Project description:Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are currently used as anticancer drugs; however, no clinical trials proved efficacy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Ivaltinostat, a novel intravenous HDACi, presented cell growth inhibition and improved chemo-sensitivity in PDAC. This phase I/II study demonstrated ivaltinostat with gemcitabine and erlotinib can be administered safely to improve survivals in patients with untreated advanced PDAC. In addition, we proposed potential blood markers to predict response to ivaltinostat treatment based on correlative studies.
Project description:Akt is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that regulates cell growth, metabolism and is considered a therapeutic target for cancer. Regulation of Akt by membrane recruitment and post-translational modifications (PTMs) has been extensively studied. The most well-established mechanism for cellular Akt activation involves phosphorylation on its activation loop on Thr308 by PDK1 and on its C-terminal tail on Ser473 by mTORC2. Other C-terminal tail PTMs have been identified, but their functional impacts have not been well-characterized. We use expressed protein ligation (EPL) as a tool to produce semisynthetic Akt proteins to dissect the enzymatic functions of these PTMs. We performed kinase assays employing human protein microarrays to investigate global substrate specificity of Akt, comparing phosphorylated vs. O-GlcNAcylated Ser473 forms.
Project description:Maternal plasma samples collected longitudinally from pregnant women were profiled using SomaLogic aptamer-based assays in women with normal pregnancy and those who delivered preterm. DiagnosisGA is the gestational age at diagnosis with any disease indicated by the Group variable, and it is set to NA for normal pregnancies. In the Group variable, sPTD stands for spontaneous preterm delivery, and PPROM for preterm premature rupture of membranes. Additional longitudinal samples of the controls, including the two samples included herein, are also available and described in PMID: 28738067.
Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) primarily reside in the bone marrow, where they receive external cues from their local microenvironment. The complex milieu of biophysical cues, cellular components, and cell-secreted factors regulates the process by which HSC produce the blood and immune system. We previously showed direct co-culture of primary murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with a population of marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal and progenitor cells (MSPCs) in a methacrylamide-functionalized gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel improves hematopoietic progenitor maintenance. However, the mechanism by which MSPCs influenced HSC fate decisions remained unknown. Herein, we report the use of proteomic analysis to correlate HSC phenotype to a broad candidate pool of 200 soluble factors produced by combined mesenchymal and hematopoietic progeny. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), along with an iterative filter method, identified TGFβ-1, MMP-3, c-RP, and TROY as positively correlated with HSC maintenance. Experimentally, we then observe exogenous stimulation of HSC monocultures in GelMA hydrogels with these combined cytokines increases the ratio of hematopoietic progenitors to committed progeny after a 7-day culture 7.52 ± 3.65 fold compared to non-stimulated monocultures. Findings suggest a cocktail of the downselected cytokines amplify hematopoietic maintenance potential of HSCs beyond that of MSPC-secreted factors alone. This work integrates empirical and computation methods to identify cytokine combinations to improve HSC maintenance within an engineered HSC niche, suggesting a route towards identifying feeder-free culture platforms for HSC expansion.
Project description:8 controls and 26 RA samples were profiled using NimbleTherapeutics high density peptide array. Array consists of >4.6M peptides, includes citrullination and homocitrullination against the entire human proteome represented as overlapping 16mer peptides.
Project description:Saliva based diagnostics is a rapidly evolving field due to the large potential of saliva and the simple sample collection. A systematic comparison of IgG antibody profiles in saliva and plasma is currently lacking in scientific literature. Our hypothesis is that IgG profiles are equal in blood and saliva. By showing the equality of the profiles and relative IgG antigenic reactivities towards proteins and peptides we provide evidence that plasma IgG reactivities can be inferred from saliva IgG reactivities. IgG antibodies were isolated from human saliva and plasma samples. The reactivities of IgG isolates were analysed on peptide microarrays displaying linear epitopes of EBV (EBNA1 protein) and HBV (Large envelope protein) virus. Peptide arrays were printed by JPT Peptide Technologies (Berlin, Germany). We show high similarity of saliva and plasma IgG profiles on these two platforms and argue for generalisation from this subset to the whole immunological IgG antibody profile.
Project description:Saliva based diagnostics is a rapidly evolving field due to the large potential of saliva and the simple sample collection. A systematic comparison of IgG antibody profiles in saliva and plasma is currently lacking in scientific literature. Our hypothesis is that IgG profiles are equal in blood and saliva. By showing the equality of the profiles and relative IgG antigenic reactivities towards proteins and peptides we provide evidence that plasma IgG reactivities can be inferred from saliva IgG reactivities. IgG antibodies were isolated from human saliva and plasma samples. The reactivities of IgG isolates were analysed on peptide microarrays displaying linear epitopes of EBV (EBNA1 protein) and HBV (Large envelope protein) virus. Peptide arrays were printed by JPT Peptide Technologies (Berlin, Germany). We show high similarity of saliva and plasma IgG profiles on these two platforms and argue for generalisation from this subset to the whole immunological IgG antibody profile.
Project description:Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, with poor prognosis. ANGM5 has been established from a cerebral glioblastoma multiforme in a 72-years-old Iraqi man who underwent surgery for an intracranial tumor in 2005. The morphology, growth kinetics, karyotype, immunocytochemistry and angiogenesis factors expression profile were studied. ANGM5 has been grown continuously for more than 200 serial passages in culture for the last 13 years. The cultured cells are elongated or multipolar in shape and the population doubling time is 28 hours. The karyotype is complex, and the chromosomal number varied between 39-114. ANGM5 is resistant to Temozolomide, cisplatin, vincristine and etoposide. This chemoresistance could be explained by the overexpression of the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and MGMT. Immunocytochemistry analysis of glial markers demonstrated that cells are positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and negative for nestin and calbindin. Protein microarray analysis showed high production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) as well as other factors that are important for the invasiveness and aggressiveness of glioblastoma. ANGM5 is a useful addition to the cell lines currently available for study of the pathobiology and chemoresistance properties of glioblastoma multiforme and antitumor drug discovery. Angiogenesis signaling is being evaluated in new human Iraqi glioblastoma multiforme cell line. Here, we measured angiogenesis factors released by cancer cells in vitro. We find that glioblastoma up-regulates many proteins and metabolites during the logarithmic phase, suggesting initiation of their endo-vesiculo-membrane system. Importantly, GM-CSF and G-CSF as they increase angiogenesis through promoting endothelial cell function. Also, b-FGF which promote tumor growth and proliferation. Moreover, it showed up-regulation to inflammatory, and extracellular matrix proteins. These factors will help proliferating glioblastoma cells to overcome stress conditions, such as cytotoxic chemotherapy, serum deprivation, hypoxia in vitro and in vivo. These findings support other evidence of chemoresistance ability of this cell line named AMGN5 as it found to resist several types of conventional chemotherapies.
Project description:Using a large collection of diverse viral immunomodulatory proteins, and comprehensive human protein microarray libraries, we identify more than 51 virus-host interactions that suggest new immunoregulatory strategies. Full description of this study will be detailed in Martinez-Martin et al., Nat Communications, under review (this information will be updated when manuscript is accepted).
Project description:Overall, this work describes the largest cohort of patients with RAG mutations and an associated phenotype consisting of combined immunodeficiency and granulomatous lesions and/or autoimmunity (CID-G/AI). By using multiple methods (microarray, ELISA and multiplex bead technology), we have consistently identified a distinctive signature of anti-cytokine antibodies in patients with RAG-dependent immunodeficiencies, especially in those with CID-G/AI and a history of severe viral infections. These autoantibodies were not detected in a large panel of patients with other forms of primary immunodeficiency, and may therefore represent a novel biomarker panel of this condition.