1
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Gao N, Wang J, Fang C, Bai P, Sun Y, Wu W, Shan A. Combating bacterial infections with host defense peptides: Shifting focus from bacteria to host immunity. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 72:101030. [PMID: 38043443 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections necessitates the exploration of novel paradigms for anti-infective therapy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), have garnered extensive recognition as immunomodulatory molecules that leverage natural host mechanisms to enhance therapeutic benefits. The unique immune mechanism exhibited by certain HDPs that involves self-assembly into supramolecular nanonets capable of inducing bacterial agglutination and entrapping is significantly important. This process effectively prevents microbial invasion and subsequent dissemination and significantly mitigates selective pressure for the evolution of microbial resistance, highlighting the potential of HDP-based antimicrobial therapy. Recent advancements in this field have focused on developing bio-responsive materials in the form of supramolecular nanonets. A comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory and bacteria-agglutinating activities of HDPs, along with a discussion on optimization strategies for synthetic derivatives, is presented in this article. These optimized derivatives exhibit improved biological properties and therapeutic potential, making them suitable for future clinical applications as effective anti-infective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Gao
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
| | - Chunyang Fang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Pengfei Bai
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yu Sun
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Wanpeng Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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2
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Singh S, Tian W, Severance ZC, Chaudhary SK, Anokhina V, Mondal B, Pergu R, Singh P, Dhawa U, Singha S, Choudhary A. Proximity-inducing modalities: the past, present, and future. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:5485-5515. [PMID: 37477631 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00943a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Living systems use proximity to regulate biochemical processes. Inspired by this phenomenon, bifunctional modalities that induce proximity have been developed to redirect cellular processes. An emerging example of this class is molecules that induce ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of a protein of interest, and their initial development sparked a flurry of discovery for other bifunctional modalities. Recent advances in this area include modalities that can change protein phosphorylation, glycosylation, and acetylation states, modulate gene expression, and recruit components of the immune system. In this review, we highlight bifunctional modalities that perform functions other than degradation and have great potential to revolutionize disease treatment, while also serving as important tools in basic research to explore new aspects of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameek Singh
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Wenzhi Tian
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Zachary C Severance
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Santosh K Chaudhary
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Viktoriya Anokhina
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Basudeb Mondal
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Rajaiah Pergu
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Prashant Singh
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Uttam Dhawa
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Santanu Singha
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Amit Choudhary
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Divisions of Renal Medicine and Engineering, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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3
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Ellett F, Kacamak NI, Alvarez CR, Oliveira EH, Hasturk H, Paster BJ, Kantarci A, Irimia D. Fusobacterium nucleatum dissemination by neutrophils. J Oral Microbiol 2023; 15:2217067. [PMID: 37283724 PMCID: PMC10240972 DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2217067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies uncovered that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a common, opportunistic bacterium in the oral cavity, is associated with a growing number of systemic diseases, ranging from colon cancer to Alzheimer's disease. However, the pathological mechanisms responsible for this association are still poorly understood. Here, we leverage recent technological advances to study the interactions between Fn and neutrophils. We show that Fn survives within human neutrophils after phagocytosis. Using in vitro microfluidic devices, we determine that human neutrophils can protect and transport Fn over large distances. Moreover, we validate these observations in vivo by showing that neutrophils disseminate Fn using a zebrafish model. Our data support the emerging hypothesis that bacterial dissemination by neutrophils is a mechanistic link between oral and systemic diseases. Furthermore, our results may ultimately lead to therapeutic approaches that target specific host-bacteria interactions, including the dissemination process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Ellett
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nazli I. Kacamak
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carla R. Alvarez
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eduardo H.S. Oliveira
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hatice Hasturk
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bruce J. Paster
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alpdogan Kantarci
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Muldur S, Vadysirisack DD, Ragunathan S, Tang Y, Ricardo A, Sayegh CE, Irimia D. Human Neutrophils Respond to Complement Activation and Inhibition in Microfluidic Devices. Front Immunol 2021; 12:777932. [PMID: 34899737 PMCID: PMC8653703 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.777932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement activation is key to anti-microbial defenses by directly acting on microbes and indirectly by triggering cellular immune responses. Complement activation may also contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and immunological diseases. Consequently, intense research focuses on developing therapeutics that block pathology-causing complement activation while preserving anti-microbial complement activities. However, the pace of research is slowed down significantly by the limitations of current tools for evaluating complement-targeting therapeutics. Moreover, the effects of potential therapeutic agents on innate immune cells, like neutrophils, are not fully understood. Here, we employ microfluidic assays and measure chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and swarming changes in human neutrophils ex vivo in response to various complement-targeting agents. We show that whereas complement factor 5 (C5) cleavage inhibitor eculizumab blocks all neutrophil anti-microbial functions, newer compounds like the C5 cleavage inhibitor RA101295 and C5a receptor antagonist avacopan inhibit chemotaxis and swarming while preserving neutrophil phagocytosis. These results highlight the utility of microfluidic neutrophil assays in evaluating potential complement-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Muldur
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Yalan Tang
- Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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5
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Shao Y, Molestak E, Su W, Stankevič M, Tchórzewski M. Sordarin - the antifungal antibiotic with a unique modus operandi. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:1125-1145. [PMID: 34767248 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause serious problems in many aspects of human life, in particular infections in immunocompromised patients represent serious problems. Current antifungal antibiotics target various metabolic pathways, predominantly the cell wall or cellular membrane. Numerous compounds are available to combat fungal infections, but their efficacy is far from being satisfactory and some of them display high toxicity. The emerging resistance represents a serious issue as well; hence, there is a considerable need for new anti-fungal compounds with lower toxicity and higher effectiveness. One of the unique antifungal antibiotics is sordarin, the only known compound that acts on the fungal translational machinery per se. Sordarin inhibits protein synthesis at the elongation step of the translational cycle, acting on eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2. In this review, we intend to deliver a robust scientific platform promoting the development of antifungal compounds, in particular focusing on the molecular action of sordarin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Shao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China.,Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Eliza Molestak
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Weike Su
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China.,National Engineering Research Center for Process Development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China.,Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China
| | - Marek Stankevič
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marek Tchórzewski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
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6
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Payne JAE, Tailhades J, Ellett F, Kostoulias X, Fulcher AJ, Fu T, Leung R, Louch S, Tran A, Weber SA, Schittenhelm RB, Lieschke GJ, Qin CH, Irima D, Peleg AY, Cryle MJ. Antibiotic-chemoattractants enhance neutrophil clearance of Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6157. [PMID: 34697316 PMCID: PMC8546149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26244-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus can readily develop antibiotic resistance and evade the human immune system, which is associated with reduced levels of neutrophil recruitment. Here, we present a class of antibacterial peptides with potential to act both as antibiotics and as neutrophil chemoattractants. The compounds, which we term 'antibiotic-chemoattractants', consist of a formylated peptide (known to act as chemoattractant for neutrophil recruitment) that is covalently linked to the antibiotic vancomycin (known to bind to the bacterial cell wall). We use a combination of in vitro assays, cellular assays, infection-on-a-chip and in vivo mouse models to show that the compounds improve the recruitment, engulfment and killing of S. aureus by neutrophils. Furthermore, optimizing the formyl peptide sequence can enhance neutrophil activity through differential activation of formyl peptide receptors. Thus, we propose antibiotic-chemoattractants as an alternate approach for antibiotic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A E Payne
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Julien Tailhades
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Felix Ellett
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Xenia Kostoulias
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Alex J Fulcher
- Monash Micro Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ting Fu
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Ryan Leung
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Stephanie Louch
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Amy Tran
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Severin A Weber
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ralf B Schittenhelm
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Graham J Lieschke
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Chengxue Helena Qin
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Daniel Irima
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Anton Y Peleg
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Max J Cryle
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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7
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Richardson IM, Calo CJ, Hind LE. Microphysiological Systems for Studying Cellular Crosstalk During the Neutrophil Response to Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:661537. [PMID: 33986752 PMCID: PMC8111168 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the primary responders to infection, rapidly migrating to sites of inflammation and clearing pathogens through a variety of antimicrobial functions. This response is controlled by a complex network of signals produced by vascular cells, tissue resident cells, other immune cells, and the pathogen itself. Despite significant efforts to understand how these signals are integrated into the neutrophil response, we still do not have a complete picture of the mechanisms regulating this process. This is in part due to the inherent disadvantages of the most-used experimental systems: in vitro systems lack the complexity of the tissue microenvironment and animal models do not accurately capture the human immune response. Advanced microfluidic devices incorporating relevant tissue architectures, cell-cell interactions, and live pathogen sources have been developed to overcome these challenges. In this review, we will discuss the in vitro models currently being used to study the neutrophil response to infection, specifically in the context of cell-cell interactions, and provide an overview of their findings. We will also provide recommendations for the future direction of the field and what important aspects of the infectious microenvironment are missing from the current models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laurel E. Hind
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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8
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Hind LE, Giese MA, Schoen TJ, Beebe DJ, Keller N, Huttenlocher A. Immune Cell Paracrine Signaling Drives the Neutrophil Response to A. fumigatus in an Infection-on-a-Chip Model. Cell Mol Bioeng 2021; 14:133-145. [PMID: 33868496 PMCID: PMC8010091 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neutrophils act as first responders during an infection, following signals from the pathogen as well as other host cells to migrate from blood vessels to the site of infection. This tightly regulated process is critical for pathogen clearance and, in many cases, eliminates the pathogen without the need for an additional immune response. It is, therefore, critical to understand what signals drive neutrophil migration to infection in a physiologically relevant environment. METHODS In this study, we used an infection-on-a-chip model to recapitulate many important aspects of the infectious microenvironment including an endothelial blood vessel, an extracellular matrix, and the environmental fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We then used this model to visualize the innate immune response to fungal infection. RESULTS We found that A. fumigatus germination dynamics are influenced by the presence of an endothelial lumen. Furthermore, we demonstrated that neutrophils are recruited to and swarm around A. fumigatus hyphae and that the presence of monocytes significantly increases the neutrophil response to A. fumigatus. Using secreted protein analysis and blocking antibodies, we found that this increased migration is likely due to signaling by MIP-1 family proteins. Finally, we demonstrated that signal relay between neutrophils, mediated by LTB4 signaling, is also important for sustained neutrophil migration and swarming in response to A. fumigatus infection in our system. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results suggest that paracrine signaling from both monocytes and neutrophils plays an important role in driving the neutrophil response to A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel E. Hind
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Morgan A. Giese
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Taylor J. Schoen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - David J. Beebe
- Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Nancy Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
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9
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Yonker LM, Marand A, Muldur S, Hopke A, Leung HM, De La Flor D, Park G, Pinsky H, Guthrie LB, Tearney GJ, Irimia D, Hurley BP. Neutrophil dysfunction in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros 2021; 20:1062-1071. [PMID: 33589340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive neutrophil inflammation is the hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease. Novel technologies for characterizing neutrophil dysfunction may provide insight into the nature of these abnormalities, revealing a greater mechanistic understanding and new avenues for CF therapies that target these mechanisms. METHODS Blood was collected from individuals with CF in the outpatient clinic, CF individuals hospitalized for a pulmonary exacerbation, and non-CF controls. Using microfluidic assays and advanced imaging technologies, we characterized 1) spontaneous neutrophil migration using microfluidic motility mazes, 2) neutrophil migration to and phagocytosis of Staphylococcal aureus particles in a microfluidic arena, 3) neutrophil swarming on Candida albicans clusters, and 4) Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced neutrophil transepithelial migration using micro-optical coherence technology (µOCT). RESULTS Participants included 44 individuals: 16 Outpatient CF, 13 Hospitalized CF, and 15 Non-CF individuals. While no differences were seen with spontaneous migration, CF neutrophils migrated towards S. aureus particles more quickly than non-CF neutrophils (p < 0.05). CF neutrophils, especially Hospitalized CF neutrophils, generated significantly larger aggregates around S. aureus particles over time. Hospitalized CF neutrophils were more likely to have dysfunctional swarming (p < 0.01) and less efficient clearing of C. albicans (p < 0.0001). When comparing trans-epithelial migration towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa epithelial infection, Outpatient CF neutrophils displayed an increase in the magnitude of transmigration and adherence to the epithelium (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Advanced technologies for characterizing CF neutrophil function reveal significantly altered migratory responses, cell-to-cell clustering, and microbe containment. Future investigations will probe mechanistic basis for abnormal responses in CF to identify potential avenues for novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lael M Yonker
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Division, Boston, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Anika Marand
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sinan Muldur
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston, MA, United States; Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alex Hopke
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston, MA, United States; Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hui Min Leung
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Denis De La Flor
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grace Park
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Division, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hanna Pinsky
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Division, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lauren B Guthrie
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Division, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Guillermo J Tearney
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston, MA, United States; Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bryan P Hurley
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA, United States
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10
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Yu Y, Albrecht K, Groll J, Beilhack A. Innovative therapies for invasive fungal infections in preclinical and clinical development. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:961-971. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1791819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Yu
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory for Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany
| | - Krystyna Albrecht
- Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Groll
- Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Beilhack
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory for Experimental Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany
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11
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Gerry CJ, Schreiber SL. Recent achievements and current trajectories of diversity-oriented synthesis. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 56:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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12
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The availability of organs for transplant fails to meet the demand and this shortage is growing worse every year. As the cost of not getting a suitable donor organ can mean death for patients, new tools and approaches that allows us to make advances in transplantation faster and provide a different vantage point are required. To address this need, we introduce the concept of using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a new model system in organ transplantation. The zebrafish community offers decades of research experience in disease modeling and a rich toolbox of approaches for interrogating complex pathological states. We provide examples of how already existing zebrafish assays/tools from cancer, regenerative medicine, immunology, and others, could be leveraged to fuel new discoveries in pursuit of solving the organ shortage. RECENT FINDINGS Important innovations have enabled several types of transplants to be successfully performed in zebrafish, including stem cells, tumors, parenchymal cells, and even a partial heart transplant. These innovations have been performed against a backdrop of an expansive and impressive list of tools designed to uncover the biology of complex systems that include a wide array of fluorescent transgenic fish that label specific cell types and mutant lines that are transparent, immune-deficient. Allogeneic transplants can also be accomplished using immune suppressed and syngeneic fish. Each of these innovations within the zebrafish community would provide several helpful tools that could be applied to transplant research. SUMMARY We highlight some examples of existing tools and assays developed in the zebrafish community that could be leveraged to overcome barriers in organ transplantation, including ischemia-reperfusion, short preservation durations, regeneration of marginal grafts, and acute and chronic rejection.
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Gerry CJ, Schreiber SL. Unifying principles of bifunctional, proximity-inducing small molecules. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 16:369-378. [PMID: 32198490 PMCID: PMC7312755 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-0469-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Nature uses a variety of tools to mediate the flow of information in cells, many of which control distances between key biomacromolecules. Researchers have thus generated compounds whose activities stem from interactions with two (or more) proteins simultaneously. In this Perspective, we describe how these 'bifunctional' small molecules facilitate the study of an increasingly wide range of complex biological phenomena and enable the drugging of otherwise challenging therapeutic targets and processes. Despite their structural and functional differences, all bifunctional molecules employ Nature's strategy of altering interactomes and inducing proximity to modulate biology. They therefore exhibit a shared set of chemical and biophysical principles that have not yet been appreciated fully. By highlighting these commonalities-and their wide-ranging consequences-we hope to chip away at the artificial barriers that threaten to constrain this interdisciplinary field. Doing so promises to yield remarkable benefits for biological research and therapeutics discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Gerry
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Saini S, Poelmans J, Korf H, Dooley JL, Liang S, Manshian BB, Verbeke R, Soenen SJ, Vande Velde G, Lentacker I, Lagrou K, Liston A, Gysemans C, De Smedt SC, Himmelreich U. Longitudinal In Vivo Assessment of Host-Microbe Interactions in a Murine Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis. iScience 2019; 20:184-194. [PMID: 31581067 PMCID: PMC6817634 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is ubiquitous in nature and the most common cause of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with a compromised immune system. The development of IPA in patients under immunosuppressive treatment or in patients with primary immunodeficiency demonstrates the importance of the host immune response in controlling aspergillosis. However, study of the host-microbe interaction has been hampered by the lack of tools for their non-invasive assessment. We developed a methodology to study the response of the host's immune system against IPA longitudinally in vivo by using fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI). We showed the advantage of a perfluorocarbon-based contrast agent for the in vivo labeling of macrophages and dendritic cells, permitting quantification of pulmonary inflammation in different murine IPA models. Our findings reveal the potential of 19F MRI for the assessment of rapid kinetics of innate immune response against IPA and the permissive niche generated through immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Saini
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Poelmans
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannelie Korf
- Laboratory of Hepatology, CHROMETA Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James L Dooley
- Laboratory of Genetics of Autoimmunity (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sayuan Liang
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Philips Research China, Shanghai, China
| | - Bella B Manshian
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rein Verbeke
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Stefaan J Soenen
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ine Lentacker
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Liston
- Laboratory of Genetics of Autoimmunity (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Conny Gysemans
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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