1
|
Gadiyar V, Patel G, Chen J, Vigil D, Ji N, Campbell V, Sharma K, Shi Y, Weiss MM, Birge RB, Davra V. Targeted degradation of MERTK and other TAM receptor paralogs by heterobifunctional targeted protein degraders. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1135373. [PMID: 37545504 PMCID: PMC10397400 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TAM receptors (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) comprise a family of homologous receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) that are expressed across a range of liquid and solid tumors where they contribute to both oncogenic signaling to promote tumor proliferation and survival, as well as expressed on myeloid and immune cells where they function to suppress host anti-tumor immunity. In recent years, several strategies have been employed to inhibit TAM kinases, most notably small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and inhibitory neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block receptor dimerization. Targeted protein degraders (TPD) use the ubiquitin proteasome pathway to redirect E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and target specific proteins for degradation. Here we employ first-in-class TPDs specific for MERTK/TAMs that consist of a cereblon E3 ligase binder linked to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting MERTK and/or AXL and TYRO3. A series of MERTK TPDs were designed and investigated for their capacity to selectively degrade MERTK chimeric receptors, reduce surface expression on primary efferocytic bone marrow-derived macrophages, and impact on functional reduction in efferocytosis (clearance of apoptotic cells). We demonstrate proof-of-concept and establish that TPDs can be tailored to either selectivity degrades MERTK or concurrently degrade multiple TAMs and modulate receptor expression in vitro and in vivo. This work demonstrates the utility of proteome editing, enabled by tool degraders developed here towards dissecting the therapeutically relevant pathway biology in preclinical models, and the ability for TPDs to degrade transmembrane proteins. These data also provide proof of concept that TPDs may serve as a viable therapeutic strategy for targeting MERTK and other TAMs and that this technology could be expanded to other therapeutically relevant transmembrane proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Gadiyar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Gopi Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Jesse Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Dominico Vigil
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Nan Ji
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Veronica Campbell
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Kirti Sharma
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Yatao Shi
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Matthew M. Weiss
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Raymond B. Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Watanabe S, Inoue M, Suzuki T, Kondo Y, Murayama M. Polyphyllin D induces necroptosis in neuroblastoma cells (IMR-32 and LA-N-2) in mice. Pediatr Surg Int 2023; 39:196. [PMID: 37160784 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-023-05425-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported that polyphyllin D, the main component of the traditional herbal medicinal Paris polyphylla, exhibited anticancer effects in vitro against human neuroblastoma cells. The aim of this investigation was to examine in vivo antitumor effects of polyphyllin D. METHODS Subcutaneous tumors were established in immune-deficient BALB/c nude mice using human neuroblastoma cell lines IMR-32 and LA-N-2. To evaluate the polyphyllin D activity, we used a mouse model of IMR-32 or LA-N-2 cell lines and analyzed subcutaneous tumors. RESULTS Subcutaneous tumor models were successfully established in mice using two human neuroblastoma cell lines. In the subcutaneous tumor model, porphyrin D was found to suppress tumor volume. We found that polyphyllin D suppressed the number of foci by Ki-67 staining (IMR-32 and LA-N-2; p < 0.01, 0.02, respectively). We found that polyphyllin D induces the RIPK3 expression, while polyphyllin D phosphorylates Ser358 in IMR-32 and Ser358 and Tyr376 in LA-N-2. CONCLUSION We developed a mouse model of subcutaneous tumors of neuroblastoma and demonstrated for the first time that polyphyllin D has an antitumor effect on neuroblastoma. Polyphyllin D can cause necroptosis depending on the cell type. The new drug can be expected by investigating a method to selectively induce cell death through the analysis of necroptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Watanabe
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, 470-1192, Japan.
| | - Mikihiro Inoue
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Suzuki
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kondo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Mika Murayama
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, 470-1192, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vu AT, Akingunsade L, Hoffer K, Petersen C, Betz CS, Rothkamm K, Rieckmann T, Bussmann L, Kriegs M. Src family kinase targeting in head and neck tumor cells using SU6656, PP2 and dasatinib. Head Neck 2023; 45:147-155. [PMID: 36285353 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have recently shown a frequent upregulation of Src-family kinases (SFK) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here we tested, if SFK targeting is effective especially in HNSCC cells with upregulated SFK signaling. METHODS The impact of SFK inhibitors SU6656, PP2 and dasatinib on three HNSCC cell lines with different SFK activity levels was analyzed using proliferation and colony formation assays, Western blot and functional kinomics. RESULTS Proliferation was blocked by all inhibitors in a micro-molar range. With respect to cell kill, dasatinib was most effective, while SU6656 showed moderate and PP2 minor effects. Cellular signaling was affected differently, with PP2 having no effect on SFK signaling while dasatinib probably has non-SFK specific effects. Only SU6656 showed clear SFK specific effects on signaling. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate potential benefit of SFK inhibition in HNSCC but they also highlight challenges due to non-specificities of the different drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anh Thu Vu
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lara Akingunsade
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Hoffer
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cordula Petersen
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Stephan Betz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Rothkamm
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lara Bussmann
- UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Kriegs
- Department of Radiobiology & Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum - University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kim HD, Park EJ, Choi EK, Song SY, Hoe KL, Kim DU. G-749 Promotes Receptor Tyrosine Kinase TYRO3 Degradation and Induces Apoptosis in Both Colon Cancer Cell Lines and Xenograft Mouse Models. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:730241. [PMID: 34721022 PMCID: PMC8551583 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.730241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
G-749 is an FLT3 kinase inhibitor that was originally developed as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Some FLT3 kinase inhibitors are dual kinase inhibitors that inhibit the TAM (Tyro3, Axl, Mer) receptor tyrosine kinase family and are used to treat solid cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). AXL promotes metastasis, suppression of immune response, and drug resistance in NSCLC and TNBC. G-749, a potential TAM receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and its derivative SKI-G-801, effectively inhibits the phosphorylation of AXL at nanomolar concentration (IC50 = 20 nM). This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of G-749 targeting the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase in colon cancer. Here, we demonstrate the potential of G-749 to effectively inhibit tumorigenesis by degrading TYRO3 via regulated intramembrane proteolysis both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated that G-749 inhibits the signaling pathway associated with cell proliferation in colon cancer cell lines HCT15 and SW620, as well as tumor xenograft mouse models. We propose G-749 as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer caused by abnormal TYRO3 expression or activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hae Dong Kim
- Rare Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
- Department of New Drug Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eun Jung Park
- Rare Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
- Application Strategy and Development Division, GeneChem Inc., Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eun Kyoung Choi
- Rare Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seuk Young Song
- Rare Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Kwang-Lae Hoe
- Department of New Drug Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Dong-Uk Kim
- Rare Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Geng K. Post-translational modifications of the ligands: Requirement for TAM receptor activation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 357:35-55. [PMID: 33234244 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK (TAM) receptors are three homologous Type I Receptor Tyrosine Kinases that have important homeostatic functions in multicellular organisms by regulating the clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis). Pathologically, TAM receptors are overexpressed in a wide array of human cancers, and often associated with aggressive tumor grade and poor overall survival. In addition to their expression on tumor cells, TAMs are also expressed on infiltrating myeloid-derived cells in the tumor microenvironment, where they appear to act akin to negative immune checkpoints that impair host anti-tumor immunity. The ligands for TAMs are two endogenous proteins, Growth Arrest-Specific 6 (Gas6) and Protein S (Pros1), that function as bridging molecules between externalized phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on apoptotic cells and the TAM ectodomains. One interesting feature of TAMs biology is that their ligand proteins require specific post-translational modifications to acquire activities. This chapter summarized these important modifications and explained the molecular mechanisms behind such phenomenon. Current evidences suggest that these modifications help Gas6/Pros1 to achieve optimal PtdSer-binding capacities. In addition, this chapter included recent discovery of regulating machineries of PtdSer dynamic across the plasma membrane, as well as their potential impacts in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, this review highlights the importance of the upstream PtdSer and Gas6 in regulating TAMs' function and hope to provide researchers with new perspectives to inspire future studies of TAM receptors in human disease models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Geng
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zdżalik-Bielecka D, Poświata A, Kozik K, Jastrzębski K, Schink KO, Brewińska-Olchowik M, Piwocka K, Stenmark H, Miączyńska M. The GAS6-AXL signaling pathway triggers actin remodeling that drives membrane ruffling, macropinocytosis, and cancer-cell invasion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2024596118. [PMID: 34244439 PMCID: PMC8285903 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024596118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL, a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) receptor tyrosine kinase family, and its ligand, GAS6, are implicated in oncogenesis and metastasis of many cancer types. However, the exact cellular processes activated by GAS6-AXL remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified an interactome of AXL and revealed its associations with proteins regulating actin dynamics. Consistently, GAS6-mediated AXL activation triggered actin remodeling manifested by peripheral membrane ruffling and circular dorsal ruffles (CDRs). This further promoted macropinocytosis that mediated the internalization of GAS6-AXL complexes and sustained survival of glioblastoma cells grown under glutamine-deprived conditions. GAS6-induced CDRs contributed to focal adhesion turnover, cell spreading, and elongation. Consequently, AXL activation by GAS6 drove invasion of cancer cells in a spheroid model. All these processes required the kinase activity of AXL, but not TYRO3, and downstream activation of PI3K and RAC1. We propose that GAS6-AXL signaling induces multiple actin-driven cytoskeletal rearrangements that contribute to cancer-cell invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Zdżalik-Bielecka
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Agata Poświata
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Kozik
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Jastrzębski
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kay Oliver Schink
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Katarzyna Piwocka
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Harald Stenmark
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Marta Miączyńska
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McElrath C, Espinosa V, Lin JD, Peng J, Sridhar R, Dutta O, Tseng HC, Smirnov SV, Risman H, Sandoval MJ, Davra V, Chang YJ, Pollack BP, Birge RB, Galan M, Rivera A, Durbin JE, Kotenko SV. Critical role of interferons in gastrointestinal injury repair. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2624. [PMID: 33976143 PMCID: PMC8113246 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22928-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology of ulcerative colitis is poorly understood and is likely to involve perturbation of the complex interactions between the mucosal immune system and the commensal bacteria of the gut, with cytokines acting as important cross-regulators. Here we use IFN receptor-deficient mice in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of acute intestinal injury to study the contributions of type I and III interferons (IFN) to the initiation, progression and resolution of acute colitis. We find that mice lacking both types of IFN receptors exhibit enhanced barrier destruction, extensive loss of goblet cells and diminished proliferation of epithelial cells in the colon following DSS-induced damage. Impaired mucosal healing in double IFN receptor-deficient mice is driven by decreased amphiregulin expression, which IFN signaling can up-regulate in either the epithelial or hematopoietic compartment. Together, these data underscore the pleiotropic functions of IFNs and demonstrate that these critical antiviral cytokines also support epithelial regeneration following acute colonic injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constance McElrath
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Vanessa Espinosa
- Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jian-Da Lin
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jianya Peng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Raghavendra Sridhar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Orchi Dutta
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Hsiang-Chi Tseng
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Sergey V Smirnov
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Heidi Risman
- Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Marvin J Sandoval
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Yun-Juan Chang
- Office of Advance Research Computing, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Brian P Pollack
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Cell Signaling, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Mark Galan
- Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Joan E Durbin
- Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
- Center for Cell Signaling, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhou L, Matsushima GK. Tyro3, Axl, Mertk receptor-mediated efferocytosis and immune regulation in the tumor environment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 361:165-210. [PMID: 34074493 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Three structurally related tyrosine receptor cell surface kinases, Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) have been recognized to modulate immune function, tissue homeostasis, cardiovasculature, and cancer. The TAM receptor family appears to operate in adult mammals across multiple cell types, suggesting both widespread and specific regulation of cell functions and immune niches. TAM family members regulate tissue homeostasis by monitoring the presence of phosphatidylserine expressed on stressed or apoptotic cells. The detection of phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells requires intermediary molecules that opsonize the dying cells and tether them to TAM receptors on phagocytes. This complex promotes the engulfment of apoptotic cells, also known as efferocytosis, that leads to the resolution of inflammation and tissue healing. The immune mechanisms dictating these processes appear to fall upon specific family members or may involve a complex of different receptors acting cooperatively to resolve and repair damaged tissues. Here, we focus on the role of TAM receptors in triggering efferocytosis and its consequences in the regulation of immune responses in the context of inflammation and cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Zhou
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Glenn K Matsushima
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Integrative Program for Biological & Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina-CH, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gadiyar V, Patel G, Davra V. Immunological role of TAM receptors in the cancer microenvironment. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 357:57-79. [PMID: 33234245 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
TAM receptors belong to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases, comprising of Tyro3, Axl and Mertk receptors (TAMs) and are important homeostatic regulators of inflammation in higher eukaryotes. Along with their ligands, Gas6 and ProteinS, TAMs acts as receptors to phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), an anionic phospholipid that becomes externalized on the surface of apoptotic and stressed cells. TAM receptors, specially Mertk, have been well established to play a role in the process of efferocytosis, the engulfment of dying cells. Besides being efferocytic receptors, TAMs are pleiotropic immune modulators as the lack of TAM receptors in various mouse models lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. Owing to their immune modulatory role, the PtdSer-TAM receptor signaling axis has been well characterized as a global immune-suppressive signal, and in cancers, and emerging literature implicates TAM receptors in cancer immunology and anti-tumor therapeutics. In the tumor microenvironment, immune-suppressive signals, such as ones that originate from TAM receptor signaling can be detrimental to anti-tumor therapy. In this chapter, we discuss immune modulatory functions of TAM receptors in the tumor microenvironment as well role of differentially expressed TAM receptors and their interactions with immune and tumor cells. Finally, we describe current strategies being utilized for targeting TAMs in several cancers and their implications in immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Gadiyar
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Gopi Patel
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cai B, Kasikara C. TAM receptors and their ligand-mediated activation: Role in atherosclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 357:21-33. [PMID: 33234243 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
TAM family tyrosine kinase receptors including Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK are the key efferocytosis receptors presenting on antigen-presenting cell that mediate the clearance of apoptotic cells. They are thought to regulate inflammatory diseases by modulating inflammatory response and efferocytosis. Recent studies have revealed novel roles of TAM receptors in the biosynthesis of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and inflammation resolution. In this chapter, we discuss the central roles of TAM signaling in atherosclerosis focusing on their regulation in efferocytosis and inflammation resolution and highlight the unique therapeutic potential of SPMs in blocking the progression of atherosclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bishuang Cai
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Canan Kasikara
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
von Itzstein MS, Burke MC, Brekken RA, Aguilera TA, Zeh HJ, Beg MS. Targeting TAM to Tame Pancreatic Cancer. Target Oncol 2020; 15:579-588. [PMID: 32996059 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-020-00751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death within the next few years. Current therapeutic strategies have limited effectiveness and therefore there is an urgency to develop novel effective therapies. The receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily TAM (Tyro3, Axl, MerTK) is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of the metastatic, chemoresistant, and immunosuppressive phenotype in pancreatic cancer. TAM inhibitors are promising investigational therapies for pancreatic cancer due to their potential to target multiple aspects of pancreatic cancer biology. Specifically, recent mechanistic investigations and therapeutic combinations in the preclinical setting suggest that TAM inhibition with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy should be evaluated clinically.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S von Itzstein
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael C Burke
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Todd A Aguilera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Herbert J Zeh
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Muhammad Shaalan Beg
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA.
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Naresh GKRS, Guruprasad L. Enhanced metastable state models of TAM kinase binding to cabozantinib explains the dynamic nature of receptor tyrosine kinases. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:1213-1235. [PMID: 32070235 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1730968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are essential proteins in the regulation of cell signaling. Tyro3, Axl and Mer are members of TAM RTKs and are overexpressed in several cancer forms. Kinase inhibitors such as cabozantinib, foretinib are reported to inhibit TAM kinases at nanomolar concentrations. The atomistic details of structure and mechanism of functional regulation is required to understand their normal physiological process and when bound to an inhibitor. The docking of cabozantinib into the active state conformations of TAM kinases (crystal structure and computational models) revealed the best binding pose and the complex formation that is mediated through non-bonding interactions involving the hinge region residues. The alterations in the conformations and the regions of flexibility in apo and complexed TAM kinases as a course of time are studied using 250 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The post-MD trajectory analysis using Python libraries like ProDy, MDTraj and PyEMMA revealed encrypted protein dynamic motions in active kinetic metastable states. Comparison between Principal component analysis and Anisotropic mode analysis deciphered structural residue interactions and salt bridge contacts between apo and inhibitor bound TAM kinases. Various structural changes occurred in αC-helix and activation loop involving hydrogen bonding between residues from Lys-(β3 sheet), Glu-(αC-helix) and Asp-(DFG-motif) resulting in higher RMSD. Mechanical stiffness plots revealed that similar regions in apo and cabozantinib bound Axl fluctuated during MD simulations whereas different regions in Tyro3 and Mer kinases. The residue interaction network plots revealed important salt bridges that lead to constrained domain motions in the TAM kinases.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
|
13
|
Lotsberg ML, Wnuk-Lipinska K, Terry S, Tan TZ, Lu N, Trachsel-Moncho L, Røsland GV, Siraji MI, Hellesøy M, Rayford A, Jacobsen K, Ditzel HJ, Vintermyr OK, Bivona TG, Minna J, Brekken RA, Baguley B, Micklem D, Akslen LA, Gausdal G, Simonsen A, Thiery JP, Chouaib S, Lorens JB, Engelsen AST. AXL Targeting Abrogates Autophagic Flux and Induces Immunogenic Cell Death in Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:973-999. [PMID: 32018052 PMCID: PMC7397559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acquired cancer therapy resistance evolves under selection pressure of immune surveillance and favors mechanisms that promote drug resistance through cell survival and immune evasion. AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is a mediator of cancer cell phenotypic plasticity and suppression of tumor immunity, and AXL expression is associated with drug resistance and diminished long-term survival in a wide range of malignancies, including NSCLC. METHODS We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying AXL-mediated acquired resistance to first- and third-generation small molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFRi) in NSCLC. RESULTS We found that EGFRi resistance was mediated by up-regulation of AXL, and targeting AXL reduced reactivation of the MAPK pathway and blocked onset of acquired resistance to long-term EGFRi treatment in vivo. AXL-expressing EGFRi-resistant cells revealed phenotypic and cell signaling heterogeneity incompatible with a simple bypass signaling mechanism, and were characterized by an increased autophagic flux. AXL kinase inhibition by the small molecule inhibitor bemcentinib or siRNA mediated AXL gene silencing was reported to inhibit the autophagic flux in vitro, bemcentinib treatment blocked clonogenicity and induced immunogenic cell death in drug-resistant NSCLC in vitro, and abrogated the transcription of autophagy-associated genes in vivo. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between AXL expression and autophagy-associated gene signatures in a large cohort of human NSCLC (n = 1018). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that AXL signaling supports a drug-resistant persister cell phenotype through a novel autophagy-dependent mechanism and reveals a unique immunogenic effect of AXL inhibition on drug-resistant NSCLC cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Katarzyna Wnuk-Lipinska
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; BerGenBio ASA, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ning Lu
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Laura Trachsel-Moncho
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gro V Røsland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Austin Rayford
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kirstine Jacobsen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik J Ditzel
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Olav K Vintermyr
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Trever G Bivona
- Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - John Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Surgery, Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Surgery, Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Bruce Baguley
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Lars A Akslen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Anne Simonsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Biomedical Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A-STAR, Singapore; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, GMU Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - James B Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agnete Svendsen Tenfjord Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ni J, Lin M, Jin Y, Li J, Guo Y, Zhou J, Hong G, Zhao G, Lu Z. Gas6 Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Tight Junction Injury and Vascular Endothelial Hyperpermeability via the Axl/NF-κB Signaling Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:662. [PMID: 31263416 PMCID: PMC6585310 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial functional dysregulation and barrier disruption are involved the initiation and development of sepsis. Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), one of the endogenous ligands of TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk), is confirmed to have beneficial functions in hemostasis, inflammation, and cancer growth. Here, we demonstrated the protective effects of Gas6 on multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in sepsis and the underlying mechanisms. We investigated Gas6-ameliorated MODS by inhibiting vascular endothelial hyperpermeability in a mouse model of sepsis. Additionally, in vitro, under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vascular endothelial cells, Gas6 attenuated vascular endothelial hyperpermeability by reinforcing the tight junction proteins occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and claudin5. Furthermore, Gas6 substantially suppressed NF-κB p65 activation. In addition, blocking the Gas6 receptor, Axl, partially reduced the protective effect of Gas6 on the vascular endothelial barrier and diminished the inhibitive effect of Gas6 on NF-κB p65 activation. Taken together, this study suggests that Gas6 has a protective effect on MODS in sepsis by inhibiting the vascular endothelial hyperpermeability and alteration of tight junction and that the Axl/NF-κB signaling pathway underlies these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Ni
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Miaotong Lin
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yangjie Jin
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiajia Li
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yayong Guo
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jindong Zhou
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guangliang Hong
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guangju Zhao
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhongqiu Lu
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kasikara C, Davra V, Calianese D, Geng K, Spires TE, Quigley M, Wichroski M, Sriram G, Suarez-Lopez L, Yaffe MB, Kotenko SV, De Lorenzo MS, Birge RB. Pan-TAM Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor BMS-777607 Enhances Anti–PD-1 mAb Efficacy in a Murine Model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2019; 79:2669-2683. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
16
|
Elevated Expression of AXL May Contribute to the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. Mediators Inflamm 2018; 2018:3241406. [PMID: 30140167 PMCID: PMC6081531 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3241406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanisms inducing and regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) upon chronic intestinal inflammation is critical for understanding the exact pathomechanism of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to determine the expression profile of TAM family receptors in an inflamed colon. For this, we used a rat model of experimental colitis and also collected samples from colons of IBD patients. Samples were taken from both inflamed and uninflamed regions of the same colon; the total RNA was isolated, and the mRNA and microRNA expressions were monitored. We have determined that AXL is highly induced in active-inflamed colon, which is accompanied with reduced expression of AXL-regulating microRNAs. In addition, the expression of genes responsible for inducing or maintaining mesenchymal phenotype, such as SNAI1, ZEB2, VIM, MMP9, and HIF1α, were all significantly induced in the active-inflamed colon of IBD patients while the epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1) was downregulated. We also show that, in vitro, monocytic and colonic epithelial cells increase the expression of AXL in response to LPS or TNFα stimuli, respectively. In summary, we identified several interacting genes and microRNAs with mutually exclusive expression pattern in active-inflamed colon of IBD patients. Our results shed light onto a possible AXL- and microRNA-mediated regulation influencing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in IBD.
Collapse
|
17
|
Geng K, Kumar S, Kimani SG, Kholodovych V, Kasikara C, Mizuno K, Sandiford O, Rameshwar P, Kotenko SV, Birge RB. Requirement of Gamma-Carboxyglutamic Acid Modification and Phosphatidylserine Binding for the Activation of Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk Receptors by Growth Arrest-Specific 6. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1521. [PMID: 29176978 PMCID: PMC5686386 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) receptors are homologous type I receptor tyrosine kinases that have critical functions in the clearance of apoptotic cells in multicellular organisms. TAMs are activated by their endogenous ligands, growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), and protein S (Pros1), that function as bridging molecules between externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) on apoptotic cells and the TAM ectodomains. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Gas6/Pros1 promote TAM activation remains elusive. Using TAM/IFNγR1 reporter cell lines to monitor functional TAM activity, we found that Gas6 activity was exquisitely dependent on vitamin K-mediated γ-carboxylation, whereby replacing vitamin K with anticoagulant warfarin, or by substituting glutamic acid residues involved in PS binding, completely abrogated Gas6 activity as a TAM ligand. Furthermore, using domain and point mutagenesis, Gas6 activity also required both an intact Gla domain and intact EGF-like domains, suggesting these domains function cooperatively in order to achieve TAM activation. Despite the requirement of γ-carboxylation and the functional Gla domain, non-γ-carboxylated Gas6 and Gla deletion/EGF-like domain deletion mutants still retained their ability to bind TAMs and acted as blocking decoy ligands. Finally, we found that distinct sources of PS-positive cells/vesicles (including apoptotic cells, calcium-induced stressed cells, and exosomes) bound Gas6 and acted as cell-derived or exosome-derived ligands to activate TAMs. Taken together, our findings indicate that PS is indispensable for TAM activation by Gas6, and by inference, provides new perspectives on how PS, regulates TAM receptors and efferocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Geng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Stanley G Kimani
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Vladyslav Kholodovych
- Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC), Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Canan Kasikara
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Kensaku Mizuno
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Oleta Sandiford
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Pranela Rameshwar
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Evans AL, Blackburn JWD, Taruc K, Kipp A, Dirk BS, Hunt NR, Barr SD, Dikeakos JD, Heit B. Antagonistic Coevolution of MER Tyrosine Kinase Expression and Function. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:1613-1628. [PMID: 28369510 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK (TAM) receptors are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that maintain homeostasis through the clearance of apoptotic cells, and when defective, contribute to chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. In addition, certain enveloped viruses utilize TAM receptors for immune evasion and entry into host cells, with several viruses preferentially hijacking MERTK for these purposes. Despite the biological importance of TAM receptors, little is understood of their recent evolution and its impact on their function. Using evolutionary analysis of primate TAM receptor sequences, we identified strong, recent positive selection in MERTK's signal peptide and transmembrane domain that was absent from TYRO3 and AXL. Reconstruction of hominid and primate ancestral MERTK sequences revealed three nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human MERTK signal peptide, with a G14C mutation resulting in a predicted non-B DNA cruciform motif, producing a significant decrease in MERTK expression with no significant effect on MERTK trafficking or half-life. Reconstruction of MERTK's transmembrane domain identified three amino acid substitutions and four amino acid insertions in humans, which led to significantly higher levels of self-clustering through the creation of a new interaction motif. This clustering counteracted the effect of the signal peptide mutations through enhancing MERTK avidity, whereas the lower MERTK expression led to reduced binding of Ebola virus-like particles. The decreased MERTK expression counterbalanced by increased avidity is consistent with antagonistic coevolution to evade viral hijacking of MERTK.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Evans
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Jack W D Blackburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Kyle Taruc
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Angela Kipp
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Brennan S Dirk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Nina R Hunt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Stephen D Barr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Jimmy D Dikeakos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Bryan Heit
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Uribe DJ, Mandell EK, Watson A, Martinez JD, Leighton JA, Ghosh S, Rothlin CV. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL promotes migration and invasion in colorectal cancer. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179979. [PMID: 28727830 PMCID: PMC5519024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) TYRO3, AXL and MERTK (TAM) have well-described oncogenic functions in a number of cancers. Notwithstanding, TAM RTKs are also potent and indispensable inhibitors of inflammation. The combined deletion of Axl and Mertk in mice enhances chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, including increased inflammation in the gut and colitis-associated cancer. On the other hand, deletion of Tyro3 increases the risk of allergic responses. Therefore, the indiscriminate inhibition of these TAM RTKs could result in undesirable immunological diseases. Here we show that AXL, but not MERTK or TYRO3 expression is enhanced in late stage colorectal cancer (CRC) and AXL expression associates with a cell migration gene signature. Silencing AXL or the inhibition of AXL kinase activity significantly inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion. These results indicate that the selective inhibition of AXL alone might confer sufficient therapeutic benefit in CRC, while preserving at least some of the beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects of MERTK and TYRO3 RTKs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana J. Uribe
- Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Edward K. Mandell
- Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Adam Watson
- Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jesse D. Martinez
- Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A. Leighton
- Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sourav Ghosh
- Department of Neurology, Pharmacology and Yale Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (CVR)
| | - Carla V. Rothlin
- Department of Immunobiology, Pharmacology and Yale Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (CVR)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gajiwala KS, Grodsky N, Bolaños B, Feng J, Ferre R, Timofeevski S, Xu M, Murray BW, Johnson TW, Stewart A. The Axl kinase domain in complex with a macrocyclic inhibitor offers first structural insights into an active TAM receptor kinase. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15705-15716. [PMID: 28724631 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.771485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase family consisting of Tyro3, Axl, and Mer (TAM) is one of the most recently identified receptor tyrosine kinase families. TAM receptors are up-regulated postnatally and maintained at high levels in adults. They all play an important role in immunity, but Axl has also been implicated in cancer and therefore is a target in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. However, of the three members of the TAM family, the Axl kinase domain is the only one that has so far eluded structure determination. To this end, using differential scanning fluorimetry and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we show here that a lower stability and greater dynamic nature of the Axl kinase domain may account for its poor crystallizability. We present the first structural characterization of the Axl kinase domain in complex with a small-molecule macrocyclic inhibitor. The Axl crystal structure revealed two distinct conformational states of the enzyme, providing a first glimpse of what an active TAM receptor kinase may look like and suggesting a potential role for the juxtamembrane region in enzyme activity. We noted that the ATP/inhibitor-binding sites of the TAM members closely resemble each other, posing a challenge for the design of a selective inhibitor. We propose that the differences in the conformational dynamics among the TAM family members could potentially be exploited to achieve inhibitor selectivity for targeted receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sergei Timofeevski
- Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, San Diego, California 92121
| | - Meirong Xu
- Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, San Diego, California 92121
| | - Brion W Murray
- Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, San Diego, California 92121
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kasikara C, Kumar S, Kimani S, Tsou WI, Geng K, Davra V, Sriram G, Devoe C, Nguyen KQN, Antes A, Krantz A, Rymarczyk G, Wilczynski A, Empig C, Freimark B, Gray M, Schlunegger K, Hutchins J, Kotenko SV, Birge RB. Phosphatidylserine Sensing by TAM Receptors Regulates AKT-Dependent Chemoresistance and PD-L1 Expression. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:753-764. [PMID: 28184013 PMCID: PMC8363069 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk (collectively TAM receptors) are three homologous receptor tyrosine kinases that bind vitamin K-dependent endogenous ligands, Protein S (ProS), and growth arrest-specific factor 6 (Gas6), and act as bridging molecules to promote phosphatidylserine (PS)-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis). TAM receptors are overexpressed in a vast array of tumor types, whereby the level of expression correlates with the tumor grade and the emergence of chemo- and radioresistance to targeted therapeutics, but also have been implicated as inhibitory receptors on infiltrating myeloid-derived cells in the tumor microenvironment that can suppress host antitumor immunity. In the present study, we utilized TAM-IFNγR1 reporter lines and expressed TAM receptors in a variety of epithelial cell model systems to show that each TAM receptor has a unique pattern of activation by Gas6 or ProS, as well as unique dependency for PS on apoptotic cells and PS liposomes for activity. In addition, we leveraged this system to engineer epithelial cells that express wild-type TAM receptors and show that although each receptor can promote PS-mediated efferocytosis, AKT-mediated chemoresistance, as well as upregulate the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 on tumor cells, Mertk is most dominant in the aforementioned pathways. Functionally, TAM receptor-mediated efferocytosis could be partially blocked by PS-targeting antibody 11.31 and Annexin V, demonstrating the existence of a PS/PS receptor (i.e., TAM receptor)/PD-L1 axis that operates in epithelial cells to foster immune escape. These data provide a rationale that PS-targeting, anti-TAM receptor, and anti-PD-L1-based therapeutics will have merit as combinatorial checkpoint inhibitors.Implications: Many tumor cells are known to upregulate the immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-L1. This study demonstrates a role for PS and TAM receptors in the regulation of PD-L1 on cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res; 15(6); 753-64. ©2017 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Canan Kasikara
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Stanley Kimani
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Wen-I Tsou
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Ke Geng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Ganapathy Sriram
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Connor Devoe
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Khanh-Quynh N Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Anita Antes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Allen Krantz
- Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Grzegorz Rymarczyk
- Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Cyril Empig
- Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Tustin, California
| | | | | | | | | | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Kimani SG, Kumar S, Bansal N, Singh K, Kholodovych V, Comollo T, Peng Y, Kotenko SV, Sarafianos SG, Bertino JR, Welsh WJ, Birge RB. Small molecule inhibitors block Gas6-inducible TAM activation and tumorigenicity. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43908. [PMID: 28272423 PMCID: PMC5341070 DOI: 10.1038/srep43908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TAM receptors (Tyro-3, Axl, and Mertk) are a family of three homologous type I receptor tyrosine kinases that are implicated in several human malignancies. Overexpression of TAMs and their major ligand Growth arrest-specific factor 6 (Gas6) is associated with more aggressive staging of cancers, poorer predicted patient survival, acquired drug resistance and metastasis. Here we describe small molecule inhibitors (RU-301 and RU-302) that target the extracellular domain of Axl at the interface of the Ig-1 ectodomain of Axl and the Lg-1 of Gas6. These inhibitors effectively block Gas6-inducible Axl receptor activation with low micromolar IC50s in cell-based reporter assays, inhibit Gas6-inducible motility in Axl-expressing cell lines, and suppress H1299 lung cancer tumor growth in a mouse xenograft NOD-SCIDγ model. Furthermore, using homology models and biochemical verifications, we show that RU301 and 302 also inhibit Gas6 inducible activation of Mertk and Tyro3 suggesting they can act as pan-TAM inhibitors that block the interface between the TAM Ig1 ectodomain and the Gas6 Lg domain. Together, these observations establish that small molecules that bind to the interface between TAM Ig1 domain and Gas6 Lg1 domain can inhibit TAM activation, and support the further development of small molecule Gas6-TAM interaction inhibitors as a novel class of cancer therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stanley G Kimani
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Nitu Bansal
- Rutgers University, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Kamalendra Singh
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Biochemistry, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Vladyslav Kholodovych
- Rutgers University, Office of Advanced Research Computing, 96 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.,Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Thomas Comollo
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Youyi Peng
- Rutgers University, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Stefan G Sarafianos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Biochemistry, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Joseph R Bertino
- Rutgers University, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - William J Welsh
- Rutgers University, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.,Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Davra V, Kimani SG, Calianese D, Birge RB. Ligand Activation of TAM Family Receptors-Implications for Tumor Biology and Therapeutic Response. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8120107. [PMID: 27916840 PMCID: PMC5187505 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8120107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The TAM family of receptors (i.e., Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk), and their ligands Growth arrest specific factor 6 (Gas6) and Protein S (Pros1) contribute to several oncogenic processes, such as cell survival, invasion, migration, chemo-resistance, and metastasis, whereby expression often correlates with poor clinical outcomes. In recent years, there has been great interest in the study of TAM receptors in cancer, stemming both from their roles as oncogenic signaling receptors, as well as their roles in tumor immunology. As a result, several classes of TAM inhibitors that include small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, decoy receptors, as well as novel strategies to target TAM ligands are being developed. This paper will review the biology of TAM receptors and their ligands with a focus on cancer, as well as evidence-based data for the continued pursuit of TAM/Gas6 inhibitors in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Stanley G Kimani
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - David Calianese
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| |
Collapse
|