1
|
Dumitru R, Goodall A, Broadbent D, Del Galdo F, Tan AL, Biglands J, Buch M. First pilot study of extracellular volume MRI measurement in peripheral muscle of systemic sclerosis patients suggests diffuse fibrosis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 61:1651-1657. [PMID: 34273164 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Peripheral muscle involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) may comprise myositis or a non-inflammatory myopathy. There is little understanding on the nature of SSc myopathy. This pilot study aimed to evaluate for the presence of diffuse fibrosis in the peripheral muscle of patients with SSc by determining extracellular volume (ECV) MRI measurement. METHODS SSc patients, with suspected myopathy or no muscle involvement, and healthy volunteers (HV) had native T1 and ECV MRI quantification of the thigh and creatine-kinase (CK) measured. Suspected myopathy was defined as current/history of minimally raised CK (<600 IU/l) +/- presence of clinical signs-symptoms (proximal muscle weakness and/or myalgia) +/- a Manual Muscle Testing score <5 in the thighs. RESULTS 12 SSc patients and 10 HV were recruited. 9/12 patients had limited cutaneous SSc, 4/12 interstitial lung disease, 7/12 suspected myopathy. Higher skeletal muscle ECV was recorded in SSc patients compared to HV [mean (SD) 23(11)%, vs 11(4)% p = 0.04].Peripheral muscle ECV associated with CK (rho=0.554, p = 0.061) and was higher in SSc patients with myopathy compared to those with no myopathy [mean (SD) 28 (10) vs 15 (5), p = 0.023]. An ECV of 22% was determined to best identify myopathy with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 80%. CONCLUSION This hypothesis-generating study showed higher ECV in SSc patients compared to HV as well as association of ECV with suspected myopathy, suggesting the presence of diffuse fibrosis in the peripheral muscle of SSc patients. Further studies are needed to understand the nature of SSc myopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Dumitru
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Goodall
- Department Of Medical Physics and Engineering, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department of Medical Imaging and Medical Physics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - David Broadbent
- Department Of Medical Physics and Engineering, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Del Galdo
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ai Lyn Tan
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - John Biglands
- Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department Of Medical Physics and Engineering, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Maya Buch
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
The paper develops a parsimonious modelling framework to study the time-varying association between scalar outcomes and functional predictors observed at many instances, in longitudinal studies. The methods enable us to reconstruct the full trajectory of the response and are applicable to Gaussian and non-Gaussian responses. The idea is to model the time-varying functional predictors by using orthogonal basis functions and to expand the time-varying regression coefficient by using the same basis. Numerical investigation through simulation studies and data analysis show excellent performance in terms of accurate prediction and efficient computations, when compared with existing alternatives. The methods are inspired and applied to an animal science application, where of interest is to study the association between the feed intake of lactating sows and the minute-by-minute temperature throughout the 21 days of their lactation period. R code and an R illustration are provided.
Collapse
|
3
|
Patrinoiu G, Dumitru R, Culita DC, Munteanu C, Birjega R, Calderon-Moreno JM, Cucos A, Pelinescu D, Chifiriuc MC, Bleotu C, Carp O. Self-assembled zinc oxide hierarchical structures with enhanced antibacterial properties from stacked chain-like zinc oxalate compounds. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 552:258-270. [PMID: 31129297 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.05.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Single ZnO crystallites assembled into porous hierarchical structures have been prepared by topotactic thermal decomposition of in situ obtained zinc oxalate precursors, whose synthesis involves a redox reaction between 1,2-ethanediol and nitrate ion. For the first time it was demonstrated that post-synthesis protocols of the precursors (e.g. ultrasound irradiation, hydrolytic decomposition) master the hydrogen bonds formed between oxalate chains, allowing that way the adjustment of materials properties (morphology, porosity and optical) and a rational introduction of different dopants (Eu3+/Er3+). The ZnO surface reactivity is confirmed by the significant biocidal activity of the obtained materials against Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic and biofilm-embedded cells, superior to those reported in the literature for other ZnO-based materials or antibiotics, associated also with a good biocompatibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Patrinoiu
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Faculty for Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, University "Politehnica" of Timisoara, Piata Victoria, 30006 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Dana C Culita
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cornel Munteanu
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Birjega
- National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Atomistilor 409, PO-Box MG-36, 077125 Magurele, Romania
| | - José M Calderon-Moreno
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei Cucos
- National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering, ICPE-CA, Advanced Research, Splaiul Unirii 313, 030138 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Diana Pelinescu
- University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Microbiology Department, 1-3 Portocalilor Way and The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Spl. Independentei 91-95, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana C Chifiriuc
- University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Microbiology Department, 1-3 Portocalilor Way and The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Spl. Independentei 91-95, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Coralia Bleotu
- "St. S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, 285, Sos. Mihai Bravu, Bucharest 030304, Romania
| | - Oana Carp
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Matson JP, Dumitru R, Coryell P, Baxley RM, Chen W, Twaroski K, Webber BR, Tolar J, Bielinsky AK, Purvis JE, Cook JG. Correction: Rapid DNA replication origin licensing protects stem cell pluripotency. eLife 2019; 8:49040. [PMID: 31166167 PMCID: PMC6550866 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
5
|
Battaglia RA, Beltran AS, Delic S, Dumitru R, Robinson JA, Kabiraj P, Herring LE, Madden VJ, Ravinder N, Willems E, Newman RA, Quinlan RA, Goldman JE, Perng MD, Inagaki M, Snider NT. Site-specific phosphorylation and caspase cleavage of GFAP are new markers of Alexander disease severity. eLife 2019; 8:47789. [PMID: 31682229 PMCID: PMC6927689 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which supports the structural integrity of astrocytes. Over 70 GFAP missense mutations cause AxD, but the mechanism linking different mutations to disease-relevant phenotypes remains unknown. We used AxD patient brain tissue and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes to investigate the hypothesis that AxD-causing mutations perturb key post-translational modifications (PTMs) on GFAP. Our findings reveal selective phosphorylation of GFAP-Ser13 in patients who died young, independently of the mutation they carried. AxD iPSC-astrocytes accumulated pSer13-GFAP in cytoplasmic aggregates within deep nuclear invaginations, resembling the hallmark Rosenthal fibers observed in vivo. Ser13 phosphorylation facilitated GFAP aggregation and was associated with increased GFAP proteolysis by caspase-6. Furthermore, caspase-6 was selectively expressed in young AxD patients, and correlated with the presence of cleaved GFAP. We reveal a novel PTM signature linking different GFAP mutations in infantile AxD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Battaglia
- Department of Cell Biology and PhysiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Adriana S Beltran
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States,Human Pluripotent Stem Cell CoreUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Samed Delic
- Department of Cell Biology and PhysiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States,Department of BiosciencesUniversity of DurhamDurhamUnited Kingdom
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Human Pluripotent Stem Cell CoreUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Jasmine A Robinson
- Department of Cell Biology and PhysiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Parijat Kabiraj
- Department of Cell Biology and PhysiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Victoria J Madden
- Department of PathologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Roy A Quinlan
- Department of BiosciencesUniversity of DurhamDurhamUnited Kingdom
| | - James E Goldman
- Department of PathologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Ming-Der Perng
- Institute of Molecular MedicineNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan, Republic of China
| | - Masaki Inagaki
- Department of PhysiologyMie University Graduate School of MedicineMieJapan
| | - Natasha T Snider
- Department of Cell Biology and PhysiologyUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wolff SC, Kedziora KM, Dumitru R, Dungee CD, Zikry TM, Beltran AS, Haggerty RA, Cheng J, Redick MA, Purvis JE. Inheritance of OCT4 predetermines fate choice in human embryonic stem cells. Mol Syst Biol 2018; 14:e8140. [PMID: 30177503 PMCID: PMC6120590 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20178140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that clonal cells can make different fate decisions, but it is unclear whether these decisions are determined during, or before, a cell's own lifetime. Here, we engineered an endogenous fluorescent reporter for the pluripotency factor OCT4 to study the timing of differentiation decisions in human embryonic stem cells. By tracking single-cell OCT4 levels over multiple cell cycle generations, we found that the decision to differentiate is largely determined before the differentiation stimulus is presented and can be predicted by a cell's preexisting OCT4 signaling patterns. We further quantified how maternal OCT4 levels were transmitted to, and distributed between, daughter cells. As mother cells underwent division, newly established OCT4 levels in daughter cells rapidly became more predictive of final OCT4 expression status. These results imply that the choice between developmental cell fates can be largely predetermined at the time of cell birth through inheritance of a pluripotency factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Wolff
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Katarzyna M Kedziora
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cierra D Dungee
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tarek M Zikry
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adriana S Beltran
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rachel A Haggerty
- Curriculum for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - JrGang Cheng
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Margaret A Redick
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeremy E Purvis
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Okolie O, Irvin DM, Bago JR, Sheets K, Satterlee A, Carey-Ewend AG, Lettry V, Dumitru R, Elton S, Ewend MG, Miller CR, Hingtgen SD. Intra-cavity stem cell therapy inhibits tumor progression in a novel murine model of medulloblastoma surgical resection. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198596. [PMID: 29990322 PMCID: PMC6038981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytotoxic neural stem cells (NSCs) have emerged as a promising treatment for Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant primary pediatric brain tumor. The lack of accurate pre-clinical models incorporating surgical resection and tumor recurrence limits advancement in post-surgical MB treatments. Using cell lines from two of the 5 distinct MB molecular sub-groups, in this study, we developed an image-guided mouse model of MB surgical resection and investigate intra-cavity NSC therapy for post-operative MB. Methods Using D283 and Daoy human MB cells engineered to express multi-modality optical reporters, we created the first image-guided resection model of orthotopic MB. Brain-derived NSCs and novel induced NSCs (iNSCs) generated from pediatric skin were engineered to express the pro-drug/enzyme therapy thymidine kinase/ganciclovir, seeded into the post-operative cavity, and used to investigate intra-cavity therapy for post-surgical MB. Results We found that surgery reduced MB volumes by 92%, and the rate of post-operative MB regrowth increased 3-fold compared to pre-resection growth. Real-time imaging showed NSCs rapidly homed to MB, migrating 1.6-fold faster and 2-fold farther in the presence of tumors, and co-localized with MB present in the contra-lateral hemisphere. Seeding of cytotoxic NSCs into the post-operative surgical cavity decreased MB volumes 15-fold and extended median survival 133%. As an initial step towards novel autologous therapy in human MB patients, we found skin-derived iNSCs homed to MB cells, while intra-cavity iNSC therapy suppressed post-surgical tumor growth and prolonged survival of MB-bearing mice by 123%. Conclusions We report a novel image-guided model of MB resection/recurrence and provide new evidence of cytotoxic NSCs/iNSCs delivered into the surgical cavity effectively target residual MB foci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Onyinyechukwu Okolie
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David M. Irvin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Juli R. Bago
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kevin Sheets
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Andrew Satterlee
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Abigail G. Carey-Ewend
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Vivien Lettry
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- UNC Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core, Genetics Department, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Scott Elton
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Matthew G. Ewend
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - C. Ryan Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- UNC Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Shawn D. Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- UNC Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bagó JR, Okolie O, Dumitru R, Ewend MG, Parker JS, Werff RV, Underhill TM, Schmid RS, Miller CR, Hingtgen SD. Tumor-homing cytotoxic human induced neural stem cells for cancer therapy. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/375/eaah6510. [PMID: 28148846 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah6510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Engineered neural stem cells (NSCs) are a promising approach to treating glioblastoma (GBM). The ideal NSC drug carrier for clinical use should be easily isolated and autologous to avoid immune rejection. We transdifferentiated (TD) human fibroblasts into tumor-homing early-stage induced NSCs (h-iNSCTE), engineered them to express optical reporters and different therapeutic gene products, and assessed the tumor-homing migration and therapeutic efficacy of cytotoxic h-iNSCTE in patient-derived GBM models of surgical and nonsurgical disease. Molecular and functional analysis revealed that our single-factor SOX2 TD strategy converted human skin fibroblasts into h-iNSCTE that were nestin+ and expressed pathways associated with tumor-homing migration in 4 days. Time-lapse motion analysis showed that h-iNSCTE rapidly migrated to human GBM cells and penetrated human GBM spheroids, a process inhibited by blockade of CXCR4. Serial imaging showed that h-iNSCTE delivery of the proapoptotic agent tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) reduced the size of solid human GBM xenografts 250-fold in 3 weeks and prolonged median survival from 22 to 49 days. Additionally, h-iNSCTE thymidine kinase/ganciclovir enzyme/prodrug therapy (h-iNSCTE-TK) reduced the size of patient-derived GBM xenografts 20-fold and extended survival from 32 to 62 days. Mimicking clinical NSC therapy, h-iNSCTE-TK therapy delivered into the postoperative surgical resection cavity delayed the regrowth of residual GBMs threefold and prolonged survival from 46 to 60 days. These results suggest that TD of human skin into h-iNSCTE is a platform for creating tumor-homing cytotoxic cell therapies for cancer, where the potential to avoid carrier rejection could maximize treatment durability in human trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juli R Bagó
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Onyi Okolie
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- UNC Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, Department of Genetics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew G Ewend
- Department of Neurosurgery, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joel S Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ryan Vander Werff
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - T Michael Underhill
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ralf S Schmid
- Division of Neuropathology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - C Ryan Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Division of Neuropathology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shawn D Hingtgen
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zlate AC, Alexandrescu ST, Grigorie RT, Gramaticu IM, Kraft A, Dumitru R, Tomescu D, Popescu I. THE ROLE OF SURGERY IN A PATIENT WITH CARCINOID SYNDROME, COMPLICATED BY CARCINOID HEART DISEASE. Acta Endocrinol (Buchar) 2018; 14:117-121. [PMID: 31149245 DOI: 10.4183/aeb.2018.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A 55-year-old female patient was admitted for flushing and abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. Her past medical history revealed high blood pressure and a recent echocardiography showed thickened appearance of tricuspid valve with coaptation defect and grade II tricuspid regurgitation. Contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan and MRI were subsequently performed and revealed a large macronodular liver mass, as well as other micronodular lesions disseminated in the liver parenchyma. CT guided biopsy from the main liver mass revealed neuroendocrine tumor of unknown origin (probably GI) with Ki-67 of 8%. Surgical exploration was decided. During laparotomy, the primary tumor was found in the proximal ileum and the patient underwent segmental enterectomy. Non-anatomical hepatectomy was also performed to remove the bulk of the tumor burden (more than 90%). Postoperative course was uneventful and the carcinoid syndrome relieved. At present, 15 months postoperatively, the patient is under treatment with somatostatin analogue for its antiproliferative effect, with good clinical, biochemical and tumoral control and stable heart disease. In patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases from unknown primary, surgical exploration could allow detection (and resection) of the primary tumor and surgical debulking of liver metastases to control carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid heart disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A C Zlate
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, "Dan Setlacec" Centre of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - S T Alexandrescu
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, "Dan Setlacec" Centre of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Bucharest, Romania.,"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - R T Grigorie
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, "Dan Setlacec" Centre of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - I M Gramaticu
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Dept. of Oncology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Kraft
- "Titu Maiorescu" University, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - R Dumitru
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, Dept. of Radiology, Bucharest, Romania.,"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - D Tomescu
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, "Dan Tulbure" Centre of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Bucharest, Romania.,"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - I Popescu
- Fundeni Clinical Institute, "Dan Setlacec" Centre of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Bucharest, Romania.,"Titu Maiorescu" University, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Matson JP, Dumitru R, Coryell P, Baxley RM, Chen W, Twaroski K, Webber BR, Tolar J, Bielinsky AK, Purvis JE, Cook JG. Rapid DNA replication origin licensing protects stem cell pluripotency. eLife 2017; 6:30473. [PMID: 29148972 PMCID: PMC5720591 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Complete and robust human genome duplication requires loading minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase complexes at many DNA replication origins, an essential process termed origin licensing. Licensing is restricted to G1 phase of the cell cycle, but G1 length varies widely among cell types. Using quantitative single-cell analyses, we found that pluripotent stem cells with naturally short G1 phases load MCM much faster than their isogenic differentiated counterparts with long G1 phases. During the earliest stages of differentiation toward all lineages, MCM loading slows concurrently with G1 lengthening, revealing developmental control of MCM loading. In contrast, ectopic Cyclin E overproduction uncouples short G1 from fast MCM loading. Rapid licensing in stem cells is caused by accumulation of the MCM loading protein, Cdt1. Prematurely slowing MCM loading in pluripotent cells not only lengthens G1 but also accelerates differentiation. Thus, rapid origin licensing is an intrinsic characteristic of stem cells that contributes to pluripotency maintenance. From red blood cells to nerve cells, animals’ bodies contain many different types of specialized cells. These all begin as stem cells, which have the potential to divide and make more stem cells or to specialize. All dividing cells must first unwind their DNA so that it can be copied. To achieve this, cells load DNA-unwinding enzymes called helicases onto their DNA during the part of the cell cycle known as G1 phase. Cells must load enough helicase enzymes to ensure that their DNA is copied completely and in time. Stem cells divide faster than their specialized descendants, and have a much shorter G1 phase too. Yet these cells still manage to load enough helicases to copy their DNA. Little is known about how the amount, rate and timing of helicase loading varies between cells that divide at different speeds. Now Matson et al. have measured how quickly helicase enzymes are loaded onto DNA in individual human cells, including stem cells and specialized or “differentiated” cells. Stem cells loaded helicases rapidly to make up for the short time they spent in G1 phase, while differentiated cells loaded the enzymes more slowly. Measuring how the loading rate changed when stem cells were triggered to specialize showed that helicase loading slowed as the G1 phase got longer. Matson et al. found that the levels of key proteins required for helicase loading correlated with the rates of loading. Altering the levels of the proteins changed how quickly the enzymes were loaded and how the cells behaved – for example, slowing down the loading of helicases made the stem cells specialize quicker. These findings show that the processes of cell differentiation and DNA replication are closely linked. This study and future ones will help scientists understand what is happening during early animal development, when specialization first takes place, as well as what has gone wrong in cancer cells, which also divide quickly. A better understanding of this process also helps in regenerative medicine – where one of the challenges is to make enough specialized cells to transplant into a patient with tissue damage without those cells becoming cancerous.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Peter Matson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Philip Coryell
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Ryan M Baxley
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Weili Chen
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
| | - Kirk Twaroski
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
| | - Beau R Webber
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
| | - Anja-Katrin Bielinsky
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Jeremy E Purvis
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Jeanette Gowen Cook
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Okolie O, Finch E, Irvin D, Bago J, Sheets K, Satterlee A, Dumitru R, Khagi S, Elton S, Ewend M, Hingtgen S. PDTM-18. INVESTIGATING INTRA-CAVITY NEURAL STEM CELL THERAPY FOR POST-SURGICAL DISEASE IN A NOVEL SURGICAL RESECTION/RECURRENCE MODEL OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nox168.782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
12
|
Gomez NC, Hepperla AJ, Dumitru R, Simon JM, Fang F, Davis IJ. Widespread Chromatin Accessibility at Repetitive Elements Links Stem Cells with Human Cancer. Cell Rep 2016; 17:1607-1620. [PMID: 27806299 PMCID: PMC5267842 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin regulation is critical for differentiation and disease. However, features linking the chromatin environment of stem cells with disease remain largely unknown. We explored chromatin accessibility in embryonic and multipotent stem cells and unexpectedly identified widespread chromatin accessibility at repetitive elements. Integrating genomic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that these sites of increased accessibility are associated with well-positioned nucleosomes marked by distinct histone modifications. Differentiation is accompanied by chromatin remodeling at repetitive elements associated with altered expression of genes in relevant developmental pathways. Remarkably, we found that the chromatin environment of Ewing sarcoma, a mesenchymally derived tumor, is shared with primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Accessibility at repetitive elements in MSCs offers a permissive environment that is exploited by the critical oncogene responsible for this cancer. Our data demonstrate that stem cells harbor a unique chromatin landscape characterized by accessibility at repetitive elements, a feature associated with differentiation and oncogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Gomez
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Austin J Hepperla
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core Facility, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Fang Fang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ian J Davis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bissell LA, Dumitru R, Erhayiem B, Fent G, Greenwood J, Plein S, Andrews J, Graham L, Buch M. OP0037 First Pilot Study of An Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR) in Systemic Sclerosis Detects Significant Cardiac Arrhythmias with CMR Abnormalities: Table 1. Ann Rheum Dis 2016. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.2191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
14
|
Bagó JR, Alfonso-Pecchio A, Okolie O, Dumitru R, Rinkenbaugh A, Baldwin AS, Miller CR, Magness ST, Hingtgen SD. Therapeutically engineered induced neural stem cells are tumour-homing and inhibit progression of glioblastoma. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10593. [PMID: 26830441 PMCID: PMC4740908 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transdifferentiation (TD) is a recent advancement in somatic cell reprogramming. The direct conversion of TD eliminates the pluripotent intermediate state to create cells that are ideal for personalized cell therapy. Here we provide evidence that TD-derived induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) are an efficacious therapeutic strategy for brain cancer. We find that iNSCs genetically engineered with optical reporters and tumouricidal gene products retain the capacity to differentiate and induced apoptosis in co-cultured human glioblastoma cells. Time-lapse imaging shows that iNSCs are tumouritropic, homing rapidly to co-cultured glioblastoma cells and migrating extensively to distant tumour foci in the murine brain. Multimodality imaging reveals that iNSC delivery of the anticancer molecule TRAIL decreases the growth of established solid and diffuse patient-derived orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts 230- and 20-fold, respectively, while significantly prolonging the median mouse survival. These findings establish a strategy for creating autologous cell-based therapies to treat patients with aggressive forms of brain cancer. Neural stem cells have a tropism for glioblastoma. Here the authors employ fibroblasts directly reprogrammed into induced neural stem cells and loaded with cytotoxic molecules to migrate to xenotransplanted brain tumours in mice, achieving tumour shrinkage and prolonged survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juli R Bagó
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Adolfo Alfonso-Pecchio
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Onyi Okolie
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Department of Genetics, UNC Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Amanda Rinkenbaugh
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Albert S Baldwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - C Ryan Miller
- Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Department of Neurology, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Scott T Magness
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Shawn D Hingtgen
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.,Biomedical Research Imaging Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bago J, Okolie O, Dumitru R, Ewend M, Hingtgen S. ATPS-32TUMOR-HOMING HUMAN INDUCED NEURAL STEM CELLS: TOWARDS PERSONALIZED CELL THERAPY FOR GLIOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nov204.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
16
|
Chirita D, Calita M, Grasu M, Dumitru R, Gramaticu I, Croitoru A, Ionescu M, Dumitrascu T. Metachronous Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma after Curative-Intent Surgery for Klatskin Tumor. Chirurgia (Bucur) 2015; 110:379-383. [PMID: 26305204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Resection represents the single hope for long-term survival in a patient diagnosed with a hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor). However, the largest part of these patients develops a recurrent disease. Second metachronous periampullary cancers after a curative-intent surgery for a Klatskin tumor represent an exceptional pathology, and the management of these patients was poorly documented. Hereby, it is presented a 32-year-old patient with bile duct resection, left hemi-hepatectomy and loco-regional lymph nodes dissection, for a type IIIB Bismuth-Corlette Klatskin tumor, which, furthermore, 6 years later, underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy for a metachronous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. The management and outcomes were discussed in the reported case, along with a literature review of the previously published patients. In conclusion, a metachronous periampullary carcinoma after resection of a Klatskin tumor should be distinguished from a loco-regional recurrent disease. While most of the patients with recurrences are suitable to only chemotherapy and or radiotherapy, a second curative-intent surgery (i.e., pancreaticoduodenectomy) is feasible in the largest part of the patients with a metachronous cancer, with good long-term outcomes.
Collapse
|
17
|
Niedringhaus M, Dumitru R, Mabb AM, Wang Y, Philpot BD, Allbritton NL, Taylor AM. Transferable neuronal mini-cultures to accelerate screening in primary and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8353. [PMID: 25666972 PMCID: PMC4322355 DOI: 10.1038/srep08353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The effort and cost of obtaining neurons for large-scale screens has limited drug discovery in neuroscience. To overcome these obstacles, we fabricated arrays of releasable polystyrene micro-rafts to generate thousands of uniform, mobile neuron mini-cultures. These mini-cultures sustain synaptically-active neurons which can be easily transferred, thus increasing screening throughput by >30-fold. Compared to conventional methods, micro-raft cultures exhibited significantly improved neuronal viability and sample-to-sample consistency. We validated the screening utility of these mini-cultures for both mouse neurons and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons by successfully detecting disease-related defects in synaptic transmission and identifying candidate small molecule therapeutics. This affordable high-throughput approach has the potential to transform drug discovery in neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Niedringhaus
- 1] UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering [2] UNC Neuroscience Center
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- 1] UNC Neuroscience Center [2] UNC Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core [3] UNC Department of Genetics
| | - Angela M Mabb
- 1] UNC Department of Cell Biology and Physiology [2] UNC Neuroscience Center
| | | | - Benjamin D Philpot
- 1] UNC Department of Cell Biology and Physiology [2] UNC Neuroscience Center [3] Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- 1] UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering [2] UNC Department of Chemistry
| | - Anne Marion Taylor
- 1] UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering [2] UNC Neuroscience Center [3] Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Alfonso-Pecchio A, Bago' J, Okolie O, Dumitru R, Hingtgen S. ET-02 * THERAPEUTICALLY ENGINEERED INDUCED NEURAL STEM CELLS ARE TUMOR-HOMING AND INHIBIT PROGRESSION OF GLIOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou255.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
19
|
Zheng X, Dumitru R, Lackford BL, Freudenberg JM, Singh AP, Archer TK, Jothi R, Hu G. Cnot1, Cnot2, and Cnot3 maintain mouse and human ESC identity and inhibit extraembryonic differentiation. Stem Cells 2012; 30:910-22. [PMID: 22367759 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell (ESC) identity and self-renewal is maintained by extrinsic signaling pathways and intrinsic gene regulatory networks. Here, we show that three members of the Ccr4-Not complex, Cnot1, Cnot2, and Cnot3, play critical roles in maintaining mouse and human ESC identity as a protein complex and inhibit differentiation into the extraembryonic lineages. Enriched in the inner cell mass of blastocysts, these Cnot genes are highly expressed in ESC and downregulated during differentiation. In mouse ESCs, Cnot1, Cnot2, and Cnot3 are important for maintenance in both normal conditions and the 2i/LIF medium that supports the ground state pluripotency. Genetic analysis indicated that they do not act through known self-renewal pathways or core transcription factors. Instead, they repress the expression of early trophectoderm (TE) transcription factors such as Cdx2. Importantly, these Cnot genes are also necessary for the maintenance of human ESCs, and silencing them mainly lead to TE and primitive endoderm differentiation. Together, our results indicate that Cnot1, Cnot2, and Cnot3 represent a novel component of the core self-renewal and pluripotency circuitry conserved in mouse and human ESCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, RTP, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Dumitru R, Scarlat A, lonescu M, Dumitrascu T. Left-sided duplication of inferior vena cava: clinical implications in a patient with sigmoid adenocarcinoma. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2012; 116:858-861. [PMID: 23272542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Double inferior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly, usually detected by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Although asymptomatic, it may have a clinical significance, as it may mimic a para-aortic lymphadenopaty. A case of left-sided duplication of the inferior vena cava in a patient with sigmoid colon cancer is presented. The diagnostic pitfalls and clinical implications are discussed. Accurate preoperative assessment of such an anatomical variant is of utmost importance, this way potentially life-threatening surgical complications, particularly when a minimally invasive approach is planned, are prevented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Dumitru
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hirsch ML, Fagan BM, Dumitru R, Bower JJ, Yadav S, Porteus MH, Pevny LH, Samulski RJ. Viral single-strand DNA induces p53-dependent apoptosis in human embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27520. [PMID: 22114676 PMCID: PMC3219675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are primed for rapid apoptosis following mild forms of genotoxic stress. A natural form of such cellular stress occurs in response to recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) single-strand DNA genomes, which exploit the host DNA damage response for replication and genome persistence. Herein, we discovered a unique DNA damage response induced by rAAV transduction specific to pluripotent hESCs. Within hours following rAAV transduction, host DNA damage signaling was elicited as measured by increased gamma-H2AX, ser15-p53 phosphorylation, and subsequent p53-dependent transcriptional activation. Nucleotide incorporation assays demonstrated that rAAV transduced cells accumulated in early S-phase followed by the induction of apoptosis. This lethal signaling sequalae required p53 in a manner independent of transcriptional induction of Puma, Bax and Bcl-2 and was not evident in cells differentiated towards a neural lineage. Consistent with a lethal DNA damage response induced upon rAAV transduction of hESCs, empty AAV protein capsids demonstrated no toxicity. In contrast, DNA microinjections demonstrated that the minimal AAV origin of replication and, in particular, a 40 nucleotide G-rich tetrad repeat sequence, was sufficient for hESC apoptosis. Our data support a model in which rAAV transduction of hESCs induces a p53-dependent lethal response that is elicited by a telomeric sequence within the AAV origin of replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Hirsch
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MLH); (RJS)
| | - B. Matthew Fagan
- Human Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Raluca Dumitru
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jacquelyn J. Bower
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Swati Yadav
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Matthew H. Porteus
- Department of Pediatrics-Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Larysa H. Pevny
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MLH); (RJS)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shchepin R, Navarathna DHMLP, Dumitru R, Lippold S, Nickerson KW, Dussault PH. Influence of heterocyclic and oxime-containing farnesol analogs on quorum sensing and pathogenicity in Candida albicans. Bioorg Med Chem 2007; 16:1842-8. [PMID: 18037299 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2007] [Revised: 10/30/2007] [Accepted: 11/01/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A series of synthetic molecules combining a geranyl backbone with a heterocyclic or oxime head group are quorum-sensing molecules that block the yeast to mycelium transition in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. A number of the analogs have an IC50 10 microM, a level of potency essentially identical to the natural quorum sensing signal, the sesquiterpene farnesol. Two of the most potent analogs, neither toxic toward healthy mice, display remarkably different effects when co-administered with C. albicans. While neither offers protection from candidiasis, one analog mimics farnesol in acting as a virulence factor, whereas the other has no effect. The results offer the first example of highly potent synthetic fungal quorum-sensing molecules, and provide the first evidence for the ability to decouple quorum sensing and virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roman Shchepin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Dumitru R, Navarathna DHMLP, Semighini CP, Elowsky CG, Dumitru RV, Dignard D, Whiteway M, Atkin AL, Nickerson KW. In vivo and in vitro anaerobic mating in Candida albicans. Eukaryot Cell 2007; 6:465-72. [PMID: 17259544 PMCID: PMC1828919 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00316-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans cells of opposite mating types are thought to conjugate during infection in mammalian hosts, but paradoxically, the mating-competent opaque state is not stable at mammalian body temperatures. We found that anaerobic conditions stabilize the opaque state at 37 degrees C, block production of farnesol, and permit in vitro mating at 37 degrees C at efficiencies of up to 84%. Aerobically, farnesol prevents mating because it kills the opaque cells necessary for mating, and as a corollary, farnesol production is turned off in opaque cells. These in vitro observations suggest that naturally anaerobic sites, such as the efficiently colonized gastrointestinal (GI) tract, could serve as niches for C. albicans mating. In a direct test of mating in the mouse GI tract, prototrophic cells were obtained from auxotrophic parent cells, confirming that mating will occur in this organ. These cells were true mating products because they were tetraploid, mononuclear, and prototrophic, and they contained the heterologous hisG marker from one of the parental strains.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Anaerobiosis/physiology
- Animals
- Candida albicans/cytology
- Candida albicans/genetics
- Candida albicans/metabolism
- Conjugation, Genetic/physiology
- Farnesol/metabolism
- Farnesol/pharmacology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Tract/physiology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics
- Genes, Mating Type, Fungal/drug effects
- Genes, Mating Type, Fungal/genetics
- Genes, Switch/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
- Phenotype
- Signal Transduction
- Species Specificity
- Temperature
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Dumitru
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Semighini CP, Hornby JM, Dumitru R, Nickerson KW, Harris SD. Farnesol-induced apoptosis in Aspergillus nidulans reveals a possible mechanism for antagonistic interactions between fungi. Mol Microbiol 2006; 59:753-64. [PMID: 16420349 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04976.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans secretes farnesol, which acts as a quorum-sensing molecule and prevents the yeast to mycelium conversion. In this study we examined the effect of farnesol in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We show that externally added farnesol has no effect on hyphal morphogenesis; instead, it triggers morphological features characteristic of apoptosis. Additional experiments suggest that mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in farnesol-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the effects of farnesol appear to be mediated by the FadA heterotrimeric G protein complex. Because A. nidulans does not secrete detectable amounts of farnesol, we propose that it responds to farnesol produced by other fungi. In agreement with this notion, growth and development were impaired in a farnesol-dependent manner when A. nidulans was co-cultivated with C. albicans. Taken together, our data suggest that farnesol, in addition to its quorum-sensing function that regulates morphogenesis, is also employed by C. albicans to reduce competition from other microbes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camile P Semighini
- Plant Science Initiative, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mosel DD, Dumitru R, Hornby JM, Atkin AL, Nickerson KW. Farnesol concentrations required to block germ tube formation in Candida albicans in the presence and absence of serum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:4938-40. [PMID: 16085901 PMCID: PMC1183276 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.8.4938-4940.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Concentrations of (E,E)-farnesol needed to inhibit germ tube formation were determined for Candida albicans strains A72 and SC5314 by using six different conditions known to trigger germination. For defined media, 1 to 2 microM farnesol was sufficient. However, with serum at 2 to 20%, up to 250 microM farnesol was required. Farnesol blocked germ tube formation but did not block elongation of existing germ tubes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D Mosel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Shchepin R, Dumitru R, Nickerson KW, Lund M, Dussault PH. Biologically Active Fluorescent Farnesol Analogs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 12:639-41. [PMID: 15975508 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2005.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2004] [Revised: 04/12/2005] [Accepted: 04/12/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We describe ten polyene analogs of farnesol, typified by 3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentenaldehyde oxime, which preserve the length, cross-section, and approximate hydrophobicity of farnesol. Four of the ten display strong quorum-sensing activity in the human pathogen Candida albicans, with IC(50) values for inhibition of germ-tube formation as low as 10 microM. The polyenes display absorption maxima between 320 and 380 nm, with the extinction coefficients for the oximes approaching 100,000. All but two of the analogs are fluorescent, with excitation maxima varying over the range of 320-370 nm. Oxime anti-4, which can undergo fluorescence excitation at wavelengths beyond 400 nm, is demonstrated to be useful for confocal fluorescence microscopic imaging of fungal cells. The farnesol analogs are also expected to be useful for detection of farnesol binding proteins and in determination of farnesol pharmacokinetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roman Shchepin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Dumitru R, Hornby JM, Nickerson KW. Defined anaerobic growth medium for studying Candida albicans basic biology and resistance to eight antifungal drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004; 48:2350-4. [PMID: 15215080 PMCID: PMC434226 DOI: 10.1128/aac.48.7.2350-2354.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is one of the most versatile opportunistic pathogens in humans. Many organs of the human body are potential targets for infection by this pathogen, but infection is commonly localized in the gastrointestinal tract, an environment providing anaerobic growth conditions. We describe a chemically defined anaerobic growth medium for four strains of Candida albicans (A72, SC5314, MEN, and 10261). It is a defined liquid glucose-phosphate-proline growth medium supplemented with oleic acid, nicotinic acid, and ammonium chloride. The cells did not require or respond to added ergosterol. Oleic acid and nicotinic acid are growth factors which are required only for the anaerobic growth of C. albicans. An important technical feature of this study was the use of anaerobically grown inocula to study anaerobic growth. Anaerobically, the cells grew exclusively as mycelia at 25, 30, and 37 degrees C. The doubling time at 30 degrees C was ca. 20 h. The cells did not produce farnesol and did not respond to exogenous farnesol, and they were resistant to the highest tested levels of amphotericin B and four of the azole antifungals. We suggest that the anaerobic growth of C. albicans may contribute to the trailing end point phenomenon and the resistance of C. albicans biofilms to antifungal drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Dumitru
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
A method is described for the formation of nearly 100% pseudohyphae populations of wild-type Candida albicans A72. The method employs fungal growth at 37 degrees C (ca. 5x10(6) cells/ml) in a glucose-proline-N-acetyl-glucosamine medium supplemented with up to 600 mM phosphate (KH(2)PO(4)/K(2)HPO(4) 1:1) at pH 6.5. Four other strains of C. albicans (MEN, 10261, SG5314 and CAI-4) also formed pseudohyphae under these conditions, although the phosphate response profiles differed in the concentration required for each strain to form pseudohyphae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M Hornby
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Dumitru R. [The hyperbaric method in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, an alternative to laser therapy?]. Oftalmologia 1993; 37:12-6. [PMID: 8507603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The hyperbaric oxygen inhaled at the pressure od 2-3 atmospheres raises considerably the blood concentration of the gas, which becomes sufficient for tissular needs sometimes without soliciting hemoglobin intervention. This makes possible the survival of some tissues insufficiently supplied with blood. We forecast therapeutical indications in diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, retinal venous obstructions, Eales disease. In proliferative diabetic retinopathy the hyperbaric oxygen might substitute the laser therapy.
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
The hemolysin/bacteriocin produced by some strains of Enterococcus faecalis is active in the lysis of human, rabbit, and horse erythrocytes, but not those from sheep. In this study, we determined that 20% of clinical enterococcal isolates tested in the clinical microbiology laboratory produced hemolysin and that pathogenic human E. faecalis were more likely to be hemolysin-producing isolates. Among the organisms isolated from different anatomic sites, variability in the degree of hemolysin production existed. We used an isogenic pair of E. faecalis organisms to demonstrate that hemolysin production was due to a hemolysin/bacteriocin determinant transmissible by a plasmid and was not strain dependent. This determinant may be linked to antibiotic resistance genes in some instances. Also, the erythrocyte lysis occurred only when hemolysin was in the presence of E. faecalis organisms, suggesting a bacterial cell dependency for activity of the hemolysin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C R Libertin
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Niculescu T, Dumitru R, Botha V, Alexandrescu R, Manolescu N. Relationship between the lead concentration in hair and occupational exposure. Br J Ind Med 1983; 40:67-70. [PMID: 6824602 PMCID: PMC1009120 DOI: 10.1136/oem.40.1.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The lead content of hair in workers occupationally exposed was correlated with the blood lead concentration. Determinations of lead in blood and hair were performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in two exposed groups and a control group. A significant correlation was observed between the blood lead and hair lead concentrations, and a regression analysis showed an exponential accumulation of the lead content in hair, simultaneously with the increase of the values in blood. The colour of the hair and the age of the subject did not influence the lead accumulation in hair in the occupationally exposed subjects. The assessment of lead in hair is considered a useful screening test in estimating occupational exposure.
Collapse
|
32
|
Niculescu T, Dumitru R, Burnea D. Changes of copper, iron, and zinc in the serum of patients with silicosis, silicotuberculosis, and active lung tuberculosis. Environ Res 1981; 25:260-268. [PMID: 6168466 DOI: 10.1016/0013-9351(81)90027-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
|