Epitope of titin A-band-specific monoclonal antibody Tit1 5 H1.1 is highly conserved in several Fn3 domains of the titin molecule. Centriole staining in human, mouse and zebrafish cells

Transient titin-dependent ventricular defects during development lead to adult atrial arrhythmia and impaired contractility

Developmental causes of the most common arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), are poorly defined, with compensation potentially masking arrhythmic risk. Here, we delete 9 amino acids (Δ9) within a conserved domain of the giant protein titin's A-band in zebrafish and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs). We find that ttna Δ9/Δ9 zebrafish embryos' cardiac morphology is perturbed and accompanied by reduced functional output, but ventricular function recovers within days. Despite normal ventricular function, ttna Δ9/Δ9 adults exhibit AF and atrial myopathy, which are recapitulated in TTN Δ9/Δ9-hiPSC-aCMs. Additionally, action potential is shortened and slow delayed rectifier potassium current (I Ks) is increased due to aberrant atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels. Strikingly, suppression of I Ks in both models prevents AF and improves atrial contractility. Thus, a small internal deletion in titin causes developmental abnormalities that increase the risk of AF via ion channel remodeling, with implications for patients who harbor disease-causing variants in sarcomeric proteins.

An isoform of the giant protein titin is a master regulator of human T lymphocyte trafficking

Response to multiple microenvironmental cues and resilience to mechanical stress are essential features of trafficking leukocytes. Here, we describe unexpected role of titin (TTN), the largest protein encoded by the human genome, in the regulation of mechanisms of lymphocyte trafficking. Human T and B lymphocytes express five TTN isoforms, exhibiting cell-specific expression, distinct localization to plasma membrane microdomains, and different distribution to cytosolic versus nuclear compartments. In T lymphocytes, the LTTN1 isoform governs the morphogenesis of plasma membrane microvilli independently of ERM protein phosphorylation status, thus allowing selectin-mediated capturing and rolling adhesions. Likewise, LTTN1 controls chemokine-triggered integrin activation. Accordingly, LTTN1 mediates rho and rap small GTPases activation, but not actin polymerization. In contrast, chemotaxis is facilitated by LTTN1 degradation. Finally, LTTN1 controls resilience to passive cell deformation and ensures T lymphocyte survival in the blood stream. LTTN1 is, thus, a critical and versatile housekeeping regulator of T lymphocyte trafficking.

Clinical efficacy of percutaneous cryoablation combined with allogenic NK cell immunotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

In this study, the safety and clinical efficacy of cryosurgery combined with allogenic NK cell immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were evaluated. From July 2016 to March 2017, we enrolled 60 patients who met the enrollment criteria and divided them into two groups: (1) the simple cryoablation group (n = 30) and (2) the cryoablation combined with allogenic NK cell group (n = 30). The changes in immune function, quality of life, and clinical response were evaluated. We found that allogenic NK cells combined with cryosurgical treatment for advanced NSCLC have a synergistic effect, which not only enhancing the immune function of patients, improving the quality of life, and significantly increasing the response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) compared to cryoablation group. This study is the first clinical trial of allogenic NK cells combined with cryosurgery for the treatment of advanced NSCLC and preliminaily its safety and efficacy.

Tumor cryoablation in combination with natural killer cells therapy and Herceptin in patients with HER2-overexpressing recurrent breast cancer

In this study, we investigated the clinical benefits of a combination of tumor cryoablation with natural killer (NK) cells therapy and Herceptin for human epidermal growth factor (HER) 2-overexpressing recurrent breast cancer. From May 2015 to May 2016, 48 patients who met the enrollment criteria were assigned to three groups (n=16): cryoablation group (group I), cryoablation-NK cells therapy group (group II) and cryoablation-NK cells therapy-Herceptin group (group III). Safety and short-term effects were evaluated. All the adverse effects were manageable and acceptable. The three-therapy combination treatment not only yielded good clinical efficacy, it also improved the quality of life; reduced levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs); reduced carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) expression; enhanced immune function significantly. Furthermore, it can resulte in significant prolongation of progression free survival (PFS). This is the first clinical study to demonstrate the benefit of the three-therapy combination of tumor cryoablation, NK cells therapy, and Herceptin for HER2-overexpressing recurrent breast cancer.

Comparison of autogeneic and allogeneic natural killer cells immunotherapy on the clinical outcome of recurrent breast cancer

In the present study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcome of autogeneic and allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells immunotherapy for the treatment of recurrent breast cancer. Between July 2016 and February 2017, 36 patients who met the enrollment criteria were randomly assigned to two groups: autogeneic NK cells immunotherapy group (group I, n=18) and allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy group (group II, n=18). The clinical efficacy, quality of life, immune function, circulating tumor cell (CTC) level, and other related indicators were evaluated. We found that allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy has better clinical efficacy than autogeneic therapy. Moreover, allogeneic NK cells therapy improves the quality of life, reduces the number of CTCs, reduces carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) expression, and significantly enhances immune function. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to compare the clinical outcome of autogeneic and allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy for recurrent breast cancer.

Prospective study of percutaneous cryoablation combined with allogenic NK cell immunotherapy for advanced renal cell cancer

In this study, the clinical efficacy of cryosurgery combined with allogenic NK cell immunotherapy for advanced renal cell cancer was evaluated. From July to December 2016, we enrolled 60 patients who met the enrollment criteria and divided them into two groups: (1) the simple cryoablation group (n=30); and (2) the cryoablation combined with allogenic NK cells group (n=30). The clinical efficacy, quality of life, immune function, and other related indicators were evaluated. Combining allogeneic NK cells with cryoablation had a synergistic effect, not only enhancing the immune function and improving the quality of life of the patients, but also significantly exhibiting good clinical efficacy of the patients. This study is the first clinical trial that has evaluated the safety and efficacy of allogenic NK cells combined with cryosurgery for the treatment of renal cell cancer.

Expression of CD11c+HLA-DR+dendritic cells and related cytokines in the follicular fluid might be related to pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To explore the expressions of CD11c+HLA-DR+dentritic cells in the follicular fluid of patients with OHSS and their significances.

SUBJECTS

100 individuals.

TREATMENT

embryos were observed. The distribution of dentritic cells in follicular fluid and the levels of IL-10, IL-12, IL-18 and IL-23 in follicular fluid were detected.

METHODS

There were ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) group and control group in this study. The OHSS group consisted of 50 patients with OHSS and the control group consisted of 50 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) only due to male factors. The statuses of embryos were compared between the two groups. The distribution of dentritic cells in follicular fluid was determined with flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-10, IL-12, IL-18 and IL-23 in follicular fluid were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all patients.

RESULTS

The two-pronuclear (2PN) fertility rate, high-quality embryo rate and available embryo rate were all significantly lower in OHSS group than in control group (all P<0.05). The number of CD11c+HLA-DR+dentritic cells (P<0.05) and the levels of IL-10, IL-12, IL-18 and IL-23 were all significantly higher in OHSS group than in control group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The follicular fluid of the patients with OHSS is in an inflammatory status, the inflammatory status may be involved in OHSS and the microenvironment of follicular fluid may affects oocyte quality and embryo development.

Fis overexpression enhances Pseudomonas putida biofilm formation by regulating the ratio of LapA and LapF

Bacteria form biofilm as a response to a number of environmental signals that are mediated by global transcription regulators and alarmones. Here we report the involvement of the global transcription regulator Fis in Pseudomonas putida biofilm formation through regulation of lapA and lapF genes. The major component of P. putida biofilm is proteinaceous and two large adhesive proteins, LapA and LapF, are known to play a key role in its formation. We have previously shown that Fis overexpression enhances P. putida biofilm formation. In this study, we used mini-Tn5 transposon mutagenesis to select potential Fis-regulated genes involved in biofilm formation. A total of 90 % of the studied transposon mutants carried insertions in the lap genes. Since our experiments showed that Fis-enhanced biofilm is mostly proteinaceous, the amounts of LapA and LapF from P. putida cells lysates were quantified using SDS-PAGE. Fis overexpression increases the quantity of LapA 1.6 times and decreases the amount of LapF at least 4 times compared to the wild-type cells. The increased LapA expression caused by Fis overexpression was confirmed by FACS analysis measuring the amount of LapA-GFP fusion protein. Our results suggest that the profusion of LapA in the Fis-overexpressed cells causes enhanced biofilm formation in mature stages of P. putida biofilm and LapF has a minor role in P. putida biofilm formation.