Genome-Wide Analysis Identifies Nuclear Factor 1C as a Novel Transcription Factor and Potential Therapeutic Target in SCLC

INTRODUCTION

Recent insights regarding mechanisms mediating stemness, heterogeneity, and metastatic potential of lung cancers have yet to be fully translated to effective regimens for the treatment of these malignancies. This study sought to identify novel targets for lung cancer therapy.

METHODS

Transcriptomes and DNA methylomes of 14 SCLC and 10 NSCLC lines were compared with normal human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) clones derived from SAEC. SCLC lines, lung iPSC (Lu-iPSC), and SAEC were further evaluated by DNase I hypersensitive site sequencing (DHS-seq). Changes in chromatin accessibility and depths of transcription factor (TF) footprints were quantified using Bivariate analysis of Genomic Footprint. Standard techniques were used to evaluate growth, tumorigenicity, and changes in transcriptomes and glucose metabolism of SCLC cells after NFIC knockdown and to evaluate NFIC expression in SCLC cells after exposure to BET inhibitors.

RESULTS

Considerable commonality of transcriptomes and DNA methylomes was observed between Lu-iPSC and SCLC; however, this analysis was uninformative regarding pathways unique to lung cancer. Linking results of DHS-seq to RNA sequencing enabled identification of networks not previously associated with SCLC. When combined with footprint depth, NFIC, a transcription factor not previously associated with SCLC, had the highest score of occupancy at open chromatin sites. Knockdown of NFIC impaired glucose metabolism, decreased stemness, and inhibited growth of SCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. ChIP-seq analysis identified numerous sites occupied by BRD4 in the NFIC promoter region. Knockdown of BRD4 or treatment with Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors (BETis) markedly reduced NFIC expression in SCLC cells and SCLC PDX models. Approximately 8% of genes down-regulated by BETi treatment were repressed by NFIC knockdown in SCLC, whereas 34% of genes repressed after NFIC knockdown were also down-regulated in SCLC cells after BETi treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

NFIC is a key TF and possible mediator of transcriptional regulation by BET family proteins in SCLC. Our findings highlight the potential of genome-wide chromatin accessibility analysis for elucidating mechanisms of pulmonary carcinogenesis and identifying novel targets for lung cancer therapy.

Long-Term Video Electroencephalographic Monitoring in <30-Week Gestational Age Infants With High-Grade Intraventricular Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Despite recognizing high seizure risk, the current consensus guidelines on evaluating seizures in preterm neonates are based on limited data. We chose to investigate the seizure risk in high-risk preterm (<30 weeks gestation) asymptomatic (without a clinical concern for seizures) infants with high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage who underwent long-term video electroencephalographic monitoring.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive retrospective review on all infants of <30-week gestational age admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from June 2018 to October 2022. We selected those patients who underwent electroencephalographic monitoring without a prior clinical concern for seizures. We recorded gender, gestational age, APGAR scores (one and five minutes), intraventricular hemorrhage (grade, age at diagnosis), and electroencephalographic monitoring (timing and duration) data.

RESULTS

Among 37 premature infants, six had seizures detected on electroencephalographic monitoring. All six infants had subclinical seizures. Only two of six patients had a clinical correlation (although not identified by the providers) with some of their seizures. Patients with seizures were significantly younger in chronological age (median age 6.5 days vs 9 days, P value 0.009) at the time of the electroencephalographic monitoring initiation and were more likely to have subsequent monitoring studies (P value 0.0418).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term video electroencephalographic monitoring performed after the diagnosis of high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage captured seizures in ∼16% of asymptomatic premature neonates of <30 weeks' gestation. Patients identified to have seizures were significantly younger (chronological age) at the time of the electroencephalographic monitoring initiation and were more likely to be remonitored.

Neonatal Respiratory Support Utilization in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Registry-Based Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Newborns with hypoxemia often require life-saving respiratory support. In low-resource settings, it is unknown if respiratory support is delivered more frequently to term infants or preterm infants. We hypothesized that in a registry-based birth cohort in 105 geographic areas in seven low- and middle-income countries, more term newborns received respiratory support than preterm newborns.

METHODS

This is a hypothesis-driven observational study based on prospectively collected data from the Maternal and Newborn Health Registry of the NICHD Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research. Eligible infants enrolled in the registry were live-born between 22 and 44 weeks gestation with a birth weight ≥400 g and born from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018. Frequency data were obtained to report the number of term and preterm infants who received treatment with oxygen only, CPAP, or mechanical ventilation. Test for trends over time were conducted using robust Poisson regression.

RESULTS

177,728 (86.3%) infants included in this study were term, and 28,249 (13.7%) were preterm. A larger number of term infants (n = 5,108) received respiratory support compared to preterm infants (n = 3,287). Receipt of each mode of respiratory support was more frequent in term infants. The proportion of preterm infants who received respiratory support (11.6%) was higher than the proportion of term infants receiving respiratory support (2.9%, p < 0.001). The rate of provision of respiratory support varied between sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory support was more frequently used in term infants expected to be at low risk for respiratory disorders compared to preterm infants.

β-CATENIN stabilizes HIF2 through lncRNA and inhibits intravenous immunoglobulin immunotherapy

Introduction

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are rare, stem-like, and highly malignant. Although intravenous hepatitis B and C immunoglobulins have been used for HBV and HCV neutralization in patients, their tumor-inhibitory effects have not yet been examined. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) therapy is employed to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in patients after living donor liver transplantations (LDLT).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that patient-derived intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) binding to HCC associated TICs will reduce self-renewal and cell viability driven by β-CATENIN-downstream pathways. β-CATENIN activity protected TICs from IVIG effects.

Methods

The effects of HBIG and HCIG binding to TICs were evaluated for cell viability and self-renewal.

Results

Inhibition of β-CATENIN pathway(s) augmented TIC susceptibility to HBIG- and HCIG-immunotherapy. HBV X protein (HBx) upregulates both β-CATENIN and NANOG expression. The co-expression of constitutively active β-CATENIN with NANOG promotes self-renewal ability and tumor-initiating ability of hepatoblasts. HBIG bound to HBV+ cells led to growth inhibition in a TIC subset that expressed hepatitis B surface antigen. The HBx protein transformed cells through β-CATENIN-inducible lncRNAs EGLN3-AS1 and lnc-β-CatM. Co-expression of constitutively active β-CATENIN with NANOG promoted self-renewal ability of TICs through EGLN3 induction. β-CATENIN-induced lncRNAs stabilized HIF2 to maintain self-renewal of TICs. Targeting of EGLN3-AS1 resulted in destabilization of EZH2-dependent β-CATENIN activity and synergized cell-killing of TICs by HBIG or HCIG immunotherapy.

Discussion

Taken together, WNT and stemness pathways induced HIF2 of TICs via cooperating lncRNAs resulting in resistance to cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, therapeutic use of IVIG may suppress tumor recurrence through inhibition of TICs.

Dim artificial light at night alters gene expression rhythms and growth in a key seagrass species (Posidonia oceanica)

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a globally spreading anthropogenic stressor, affecting more than 20% of coastal habitats. The alteration of the natural light/darkness cycle is expected to impact the physiology of organisms by acting on the complex circuits termed as circadian rhythms. Our understanding of the impact of ALAN on marine organisms is lagging behind that of terrestrial ones, and effects on marine primary producers are almost unexplored. Here, we investigated the molecular and physiological response of the Mediterranean seagrass, Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, as model to evaluate the effect of ALAN on seagrass populations established in shallow waters, by taking advantage of a decreasing gradient of dim nocturnal light intensity (from < 0.01 to 4 lx) along the NW Mediterranean coastline. We first monitored the fluctuations of putative circadian-clock genes over a period of 24 h along the ALAN gradient. We then investigated whether key physiological processes, known to be synchronized with day length by the circadian rhythm, were also affected by ALAN. ALAN influenced the light signalling at dusk/night in P. oceanica, including that of shorter blue wavelengths, through the ELF3-LUX1-ZTL regulatory network, and suggested that the daily perturbation of internal clock orthologs in seagrass might have caused the recruitment of PoSEND33 and PoPSBS genes to mitigate the repercussions of a nocturnal stress on photosynthesis during the day. A long-lasting impairment of gene fluctuations in sites characterised by ALAN could explain the reduced growth of the seagrass leaves when these were transferred into controlled conditions and without lighting during the night. Our results highlight the potential contribution of ALAN to the global loss of seagrass meadows, posing questions about key interactions with a variety of other human-related stressors in urban areas, in order to develop more efficient strategies to globally preserve these coastal foundation species.

Abstract A013: Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from normal human esophageal epithelial cells identify transcription factor networks contributing to esophageal carcinogenesis

Esophageal cancer (EsC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell cancers (ESCC) typically arise in the upper and mid-esophagus, whereas esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) arise in the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Presently, epigenetic mechanisms contributing to initiation, progression, and dissemination of EsC have not been fully elucidated. The present study was undertaken to determine if induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from normal esophageal epithelial cells (Eso-iPSCs), EsC cell lines cultured in stemness enriched conditions, and cancer stem-like cells isolated from primary EsC specimens could be used to identify unique primitive stem-like transcription factor networks associated with epigenetic plasticity, chemoresistance, and metastatic potential of EsC cells. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that genes differentially expressed in Eso-iPSC overlapped with transcriptome signatures in lung-iPSC (Lu-iPSC) which we previously generated to identify novel therapeutic targets in lung cancers; similar to Lu-iPSC, Eso-iPSC transcriptome signatures overlapped considerably more with small cell lung cancers (SCLC) compared to non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), possibly reflecting greater stemness in SCLC. We next compared transcriptome signatures of Eso-iPSC with stem-like-EAC enrichment models (cell lines and PDX). 6% and 8% of differentially expressed genes in Eso-iPSC uniquely overlapped with EAC or ESCC lines, respectively, whereas 24% were common to Eso-iPSC, EAC cells, and ESCC cells. Culturing of EAC cells on matrigel or propagation of EAC as primary patient derived xenografts increased commonalities of Eso-iPSC and EAC transcriptome signatures. Lastly, we compared transcriptomes of Eso-iPSC with Barrett’s esophagus (BE; a premalignant condition in which the squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus is replaced by metaplastic columnar epithelial cells) and EAC samples. By combining and stringently filtering transcriptome, ATAC-seq, DNA methylome, and ChIP-seq datasets for tissue- and disease-specific signatures, we identified several potentially druggable, master TFs mediating stemness/plasticity, chemoresistance, and metastatic potential which are shared between EsC lines and primary tumor specimens. Enrichment techniques promoted acquisition of more stem-like states in cultured EAC cells as reflected in multi-omic signatures of these cells relative to Eso-iPSC and primary EAC specimens. Collectively, these findings establish proof of principal for our experimental approach which is now being used to further characterize epigenetic mechanisms contributing to esophageal carcinogenesis and to identify novel targets for EsC therapy.

Citation Format: Haitao Wang, Ruihong Wang, Katherine P. Prothro, Sichuan Xi, Weilong Hou, Xinwei Wu, Tuana Tolunay, Vivek Shukla, Mary R. Zhang, Stephanie J. Shiffka, Sudheer Gara, David S. Schrump. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from normal human esophageal epithelial cells identify transcription factor networks contributing to esophageal carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Cancer Epigenomics; 2022 Oct 6-8; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(23 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A013.

Total Fluid Administration and Weight Loss during the First 2 Weeks in Infants Randomized to Early Enteral Feeding after Extremely Preterm Birth

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials have not reported the effects of the early progression of feeding volumes on fluid balance and neurodevelopment among infants born extremely preterm (≤28 weeks).

METHOD

Fluid, electrolyte, and neurodevelopment data of 60 extremely preterm infants randomly assigned to receive either 1 (early feeding group) or 4 days (late feeding group) of trophic feeding volumes at 20-24 mL/kg/day were analyzed.

RESULTS

Infants randomized to the early feeding group received less parenteral fluids, generated lower urine volumes, and had less excessive weight loss during the first 14 days after birth. The 7-point difference in cognitive scores and the 0.5 difference in weight-for-age z-scores favoring the early feeding group did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

In extremely preterm infants, early enteral feeding is associated with less total fluid administration and with less excessive weight loss during the first 2 weeks after birth. These short-term effects could have long-lasting benefits.

Hookah Smoke Mediates Cancer-Associated Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Signatures in Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells

Introduction

Although communal smoking of hookah by means of water pipes is perceived to be a safe alternative to cigarette smoking, the effects of hookah smoke in respiratory epithelia have not been well characterized. This study evaluated epigenomic and transcriptomic effects of hookah smoke relative to cigarette smoke in human respiratory epithelial cells.

Methods

Primary normal human small airway epithelial cells from three donors and cdk4 and hTERT-immortalized small airway epithelial cells and human bronchial epithelial cells were cultured for 5 days in normal media with or without cigarette smoke condensates (CSCs) or water pipe condensates (WPCs). Cell count, immunoblot, RNA sequencing, quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques were used to compare effects of hookah and cigarette smoke on cell proliferation, global histone marks, gene expression, and promoter-related chromatin structure.

Results

CSC and WPC decreased global H4K16ac and H4K20me3 histone marks and mediated distinct and overlapping cancer-associated transcriptome signatures and pathway modulations that were cell line dependent and stratified across lung cancer cells in a histology-specific manner. Epiregulin encoding a master regulator of EGFR signaling that is overexpressed in lung cancers was up-regulated, whereas FILIP1L and ABI3BP encoding mediators of senescence that are repressed in lung cancers were down-regulated by CSC and WPC. Induction of epiregulin and repression of FILIP1L and ABI3BP by these condensates coincided with unique epigenetic alterations within the respective promoters.

Conclusions

These findings support translational studies to ascertain if hookah-mediated epigenomic and transcriptomic alterations in cultured respiratory epithelia are detectable and clinically relevant in hookah smokers.

UHRF1 Is a Novel Druggable Epigenetic Target in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

INTRODUCTION

Ubiquitin-like with plant homeodomain and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) encodes a master regulator of DNA methylation that has emerged as an epigenetic driver in human cancers. To date, no studies have evaluated UHRF1 expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This study was undertaken to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting UHRF1 in MPM.

METHODS

Microarray, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to evaluate UHRF1 expression in normal mesothelial cells (NMCs) cultured with or without asbestos, MPM lines, normal pleura, and primary MPM specimens. The impact of UHRF1 expression on MPM patient survival was evaluated using two independent databases. RNA-sequencing, proliferation, invasion, and colony formation assays, and murine xenograft experiments were performed to evaluate gene expression and growth of MPM cells after biochemical or pharmacologic inhibition of UHRF1 expression.

RESULTS

UHRF1 expression was significantly higher in MPM lines and specimens relative to NMC and normal pleura. Asbestos induced UHRF1 expression in NMC. The overexpression of UHRF1 was associated with decreased overall survival in patients with MPM. UHRF1 knockdown reversed genomewide DNA hypomethylation, and inhibited proliferation, invasion, and clonogenicity of MPM cells, and growth of MPM xenografts. These effects were phenocopied by the repurposed chemotherapeutic agent, mithramycin. Biochemical or pharmacologic up-regulation of p53 significantly reduced UHRF1 expression in MPM cells. RNA-sequencing experiments exhibited the pleiotropic effects of UHRF1 down-regulation and identified novel, clinically relevant biomarkers of UHRF1 expression in MPM.

CONCLUSIONS

UHRF1 is an epigenetic driver in MPM. These findings support the efforts to target UHRF1 expression or activity for mesothelioma therapy.

Dealing with neonatal emergencies in low-resource settings

We describe the development and delivery of neonatal care including trends and impacts of major interventions on neonatal mortality particularly in low-resource settings. Low- and middle-income countries continue to be major contributors to neonatal mortality. Although there has been progress in reducing neonatal mortality, neonatal deaths are contributing an increasing percentage of childhood mortality. Several interventions targeting neonatal care such as neonatal resuscitation and essential newborn care have contributed to improved outcomes. However, there are still many neonatal deaths that are preventable with known effective interventions. This review addresses interventions proven effective in reducing neonatal mortality, challenges to implement them, and future directions of implementing these interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

A dual borohydride (Li and Na borohydride) catalyst/additive together with intermetallic FeTi for the optimization of the hydrogen sorption characteristics of Mg(NH2)2/2LiH

The present study deals with the material tailoring of Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH through dual borohydrides: the reactive LiBH₄ and the non-reactive NaBH₄. Furthermore, a pulverizer, as well as a catalyst FeTi, has been added in order to facilitate hydrogen sorption. Addition of LiBH₄ to LiNH₂ in a 1 : 3 molar ratio leads to the formation of Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃ which also acts as a catalyst. However, the addition of NaBH₄ doesn't lead to any compound formation but shows a catalytic effect. The onset dehydrogenation temperature of thermally treated Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH/(Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃-NaBH₄) is 142 °C as against 196 °C for the basic material Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH. However, with the FeTi catalyzed Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH/(Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃-NaBH₄, it has been reduced to 120 °C. This is better than other similar amide/hydride composites where it is 149 °C (when the basic material is catalyzed with LiBH₄). The FeTi catalyzed Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH/(Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃-NaBH₄ sample shows better de/re-hydrogenation kinetics as it desorbs 3.9 ± 0.04 wt% and absorbs nearly 4.1 ± 0.04 wt% both within 30 min at 170 °C (with the H₂ pressure being 0.1 MPa for desorption and 7 MPa for absorption). The eventual hydrogen storage capacity of Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH/(Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃-NaBH₄ together with FeTi has been found to be ∼5.0 wt%. To make the effect of catalysts intelligible, we have put forward in a schematic way the role of Li and Na borohydrides with FeTi for improving the hydrogen sorption properties of Mg(NH₂)₂-2LiH.

Target Deconvolution of a Multikinase Inhibitor with Antimetastatic Properties Identifies TAOK3 as a Key Contributor to a Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotype

Pancreatic cancer remains an incurable condition. Its progression is driven, in part, by subsets of cancer cells that evade the cytotoxic effects of conventional chemotherapies. These cells are often low-cycling, multidrug resistant, and adopt a stem cell-like phenotype consistent with the concept of cancer stem cells (CSC). To identify drugs impacting on tumor-promoting CSCs, we performed a differential high-throughput drug screen in pancreatic cancer cells cultured in traditional (2D) monolayers versus three-dimensional (3D) spheroids which replicate key elements of the CSC model. Among the agents capable of killing cells cultured in both formats was a 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-amine-based inhibitor of IL2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK; NCGC00188382, inhibitor #1) that effectively mediated growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in vitro, and suppressed cancer progression and metastasis formation in vivo An examination of this agent's polypharmacology via in vitro and in situ phosphoproteomic profiling demonstrated an activity profile enriched for mediators involved in DNA damage repair. Included was a strong inhibitory potential versus the thousand-and-one amino acid kinase 3 (TAOK3), CDK7, and aurora B kinases. We found that cells grown under CSC-enriching spheroid conditions are selectively dependent on TAOK3 signaling. Loss of TAOK3 decreases colony formation, expression of stem cell markers, and sensitizes spheroids to the genotoxic effect of gemcitabine, whereas overexpression of TAOK3 increases stem cell traits including tumor initiation and metastasis formation. By inactivating multiple components of the cell-cycle machinery in concert with the downregulation of key CSC signatures, inhibitor #1 defines a distinctive strategy for targeting pancreatic cancer cell populations.

Anticarcinogenic activity of blue fluorescent hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots: as an effective enhancer for DNA cleavage activity of anticancer drug doxorubicin

Blue fluorescent hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots (h-BNQDs) of ∼10 nm size as an effective enhancer for DNA cleavage activity of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) were synthesized using simple one-step hydrothermal disintegration of exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride at very low temperature ∼ 120 °C. Boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) at a concentration of 25 μg/ml enhanced DNA cleavage activity of DOX up to 70% as checked by converting supercoiled fragment into nicked circular PBR322 DNA. The interaction of BNQDs with DOX is proportional to the concentration of BNQDs, with binding constant K b ∼0.07338 μg/ml. In addition, ab initio theoretical results indicate that DOX is absorbed on BNQDs at the N-terminated edge with binding energy -1.075 eV and prevented the normal replication mechanisms in DNA. BNQDs have been shown to kill the breast cancer cell MCF-7 extensively as compared with the normal human keratinocyte cell HaCaT. The cytotoxicity of BNQDs may be correlated with reduced reactive oxygen species level and increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which may be liable to enhance the anticancerous activity of DOX. The results provide a base to develop BNQD-DOX as a more effective anticancer drug.

Sucrose vs. skin to skin care for preterm neonatal pain control-a randomized control trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of SSC with oral Sucrose for pain management in preterm neonates.

METHODOLOGY

Parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized control trial conducted from February-June 2017 at a level 3B-NICU. Hundred preterm neonates (29-0/7 to 36-6/7 weeks gestational age) requiring heel-stick were randomly assigned (1:1), to SSC (50, Group-A) and Sucrose (50, Group-B). In Group-A, SSC was provided at least 10 min before the procedure. In Group-B, 0.2 ml of oral Sucrose was provided 2 min before the procedure. Blinded assessment of Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score was done 30 s post-procedure using recorded videos.

RESULTS

Baseline variables were [Mean(SD)] gestational age [32.79(2.34) weeks], age [14.04(11.10) days] and birth weight [1.62(0.35) kilograms]. PIPP score was less in group- A vs. B but could not achieve statistical significance [Mean(SD): 7.74(2.43) vs. 8.1(2.82), p = 0.50 CI of the difference: (-1.40,0.68)].

CONCLUSIONS

SSC and Sucrose have comparable efficacy in managing pain in premature neonates.

Promise and pitfalls of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancies

A growing understanding of the immune system and its anti-tumor functions has been imperative for the comprehension of malignant processes and beneficial in the pursuit of effective cancer treatments. To defend the body, immune cells must be able to differentiate between self and foreign cells using checkpoints, allowing the immune cells to attack foreign cells. Among the different types of immune target therapies recently developed, checkpoint inhibitors have come to the forefront in cancer treatment, encouraging their study in numerous different types of cancer, including hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancies (HPB). Traditionally, these malignancies have been treated with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy, but with little benefit in the metastatic setting. However, impressive results with checkpoint inhibitor therapy have been noted in a number of cancers as these agents enable immune cells to kill cancer cells more efficiently. Two classes of checkpoint inhibitors being extensively studied are inhibitors of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) ligand and programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand (PD-1 and PD-L1). Checkpoint inhibitors have an advantage over other types of immunotherapies, such as cell-based therapies, in that they are commercially available and can be given to patients with a range of pathologies and regardless of HLA status. Herein, we will discuss the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors to HPB malignancies as well as the limitations of these medications in these cancers.

Induction of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein by a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Entinostat, Is Associated with DNA Damage and Apoptosis in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

In 2017, an estimated 17,000 individuals were diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and less than 20% will survive 5 years. Positron emission tomography avidity is indicative of high glucose utilization and is nearly universal in EAC. TXNIP blocks glucose uptake and exhibits proapoptotic functions. Higher expression in EAC has been associated with improved disease-specific survival, lack of lymph node involvement, reduced perineural invasion, and increased tumor differentiation. We hypothesized that TXNIP may act as a tumor suppressor that sensitizes EAC cells to standard chemotherapeutics. EAC cell lines and a Barrett epithelial cell line were used. qRT-PCR, immunoblot, and immunofluorescence techniques evaluated gene expression. TXNIP was stably overexpressed or knocked down using lentiviral RNA transduction techniques. Murine xenograft methods examined growth following overexpression of TXNIP. Apoptosis and DNA damage were measured by annexin V and γH2AX assays. Activation of the intrinsic apoptosis was quantitated with green fluorescence protein-caspase 3 reporter assay. In cultured cells and an esophageal tissue array, TXNIP expression was higher in Barrett epithelia and normal tissue compared with EAC. Constitutive overexpression of TXNIP decreased proliferation, clonogenicity, and tumor xenograft growth. TXNIP overexpression increased, whereas knockdown abrogated, DNA damage and apoptosis following cisplatin treatment. An HDAC inhibitor, entinostat (currently in clinical trials), upregulated TXNIP and synergistically increased cisplatin-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis. TXNIP is a tumor suppressor that is downregulated in EACC. Its reexpression dramatically sensitizes these cells to cisplatin. Our findings support phase I/II evaluation of "priming" strategies to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics in EAC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(9); 2013-23. ©2018 AACR.

Dissipation, intermittency, and singularities in incompressible turbulent flows

We examine the connection between the singularities or quasisingularities in the solutions of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation (INSE) and the local energy transfer and dissipation, in order to explore in detail how the former contributes to the phenomenon of intermittency. We do so by analyzing the velocity fields (a) measured in the experiments on the turbulent von Kármán swirling flow at high Reynolds numbers and (b) obtained from the direct numerical simulations of the INSE at a moderate resolution. To compute the local interscale energy transfer and viscous dissipation in experimental and supporting numerical data, we use the weak solution formulation generalization of the Kármán-Howarth-Monin equation. In the presence of a singularity in the velocity field, this formulation yields a nonzero dissipation (inertial dissipation) in the limit of an infinite resolution. Moreover, at finite resolutions, it provides an expression for local interscale energy transfers down to the scale where the energy is dissipated by viscosity. In the presence of a quasisingularity that is regularized by viscosity, the formulation provides the contribution to the viscous dissipation due to the presence of the quasisingularity. Therefore, our formulation provides a concrete support to the general multifractal description of the intermittency. We present the maps and statistics of the interscale energy transfer and show that the extreme events of this transfer govern the intermittency corrections and are compatible with a refined similarity hypothesis based on this transfer. We characterize the probability distribution functions of these extreme events via generalized Pareto distribution analysis and find that the widths of the tails are compatible with a similarity of the second kind. Finally, we make a connection between the topological and the statistical properties of the extreme events of the interscale energy transfer field and its multifractal properties.

Renal aquaporin-4 associated pathology in TG-26 mice

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in HIV patients, which is characterized by glomerulosclerosis and renal tubular dysfunction. Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) is a membrane bound water channel protein that plays a distinct role in water reabsorption from renal tubular fluid. It has been proven that failure of AQP-4 insertion into the renal tubular membrane leads to renal dysfunction. However, the role of AQP-4 in HIVAN is unclear. We hypothesize that impaired water reabsorption leads to renal injury in HIVAN, where AQP-4 plays a crucial role. Renal function is assessed by urinary protein and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Kidneys from HIV Transgenic (TG26) mice (HIVAN animal model) were compared to wild type mice by immunostaining, immunoblotting and quantitative RT-PCR. TG26 mice had increased proteinuria and BUN. We found decreased AQP-4 levels in the renal medulla, increased endothelin-1, endothelin receptor A and reduced Sirtuin1 (SIRT-1) levels in TG26 mice. Also, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress was enhanced in kidneys of TG26 mice. We provide the first evidence that AQP-4 is inhibited due to induction of HIV associated stress in the kidneys of TG26 mice which limits water reabsorption in the kidney which may be one of the cause associated with HIVAN, impairing kidney physiology. AQP-4 dysregulation in TG26 mice suggests that similar changes may occur in HIVAN patients. This work may identify new therapeutic targets to be evaluated in HIVAN.

Glomerular mitochondrial changes in HIV associated renal injury

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is an AIDs-related disease of the kidney. HIVAN is characterized by severe proteinuria, podocyte hyperplasia, collapse, glomerular, and tubulointerstitial damage. HIV-1 transgenic (Tg26) mouse is the most popular model to study the HIV manifestations that develop similar renal presentations as HIVAN. Viral proteins, including Tat, Nef, and Vpr play a significant role in renal cell damage. It has been shown that mitochondrial changes are involved in several kidney diseases, and therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction may be implicated in the pathology of HIVAN. In the present study, we investigated the changes of mitochondrial homeostasis, biogenesis, dynamics, mitophagy, and examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis in the Tg26 mouse model. The Tg26 mice showed significant impairment of kidney function, which was accompanied by increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and protein urea level. In addition, histological, western blot and PCR analysis of the Tg26 mice kidneys showed a downregulation of NAMPT, SIRT1, and SIRT3 expressions levels. Furthermore, the kidney of the Tg26 mice showed a downregulation of PGC1α, MFN2, and PARKIN, which are coupled with decrease of mitochondrial biogenesis, imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and downregulation of mitophagy, respectively. Furthermore, our results indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with ER stress, ROS generation and apoptosis. These results strongly suggest that the impaired mitochondrial morphology, homeostasis, and function associated with HIVAN. These findings indicated that a new insight on pathological mechanism associated with mitochondrial changes in HIVAN and a potential therapeutic target.

Alcohol, stem cells and cancer

Dosage, gender, and genetic susceptibility to the effects of alcohol remained only partially elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the role of alcohol in liver and gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, two recent pathways- DNA repair and TGF-β signaling which provide new insights into alcohol in the regulation of cancers and stem cells are also discussed here.

Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) Mutation Related Syndromic Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis results from the premature fusion of cranial sutures, with an incidence of 1 in 2,100-2,500 live births. The majority of cases are non-syndromic and involve single suture fusion, whereas syndromic cases often involve complex multiple suture fusion. The fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene is perhaps the most extensively studied gene that is mutated in various craniosynostotic syndromes including Crouzon, Apert, Pfeiffer, Antley-Bixler, Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata, Jackson-Weiss, Bent Bone Dysplasia, and Seathre-Chotzen-like syndromes. The majority of these mutations are missense mutations that result in constitutive activation of the receptor and downstream molecular pathways. Treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach with ultimate surgical fixation of the cranial deformity to prevent further sequelae. Understanding the molecular mechanisms has allowed for the investigation of different therapeutic agents that can potentially be used to prevent the disorders. Further research efforts are need to better understand screening and effective methods of early intervention and prevention. Herein, the authors provide a comprehensive update on FGFR2-related syndromic craniosynostosis.

ASXL3 Is a Novel Pluripotency Factor in Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells and a Potential Therapeutic Target in Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from normal human small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) to investigate epigenetic mechanisms of stemness and pluripotency in lung cancers. We documented key hallmarks of reprogramming in lung iPSCs (Lu-iPSC) that coincided with modulation of more than 15,000 genes relative to parental SAECs. Of particular novelty, we identified the PRC2-associated protein, ASXL3, which was markedly upregulated in Lu-iPSCs and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lines and clinical specimens. ASXL3 overexpression correlated with increased genomic copy number in SCLC lines. ASXL3 silencing inhibited proliferation, clonogenicity, and teratoma formation by Lu-iPSCs, and diminished clonogenicity and malignant growth of SCLC cells in vivo Collectively, our studies validate the utility of the Lu-iPSC model for elucidating epigenetic mechanisms contributing to pulmonary carcinogenesis and highlight ASXL3 as a novel candidate target for SCLC therapy. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6267-81. ©2017 AACR.

Using a Novel Microfabricated Model of the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier to Investigate the Effect of Matrix Structure on Atelectrauma

The alveolar-capillary barrier is composed of epithelial and endothelial cells interacting across a fibrous extracelluar matrix (ECM). Although remodeling of the ECM occurs during several lung disorders, it is not known how fiber structure and mechanics influences cell injury during cyclic airway reopening as occurs during mechanical ventilation (atelectrauma). We have developed a novel in vitro platform that mimics the micro/nano-scale architecture of the alveolar microenvironment and have used this system to investigate how ECM microstructural properties influence epithelial cell injury during airway reopening. In addition to epithelial-endothelial interactions, our platform accounts for the fibrous topography of the basal membrane and allows for easy modulation of fiber size/diameter, density and stiffness. Results indicate that fiber stiffness and topography significantly influence epithelial/endothelial barrier function where increased fiber stiffness/density resulted in altered cytoskeletal structure, increased tight junction (TJ) formation and reduced barrier permeability. However, cells on rigid/dense fibers were also more susceptible to injury during airway reopening. These results indicate that changes in the mechanics and architecture of the lung microenvironment can significantly alter cell function and injury and demonstrate the importance of implementing in vitro models that more closely resemble the natural conditions of the lung microenvironment.

Determinants of broiler chicken meat quality and factors affecting them: a review

Broiler production at mass level has already been achieved and now emphasis is being laid on increasing meat quality by altering various characteristics of broiler meat. Appearance, texture, juiciness, wateriness, firmness, tenderness, odor and flavor are the most important and perceptible meat features that influence the initial and final quality judgment by consumers before and after purchasing a meat product. The quantifiable properties of meat such as water holding capacity, shear force, drip loss, cook loss, pH, shelf life, collagen content, protein solubility, cohesiveness, and fat binding capacity are indispensable for processors involved in the manufacture of value added meat products. Nutrition of birds has a significant impact on poultry meat quality and safety. It is well known that dietary fatty acid profiles are reflected in tissue fatty acid. Management of poultry meat production is reflected mostly on consumption features (juiciness, tenderness, flavour) of meat. After slaughter, biochemical changes, causing the conversion of muscle to meat, determine final meat quality. Postmortem carcass temperature has profound effect on rigor mortis and the physicochemical changes observed in PSE muscles are attributed to postmortem glycolysis, temperature, and pH. Primary processing and further processing have become a matter of concern with respect to nutritional quality of broiler meat. Genetic variation among birds could contribute to large differences in the rate of rigor mortis completion and meat quality. Heritability estimates for meat quality traits in broilers are amazingly high (0.35-0.81), making genetic selection a best tool for improvement of broiler meat quality.

Transcriptomic profiling and quantitative high-throughput (qHTS) drug screening of CDH1 deficient hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) cells identify treatment leads for familial gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), a cancer predisposition syndrome associated with germline mutations of the CDH1 (E-cadherin) gene, have few effective treatment options. Despite marked differences in natural history, histopathology, and genetic profile to patients afflicted by sporadic gastric cancer, patients with HDGC receive, in large, identical systemic regimens. The lack of a robust preclinical in vitro system suitable for effective drug screening has been one of the obstacles to date which has hampered therapeutic advances in this rare disease.

METHODS

In order to identify therapeutic leads selective for the HDGC subtype of gastric cancer, we compared gene expression profiles and drug phenotype derived from an oncology library of 1912 compounds between gastric cancer cells established from a patient with metastatic HDGC harboring a c.1380delA CDH1 germline variant and sporadic gastric cancer cells.

RESULTS

Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis shows select gene expression alterations in c.1380delA CDH1 SB.mhdgc-1 cells compared to a panel of sporadic gastric cancer cell lines with enrichment of ERK1-ERK2 (extracellular signal regulated kinase) and IP3 (inositol trisphosphate)/DAG (diacylglycerol) signaling as the top networks in c.1380delA SB.mhdgc-1 cells. Intracellular phosphatidylinositol intermediaries were increased upon direct measure in c.1380delA CDH1 SB.mhdgc-1 cells. Differential high-throughput drug screening of c.1380delA CDH1 SB.mhdgc-1 versus sporadic gastric cancer cells identified several compound classes with enriched activity in c.1380 CDH1 SB.mhdgc-1 cells including mTOR (Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin), MEK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase), c-Src kinase, FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase), PKC (Protein Kinase C), or TOPO2 (Topoisomerase II) inhibitors. Upon additional drug response testing, dual PI3K (Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase)/mTOR and topoisomerase 2A inhibitors displayed up to >100-fold increased activity in hereditary c.1380delA CDH1 gastric cancer cells inducing apoptosis most effectively in cells with deficient CDH1 function.

CONCLUSION

Integrated pharmacological and transcriptomic profiling of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer cells with a loss-of-function c.1380delA CDH1 mutation implies various pharmacological vulnerabilities selective to CDH1-deficient familial gastric cancer cells and suggests novel treatment leads for future preclinical and clinical treatment studies of familial gastric cancer.

Loss of the transforming growth factor-β effector β2-Spectrin promotes genomic instability

Exposure to genotoxins such as ethanol-derived acetaldehyde leads to DNA damage and liver injury and promotes the development of cancer. We report here a major role for the transforming growth factor β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 adaptor β2-Spectrin (β2SP, gene Sptbn1) in maintaining genomic stability following alcohol-induced DNA damage. β2SP supports DNA repair through β2SP-dependent activation of Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (Fancd2), a core component of the Fanconi anemia complex. Loss of β2SP leads to decreased Fancd2 levels and sensitizes β2SP mutants to DNA damage by ethanol treatment, leading to phenotypes that closely resemble those observed in animals lacking both aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and Fancd2 and resemble human fetal alcohol syndrome. Sptbn1-deficient cells are hypersensitive to DNA crosslinking agents and have defective DNA double-strand break repair that is rescued by ectopic Fancd2 expression. Moreover, Fancd2 transcription in response to DNA damage/transforming growth factor β stimulation is regulated by the β2SP/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 complex.

CONCLUSION

Dysfunctional transforming growth factor β/β2SP signaling impacts the processing of genotoxic metabolites by altering the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway. (Hepatology 2017;65:678-693).

Enhanced hydrogen sorption in a Li–Mg–N–H system by the synergistic role of Li4(NH2)3BH4 and ZrFe2

The present investigation describes the synergistic role of Li₄(BH₄)(NH₂)₃ and ZrFe₂ in the hydrogen storage behaviour of a Li–Mg–N–H hydride system.

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both sexes in the United States and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Over the last several decades, there have been many advances in both surgical approaches and systemic therapies for the treatment of NSCLC, but the prognosis for advanced disease remains poor. New research, however, is exploring the use of targeted therapies for the treatment of NSCLC. The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is involved in normal mammalian central nervous system development. A novel fusion gene involving ALK and the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) gene has been associated with approximately 5% of NSCLCs and is mutually exclusive of other oncogenic driver mutations. Targeted therapies against this ALK rearrangement are a relatively new treatment modality that aims to improve the prognosis of patients with late-stage disease. Two such drugs have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval currently: Crizotinib and Ceritinib. Many other ALK inhibitors are currently being studied in clinical trials as well. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive review of ALK inhibitors for use in NSCLC as well as the future directions and challenges to developing these targeted therapies.

Ruptured submitral aneurysm

Submitral aneurysm is a rare entity, with around few hundred cases reported till date. Presentation can be varied. We describe here a case of submitral aneurysm in a young male with rupture into the left atrium cavity.

Abstract 3594: The TGF-β effector β2SP depletion abrogates DNA damage repair

Objective: Exposure to genotoxins, such as ethanol-derived acetaldehyde, leads to DNA damage, liver injury, and promotes the development of cancer. Alcohol-related genotoxicity, arising from DNA damage by metabolically generated reactive aldehydes, has recently been observed in models with genetic inactivation of members of the Fanconi anemia pathway. However, sensors for genotoxicity leading to aberrant DNA repair remain elusive. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a critical protein in the regulation of several cancer phenotypes and also functions as an extracellular sensor of ionizing radiation-induced cell damage. Yet, how the TGF-β pathway contributes to toxin-induced DNA damage repair remains unclear. We utilized the TGF-β/β2SP mutant mouse model to investigate the mechanisms in relation to β2SP-mediated TGF-β modulation of the Fanconi anemia pathway for DNA damage repair, alcohol sensitivity, and liver tumorigenesis. Methods: (1) β2SP mutant mice were treated with alcohol to determine their susceptibility to aldehyde-induced developmental abnormalities. (2) Genomic instability and sensitivity to DNA damaging agents in primary β2SP+/+, β2SP-/- MEFs were determined by clonogenic survival and metaphase chromosome aberrations analysis. (3) Defective S-phase specific DNA repair in β2SP-/- MEFs were determined by DNA replication restart assays. (4) ChIP assays were performed to determine the recruitment of β2SP/Smad3 at FancD2 promoter. (5) We investigated the clinical relevance of altered β2SP and FancD2 function using immunohistochemical analyses of 20 human liver specimens from alcoholic hepatitis (n = 5), alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 5), and alcohol-associated liver cancer (n = 5), as well as normal controls (n = 5). Results: (1) Sptbn1-deficient mice exhibit a phenotype similar to human fetal alcohol syndrome and are sensitive to ethanol exposure. (2) Sptbn1-deficient cells exhibit genomic instability and hypersensitivity to DNA damage (3) Sptbn1-deficiency delays DNA damage repair. (4) Furthermore, Sptbn1-deficient cells are defective in stalled DNA replication fork resolution and homologous recombination. (5) FancD2 ectopic expression rescues the DNA repair defect in Sptbn1 null cells. (6) β2SP and FancD2 are clinically correlated in alcoholic hepatitis and HCCs. Conclusions: Our model proposes that in response to liver toxins such as alcohol, the TGF-β/β2SP/Smad3 pathway prevents liver injury and cancer through its direct effects on DNA repair and genomic stability. Thus, characterizing the role of TGF-β in alcohol-induced injury could potentially enhance our mechanistic insight into the basis for therapeutics targeting toxin-induced DNA damage and tumorigenesis.

Citation Format: Jian Chen, Vivek Shukla, Jiun-Sheng Chen, Raj K. Panditab, Yun Seong Jeong, Lior H Katz, Ji-Hyun Shin, YoungJin Gi, Lawrence N. Kwongc, Clayton R. Huntb, Patrizia Farci, Xiaoping Su, Jon White, Bibhuti Mishra, Asif Rashid, Milind Javle, Lei Li, Junjie Chen, John R, Stroehlein, Marta Davila, Rehan Akbani, Keigo Machidao, Hidekazu Tsukamoto, Tej K. Pandita, Lopa Mishra. The TGF-β effector β2SP depletion abrogates DNA damage repair. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3594.

Molecularly targeted agents and immunotherapy for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC)

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most frequent tumors of the head and neck and often presents at an advanced-stage. Traditionally, treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has included surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy depending on both the site and stage of disease. Although the treatment approach for local disease is often standardized, the management of recurrent and advanced disease is evolving. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC has led to numerous promising investigations and the push for the development of novel therapies. Similarly, over the past several decades, growing data supports the notion that an individual's immune system can be manipulated in such a way to help eradicate cancer. The success of immunotherapeutic agents such as interleukin therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade in cancer, particularly advanced-stage melanoma, has stimulated researchers to uncover similar success stories in HNSCC. Examples of immunotherapeutics that are being studied for the treatment of HNSCC include adoptive T-cell therapy, vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitor proteins (e.g., anti-CTLA-4, -PD-1, -PD-L1). Molecularly targeted agents of interest include inhibitors of transmembrane growth factor receptors, angiogenesis, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NOTCH signaling pathways. To date, cetuximab, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, is the only targeted agent for HNSCC that was approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the basis that it improves overall survival when combined with chemotherapy or radiation. Herein, the authors provide an up-to-date review of immunotherapeutic and molecularly targeted agents for the treatment of HNSCC.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: Clinical Efficacy and Safety

A major breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy was the discovery of immune checkpoint proteins, which function to effectively inhibit the immune system through various mechanisms. The first of such molecules shown to inhibit both T-cell proliferation and IL-2 production was cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). With this discovery, efforts turned to blocking this inhibitory pathway in an attempt to activate dormant T-cells directed at cancer cells. The first antibody directed against CTLA-4, ipilimumab, was quickly ushered into clinical trials and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2011. Following the success of ipilimumab, other immune checkpoints were studied as possible targets for inhibition. One such interaction was that of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) T-cell receptor and its ligand found on many cancer cells, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Unfortunately, the untoward effects of blocking the immune system's natural inhibitory mechanisms have manifested clinically as diarrhea, rash, and hepatitis. Nevertheless, the exciting field of immune checkpoint inhibitors offers a potential curative option for many cancer patients who previously had a more dismal prognosis. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive review of the literature and update on the use of CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 targeted therapy in the treatment of cancer and other molecules still in the early development phase.

Mithramycin Depletes Specificity Protein 1 and Activates p53 to Mediate Senescence and Apoptosis of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cells

PURPOSE

Specificity protein 1 (SP1) is an oncogenic transcription factor overexpressed in various human malignancies. This study sought to examine SP1 expression in malignant pleural mesotheliomas (MPM) and ascertain the potential efficacy of targeting SP1 in these neoplasms.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical techniques were used to evaluate SP1 expression in cultured MPM cells and MPM specimens and normal mesothelial cells/pleura. MTS, chemotaxis, soft agar, β-galactosidase, and Apo-BrdUrd techniques were used to assess proliferation, migration, clonogenicity, senescence, and apoptosis in MPM cells following SP1 knockdown, p53 overexpression, or mithramycin treatment. Murine subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenograft models were used to examine effects of mithramycin on MPM growth in vivo. Microarray, qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques were used to examine gene expression profiles mediated by mithramycin and combined SP1 knockdown/p53 overexpression and correlate these changes with SP1 and p53 levels within target gene promoters.

RESULTS

MPM cells and tumors exhibited higher SP1 mRNA and protein levels relative to control cells/tissues. SP1 knockdown significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and clonogenicity of MPM cells. Mithramycin depleted SP1 and activated p53, dramatically inhibiting proliferation and clonogenicity of MPM cells. Intraperitoneal mithramycin significantly inhibited growth of subcutaneous MPM xenografts and completely eradicated mesothelioma carcinomatosis in 75% of mice. Mithramycin modulated genes mediating oncogene signaling, cell-cycle regulation, senescence, and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The growth-inhibitory effects of mithramycin in MPM cells were recapitulated by combined SP1 knockdown/p53 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide preclinical rationale for phase II evaluation of mithramycin in patients with mesothelioma.

Detection of ALDH1 activity in rabbit hepatic VX2 tumors and isolation of ALDH1 positive cancer stem cells

Background

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity has been implicated in the therapeutic drug resistance of many malignancies and has been widely used as a marker to identify stem-like cells, including in primary liver cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to play a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. In order to clarify the validity of the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model, we questioned if it expresses ALDH1 as a potential marker of CSCs. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy worldwide and has poor prognosis. Most of the animal models used to study hepatocellular carcinoma are rodent models which lack clinical relevance. The rabbit VX2 model is a large animal model useful for preclinical and for developing drugs targeting cancer stem cells.

Materials and methods

We used flow cytometry to identify rabbit VX2 liver tumor cells that express ALDH1A1 activity at a high level and confirmed the results with RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses. Further, mRNA and protein expression analysis of tumor samples also express the markers for stemness like klf4, oct3/4, CD44 and nanog as well as the differentiation marker α-fetoprotein.

Results

We used Aldefluor flow cytometry-based assay to identify cells with high ALDH1 activity in the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model. We used the brightest 4.39 % of the total cancer cell population in our study. We performed semi-quantitative as well as real time PCR to characterize the stemness derived from VX2 tumors and tissues from normal rabbit liver. We demonstrated that VX2 tumors have higher expression of cancer stem cell markers such as AlDH1A1 and CD44 in comparison to normal rabbit liver cells. Additionally, real time PCR analysis of the same samples using syber-green demonstrated the significant change (p > 0.05) in the expression of genes. We validated the gene expression of the stemness markers by performing western blot and immunofluorescence. We showed that cancer stem cell markers (AlDH1A1, CD44) and the differentiation marker α-fetoprotein were upregulated in VX2 tumor cells. The same extent of upregulation was observed in stemness markers (klf4, oct3/4 and nanog) in VX2 tumors in comparison to normal rabbit liver.

Conclusion

The overall results of this study indicate that ALDH1 is a valid CSC marker for VX2 cancer. This finding suggests that the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model is useful in studying drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma and may be useful for basic and preclinical studies of other types of human cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-016-0785-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Development and characterization of essential oils incorporated carrageenan based edible film for packaging of chicken patties

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to develop an antimicrobial edible film coated with essential oils for packaging application with characterization of its physicochemical properties. Livestock products especially meat products need special packaging system for protection. The most well-known packaging materials are polyethylene or co-polymer-based materials which have led to serious ecological problems due to their non-biodegradability and non-renewable nature. There has been a growing interest for edible films in recent years trying to reduce the amount of wastes, capable of protecting the food once the primary packaging is open, and because of public concerns about environmental protection. Various kinds of antimicrobial substances can also be incorporated into edible films to improve their functionality, as these substances could limit or prevent microbial growth on food surface.

Design/methodology/approach

– Biopolymers such as carrageenan and carboxymethylcellulose and their various combinations were tried to develop an edible film. The levels of antimicrobial substances such as oregano and thyme essential oils were standardized on the basis of their minimal inhibitory concentration against Escherichia coli, Salmonella pullorum, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Standardized edible film coated with standardized concentration of essential oil was examined for different physicochemical properties and compared with edible film without essential oil.

Findings

– In total, 1.5 per cent (w/v) solution of carrageenan was found best suited biopolymer for edible film formation on the basis of thickness, transparency and elongation ability. Combined concentration of oregano (0.02 per cent) and thyme (0.03 per cent) essential oils were found to be best suited for coating the edible film as antimicrobial application.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research may benefit from the present attempt in evaluating the potency of easily available agricultural by produces for preparation of economically viable edible film incorporated with various natural biopreservatives in combination for the enhancement of shelf life.

Originality/value

– Antimicrobial packaging for enhancing the quality and shelf life of stored meat products offers great scope for further research in this field. Moreover, the literature pertaining to the application of edible films containing biopreservative for chicken meat products is very limited.

Abstract 892: Vitamin D deficiency regulates TLR7 to promote hepatocellular cancer in TGF-β/Smad3 heterozygous mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common tumor and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Loss of TGF-β signaling has been associated with development of HCC. Cancer preventive effects of Vitamin D (VD) have been implicated in multiple cancers, however a clear role for Vitamin D in specific high risk populations remains undefined for HCC. Therefore, we examined for a potential chemopreventive role of VD in HCC in the context of TGF-β inactivation.

Methods: (1) We screened for somatic mutation of the TGF-β pathway and VD related genes in 202 HCCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). (2) Wild type, Sptbn1+/- and Smad3+/- mice were fed with low VD (200 IU VD/kg) or high VD diet (10,000 IU VD/kg) for 9 weeks. Liver tissues were subjected to microarray analyses and further evaluation by quantitative PCR. (3) Wild type, Sptbn1+/- and Smad3+/- mice were injected Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and at 8 month, 26 mice receiving low VD (200 IU VD/kg) and 26 mice receiving high VD (10,000 IU VD/kg) chow. HCC development was assessed at 4 months after VD treatment. (4) Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) was performed to analyze expression profiles of 164 proteins of mouse liver tumors. (5) Liver samples from patients with HCV cirrhosis receiving VD supplements were examined to evaluate expression of TGF-β, Wnt and VD pathway molecules by immunohistochemistry.

Results: (1) We observed a high rate of somatic mutation in TGF-β and VD pathway related genes in the TCGA genomic analysis. (2) None of the VD treated mice developed HCC but high VD treatment increased TLR7 mRNA expression about 3-fold in liver from Smad3+/- mice compared with livers from WT mice. (3) Smad3+/- mice with low VD showed 3-fold larger HCC formation, compared to the high VD group (Smad3+/-) that did not develop significant tumors. However, correction of VD in the Chow after 10 months did not reverse HCC formation. (4) RPPA data revealed that the tumor suppressor protein PDCD4 was reduced in Smad3+/- mice with low VD treatment. However, oncoproteins such as β-catenin, Stat5A and Bcl2-XL were induced in the same sample. (5) Expression of β2SP and TβRII were higher in HCV cirrhosis patients receiving VD supplementation compared to non-treated group.

Conclusions: Loss of TGF-β signaling pathway developed HCC and VD deficiency promotes tumor growth in the context of Smad3 disruption potentially through regulation of TLR7 expression. However, after 10 months restoring VD does not have any significant effect on altering tumors. Therefore VD could be a potential candidate for prevention in early identified HCC high risk individuals who has inactivation of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling.

Citation Format: Ji-hyun Shin, Lior H. Katz, Nina M. Munoz, Andrea Cortes, Vivek Shukla, Sang-Bae Kim, Franklin Herlong, Keigo Machida, Hidekazu Tsukamoto, Kirti Shetty, Aiwu R. He, Lynt B. Johnson, Asif Rashid, Jian Chen, Ju-Seog Lee, Lopa Mishra. Vitamin D deficiency regulates TLR7 to promote hepatocellular cancer in TGF-β/Smad3 heterozygous mice. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 892. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-892

Development of on package indicator sensor for real-time monitoring of meat quality

AIM

The aim was to develop an indicator sensor for real-time monitoring of meat quality and to compare the response of indicator sensor with meat quality parameters at ambient temperature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Indicator sensor was prepared using bromophenol blue (1% w/v) as indicator solution and filter paper as indicator carrier. Indicator sensor was fabricated by coating indicator solution onto carrier by centrifugation. To observe the response of indicator sensor buffalo meat was packed in polystyrene foam trays covered with PVC film and indicator sensor was attached to the inner side of packaging film. The pattern of color change in indicator sensor was monitored and compared with meat quality parameters viz. total volatile basic nitrogen, D-glucose, standard plate count and tyrosine value to correlate ability of indicator sensor for its suitability to predict the meat quality and storage life.

RESULTS

The indicator sensor changed its color from yellow to blue starting from margins during the storage period of 24 h at ambient temperature and this correlated well with changes in meat quality parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The indicator sensor can be used for real-time monitoring of meat quality as the color of indicator sensor changed from yellow to blue starting from margins when meat deteriorates with advancement of the storage period. Thus by observing the color of indicator sensor quality of meat and shelf life can be predicted.