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Frontiers in Immunology 2024This study discusses the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients using liquid biopsy and next-generation...
This study discusses the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients using liquid biopsy and next-generation sequencing (NGS). AML prognosis is based on various factors, including genetic alterations. NGS has revealed the molecular complexity of AML and helped refine risk stratification and personalized therapies. The long-term survival rates for AML patients are low, and MRD assessment is crucial in predicting prognosis. Currently, the most common methods for MRD detection are flow cytometry and quantitative PCR, but NGS is being incorporated into clinical practice due to its ability to detect genomic aberrations in the majority of AML patients. Typically, bone marrow samples are used for MRD assessment, but using peripheral blood samples or liquid biopsies would be less invasive. Leukemia originates in the bone marrow, along with the cfDNA obtained from peripheral blood. This study aimed to assess the utility of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from peripheral blood samples for MRD detection in AML patients. A cohort of 20 AML patients was analyzed using NGS, and a correlation between MRD assessment by cfDNA and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in paired samples was observed. Furthermore, a higher tumor signal was detected in cfDNA compared to CTCs, indicating greater sensitivity. Challenges for the application of liquid biopsy in MRD assessment were discussed, including the selection of appropriate markers and the sensitivity of certain markers. This study emphasizes the potential of liquid biopsy using cfDNA for MRD detection in AML patients and highlights the need for further research in this area.
Topics: Neoplasm, Residual; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Liquid Biopsy; Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Aged; Prognosis; Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
PubMed: 38938565
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1252258 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024The disruption of the circadian clock is associated with inflammatory and immunological disorders. BMAL2, a critical circadian protein, forms a dimer with CLOCK,...
BACKGROUND
The disruption of the circadian clock is associated with inflammatory and immunological disorders. BMAL2, a critical circadian protein, forms a dimer with CLOCK, activating transcription. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP), released during sepsis, can induce macrophage endotoxin tolerance. We hypothesized that eCIRP induces BMAL2 expression and promotes macrophage endotoxin tolerance through triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1).
METHODS
C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) male mice were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Serum levels of eCIRP 20 h post-CLP were assessed by ELISA. Peritoneal macrophages (PerM) were treated with recombinant mouse (rm) CIRP (eCIRP) at various doses for 24 h. The cells were then stimulated with LPS for 5 h. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatants were assessed by ELISA. PerM were treated with eCIRP for 24 h, and the expression of PD-L1, IL-10, STAT3, TREM-1 and circadian genes such as BMAL2, CRY1, and PER2 was assessed by qPCR. Effect of TREM-1 on eCIRP-induced PerM endotoxin tolerance and PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3 expression was determined by qPCR using PerM from TREM-1 mice. Circadian gene expression profiles in eCIRP-treated macrophages were determined by PCR array and confirmed by qPCR. Induction of BMAL2 activation in bone marrow-derived macrophages was performed by transfection of BMAL2 CRISPR activation plasmid. The interaction of BMAL2 in the PD-L1 promoter was determined by computational modeling and confirmed by the BIAcore assay.
RESULTS
Serum levels of eCIRP were increased in septic mice compared to sham mice. Macrophages pre-treated with eCIRP exhibited reduced TNFα and IL-6 release upon LPS challenge, indicating macrophage endotoxin tolerance. Additionally, eCIRP increased the expression of PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3, markers of immune tolerance. Interestingly, TREM-1 deficiency reversed eCIRP-induced macrophage endotoxin tolerance and significantly decreased PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3 expression. PCR array screening of circadian clock genes in peritoneal macrophages treated with eCIRP revealed the elevated expression of BMAL2, CRY1, and PER2. In eCIRP-treated macrophages, TREM-1 deficiency prevented the upregulation of these circadian genes. In macrophages, inducible BMAL2 expression correlated with increased PD-L1 expression. In septic human patients, blood monocytes exhibited increased expression of BMAL2 and PD-L1 in comparison to healthy subjects. Computational modeling and BIAcore assay identified a putative binding region of BMAL2 in the PD-L1 promoter, suggesting BMAL2 positively regulates PD-L1 expression in macrophages.
CONCLUSION
eCIRP upregulates BMAL2 expression via TREM-1, leading to macrophage endotoxin tolerance in sepsis. Targeting eCIRP to maintain circadian rhythm may correct endotoxin tolerance and enhance host resistance to bacterial infection.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Sepsis; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; RNA-Binding Proteins; Endotoxins; Immune Tolerance; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1; Mice, Knockout; Macrophages; ARNTL Transcription Factors; Lipopolysaccharides; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38938563
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1426682 -
MedComm Jul 2024Targeting the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway has been identified as a successful approach for tumor immunotherapy. Here, we...
Targeting the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway has been identified as a successful approach for tumor immunotherapy. Here, we identified that the small molecule 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (TF) from Wall reduces PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer cells and enhances the killing of tumor cells by T cells. Mechanistically, TF targets and stabilizes the ubiquitin ligase HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1), thereby increasing the ubiquitination of PD-L1 and promoting its degradation through the proteasome pathway. In mouse MC38 xenograft tumors, TF can activate tumor-infiltrating T-cell immunity and reduce the immunosuppressive infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, thus exerting antitumor effects. Moreover, TF synergistically exerts antitumor immunity with CTLA-4 antibody. This study provides new insights into the antitumor mechanism of TF and suggests that it may be a promising small molecule immune checkpoint modulator for cancer therapy.
PubMed: 38938284
DOI: 10.1002/mco2.611 -
Nature Cancer Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents
PubMed: 38937651
DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00779-0 -
International Journal of Obesity (2005) Jun 2024Intrauterine metabolic reprogramming occurs in mothers with obesity during gestation, putting the offspring at high risk of developing obesity and associated metabolic...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Intrauterine metabolic reprogramming occurs in mothers with obesity during gestation, putting the offspring at high risk of developing obesity and associated metabolic disorders even before birth. We have generated a mouse model of maternal high-fat diet-induced obesity that recapitulates the metabolic changes seen in humans born to women with obesity.
METHODS
Here, we profiled and compared the metabolic characteristics of bone marrow cells of newly weaned 3-week-old offspring of dams fed either a high-fat (Off-HFD) or a regular diet (Off-RD). We utilized a state-of-the-art flow cytometry, and targeted metabolomics approach coupled with a Seahorse metabolic analyzer.
RESULTS
We revealed significant metabolic perturbation in the offspring of HFD-fed vs. RD-fed dams, including utilization of glucose primarily via oxidative phosphorylation. We also show a reduction in levels of amino acids, a phenomenon previously linked to bone marrow aging. Using flow cytometry, we found changes in the immune complexity of bone marrow cells and identified a unique B cell population expressing CD19 and CD11b in the bone marrow of three-week-old offspring of high-fat diet-fed mothers. Our data also revealed increased expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) on myeloid CD11b, and on CD11b B cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Altogether, we demonstrate that the offspring of mothers with obesity show metabolic and immune changes in the bone marrow at a very young age and prior to any symptomatic metabolic disease.
PubMed: 38937647
DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01563-x -
Leukemia Jun 2024Germline heterozygous mutations in DDX41 predispose individuals to hematologic malignancies in adulthood. Most of these DDX41 mutations result in a truncated protein,...
Germline heterozygous mutations in DDX41 predispose individuals to hematologic malignancies in adulthood. Most of these DDX41 mutations result in a truncated protein, leading to loss of protein function. To investigate the impact of these mutations on hematopoiesis, we generated mice with hematopoietic-specific knockout of one Ddx41 allele. Under normal steady-state conditions, there was minimal effect on lifelong hematopoiesis, resulting in a mild yet persistent reduction in red blood cell counts. However, stress induced by transplantation of the Ddx41 BM resulted in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) defects and onset of hematopoietic failure upon aging. Transcriptomic analysis of HSPC subsets from the transplanted BM revealed activation of cellular stress responses, including upregulation of p53 target genes in erythroid progenitors. To understand how the loss of p53 affects the phenotype of Ddx41 HSPCs, we generated mice with combined Ddx41 and Trp53 heterozygous deletions. The reduction in p53 expression rescued the fitness defects in HSPC caused by Ddx41 heterozygosity. However, the combined Ddx41 and Trp53 mutant mice were prone to developing hematologic malignancies that resemble human myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. In conclusion, DDX41 heterozygosity causes dysregulation of the response to hematopoietic stress, which increases the risk of transformation with a p53 mutation.
PubMed: 38937548
DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02304-9 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024There is no treatment for acute aortic dissection (AAD) targeting inflammatory cells. We aimed to identify the new therapeutic targets associated with inflammatory...
There is no treatment for acute aortic dissection (AAD) targeting inflammatory cells. We aimed to identify the new therapeutic targets associated with inflammatory cells. We characterized the specific distribution of myeloid cells of both human type A AAD samples and a murine AAD model generated using angiotensin II (ANGII) and β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We also examined the effect of an anti-interleukin-1β (IL-1β) antibody in the murine AAD model. IL1B inflammatory macrophages and classical monocytes were increased in human AAD samples. Trajectory analysis demonstrated that IL1B inflammatory macrophages differentiated from S100A8/9/12 classical monocytes uniquely observed in the aorta of AAD. We found increased infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes with the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the aorta and accumulation of inflammatory macrophages before the onset of macroscopic AAD in the murine AAD model. In blocking experiments using an anti-IL-1β antibody, it improved survival of murine AAD model by preventing elastin degradation. We observed the accumulation of inflammatory macrophages expressing IL-1β in both human AAD samples and in a murine AAD model. Anti-IL-1β antibody could improve the mortality rate in mice, suggesting that it may be a treatment option for AAD.
Topics: Aortic Dissection; Interleukin-1beta; Animals; Humans; Macrophages; Mice; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Aminopropionitrile; Angiotensin II; Inflammation; Monocytes; Aorta; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Female
PubMed: 38937528
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65931-3 -
International Ophthalmology Jun 2024Age-related cataract (ARC) is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in older adults. However, the role of CUL4B in the ARC remains unclear. Therefore,...
PURPOSE
Age-related cataract (ARC) is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in older adults. However, the role of CUL4B in the ARC remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated CUL4B expression and its effects on apoptosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CUL4B expression levels were detected by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction from the anterior lens capsules of patients with ARC and HLE-B3 cells treated with different concentrations of HO. CUL4B expression was silenced by siRNA transfection to evaluate apoptosis. CUL4B and apoptotic proteins B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Bak, and Bid were assessed using western blot analysis. Apoptosis was monitored using the TUNEL assay.
RESULTS
CUL4B expression was downregulated in the anterior lens capsules (P < 0.0001) and HO-treated HLE-B3 cells (P = 0.0405). CUL4B protein levels were significantly lower in 100 µmol/L (P = 0.0012) and 200 µmol/L (P = 0.0041) HO-treated HLE-B3 cells than in the untreated cells. CUL4B expression was significantly knocked down at the mRNA (P = 0.0043) and protein levels (P = 0.0002) in HLE-B3 cells. Bcl-2 (P = 0.0199), Mcl-1 (P = 0.0042), and caspase-3 (P = 0.0142) were significantly downregulated, whereas cleaved caspase-3 (P = 0.0089) and Bak (P = 0.009) were significantly upregulated in the knockdown group. The TUNEL assay showed a greater induction of apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS
CUL4B downregulation promotes the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells. Our study may help in understanding the role of CUL4B in ARC pathogenesis.
Topics: Humans; Cataract; Cullin Proteins; Apoptosis; Male; Female; Aged; Blotting, Western; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Middle Aged; Aging; Gene Expression Regulation; Lens Capsule, Crystalline; In Situ Nick-End Labeling
PubMed: 38937308
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-024-03011-1 -
Discover Oncology Jun 2024Acute myeloid leukemia, constituting a majority of leukemias, grapples with a 24% 5-year survival rate. Recent strides in research have unveiled fresh targets for drug...
BACKGROUND
Acute myeloid leukemia, constituting a majority of leukemias, grapples with a 24% 5-year survival rate. Recent strides in research have unveiled fresh targets for drug therapies. LIM-only, a pivotal transcription factor within LIM proteins, oversees cell development and is implicated in tumor formation. Among these critical LIM proteins, CSRP1, a Cysteine-rich protein, emerges as a significant player in various diseases. Despite its recognition as a potential prognostic factor and therapeutic target in various cancers, the specific link between CSRP1 and acute myeloid leukemia remains unexplored. Our previous work, identifying CSRP1 in a prognostic model for AML patients, instigates a dedicated exploration into the nuanced role of CSRP1 in acute myeloid leukemia.
METHODS
R tool was conducted to analyze the public data. qPCR was applied to evaluate the expression of CSRP1 mRNA for clinical samples and cell line. Unpaired t test, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, KM curves, spearman correlation test and Pearson correlation test were included in this study.
RESULTS
CSRP1 displays notable expression variations between normal and tumor samples in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It stands out as an independent prognostic factor for AML patients, showing correlations with clinical factors like age and cytogenetics risk. Additionally, CSRP1 correlates with immune-related pathways, immune cells, and immune checkpoints in AML. Furthermore, the alteration of CSRP1 mRNA levels is observed upon treatment with a DNMT1 inhibitor for THP1 cells.
CONCLUSION
The CSRP1 has potential as a novel prognostic factor and appears to influence the immune response in acute myeloid leukemia. Additionally, there is an observed association between CSRP1 and DNA methylation in acute myeloid leukemia.
PubMed: 38937285
DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01088-9 -
Journal of Medical Genetics Jun 2024Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS; OMIM 615879), also known as DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha ()-overgrowth syndrome (DOS), was first described by Tatton-Brown in 2014....
BACKGROUND
Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS; OMIM 615879), also known as DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha ()-overgrowth syndrome (DOS), was first described by Tatton-Brown in 2014. This syndrome is characterised by overgrowth, intellectual disability and distinctive facial features and is the consequence of germline loss-of-function variants in , which encodes a DNA methyltransferase involved in epigenetic regulation. Somatic variants of are frequently observed in haematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). To date, 100 individuals with TBRS with de novo germline variants have been described. We aimed to further characterise this disorder clinically and at the molecular level in a nationwide series of 24 French patients and to investigate the correlation between the severity of intellectual disability and the type of variant.
METHODS
We collected genetic and medical information from 24 individuals with TBRS using a questionnaire released through the French National AnDDI-Rares Network.
RESULTS
Here, we describe the first nationwide French cohort of 24 individuals with germline likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants in , including 17 novel variants. We confirmed that the main phenotypic features were intellectual disability (100% of individuals), distinctive facial features (96%) and overgrowth (87%). We highlighted novel clinical features, such as hypertrichosis, and further described the neurological features and EEG results.
CONCLUSION
This study of a nationwide cohort of individuals with TBRS confirms previously published data and provides additional information and clarifies clinical features to facilitate diagnosis and improve care. This study adds value to the growing body of knowledge on TBRS and broadens its clinical and molecular spectrum.
PubMed: 38937076
DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2024-110031