1
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Shen S, Radhakrishnan SK, Harrell JC, Puchalapalli M, Koblinski J, Clevenger C. The Human Intermediate Prolactin Receptor I-tail Contributes Breast Oncogenesis by Targeting Ras/MAPK Pathway. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae039. [PMID: 38713636 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Prolactin and its receptor (PRLr) in humans are significantly involved in breast cancer pathogenesis. The intermediate form of human PRLr (hPRLrI) is produced by alternative splicing and has a novel 13 amino acid tail ("I-tail") gain. hPRLrI induces significant proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of normal mammary epithelia in vitro when coexpressed with the long form hPRLr (hPRLrL). hPRLrL and hPRLrI coexpression is necessary to induce the transformation of mammary epithelia in vivo. The I-tail is associated with the ubiquitin-like protein neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8. Treatment with the neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8-activating enzyme inhibitor pevonedistat resulted in increased hPRLrL and the death of breast cancer cells. The goal of this study was to determine the function of the hPRLrI I-tail in hPRLrL/hPRLrI-mediated mammary transformation. hPRLrL/hPRLrI and hPRLrL/hPRLrIΔ13 (I-tail removal mutant) were delivered to MCF10AT cells. Cell proliferation was decreased when hPRLrI I-tail was removed. I-tail deletion decreased anchorage-independent growth and attenuated cell migration. The I-tail was involved in Ras/MAPK signaling but not PI3K/Akt signaling pathway as shown by western blot. I-tail removal resulted in decreased hPRLrI stability. RNA-sequencing data revealed that I-tail removal resulted in differential gene expression induced by prolactin. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that the activity of ERK was attenuated. Treatment of breast cancer cells with ERK1/2 inhibitor ulixertinib resulted in decreased colony-forming ability and less proliferation. These studies suggest that the hPRLrI I-tail contributed to breast oncogenesis and may be a promising target for the development of new breast cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwei Shen
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Senthil K Radhakrishnan
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - J Chuck Harrell
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Madhavi Puchalapalli
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Jennifer Koblinski
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Charles Clevenger
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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2
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Gannett C, Tiller K, Briganti AJ, Brown AM, Weger-Lucarelli J, Lowell AN. Forgotten Natural Products: Semisynthetic Development of Blasticidin S As an Antibiotic Lead. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:362-368. [PMID: 38505852 PMCID: PMC10945559 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Forgotten natural products offer value as antimicrobial scaffolds, providing diverse mechanisms of action that complement existing antibiotic classes. This study focuses on the derivatization of the cytotoxin blasticidin S, seeking to leverage its unique ribosome inhibition mechanism. Despite its complex zwitterionic properties, a selective protection and amidation strategy enabled the creation of a library of blasticidin S derivatives including the natural product P10. The amides exhibited significantly increased activity against Gram-positive bacteria and enhanced specificity for pathogenic bacteria over human cells. Molecular docking and computational property analysis suggested variable binding poses and indicated a potential correlation between cLogP values and activity. This work demonstrates how densely functionalized forgotten antimicrobials can be straightforwardly modified, enabling the further development of blasticidin S derivatives as lead compounds for a novel class of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole Gannett
- Department
of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Center
for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Kateland Tiller
- Center
for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Anthony J. Briganti
- Department
of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Anne M. Brown
- Center
for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Research
and Informatics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Interdisciplinary
Program in Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - James Weger-Lucarelli
- Center
for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Andrew N. Lowell
- Department
of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Center
for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Faculty of
Health Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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3
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Cranmer KD, Pant MD, Quesnel S, Sharp JA. Clonal Diversity, Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Factor Prevalence of Community Associated Staphylococcus aureus in Southeastern Virginia. Pathogens 2023; 13:25. [PMID: 38251333 PMCID: PMC10821353 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen with a formidable propensity for antibiotic resistance. Worldwide, it is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and infective endocarditis originating from both community- and healthcare-associated settings. Although often grouped by methicillin resistance, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) strains are known to cause significant pathologies and injuries. Virulence factors and growing resistance to antibiotics play major roles in the pathogenicity of community-associated strains. In our study, we examined the genetic variability and acquired antibiograms of 122 S. aureus clinical isolates from SSTI, blood, and urinary tract infections originating from pediatric patients within the southeast region of Virginia, USA. We identified a suite of clinically relevant virulence factors and evaluated their prevalence within these isolates. Five genes (clfA, spA, sbi, scpA, and vwb) with immune-evasive functions were identified in all isolates. MRSA isolates had a greater propensity to be resistant to more antibiotics as well as significantly more likely to carry several virulence factors compared to MSSA strains. Further, the carriage of various genes was found to vary significantly based on the infection type (SSTI, blood, urine).
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn D. Cranmer
- Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Mohan D. Pant
- School of Health Professions, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Suzanne Quesnel
- Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Julia A. Sharp
- Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
- School of Health Professions, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
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4
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Glass P, Shar A, Pemberton C, Nguyen E, Park SH, Joung D. 3D-Printed Artificial Cilia Arrays: A Versatile Tool for Customizable Mechanosensing. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023; 10:e2303164. [PMID: 37483144 PMCID: PMC10502633 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Bio-inspired cilium-based mechanosensors offer a high level of responsiveness, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications. Despite great promise, the development of sensors with multifunctionality, scalability, customizability, and sensing linearity presents challenges due to the complex sensing mechanisms and fabrication methods involved. To this end, high-aspect-ratio polycaprolactone/graphene cilia structures with high conductivity, and facile fabrication are employed to address these challenges. For these 3D-printed structures, an "inter-cilium contact" sensing mechanism that enables the sensor to function akin to an on-off switch, significantly enhancing sensitivity and reducing ambiguity in detection, is proposed. The cilia structures exhibit high levels of customizability, including thickness, height, spacing, and arrangement, while maintaining mechanical robustness. The simplicity of the sensor design enables highly sensitive detection in diverse applications, encompassing airflow and water flow monitoring, braille detection, and debris recognition. Overall, the unique conductive cilia-based sensing mechanism that is proposed brings several advantages, advancing the development of multi-sensing capabilities and flexible electronic skin applications in smart robotics and human prosthetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Glass
- Department of PhysicsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
| | - Andy Shar
- Department of PhysicsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
| | - Charles Pemberton
- Department of PhysicsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
| | - Ethan Nguyen
- Department of PhysicsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
| | - Sung Hyun Park
- Sustainable Technology and Wellness R&D GroupKorea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)Jeju‐siJeju‐do63243Republic of Korea
| | - Daeha Joung
- Department of PhysicsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
- Massey Cancer CenterVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23298USA
- Institute for Sustainable Energy and EnvironmentVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVA23284USA
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5
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Cervantes M, Hess T, Morbioli GG, Sengar A, Kasson PM. The ACE2 receptor accelerates but is not biochemically required for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. Chem Sci 2023; 14:6997-7004. [PMID: 37389252 PMCID: PMC10306070 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06967a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infects human cells via the ACE2 receptor. Structural evidence suggests that ACE2 may not just serve as an attachment factor but also conformationally activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for membrane fusion. Here, we test that hypothesis directly, using DNA-lipid tethering as a synthetic attachment factor in place of ACE2. We find that SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and virus-like particles are capable of membrane fusion without ACE2 if activated with an appropriate protease. Thus, ACE2 is not biochemically required for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. However, addition of soluble ACE2 speeds up the fusion reaction. On a per-spike level, ACE2 appears to promote activation for fusion and then subsequent inactivation if an appropriate protease is not present. Kinetic analysis suggests at least two rate-limiting steps for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion, one of which is ACE2 dependent and one of which is not. Since ACE2 serves as a high-affinity attachment factor on human cells, the possibility to replace it with other factors implies a flatter fitness landscape for host adaptation by SARS-CoV-2 and future related coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Cervantes
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Tobin Hess
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Giorgio G Morbioli
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Anjali Sengar
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Peter M Kasson
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
- Science for Life Laboratory and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Uppsala University Uppsala SE 75123 USA
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6
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Morla S, Ravikumar O, O’Hara C, Boothello R, Vera A, Abdelfadiel EI, Fayyad R, Afosah DK, Sharon C, Fernandez L, Shah SA, Patel BB, Desai UR. Designing Synthetic, Sulfated Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics That Are Orally Bioavailable and Exhibiting In Vivo Anticancer Activity. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1321-1338. [PMID: 36634271 PMCID: PMC9884082 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), or synthetic mimetics thereof, are not favorably viewed as orally bioavailable drugs owing to their high number of anionic sulfate groups. Devising an approach for oral delivery of such highly sulfated molecules would be very useful. This work presents the concept that conjugating cholesterol to synthetic sulfated GAG mimetics enables oral delivery. A focused library of sulfated GAG mimetics was synthesized and found to inhibit the growth of a colorectal cancer cell line under spheroid conditions with a wide range of potencies ( 0.8 to 46 μM). Specific analogues containing cholesterol, either alone or in combination with clinical utilized drugs, exhibited pronounced in vivo anticancer potential with intraperitoneal as well as oral administration, as assessed by ex vivo tertiary and quaternary spheroid growth, cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, and/or self-renewal factors. Overall, cholesterol derivatization of highly sulfated GAG mimetics affords an excellent approach for engineering oral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shravan Morla
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Ongolu Ravikumar
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Connor O’Hara
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Rio Boothello
- Division
of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Alberto Vera
- Hunter
Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
| | - Elsamani I. Abdelfadiel
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Rawan Fayyad
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Daniel K. Afosah
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Chetna Sharon
- Hunter
Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
| | - Leopoldo Fernandez
- Hunter
Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
- Massey
Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Division
of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
| | - Syed Ammer Shah
- Hunter
Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
- Massey
Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Division
of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
| | - Bhaumik B. Patel
- Division
of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Hunter
Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249, United States
- Massey
Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Umesh R. Desai
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
- Institute
for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
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7
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McCoski SR, Cockrum RR, Ealy AD. Short Communication: Maternal obesity alters ovine endometrial gene expression during peri-implantation development. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:skac090. [PMID: 35772750 PMCID: PMC9246656 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to maternal obesity in utero is associated with marked developmental effects in offspring that may not be evident until adulthood. Mechanisms regulating the programming effects of maternal obesity on fetal development have been reported, but little is known about how maternal obesity affects the earliest periods of embryonic development. This work explored how obesity influences endometrial gene expression during the peri-implantation period using a sheep model. Ewes were assigned randomly to diets that produced an obese state or maintained a lean state. After 4 mo, obese and lean ewes were bred and then euthanized at day 14 post-breeding. The uterus was excised, conceptuses were flushed, and endometrial tissue was collected. Isolated RNA from endometrial tissues (n = 6 ewes/treatment) were sequenced using an Illumina-based platform. Reads were mapped to the Ovis aries genome (Oar_4.0). Differential gene expression was determined, and results were filtered (false discovery rate ≤ 0.05 and ≥2-fold change, ≥0.2 reads/kilobase/million reads). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (n = 699), with 171 downregulated and 498 upregulated in obese vs. lean endometrium, respectively. The most pronounced gene ontology categories identified were cellular process, metabolic process, and biological regulation. Enrichments were detected within the DEGs for genes involved with immune system processes, negative regulation of apoptosis, cell growth, and cell adhesion. A literature search revealed that 125 DEGs were associated with either the trophoblast lineage or the placenta. Genes within this grouping were involved with wingless/integrated signaling, angiogenesis, and integrin signaling. In summary, these data indicate that the peri-implantation endometrium is responsive to maternal obesity. Transcript profile analyses suggest that the endometrial immune response, adhesion, and angiogenesis may be especially susceptible to obesity. Thus, alterations in uterine transcript profiles during early embryogenesis may be a mechanism responsible for developmental programming following maternal obesity exposure in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R McCoski
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Zhang A, Rastogi R, Marsh KM, Yang B, Wu D, Kron IL, Yang Z. Topical Neck Cooling Without Systemic Hypothermia Attenuates Myocardial Ischemic Injury and Post-ischemic Reperfusion Injury. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:893837. [PMID: 35837603 PMCID: PMC9274088 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.893837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Following acute myocardial infarction (MI), irreversible damage to the myocardium can only be reduced by shortening the duration between symptom onset and revascularization. While systemic hypothermia has shown promising results in slowing pre-revascularization myocardial damage, it is resource intensive and not conducive to prehospital initiation. We hypothesized that topical neck cooling (NC), an easily implemented therapy for en route transfer to definitive therapy, could similarly attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Using an in vivo mouse model of myocardial IRI, moderate systemic hypothermia or NC was applied following left coronary artery (LCA) occlusion and subsequent reperfusion, at early, late, and post-reperfusion intervals. Vagotomy was performed after late NC in an additional group. Hearts were harvested to measure infarct size. Results Both hypothermia treatments equally attenuated myocardial infarct size by 60% compared to control. The infarct-sparing effect of NC was temperature-dependent and timing-dependent. Vagotomy at the gastroesophageal junction abolished the infarct-sparing effect of late NC. Cardiac perfusate isolated following ischemia had significantly reduced cardiac troponin T, HMGB1, cell-free DNA, and interferon α and β levels after NC. Conclusions Topical neck cooling attenuates myocardial IRI in a vagus nerve-dependent manner, with an effect comparable to that of systemic hypothermia. NC attenuated infarct size when applied during ischemia, with earlier initiation resulting in superior infarct sparing. This novel therapy exerts a cardioprotective effect without requiring significant change in core temperature and may be a promising practical strategy to attenuate myocardial damage while patients await definitive revascularization.
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9
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Fritsch LE, Ju J, Gudenschwager Basso EK, Soliman E, Paul S, Chen J, Kaloss AM, Kowalski EA, Tuhy TC, Somaiya RD, Wang X, Allen IC, Theus MH, Pickrell AM. Type I Interferon Response Is Mediated by NLRX1-cGAS-STING Signaling in Brain Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:852243. [PMID: 35283725 PMCID: PMC8916033 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.852243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammation is a significant contributor to neuronal death and dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recent evidence suggests that interferons may be a key regulator of this response. Our studies evaluated the role of the Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase-Stimulator of Interferon Genes (cGAS-STING) signaling pathway in a murine model of TBI. Methods Male, 8-week old wildtype, STING knockout (−/−), cGAS−/−, and NLRX1−/− mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI) or sham injury. Histopathological evaluation of tissue damage was assessed using non-biased stereology, which was complemented by analysis at the mRNA and protein level using qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Results We found that STING and Type I interferon-stimulated genes were upregulated after CCI injury in a bi-phasic manner and that loss of cGAS or STING conferred neuroprotection concomitant with a blunted inflammatory response at 24 h post-injury. cGAS−/− animals showed reduced motor deficits 4 days after injury (dpi), and amelioration of tissue damage was seen in both groups of mice up to 14 dpi. Given that cGAS requires a cytosolic damage- or pathogen-associated molecular pattern (DAMP/PAMP) to prompt downstream STING signaling, we further demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA is present in the cytosol after TBI as one possible trigger for this pathway. Recent reports suggest that the immune modulator NLR containing X1 (NLRX1) may sequester STING during viral infection. Our findings show that NLRX1 may be an additional regulator that functions upstream to regulate the cGAS-STING pathway in the brain. Conclusions These findings suggest that the canonical cGAS-STING-mediated Type I interferon signaling axis is a critical component of neural tissue damage following TBI and that mtDNA may be a possible trigger in this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Fritsch
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Jing Ju
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Eman Soliman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Swagatika Paul
- Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Graduate Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Jiang Chen
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Alexandra M. Kaloss
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Kowalski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Taylor C. Tuhy
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Rachana Deven Somaiya
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Irving Coy Allen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Michelle H. Theus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Alicia M. Pickrell Michelle H. Theus
| | - Alicia M. Pickrell
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Alicia M. Pickrell Michelle H. Theus
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10
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Liyanage T, Alharbi B, Quan L, Esquela-Kerscher A, Slaughter G. Plasmonic-Based Biosensor for the Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer. ACS Omega 2022; 7:2411-2418. [PMID: 35071928 PMCID: PMC8771705 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A tapered optical fiber (TOF) plasmonic biosensor was fabricated and used for the sensitive detection of a panel of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human serum obtained from noncancer and prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs let-7a, let-7c, miR-200b, miR-141, and miR-21 were tested as predictive cancer biomarkers since multianalyte detection minimizes false-positive and false-negative rates and establishes a strong foundation for early PCa diagnosis. The biosensing platform integrates metallic gold triangular nanoprisms (AuTNPs) laminated on the TOF to excite surface plasmon waves in the supporting metallic layer and enhance the evanescent mode of the fiber surface. This sensitive TOF plasmonic biosensor as a point-of-care (POC) cancer diagnostic tool enabled the detection of the panel of miRNAs in seven patient serums without any RNA extraction or sample amplification. The TOF plasmonic biosensor could detect miRNAs in human serum with a limit of detection between 179 and 580 aM and excellent selectivity. Statistical studies were obtained to differentiate cancerous from noncancerous samples with a p-value <0.0001. This high-throughput TOF plasmonic biosensor has the potential to expand and advance POC diagnostics for the early diagnosis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thakshila Liyanage
- Center
for Bioelectronics, Bioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23508, United States
| | - Bayan Alharbi
- Center
for Bioelectronics, Bioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23508, United States
| | - Linh Quan
- Leroy
T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Department of Microbiology
and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia
Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, United States
| | - Aurora Esquela-Kerscher
- Leroy
T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Department of Microbiology
and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia
Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, United States
| | - Gymama Slaughter
- Center
for Bioelectronics, Bioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23508, United States
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11
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Pototskiy E, Vinokuroff K, Ojeda A, Major CK, Sharma D, Anderson T, Howard K, Borenstein R, Musto AE. Downregulation of CD40L-CD40 attenuates seizure susceptibility and severity of seizures. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17262. [PMID: 34446808 PMCID: PMC8390750 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96760-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Unregulated neuro-inflammation mediates seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Our aim was to determine the effect of CD40-CD40L activation in experimental seizures. CD40 deficient mice (CD40KO) and control mice (wild type, WT) received pentenyltetrazole (PTZ) or pilocarpine to evaluate seizures and status epilepticus (SE) respectively. In mice, anti-CD40L antibody was administered intranasally before PTZ. Brain samples from human TLE and post-seizure mice were processed to determine CD40-CD40L expression using histological and molecular techniques. CD40 expression was higher in hippocampus from human TLE and in cortical neurons and hippocampal neural terminals after experimental seizures. CD40-CD40L levels increased after seizures in the hippocampus and in the cortex. After SE, CD40L/CD40 levels increased in cortex and showed an upward trend in the hippocampus. CD40KO mice demonstrated reduction in seizure severity and in latency compared to WT mice. Anti-CD40L antibody limited seizure susceptibility and seizure severity. CD40L-CD40 interaction can serve as a target for an immuno-therapy for TLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Pototskiy
- Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W. Olney Road, Lewis Hall, Office 2174, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA
| | | | - Andrew Ojeda
- Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W. Olney Road, Lewis Hall, Office 2174, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ronen Borenstein
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA
| | - Alberto E Musto
- Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W. Olney Road, Lewis Hall, Office 2174, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W. Olney Road, Lewis Hall, Office 2174, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA.
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12
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Wu L, Velander P, Brown AM, Wang Y, Liu D, Bevan DR, Zhang S, Xu B. Rosmarinic Acid Potently Detoxifies Amylin Amyloid and Ameliorates Diabetic Pathology in a Transgenic Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1322-1337. [PMID: 34423269 PMCID: PMC8369672 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is associated with a large number of human protein-misfolding diseases, yet FDA-approved drugs are currently not available. Amylin amyloid and plaque depositions in the pancreas are hallmark features of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, these amyloid deposits are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications such as neurodegeneration. We recently discovered that catechols and redox-related quinones/anthraquinones represent a broad class of protein aggregation inhibitors. Further screening of a targeted library of natural compounds in complementary medicine that were enriched with catechol-containing compounds identified rosmarinic acid (RA) as a potent inhibitor of amylin aggregation (estimated inhibitory concentration IC50 = 200-300 nM). Structure-function relationship analysis of RA showed the additive effects of the two catechol-containing components of the RA molecule. We further showed that RA does not reverse fibrillation back to monomeric amylin but rather lead to nontoxic, remodeled protein aggregates. RA has significant ex vivo efficacy in reducing human amylin oligomer levels in HIP rat sera as well as in sera from diabetic patients. In vivo efficacy studies of RA treatment with the diabetic HIP rat model demonstrated significant reduction in amyloid islet deposition and strong mitigation of diabetic pathology. Our work provides new in vitro molecular mechanisms and in vivo efficacy insights for a model nutraceutical agent against type 2 diabetes and other aging-related protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wu
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Biomanufacturing
Research Institute & Technology Enterprise (BRITE) and Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina
Central University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, United States
| | - Paul Velander
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Anne M. Brown
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Yao Wang
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Dongmin Liu
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - David R. Bevan
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Shijun Zhang
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Bin Xu
- Department
of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods,
and Exercise, and School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Biomanufacturing
Research Institute & Technology Enterprise (BRITE) and Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina
Central University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, United States
- Affiliated
Program Faculty, Duke Comprehensive Stroke
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
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13
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Woock AE, Grible JM, Olex AL, Harrell JC, Zot P, Idowu M, Clevenger CV. Serine residues 726 and 780 have nonredundant roles regulating STAT5a activity in luminal breast cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13506. [PMID: 34188118 PMCID: PMC8242097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92830-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In breast cancer, prolactin-induced activation of the transcription factor STAT5a results from the phosphorylation of STAT5a tyrosine residue 694. However, its role in mammary oncogenesis remains an unsettled debate as STAT5a exhibits functional dichotomy with both pro-differentiative and pro-proliferative target genes. Phosphorylation of STAT5a serine residues, S726 and S780, may regulate STAT5a in such a way to underlie this duality. Given hematopoiesis studies showing phospho-serine STAT5a as necessary for transformation, we hypothesized that serine phosphorylation regulates STAT5a activity to contribute to its role in mammary oncogenesis, specifically in luminal breast cancer. Here, phosphorylation of S726-, S780-, and Y694-STAT5a in response to prolactin in MCF7 luminal breast cancer cells was investigated with STAT5a knockdown and rescue with Y694F-, S726A-, or S780A-STAT5a, where the phospho-sites were mutated. RNA-sequencing and subsequent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis predicted that loss of each phospho-site differentially affected both prolactin-induced gene expression as well as functional pathways of breast cancer (e.g. cell survival, proliferation, and colony formation). In vitro studies of anchorage-independent growth and proliferation confirmed distinct phenotypes: whereas S780A-STAT5a decreased clonogenicity, S726A-STAT5a decreased proliferation in response to prolactin compared to wild type STAT5a. Collectively, these studies provide novel insights into STAT5a activation in breast cancer pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia E Woock
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Grible
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA
| | - Amy L Olex
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - J Chuck Harrell
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA
| | - Patricija Zot
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA
| | - Michael Idowu
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA
| | - Charles V Clevenger
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St, Sanger 4-006A, Richmond, VA, 23298-06629, USA.
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14
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Yin M, Xiao L, Liu Q, Kwon SY, Zhang Y, Sharma PR, Jin L, Li X, Xu B. 3D Printed Microheater Sensor-Integrated, Drug-Encapsulated Microneedle Patch System for Pain Management. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1901170. [PMID: 31664794 PMCID: PMC6918473 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Microneedle patch devices have been widely utilized for transdermal drug delivery in pain management, but is challenged by accurate control of drug release and subsequent diffusion to human body. The recent emerging wearable electronics that could be integrated with microneedle devices offer a facile approach to address such a challenge. Here a 3D-printed microheater integrated drug-encapsulated microneedle patch system for drug delivery is presented. The ink solution comprised polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a mass concentration of up to 45% (≈10 times higher of existing ones) is prepared and used to print crack-free stretchable microheaters on substrates with a broad range of materials and geometric curves. The adhesion strength of the printed microheater on the microneedle patch in elevated temperatures is measured to evaluate their integration performance. Assessments of encapsulated drug release into rat's skin are confirmed by examining degradation of microneedles, skin morphologies, and released fluorescent signals. Results and demonstrations established here creates a new opportunity for developing sensor controlled smart microneedle patch systems by integrating with wearable electronics, potentially useful in clinical and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengtian Yin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, PO Box 400746 122 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, 135 Hospital Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Qingchang Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, PO Box 400746 122 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Sung-Yun Kwon
- Theraject, Inc., 39270 Paseo Padre #112, Fremont, CA, 94538, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 116 N. Robertson Blvd, Pacific Theatres Building, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Poonam R Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 135 Hospital Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Li Jin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, 135 Hospital Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Xudong Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, 135 Hospital Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 135 Hospital Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Baoxing Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, PO Box 400746 122 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
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15
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Grainger AT, Tustison NJ, Qing K, Roy R, Berr SS, Shi W. Deep learning-based quantification of abdominal fat on magnetic resonance images. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204071. [PMID: 30235253 PMCID: PMC6147491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is increasingly prevalent and associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an accurate method for determination of body fat volume and distribution. However, quantifying body fat from numerous MRI slices is tedious and time-consuming. Here we developed a deep learning-based method for measuring visceral and subcutaneous fat in the abdominal region of mice. Congenic mice only differ from C57BL/6 (B6) Apoe knockout (Apoe-/-) mice in chromosome 9 that is replaced by C3H/HeJ genome. Male congenic mice had lighter body weight than B6-Apoe-/- mice after being fed 14 weeks of Western diet. Axial and coronal T1-weighted sequencing at 1-mm-thickness and 1-mm-gap was acquired with a 7T Bruker ClinScan scanner. A deep learning approach was developed for segmenting visceral and subcutaneous fat based on the U-net architecture made publicly available through the open-source ANTsRNet library—a growing repository of well-known neural networks. The volumes of subcutaneous and visceral fat measured through our approach were highly comparable with those from manual measurements. The Dice score, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and correlation analysis demonstrated the similarity between two methods in quantifying visceral and subcutaneous fat. Analysis with the automated method showed significant reductions in volumes of visceral and subcutaneous fat but not non-fat tissues in congenic mice compared to B6 mice. These results demonstrate the accuracy of deep learning in quantification of abdominal fat and its significance in determining body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Grainger
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Tustison
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kun Qing
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Rene Roy
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Stuart S. Berr
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Weibin Shi
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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Liang Y, Dearnaley WJ, Varano AC, Winton CE, Gilmore BL, Alden NA, Sheng Z, Kelly DF. Structural analysis of BRCA1 reveals modification hotspot. Sci Adv 2017; 3:e1701386. [PMID: 28948225 PMCID: PMC5606707 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1701386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells afflicted with mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility protein (BRCA1) often suffer from increased DNA damage and genomic instability. The precise manner in which physical changes to BRCA1 influence its role in DNA maintenance remains unclear. We used single-particle electron microscopy to study the three-dimensional properties of BRCA1 naturally produced in breast cancer cells. Structural studies revealed new information for full-length BRCA1, engaging its nuclear binding partner, the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein (BARD1). Equally important, we identified a region in mutated BRCA1 that was highly susceptible to ubiquitination. We refer to this site as a modification "hotspot." Ubiquitin adducts in the hotspot region proved to be biochemically reversible. Collectively, we show how key changes to BRCA1 affect its structure-function relationship, and present new insights to potentially modulate mutated BRCA1 in human cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Liang
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - William J. Dearnaley
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - A. Cameron Varano
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Carly E. Winton
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Brian L. Gilmore
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Nick A. Alden
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Zhi Sheng
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Deborah F. Kelly
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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