Retinoprotective Effects of TAT-Bound Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) belong to the same peptide family and exert a variety of biological functions. Both PACAP and VIP have protective effects in several tissues. While PACAP is known to be a stronger retinoprotective peptide, VIP has very potent anti-inflammatory effects. The need for a non-invasive therapeutic approach has emerged and PACAP has been shown to be retinoprotective when administered in the form of eye drops as well. The cell penetrating peptide TAT is composed of 11 amino acids and tagging of TAT at the C-terminus of neuropeptides PACAP/VIP can enhance the traversing ability of the peptides through the biological barriers. We hypothesized that TAT-bound PACAP and VIP could be more effective in exerting retinoprotective effects when given in eye drops, by increasing the traversing efficacy and enhancing the activation of the PAC1 receptor. Rats were subjected to bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), and retinas were processed for histological analysis 14 days later. The efficiency of the TAT-bound peptides to reach the retina was assessed as well as their cAMP increasing ability. Our present study provides evidence, for the first time, that topically administered PACAP and VIP derivatives (PACAP-TAT and VIP-TAT) attenuate ischemic retinal degeneration via the PAC1 receptor presumably due to a multifactorial protective mechanism.

Abstract 4184: Tumor and risk factor characteristics among breast cancer patients from different geographic regions in Peru

There are few Latin American cohorts with available biospecimens that include women of high Indigenous American ancestry. The Peruvian population is characterized by a high degree of Native American (NA) ancestry, with this ancestral component varying between 56 to 100% on average, depending on the region. We have collected 1199 Peruvian samples from the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas in Lima. This cohort of patients represents a unique opportunity to study the molecular characteristics of breast cancer in the NA genetic and genomic background. Here we present a basic description of the women in the study and a comparison of tumor subtypes distribution and risk factor information of the patients by place of birth and residence.

We explored differences in tumor subtype distribution and risk factors in relation to place of birth or residence in the three main geographical region of Peru. To test differences in proportions we used Chi2 or Fisher-exact tests. To test differences in means for continuous variables we used ANOVA or t-tests. Genetic ancestry was estimated using genome wide genotypes and the program ADMIXTURE. Tumor subtypes were defined using the following criteria: ER+/PR+/HER2- as luminal A, ER+/PR+/HER2+ as luminal B, ER-/PR-/HER2+ as HER2+ and ER-/PR-/HER2- as triple negative.

Overall, the patients included in the study were relatively young (50 yrs, SD=11.0). The average number of full-term pregnancies was 3 (SD=1.8), the average age at first pregnancy 22 (SD=5.7) and age at menarche was 13 (SD=1.8). The tumor subtype distribution was 31% of Luminal B tumors, 24% luminal A, 12% HER2 and 12% triple negative and did not differ by place of birth or residence. We found that patients from the Coastal region were heavier and taller than those born in the Andean region (p<0.005). Women born in the Coastal region had the lowest age at menarche and a lower number of full-term pregnancies (p<0.0001). Similar trends were observed when we compared women by place of residence. Patients born in Lima, the Capital of Peru, smoke more (p<0.05), were heavier, had lower age at menarche, lower number of full term pregnancies and were diagnosed at a younger age, compared to women born outside the city (p<0.05). The distribution of NA genetic ancestry also varied by place of birth: patients born outside Lima had higher proportion of NA ancestry (78% SD=0.15 vs. 74%, SD=0.18, p<0.05).

The distribution of tumor subtypes among women in the Peruvian breast cancer cohort did not differ by place of birth or residence. However, we found that for some breast cancer risk factors, exposures differed between women from different regions. Finally, given the relatively low observed values for reproductive and lifestyle related exposures and the high proportion of Indigenous American ancestry of Peruvian women, this cohort is likely to be particularly informative to study genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

Citation Format: Valentina Zavala, Tatiana Vidaurre, Katie Marker, Jeannie Vásquez, L Tamayo, Renzo Florez, Sandro Casavilca, M Calderon, J Abugattas, H Gómez, H Fuentes, C Monge-Pimentel, S Song, D Cherry, Laura Fejerman. Tumor and risk factor characteristics among breast cancer patients from different geographic regions in Peru [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4184.

[The association between Cathepsin S and pulmonary function and CT phenotypes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Objective: To explore the value of cathepsin S in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the evaluation of pulmonary function and CT phenotypes. Method: From April 2014 to April 2017, 46 patients with stable COPD were enrolled, and 29 healthy volunteers served as the control group. The patients were divided into 4 subgroups: GOLD Ⅰ(n=12), GOLD Ⅱ(n=6), GOLD Ⅲ(n=14), GOLD Ⅳ(n=14). The levels of cathepsin S and IFN-γ in BALF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The percentage ratio of low attenuation area to total lung area (LAA%), two times the ratio of airway wall thickness to outer diameter(2T/D), and the ratio of wall area to total cross-sectional area (WA) were measured by HRCT. Results: There were significant differences in the levels of cathepsin S in BALF between the groups (F=6.639, P=0.000). BALF cathepsin S levels were as follows: GOLD Ⅳ grou P>GOLD Ⅲ grou P>GOLD Ⅱ grou P>GOLD group Ⅰ >healthy control group (P value were all<0.05); LAA grade 3>LAA grade 2>LAA grade 1>LAA grade 0 (P value were all<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that BALF cathepsin S levels were correlated negatively with FEV(1)/FVC, FEV(1)% predicted, and DLCO% (r value was -0.065、-0.576、-0.392, respectively, P value were all<0.05), and but positively with RV/TLC%, LAA%, 2T/D, WA and IFN-γ(r value was 0.695, 0.497, 0.142, 0.309, 0.148, respectively, P value were all<0.05). Conclusion: The levels of cathepsin S were associated with the degree of airflow limitation and emphysema phenotype in COPD.

[Establishment and evaluation of a triple-color human papillomavirus pseudovirion neutralization assay]

Objective: To establish a triple-color pseudovirion-based neutralization assay (PBNA) and evaluate its capability of detecting immunogenicity of the sera generated by the immunization of HPV 9-valent vaccine. Methods: HPV pseudovirus (PsVs) 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 with the encapsidated fluorescence expressing red fluorescent plasmid N31-MCHREEY, green fluorescent N31-EGFP or blue fluorescent N31-mTagBFP were generated. The concentration of HPV PsVs and the infection titers of HPV PsVs were detected by double-antibody sandwich ELISA and TCID(50), respectively. The single- and triple color HPV 16/33/45 PsVs were used to detect the neutralization titers of mice sera immunized with HPV 9-valent vaccine and confirmed the accuracy and specificity of the triple-color PBNAs. Then, the single- and triple color HPV 6/11/18/31/33/45/52/58 PsVs were employed to detect the neutralization titers of cynomolgus macaques sera immunized with HPV 9-valent vaccine and determined whether the triple-color PBNAs could be applied to evaluate the immunogenicity of the sera generated by the immunization of HPV9-valent vaccine. Results: The concentration of HPV16 PsVs encapsulating green, red or blue fluorescent plasmid was 5.0 to 6.0 μg/ml and HPV6/11/18/31/33/45/52/59 triple-color HPV PsVs was about 1.0 to 3.0 μg/ml. 9 types HPV PsVs containing EGFP, Mcherry or mTagBFP reporter plasmid were obtained and the concentration can meet the need of neutralization detection. 9 types single-color fluorescent HPV PsVs had similar infectivity against 293FT cells with the infection titer values between 1×10(4) and 1×10(5). The results of PBNAs showed that there was no significant difference in the anti-HPV neutralization titers of mice sera induced by HPV 9-valent vaccine between single-color and triple-color HPV16/33/45 PsVs (P>0.05). Similarly, there was also no significant difference in the anti-HPV neutralization titers of cynomolgus macaques sera induced by HPV 9-valent vaccine between single-color and triple-color HPV6/11/18/31/33/45/52/58 PsVs (P>0.05). Conclusion: We successfully established the triple-color PBNAs and verified the accuracy and specificity of triple-color PBNAs consistent with single-color PBNAs. The triple-color PBNAs can be applied to evaluate the immunogenicity of HPV 9-valent vaccine's immune serum.

[Analysis of correlation between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment in the elderly]

Objective: To explore the relationship between cognitive impairment and serum fatty acid profile. Methods: Participants aged ≥60 years were selected from 3 communities in Shijiazhuang in 2015. The questionnaire was performed to collect basic information. And Montreal Cognitive Assessment was applied for the evaluation of cognitive impairment. Blood lipid parameters and serum fatty acid profiles were analyzed for all the subjects. A total of 529 subjects were finally included in this research. Multivariate ordinal logistic model was used to analyze the relationship between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment. Results: Normal, mild and moderate cognitive impairment accounted for 41.2% (n=218), 51.4% (n=272) and 7.4% (n=39) of all the subjects respectively. With control of age, gender, education, total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the OR (95%CI) of eicosenoic acid, nervonic acid and ratio of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3/n-6) was 1.06 (1.01-1.10), 0.93 (0.91-0.96), and 0.17 (0.04-0.73). Conclusion: The risk of cognitive impairment decreased with the raise of serum nervonic acid concentration and n-3/n-6, and increased with the raise of serum eicosenoic acid concentration.

Abstract P6-17-09: Event-free survival by ADCC status from a follow-up study comparing SB3 (trastuzumab biosimilar) with reference trastuzumab for HER2 positive breast cancer in neoadjuvant setting

Background: SB3 has been approved by the European Commission as a biosimilar of reference trastuzumab (TRZ). Equivalent breast pathologic complete response (bpCR) rate and comparable event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival between SB3 and TRZ have been reported.1-3 Upon monitoring quality attributes of TRZ for the development of SB3, a marked downward shift in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activities (ADCC) was observed in TRZ lots with expiry dates from Aug 2018 to Dec 2019.4 Some of these lots were used in this study. The objective of this report is to evaluate event-free survival by ADCC status from an additional one-year follow-up study.

Methods: Patients with HER2 positive early or locally advanced breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive SB3 or TRZ in neoadjuvant setting concurrently with chemotherapy. Patients then underwent surgery followed by adjuvant SB3 or TRZ. After completion of therapy, patients from selected countries participated in a long-term follow-up study. In TRZ, patients exposed to at least one shifted ADCC lot and those not exposed to shifted ADCC lot during neoadjuvant period were considered as “Exposed” and “Unexposed,” respectively. EFS was defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date when the first event occurred. An event was defined as disease recurrence or progression (local, regional, distant or contralateral) or death due to any cause. EFS after additional one-year follow-up was analyzed by ADCC status in the long-term follow-up set (LFS).

Results: A total of 367 patients (SB3, N=186; TRZ, N=181) were included in the LFS. Within TRZ, 55 patients were Unexposed and 126 patients were Exposed. At a median follow-up duration of 30.1 months in SB3 and 30.2 months in TRZ from initiation of study treatment, 4.8% patients in SB3, 3.6% in Unexposed and 10.3% in Exposed experienced events. 4.3% patients in SB3, 1.8% in Unexposed and 9.5% in Exposed experienced recurrence after surgery (Table). Two-year EFS rate was 96.7% in SB3, 98.2% in Unexposed and 92.5% in Exposed.

Conclusion: A significantly higher proportion of patients experienced events in Exposed compared to Unexposed (HR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.58, p-value=0.0137). No significant difference in EFS was found between SB3 and Unexposed. Although this study has a relatively short follow-up and has not been powered to evaluate the impact of ADCC on survival, these results suggest a possible correlation between ADCC and clinical efficacy. Further long-term results will follow.

Summary of Event-free Survival (LFS)  TRZEFS Hazard ratio (95% CI), p-value SB3 N=186All N=181Unexposed N=55Exposed N=126SB3 vs TRZ AllSB3 vs TRZ UnexposedTRZ Unexposed vs TRZ ExposedPatients with event, n (%)9 (4.8%)15 (8.3%)2 (3.6%)13 (10.3%)0.49 (0.21, 1.14) p=0.09751.19 (0.23, 6.18) p=0.83760.07 (0.01, 0.58) p=0.0137Recurrence after surgery8 (4.3%)13 (7.2%)1 (1.8%)12 (9.5%)   Progression before surgery1 (0.5%)1 (0.6%)1 (1.8%)0 (0.0%)   Death0 (0.0%)1 (0.6%)0 (0.0%)1 (0.8%)   

Reference:

1. Pivot X et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018; 36:968-74

2. Pivot X et al. Eur J Cancer. 2018; 93:19-27

3. Pivot X et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018; 36 (suppl; abstr e12631)

4. Kim S et al. MAbs. 2017; 9:704-14

Citation Format: Pegram MD, Pivot X, Cortes J, Curigliano G, Yoon Y, Lim J, Song S, Hong E. Event-free survival by ADCC status from a follow-up study comparing SB3 (trastuzumab biosimilar) with reference trastuzumab for HER2 positive breast cancer in neoadjuvant setting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-17-09.

Femtosecond phase-transition in hard x-ray excited bismuth

The evolution of bismuth crystal structure upon excitation of its A_1g phonon has been intensely studied with short pulse optical lasers. Here we present the first-time observation of a hard x-ray induced ultrafast phase transition in a bismuth single crystal at high intensities (~10¹⁴ W/cm²). The lattice evolution was followed using a recently demonstrated x-ray single-shot probing setup. The time evolution of the (111) Bragg peak intensity showed strong dependence on the excitation fluence. After exposure to a sufficiently intense x-ray pulse, the peak intensity dropped to zero within 300 fs, i.e. faster than one oscillation period of the A_1g mode at room temperature. Our analysis indicates a nonthermal origin of a lattice disordering process, and excludes interpretations based on electron-ion equilibration process, or on thermodynamic heating process leading to plasma formation.

The relative impact of urbanization and precipitation on long-term water level variations in the Yangtze River Delta

The combined and individual hydrological impacts of climate variation and urbanization have been extensively discussed over the past few decades, yet little is known about the relative impact of each. In this paper we took one of the most developed regions worldwide, Yangtze River Delta, as an example to analyse the long-term relative impacts of precipitation and urbanization change on water level alterations, based on precipitation, water level series, and annual impervious area data from 1960 to 2015. Abrupt changes detection in the water level series divided the data into the pre-impact period (1960-1988) and impacted period (1989-2015), and relative impacts of precipitation and urbanization on the water level increase from pre-impacted to impacted period, as well as their spatial and seasonal variations were estimated with the elasticity method. The results indicated that the urbanization change showed no distinct influence on the water level rise in the pre-impact period, while the precipitation played distinct roles only during summer months in the impacted period; the precipitation dominated two thirds of the water level rise in flood season, and in non-flood season the urbanization controlled the two thirds of the water level rise; spatially, the water level variations in old and new urban area were dominated by precipitation and urbanization process respectively; compared with precipitation amount, the water level correlated more strongly to the contribution ratio of precipitation. The results would provide a good reference for flood control and water resource management in the river basin, especially in the economically developed areas.

Optically induced transient enhancement of a structural order parameter

We photoexcite SrTiO3 and EuTiO3 in their purely soft-mode-driven structurally distorted phase and trace the structural order parameter via ultra-short x-rays. We observe a rapid decay for SrTiO3 and an intriguing transient enhancement for EuTiO3.

Retinoprotective Effects of TAT-Bound Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) belong to the same peptide family and exert a variety of biological functions. Both PACAP and VIP have protective effects in several tissues. While PACAP is known to be a stronger retinoprotective peptide, VIP has very potent anti-inflammatory effects. The need for a non-invasive therapeutic approach has emerged and PACAP has been shown to be retinoprotective when administered in the form of eye drops as well. The cell penetrating peptide TAT is composed of 11 amino acids and tagging of TAT at the C-terminus of neuropeptides PACAP/VIP can enhance the traversing ability of the peptides through the biological barriers. We hypothesized that TAT-bound PACAP and VIP could be more effective in exerting retinoprotective effects when given in eye drops, by increasing the traversing efficacy and enhancing the activation of the PAC1 receptor. Rats were subjected to bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), and retinas were processed for histological analysis 14 days later. The efficiency of the TAT-bound peptides to reach the retina was assessed as well as their cAMP increasing ability. Our present study provides evidence, for the first time, that topically administered PACAP and VIP derivatives (PACAP-TAT and VIP-TAT) attenuate ischemic retinal degeneration via the PAC1 receptor presumably due to a multifactorial protective mechanism.