Differences in the proteome within extracellular vesicles between premalignant and malignant plasma cell disorders.

BACKGROUND: Precursor plasma cell disorders such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) always precede the development of active malignancies such as multiple myeloma (MM). There is a need for novel biomarkers to identify those patients with such precursor plasma cell disorders who rapidly progress to MM. Plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) may serve as a reservoir of potential biomarkers that can shed light on the pathogenesis and disease biology of MM. METHODS: This study isolated small EVs (SEVs) and large EVs (LEVs) from the platelet-poor peripheral blood plasma of MGUS (n = 9) and MM (n = 12) patients using the size exclusion chromatography-based method and evaluated their proteome using a label-free proteomics workflow. RESULTS: In total, 2055 proteins were identified in SEVs, while 2794 proteins were identified in LEVs. The transferrin receptor (or CD71) protein was upregulated in both populations of EVs derived from MM patients compared to MGUS patients and was of prognostic significance. Similarly, three isoforms of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, SAA1, SAA2, and SAA4, were also highly upregulated in SEVs within MM patients relative to MGUS patients. Finally, CD40 expression was also higher in the LEVs derived from MM patients than in MGUS patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of successfully isolating both SEVs and LEVs from the peripheral blood of patients with plasma cell disorders and quantifying protein biomarkers within these EVs that could be of prognostic and diagnostic interest.

SOX2 expression in prostate cancer drives resistance to nuclear hormone receptor signaling inhibition through the WEE1/CDK1 signaling axis.

The development of androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) drug resistance in prostate cancer (PC) remains therapeutically challenging. Our group has described the role of sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) overexpression in ARSI-resistant PC. Continuing this work, we report that NR3C1, the gene encoding glucocorticoid receptor (GR), is a novel SOX2 target in PC, positively regulating its expression. Similar to ARSI treatment, SOX2-positive PC cells are insensitive to GR signaling inhibition using a GR modulating therapy. To understand SOX2-mediated nuclear hormone receptor signaling inhibitor (NHRSI) insensitivity, we performed RNA-seq in SOX2-positive and -negative PC cells following NHRSI treatment. RNA-seq prioritized differentially regulated genes mediating the cell cycle, including G2 checkpoint WEE1 Kinase (WEE1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). Additionally, WEE1 and CDK1 were differentially expressed in PC patient tumors dichotomized by high vs low SOX2 gene expression. Importantly, pharmacological targeting of WEE1 (WEE1i) in combination with an ARSI or GR modulator re-sensitizes SOX2-positive PC cells to nuclear hormone receptor signaling inhibition in vitro, and WEE1i combined with ARSI significantly slowed tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, our data suggest SOX2 predicts NHRSI resistance, and simultaneously indicates the addition of WEE1i to improve therapeutic efficacy of NHRSIs in SOX2-positive PC.

Cooperative miRNA-dependent PTEN regulation drives resistance to BTK inhibition in B-cell lymphoid malignancies.

Aberrant microRNA (miR) expression plays an important role in pathogenesis of different types of cancers, including B-cell lymphoid malignancies and in the development of chemo-sensitivity or -resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as well as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Ibrutinib is a first-in class, oral, covalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor (BTKi) that has shown impressive clinical activity, yet many ibrutinib-treated patients relapse or develop resistance over time. We have reported that acquired resistance to ibrutinib is associated with downregulation of tumor suppressor protein PTEN and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Yet how PTEN mediates chemoresistance in B-cell malignancies is not clear. We now show that the BTKi ibrutinib and a second-generation compound, acalabrutinib downregulate miRNAs located in the 14q32 miRNA cluster region, including miR-494, miR-495, and miR-543. BTKi-resistant CLL and DLBCL cells had striking overexpression of miR-494, miR-495, miR-543, and reduced PTEN expression, indicating further regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in acquired BTKi resistance. Additionally, unlike ibrutinib-sensitive CLL patient samples, those with resistance to ibrutinib treatment, demonstrated upregulation of 14q32 cluster miRNAs, including miR-494, miR-495, and miR-543 and decreased pten mRNA expression. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-494 directly targeted and suppressed PTEN expression by recognizing two conserved binding sites in the PTEN 3'-UTR, and subsequently activated AKTSer473. Importantly, overexpression of a miR-494 mimic abrogated both PTEN mRNA and protein levels, further indicating regulation of apoptosis by PTEN/AKT/mTOR. Conversely, overexpression of a miR-494 inhibitor in BTKi-resistant cells restored PTEN mRNA and protein levels, thereby sensitizing cells to BTKi-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-494 and miR-495 sensitized cells by cooperative targeting of pten, with additional miRNAs in the 14q32 cluster that target pten able to contribute to its regulation. Therefore, targeting 14q32 cluster miRNAs may have therapeutic value in acquired BTK-resistant patients via regulation of the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling axis.

Cost effectiveness of typhoid vaccination in India.

INTRODUCTION: World Health Organization has prequalified the use of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in children over six months of age in typhoid endemic countries. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of introducing TCV separately for urban and rural areas of India. METHODS: A decision analytic model was developed, using a societal perspective, to compare long-term costs and outcomes (3% discount rate) in a new-born cohort of 100,000 children immunized with or without TCV. Three vaccination scenarios were modelled, assuming the protective efficacy of TCV to last for 5, 10 and 15 years following immunization. Incidence of typhoid infection estimated under 'National Surveillance System for Enteric Fever' (NSSEFI)' was used. The prices of vaccine and cost of service delivery were included for vaccination arm. Both health system cost and out-of-pocket expenditures for treatment of typhoid illness and its complications was included. RESULTS: TCV introduction in urban areas would result in prevention of 17% to 36% typhoid cases and deaths. With exclusion of indirect costs, the incremental cost per QALY gained was ₹ 151,346 (54,730-307,975), ₹ 61,710 (-5250 to 163,283) and ₹ 45,188 (-17,069 to 141,093) for scenario 1, 2 and 3 respectively. While, with inclusion of indirect costs, all 3 scenarios were cost saving. Further, in rural areas, TCV is estimated to reduce the typhoid cases and deaths by 19% to 36%, with ICER (incremental cost per QALY gained) ranging from ₹ 2340 (1316-4370) to ₹ 3574 (2057 - 6691) thousand (inclusive of indirect costs) among the 3 vaccination scenarios. CONCLUSION: From a societal perspective, introduction of TCV is a cost saving strategy in urban India. Further, due to low incidence of typhoid infection, introduction of TCV is not cost-effective in rural settings of India.

Prevalence of Astigmatism in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery at a Tertiary Care Center in North India.

AIM: To assess the demography, magnitude, and type of corneal astigmatism in patients undergoing cataract surgery in North India. METHODS: It is a clinic-based, cross-sectional, observational study. Keratometric values and demographic data were collected for eligible patients who had undergone phacoemulsification at a tertiary eye care center between January 2010 and December 2017, using a non contact, optical low coherence reflectometry (OLCR). RESULTS: A total of 3597 eyes were recruited for the study. There were 1810 (50.3%) females and 1787 (49.7%) males. The mean age was 59.121±15.19 (range 5-100 years). A total of 3559 eyes were qualified for astigmatism analysis. The mean corneal astigmatism among all patients was 1.17±1.15 D (range 0-12.5 D). There was no astigmatism in 99 eyes (2.78%), with-the-rule (WTR) in 1062 eyes (29.83%), against-the-rule (ATR) in 1843 eyes (51.72%) and oblique astigmatism (OA) in 555 eyes (15.59%). The tendency of a gradual change from with the rule (WTR) to against the rule (ATR) astigmatism was noted as the age advanced. CONCLUSION: In the present study around 56.69% of eyes had corneal astigmatism of <1.0 D that can be managed by simple cost-effective keratorefractive procedures especially in developing countries. However, our 40.49% patients had >1.0 D of corneal astigmatism, which may benefit by toric intraocular lenses.

Targeting BCL-2 in B-cell malignancies and overcoming therapeutic resistance.

Defects in apoptosis can promote tumorigenesis and impair responses of malignant B cells to chemotherapeutics. Members of the B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family of proteins are key regulators of the intrinsic, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Overexpression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins is associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis. Thus, inhibition of BCL-2 family proteins is a rational therapeutic option for malignancies that are dependent on antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins. Venetoclax (ABT-199, GDC-0199) is a highly selective BCL-2 inhibitor that represents the first approved agent of this class and is currently widely used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as well as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite impressive clinical activity, venetoclax monotherapy for a prolonged duration can lead to drug resistance or loss of dependence on the targeted protein. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanism of action of BCL-2 inhibition and the role of this approach in the current treatment paradigm of B-cell malignancies. We summarize the drivers of de novo and acquired resistance to venetoclax that are closely associated with complex clonal shifts, interplay of expression and interactions of BCL-2 family members, transcriptional regulators, and metabolic modulators. We also examine how tumors initially resistant to venetoclax become responsive to it following prior therapies. Here, we summarize preclinical data providing a rationale for efficacious combination strategies of venetoclax to overcome therapeutic resistance by a targeted approach directed against alternative antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins (MCL-1, BCL-xL), compensatory prosurvival pathways, epigenetic modifiers, and dysregulated cellular metabolism/energetics for durable clinical remissions.

Aberrant Exon 8/8a Splicing by Downregulated PTBP (Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein) 1 Increases CaV1.2 Dihydropyridine Resistance to Attenuate Vasodilation.

OBJECTIVE: Calcium channel blockers, such as dihydropyridines, are commonly used to inhibit enhanced activity of vascular CaV1.2 channels in hypertension. However, patients who are insensitive to such treatments develop calcium channel blocker-resistant hypertension. The function of CaV1.2 channel is diversified by alternative splicing, and the splicing factor PTBP (polypyrimidine tract-binding protein) 1 influences the utilization of mutually exclusive exon 8/8a of the CaV1.2 channel during neuronal development. Nevertheless, whether and how PTBP1 makes a role in the calcium channel blocker sensitivity of vascular CaV1.2 channels, and calcium channel blocker-induced vasodilation remains unknown. Approach and Results: We detected high expression of PTBP1 and, inversely, low expression of exon 8a in CaV1.2 channels (CaV1.2E8a) in rat arteries. In contrast, the opposite expression patterns were observed in brain and heart tissues. In comparison to normotensive rats, the expressions of PTBP1 and CaV1.2E8a channels were dysregulated in mesenteric arteries of hypertensive rats. Notably, PTBP1 expression was significantly downregulated, and CaV1.2E8a channels were aberrantly increased in dihydropyridine-resistant arteries compared with dihydropyridine-sensitive arteries of rats and human. In rat vascular smooth muscle cells, PTBP1 knockdown resulted in shifting of CaV1.2 exon 8 to 8a. Using patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrated a concomitant reduction of sensitivity of CaV1.2 channels to nifedipine, due to the higher expression of CaV1.2E8a isoform. In vascular myography experiments, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of PTBP1 attenuated nifedipine-induced vasodilation of rat mesenteric arteries. CONCLUSIONS: PTBP1 finely modulates the sensitivities of CaV1.2 channels to dihydropyridine by shifting the utilization of exon 8/8a and resulting in changes of responses in dihydropyridine-induced vasodilation.

USP14 is a deubiquitinase for Ku70 and critical determinant of non-homologous end joining repair in autophagy and PTEN-deficient cells.

Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are predominantly repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). IR-induced DNA damage activates autophagy, an intracellular degradation process that delivers cytoplasmic components to the lysosome. We identified the deubiquitinase USP14 as a novel autophagy substrate and a regulator of IR-induced DNA damage response (DDR) signaling. Inhibition of autophagy increased levels and DSB recruitment of USP14. USP14 antagonized RNF168-dependent ubiquitin signaling and downstream 53BP1 chromatin recruitment. Here we show that autophagy-deficient cells are defective in NHEJ, as indicated by decreased IR-induced foci (IRIF) formation by pS2056-, pT2609-DNA-PKcs, pS1778-53BP1, RIF1 and a reporter assay activation. Moreover, chromatin recruitment of key NHEJ proteins, including, Ku70, Ku80, DNA-PKcs and XLF was diminished in autophagy-deficient cells. USP14 inhibition rescued the activity of NHEJ-DDR proteins in autophagy-deficient cells. Mass spectrometric analysis identified USP14 interaction with core NHEJ proteins, including Ku70, which was validated by co-immunoprecipitation. An in vitro assay revealed that USP14 targeted Ku70 for deubiquitination. AKT, which mediates Ser432-USP14 phosphorylation, was required for IRIF formation by USP14. Similar to USP14 block, AKT inhibition rescued the activity of NHEJ-DDR proteins in autophagy- and PTEN-deficient cells. These findings reveal a novel negative PTEN/Akt-dependent regulation of NHEJ by USP14.

Resistance to BTK inhibition by ibrutinib can be overcome by preventing FOXO3a nuclear export and PI3K/AKT activation in B-cell lymphoid malignancies.

Chronic activation of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK)-mediated B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is a hallmark of many B-cell lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Ibrutinib, an FDA approved, orally administered BTK inhibitor, has demonstrated high response rates, however, complete responses are infrequent and acquired resistance to BTK inhibition can emerge. In this study, we generated ibrutinib-resistant (IB-R) cell lines by chronic exposure of CLL and activated B-cell (ABC)-DLBCL cells to ibrutinib in order to investigate the mechanism of acquired resistance to ibrutinib. IB-R cell lines demonstrated downregulation of FOXO3a and PTEN levels and activation of AKT, with their levels being low in the nuclei of resistant cells in comparison to the sensitive counterparts. Inhibition of PI3K and AKT using idelalisib and MK2206, respectively increased ibrutinib-induced apoptosis in IB-R cells by downregulation of pAKT473 and restoring FOXO3a levels, demonstrating the importance of these cell survival factors for ibrutinib-resistance. Notably, the exportin 1 inhibitor, selinexor synergized with ibrutinib in IB-R cells and restored nuclear abundance of FOXO3a and PTEN, suggesting that nuclear accumulation of FOXO3a and PTEN facilitates increase in ibrutinib-induced apoptosis in IB-R cells. These data demonstrate that reactivation of FOXO3a nuclear function enhances the efficacy of ibrutinib and overcomes acquired resistance to ibrutinib. Together, these findings reveal a novel mechanism that confers ibrutinib resistance via aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic subcellular localization of FOXO3a and could be exploited by rational therapeutic combination regimens for effectively treating lymphoid malignancies.

Galectin-1 attenuates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through splice-variant specific modulation of CaV1.2 calcium channel.

Pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy occurs in response to chronic blood pressure increase, and dysfunction of CaV1.2 calcium channel involves in cardiac hypertrophic processes by perturbing intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and calcium-dependent signaling. As a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-1 (Gal-1) is found to bind with CaV1.2 channel, which regulates vascular CaV1.2 channel functions and blood pressure. However, the potential roles of Gal-1 in cardiac CaV1.2 channel (CaV1.2CM) and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy remain elusive. By whole-cell patch clamp, we find Gal-1 decreases the ICa,L with or without isoproterenol (ISO) application by reducing the channel membrane expression in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). Moreover, Gal-1 could inhibit the current densities of CaV1.2CM by an alternative exon 9*-dependent manner in heterologously expressed HEK293 cells. Of significance, overexpression of Gal-1 diminishes ISO or KCl-induced [Ca2+]i elevation and attenuates ISO-induced hypertrophy in NRVMs. Mechanistically, Gal-1 decreases the ISO or Bay K8644-induced phosphorylation of intracellular calcium-dependent signaling proteins δCaMKII and HDAC4, and inhibits ISO-triggered translocation of HDAC4 in NRVMs. Pathologically, we observe that the expressions of Gal-1 and CaV1.2E9* channels are synchronously increased in rat hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and hearts. Taken together, our study indicates that Gal-1 reduces the channel membrane expression to inhibit the currents of CaV1.2CM in a splice-variant specific manner, which diminishes [Ca2+]i elevation, and attenuates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by inhibiting the phosphorylation of δCaMKII and HDAC4. Furthermore, our work suggests that dysregulated Gal-1 and CaV1.2 alternative exon 9* might be attributed to the pathological processes of cardiac hypertrophy, and provides a potential anti-hypertrophic target in the heart.

Aberrant Splicing Induced by Dysregulated Rbfox2 Produces Enhanced Function of CaV1.2 Calcium Channel and Vascular Myogenic Tone in Hypertension.

Calcium influx from activated voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2 in vascular smooth muscle cells is indispensable for maintaining myogenic tone and blood pressure. The function of CaV1.2 channel can be optimized by alternative splicing, one of post-transcriptional modification mechanisms. The splicing factor Rbfox2 is known to regulate the CaV1.2 pre-mRNA alternative splicing events during neuronal development. However, Rbfox2's roles in modulating the key function of vascular CaV1.2 channel and in the pathogenesis of hypertension remain elusive. Here, we report that the proportion of CaV1.2 channels with alternative exon 9* is increased by 10.3%, whereas that with alternative exon 33 is decreased by 10.5% in hypertensive arteries. Surprisingly, the expression level of Rbfox2 is increased ≈3-folds, presumably because of the upregulation of a dominant-negative isoform of Rbfox2. In vascular smooth muscle cells, we find that knockdown of Rbfox2 dynamically increases alternative exon 9*, whereas decreases exon 33 inclusion of CaV1.2 channels. By patch-clamp studies, we show that diminished Rbfox2-induced alternative splicing shifts the steady-state activation and inactivation curves of vascular CaV1.2 calcium channel to hyperpolarization, which makes the window current potential to more negative. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rbfox2 increases the pressure-induced vascular myogenic tone of rat mesenteric artery. Taken together, our data indicate that Rbfox2 modulates the functions of vascular CaV1.2 calcium channel by dynamically regulating the expressions of alternative exons 9* and 33, which in turn affects the vascular myogenic tone. Therefore, our work suggests a key role for Rbfox2 in hypertension, which provides a rational basis for designing antihypertensive therapies.

E6AP inhibits G-CSFR turnover and functions by promoting its ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) plays a crucial role in regulating myeloid cell survival, proliferation, and neutrophilic granulocyte precursor cells maturation. Previously, we demonstrated that Fbw7α negatively regulates G-CSFR and its downstream signaling through ubiquitin-proteasome mediated degradation. However, whether additional ubiquitin ligases for G-CSFR exist is not known. Identifying multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases for G-CSFR shall improve our understanding of activation and subsequent attenuation of G-CSFR signaling required for differentiation and proliferation. Here, for the first time we demonstrate that E6 associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase physically associates with G-CSFR and targets it for ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation and thereby attenuates its functions. We further show that E6AP promoted G-CSFR degradation leads to reduced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) which is required for G-CSF dependent granulocytic differentiation. More importantly, our finding shows that E6AP also targets mutant form of G-SCFR (G-CSFR-T718), frequently observed in severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) patients that very often culminate to AML, however, at a quite slower rate than wild type G-CSFR. In addition, our data showed that knockdown of E6AP restores G-CSFR and its signaling thereby promoting granulocytic differentiation. Collectively, our data demonstrates that E6AP facilitates ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of G-CSFR leading to attenuation of its downstream signaling and inhibition of granulocytic differentiation.

Ubiquitin Ligase, Fbw7, Targets CDX2 for Degradation via Two Phosphodegron Motifs in a GSK3ß-Dependent Manner.

Drosophila caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) drives differentiation of the intestinal epithelium. Loss of CDX2 expression has been reported in several colorectal cancers and cancer cell lines with a potential inverse correlation between CDX2 levels and tumor stage. Ubiquitination of CDX2 leading to its downregulation has been implicated in several studies; however, the E3 ubiquitin ligases involved in CDX2 ubiquitination have largely remained unknown. Here, it is mechanistically determined that the E3 ubiquitin ligase Fbw7 promotes CDX2 ubiquitination and degradation through two phosphodegron motifs present within CDX2 in a GSK3ß-dependent manner leading to its reduced expression and function in colon cancer cells. Fbw7, through its WD domain, interacted with CDX2 both in a heterologous HEK293T cell system and in colon cancer cells. GSK3ß was also present in the same complex as determined by coimmunoprecipitation. Furthermore, overexpression of both Fbw7 or GSK3ß down regulated endogenous CDX2 expression and function; however, both failed to inhibit endogenous CDX2 when either of them were depleted in colon cancer cells. Fbw7-mediated inhibition of CDX2 expression also led to reduced CDX2 transactivation and growth arrest of colon cancer cells. Both GSK3ß and Fbw7 degraded mutant-CDX2 having either of the Cdc4-phosphodegron (CPD) motifs disrupted (CDX2-S60A or CDX-S281A), but were unable to degrade mutant-CDX2 having both CPDs disrupted (CDX2-S60,64,281A). IMPLICATIONS: Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Fbw7 negatively regulates CDX2 expression in a GSK3ß-dependent manner through two CPDs present in CDX2. Mol Cancer Res; 14(11); 1097-109. ©2016 AACR.

Skp2 inhibits osteogenesis by promoting ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of Runx2.

Osteogenic transcription factor Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation. The activity of Runx2 is tightly regulated at transcriptional as well as post-translational level. However, regulation of Runx2 stability by ubiquitin mediated proteasomal degradation by E3 ubiquitin ligases is little-known. Here, for the first time we demonstrate that Skp2, an SCF family E3 ubiquitin ligase negatively targets Runx2 by promoting its polyubiquitination and proteasome dependent degradation. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that Skp2 physically interacts with Runx2 both in a heterologous as well as physiologically relevant system. Functional consequences of Runx2-Skp2 physical interaction were then assessed by promoter reporter assay. We show that Skp2-mediated downregulation of Runx2 led to reduced Runx2 transactivation and osteoblast differentiation. On the contrary, inhibition of Skp2 restored Runx2 levels and promoted osteoblast differentiation. We further show that Skp2 and Runx2 proteins are co-expressed and show inverse relation in vivo such as in lactating, ovariectomized and estrogen-treated ovariectomized animals. Together, these data demonstrate that Skp2 targets Runx2 for ubiquitin mediated degradation and hence negatively regulate osteogenesis. Therefore, the present study provides a plausible therapeutic target for osteoporosis or cleidocranial dysplasia caused by the heterozygous mutation of Runx2 gene.

Proteomic discovery of MNT as a novel interacting partner of E3 ubiquitin ligase E6AP and a key mediator of myeloid differentiation.

Perturbed stability of regulatory proteins is a major cause of transformations leading to cancer, including several leukemia subtypes. Here, for the first time we demonstrate that E6-associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase negatively targets MAX binding protein MNT for ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation and impedes ATRA mediated myeloid cell differentiation. MNT is a member of the Myc/Max/Mad network of transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. Wild-type E6AP promoted proteasome dependent degradation of MNT, while catalytically inactive E6AP having cysteine replaced with alanine at amino-acid 843 position (E6APC843A) rather stabilized it. Further, these proteins physically associated with each other both in non-myeloid (HEK293T) and myeloid cells. MNT overexpression induced G0-G1 growth arrest and promoted myeloid differentiation while its knockdown mitigated even ATRA induced differentiation suggesting MNT to be crucial for myeloid differentiation. We further showed that ATRA inhibited E6AP and stabilized MNT expression by protecting it from E6AP mediated ubiquitin-proteasome degradation. Notably, E6AP knockdown in HL60 cells restored MNT expression and promoted myeloid differentiation. Taken together, our data demonstrated that E6AP negatively regulates granulocytic differentiation by targeting MNT for degradation which is required for growth arrest and subsequent myeloid differentiation by various differentiation inducing agents.

E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Fbw7 Negatively Regulates Osteoblast Differentiation by Targeting Runx2 for Degradation.

Runx2, a master regulator of osteoblast differentiation, is tightly regulated at both transcriptional and post-translational levels. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination have differential effects on Runx2 functions. Here, we show that the reduced expression and functions of Runx2 upon its phosphorylation by GSK3ß are mediated by its ubiquitin-mediated degradation through E3 ubiquitin ligase Fbw7α. Fbw7α through its WD domain interacts with Runx2 both in a heterologous (HEK293T cells) system as well as in osteoblasts. GSK3ß was also present in the same complex as determined by co-immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, overexpression of either Fbw7α or GSK3ß was sufficient to down-regulate endogenous Runx2 expression and function; however, both failed to inhibit endogenous Runx2 when either of them was depleted in osteoblasts. Fbw7α-mediated inhibition of Runx2 expression also led to reduced Runx2 transactivation and osteoblast differentiation. In contrast, inhibition of Fbw7α restored Runx2 levels and promoted osteoblast differentiation. We also observed reciprocal expression levels of Runx2 and Fbw7α in models of bone loss such as lactating (physiological bone loss condition) and ovariectomized (induction of surgical menopause) animals that show reduced Runx2 and enhanced Fbw7α, whereas this was reversed in the estrogen-treated ovariectomized animals. In addition, methylprednisolone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) treatment to neonatal rats showed a temporal decrease in Runx2 with a reciprocal increase in Fbw7 in their calvarium. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Fbw7α negatively regulates osteogenesis by targeting Runx2 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation in a GSK3ß-dependent manner and thus provides a plausible explanation for GSK3ß-mediated bone loss as described before.

Dorsal ectopic breast in a case of spinal dysraphism: A rare entity.

An ectopic breast, that is present at a distance from the embryonic milk line, is an uncommon condition in the normal population. We describe a case with the presence of a breast in the dorsal region occurring in a patient with meningomyelocele and split cord malformation type I. A dorsally situated breast in a case of split cord malformation has never been reported previously in the literature. This case report highlights that an ectopic breast could be a marker of occult spinal dysraphism. This lesion should be corrected only after appropriate radiological investigations ascertain the underlying pathology.

Osteolytic lesions of hand and feet: a seven-year experience from a tertiary referral centre of North India.

There are 106 bones in hands and feet but their lesions are not commonly reported. This was a retrospective study of all osteolytic lesions involving bones of the hands or feet presenting to the only tertiary referral centre of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand during the 7-year period from January 2006 to December 2012. A compilation of the various demographic, clinical, radiological and histopathological findings was made. Of the 52 lesions encountered in the 7-year record, 75% were asymptomatic. 20 (38.4%) were benign tumours, 20 (38.4%) tumour-like lesions, 9 (17.3%) inflammatory and post traumatic lesions and only 3 (5.7%) were malignant lesions. Giant cell tumour was the most common benign tumour, aneurysmal bone cyst the most common tumour-like lesion and non-specific osteomyelitis was the most common inflammatory and post-traumatic pathology. All phalangeal lesions were non-malignant and 62% were either giant cell tumours or giant cell reactions. Giant cell reaction was confined to upper limb bones; metatarsals were afflicted exclusively with giant cell tumours (n=3) while malignant lesions affected the metacarpals in two and carpal bones in one instance. Aneurysmal bone cysts were seen exclusively in the tarsal (n=4) and carpal bones (n=2), a very rare finding. More cases need to be studied to define patterns of lesions of hands and feet. The definitive diagnosis is essential as many patients with osteolytic lesions may not require surgical intervention.