequencing. We establish that antibody responses initially converge in both infection types on a functional and repertoire level,but diverge later during chronic infection,showing increased clonal diversity,the appearance of mouse-specific persistent clones,and distinct phylogenetic signatures. Chronic infection is characterized by a longer-lasting germinal center reaction and a continuous differentiation of plasma cells,resulting in the emergence of higher-affinity plasma cells exhibiting increased antibody secretion rates. Taken together,our findings reveal the emergence of a personalized antibody response in chronic infection and support the concept that maintaining B cell diversity throughout chronic LCMV infection correlates with the development of infection-resolving antibodies. View Publication

Aim To analyse the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to regulate interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor (TGF-$\beta$) expression in vitro under co-culture conditions in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method This study used a post-test group design that used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients at Kariadi Hospital,Semarang,Indonesia,and MSCs from a human umbilical cord. The cells were divided into two groups. The control group of PBMCs was treated with a standard medium,and the treatment group was co-cultured with the MSCs at a 1:40 ratio. Following 24 h incubation,the levels of IL-6 and TGF-$\beta$ released in the culture medium were measured using a specific ELISA assay. Results This study showed a significant decrease in IL-6 level (p{\textless}0.05) and a significant increase in TGF-$\beta$ level (p{\textless}0.001) following 24 h of co-culture incubation of human SLE PBMCs cells and MSCs. Conclusion The PBMCs-to-MSCs ratio of 1:40 can regulate the IL-6 and TGF-$\beta$ levels in human SLE PBMCs. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing demand,current protocols for human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) remain time,labor,and cost intensive. Additionally,absence of robust methods for selective RPE purification and removal of non-RPE cell impurities prevents upscaling of clinical quality RPE production. We aimed to address these challenges by developing a simplified hPSC-derived RPE production and purification system that yields high-quality RPE monolayers within 90 days. METHODS: Human pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into RPE using an innovative time and cost-effective protocol relying entirely on 2D cultures and minimal use of cytokines. Once RPE identity was obtained,cells were transferred onto permeable membranes to acquire mature RPE morphology. RPE differentiation was verified by electron microscopy,polarized VEGF expression,establishment of high transepithelial electrical resistance and photoreceptor phagocytosis assay. After 4 weeks on permeable membranes,RPE cell cultures were incubated with Dil-AcLDL (DiI-conjugated acetylated low-density lipoproteins) and subjected to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for purification and subculture. RESULTS: Using our 2D cytokine scarce protocol,hPSC-derived functional RPE cells can be obtained within 2 months. Nevertheless,at this stage,most samples contain a percentage of non-RPE/early RPE progenitor cells that make them unsuitable for clinical application. We demonstrate that functional RPE cells express high levels of lipoprotein receptors and that this correlates with their ability to uptake lipoproteins. Combining photoreceptor uptake assay with lipoprotein uptake assay further confirms that only functional RPE cells uptake AcLDL. Incubation of mixed RPE/non-RPE cell cultures with fluorophore conjugated AcLDL and subsequent FACS-based isolation of labeled cells allows selective purification of mature functional RPE. When subcultured,DiI-AcLDL-labeled cells rapidly form pure homogenous high-quality RPE monolayers. CONCLUSIONS: Pure functional RPE monolayers can be derived from hPSC within 90 days using simplified 2D cultures in conjunction with our RPE PLUS protocol (RPE Purification by Lipoprotein Uptake-based Sorting). The simplicity of this protocol makes it scalable,and the rapidity of production and purification allows for high-quality RPE to be produced in a short span of time making them ideally suited for downstream clinical and in vitro applications. View Publication

The network topology of a protein interactome is shaped by the function of each protein,making it a resource of functional knowledge in tissues and in single cells. Today,this resource is underused,as complete network topology characterization has proved difficult for large protein interactomes. We apply a matrix visualization and decoding approach to a physical protein interactome of a dendritic cell,thereby characterizing its topology with no prior assumptions of structure. We discover 294 proteins,each forming topological motifs called bow-ties" that tie together the majority of observed protein complexes. The central proteins of these bow-ties have unique network properties display multifunctional capabilities are enriched for essential proteins and are widely expressed in other cells and tissues. Collectively the bow-tie motifs are a pervasive and previously unnoted topological trend in cellular interactomes. As such these results provide fundamental knowledge on how intracellular protein connectivity is organized and operates." View Publication

Enteroids are cultured primary intestinal epithelial cells that recapitulate epithelial lineage development allowing for a more complex and physiologically relevant model for scientific study. The large presence of intestinal stem cells (ISC) in these enteroids allows for the study of metabolite effects on cellular processes and resulting progeny cells. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate (BUT) are bacterial metabolites produced in the gastrointestinal tract that are considered to be beneficial to host cells. Therefore,the objective was to study the effects of SCFAs on biomarkers of ISC activity,differentiation,barrier function and epithelial defense in the intestine using mouse and human enteroid models. Enteroids were treated with two concentrations of acetate (ACET),propionate (PROP),or BUT for 24 h. Enteroids treated with BUT or PROP showed a decrease in proliferation via EdU uptake relative to the controls in both mouse and human models. Gene expression of Lgr5 was shown to decrease with BUT and PROP treatments,but increased with ACET. As a result of BUT and PROP treatments,there was an increase in differentiation markers for enterocyte,Paneth,goblet,and enteroendocrine cells. Gene expression of antimicrobial proteins Reg3$\beta$,Reg3$\gamma$,and Defb1 were stimulated by BUT and PROP,but not by ACET which had a greater effect on expression of tight junction genes Cldn3 and Ocln in 3D enteroids. Similar results were obtained with human enteroids treated with 10 mM SCFAs and grown in either 3D or Transwell™ model cultures,although tight junctions were influenced by BUT and PROP,but not ACET in monolayer format. Furthermore,BUT and PROP treatments increased transepithelial electrical resistance after 24 h compared to ACET or control. Overall,individual SCFAs are potent stimulators of cellular gene expression,however,PROP and especially BUT show great efficacy for driving cell differentiation and gene expression. View Publication

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a vital liquid,providing nutrients and signaling molecules and clearing out toxic by-products from the brain. The CSF is produced by the choroid plexus (ChP),a protective epithelial barrier that also prevents free entry of toxic molecules or drugs from the blood. Here,we establish human ChP organoids with a selective barrier and CSF-like fluid secretion in self-contained compartments. We show that this in vitro barrier exhibits the same selectivity to small molecules as the ChP in vivo and that ChP-CSF organoids can predict central nervous system (CNS) permeability of new compounds. The transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of ChP-CSF organoids reveal a high degree of similarity to the ChP in vivo. Finally,the intersection of single-cell transcriptomics and proteomic analysis uncovers key human CSF components produced by previously unidentified specialized epithelial subtypes. View Publication