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Esmaeilniakooshkghazi A, Pham E, George SP, Ahrorov A, Villagomez FR, Byington M, Mukhopadhyay S, Patnaik S, Conrad JC, Naik M, Ravi S, Tebbutt N, Mooi J, Reehorst CM, Mariadason JM, Khurana S. In colon cancer cells fascin1 regulates adherens junction remodeling. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22786. [PMID: 36786724 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201454r] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Adherens junctions (AJs) are a defining feature of all epithelial cells. They regulate epithelial tissue architecture and integrity, and their dysregulation is a key step in tumor metastasis. AJ remodeling is crucial for cancer progression, and it plays a key role in tumor cell survival, growth, and dissemination. Few studies have examined AJ remodeling in cancer cells consequently, it remains poorly understood and unleveraged in the treatment of metastatic carcinomas. Fascin1 is an actin-bundling protein that is absent from the normal epithelium but its expression in colon cancer is linked to metastasis and increased mortality. Here, we provide the molecular mechanism of AJ remodeling in colon cancer cells and identify for the first time, fascin1's function in AJ remodeling. We show that in colon cancer cells fascin1 remodels junctional actin and actomyosin contractility which makes AJs less stable but more dynamic. By remodeling AJs fascin1 drives mechanoactivation of WNT/β-catenin signaling and generates "collective plasticity" which influences the behavior of cells during cell migration. The impact of mechanical inputs on WNT/β-catenin activation in cancer cells remains poorly understood. Our findings highlight the role of AJ remodeling and mechanosensitive WNT/β-catenin signaling in the growth and dissemination of colorectal carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Pham
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sudeep P George
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Afzal Ahrorov
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fabian R Villagomez
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Byington
- Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Srijita Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Srinivas Patnaik
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jacinta C Conrad
- Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Monali Naik
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Saathvika Ravi
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Niall Tebbutt
- Gastrointestinal Cancers Programs, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer Mooi
- Gastrointestinal Cancers Programs, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Camilla M Reehorst
- Gastrointestinal Cancers Programs, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John M Mariadason
- Gastrointestinal Cancers Programs, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Seema Khurana
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.,School of Health Professions, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Park H, Shapiro GI, Gao X, Mahipal A, Starr J, Furqan M, Singh P, Ahrorov A, Gandhi L, Ghosh A, Hickman D, Gallacher PD, Wennborg A, Attar EC, Awad MM, Das S, Dumbrava EE. Phase Ib study of eprenetapopt (APR-246) in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100573. [PMID: 36084396 PMCID: PMC9588880 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We conducted a phase I, multicenter, open-label, dose-finding, and expansion study to determine the safety and preliminary efficacy of eprenetapopt (APR-246) combined with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04383938). Patients and methods For dose-finding, requirements were non-central nervous system primary solid tumor, intolerant to/progressed after ≥1 line of treatment, and eligible for pembrolizumab; for expansion: (i) gastric/gastroesophageal junction tumor, intolerant to/progressed after first-line treatment, and no prior anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy; (ii) bladder/urothelial tumor, intolerant to/progressed after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and no prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy; (iii) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with previous anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Patients received eprenetapopt 4.5 g/day intravenously (IV) on days 1-4 with pembrolizumab 200 mg IV on day 3 in each 21-day cycle. Primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), adverse events (AEs), and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of eprenetapopt. Results Forty patients were enrolled (median age 66 years; range 27-85) and 37 received eprenetapopt plus pembrolizumab. No DLTs were reported and the RP2D for eprenetapopt in combination was 4.5 g/day IV on days 1-4. The most common eprenetapopt-related AEs were dizziness (35.1%), nausea (32.4%), and vomiting (29.7%). AEs leading to eprenetapopt discontinuation occurred in 2/37 patients (5.4%). In efficacy-assessable patients (n = 29), one achieved complete response (urothelial cancer), two achieved partial responses (NSCLC, urothelial cancer), and six patients had stable disease. Conclusions The eprenetapopt plus pembrolizumab combination was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile and showed clinical activity in patients with solid tumors. Eprenetapopt in combination with pembrolizumab was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. Eprenetapopt plus pembrolizumab demonstrated clinical activity in heavily pre-treated patients with solid tumors. This is the first clinical trial evaluating the combination of a p53 reactivator with immuno-oncology therapy. This work informs the development of treatment combining immunotherapy with agents targeting specific pathways such as p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Park
- Division of Oncology, Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, St. Louis, USA.
| | - G I Shapiro
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, USA
| | - X Gao
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, USA
| | - A Mahipal
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, USA
| | - J Starr
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, USA
| | - M Furqan
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - P Singh
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix, USA
| | - A Ahrorov
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - L Gandhi
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, USA
| | - A Ghosh
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - M M Awad
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, USA
| | - S Das
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - E E Dumbrava
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
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Park H, Shapiro G, Gao X, Mahipal A, Starr J, Furqan M, Singh P, Ahrorov A, Hickman D, Gallacher P, Attar E, Awad M, Das S, Dumbrava EI. 516MO Phase I/II study of eprenetapopt (APR-246) in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with solid tumor malignancies. Ann Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.1038] [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: 11/27/2022] Open
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Dumbrava EE, Mahipal A, Gao X, Shapiro G, Starr JS, Singh P, Furqan M, Ahrorov A, Hickman D, Gubits A, Attar EC, Awad MM, Das S, Park H. Phase 1/2 study of eprenetapopt (APR-246) in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with solid tumor malignancies. J Clin Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.tps3161] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
TPS3161 Background: The p53 pathway has been implicated in antitumor immunity, including antigen presentation and T-cell proliferation. Loss of p53 function can increase resistance to immunotherapy across many tumor types. Eprenetapopt (eprenet) is a small molecule that stabilizes the folded structure of p53, resulting in activation of mutant p53 and stabilization of wild-type (WT) p53. It also targets the cellular redox homeostasis, resulting in induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. In vivo, mice carrying supernumerary copies of the TP53 gene harbor a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment, an effect recapitulated in TP53 normal-copy mice treated with eprenetapopt. Combining eprenetapopt and anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA4 therapy resulted in enhanced tumor growth inhibition and improved survival in TP53 WT mice inoculated with B16 melanoma and MC38 colon adenocarcinoma cells . Based on these results, we hypothesized that eprenet-induced p53 stabilization may augment response to immunotherapy. To test this hypothesis, we are conducting a phase 1b/2 study of eprenet in combination with pembrolizumab (eprenet+pembro) in pts with solid tumors. Methods: The primary objectives are to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and to assess the safety and tolerability of eprenet+pembro in pts with advanced solid tumors. The secondary objectives are to estimate the anti-tumor activity and to describe the pharmacokinetics of the combination. Exploratory objectives include assessing predictive and pharmacodynamic markers of response. The study includes a safety lead-in with a 3+3 dose de-escalation design for pts with advanced solid tumors with known tumor TP53 mutation status ( TP53 WT is acceptable) (max 18 pts), followed by expansion cohorts in pts with NSCLC, gastric/GEJ and urothelial cancer (max 100 pts). In expansion, pts with urothelial and gastric cancers must be naïve to anti-PD-1/ L1 therapy. Eprenet is given IV once daily on Days 1–4 while pembro is administered on Day 3 of each 21-day cycle. The RP2D of eprenet+pembro is considered the dose at which ≤ 1 of 6 pts in a cohort has a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Primary endpoints are occurrence of DLTs, adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs with eprenet+pembro. Key secondary endpoints are best objective response, progression free survival and overall survival. Exploratory endpoints include gene mutations by next generation sequencing (including TP53), mRNA expression, multiplex immunohistochemistry and transcriptomics, multiplex flow cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cytokines in serum. Continuous monitoring of toxicity will be conducted. The trial opened in May 2020 and is actively enrolling patients. Clinical trial information: NCT04383938.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xin Gao
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jason S. Starr
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | - Afzal Ahrorov
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | | | | | | | - Satya Das
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Haeseong Park
- Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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Roy S, Esmaeilniakooshkghazi A, Patnaik S, Wang Y, George SP, Ahrorov A, Hou JK, Herron AJ, Sesaki H, Khurana S. Villin-1 and Gelsolin Regulate Changes in Actin Dynamics That Affect Cell Survival Signaling Pathways and Intestinal Inflammation. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:1405-1420.e2. [PMID: 29274870 PMCID: PMC7808315 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cell stress signaling pathways result in phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit alpha (EIF2S1 or EIF2A), which affects regulation of protein translation. Translation reprogramming mitigates stress by activating pathways that result in autophagy and cell death, to eliminate damaged cells. Actin is modified during stress and EIF2A is dephosphorylated to restore homeostasis. It is not clear how actin affects EIF2A signaling. We studied the actin-binding proteins villin 1 (VIL1) and gelsolin (GSN) in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to determine whether they respond to cell stress response and affect signaling pathways. METHODS We performed studies with mice with disruptions in Vil1 and Gsn (double-knockout mice). Wild-type (WT) mice either were or were not (controls) exposed to cell stressors such as tumor necrosis factor and adherent-invasive Escherichia coli. Distal ileum tissues were collected from mice; IECs and enteroids were cultured and analyzed by histology, immunoblots, phalloidin staining, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. HT-29 cells were incubated with cell stressors such as DTT, IFN, and adherent-invasive E coli or control agents; cells were analyzed by immunoblots and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Green fluorescent protein and green fluorescent protein tagged mutant EIF2A were expressed from a lentiviral vector. The mouse immunity-related GTPase (IRGM1) was overexpressed in embryonic fibroblasts from dynamin1 like (DNM1L) protein-knockout mice or their WT littermates. IRGM1 was overexpressed in embryonic fibroblasts from receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 1-knockout mice or their WT littermates. Human IRGM was overexpressed in human epithelial cell lines incubated with the DNM1L-specific inhibitor Mdivi-1. Mitochondria were analyzed by semi-quantitative confocal imaging. We performed immunohistochemical analyses of distal ileum tissues from 6-8 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 6-8 individuals without CD (controls). RESULTS In IECs exposed to cell stressors, EIF2A signaling reduced expression of VIL1 and GSN. However, VIL1 and GSN were required for dephosphorylation of EIF2A and recovery from cell stress. In mouse and human IECs, prolonged, unresolved stress was accompanied by continued down-regulation of VIL1 and GSN, resulting in constitutive phosphorylation of EIF2A and overexpression of IRGM1 (or IRGM), which regulates autophagy. Overexpression of IRGM1 (or IRGM) induced cell death by necroptosis, accompanied by release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In double-knockout mice, constitutive phosphorylation of EIF2A and over-expression of IRGM1 resulted in spontaneous ileitis that resembled human CD in symptoms and histology. Distal ileum tissues from patients with CD had lower levels of VIL1 and GSN, increased phosphorylation of EIF2A, increased levels of IRGM and necroptosis, and increased release of nuclear DAMPs compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS In studies of intestinal epithelial tissues from patients with CD and embryonic fibroblasts from mice, along with enteroids and human IEC lines, we found that induction of cell stress alters the cytoskeleton in IECs via changes in the actin-binding proteins VIL1 and GSN. Acute changes in actin dynamics increase IEC survival, whereas long-term changes in actin dynamics lead to IEC death and intestinal inflammation. IRGM regulates necroptosis and release of DAMPs to induce gastrointestinal inflammation, linking IRGM activity with CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Roy
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston TX 77204, USA
| | | | - Srinivas Patnaik
- School of Biotechnology Campus XI, KiiT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Yaohong Wang
- Present address: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis TN 38163, USA
| | - Sudeep P. George
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston TX 77204, USA
| | - Afzal Ahrorov
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston TX 77204, USA
| | - Jason K. Hou
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Allan J. Herron
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Hiromi Sesaki
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Seema Khurana
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas; Department of Allied Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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Mnatsakanyan N, Nishtala SN, Pandhare A, Fiori MC, Goyal R, Pauwels JE, Navetta AF, Ahrorov A, Jansen M. Functional Chimeras of GLIC Obtained by Adding the Intracellular Domain of Anion- and Cation-Conducting Cys-Loop Receptors. Biochemistry 2015; 54:2670-2682. [PMID: 25861708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), also called Cys-loop receptors in eukaryotic superfamily members, play diverse roles in neurotransmission and serve as primary targets for many therapeutic drugs. Structural studies of full-length eukaryotic pLGICs have been challenging because of glycosylation, large size, pentameric assembly, and hydrophobicity. X-ray structures of prokaryotic pLGICs, including the Gloeobacter violaceus LGIC (GLIC) and the Erwinia chrysanthemi LGIC (ELIC), and truncated eukaryotic pLGICs have significantly improved and complemented the understanding of structural details previously obtained with acetylcholine-binding protein and Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Prokaryotic pLGICs share their overall structural features with eukaryotic pLGICs for the ligand-binding extracellular and channel-lining transmembrane domains. The large intracellular domain (ICD) is present only in eukaryotic members and is characterized by a low level of sequence conservation and significant variability in length (50-250 amino acids), making the ICD a potential target for the modulation of specific pLGIC subunits. None of the structures includes a complete ICD. Here, we created chimeras by adding the ICD of cation-conducting (nAChR-α7) and anion-conducting (GABAρ1, Glyα1) eukaryotic homopentamer-forming pLGICs to GLIC. GLIC-ICD chimeras assemble into pentamers to form proton-gated channels, as does the parent GLIC. Additionally, the sensitivity of the chimeras toward modulation of functional maturation by chaperone protein RIC-3 is preserved as in those of the parent eukaryotic channels. For a previously described GLIC-5HT3A-ICD chimera, we now provide evidence of its successful large-scale expression and purification to homogeneity. Overall, the chimeras provide valuable tools for functional and structural studies of eukaryotic pLGIC ICDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelli Mnatsakanyan
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Sita Nirupama Nishtala
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Akash Pandhare
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Mariana C Fiori
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Raman Goyal
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Jonathan E Pauwels
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Andrew F Navetta
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Medical Student Summer Research Program, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Afzal Ahrorov
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Undergraduate Science Education Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Michaela Jansen
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.,Center for Membrane Protein Research, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States
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Ahmad G, Zhang W, Torben W, Ahrorov A, Damian RT, Wolf RF, White GL, Carey DW, Mwinzi PNM, Ganley-Leal L, Kennedy RC, Siddiqui AA. Preclinical prophylactic efficacy testing of Sm-p80-based vaccine in a nonhuman primate model of Schistosoma mansoni infection and immunoglobulin G and E responses to Sm-p80 in human serum samples from an area where schistosomiasis is endemic. J Infect Dis 2011; 204:1437-49. [PMID: 21921206 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The prophylactic efficacy of a schistosome antigen (Sm-p80) was tested in a nonhuman primate model, the baboon. Using a total of 28 baboons, different vaccination strategies were used including recombinant Sm-p80 protein formulated in Toll-like receptor 7 and Toll-like receptor 9 agonists, and DNA priming followed by boosting with protein plus adjuvants. Recombinant protein approaches provided levels of prophylactic efficacy of 52%-58%, whereas prime-boost approaches conferred 38%-47% protection in baboons. An appropriately balanced pro-inflammatory (T-helper 17 [Th17] and Th1) and anti-inflammatory (Th2) type of response was generated; the Th1 and Th17 types of immune responses appear to be indicative of increased prophylactic efficacy. Production and expression of several cytokines (interleukin 2 [IL-2], interferon γ, IL-12α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-22) were up-regulated in vaccinated animals. Human correlate studies revealed Sm-p80 reactivity with immunoglobulin G in human serum samples from schistosome-infected individuals. In addition, a complete lack of prevailing Sm-p80-specific immunoglobulin E in a high-risk or infected population was observed, thus minimizing the risk of hypersensitivity reaction following vaccination with Sm-p80 in humans. This study provided the proof of concept to move Sm-p80 forward into further preclinical development leading to human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gul Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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