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Schleicher RL, Li K, Mylvaganam R, Bevers MB, Goldstein JN, Kimberly WT. Expression of DEspR in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2022; 31:106685. [PMID: 36007264 PMCID: PMC9509454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neuroinflammation and secondary injury play a central role in the pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage. The dual endothelin-1/VEGFsignal-peptide receptor (DEspR) has been reported to mediate the inflammatory response after acute brain injury in a rodent model. We performed a pilot study to assess the expression of DEspR on circulating leukocytes in patients who presented with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a prospective observational study of patients presenting to two academic medical centers with ICH. Normal healthy volunteers (NHV) were also recruited for sample analysis. Whole blood was obtained, and flow cytometry was performed to examine DEspR expression on neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. RESULTS A total of 19 patients were included in analysis. Median ICH volume was 39 cm3 [IQR 19 cm3, 73 cm3] and median ICH score was 2 [IQR 2, 3]. DEspR expression was more abundant on neutrophils (median 2.4% [IQR 0.5%, 5.8%], p = 0.0064) and monocytes (median 4.4% [IQR 1.7%, 15.8%], p = 0.003) relative to lymphocytes (median 0.9% [IQR 0.2%, 3.3%]). ICH patients had higher DEspR expression in all leukocytes relative to NHV (p < 0.05 for all). Among ICH patients, those with a medical history of hypertension showed higher DEspR expression on neutrophils and monocytes (p = 0.018) compared to those without hypertension. CONCLUSIONS In this pilot study, DEspR is expressed on circulating neutrophils and monocytes in humans after ICH, with higher levels of expression in those with hypertension. Future work in larger cohorts should examine the relationship of DEspR expression with neuroinflammatory endpoints and long-term outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riana L Schleicher
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Lunder 644, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Li
- Divisions of Stroke, Cerebrovascular and Critical Care Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ravi Mylvaganam
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew B Bevers
- Divisions of Stroke, Cerebrovascular and Critical Care Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua N Goldstein
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Taylor Kimberly
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Lunder 644, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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A targetable ‘rogue’ neutrophil-subset, [CD11b+DEspR+] immunotype, is associated with severity and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19-ARDS. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5583. [PMID: 35379853 PMCID: PMC8977568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09343-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil-mediated secondary tissue injury underlies acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and progression to multi-organ-failure (MOF) and death, processes linked to COVID-19-ARDS. This secondary tissue injury arises from dysregulated neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) intended to kill pathogens, but instead cause cell-injury. Insufficiency of pleiotropic therapeutic approaches delineate the need for inhibitors of dysregulated neutrophil-subset(s) that induce subset-specific apoptosis critical for neutrophil function-shutdown. We hypothesized that neutrophils expressing the pro-survival dual endothelin-1/VEGF-signal peptide receptor, DEspR, are apoptosis-resistant like DEspR+ cancer-cells, hence comprise a consequential pathogenic neutrophil-subset in ARDS and COVID-19-ARDS. Here, we report the significant association of increased peripheral DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophil-counts with severity and mortality in ARDS and COVID-19-ARDS, and intravascular NET-formation, in contrast to DEspR[-] neutrophils. We detect DEspR+ neutrophils and monocytes in lung tissue patients in ARDS and COVID-19-ARDS, and increased neutrophil RNA-levels of DEspR ligands and modulators in COVID-19-ARDS scRNA-seq data-files. Unlike DEspR[-] neutrophils, DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophils exhibit delayed apoptosis, which is blocked by humanized anti-DEspR-IgG4S228P antibody, hu6g8, in ex vivo assays. Ex vivo live-cell imaging of Rhesus-derived DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophils showed hu6g8 target-engagement, internalization, and induction of apoptosis. Altogether, data identify DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophils as a targetable ‘rogue’ neutrophil-subset associated with severity and mortality in ARDS and COVID-19-ARDS.
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Herrera VLM, Walkey AJ, Nguyen MQ, Gromisch CM, Mosaddhegi JZ, Gromisch MS, Jundi B, Lukassen S, Carstensen S, Denis R, Belkina AC, Baron RM, Pinilla-Vera M, Muller M, Kimberly WT, Goldstein JN, Lehmann I, Shih AR, Ells R, Levy BD, Rulz-Opazo N. Increased Neutrophil-Subset Associated With Severity/Mortality In ARDS And COVID19-ARDS Expresses The Dual Endothelin-1/VEGFsignal-Peptide Receptor (DEspR): An Actionable Therapeutic Target. RESEARCH SQUARE 2021:rs.3.rs-846250. [PMID: 34545358 PMCID: PMC8452107 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-846250/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophil-mediated secondary tissue injury underlies acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and progression to multi-organ-failure (MOF) and death, processes linked to severe COVID19. This 'innocent bystander' tissue injury arises in dysregulated hyperinflammatory states from neutrophil functions and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) intended to kill pathogens, but injure cells instead, causing MOF. Insufficiency of prior therapeutic approaches suggest need to identify dysregulated neutrophil-subset(s) and induce subset-specific apoptosis critical for neutrophil function-shutdown and clearance. We hypothesized that neutrophils expressing the pro-survival dual endothelin-1/signal peptide receptor, DEspR, are apoptosis-resistant just like DEspR+ cancer cells, hence comprise a consequential pathogenic neutrophil-subset in ARDS and COVID19-ARDS. Here, we report correlation of circulating DEspR+CD11b+ activated neutrophils (DESpR+actNs) and NETosing-neutrophils with severity in ARDS and in COVID19-ARDS, increased DEspR+ neutrophils and monocytes in post-mortem ARDS-patient lung sections, and neutrophil DEspR/ET1 receptor/ligand autocrine loops in severe COVID19. Unlike DEspR[-] neutrophils, ARDS patient DEspR+actNs exhibit apoptosis-resistance, which decreased upon ex vivo treatment with humanized anti-DEspR-IgG4S228P antibody, hu6g8. Ex vivo live-cell imaging of non-human primate DEspR+actNs showed hu6g8 target-engagement, internalization, and induction of apoptosis. Altogether, data differentiate DEspR+actNs as a targetable neutrophil-subset associated with ARDS and COVID19-ARDS severity, and suggest DEspR-inhibition as a potential therapeutic paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bakr Jundi
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Soeren Lukassen
- Berlin Institute of Health and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Meike Muller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
| | | | | | - Irina Lehmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
| | - Angela R Shih
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Roland Ells
- Berlin Institute of Health and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
| | - Bruce D Levy
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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4
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Gromisch CM, Tan GLA, Pasion KA, Moran AM, Gromisch MS, Grinstaff MW, Carr FJ, Herrera VLM, Ruiz-Opazo N. Humanized anti-DEspR IgG4 S228P antibody increases overall survival in a pancreatic cancer stem cell-xenograft peritoneal carcinomatosis rat nu/nu model. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:407. [PMID: 33853558 PMCID: PMC8048286 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08107-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic peritoneal carcinomatosis (PPC), with the worst median overall-survival (mOS), epitomizes the incurability of metastatic cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) underpin this incurability. However, inhibitors of CSC-stemness fail to increase mOS in cancer patients despite preclinical tumor-reduction. This shortfall reinforces that preclinical efficacy should be defined by increased mOS in the presence of cancer comorbidities, CSC-heterogeneity and plasticity. The primary objectives of this study are: to test the dual endothelin-1/signal peptide receptor, DEspR, as a nodal therapeutic target in PPC, given DEspR induction in anoikis-resistant pancreatic CSCs, and to validate humanized anti-DEspR antibody, hu-6g8, as a potential therapeutic for PPC. METHODS We used heterogeneous pools of CSCs selected for anoikis resistance from reprogrammed Panc1 and MiaPaCa2 tumor cells (TCs), and adherent TCs reprogrammed from CSCs (cscTCs). We used multiple anti-DEspR blocking antibodies (mAbs) with different epitopes, and a humanized anti-DEspR recombinant mAb cross-reactive in rodents and humans, to test DEspR inhibition effects. We measured DEspR-inhibition efficacy on multiple prometastatic CSC-functions in vitro, and on tumorigenesis and overall survival in a CSC-derived xenograft (CDX) nude rat model of PPC with comorbidities. RESULTS Here we show that DEspR, a stress-survival receptor, is present on subsets of PDAC Panc1-TCs, TC-derived CSCs, and CSC-differentiated TCs (cscTCs), and that DESpR-inhibition decreases apoptosis-resistance and pro-metastatic mesenchymal functions of CSCs and cscTCs in vitro. We resolve the DNA-sequence/protein-function discordance by confirming ADAR1-RNA editing-dependent DEspR-protein expression in Panc1 and MiaPaCa2 TCs. To advance DEspR-inhibition as a nodal therapeutic approach for PPC, we developed and show improved functionality of a recombinant, humanized anti-DEspR IgG4S228P antibody, hu-6g8, over murine precursor anti-DEspR mabs. Hu-6g8 internalizes and translocates to the nucleus colocalized with cyto-nuclear shuttling galectins-1/3, and induces apoptotic cell changes. DEspR-inhibition blocks transperitoneal dissemination and progression to peritoneal carcinomatosis of heterogeneous DEspR±/CD133 ± Panc1-derived CSCs in xenografted nude rats, improving mOS without chemotherapy-like adverse effects. Lastly, we show DEspR expression in Stage II-IV primary and invasive TCs in the stroma in PDAC-patient tumor arrays. CONCLUSION Collectively, the data support humanized anti-DEspR hu-6g8 as a potential targeted antibody-therapeutic with promising efficacy, safety and prevalence profiles for PPC patients.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/chemistry
- Immunoglobulin G/pharmacology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Immunophenotyping
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Peritoneal Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Peritoneal Neoplasms/secondary
- Rats
- Receptor, Endothelin A
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Gromisch
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Glaiza L A Tan
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khristine Amber Pasion
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann-Marie Moran
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew S Gromisch
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Abtelum Biomedical, Inc., now NControl Therapeutics, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Francis J Carr
- Abtelum Biomedical, Inc., now NControl Therapeutics, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victoria L M Herrera
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Abtelum Biomedical, Inc., now NControl Therapeutics, Inc., Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Nelson Ruiz-Opazo
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Abtelum Biomedical, Inc., now NControl Therapeutics, Inc., Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Gromisch C, Qadan M, Machado MA, Liu K, Colson Y, Grinstaff MW. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Unconventional Approaches for an Unconventional Disease. Cancer Res 2020; 80:3179-3192. [PMID: 32220831 PMCID: PMC7755309 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-2731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights current treatments, limitations, and pitfalls in the management of pancreatic cancer and discusses current research in novel targets and drug development to overcome these clinical challenges. We begin with a review of the clinical landscape of pancreatic cancer, including genetic and environmental risk factors, as well as limitations in disease diagnosis and prevention. We next discuss current treatment paradigms for pancreatic cancer and the shortcomings of targeted therapy in this disease. Targeting major driver mutations in pancreatic cancer, such as dysregulation in the KRAS and TGFβ signaling pathways, have failed to improve survival outcomes compared with nontargeted chemotherapy; thus, we describe new advances in therapy such as Ras-binding pocket inhibitors. We then review next-generation approaches in nanomedicine and drug delivery, focusing on preclinical advancements in novel optical probes, antibodies, small-molecule agents, and nucleic acids to improve surgical outcomes in resectable disease, augment current therapies, expand druggable targets, and minimize morbidity. We conclude by summarizing progress in current research, identifying areas for future exploration in drug development and nanotechnology, and discussing future prospects for management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gromisch
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Motaz Qadan
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mariana Albuquerque Machado
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Yolonda Colson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark W Grinstaff
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
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