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Pungan D, Eddens T, Song K, Lakey MA, Crovetto NS, Arora SK, Husain S, Kolls JK. Targeted NGS-Based Analysis of Pneumocystis jirovecii Reveals Novel Genotypes. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:863. [PMID: 36012851 PMCID: PMC9409852 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080863] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii is an important etiological agent of pneumonia that is underdiagnosed due to the inability to culture the organism. The 2019 PERCH study identified Pneumocystis as the top fungal cause of pneumonia in HIV-negative children using a PCR cutoff of 104 copies of Pneumocystis per mL of sample in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) specimens. Given that Pneumocystis consists of an environmental ascus form and a trophic from (the latter is the form that attaches to the lung epithelium), it is possible that life-form-specific molecular assays may be useful for diagnosis. However, to accomplish this goal, these assays require genotypic information, as the current fungal genomic data are largely from the US and Europe. To genotype Pneumocystis across the globe, we developed an NGS-based genotyping assay focused on genes expressed in asci as well as trophs using PERCH throat swabs from Africa, Bangladesh, and Thailand, as well as North American samples. The NGS panel reliably detected 21 fungal targets in these samples and revealed unique genotypes in genes expressed in trophs, including Meu10, an ascospore assembly gene; two in mitochondrial gene ATP8, and the intergenic region between COX1 and ATP8. This assay can be used for enhanced Pneumocystis epidemiology to study outbreaks but also permits more accurate RT-CPR- or CRISPR-based assays to be performed to improve the non-bronchoscopic diagnosis of this under-reported fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Pungan
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Taylor Eddens
- Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Kejing Song
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Meredith A. Lakey
- Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Department of Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA
| | - Nicolle S. Crovetto
- Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Department of Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA
| | - Simran K. Arora
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Shahid Husain
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Jay K. Kolls
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Núñez KG, Sandow T, Lakey MA, Fort D, Cohen AJ, Thevenot PT. Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Viable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Liver-Directed Therapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:809860. [PMID: 35785174 PMCID: PMC9248864 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.809860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma is a heterogeneous tumor that accumulates a mutational burden and dysregulated signaling pathways that differ from early to advanced stages. Liver transplant candidates with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergo liver-directed therapy (LDT) to delay disease progression and serve as a bridge to liver transplantation (LT). Unfortunately, >80% of LDT-treated patients have viable HCC in the explant liver, dramatically increasing recurrence risk. Understanding the effect of LDT on early-stage HCC could help identify therapeutic targets to promote complete pathologic necrosis and improve recurrence-free survival. In this study, transcriptomic data from viable HCC in LDT-treated bridged to transplant patients were investigated to understand how treatment may affect tumor signaling pathways.MethodsMultiplex transcriptomic gene analysis was performed with mRNA extracted from viable tumors of HCC patients bridged to transplant using LDT. The NanoString nCounter® Tumor Signaling 360 panel was used that contained 780 genes from 48 pathways involved in tumor biology within the microenvironment as well as antitumoral immune responses.ResultsHierarchical clustering separated tumors into three subtypes (HCC-1, HCC-2, and HCC-3) each with distinct differences in anti-tumoral signaling and immune infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Immune infiltration (neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages) were all lowest in subtype HCC-3. The tumor inflammatory signature consisting of 18 genes associated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition, antigen presentation, chemokine secretion, and adaptive immune responses was highest in subtype HCC-1 and lowest in HCC-3. History of decompensation and etiology were associated with HCC subtype favoring downregulations in inflammation and immune infiltration with upregulation of lipid metabolism. Gene expression among intrahepatic lesions was remarkably similar with >85% of genes expressed in both lesions. Genes differentially expressed (<8 genes per patient) in multifocal disease were all upregulated in LDT-treated tumors from pathways involving epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix remodeling, and/or inflammation potentially implicating intrahepatic metastases.ConclusionIncomplete response to LDT may drive expression patterns that inhibit an effective anti-tumoral response through immune exclusion and induce intrahepatic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley G. Núñez
- Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Tyler Sandow
- Interventional Radiology, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Meredith A. Lakey
- Ochsner Biorepository, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Daniel Fort
- Centers for Outcomes and Health Services Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Ari J. Cohen
- Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul T. Thevenot
- Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Paul T. Thevenot,
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Yousefi H, Eastlack SC, Fong JT, Okpechi SC, Zabaleta J, Buckner LR, Trapani DN, Sims E, McDaniel AM, Scuderi H, Lakey MA, Cole JT, Alahari SK. Abstract 1477: Circulating miR-125a-3p and miR-451a may be liquid biopsy biomarkers for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that the unique serum miRNAs can assist in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Cell-free circulating miRNAs (about 22 nucleotides) are potential diagnostic tools and minimally invasive biomarkers for breast cancer detection. This study aimed to identify specific microRNAs in the serum of patients with breast cancer, which may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Material and methods: Next-generation sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) array analyses of microRNAs in sera from different subtypes of breast cancer patients and normal female individuals were performed. The differentially expressed microRNAs were verified in serum samples from 100 breast cancer patients. The predictive values of the selected microRNAs were statistically analyzed, determined by the correlation between microRNA expression and tumor parameters. Datasets were graphed using GraphPad Prism Software 8.0. and analysis was done using one-way ANOVA with unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test.
Result: High serum levels of miR-125a-3p and miR-451a were found to be associated with breast cancer tumor subtype, size, and lymph node metastasis. Further functional in vitro experiments and enrichment analysis showed that overexpression and knockdown of miR-451 might significantly affect tumorigenic signaling pathways in TNBC cells.
Conclusion: Altogether, our data suggested that serum levels of microRNAs miR-125a-3p and miR-451a can potentially serve as liquid biopsy biomarkers in breast cancer.
Citation Format: Hassan Yousefi, Steven C. Eastlack, Jordyn T Fong, Samuel C. Okpechi, Jovanny Zabaleta, Lyndsey R. Buckner, Donnalee N Trapani, Erin Sims, Alison McDaniel McDaniel, Heather Scuderi, Meredith A. Lakey, John T. Cole, Suresh K. Alahari. Circulating miR-125a-3p and miR-451a may be liquid biopsy biomarkers for the diagnosis of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1477.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Yousefi
- 1Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA
| | - Steven C. Eastlack
- 1Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA
| | - Jordyn T Fong
- 2Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Samuel C. Okpechi
- 1Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Lyndsey R. Buckner
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Donnalee N Trapani
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Erin Sims
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Alison McDaniel McDaniel
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Heather Scuderi
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Meredith A. Lakey
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - John T. Cole
- 4Louisiana, Research - Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA
| | - Suresh K. Alahari
- 1Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA
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Gomes AM, Carron EC, Mills KL, Dow AM, Gray Z, Fecca CR, Lakey MA, Carmeliet P, Kittrell F, Medina D, Machado HL. Stromal Gas6 promotes the progression of premalignant mammary cells. Oncogene 2018; 38:2437-2450. [PMID: 30531835 PMCID: PMC6450766 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0593-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tumor progression is regulated by a complex interplay between neoplastic cells and the tumor microenvironment. Tumor associated macrophages have been shown to promote breast cancer progression in advanced disease and more recently, in early stage cancers. However, little is known about the macrophage-derived factors that promote tumor progression in early stage lesions. Using a p53-null model of early stage mammary tumor progression, we found that Gas6 is highly expressed in pre-invasive lesions associated with increased infiltrating macrophages, as compared to those with few recruited macrophages. We show that F4/80+CD11b+ macrophages produce Gas6 in premalignant lesions in vivo, and that macrophage-derived Gas6 induces a tumor-like phenotype ex vivo. Using a 3-D co-culture system, we show that macrophage-derived Gas6 activates its receptor Axl and downstream survival signals including Akt and STAT3, which was accompanied by altered E-cadherin expression to induce a malignant morphology. In vivo studies demonstrated that deletion of stromal Gas6 delays early stage progression and decreases tumor formation, while tumor growth in established tumors remains unaffected. These studies suggest that macrophage-derived Gas6 is a critical regulator of the transition from premalignant to invasive cancer, and may lead to the development of unique biomarkers of neoplastic progression for patients with early stage breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica M Gomes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Emily C Carron
- Division of Cellular Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kylie L Mills
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Alexa M Dow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Zane Gray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Christopher R Fecca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Meredith A Lakey
- Ochsner Biorepository, Department of Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongsan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
| | - Frances Kittrell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel Medina
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Heather L Machado
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Lakey MA, Pardanani A, Hoyer JD, Nguyen PL, Lasho TL, Tefferi A, Hanson CA. Bone marrow morphologic features in polycythemia vera with JAK2 exon 12 mutations. Am J Clin Pathol 2010; 133:942-8. [PMID: 20472853 DOI: 10.1309/ajcp3z2akuwrgtnm] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) requires the integration of clinical and laboratory findings, bone marrow morphologic features, and JAK2 analysis. JAK2(V617F) (exon 14) mutation is found in 95% of PV cases. Functionally similar mutations in JAK2 exon 12 have also been described, but a thorough bone marrow study has not been done. We identified 7 PV cases with exon 12 mutations; all had hypercellular bone marrow with erythroid hyperplasia. Small, atypical megakaryocytes predominated; atypical megakaryocyte lobation and abnormal chromatin distribution was identified in all cases. Rare clusters of megakaryocytes could be found but were typically subtle. Because JAK2 exon 12-positive PV cases lack the classic myeloproliferative morphologic features, bone marrow samples from the patients may be difficult to classify as myeloproliferative neoplasms. Clinically suspected PV with low serum erythropoietin and absent JAK2(V617F), together with the bone marrow findings of erythroid hyperplasia and subtle megakaryocytic atypia, should prompt an evaluation for an exon 12 mutation.
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Yang Z, Lakey MA, Reilly SD. A Fatal Case of High Fever in a 42-Year-Old Woman. Lab Med 2007. [DOI: 10.1309/8q367l3g37l53qwd] [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: 10/23/2022] Open
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Lakey MA, Marques MB. Media Review. Lab Med 2005. [DOI: 10.1309/dr92e68x5w0m87c6] [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: 10/21/2022] Open
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