技术资料

The Smoothened receptor (Smo) mediates hedgehog (Hh) signaling critical for development,cell growth,and migration,as well as stem cell maintenance. Aberrant Hh signaling pathway activation has been implicated in a variety of cancers,and small-molecule antagonists of Smo have entered human clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Here,we report the biochemical characterization of allosteric interactions of agonists and antagonists for Smo. Binding of two radioligands,[(3)H]3-chloro-N-[trans-4-(methylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-{\{}[3-(4-pyridinyl)-phenyl]methyl{\}}-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxamide (SAG-1.3) (agonist) and [(3)H]cyclopamine (antagonist),was characterized using human Smo expressed in human embryonic kidney 293F membranes. We observed full displacement of [(3)H]cyclopamine by all Smo agonist and antagonist ligands examined. N-[(1E)-(3,5-Dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylidene]-4-(phenylmethyl)-1-piperazinamine (SANT-1),an antagonist,did not fully inhibit the binding of [(3)H]SAG-1.3. In a functional cell-based beta-lactamase reporter gene assay,SANT-1 and N-[3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-chlorophenyl]-3,4,5-tris(ethyloxy)-benzamide (SANT-2) fully inhibited 3-chloro-4,7-difluoro-N-[trans-4-(methylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-{\{}[3-(4-pyridinyl)phenyl]methyl{\}}-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxamide (SAG-1.5)-induced Hh pathway activation. Detailed Schild-type" radioligand binding analysis with [(3)H]SAG-1.3 revealed that two structurally distinct Smoothened receptor antagonists SANT-1 and SANT-2 bound in a manner consistent with that of allosteric modulation. Our mechanism of action characterization of radioligand binding to Smo combined with functional data provides a better understanding of small-molecule interactions with Smo and their influence on the Hh pathway." View Publication

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by defects in the NADPH oxidase complex. Mutations in NCF2 encoding the cytosolic factor p67phox result in autosomal recessive CGD. We describe three patients with a novel c.855G{\textgreater}C NCF2 mutation presenting with diverse clinical phenotype. Two siblings were heterozygous for the novel mutation and for a previously described exon 8-9 duplication,while a third unrelated patient was homozygous for the novel mutation. Mutation pathogenicity was confirmed by abnormal DHR123 assay and absent p67phox production and by sequencing of cDNA which showed abnormal RNA splicing. Clinically,the homozygous patient presented with suspected early onset interstitial lung disease and NCF2 mutation was found on genetic testing performed in search for surfactant-related defects. The two siblings also had variable presentation with one having history of severe pneumonia,lymphadenitis,and recurrent skin abscesses and the other presenting in his 30s with discoid lupus erythematosus and without significant infectious history. We therefore identified a novel pathogenic NCF2 mutation causing diverse and unusual clinical phenotype. View Publication

In vitro cultures of primary human airway epithelial cells (hAECs) grown at air-liquid interface have become a valuable tool to study airway biology under normal and pathologic conditions,and for drug discovery in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). An increasing number of different differentiation media,are now available,making comparison of data between studies difficult. Here,we investigated the impact of two common differentiation media on phenotypic,transcriptomic,and physiological features of CF and non-CF epithelia. Cellular architecture and density were strongly impacted by the choice of medium. RNA-sequencing revealed a shift in airway cell lineage; one medium promoting differentiation into club and goblet cells whilst the other enriched the growth of ionocytes and multiciliated cells. Pathway analysis identified differential expression of genes involved in ion and fluid transport. Physiological assays (intracellular/extracellular pH,Ussing chamber) specifically showed that ATP12A and CFTR function were altered,impacting pH and transepithelial ion transport in CF hAECs. Importantly,the two media differentially affected functional responses to CFTR modulators. We argue that the effect of growth conditions should be appropriately determined depending on the scientific question and that our study can act as a guide for choosing the optimal growth medium for specific applications. View Publication

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2,an emerging virus that utilizes host proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2 as entry factors. Understanding the factors affecting the pattern and levels of expression of these genes is important for deeper understanding of SARS-CoV-2 tropism and pathogenesis. Here we explore the role of genetics and co-expression networks in regulating these genes in the airway,through the analysis of nasal airway transcriptome data from 695 children. We identify expression quantitative trait loci for both ACE2 and TMPRSS2,that vary in frequency across world populations. We find TMPRSS2 is part of a mucus secretory network,highly upregulated by type 2 (T2) inflammation through the action of interleukin-13,and that the interferon response to respiratory viruses highly upregulates ACE2 expression. IL-13 and virus infection mediated effects on ACE2 expression were also observed at the protein level in the airway epithelium. Finally,we define airway responses to common coronavirus infections in children,finding that these infections generate host responses similar to other viral species,including upregulation of IL6 and ACE2. Our results reveal possible mechanisms influencing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and COVID-19 clinical outcomes. View Publication

Thyroid hormone (TH) actions are mediated by nuclear receptors (TRs alpha and beta) that bind triiodothyronine (T(3),3,5,3'-triiodo-l-thyronine) with high affinity,and its precursor thyroxine (T(4),3,5,3',5'-tetraiodo-l-thyronine) with lower affinity. T(4) contains a bulky 5' iodine group absent from T(3). Because T(3) is buried in the core of the ligand binding domain (LBD),we have predicted that TH analogues with 5' substituents should fit poorly into the ligand binding pocket and perhaps behave as antagonists. We therefore examined how T(4) affects TR activity and conformation. We obtained several lines of evidence (ligand dissociation kinetics,migration on hydrophobic interaction columns,and non-denaturing gels) that TR-T(4) complexes adopt a conformation that differs from TR-T(3) complexes in solution. Nonetheless,T(4) behaves as an agonist in vitro (in effects on coregulator and DNA binding) and in cells,when conversion to T(3) does not contribute to agonist activity. We determined x-ray crystal structures of the TRbeta LBD in complex with T(3) and T(4) at 2.5-A and 3.1-A resolution. Comparison of the structures reveals that TRbeta accommodates T(4) through subtle alterations in the loop connecting helices 11 and 12 and amino acid side chains in the pocket,which,together,enlarge a niche that permits helix 12 to pack over the 5' iodine and complete the coactivator binding surface. While T(3) is the major active TH,our results suggest that T(4) could activate nuclear TRs at appropriate concentrations. The ability of TR to adapt to the 5' extension should be considered in TR ligand design. View Publication

Pygopus 2 (Pygo2) is a coactivator of Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling that can bind bi- or trimethylated lysine 4 of histone-3 (H3K4me2/3) and participate in chromatin reading and writing. It remains unknown whether the Pygo2-H3K4me2/3 association has a functional relevance in breast cancer progression in vivo. To investigate the functional relevance of histone-binding activity of Pygo2 in malignant progression of breast cancer,we generated a knock-in mouse model where binding of Pygo2 to H3K4me2/3 was rendered ineffective. Loss of Pygo2-histone interaction resulted in smaller,differentiated,and less metastatic tumors,due,in part,to decreased canonical Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling. RNA- and ATAC-sequencing analyses of tumor-derived cell lines revealed downregulation of TGF$\beta$ signaling and upregulation of differentiation pathways such as PDGFR signaling. Increased differentiation correlated with a luminal cell fate that could be reversed by inhibition of PDGFR activity. Mechanistically,the Pygo2-histone interaction potentiated Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling,in part,by repressing the expression of Wnt signaling antagonists. Furthermore,Pygo2 and $\beta$-catenin regulated the expression of miR-29 family members,which,in turn,repressed PDGFR expression to promote dedifferentiation of wild-type Pygo2 mammary epithelial tumor cells. Collectively,these results demonstrate that the histone binding function of Pygo2 is important for driving dedifferentiation and malignancy of breast tumors,and loss of this binding activates various differentiation pathways that attenuate primary tumor growth and metastasis formation. Interfering with the Pygo2-H3K4me2/3 interaction may therefore serve as an attractive therapeutic target for metastatic breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: Pygo2 represents a potential therapeutic target in metastatic breast cancer,as its histone-binding capability promotes $\beta$-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling and transcriptional control in breast cancer cell dedifferentiation,EMT,and metastasis. View Publication

Small molecules that promote the metabolic activity of the pyruvate kinase isoform PKM2,such as TEPP-46 and DASA-58,limit tumorigenesis and inflammation. To understand how these compounds alter T cell function,we assessed their therapeutic activity in a mouse model of T cell-mediated autoimmunity that mimics multiple sclerosis (MS). TH17 cells are believed to orchestrate MS pathology,in part,through the production of two proinflammatory cytokines: interleukin-17 (IL-17) and GM-CSF. We found that both TEPP-46 and DASA-58 suppressed the development of IL-17-producing TH17 cells but increased the generation of those producing GM-CSF. This switch redirected disease pathology from the spinal cord to the brain. In addition,we found that activation of PKM2 interfered with TGF-$\beta$1 signaling,which is necessary for the development of TH17 and regulatory T cells. Collectively,our data clarify the therapeutic potential of PKM2 activators in MS-like disease and how these agents alter T cell function. View Publication

Drug-induced resistance,or tolerance,is an emerging yet poorly understood failure of anticancer therapy. The interplay between drug-tolerant cancer cells and innate immunity within the tumor,the consequence on tumor growth,and therapeutic strategies to address these challenges remain undescribed. Here we elucidate the role of taxane-induced resistance on natural killer (NK) cell tumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the design of spatio-temporally controlled nanomedicines,which boost therapeutic efficacy and invigorate 'disabled' NK. Drug tolerance limited NK cell immune surveillance via drug-induced depletion of the NK-activating ligand receptor axis,NKG2D and MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A,B (MICA/B). Systems biology supported by empirical evidence revealed the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) simultaneously controls immune surveillance and persistence of drug-treated tumor cells. Based on this evidence,we engineered a 'chimeric' nano-therapeutic tool comprising taxanes and a cholesterol-tethered Hsp90 inhibitor,radicicol,which targets the tumor,reduces tolerance,and optimally re-primes NK cells via prolonged induction of NK-activating ligand receptors via temporal control of drug release in vitro and in vivo. A human ex-vivo TNBC model confirmed the importance of NK cells in drug-induced death under pressure of clinically-approved agents. These findings highlight a convergence between drug-induced resistance,the tumor-immune contexture,and engineered approaches that considers the tumor and microenvironment to improve the success of combinatorial therapy. View Publication

Enterotoxin-mediated secretory diarrheas such as cholera involve chloride secretion by enterocytes into the intestinal lumen by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel. We previously identified glycine hydrazide CFTR blockers that by electrophysiological studies appeared to block the CFTR anion pore at its lumen-facing surface. Here,we synthesize highly water-soluble,nonabsorbable malondihydrazides by coupling 2,4-disulfobenzaldehyde,4-sulfophenylisothiocyante,and polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties to 2-naphthalenylamino-[(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) methylene] propanedioic acid dihydrazide,and aminoacethydrazides by coupling PEG to [(N-2-naphthalenyl)-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)]-glycine-2-[(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) methylene] hydrazide. Compounds rapidly,fully and reversibly blocked CFTR-mediated chloride current with Ki of 2-8 microM when added to the apical surface of epithelial cell monolayers. Compounds did not pass across Caco-2 monolayers,and were absorbed by {\textless}2{\%}/hr in mouse intestine. Luminally added compounds blocked by {\textgreater}90{\%} cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion in mouse intestinal loops,without inhibiting intestinal fluid absorption. These orally administered,nonabsorbable,nontoxic CFTR inhibitors may reduce intestinal fluid losses in cholera. View Publication

Mifepristone is a potent antagonist of steroid hormone receptors such as glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors. We investigated the potential for mifepristone to act as an antiandrogen and compared it with partial androgen receptor (AR) agonists and antagonists,in particular bicalutamide. Mifepristone was an effective antiandrogen in vitro that inhibited transcription from three androgen-responsive promoters and blocked the agonist R1881 in a dose-dependent manner. Like bicalutamide,mifepristone also antagonized the action of androgen receptor with a (T877A) mutation. Mifepristone competed effectively with R1881 with a relative binding affinity comparable to that of cyproterone acetate,and much higher than that of hydroxyflutamide and bicalutamide in a binding assay. Mifepristone could effectively induce the binding of the herpes simplex viral protein 16/AR fusion protein to the hormone response elements in the murine mammary tumor virus-luciferase reporter. With either wild-type or T877A mutant AR,mifepristone alone was unable to induce any detectable interaction with coactivators transcriptional intermediary factor-2 or beta-catenin but could inhibit the R1881-induced binding of AR to transcriptional intermediary factor-2 and beta-catenin. Similarly,mifepristone could inhibit the R1881-induced N/C-terminal interaction in a dose-dependent manner even though mifepristone alone has no effect on the N/C-terminal interaction of AR. We found that mifepristone could induce a strong interaction between AR and corepressors nuclear receptor corepressor and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors in both transactivation and two-hybrid assays to a greater degree than hydroxyflutamide,cyproterone acetate,and bicalutamide. The AR-corepressor interaction was also seen in coimmunoprecipitation assays. Finally,mifepristone at high concentrations induced a low level of prostate-specific antigen expression in LNCaP and antagonized prostate-specific antigen expression induced by R1881. Mifepristone also antagonized R1881 action on the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells. View Publication