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Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Feb 2024Neutropenia serves as a risk factor for severe infection and is a consequence of some immune-depleting immunotherapies. This occurs in people with multiple sclerosis... (Review)
Review
Neutropenia serves as a risk factor for severe infection and is a consequence of some immune-depleting immunotherapies. This occurs in people with multiple sclerosis following chemotherapy-conditioning in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and potent B cell targeting agents. Whilst CD52 is expressed by neutrophils and may contribute to early-onset neutropenia following alemtuzumab treatment, deoxycytidine kinase and CD20 antigen required for activity of cladribine tablets, off-label rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and ublituximab are not or only weakly expressed by neutrophils. Therefore, alternative explanations are needed for the rare occurrence of early and late-onset neutropenia following such treatments. This probably occurs due to alterations in the balance of granulopoiesis and neutrophil removal. Neutrophils are short-lived, and their removal may be influenced by drug-associated infections, the killing mechanisms of the therapies and amplified by immune dyscrasia due to influences on neutropoiesis following growth factor rerouting for B cell recovery and cytokine deficits following lymphocyte depletion. This highlights the small but evident neutropenia risks following sustained B cell depletion with some treatments.
Topics: Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Alemtuzumab; Rituximab; Immunologic Factors; Neutropenia; Antigens, CD20
PubMed: 38181696
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105400 -
Cell Death & Disease Feb 2024Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered one of the most lethal forms of cancer. Although in the last decade, an increase in 5-year patient survival has...
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered one of the most lethal forms of cancer. Although in the last decade, an increase in 5-year patient survival has been observed, the mortality rate remains high. As a first-line treatment for PDAC, gemcitabine alone or in combination (gemcitabine plus paclitaxel) has been used; however, drug resistance to this regimen is a growing issue. In our previous study, we reported MYC/glutamine dependency as a therapeutic target in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC secondary to deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) inactivation. Moreover, enrichment of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-associated genes was a common property shared by PDAC cell lines, and patient clinical samples coupled with low DCK expression was also demonstrated, which implicates DCK in cancer metabolism. In this article, we reveal that the expression of most genes encoding mitochondrial complexes is remarkably upregulated in PDAC patients with low DCK expression. The DCK-knockout (DCK KO) CFPAC-1 PDAC cell line model reiterated this observation. Particularly, OXPHOS was functionally enhanced in DCK KO cells as shown by a higher oxygen consumption rate and mitochondrial ATP production. Electron microscopic observations revealed abnormal mitochondrial morphology in DCK KO cells. Furthermore, DCK inactivation exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduction accompanied with ROS-scavenging gene activation, such as SOD1 and SOD2. SOD2 inhibition in DCK KO cells clearly induced cell growth suppression. In combination with increased anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 expression in DCK KO cells, we finally reveal that venetoclax and a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor are therapeutically efficacious for DCK-inactivated CFPAC-1 cells in in vitro and xenograft models. Hence, our work provides insight into inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism as a novel therapeutic approach to overcome DCK inactivation-mediated gemcitabine resistance in PDAC patient treatment.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Cell Line, Tumor; Deoxycytidine; Deoxycytidine Kinase; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Gemcitabine; Paclitaxel; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 38346958
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06531-x -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Dec 2023Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to overcome antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Specifically, HDT targets host-encoded factors...
Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to overcome antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Specifically, HDT targets host-encoded factors required for pathogen replication and survival without interfering with microbial growth or metabolism, thereby eliminating the risk of resistance development. By applying HDT and a drug repurposing approach, we demonstrate that ()-DI-87, a clinical-stage anti-cancer drug and potent inhibitor of mammalian deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), mitigates abscess formation in organ tissues upon invasive bloodstream infection. Mechanistically, ()-DI-87 shields phagocytes from staphylococcal death-effector deoxyribonucleosides that target dCK and the mammalian purine salvage pathway-apoptosis axis. In this manner, ()-DI-87-mediated protection of immune cells amplifies macrophage infiltration into deep-seated abscesses, a phenomenon coupled with enhanced pathogen control, ameliorated immunopathology, and reduced disease severity. Thus, pharmaceutical blockade of dCK represents an advanced anti-infective intervention strategy against which staphylococci cannot develop resistance and may help to fight fatal infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.
PubMed: 37645972
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.18.553822 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor that is commonly upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). AHR hinders the shuttling of human...
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor that is commonly upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). AHR hinders the shuttling of human antigen R (ELAVL1) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it stabilises its target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and enhances protein expression. Among these target mRNAs are those induced by gemcitabine. Increased AHR expression leads to the sequestration of ELAVL1 in the nucleus, resulting in chemoresistance. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between AHR and ELAVL1 in the pathogenesis of PDAC in vitro. and genes were silenced by siRNA transfection. The RNA and protein were extracted for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) analysis. Direct binding between the ELAVL1 protein and mRNA was examined through immunoprecipitation (IP) assay. Cell viability, clonogenicity, and migration assays were performed. Our study revealed that both AHR and ELAVL1 inter-regulate each other, while also having a role in cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance in PDAC cell lines. Notably, both proteins function through distinct mechanisms. The silencing of ELAVL1 disrupts the stability of its target mRNAs, resulting in the decreased expression of numerous cytoprotective proteins. In contrast, the silencing of diminishes cell migration and proliferation and enhances cell sensitivity to gemcitabine through the AHR-ELAVL1-deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) molecular pathway. In conclusion, AHR and ELAVL1 interaction can form a negative feedback loop. By inhibiting AHR expression, PDAC cells become more susceptible to gemcitabine through the ELAVL1-DCK pathway.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; ELAV-Like Protein 1; Gemcitabine; Pancreas; Pancreatic Hormones; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; RNA, Messenger; Deoxycytidine Kinase
PubMed: 37685961
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713155 -
ELife Mar 2024Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to overcome antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Specifically, HDT targets host-encoded factors...
Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to overcome antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Specifically, HDT targets host-encoded factors required for pathogen replication and survival without interfering with microbial growth or metabolism, thereby eliminating the risk of resistance development. By applying HDT and a drug repurposing approach, we demonstrate that ()-DI-87, a clinical-stage anticancer drug and potent inhibitor of mammalian deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), mitigates abscess formation in organ tissues upon invasive bloodstream infection. Mechanistically, ()-DI-87 shields phagocytes from staphylococcal death-effector deoxyribonucleosides that target dCK and the mammalian purine salvage pathway-apoptosis axis. In this manner, ()-DI-87-mediated protection of immune cells amplifies macrophage infiltration into deep-seated abscesses, a phenomenon coupled with enhanced pathogen control, ameliorated immunopathology, and reduced disease severity. Thus, pharmaceutical blockade of dCK represents an advanced anti-infective intervention strategy against which staphylococci cannot develop resistance and may help to fight fatal infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Staphylococcus aureus; Deoxycytidine Kinase; Abscess; Staphylococcal Infections; Anti-Infective Agents; Mammals
PubMed: 38512723
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.91157 -
Molecular Therapy. Methods & Clinical... Jun 2023Pancreatic cancer remains one of the greatest challenges in oncology for which therapeutic intervention is urgently needed. We previously demonstrated that the...
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the greatest challenges in oncology for which therapeutic intervention is urgently needed. We previously demonstrated that the intra-tumoral gene transfer of somatostatin receptor 2, to combat tumor aggressiveness, or of deoxycytidine kinase and uridylate monophosphate kinase, to sensitize to gemcitabine chemotherapy, has anti-tumoral potential in experimental models of cancer. Here, we describe the development of the CYL-02 non-viral gene therapy product that comprises a DNA-plasmid encoding for the three aforementioned genes, which expression is targeted to tumor cells, and complexed with polyethyleneimine non-viral vector. We performed pre-clinical toxicology, bio-distribution, and therapeutic activity studies of CYL-02 in two rodent models of pancreatic cancer. We found that CYL-02 is safe, does not increase gemcitabine toxicity, is rapidly cleared from blood following intravenous administration, and sequestered in tumors following intra-tumoral injection. CYL-02 drives the expression of therapeutic genes in cancer cells and strongly sensitizes tumor cells to gemcitabine, both and , with significant inhibition of tumor cells dissemination. This study was instrumental for the later use of CYL-02 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, demonstrating that rigorous and thorough preclinical investigations are informative for the clinical transfer of gene therapies against this disease.
PubMed: 37063483
DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.03.005 -
Cell Reports Feb 2024Viral mimicry describes the immune response induced by endogenous stimuli such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from endogenous retroelements. Activation of viral mimicry...
Viral mimicry describes the immune response induced by endogenous stimuli such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from endogenous retroelements. Activation of viral mimicry has the potential to kill cancer cells or augment anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we systematically identify mechanisms of viral mimicry adaptation associated with cancer cell dependencies. Among the top hits is the RNA decay protein XRN1 as an essential gene for the survival of a subset of cancer cell lines. XRN1 dependency is mediated by mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein and protein kinase R activation and is associated with higher levels of cytosolic dsRNA, higher levels of a subset of Alus capable of forming dsRNA, and higher interferon-stimulated gene expression, indicating that cells die due to induction of viral mimicry. Furthermore, dsRNA-inducing drugs such as 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and palbociclib can generate a synthetic dependency on XRN1 in cells initially resistant to XRN1 knockout. These results indicate that XRN1 is a promising target for future cancer therapeutics.
Topics: Humans; Retroelements; Cell Line; Cytosol; Decitabine; Exonucleases; Neoplasms; RNA, Double-Stranded; Exoribonucleases; Microtubule-Associated Proteins
PubMed: 38261511
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113684 -
Journal of Experimental & Clinical... Jan 2024Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer and the chemotherapies such as gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel are confronted with intrinsic...
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer and the chemotherapies such as gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel are confronted with intrinsic or acquired resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate mechanisms underlying paclitaxel resistance in PDAC and explore strategies to overcome it.
METHODS
Three paclitaxel (PR) and gemcitabine resistant (GR) PDAC models were established. Transcriptomics and proteomics were used to identify conserved mechanisms of drug resistance. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to overcome paclitaxel resistance.
RESULTS
Upregulation of ABCB1 through locus amplification was identified as a conserved feature unique to PR cells. ABCB1 was not affected in any of the GR models and no cross resistance was observed. The ABCB1 inhibitor verapamil or siRNA-mediated ABCB1 depletion sensitized PR cells to paclitaxel and prevented efflux of ABCB1 substrates in all models. ABCB1 expression was associated with a trend towards shorter survival in patients who had received gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel treatment. A pharmacological screen identified known and novel kinase inhibitors that attenuate efflux of ABCB1 substrates and sensitize PR PDAC cells to paclitaxel.
CONCLUSION
Upregulation of ABCB1 through locus amplification represents a novel, conserved mechanism of PDAC paclitaxel resistance. Kinase inhibitors identified in this study can be further (pre) clinically explored as therapeutic strategies to overcome paclitaxel resistance in PDAC.
Topics: Humans; Paclitaxel; Gemcitabine; Deoxycytidine; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
PubMed: 38163893
DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02879-8 -
Cancer Genetics Nov 2023We investigated the effect of stem cell marker dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) on the proliferation of hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer cells. High-throughput DNA...
We investigated the effect of stem cell marker dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) on the proliferation of hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer cells. High-throughput DNA methylation sequencing on an 850 K chip was used to pre-screen breast cancer tissues with significant methylation differences. The expression of DRD2 in breast cancer and normal breast tissues, and clinical risk factors, were detected by pyrophosphoric acid validation and immunohistochemistry. In vitro and in vivo experiments verified the possible molecular signaling pathways. DRD2 promoter region was hypomethylated in hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer or with high-risk factors compared to the normal tissues. The proliferation of breast cancer cells was enhanced after DRD2 was upregulated and decreased after DRD2 was downregulated. In vivo experiments found that tumor growth and the expression of antigen KI-67 (Ki67) and the cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) were improved by the overexpression of DRD2 and inhibited by the down expression of DRD2. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated the phosphorylation of filamin A and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (FLNA-ERK) was influenced by the expression of DRD2, suggesting DRD2 plays a role in the FLNA-ERK signaling pathway. Methylation inhibitors (5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, 5-azadc) partially reversed the inhibitory effect of DRD2 down expression on cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth in animal models, indicating that inhibition of DRD2 methylation promotes cancer development. This study demonstrated the DRD2 promoter region is hypomethylated in hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer or with high-risk factors. The methylation status of the DRD2 promoter and FLNA-ERK signaling pathway and the DRD2 expression in breast cancer treatment need to be considered.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Filamins; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; MAP Kinase Signaling System; DNA Methylation; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Hormones; Receptors, Dopamine D2
PubMed: 37729778
DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2023.09.001 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Apr 2024The combination of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel is an established standard treatment in the first-line treatment of metastatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas...
PURPOSE
The combination of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel is an established standard treatment in the first-line treatment of metastatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (mPDAC). Afatinib, an oral second-generation pan ErbB family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown promising pre-clinical signs in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this phase 1b trial was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of afatinib in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in patients with mPDAC.
METHODS
Treatment naïve patients (≥18 years) with histologically proven mPDAC and good performance status (ECOG 0/1) were enrolled to receive gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in combination with afatinib. Treatment was continued until disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint MTD was determined using a 3 + 3 design. Treatment started at dose level 0 with intravenous gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel 1000 mg/m / 125 mg/m (day 1, 8, 15 of a 28-day cycle) + oral afatinib 30 mg daily. At dose level + 1 afatinib was increased to 40 mg. Secondary endpoints included safety parameters and exploratory endpoints evaluated treatment efficacy.
RESULTS
Twelve patients were included in this trial, and 11 patients were treated and analysed in the safety and full analysis set (FAS). At dose level 0 the first three patients did not experience a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). At dose leve (DL) + 1 two patients experienced a DLT. Accordingly, enrolment continued at DL 0 with three more patients, of which one experienced DLT (skin rash ≥ CTCAE grade 3). Seven patients (63.6%) experienced at least one treatment-emergent serious adverse event (TESAE), with four patients (36.4%) experiencing TESAEs grade 3-5 related to the study medication. In the FAS, the objective response rate (ORR) was 36.4%, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.5 months and median overall survival in nine evaluable patients was 7.5 months.
CONCLUSIONS
In this phase 1b clinical trial, the MTD of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (1000 mg/m / 125 mg/m) and afatinib (30 mg) was established. In a cohort of 11 patients, the combination showed an acceptable safety profile.
Topics: Humans; Gemcitabine; Afatinib; Deoxycytidine; Paclitaxel; Albumins; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
PubMed: 38401449
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.113926