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Forghani I, Lang SH, Rodier MJ, Bivona SA, Morales AA, Zuchner S, Bademci G, Tekin M. EFEMP1 haploinsufficiency causes a Marfan-like hereditary connective tissue disorder. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63556. [PMID: 38348595 PMCID: PMC11060917 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63556] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Phenotypic features of a hereditary connective tissue disorder, including craniofacial characteristics, hyperextensible skin, joint laxity, kyphoscoliosis, arachnodactyly, inguinal hernia, and diverticulosis associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in EFEMP1 have been previously described in four patients. Genome sequencing on a proband and her mother with comparable phenotypic features revealed that both patients were heterozygous for a stop-gain variant c.1084C>T (p.Arg362*). Complementary RNA-seq on fibroblasts revealed significantly reduced levels of mutant EFEMP1 transcript. Considering the absence of other molecular explanations, we extrapolated that EFEMP1 could be the cause of the patient's phenotypes. Furthermore, nonsense-mediated decay was demonstrated for the mutant allele as the principal mechanism for decreased levels of EFEMP1 mRNA. We provide strong clinical and genetic evidence for the haploinsufficiency of EFEMP1 due to nonsense-medicated decay to cause severe kyphoscoliosis, generalized hypermobility of joints, high and narrow arched palate, and potentially severe diverticulosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an autosomal dominant EFEMP1-associated hereditary connective tissue disorder and therefore expands the phenotypic spectrum of EFEMP1 related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irman Forghani
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Steven H. Lang
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Matthew J. Rodier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Stephanie A. Bivona
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | | | - Alejo A. Morales
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Stephan Zuchner
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Guney Bademci
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Mustafa Tekin
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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2
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Tan AW, Tong X, Alvarez-Cubela S, Chen P, Santana AG, Morales AA, Tian R, Infante R, Nunes de Paiva V, Kulandavelu S, Benny M, Dominguez-Bendala J, Wu S, Young KC, Rodrigues CO, Schmidt AF. c-Myc Drives inflammation of the maternal-fetal interface, and neonatal lung remodeling induced by intra-amniotic inflammation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1245747. [PMID: 38481391 PMCID: PMC10933046 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1245747] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but the mechanisms by which IAI leads to preterm birth and BPD are poorly understood, and there are no effective therapies for preterm birth and BPD. The transcription factor c-Myc regulates various biological processes like cell growth, apoptosis, and inflammation. We hypothesized that c-Myc modulates inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface, and neonatal lung remodeling. The objectives of our study were 1) to determine the kinetics of c-Myc in the placenta, fetal membranes and neonatal lungs exposed to IAI, and 2) to determine the role of c-Myc in modulating inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface, and neonatal lung remodeling induced by IAI. Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: 1) Intra-amniotic saline injections only (control), 2) Intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections only, and 3) Intra-amniotic LPS injections with c-Myc inhibitor 10058-F4. c-Myc expression, markers of inflammation, angiogenesis, immunohistochemistry, and transcriptomic analyses were performed on placenta and fetal membranes, and neonatal lungs to determine kinetics of c-Myc expression in response to IAI, and effects of prenatal systemic c-Myc inhibition on lung remodeling at postnatal day 14. Results: c-Myc was upregulated in the placenta, fetal membranes, and neonatal lungs exposed to IAI. IAI caused neutrophil infiltration and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in the placenta and fetal membranes, and neonatal lung remodeling with pulmonary hypertension consistent with a BPD phenotype. Prenatal inhibition of c-Myc with 10058-F4 in IAI decreased neutrophil infiltration and NET formation, and improved neonatal lung remodeling induced by LPS, with improved alveolarization, increased angiogenesis, and decreased pulmonary vascular remodeling. Discussion: In a rat model of IAI, c-Myc regulates neutrophil recruitment and NET formation in the placenta and fetal membranes. c-Myc also participates in neonatal lung remodeling induced by IAI. Further studies are needed to investigate c-Myc as a potential therapeutic target for IAI and IAI-associated BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- April W. Tan
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Xiaoying Tong
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Silvia Alvarez-Cubela
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Pingping Chen
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Aline Guimarães Santana
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Alejo A. Morales
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Runxia Tian
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Rae Infante
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Vanessa Nunes de Paiva
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shathiyah Kulandavelu
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Merline Benny
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Juan Dominguez-Bendala
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shu Wu
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Karen C. Young
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Claudia O. Rodrigues
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Augusto F. Schmidt
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
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Camarena V, Williams MM, Morales AA, Zafeer MF, Kilic OV, Kamiar A, Abad C, Rasmussen MA, Briski LM, Peart L, Bademci G, Barbouth DS, Smithson S, Wang G, Shehadeh LA, Walz K, Tekin M. ADAMTSL2 mutations determine the phenotypic severity in geleophysic dysplasia. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e174417. [PMID: 38300707 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174417] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Geleophysic dysplasia-1 (GD1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by ADAMTS-like 2 (ADAMTSL2) variants. It is characterized by distinctive facial features, limited joint mobility, short stature, brachydactyly, and life-threatening cardiorespiratory complications. The clinical spectrum spans from perinatal lethality to milder adult phenotypes. We developed and characterized cellular and mouse models, to replicate the genetic profile of a patient who is compound heterozygous for 2 ADAMTSL2 variants, namely p.R61H and p.A165T. The impairment of ADAMTSL2 secretion was observed in both variants, but p.A165T exhibited a more severe impact. Mice carrying different allelic combinations revealed a spectrum of phenotypic severity, from lethality in knockout homozygotes to mild growth impairment observed in adult p.R61H homozygotes. Homozygous and hemizygous p.A165T mice survived but displayed severe respiratory and cardiac dysfunction. The respiratory dysfunction mainly affected the expiration phase, and some of these animals had microscopic post-obstructive pneumonia. Echocardiograms and MRI studies revealed a significant systolic dysfunction, accompanied by a reduction of the aortic root size. Histology verified the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with myocyte hypertrophy, chondroid metaplasia, and mild interstitial fibrosis. This study revealed a substantial correlation between the degree of impaired ADAMTSL2 secretion and the severity of the observed phenotype in GD1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monique M Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute
| | - Alejo A Morales
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
| | | | - Okan V Kilic
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
| | | | - Clemer Abad
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
| | | | - Laurence M Briski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine Miami, Florida, USA
| | - LéShon Peart
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
| | - Guney Bademci
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
| | | | - Sarah Smithson
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Gaofeng Wang
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
- John P. Hussmann Institute for Human Genomics
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Lina A Shehadeh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute
| | - Katherina Walz
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
- John P. Hussmann Institute for Human Genomics
- IQUIBICEN - CONICET, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mustafa Tekin
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
- John P. Hussmann Institute for Human Genomics
- Department of Otolaryngology and
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Pearse DD, Hefley AB, Morales AA, Ghosh M. Comparative Profiling of TG2 and Its Effectors in Human Relapsing Remitting and Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061241. [PMID: 35740263 PMCID: PMC9220003 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic CNS autoimmune disease characterized by immune-mediated demyelination, axon loss, and disability. Dysregulation of transglutaminase-2 (TG2) has been implicated in disease initiation and progression. Herein, TG2 expression in post-mortem human brain tissue from Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) or Progressive MS (PMS) individuals were examined and correlated with the presence of TG2 binding partners and effectors implicated in the processes of inflammation, scar formation, and the antagonism of repair. Tissues from Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS; n = 6), Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PMS; n = 5), and non-MS control (n = 6) patients underwent immunohistochemistry for TG2, PLA2, COX-2, FN, CSPG, and HSPG. TG2 was strongly upregulated in active RRMS and PMS lesions, within blood vessels and the perivascular tissue of sclerotic plaques. TG2 colocalization was observed with GFAP+ astrocytes and ECM, including FN, HSPG, and CSPG, which also increased in either RRMS or PMS lesions. Although TG2 was not colocalized with inflammatory mediators COX-2 and PLA2, or the macrophage-microglia marker Iba1, its increased expression correlated with their elevation in active RRMS and PMS lesions. In summary, the correlation of strong TG2 induction in either RRMS or PMS with some of its binding partners but not others implicates potentially different roles for TG2 in disparate MS forms that may warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien D. Pearse
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (D.D.P.); (A.B.H.); (A.A.M.)
- The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- The Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Andrew B. Hefley
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (D.D.P.); (A.B.H.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Alejo A. Morales
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (D.D.P.); (A.B.H.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Mousumi Ghosh
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (D.D.P.); (A.B.H.); (A.A.M.)
- The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-305-243-9968; Fax: +1-305-243-3923
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Qi Y, Qadir MMF, Hastreiter AA, Fock RA, Machi JF, Morales AA, Wang Y, Meng Z, Rodrigues CO. Endothelial c-Myc knockout enhances diet-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22077. [PMID: 34878671 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101086r] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial cells play an essential role in inflammation through synthesis and secretion of chemoattractant cytokines and expression of adhesion molecules required for inflammatory cell attachment and infiltration. The mechanisms by which endothelial cells control the pro-inflammatory response depend on the type of inflammatory stimuli, endothelial cell origin, and tissue involved. In the present study, we investigated the role of the transcription factor c-Myc in inflammation using a conditional knockout mouse model in which Myc is specifically deleted in the endothelium. At a systemic level, circulating monocytes, the chemokine CCL7, and the extracellular-matrix protein osteopontin were significantly increased in endothelial c-Myc knockout (EC-Myc KO) mice, whereas the cytokine TNFSF11 was downregulated. Using an experimental model of steatohepatitis, we investigated the involvement of endothelial c-Myc in diet-induced inflammation. EC-Myc KO animals displayed enhanced pro-inflammatory response, characterized by increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte infiltration, and worsened liver fibrosis. Transcriptome analysis identified enhanced expression of genes associated with inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in EC-Myc KO mice relative to control (CT) animals after short-exposure to high-fat diet. Analysis of a single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset of human cirrhotic livers indicated downregulation of MYC in endothelial cells relative to healthy controls. In summary, our results suggest a protective role of endothelial c-Myc in diet-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis. Targeting c-Myc and its downstream pathways in the endothelium may constitute a potential strategy for the treatment of inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mirza M F Qadir
- Deming Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Araceli A Hastreiter
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ricardo A Fock
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jacqueline F Machi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alejo A Morales
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zhipeng Meng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Claudia O Rodrigues
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Machi JF, Morales AA, Qi Y, Mendez NQ, Schmidt AF, Rodrigues CO. Abstract P399: Endothelial Myc Deletion Reduces Doxorubicin-induced Cardiac Dysfunction And Remodeling. Circ Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1161/res.129.suppl_1.p399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cardiotoxicity is the most common complication in patients undergoing chemotherapy, and the leading cause of death in long-term cancer survivors. Anthracyclines are highly effective drugs broadly used in cancer treatment, but with limited use due to cardiotoxicity. Currently, there is no effective treatment for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Recent studies have shown the role of endothelial cells in cardioprotection after anthracycline exposure, though mechanisms involved remain elusive. In the present study, we provide supporting evidence that endothelial Myc plays a role in anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Myc is a stress sensor and master regulator involved in multiple cellular functions. Deregulated Myc expression has been linked to multiple pathological conditions. Using a conditional knockout model, we tested the hypothesis that loss of endothelial c-Myc is cardioprotective. Control (CT) and endothelial knockout (KO) juvenile mice were exposed to 15mg/kg cumulative dose of doxorubicin administered in 6 doses every 2-days along 2-weeks. Echocardiography was performed 3-days after last dose. Doxorubicin had a significant sex-specific impact in cardiac function as previously reported. In CT males, doxorubicin caused significant decline in stroke and diastolic volume, without changes in ejection fraction. In CT females, doxorubicin caused significant increase in heart rate, decline in ejection fraction, and increase in diastolic volume. KO animals showed attenuated response to these doxorubicin-induced alterations in both males and females. Pathology analysis of the heart 3-months after doxorubicin exposure showed significant decline in CT and KO male cardiac mass and collagen content, both of which were attenuated in KO animals. Doxorubicin did not show any impact on mass and collagen content in females. RNAseq analysis suggested modulation of distinct pathways in CT and KO hearts associated with inflammation, DNA damage and repair, cell death and fibrosis. Cdkn1a and TP53 were top upstream regulators predicted to be activated in CT and let-7 in KO hearts. Our findings support the potential targeting of endothelial Myc in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
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Pearse DD, Rao SNR, Morales AA, Wakarchuk W, Rutishauser U, El-Maarouf A, Ghosh M. Engineering polysialic acid on Schwann cells using polysialyltransferase gene transfer or purified enzyme exposure for spinal cord injury transplantation. Neurosci Lett 2021; 748:135690. [PMID: 33540059 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135690] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polysialic acid (PolySia) is a critical post-translational modification on the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM, a.k.a., CD56), important for cell migration and axon growth during nervous system development, plasticity and repair. PolySia induction on Schwann cells (SCs) enhances their migration, axon growth support and ability to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) transplantation. In the current investigation two methods of PolySia induction on SCs, lentiviral vector transduction of the mouse polysialytransferase gene ST8SIA4 (LV-PST) or enzymatic engineering with a recombinant bacterial PST (PSTNm), were examined comparatively for their effects on PolySia induction, SC migration, the innate immune response and axon growth after acute SCI. PSTNm produced significant PolySia induction and a greater diversity of surface molecule polysialylation on SCs as evidenced by immunoblot. In the scratch wound assay, PSTNm was superior to LV-PST in the promotion of SC migration and gap closure. At 24 h after SCI transplantation, PolySia induction on SCs was most pronounced with LV-PST. Co-delivery of PSTNm with SCs, but not transient cell exposure, led to broader induction of PolySia within the injured spinal cord due to polysialylation upon both host cells and transplanted SCs. The innate immune response after SCI, measured by CD68 immunoreactivity, was similar among PolySia induction methods. LV-PST or PSTNm co-delivery with SCs provided a similar enhancement of SC migration and axon growth support above that of unmodified SCs. These studies demonstrate that LV-PST and PSTNm provide comparable acute effects on SC polysialation, the immune response and neurorepair after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien D Pearse
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Sudheendra N R Rao
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Alejo A Morales
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Warren Wakarchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, TG6 2E9, Canada
| | - Urs Rutishauser
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | | | - Mousumi Ghosh
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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9
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Matulis SM, Morales AA, Yehiayan L, Croutch C, Gutman D, Cai Y, Lee KP, Boise LH. Darinaparsin induces a unique cellular response and is active in an arsenic trioxide-resistant myeloma cell line. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 8:1197-206. [PMID: 19417148 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Here, we report on the organic arsenical darinaparsin (ZIO-101, S-dimethylarsino-glutathione) and its anti-myeloma activity compared with inorganic arsenic trioxide. Darinaparsin induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, and the addition of N-acetylcysteine, which increases intracellular glutathione (GSH), blocked cytotoxicity of both darinaparsin and arsenic trioxide. In contrast to arsenic trioxide, intracellular GSH does not appear to be important for darinaparsin metabolism, as an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine, had little effect on drug activity. This discrepancy was resolved when we determined the effects of thiols on drug uptake. The addition of exogenous GSH, L-cysteine, or D-cysteine prevented darinaparsin cellular uptake and cell death but had no effect on the uptake or activity of arsenic trioxide, suggesting a difference in the transport mechanism of these two drugs. In addition, gene expression profiling revealed differences in the signaling of protective responses between darinaparsin and arsenic trioxide. Although both arsenicals induced a transient heat shock response, only arsenic trioxide treatment induced transcription of metal response genes and anti-oxidant genes related to the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. In contrast to the protective responses, both arsenicals induced up-regulation of BH3-only proteins. Moreover, silencing of BH3-only proteins Noxa, Bim, and Bmf protected myeloma cells from darinaparsin-induced cell death. Finally, treatment of an arsenic trioxide-resistant myeloma cell line with darinaparsin resulted in dose-dependent apoptosis, indicating that cross-resistance does not necessarily develop between these two forms of arsenic in multiple myeloma cell lines. These results suggest darinaparsin may be useful as an alternative treatment in arsenic trioxide-resistant hematologic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Matulis
- Microbiology and Immunology and The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Morales AA, Gutman D, Cejas PJ, Lee KP, Boise LH. Reactive oxygen species are not required for an arsenic trioxide-induced antioxidant response or apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:12886-95. [PMID: 19279006 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m806546200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenicals are both environmental carcinogens as well as therapeutic agents for the treatment of trypanosomiasis and more recently cancer. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been successfully used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and has activity in multiple myeloma (MM). While signaling events associated with carcinogenesis have been well studied, it still remains to be determined which of these events are involved in anti-cancer signaling. To better define this response, gene expression profiling following ATO treatment of four MM cell lines was performed. The pattern was consistent with a strong antioxidative response, particularly of genes activated by Nrf2. While Nrf2 is expressed constitutively at the mRNA level, the protein is not detected in untreated cells. Consistent with inactivation of Keap1, Nrf2 protein is stabilized and present in the nucleus within 6 h of ATO treatment. Despite the activation of this antioxidative response, ROS may not be important in ATO-induced death. Inhibition of ATO-induced ROS with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) does not affect Nrf2 activation or cell death. Moreover, silencing Nrf2 had no effect on ATO-induced apoptosis. Together these data suggest that ROS is not important in the induction of the antioxidative response or cellular death by ATO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejo A Morales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Morales AA, Olsson A, Celsing F, Osterborg A, Jondal M, Osorio LM. High expression of bfl-1 contributes to the apoptosis resistant phenotype in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Int J Cancer 2005; 113:730-7. [PMID: 15499630 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In order to identify regulatory genes involved in the development of an apoptosis-resistant phenotype in patients with chemotherapy refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) expression of apoptosis-regulating genes in B-CLL cells was quantified using cDNA arrays and RT-PCR. Data were obtained from and compared between 2 groups of B-CLL patients with either nonprogressive, indolent, previously untreated disease and with leukemic cells sensitive to in vitro fludarabine-induced apoptosis, referred to as sensitive B-CLL (sB-CLL) or with progressive, chemotherapy refractory disease and with leukemic cells resistant to in vitro fludarabine-induced apoptosis, referred to as resistant B-CLL (rB-CLL). By performing a supervised clustering of genes that most strongly discriminated between rB-CLL vs. sB-CLL a small group of genes was identified, where bfl-1 was the strongest discriminating gene (p < 0.05), with higher expression in rB-CLL. A group of apoptosis-regulating genes were modulated during induction of apoptosis by serum deprivation in vitro in a similar manner in all cases studied. However, bfl-1 was preferentially downregulated in sB-CLL as compared to rB-CLL (p < 0.05). We conclude that bfl-1 may be an important regulator of B-CLL apoptosis, which could contribute to disease progression and resistance to chemotherapy, and as such represent a future potential therapeutic target.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Culture Media, Serum-Free/pharmacology
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Phenotype
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Up-Regulation
- Vidarabine/adverse effects
- Vidarabine/analogs & derivatives
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejo A Morales
- Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Morales AA, Olsson A, Celsing F, Osterborg A, Jondal M, Osorio LM. Expression and transcriptional regulation of functionally distinct Bmf isoforms in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leukemia 2004; 18:41-7. [PMID: 14574334 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2403183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Bmf is a BH3-only Bcl-2 family member that is normally sequestered to myosin V motors by binding to the dynein light chain 2 (DLC2). Certain damage signals release Bmf, which then binds prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins and triggers apoptosis. Here, two novel isoforms of human Bmf, Bmf-II and Bmf-III, were identified and cloned from cDNA derived from B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells. Bmf-II and Bmf-III were characterized as two splice variants, lacking the BH3 domain but retaining the DLC2 binding domain. Bmf (here called Bmf-I) expression in HeLa cells induced apoptosis and reduced colony formation in contrast to Bmf-II and Bmf-III, which had no effect on apoptosis and instead increased colony formation. While bmf-I mRNA was expressed in many cell types, expression was higher in B lymphoid cells and bmf-II and bmf-III were mainly detected in B-CLL and normal B cells. bmf-I mRNA was upregulated in normal and leukemic B cells, while bmf-III mRNA was downregulated only in B-CLL cells by serum deprivation. We show that Bmf is regulated by transcriptional activation and alternative splicing and conclude that the relative levels of Bmf isoforms may have a role in regulating growth and survival in B cells and leukemic B-CLL cells.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Alternative Splicing
- Apoptosis
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Base Sequence
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Culture Media, Serum-Free
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Protein Isoforms
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Transcription, Genetic
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Morales
- Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Morales AA, Ducongé J, Alvarez-Ruiz D, Becquer-Viart ML, Núñez-Gandolff G, Fernández E, Caballero-Torres I, Iznaga-Escobar N. Humanized versus murine anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies for immunoscintigraphic studies. Nucl Med Biol 2000; 27:199-206. [PMID: 10773550 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-8051(99)00094-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) humanized antibody h-R3 (IgG(1)), which binds to an extracellular domain of EGF-R, was used to evaluate the biodistribution on nude mice xenografted with A431 epidermoid carcinoma cell line. Results are compared with its murine version ior egf/r3 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Twenty-one athymic female 4NMRI nu/nu mice were injected intravenously with 10 microg/100 microCi of (99m)Tc-labeled mAbs. The mAb ior C5 that recognizes an antigen expressed preferentially on the surface of malignant and cytoplasm of normal colorectal cells was used as negative control. Immunoreactivity of (99m)Tc-labeled mAbs was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay on A431 cell line and the immunoreactive fractions determined by Lindmo method. Among all organs significative accumulation was found in tumor (6.14 +/- 2.50 %ID/g, 5.06 +/- 2.61 %ID/g for murine and humanized mAbs, respectively) 4 h after injection. The immunoreactive fractions were found to be 0.88 and 0.81 for murine and humanized mAb, respectively. Thus, we expect better results using the humanized mAb h-R3 for diagnostic immunoscintigraphy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Morales
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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14
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Morales AA, Núñez-Gandolff G, Pérez NP, Véliz BC, Caballero-Torres I, Ducongé J, Fernández E, Crespo FZ, Veloso A, Iznaga-Escobar N. Freeze-dried formulation for direct 99mTc-labeling ior-egf/r3 MAb: additives, biodistribution, and stability. Nucl Med Biol 1999; 26:717-23. [PMID: 10587113 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-8051(99)00038-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been useful for immunoscintigraphic applications in clinical diagnosis since they were introduced in nuclear medicine practice. The MAb ior egf/r3 developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology (Havana, Cuba) is a murine antibody that recognizes the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and has been used widely in the radioimmunodiagnosis of tumors of epithelial origin. Based on the direct Schwarz method, the present report describes the preparation of a freeze-dried formulation for radiolabeling the MAb ior egf/r3 with 99mTc for immunoscintigraphic applications. Radiolabeling efficiency, effects on immunoreactivity, biodistribution, pharmacokinetic, and stability of the formulation are reported. The study demonstrated that the freeze-dried formulation can be labeled with 99mTc at high yield. The resulting 99mTc-labeled ior egf/r3 MAb can be used to visualize in vivo human tumors of epithelial origin by immunoscintigraphy studies. The kit does not need any other addition or purification at the time of tagging other than the requisite amount of pertechnetate (40-50 mCi). Because the contents of the kit are lyophilized, no special storage or transportation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Morales
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are being widely used for imaging studies, coupled mainly with 99mTc. The antibody ior egf/r3 is a MAb against human epidermal growth factor receptor (hEGF-r), and we have developed a method for optimum labeling of this MAb with 99mTc. The reduction was performed with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) at a molar ratio of 2000:1 (2-ME:MAb) and methylene diphosphonate as transchelant. The integrity of reduced MAb was checked by mean of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography on Superose 12 (purity >99%). Radio colloids remained lower than 2%, and the labeling efficiency was 98.5%. The number of sulfhydryl groups generated was quantified using Ellman's reagent and was found to be 6.65+/-0.69 per antibody molecule. In vitro stability studies in several challenging conditions (DTPA, human serum albumin and human serum) were performed, and no significant loss in binding percentage was seen. Radio receptor assay was used to test immunoreactivity of the reduced MAb. Both labeled and unlabeled MAbs were able to compete for binding to the hEGF-r with radioiodinated EGF. Biodistribution studies in BALB/c mice are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Morales
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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Morales AA, Valdazo P, Corres J, Talbot JR, Perez F, Baylink DJ. Coexistence of Paget's bone disease and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in males. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1993; 11:361-5. [PMID: 8403579] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The coexistence of Paget's bone disease (PBD) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the spine is controversial and could have implications for the pathogenic mechanisms involved in these disorders. In order to assess the prevalence of DISH in patients with Paget's disease, a prospective controlled study was carried out in which roentgenograms were obtained from a group of 50 consecutive ambulatory patients previously diagnosed as having PBD (25 males and 25 females; mean age: 66.2 +/- 8.9 years) and these were compared with 50 age- and sex-matched subjects selected randomly from various categories of medical disorders excluding PBD. DISH was found in 12 of 50 Paget's patients, this corresponding to an incidence of 24%; 10 (83%) of these 12 subjects were males. In the control population the incidence of DISH was 6%-2 males and 1 female. This difference between the two groups was statistically significant (chi 2 test; p = 0.02). Apart from the male gender, which was clearly associated with the presence of DISH in the Paget's group (p = 0.019), no other biological variable or characteristic of PBD was linked to the presence of DISH. In conclusion, our data revealed that PBD patients have a significantly greater prevalence of DISH than non-PBD probands. It would seem that the genetic mechanism which is responsible for the susceptibility of PBD to osteoclast viral infection could be related to the pathogenia of DISH in a sex-linked manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Morales
- Rheumatology Service, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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Olivares-Perez A, Berriel-Valdos LR, Morales AA. Magnification effect and color blur behavior in holography. Appl Opt 1989; 28:4366-4369. [PMID: 20555877 DOI: 10.1364/ao.28.004366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the spatial behavior of the hologram image as a function of the geometric setup used in the recording and reconstruction steps. Given the equation of the holographic image and using paraxial theory and the synthetic division method, values of the longitudinal and lateral magnification are obtained. The location and magnification of the holographic image are found when the distance between the holographic plate and the object is changed. For white light reconstruction and 3-D scenes the effect of color blur can be expressed in terms of the parameters associated with the optical system that forms the image on the hologram and the recording geometry.
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Hariharan K, Srikumaran S, Moxley RA, Osorio FA, Morales AA. Induction of neutralizing antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus by anti-idiotypic antibodies. Viral Immunol 1989; 2:133-42. [PMID: 2550023 DOI: 10.1089/vim.1989.2.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential of anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-ids) as immunogens against transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) was tested in a heterologous system. A month-old pig was immunized with a neutralizing murine monoclonal antibody (MAb, 5A5) of the IgG2a isotype, specific for the E2 glycoprotein of TGEV. The anti-ids were isolated from the serum of the immunized pig by affinity chromatography, initially on a 5A5-Sepharose column, followed by repeated adsorption on a mouse IgG2a column. The swine anti-ids thus obtained bound to the MAb 5A5 (the idiotype), but not to MAbs of the same isotype IgG2a but of different idiotypes. The anti-ids also inhibited the binding of 5A5 to TGEV in a concentration-dependent manner. Mice immunized with the anti-ids produced antibodies to TGEV. These antibodies, neutralized TGEV in vitro and inhibited the binding of 5A5 to TGEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hariharan
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
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