HPV DNA/RNA detection in various oral and oropharyngeal biomaterials identifies active HPV infections also in non-neoplastic tonsils

Previous studies describe a correlation between HPV-positivity and non-smoking in TSCC; p16^INK4A-expression as surrogate-marker for HPV-DNA/RNA-positivity is discussed controversially. In the present study, these parameters are assessed prospectively. HPV-status of sputum and tonsillar-swabs was analyzed to determine their validity as surrogate-marker for tissue-HPV-status.TSCC- (n = 52) and non-neoplastic tonsillar tissue (n = 163) were analyzed. HPV-DNA- and HPV-RNA-status of total sputum, cellular fraction and supernatants, tonsillar-swabs and -tissue was determined by (RT)-PCR. Immunohistochemistry determined p16^INK4A-expression.23/163 (14.2%) non-neoplastic tonsils were HPV-DNA-positive; five patients (3 HPV16, 2 HPV11) had active HPV-infections (HPV-RNA-positive), in all biomaterials. 140/163 (85.9%) patients were either HPV-DNA-positive or HPV-DNA-negative in all samples. 21/52 (40.4%) TSCC-tonsils were HPV-DNA-positive; 17 patients were HPV-RNA-positive (14 HPV16; 4 HPV18). 40/52 (76.9%) TSCC-patients were congruent in all biomaterials. p16^INK4A-expression alone would have misclassified the HPV-status of 14/52 (26.2%) TSCC-patients.This prospective study confirms the discrepancy between HPV-status and p16^INK4A-expression and the significant correlation between non-smoking and HPV-DNA-positivity. HPV-sputum- and/or swab-results do not consistently match tissue-results, possibly having (detrimental) consequences if those were used to assess tissue-HPV-status. In the 5 patients with active HPV infection in the non-neoplasitic tonsils, tonsillectomy likely prevented subsequent development of TSCC.     

Engagement of SIRPα Inhibits Growth and Induces Programmed Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Background

Recent studies show the importance of interactions between CD47 expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and the inhibitory immunoreceptor, signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages. Although AML cells express SIRPα, its function has not been investigated in these cells. In this study we aimed to determine the role of the SIRPα in acute myeloid leukemia.

Design and Methods

We analyzed the expression of SIRPα, both on mRNA and protein level in AML patients and we further investigated whether the expression of SIRPα on two low SIRPα expressing AML cell lines could be upregulated upon differentiation of the cells. We determined the effect of chimeric SIRPα expression on tumor cell growth and programmed cell death by its triggering with an agonistic antibody in these cells. Moreover, we examined the efficacy of agonistic antibody in combination with established antileukemic drugs.

Results

By microarray analysis of an extensive cohort of primary AML samples, we demonstrated that SIRPα is differentially expressed in AML subgroups and its expression level is dependent on differentiation stage, with high levels in FAB M4/M5 AML and low levels in FAB M0–M3. Interestingly, AML patients with high SIRPα expression had a poor prognosis. Our results also showed that SIRPα is upregulated upon differentiation of NB4 and Kasumi cells. In addition, triggering of SIRPα with an agonistic antibody in the cells stably expressing chimeric SIRPα, led to inhibition of growth and induction of programmed cell death. Finally, the SIRPα-derived signaling synergized with the activity of established antileukemic drugs.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that triggering of SIRPα has antileukemic effect and may function as a potential therapeutic target in AML.     

Role of N-Cadherin cis and trans Interfaces in?the Dynamics of Adherens Junctions in Living Cells

Cadherins, Ca²⁺-dependent adhesion molecules, are crucial for cell-cell junctions and remodeling. Cadherins form inter-junctional lattices by the formation of both cis and trans dimers. Here, we directly visualize and quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of wild-type and dimer mutant N-cadherin interactions using time-lapse imaging of junction assembly, disassembly and a FRET reporter to assess Ca²⁺-dependent interactions. A trans dimer mutant (W2A) and a cis mutant (V81D/V174D) exhibited an increased Ca²⁺-sensitivity for the disassembly of trans dimers compared to the WT, while another mutant (R14E) was insensitive to Ca²⁺-chelation. Time-lapse imaging of junction assembly and disassembly, monitored in 2D and 3D (using cellular spheroids), revealed kinetic differences in the different mutants as well as different behaviors in the 2D and 3D environment. Taken together, these data provide new insights into the role that the cis and trans dimers play in the dynamic interactions of cadherins.     

A Mechanochemical Model for Embryonic Pattern Formation: Coupling Tissue Mechanics and Morphogen Expression

Motivated by recent experimental findings, we propose a novel mechanism of embryonic pattern formation based on coupling of tissue curvature with diffusive signaling by a chemical factor. We derive a new mathematical model using energy minimization approach and show that the model generates a variety of morphogen and curvature patterns agreeing with experimentally observed structures. The mechanism proposed transcends the classical Turing concept which requires interactions between two morphogens with a significantly different diffusivity. Our studies show how biomechanical forces may replace the elusive long-range inhibitor and lead to formation of stable spatially heterogeneous structures without existence of chemical prepatterns. We propose new experimental approaches to decisively test our central hypothesis that tissue curvature and morphogen expression are coupled in a positive feedback loop.