Project description:To identify the dynamic changes of cytokines in the ApoE-/- mice atherosclerotic plaque, heart, and serum upon β-adrenergic stimulation (isoproterenol, 5 mg/kg body weight) at 0.5hrs, 1hrs, 3hrs and 24hrs using mouse cytokine antibody arrays.
Project description:Individualized antibody reacitivty levels for SARS-CoV-2 antigens were successfully quantified and reactivity classification (Reactive non reactive) was performed based on a logistic regression model. Individuals were tested at several time points including their reactivity before the mRNA vaccination (Pfizer and Moderna), soon after first and second doses and up to 6 months after immunization
Project description:Protein microarray was used to identify proteins with elevated interactions with serum autoantibodies in a responding patient with rhabdomyosarcoma before and after multiple doses of HER2 CAR T cell therapy. Elevated signals were observed for multiple proteins interacting with serum autoantibodies following multiple doses of HER2-CAR T cell treatment when compared to pre-treatment serum.
Project description:Approximately 10% to 20% of patients optimally treated for early Lyme disease develop persistent symptoms of unknown pathophysiology termed posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). The objective of this study was to investigate associations between PTLDS and immune mediator levels during acute illness and at several time points following treatment. Seventy-six participants with physician-documented erythema migrans and 26 healthy controls with no history of Lyme disease were enrolled. Sixty-four cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory markers were measured at each visit for a total of 6 visits over 1 year. An operationalized definition of PTLDS incorporating symptoms and functional impact was applied at 6 months and 1 year following treatment completion, and clinical outcome groups were defined as the return-to-health, symptoms-only, and PTLDS groups. Significance analysis of microarrays identified 7 of the 64 immune mediators to be differentially regulated by group. Generalized logit regressions controlling for potential confounders identified posttreatment levels of the T-cell chemokine CCL19 to be independently associated with clinical outcome group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a CCL19 cutoff of >111.67 pg/ml at 1 month following treatment completion to be 82% sensitive and 83% specific for later PTLDS. We speculate that persistently elevated CCL19 levels among participants with PTLDS may reflect ongoing, immune-driven reactions at sites distal to secondary lymphoid tissue. Our findings suggest the relevance of CCL19 both during acute infection and as an immunologic risk factor for PTLDS during the posttreatment phase. Identification of a potential biomarker predictor for PTLDS provides the opportunity to better understand its pathophysiology and to develop early interventions in the context of appropriate and specific clinical information.
Project description:Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease with multifactorial ethiopathogenesis. The complement system is involved in both the early and late stages of disease development and organ damage. To better understand autoantibody mediated complement consumption the GAPAID consortium examined ex vivo immune complex formation on autoantigen arrays. We recruited patients with SLE (n=211), with other systemic autoimmune diseases (n=65) and non-autoimmune control subjects (n=149) in two rheumatology tertiary care centers. Standard clinical and laboratory data were collected from all subjects and serum complement levels were determined in SLE patients. The genotype of SNP rs1143679 in the ITGAM gene was also determined. On-chip formation of immune complexes was examined using a functional immunoassay on autoantigen microarray. The amount of antigen-bound IgM, IgG and complement C4 and C3 was quantified on autoantigens comprising nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. Our results show that the relatively high complement consumption of nucleic acids is further increased upon binding of IgM and IgG. This is true even when serum complement levels are decreased due to complement consumption in SLE patients. A negative correlation between serum complement levels and ex vivo complement deposition on nucleic acid autoantigens is demonstrated. On the contrary, most protein and lipid autoantigens show positive correlation with C4 and C3 levels. Genetic analysis reveals that the non-synonymous variant rs1143679 in complement receptor type 3 is associated with an increased production of anti-dsDNA IgG antibodies. Notwithstanding, homozygous carriers of the previously reported susceptible allele (AA) have lower levels of dsDNA specific IgM among SLE patients. Regarding organ involvement we find that besides anti-C1q IgG, low levels of dsDNA specific IgM and low complement C4 binding to C1q are also associated with renal injury. In summary, nucleic acids maintain a skewed complement deposition balance when bound by IgG and IgM, depleting the early classical complement pathway from other physiological processes. Dysfunction of the receptor responsible for complement-mediated apoptotic debris removal promotes the development of autoantibodies targeting nucleic acids. These observations provide serological and genetic evidence for complement-mediated clearance deficiency of apoptotic debris in lupus.
Project description:Small-molecule inhibitors of AKT signaling are being in evaluated in patients with various cancer types, but have so far proven therapeutically disappointing for reasons that remain unclear. Here, we treat cancer cells with sub-therapeutic doses of Akti-1/2, an allosteric small molecule AKT inhibitor, in order to experimentally model pharmacologic inhibition of AKT signaling in vitro. We then apply a combined RNA, protein, and metabolite profiling approach to develop an integrated, multi-scale, molecular snapshot of this “AKTlow” cancer cell state. We find that AKT-inhibited cancer cells suppress thousands of mRNA transcripts, and proteins related to the cell cycle, ribosome, and protein translation. Surprisingly, however, these AKT-inhibited cells simultaneously up-regulate a host of other proteins and metabolites post-transcriptionally, reflecting activation of their endo-vesiculo-membrane system, secretion of inflammatory proteins, and elaboration of extracellular microvesicles. Importantly, these microvesicles enable rapidly proliferating cancer cells of various types to better withstand different stress conditions, including serum deprivation, hypoxia, or cytotoxic chemotherapy in vitro and xenografting in vivo. These findings suggest a model whereby cancer cells experiencing a partial inhibition of AKT signaling may actually promote the survival of neighbors through non-cell autonomous communication.
Project description:Purpose: There is evidence that therapeutic cancer vaccines can lengthen survival for some cancer patients, but responses vary widely from one person to another. Methods to predict clinical outcomes will advance the field and provide new insights into critical determinants of in vivo efficacy. This study uses a high-throughput glycan microarray to assess correlations between a subject's overall survival after receiving PROSTVAC-VF and his anti-glycan humoral responses occuring in the first months after treatment with PROSTVAC-VF. Results: Humoral responses to the terminal Forssman disaccharide (Fsdi) were found to have a statistically significant correlation with survival. Long-term survival was approximately doubled in subjects with four-fold or larger anti-Fsdi responses relative to subjects with little or no anti-Fsdi response. This survival correlation was specific to vaccine treatment, as no correlation was observed in control patients immunized with wild-type poxviruses lacking the key tumor antigen, prostate specific antigen (PSA). Moreover, anti-Fsdi humoral responses were not correlated with general measures of disease severity, such as PSA levels, Gleason score, or Halabi predicted survival. Conclusion: In addition to reporting a new biomarker for monitoring benefical responses to PROSTVAC-VF, this study highlights the potential of glycan microarray technology for personalized medicine.