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Evasion of programmed cell death represents a critical form of oncogene addiction in cancer cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning cancer cell survival despite the oncogenic stress could provide a molecular basis for potential therapeutic interventions. Here we explore the role of pro-survival genes in cancer cell integrity during clonal evolution in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We identify gains of MCL-1 at high frequency in multiple independent NSCLC cohorts,occurring both clonally and subclonally. Clonal loss of functional TP53 is significantly associated with subclonal gains of MCL-1. In mice,tumour progression is delayed upon pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of MCL-1. These findings reveal that MCL-1 gains occur with high frequency in lung adenocarcinoma and can be targeted therapeutically. View Publication

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is characterised by a heterogeneous clinical course. Such heterogeneity is associated with a number of markers,including TP53 gene inactivation. While TP53 gene alterations determine resistance to chemotherapy,it is not clear whether they can influence early disease progression. To clarify this issue,TP53 mutations and deletions of the corresponding locus [del(17p)] were evaluated in 469 cases from the O-CLL1 observational study that recruited a cohort of clinically and molecularly characterised Binet stage A patients. Twenty-four cases harboured somatic TP53 mutations [accompanied by del(17p) in 9 cases],2 patients had del(17p) only,and 5 patients had TP53 germ-line variants. While del(17p) with or without TP53 mutations was capable of significantly predicting the time to first treatment,a reliable measure of disease progression,TP53 mutations were not. This was true for cases with high or low variant allele frequency. The lack of predictive ability was independent of the functional features of the mutant P53 protein in terms of transactivation and dominant negative potential. TP53 mutations alone were more frequent in patients with mutated IGHV genes,whereas del(17p) was associated with the presence of adverse prognostic factors,including CD38 positivity,unmutated-IGHV gene status,and NOTCH1 mutations. View Publication

The thyroid hormone,3,5,3'-Triiodo-L-thyronine (T3),is essential for growth,differentiation,and regulation of metabolic functions in multicellular organisms,although the specific mechanisms of this control are still unknown. In this study,treatment of a human pancreatic duct cell line (hPANC-1) with T3 blocks cell growth by an increase of cells in G(0)/G(1) cell cycle phase and enhances morphological and functional changes as indicated by the marked increase in the synthesis of insulin and the parallel decrease of the ductal differentiation marker cytokeratin19. Expression analysis of some of the genes regulating pancreatic beta-cell differentiation revealed a time-dependent increase in insulin and glut2 mRNA levels in response to T3. As last step of the acquisition of a beta-cell-like phenotype,we present evidence that thyroid hormones are able to increase the release of insulin into the culture medium. In conclusion,our results suggest,for the first time,that thyroid hormones induce cell cycle perturbations and play an important role in the process of transdifferentiation of a human pancreatic duct line (hPANC-1) into pancreatic-beta-cell-like cells. These findings have important implications in cell-therapy based treatment of diabetes and may provide important insights in the designing of novel therapeutic agents to restore normal glycemia in subjects with diabetes. View Publication

This study quantifies uptake of a fluorescent glucose analog,(2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose) (2-NBDG),in a large panel of breast cancer cells and demonstrates potential to monitor changes in glycolysis caused by anticancer and endocrine therapies. Expressions of glucose transporter (GLUT 1) and hexokinase (HK I),which phosphorylates 2-NBDG,were measured via western blot in two normal mammary epithelial and eight breast cancer cell lines of varying biological subtype. Fluorescence intensity of each cell line labeled with 100 lM 2-NBDG for 20 min or unlabeled control was quantified. A subset of cancer cells was treated with anticancer and endocrine therapies,and 2-NBDG fluorescence changes were measured. Expression of GLUT 1 was necessary for uptake of 2-NBDG,as demonstrated by lack of 2-NBDG uptake in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). GLUT 1 expression and 2-NBDG uptake was ubiquitous among all breast cancer lines. Reduction and stimulation of 2-NBDG uptake was demonstrated by perturbation with anticancer agents,lonidamine (LND),and a-cyano-hydroxycinnamate (a-Cinn),respectively. LND directly inhibits HK and significantly reduced 2-NBDG fluorescence in a subset of two breast cancer cell lines. Conversely,when cells were treated with a-Cinn,a drug used to increase glycolysis,2-NBDG uptake was increased. Furthermore,tamoxifen (tam),a common endocrine therapy,was administered to estrogen receptor positive and negative (ER?/-) breast cells and demonstrated a decreased 2-NBDG uptake in ER? cells,reflecting a decrease in glycolysis. Results indicate that 2-NBDG uptake can be used to measure changes in glycolysis and has potential for use in early drug development. View Publication

COVID-19 affects millions of patients worldwide,with clinical presentation ranging from isolated thrombosis to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring ventilator support. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) originate from decondensed chromatin released to immobilize pathogens,and they can trigger immunothrombosis. We studied the connection between NETs and COVID-19 severity and progression. We conducted a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients (n = 33) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 17). We measured plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA complexes (NETs),platelet factor 4,RANTES,and selected cytokines. Three COVID-19 lung autopsies were examined for NETs and platelet involvement. We assessed NET formation ex vivo in COVID-19 neutrophils and in healthy neutrophils incubated with COVID-19 plasma. We also tested the ability of neonatal NET-inhibitory factor (nNIF) to block NET formation induced by COVID-19 plasma. Plasma MPO-DNA complexes increased in COVID-19,with intubation (P {\textless} .0001) and death (P {\textless} .0005) as outcome. Illness severity correlated directly with plasma MPO-DNA complexes (P = .0360),whereas Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen correlated inversely (P = .0340). Soluble and cellular factors triggering NETs were significantly increased in COVID-19,and pulmonary autopsies confirmed NET-containing microthrombi with neutrophil-platelet infiltration. Finally,COVID-19 neutrophils ex vivo displayed excessive NETs at baseline,and COVID-19 plasma triggered NET formation,which was blocked by nNIF. Thus,NETs triggering immunothrombosis may,in part,explain the prothrombotic clinical presentations in COVID-19,and NETs may represent targets for therapeutic intervention. View Publication

The pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive and devastating disease,which is characterized by invasiveness,rapid progression,and profound resistance to actual treatments,including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At the moment,surgical resection provides the best possibility for long-term survival,but is feasible only in the minority of patients,when advanced disease chemotherapy is considered,although the effects are modest. Several studies have shown that thyroid hormone,3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine (T(3)) is able to promote or inhibit cell proliferation in a cell type-dependent manner. The aim of the present study is to investigate the ability of T(3) to reduce the cell growth of the human pancreatic duct cell lines chosen,and to increase the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs at conventional concentrations. Three human cell lines hPANC-1,Capan1,and HPAC have been used as experimental models to investigate the T(3) effects on pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell proliferation. The hPANC-1 and Capan1 cell proliferation was significantly reduced,while the hormone treatment was ineffective for HPAC cells. The T(3)-dependent cell growth inhibition was also confirmed by fluorescent activated cell sorting analysis and by cell cycle-related molecule analysis. A synergic effect of T(3) and chemotherapy was demonstrated by cell kinetic experiments performed at different times and by the traditional isobologram method. We have showed that thyroid hormone T(3) and its combination with low doses of gemcitabine (dFdCyd) and cisplatin (DDP) is able to potentiate the cytotoxic action of these chemotherapic drugs. Treatment with 5-fluorouracil was,instead,largely ineffective. In conclusion,our data support the hypothesis that T(3) and its combination with dFdCyd and DDP may act in a synergic way on adenopancreatic ductal cells. View Publication

During surgery,ATP from damaged cells induces the release of interleukin-1$\beta$,a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that contributes to the development of postoperative systemic inflammation,sepsis and multi-organ damage. We recently demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP) inhibits the ATP-induced release of monocytic interleukin-1$\beta$,although high CRP levels are deemed to be a poor prognostic marker. Here,we retrospectively investigated if preoperative CRP levels correlate with postoperative CRP,leukocyte counts and fever in the context of anatomical lung resection and systematic lymph node dissection as first line lung cancer therapy. No correlation was found in the overall results. In men,however,preoperative CRP and leukocyte counts positively correlated on postoperative days one to two,and a negative correlation of CRP and fever was seen in women. These correlations were more pronounced in men taking statins and in statin-na{\{i}}ve women. Accordingly the inhibitory effect of CRP on the ATP-induced interleukin-1$\beta$ release was blunted in monocytes from coronary heart disease patients treated with atorvastatin compared to monocytes obtained before medication. Hence the common notion that elevated CRP levels predict more severe postoperative inflammation should be questioned. We rather hypothesize that in women and statin-na{\"{i}}ve patients high CRP levels attenuate trauma-induced increases in inflammatory markers.""" View Publication

A safe and effective vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be required to end the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic1-8. For global deployment and pandemic control,a vaccine that requires only a single immunization would be optimal. Here we show the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a single dose of adenovirus serotype 26 (Ad26) vector-based vaccines expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in non-human primates. Fifty-two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were immunized with Ad26 vectors that encoded S variants or sham control,and then challenged with SARS-CoV-2 by the intranasal and intratracheal routes9,10. The optimal Ad26 vaccine induced robust neutralizing antibody responses and provided complete or near-complete protection in bronchoalveolar lavage and nasal swabs after SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Titres of vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies correlated with protective efficacy,suggesting an immune correlate of protection. These data demonstrate robust single-shot vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates. The optimal Ad26 vector-based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2,termed Ad26.COV2.S,is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. View Publication

Glutathione (GSH) depletion is widely used to sensitize cells to anticancer treatment inducing the progression of programmed cell death and overcoming chemoresistance. It has been reported that neuroblastoma cells with MYCN amplification are unable to start TRAIL-dependent death and MYCN,in concert with cytotoxic drugs,efficiently induces the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis through oxidative mechanisms. In this study,we show that GSH loss induced by L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO),an inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis,leads to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers apoptosis of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. BSO susceptibility of SK-N-BE-2C,a representative example of MYCN-amplified cells,has been attributed to stimulation of total SOD activity in the absence of changes in the level and the activity of catalase. Therefore,the unbalanced intracellular redox milieu has been demonstrated to be critical for the progression of neuroblastoma cell death that was efficiently prevented by antioxidants and rottlerin. These results describe a novel pathway of apoptosis dependent on ROS formation and PKC-delta activation and independent of p53,bcl-2,and bax levels; the selective redox modulation of PKC-delta might be suggested as a potential strategy for sensitizing MYCN-amplified cells to therapeutic approaches. View Publication

COVID-19 pathogenesis is associated with an exaggerated immune response. However,the specific cellular mediators and inflammatory components driving diverse clinical disease outcomes remain poorly understood. We undertook longitudinal immune profiling on both whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of hospitalized patients during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Here,we report key immune signatures present shortly after hospital admission that were associated with the severity of COVID-19. Immune signatures were related to shifts in neutrophil to T cell ratio,elevated serum IL-6,MCP-1 and IP-10,and most strikingly,modulation of CD14+ monocyte phenotype and function. Modified features of CD14+ monocytes included poor induction of the prostaglandin-producing enzyme,COX-2,as well as enhanced expression of the cell cycle marker Ki-67. Longitudinal analysis revealed reversion of some immune features back to the healthy median level in patients with a good eventual outcome. These findings identify previously unappreciated alterations in the innate immune compartment of COVID-19 patients and lend support to the idea that therapeutic strategies targeting release of myeloid cells from bone marrow should be considered in this disease. Moreover,they demonstrate that features of an exaggerated immune response are present early after hospital admission suggesting immune-modulating therapies would be most beneficial at early timepoints. View Publication

OBJECTIVE To review the literature concerning the mechanism of action and pharmacodynamics of mifepristone (RU486),potential new uses of RU486,and its current use not only as an abortifacient but also as therapy for endometriosis,leiomyoma,breast cancer,and meningioma. DATA IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION Studies that relate to RU486 were identified through a MEDLINE search. CONCLUSION(S) RU486 is an 11 beta-dimethyl-amino-phenyl derivative of norethindrone with a high affinity for P and glucocorticoid receptors. The receptor binding is not followed by transcription of P-dependent genes. Mifepristone effectively blocks P receptors in the placenta,resulting in the termination of pregnancy. In addition,it has been used in the treatment of leiomyomata,endometriosis,advanced breast cancer,and meningioma. It is a powerful tool to study the molecular action of P and in the future may be used as an estrogen-free contraceptive. Through an online search of MEDLINE,the authors reviewed the literature on the development of mifepristone (RU-486); RU-486's mechanism of action,pharmacodynamics,and distribution; the physiologic action of RU-486; potential new uses for RU-486; and its current use as both an abortifacient and therapy for endometriosis,leiomyoma,breast cancer,and meningioma. RU-486 is an 11beta-dimethyl-amino-phenyl derivative of norethindrone with a high affinity for P and glucocorticoid receptors. Receptor binding is not followed by the transcription of P-dependent genes. RU-486 effectively blocks P receptors in the placenta,resulting in the termination of pregnancy. It has also been used to treat leiomyomata,endometriosis,advanced breast cancer,and meningioma. The following therapeutic uses of RU-486 are discussed: the termination of early pregnancy,treatment with RU-486 in combination with prostaglandins,the termination of second-trimester pregnancy,cervical ripening,labor induction,postcoital contraception,uterine leiomyomata,endometriosis,breast cancer,and meningioma. View Publication

Secretory diarrhea is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries and a major cause of morbidity in adults. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is required for fluid secretion in the intestine and airways and,when defective,causes the lethal genetic disease cystic fibrosis. We screened 50,000 chemically diverse compounds for inhibition of cAMP/flavone-stimulated Cl(-) transport in epithelial cells expressing CFTR. Six CFTR inhibitors of the 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone chemical class were identified. The most potent compound discovered by screening of structural analogs,CFTR(inh)-172,reversibly inhibited CFTR short-circuit current in less than 2 minutes in a voltage-independent manner with K(I) approximately 300 nM. CFTR(inh)-172 was nontoxic at high concentrations in cell culture and mouse models. At concentrations fully inhibiting CFTR,CFTR(inh)-172 did not prevent elevation of cellular cAMP or inhibit non-CFTR Cl(-) channels,multidrug resistance protein-1 (MDR-1),ATP-sensitive K(+) channels,or a series of other transporters. A single intraperitoneal injection of CFTR(inh)-172 (250 micro g/kg) in mice reduced by more than 90{\%} cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion in the small intestine over 6 hours. Thiazolidinone CFTR inhibitors may be useful in developing large-animal models of cystic fibrosis and in reducing intestinal fluid loss in cholera and other secretory diarrheas. View Publication