An integrated analysis identifies STAT4 as a key regulator of ovarian cancer metastasis

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers, with diagnosis often at a late stage. Metastasis is a major cause of death in patients with EOC, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we utilized an integrated approach to find potential key transcription factors involved in ovarian cancer metastasis and identified STAT4 as a critical player in ovarian cancer metastasis. We found that activated STAT4 was overexpressed in epithelial cells of ovarian cancer and STAT4 overexpression was associated with poor outcome of ovarian cancer patients, which promoted metastasis of ovarian cancer in both in vivo and in vitro. Although STAT4 mediated EOC metastasis via inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian cancer cells in vivo, STAT4 failed to induce EMT directly in vitro, suggesting that STAT4 might mediate EMT process via cancer-stroma interactions. Further functional analysis revealed that STAT4 overexpression induced normal omental fibroblasts and adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to obtain cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF)-like features via induction of tumor-derived Wnt7a. Reciprocally, increased production of CAF-induced CXCL12, IL6 and VEGFA within tumor microenvironment could enable peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer via induction of EMT program. In summary, our study established a model that STAT4 promotes ovarian cancer metastasis via tumor-derived Wnt7a-induced activation of CAFs.

Effects of preheating temperature, moisture, and sodium metabisulfite content on quality of noodles prepared from maize flour or meal / Efecto de la temperatura de precalentamiento, humedad y contenido de metabisulfito de sodio en la calidad de fideos de harina o de sémola de maíz

Preheating temperature, maize flour particle size, and levels of water and sulfite were tested during preparation of maize noodles. Heating a mixture of maize flour and water (43-45 % moisture) at 90-95 °C was required to extrude maize noodles using a pasta maker. Maize flour with smaller par ticle size yielded better noodles than did maize meal. Addition of sulfite enabled production of noodles at lower processing temperatures, however, cooking losses increased. Addition of more water yielded noodles that required longer cooking time, but decreased cooking losses. Functionalities of starch and protein in raw ingredients and in products were determined. Starch gelatinized and retrograded during processing of maize extrudates, as indicated by changes in pasting viscosity curves. Above 40 °C, maize proteins increased mixing viscosity of dough. Increased integrity of cooked maize noodles, however, corresponded to increased amounts of gelatinized and retrograded starch.

3D-Printed Biodegradable Polymeric Vascular Grafts

Congenital heart defect interventions may benefit from the fabrication of patient-specific vascular grafts because of the wide array of anatomies present in children with cardiovascular defects. 3D printing is used to establish a platform for the production of custom vascular grafts, which are biodegradable, mechanically compatible with vascular tissues, and support neotissue formation and growth.

Intracavernous delivery of clonal mesenchymal stem cells rescues erectile function in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse

The major hurdle for the clinical application of stem cell therapy is the heterogeneous nature of the isolated cells, which may cause different treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mouse clonal bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) obtained from a single colony by using subfractionation culturing method for erectile function in diabetic animals. Twelve-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: controls, diabetic mice, and diabetic mice treated with a single intracavernous injection of PBS (20 μL) or clonal BMSCs (3 × 10(5) cells/20 μL). Clonal BMSCs were isolated from 5-week-old C3H mice. Two weeks after treatment, erectile function was measured by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. The penis was stained with antibodies to PECAM-1, smooth muscle α-actin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), neurofilament, and phosphorylated endothelial NOS (phospho-eNOS). We also performed Western blot for phospho-eNOS, and eNOS in the corpus cavernosum tissue. Local delivery of clonal BMSCs significantly restored cavernous endothelial and smooth muscle cell contents, and penile nNOS and neurofilament contents, and induced eNOS phosphorylation (Ser1177) in diabetic mice. Intracavernous injection of clonal BMSCs induced significant recovery of erectile function, which reached 80-90% of the control values. Clonal BMSCs successfully restored erectile function through dual angiogenic and neurotrophic effects in diabetic mice. The homogenous nature of clonal mesenchymal stem cells may allow their clinical applications and open a new avenue through which to treat diabetic erectile dysfunction.

KiSS1-induced GPR54 signaling inhibits breast cancer cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via protein kinase D1

The metastasis suppressor protein Kisspeptin regulates cancer cell proliferation and motility through its receptor, GRP54. However, the critical downstream effectors remain unclear. In this study, we investigated GPR54 signaling in breast cancer cells. Kisspeptin stimulation caused a decrease in migration of multiple breast cancer cell lines. Also, Kisspeptin inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell colony formation in 3D matrigel culture and in soft agar. Kisspeptin treatment elevated phosphorylated PKD1 in a PKC-dependent manner. However, knockdown of either GPR54 or PKD1 increased breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, GPR54 knockdown blocked Kisspeptin-induced phosphorylation of PKD1. Finally, Kisspeptin stimulation induced a PKD1 phosphorylation-dependent decrease in expression of Slug, a transcription factor that drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and a concomitant increase in E-cadherin expression. Therefore, KiSS1/GPR54 signaling through PKD1 acts to maintain the epithelial state and to inhibit breast cancer cell invasiveness, and exerts functions associated with its role as a metastasis suppressor.

Contrasting biofunctionalization strategies for the enhanced endothelialization of biodegradable vascular grafts

Surface modification of biodegradable vascular grafts is an important strategy to improve the in situ endothelialization of tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) and prevent major complications associated with current synthetic grafts. Important strategies for improving endothelialization include increasing endothelial cell mobilization and increased endothelial cell capture through biofunctionalization of TEVGs. The objective of this study was to assess two biofunctionalization strategies for improving endothelialization of biodegradable polyester vascular grafts. These techniques consisted of cross-linking heparin to graft surfaces to immobilize vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or antibodies against CD34 (anti-CD34Ab). To this end, heparin, VEGF, and anti-CD34Ab attachment and quantification assays confirmed the efficacy of the modification strategy. Cell attachment and proliferation on these groups were compared to unmodified grafts in vitro and in vivo. To assess in vivo graft functionality, the grafts were implanted as inferior vena cava interpositional conduits in mice. Modified vascular grafts displayed increased endothelial cell attachment and activity in vivo, according to microscopy techniques, histological results, and eNOS expression. Inner lumen diameter of the modified grafts was also better maintained than controls. Overall, while both functionalized grafts outperformed the unmodified control, grafts modified with anti-CD34Ab appeared to yield the most improved results compared to VEGF-loaded grafts.

Efficient inhibition of intraperitoneal human ovarian cancer growth by short hairpin RNA targeting CD44

CD44 is one member of a big glycoprotein family involved in adhesion of cells or cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). The heavily glycosylated CD44 has been proved to be a major receptor of hyaluronan and a marker of stem cells in ovarian cancer. Here, using short hairpin (shRNA) against CD44, we demonstrate that knockdown CD44 could inhibit cancer growth efficiently compared with controls. Plasmid targeting CD44 gene (pshCD44) or non-relative control sequences (pshHK) was constructed and delivered to ovarian cancer by biodegradable poly D, L-Lactide-co-glycolide acid nanoparticles (PLGANPs). Nude mice were utilized in an intraperitoneal model of ovarian carcinomatosis to assess antitumor efficacy in vivo. Antitumor efficacy was estimated by changes in tumor weights, proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis (TUNEL) and angiogenesis (CD31 staining and alginate-encapsulated tumor beads assay) in tumor cells. As results, pshCD44 or pshHK could be effectively transfected into SKOV-3 cells by PLGANPs. Tumor weight in pshCD44/PLGANPs group was suppressed by 45% and 50% compared with those in pshHK/PLGANPs and untreated group, respectively (Ps < 0.001). Inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and reduction of angiogenesis in tumor cells of pshCD44/PLGANPs group also show significant difference compared with those in control groups (Ps < 0.05), respectively. These results indicate that pshCD44 delivered by PLGANPs might be a potential approach in ovarian cancer therapy, and point towards a mechanism involving the inhibition of angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and the induction of apoptosis.

Administration of PLGA nanoparticles carrying shRNA against focal adhesion kinase and CD44 results in enhanced antitumor effects against ovarian cancer

The two membrane-bound proteins, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and CD44, are involved in processes critical to cancer progression. FAK has an active role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis, whereas the heavily glycosylated CD44 has been implicated in cancer metastasis. Here, using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against FAK and CD44, we demonstrate that simultaneous knockdown of both these genes inhibits cancer growth more efficiently than knockdown of either gene individually. Plasmids targeting these genes or non-relative control sequences were constructed and delivered to ovarian cancer targets by biodegradable poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide acid nanoparticles (PLGANPs). Nude mice were utilized in an intraperitoneal model of ovarian carcinomatosis to assess antitumor efficacy in vivo. Single gene knockdown resulted in significantly smaller tumors than those observed in the empty-vector control (P's<0.001). More importantly, knockdown of both genes resulted in tumors smaller than both the empty-vector group (P<0.0001) and the single gene knockdown groups (P's<0.001). Knockdown of both FAK and CD44 resulted in tumors with inhibited angiogenesis, reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis as compared with controls (P's<0.001) and single knockdown groups (P's<0.05). These results indicate that dual knockdown of FAK and CD44 in the tumors of patients with ovarian cancer may have an enhanced therapeutic effect, and point toward a mechanism involving the inhibition of angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and the induction of apoptosis.

The safety and efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in young children with asthma or prior wheezing

In the European Union and Canada, an Ann Arbor strain live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is approved for use in children aged 2–17 years, including those with mild to moderate asthma or prior wheezing. The safety and efficacy of LAIV versus trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in children with asthma aged 6–17 years have been demonstrated. However, few data are available for children younger than 6 years of age with asthma or prior wheezing. Safety and efficacy data were collected for children aged 2–5 years with asthma or prior wheezing from two randomized, multinational trials of LAIV and TIV (N = 1,940). Wheezing, lower respiratory illness, and hospitalization were not significantly increased among children receiving LAIV compared with TIV. Increased upper respiratory symptoms and irritability were observed among LAIV recipients (p < 0.05). Relative efficacies were consistent with the results observed in the overall study populations, which demonstrated fewer cases of culture-confirmed influenza illness in LAIV compared with TIV recipients. Study results support the safety and efficacy of LAIV among children aged 2–17 years with mild to moderate asthma or a history of wheezing. Data regarding LAIV use are limited among individuals with severe asthma or active wheezing within the 7 days before vaccination.

Initial evaluation of the use of USPIO cell labeling and noninvasive MR monitoring of human tissue-engineered vascular grafts in vivo

This pilot study examines noninvasive MR monitoring of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) in vivo using cells labeled with iron oxide nanoparticles. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (hASMCs) were labeled with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles. The labeled hASMCs, along with human aortic endothelial cells, were incorporated into eight TEVGs and were then surgically implanted as aortic interposition grafts in a C.B-17 SCID/bg mouse host. USPIO-labeled hASMCs persisted in the grafts throughout a 3 wk observation period and allowed noninvasive MR imaging of the human TEVGs for real-time, serial monitoring of hASMC retention. This study demonstrates the feasibility of applying noninvasive imaging techniques for evaluation of in vivo TEVG performance.

Humoral and cellular immunity induced by tumor cell vaccine based on the chicken xenogeneic homologous matrix metalloproteinase-2

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been used as a target for cancer immunotherapy. The activation of immunization by breaking immune tolerance to self-MMP-2 may be one of the promising approaches for the treatment of MMP-2-positive tumors. In this study, we constructed the xenogeneic tumor cell vaccine c-MMP-2 by transfecting CT26 and LLC cells with chicken MMP-2 cDNA constructs. MMP-2-specific autoantibodies in sera and tumor cells were found in mice immunized with c-MMP-2. Protection against tumor growth was evaluated in respect of the relative contributions of autoantibodies, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Treatment with this vaccine (c-MMP-2) also prolonged the survival time of mice bearing cancer. The specific cytotoxic T-cell responses suggested that the treatment increased CD8+ T-cell activity. The antitumor activity of c-MMP-2 was abrogated by in vivo depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and improved by adoptive transfer of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes from the mice treated with c-MMP-2. An alternative DNA vaccination strategy for cancer therapy was identified in this study by eliciting humoral and cellular immunoresponse with a crossreacting transfectant.

Activation of human peripheral blood immune cells in vitro by sodium stibogluconate (SSG) and SSG/IL-2 combination

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Background: SSG, an inhibitor of SHP-1 and SHP2 which are negative regulatory signaling tyrosine phosphatases, suppressed the growth of murine renal carcinoma (Renca) in combination with IL-2 via an interferon (IFN)-γ+ T cell-dependent mechanism (J Immunol 175:7003–8, 2005). Activation of primary human immune cells by SSG or SSG/IL-2 would provide additional supporting evidence for SSG clinical evaluation in combination with IL-2. Methods: Peripheral blood of healthy and melanoma donors were treated in vitro with SSG or SSG/IL-2 and then subjected to ELISPOT assays and FACS analysis for quantification of TH1 (IFN-γ+) and TH2 (IL-5+) cells. Results: Characterization by ELISPOT assays of peripheral blood identified IFN-γ+ cells with marked increase (9.1x) following SSG/IL-2 treatment in contrast to the modest increases induced by SSG alone (2.1x) at its clinically achievable dose (20 μg/ml) or by IL-2 (3.1x) at its Cmax of low-dose schedule (30 IU/ml). SSG at an even higher dose (100 μg/ml) was less effective alone (1.5x) or in combination with IL-2 (7.8x). IL-5+ cells were not induced by the agents individually or in combination. Induction of peripheral IFN-γ+ cells by SSG/IL-2 was detectable after 4 and 16 h. Increased effectiveness of the SSG/IL-2 combination vs. the individual agents in inducing IFN-γ+ cells in vitro was detected by ELISPOT assays in the peripheral blood from 7 healthy donors and 6 melanoma patients. FACS analysis showed that the combination induced IFN-γ+ cells in the CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and also increased lymphocytes expressing the activation marker CD69 in both CD4+ (2–5x) and CD4− populations (∼ 3x). Conclusion: SSG, a compound used clinically for treatment of leishmaniasis, can interact with IL-2 in vitro to activate immune cells in peripheral blood of healthy and melanoma donors. Results provide further rationale, in addition to the mouse tumor data, for proof of concept clinical trials for effecting augmentation of IL-2 through inhibition of negative regulatory signaling phosphatases.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effects of sodium stibogluconate on differentiation and proliferation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines in vitro

PTPases are key signaling molecules and targets for developing novel therapeutics. We have studied the in vitro biological activity of PTPase inhibitor sodium stibogluconate (SS) on differentiation and proliferation of myeloid leukemia cell lines (NB4, HL-60 and U937). SS (250 microg/ml, 6 days) induced 87% of NB4 cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), in comparison to the 90% induced by ATRA (1 microM, 6 days). SS treatment of NB4 cells resulted in an increase of CD11b expression and of a morphologically more mature population, coincident with growth arrest at S phase and increased cell death. The effect of SS on NB4 differentiation was irreversible and required continuous drug exposure. SS (400 microg/ml, 6 days) induced 60% and 55% of NBT-positive cells in HL-60 and U937 cell lines, which were augmented in the presence of GM-CSF (25 ng/ml) to levels (85% and 81%, respectively) comparable to those induced by ATRA. SS induced increased tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in the AML cell lines and inactivated SHP-1 PTPase in NB4 cells, consistent with SS functioning as a PTPase inhibitor in the leukemia cells. These results provide the first evidence of an anti-leukemia activity of SS as a PTPase inhibitor.

Transcriptional repression of type I procollagen genes during adipocyte differentiation

Adipocyte differentiation is a very complex process in which whole-cell changes are accompanied. Among them, type I procollagen gene has been shown to specifically decrease during adipocyte differentiation; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism. To examine how type I procollagen gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription during adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used as an in vitro model. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression of type I procollagen gene was dramatically reduced during adipocyte differentiation. Time-course analysis indicated that decrease in mRNA expression occurred at early stage of differentiation. Studies on several stable cell lines showed that transcriptional activities of both alpha1 and alpha2 promoters decreased significantly during adipocyte differentiation. Despite extensive deletion-promoter analyses, however, we could not identify the cis-element responsible for the switch-off of type I procollagen gene during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the transcriptional repression of this gene occur through general transcription machinery rather than a specific cis-element. In conclusion, down-regulation of type I procollagen mRNA expression during adipocyte differentiation is due to repression of its promoter activity through general transcription machinery.