Non-Invasive Imaging of Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase-Catalytic-Subunit-Alpha (PIK3CA) Promoter Modulation in Small Animal Models

Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, a critical step for survival in cancer cells is often associated with decreased sensitivity to several chemotherapeutic drugs. PIK3CA gene amplification is observed in 16–24% of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients in conjunction with p53 mutations. A 900 bp long PIK3CA promoter is shown to be negatively regulated by p53 in ovarian surface epithelial cells but the consequence of chemotherapeutic drug treatments on this promoter in ovarian cancer cells is largely unknown. We aim to study the modulation of this promoter by cisplatin using an improved fusion reporter in ovarian cancer cells and tumor xenografts by non-invasive imaging approach. A PIK3CA sensor was developed using a bi-fusion reporter from a newly constructed library of bi- and tri-fusion vectors comprising of two mutant far red fluorescent proteins (mcherry/mch and tdTomato/tdt), a mutant firefly luciferase (fluc2), and a PET reporter protein (ttk). In vivo imaging of mice implanted with 293T cells transiently expressing these bi- and tri-fusion reporters along with respective controls revealed comparable activity of each reporter in the fusion background and fluc2-tdt as the most sensitive one. Repression of the PIK3CA sensor by drugs was inversely proportional to cellular p53 level in a germline (PA1) and in an EOC (A2780) cell line but not in a p53 deficient EOC (SKOV3) cell line. Bioluminescence imaging of tumor xenografts stably expressing the PIK3CA sensor in PA1 and A2780 cells exhibited attenuating activity without any change in SKOV3 tumors expressing the PIK3CA sensor after cisplatin treatment. Sequential mutation at p53 binding sites showed gradual increase in promoter activity and decreased effects of the drugs. These newly developed PIK3CA-fluc2-tdt and the mutant reporter sensors thus would be extremely useful for screening new drugs and for functional assessment of PIK3CA expression from intact cells to living subjects.     

Single-molecule force spectroscopy of the add adenine riboswitch relates folding to regulatory mechanism

Riboswitches regulate gene expression via ligand binding to an aptamer domain which induces conformational changes in a regulatory expression platform. By unfolding and refolding single add adenine riboswitch molecules in an optical trap, an integrated picture of the folding was developed and related to the regulatory mechanism. Force-extension curves (FECs) and constant-force folding trajectories measured on the aptamer alone revealed multiple partially-folded states, including several misfolded states not on the native folding pathway. All states were correlated to key structural components and interactions within hierarchical folding pathways. FECs of the full-length riboswitch revealed that the thermodynamically stable conformation switches upon ligand binding from a structure repressing translation to one permitting it. Along with rapid equilibration of the two structures in the absence of adenine, these results support a thermodynamically-controlled regulatory mechanism, in contrast with the kinetic control of the closely-related pbuE adenine riboswitch. Comparison of the folding of these riboswitches revealed many similarities arising from shared structural features but also essential differences related to their different regulatory mechanisms.     

Triazoles as γ-secretase modulators

Synthesis, SAR, and evaluation of aryl triazoles as novel gamma secretase modulators (GSMs) are presented in this communication. Starting from the literature and in-house leads, we evaluated a range of five-membered heterocycles as replacements for olefins commonly found in non-acid GSMs. 1,2,3-C-aryl-triazoles were identified as suitable replacements which exhibited good modulation of γ-secretase activity, excellent pharmacokinetics and good central lowering of Aβ42 in Sprague-Dawley rats.     

Extra-Lysosomal Localization of Arylsulfatase B in Human Colonic Epithelium

The enzyme arylsulfatase B (N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase; ARSB; ASB) removes 4-sulfate groups from the sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S) and dermatan sulfate (DS). Inborn deficiency of ARSB leads to the lysosomal storage disease mucopolysaccharidosis VI, characterized by accumulation of sGAG in vital organs, disruption of normal physiological processes, severe morbidity, and premature death. Recent published work demonstrated extra-lysosomal localization with nuclear and cell membrane ARSB observed in bronchial and colonic epithelial cells, cerebrovascular cells, and hepatic cells. In this report, the authors present ARSB immunostaining in a colonic microarray and show differences in distribution, intensity, and pattern of ARSB staining among normal colon, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas. Distinctive, intense luminal membrane staining was present in the normal epithelial cells but reduced in the malignancies and less in the grade 3 than in the grade 1 adenocarcinomas. In the normal cores, a distinctive pattern of intense cytoplasmic positivity at the luminal surface was followed by reduced staining deeper in the crypts. ARSB enzymatic activity was significantly greater in normal than in malignant tissue. These study findings affirm extra-lysosomal localization of ARSB and suggest that altered ARSB immunostaining and reduced activity may be useful indicators of malignant transformation in human colonic tissue.     

p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs mediate the interplay of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in regulating oxidative stress and cardiac myocyte apoptosis

It is known that TNF-alpha increases the production of ROS and decreases antioxidant enzymes, resulting in an increase in oxidative stress. IL-10 appears to modulate these effects. The present study investigated the role of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs in mediating the interplay of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in regulating oxidative stress and cardiac myocyte apoptosis in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Isolated adult cardiac myocytes were exposed to TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml), IL-10 (10 ng/ml), and IL-10 + TNF-alpha (ratio 1) for 4 h. H(2)O(2) (100 microM) as a positive control and the antioxidant Trolox (20 micromol/l) were used to confirm the involvement of oxidative stress. H(2)O(2) treatment increased oxidative stress and apoptosis; TNF-alpha mimicked these effects. Exposure to TNF-alpha significantly increased ROS production, caused cell injury, and increased the number of apoptotic cells and Bax-to-Bcl-xl ratio. This change was associated with an increase in the phospho-p38 MAPK-to-total p38 MAPK ratio and a decrease in the phospho-ERK1/2-to-total ERK1/2 ratio. IL-10 treatment by itself had no effect on these parameters, but it prevented the above-listed changes caused by TNF-alpha. The antioxidant Trolox modulated TNF-alpha-induced changes in Bax/Bcl-xl, cell injury, and MAPKs. Preexposure of cells to the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 prevented TNF-alpha-induced changes. Inhibition of the ERK pathway with PD-98059 attenuated the protective role of IL-10 against TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. This study provides evidence in support of the essential role of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs in the interactive role of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in cardiac myocyte apoptosis.     

64Cu-labeled alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analog for microPET imaging of melanocortin 1 receptor expression

The alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) receptor (melanocortin type 1 receptor, or MC1R) plays an important role in the development and growth of melanoma cells. It was found that MC1R was overexpressed on most murine and human melanoma, making it a promising molecular target for melanoma imaging and therapy. Radiolabeled alpha-MSH peptide and its analogs that can specifically bind with MC1R have been extensively explored for developing novel agents for melanoma detection and radionuclide therapy. The goal of this study was to evaluate a 64Cu-labeled alpha-MSH analog, Ac-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys(DOTA)-NH2 (DOTA-NAPamide), as a potential molecular probe for microPET imaging of melanoma and MC1R expression in melanoma xenografted mouse models. 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) conjugated NAPamide was synthesized and radiolabeled with 64Cu (t1/2=12 h) in NH4OAc (0.1 M; pH 5.5) buffered solution for 60 min at 50 degrees C. Cell culture studies reveal rapid and high uptake and internalization of 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide in B16F10 cells. Over 90% of receptor-bound tracer is internalized at 3 h incubation. A cellular retention study demonstrates that the receptor-bound 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide is slowly released from the B16F10 cells into the medium; 66% of the radioactivity is still associated with the cells even after 3 h incubation. The biodistribution of 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide was then investigated in C57BL/6 mice bearing subcutaneous murine B16F10 melanoma tumors with high capacity of MC1R and Fox Chase Scid mice bearing human A375M melanoma with a relatively low number of MC1R receptors. Tumor uptake values of 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide are found to be 4.63 +/- 0.45% and 2.49 +/- 0.31% ID/g in B16F10 and A375M xenografted melanoma at 2 h postinjection (pi), respectively. The B16F10 tumor uptake at 2 h pi is further inhibited to 2.29 +/- 0.24% ID/g, while A375M tumor uptake at 2 h pi remains 2.20 +/- 0.41% ID/g with a coinjection of excess alpha-MSH peptide. MicroPET imaging of 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide in B16F10 tumor mice clearly shows good tumor localization. However, low A375M tumor uptake and poor tumor to normal tissue contrast were observed. This study demonstrates that 64Cu-DOTA-NAPamide is a promising molecular probe for alpha-MSH receptor positive melanoma PET imaging as well as MC1R expression imaging in living mice.     

An endoplasmic reticulum stress regulator,Tmbim6, modulates secretory stage of mice molar

To understand the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress in mice molar development, we studied Tmbim6 that antagonizes the unfolded protein response, using Tmbim6 knockout (KO) mice and in vitro organ cultivation with knocking down using small interfering RNA. During molar development, Tmbim6 is expressed in developing tooth at E14–E16, postnatal0 (PN0), and PN6. Mineral content in Tmbim6 KO enamel was reduced while dentin was slightly increased revealing ultrastructural changes in pattern formation of both enamel and dentin. Moreover, odontoblast differentiation was altered with increased Dspp expression at PN0 followed by altered AMELX localizations at PN5. These results were confirmed by in vitro organ cultivation and showed altered Bmp signaling, proliferation, and actin rearrangement in the presumptive ameloblast and odontoblasts that followed the altered expression of differentiation and ER stress-related signaling molecules at E16.5. Overall, ER stress modulated by Tmbim6 would play important roles in patterned dental hard tissue formation in mice molar within a limited period of development.     

Cryopreservation timing is a critical process parameter in a thymic regulatory T-cell therapy manufacturing protocol

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a promising therapy for several immune-mediated conditions but manufacturing a homogeneous and consistent product, especially one that includes cryopreservation, has been challenging. Discarded pediatric thymuses are an excellent source of therapeutic Tregs with advantages including cell quantity, homogeneity and stability. Here we report systematic testing of activation reagents, cell culture media, restimulation timing and cryopreservation to develop a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)–compatible method to expand and cryopreserve Tregs. By comparing activation reagents, including soluble antibody tetramers, antibody-conjugated beads and artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) and different media, we found that the combination of Dynabeads Treg Xpander and ImmunoCult-XF medium preserved FOXP3 expression and suppressive function and resulted in expansion that was comparable with a single stimulation with aAPCs. Cryopreservation tests revealed a critical timing effect: only cells cryopreserved 1–3 days, but not >3 days, after restimulation maintained high viability and FOXP3 expression upon thawing. Restimulation timing was a less critical process parameter than the time between restimulation and cryopreservation. This systematic testing of key variables provides increased certainty regarding methods for in vitro expansion and cryopreservation of Tregs. The ability to cryopreserve expanded Tregs will have broad-ranging applications including enabling centralized manufacturing and long-term storage of cell products.     

Colored bait preferences of house Fly (Musca domestica L.) (Dipetera: Muscidae)

The housefly, Musca domestica L. (Dipetera: Muscidae) transmits disease, contaminates laboratories, hospitals, equipment and can be annoying to people and animals. They are considered a serious urban pest worldwide. An important tool used to control houseflies is baiting. This study was undertaken to review the preference of housefly for different colored baits. Various colored baits were prepared and evaluated under laboratory conditions. These were colored blue, white, yellow, red, purple and green. Among the different colored baits used, the blue bait was preferred the most by the houseflies, followed by the white and yellow baits, and the red, purple and green baits were least attractive to the houseflies. Similarly, the blue bait was detected faster by the houseflies and was consumed significantly more than the red, purple or green baits. Also, the blue bait attracted a significantly higher number of flies than the red, purple and green baits.