SLC46A3 Is Required to Transport Catabolites of Noncleavable Antibody Maytansine Conjugates from the Lysosome to the Cytoplasm.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) target cytotoxic drugs to antigen-positive cells for treating cancer. After internalization, ADCs with noncleavable linkers are catabolized to amino acid-linker-warheads within the lysosome, which then enter the cytoplasm by an unknown mechanism. We hypothesized that a lysosomal transporter was responsible for delivering noncleavable ADC catabolites into the cytoplasm. To identify candidate transporters, we performed a phenotypic shRNA screen with an anti-CD70 maytansine-based ADC. This screen revealed the lysosomal membrane protein SLC46A3, the genetic attenuation of which inhibited the potency of multiple noncleavable antibody-maytansine ADCs, including ado-trastuzumab emtansine. In contrast, the potencies of noncleavable ADCs carrying the structurally distinct monomethyl auristatin F were unaffected by SLC46A3 attenuation. Structure-activity experiments suggested that maytansine is a substrate for SLC46A3. Notably, SLC46A3 silencing led to relative increases in catabolite concentrations in the lysosome. Taken together, our results establish SLC46A3 as a direct transporter of maytansine-based catabolites from the lysosome to the cytoplasm, prompting further investigation of SLC46A3 as a predictive response marker in breast cancer specimens.

An inducible, isogenic cancer cell line system for targeting the state of mismatch repair deficiency.

The DNA mismatch repair system (MMR) maintains genome stability through recognition and repair of single-base mismatches and small insertion-deletion loops. Inactivation of the MMR pathway causes microsatellite instability and the accumulation of genomic mutations that can cause or contribute to cancer. In fact, 10-20% of certain solid and hematologic cancers are MMR-deficient. MMR-deficient cancers do not respond to some standard of care chemotherapeutics because of presumed increased tolerance of DNA damage, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic drugs. Toward this goal, we generated isogenic cancer cell lines for direct comparison of MMR-proficient and MMR-deficient cells. We engineered NCI-H23 lung adenocarcinoma cells to contain a doxycycline-inducible shRNA designed to suppress the expression of the mismatch repair gene MLH1, and compared single cell subclones that were uninduced (MLH1-proficient) versus induced for the MLH1 shRNA (MLH1-deficient). Here we present the characterization of these MMR-inducible cell lines and validate a novel class of rhodium metalloinsertor compounds that differentially inhibit the proliferation of MMR-deficient cancer cells.

Externalization of the leaderless cytokine IL-1F6 occurs in response to lipopolysaccharide/ATP activation of transduced bone marrow macrophages.

An interesting trait shared by many members of the IL-1 cytokine family is the absence of a signal sequence that can direct the newly synthesized polypeptides to the endoplasmic reticulum. As a result, these cytokines accumulate intracellularly. Recent studies investigating IL-1beta export established that its release is facilitated via activation of an intracellular multiprotein complex termed the inflammasome. The purpose of the current study was to explore the mechanism by which murine IL-1F6 is released from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and to compare this mechanism to that used by IL-1beta. BMDMs were engineered to overexpress IL-1F6 by retroviral transduction; cells overexpressing GFP also were generated to provide a noncytokine comparator. The transduced cells constitutively expressed IL-1F6 and GFP, but they did not constitutively release these polypeptides to the medium. Enhanced release of IL-1F6 was achieved by treating with LPS followed by ATP-induced activation of the P2X(7) receptor; GFP also was released under these conditions. No obvious proteolytic cleavage of IL-1F6 was noted following P2X(7) receptor-induced release. Stimulus-induced release of IL-1F6 and GFP demonstrated comparable susceptibility to pharmacological modulation. Therefore, transduced IL-1F6 is released in parallel with endogenous mature IL-1beta from LPS/ATP-treated BMDMs, but this externalization process is not selective for cytokines as a noncytokine (GFP) shows similar behavior. These findings suggest that IL-1F6 can be externalized via a stimulus-coupled mechanism comparable to that used by IL-1beta, and they provide additional insight into the complex cellular processes controlling posttranslational processing of the IL-1 cytokine family.

Antibacterial activities of a fosfomycin/tobramycin combination: a novel inhaled antibiotic for bronchiectasis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the in vitro and in vivo activities of a 4:1 (w/w) fosfomycin/tobramycin combination (FTI) with those of fosfomycin and tobramycin alone against cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis pathogens. METHODS: Clinical isolates of CF Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia complex, Escherichia coli and Klebsiellia spp. were evaluated by MIC, MBC, post-antibiotic effect (PAE), synergy, time-kill, a rat pneumonia model and spontaneous mutation frequency (SMF). RESULTS: FTI showed high activity against E. coli, H. influenzae, S. aureus and Klebsiella spp. For the S. aureus strains, 75% of which were methicillin resistant (MRSA), FTI had a lower MIC(90) than tobramycin. For P. aeruginosa, FTI had a lower MIC(90) than fosfomycin, but tobramycin was more active than either. Synergy studies showed no antagonism between fosfomycin and tobramycin, and 93% of the isolates demonstrated no interaction. FTI was rapidly bactericidal and exhibited concentration-dependent killing in time-kill studies. In the rat pneumonia model, FTI and tobramycin demonstrated bactericidal killing of P. aeruginosa; both were more active than fosfomycin alone. The SMF for S. aureus resistance to FTI was 2-4 log(10) lower than that for tobramycin and 2-7 log(10) lower than that for fosfomycin. For P. aeruginosa, the FTI SMF was 2-3 log(10) lower than that for fosfomycin and 1-2 log(10) lower than that for tobramycin. CONCLUSIONS: FTI is a broad-spectrum antibiotic combination with high activity in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest FTI could be a potential treatment for respiratory infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic bacteria.

Cutting edge: interleukin 17 signals through a heteromeric receptor complex.

IL-17 is an inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by a unique lineage of CD4 T cells that plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. IL-17RA is a ubiquitously expressed receptor that is essential for IL-17 biologic activity. Despite widespread receptor expression, the activity of IL-17 is most classically defined by its ability to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators by stromal cells. The lack of IL-17 responsiveness in mouse stromal cells genetically deficient in IL-17RA is poorly complemented by human IL-17RA, suggesting the presence of an obligate ancillary component whose activity is species specific. This component is IL-17RC, a distinct member of the IL-17R family. Thus, the biologic activity of IL-17 is dependent on a complex composed of IL-17RA and IL-17RC, suggesting a new paradigm for understanding the interactions between the expanded family of IL-17 ligands and their receptors.