A model of skin inflammation in humans leads to a rapid and reproducible increase in the interferon response signature: a potential translational model for drug development

Network analysis reveals miRNA crosstalk between periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. Periodontitis (PD is considered a high-risk factor for OSCC, but the genetic mechanism is rarely studied. This study aims to link OSCC and PD by identifying common differentially expressed miRNAs (Co-DEmiRNAs), their related genes (Hub genes), transcription factors (TFs), signaling pathways, enrichment functions, and compounds, and searching for genetic commonalities.

METHODS

The miRNAs expression datasets of OSCC and PD were searched from the GEO database. The miRNA and related crosstalk mechanism between OSCC and PD was obtained through a series of analyses.

RESULTS

hsa-mir-497, hsa-mir-224, hsa-mir-210, hsa-mir-29c, hsa-mir-486-5p, and hsa-mir-31are the top miRNA nodes in Co-DEmiRNA-Target networks. The most significant candidate miRNA dysregulation genes are ZNF460, FBN1, CDK6, BTG2, and CBX6, while the most important dysregulation TF includes HIF1A, TP53, E2F1, MYCN, and JUN. 5-fluorouracil, Ginsenoside, Rh2, and Formaldehyde are the most correlated compounds. Enrichment analysis revealed cancer-related pathways and so on.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive analysis reveals the interacting genetic and molecular mechanism between OSCC and PD, linking both and providing a foundation for future basic and clinical research.

Comprehensive, Multimodal Characterization of an Imiquimod-Induced Human Skin Inflammation Model for Drug Development

Imiquimod (IMQ) is often used as a topical challenge agent to provoke local skin inflammation. The objective of this study was to develop and refine a rapid, temporary, and reversible human skin inflammation model with IMQ for application in clinical drug development. A randomized, vehicle‐controlled, open‐label, dose‐ranging study was conducted in 16 healthy male subjects. IMQ (5 mg) was applied once daily for 72 hours under occlusion to intact skin (n = 8) or tape stripped (TS) skin (n = 8). Although IMQ alone induced limited effects, TS+IMQ treatment showed larger responses in several domains, including erythema and perfusion (P < 0.0001), mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (P < 0.01), and inflammatory cell influx compared with vehicle. In conclusion, a rapid, human IMQ skin inflammation challenge model was successfully developed with a clear benefit of TS prior to IMQ application. Future interaction studies will enable proof‐of‐pharmacology of novel compounds targeting the innate immune system.

The major miR-31 target genes STK40 and LATS2 and their implications in the regulation of keratinocyte growth and hair differentiation

Emerging evidence indicates that even subtle changes in the expression of key genes of signalling pathways can have profound effects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are masters of subtlety and generally have only mild effects on their target genes. The microRNA miR-31 is one of the major microRNAs in many cutaneous conditions associated with activated keratinocytes, such as the hyperproliferative diseases psoriasis, non-melanoma skin cancer and hair follicle growth. miR-31 is a marker of the hair growth phase, and in our miR-31 transgenic mouse model it impairs the function of keratinocytes. This leads to aberrant proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation that results in altered hair growth, while the loss of miR-31 leads to increased hair growth. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we have defined a set of conserved miR-31 target genes, including LATS2 and STK40, which serve as new players in the regulation of keratinocyte growth and hair follicle biology. LATS2 can regulate growth of keratinocytes and we have identified a function of STK40 that can promote the expression of key hair follicle programme regulators such as HR, DLX3 and HOXC13.

Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous and intravenous anifrolumab in healthy volunteers

Objectives

To compare the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous anifrolumab, an anti–type I interferon receptor monoclonal antibody in development for SLE, in healthy volunteers.

Methods

In this Phase I randomised, placebo-controlled study, 30 adults were assigned to three treatment cohorts (anifrolumab 300 mg SC (n=6), anifrolumab 300 mg intravenous (n=6), anifrolumab 600 mg SC (n=6)) and placebo (n=4/cohort). Serial blood samples were collected up to Day 84 to measure anifrolumab concentrations and antidrug antibodies (ADAs). PK parameters were estimated by noncompartmental analysis.

Results

Maximum serum concentrations in SC cohorts occurred after 4–7 days. Anifrolumab serum concentrations were below the limit of detection in all individuals by Day 84. Exposure to SC anifrolumab increased dose proportionally from 300 mg to 600 mg based on area under the serum concentration-time curve. Anifrolumab 300 mg SC exposure reached 87% of the intravenous exposure. Anifrolumab 300 mg SC and placebo administration elicited minimal injection-site reactions. Transient injection-site induration occurred in five of six individuals after anifrolumab 600 mg SC and two of four individuals after placebo. Transient, mild to moderate injection-site induration and pruritus occurred simultaneously in two of six individuals after anifrolumab 600 mg SC. Adverse events were reported by 50% (n=9) of anifrolumab-treated individuals and 33% (n=4) of placebo-treated individuals. ADAs were detected in only one individual in the anifrolumab 300-mg intravenous group at the Day 84 assessment.

Conclusion

Anifrolumab 300-mg SC exposure was 87% of intravenous administration, with single SC anifrolumab administrations well tolerated in healthy volunteers.

Analyzing the miRNA-Gene Networks to Mine the Important miRNAs under Skin of Human and Mouse

Genetic networks provide new mechanistic insights into the diversity of species morphology. In this study, we have integrated the MGI, GEO, and miRNA database to analyze the genetic regulatory networks under morphology difference of integument of humans and mice. We found that the gene expression network in the skin is highly divergent between human and mouse. The GO term of secretion was highly enriched, and this category was specific in human compared to mouse. These secretion genes might be involved in eccrine system evolution in human. In addition, total 62,637 miRNA binding target sites were predicted in human integument genes (IGs), while 26,280 miRNA binding target sites were predicted in mouse IGs. The interactions between miRNAs and IGs in human are more complex than those in mouse. Furthermore, hsa-miR-548, mmu-miR-466, and mmu-miR-467 have an enormous number of targets on IGs, which both have the role of inhibition of host immunity response. The pattern of distribution on the chromosome of these three miRNAs families is very different. The interaction of miRNA/IGs has added the new dimension in traditional gene regulation networks of skin. Our results are generating new insights into the gene networks basis of skin difference between human and mouse.

Novel translational model of resolving inflammation triggered by UV-killed E. coli

Whilst numerous studies investigating the aetiology of inflammatory diseases have been performed in rodents, the applicability of these data to human pathophysiology is frequently debated. Regardless of the strengths and weaknesses of rodent models in biomedical research, there is a need to develop models of experimental inflammation in humans. Here, we describe a self‐resolving acute inflammatory response triggered by the intradermal injection of UV‐killed Escherichia coli into the forearm of healthy volunteers. Cells and exudates were harvested from onset to resolution by applying negative pressure over the inflamed site. Onset was characterized by high blood flow, neutrophilia and peak levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, whilst resolution showed a decline in blood blow, reduction in neutrophils, increase in monocytes/macrophages and waning of classic pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels. An anti‐inflammatory effect, defined as suppression of onset phase events, was demonstrated by administering naproxen, a conventional non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug. In summary, this model of resolving acute inflammation is minimally invasive, highly tractable and allows simultaneous investigation of the vascular response, cellular trafficking and chemical mediator profile of onset and resolution phases of acute inflammation in humans. It can serve as a translational platform to provide mechanistic insights and to test the clinical efficacy of novel anti‐inflammatory and pro‐resolving drugs, and also as a tool in patients to explore inherent defects in resolution pathways.

Construction of specific magnetic resonance imaging/optical dual-modality molecular probe used for imaging angiogenesis of gastric cancer

The purpose of the study was to construct specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/optical dual-modality molecular probe. Tumor-bearing animal models were established. MRI/optical dual-modality molecular probe was construed by coupling polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified nano-Fe₃O₄ with specific targeted cyclopeptide GX1 and near-infrared fluorescent dyes Cy5.5. MRI/optical imaging effects of the probe were observed and the feasibility of in vivo double-modality imaging was discussed. It was found that, the double-modality probe was of high stability; tumor signal of the experimental group tended to be weak after injection of the probe, but rose to a level which was close to the previous level after 18 h (p > 0.05). We successively completed the construction of an ideal MRI/optical dual-modality molecular probe. MRI/optical dual-modality molecular probe which can selectively gather in gastric cancer is expected to be a novel probe used for diagnosing gastric cancer in the early stage.