Immunotherapy targeting B cells and long-lived plasma cells effectively eliminates pre-existing donor-specific allo-antibodies.

Pre-existing anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allo-antibodies constitute a major barrier to transplantation. Current desensitization approaches fail due to ineffective depletion of allo-specific memory B cells (Bmems) and long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). We evaluate the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD19 and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) to eliminate allo-antibodies in a skin pre-sensitized murine model of islet allo-transplantation. We find that treatment of allo-sensitized hosts with CAR T cells targeting Bmems and LLPCs eliminates donor-specific allo-antibodies (DSAs) and mitigates hyperacute rejection of subsequent islet allografts. We then assess the clinical efficacy of the CAR T therapy for desensitization in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) with pre-existing HLA allo-antibodies who were treated with the combination of CART-BCMA and CART-19 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03549442) and observe clinically meaningful allo-antibody reduction. These findings provide logical rationale for clinical evaluation of CAR T-based immunotherapy in highly sensitized candidates to promote successful transplantation.

Mechanisms of enhanced neutralization of botulinum neurotoxin by monoclonal antibodies conjugated to antibodies specific for the erythrocyte complement receptor.

Immune complexes formed between monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and toxins can neutralize toxicity in vivo by multiple mechanisms. Toxin sequestration and clearance by mAbs may be improved by enhancing their ability to bind to red blood cells (RBCs) through immune adherence. This can be achieved by converting the mAbs to heteropolymers (HPs), which are antigen-specific mAbs cross-linked to mAbs targeting the complement receptor (CR1), a protein that is expressed on the surface of RBCs in primates and mediates delivery of complement C3b-containing immune complexes to tissue macrophages. Conversion of mAbs to HPs has been shown to enhance clearance of multivalent antigens from the blood circulation, but the interaction of HPs with monovalent toxins has not been examined. Using botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) as a model system, we studied the effect of conversion of a pair of BoNT-specific mAbs into HPs on toxin neutralization and handling in vivo. Two HPs given in combination had 166-fold greater potency than un-modified mAbs, neutralizing 5000 LD50 BoNT, when tested in transgenic mice expressing human CR1 on RBC membranes. Improvement required adherence of BoNT to the RBC in vivo and 2 HPs, rather than an HP+mAb pair. The HP pair bound BoNT to RBCs in the circulation for 2h, in comparison to BoNT-neutralizing anti-serum, which induced no detectable RBC binding. HP pairs exhibited enhanced uptake by peritoneal macrophages in vitro, compared to pairs of mAbs or mAb+HP pairs. In a post-exposure therapeutic model, HPs gave complete protection from a lethal BoNT dose up to 3h after toxin exposure. In a pre-exposure prophylaxis model, mice given HP up to 5 days prior to BoNT administration were fully protected from a lethal BoNT dose. These studies elucidate general mechanisms for the neutralization of toxins by HP pairs and demonstrate the potential utility of HPs as BoNT therapeutics.

The histone acetyltransferase TIP60 interacts with c-Myb and inactivates its transcriptional activity in human leukemia.

The histone acetyltransferase TIP60 is a coregulator of transcription factors and is implicated in tumorigenesis. In this study, we explored potential regulatory relationships between TIP60 and the c-Myb oncoprotein in hematopoietic cells. We first showed that TIP60 is a c-Myb interacting protein and that the interaction is dependent on the TIP60 acetyltransferase domain and c-Myb transactivation domain. We then found that coexpressing TIP60 decreases the transcriptional activation ability of c-Myb in functional reporter assays. A ChIP assay also revealed that TIP60 binds to the c-Myb target gene c-Myc promoter in a c-Myb-dependent manner. Consistently, knockdown of Tip60 expression by siRNA increased endogenous c-Myc expression. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation of Jurkat cell lysates revealed that c-Myb is associated with histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2, known to interact with TIP60 and repress transcription. Finally, we compared Tip60 expression in six primary AML samples with three normal CD34(+) cell samples using quantitative RT-PCR. Tip60 expression was significantly (∼60%) lower in the AML samples. In summary, these studies demonstrate that TIP60 negatively modulates c-Myb transcriptional activity by recruiting histone deacetylases in human hematopoietic cells, leading us to hypothesize that TIP60 is a normal regulator of c-Myb function and that dysregulated or mutated TIP60 may contribute to c-Myb-driven leukemogenesis.

c-Myb binds MLL through menin in human leukemia cells and is an important driver of MLL-associated leukemogenesis.

Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) is a proto-oncogene frequently involved in chromosomal translocations associated with acute leukemia. These chromosomal translocations commonly result in MLL fusion proteins that dysregulate transcription. Recent data suggest that the MYB proto-oncogene, which is an important regulator of hematopoietic cell development, has a role in leukemogenesis driven by the MLL-ENL fusion protein, but exactly how is unclear. Here we have demonstrated that c-Myb is recruited to the MLL histone methyl transferase complex by menin, a protein important for MLL-associated leukemic transformation, and that it contributes substantially to MLL-mediated methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4). Silencing MYB in human leukemic cell lines and primary patient material evoked a global decrease in H3K4 methylation, an unexpected decrease in HOXA9 and MEIS1 gene expression, and decreased MLL and menin occupancy in the HOXA9 gene locus. This decreased occupancy was associated with a diminished ability of an MLL-ENL fusion protein to transform normal mouse hematopoietic cells. Previous studies have shown that MYB expression is regulated by Hoxa9 and Meis1, indicating the existence of an autoregulatory feedback loop. The finding that c-Myb has the ability to direct epigenetic marks, along with its participation in an autoregulatory feedback loop with genes known to transform hematopoietic cells, lends mechanistic and translationally relevant insight into its role in MLL-associated leukemogenesis.

Cholestane glycosides and trihydroxy fatty acids from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba.

Two new steroidal glycosides, named dioseptemlosides I (1) and J (2), along with two known trihydroxy fatty acids, (12 Z,15 Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12,15-octadecadienoic acid (3) and (12 Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba. Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, physical data, and chemical methods. The antitumor activity of compounds 1-4 was evaluated against three tumor cell lines and all of them were inactive at a concentration of 10 microM.

The c-myb proto-oncogene and microRNA-15a comprise an active autoregulatory feedback loop in human hematopoietic cells.

The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes an obligate hematopoietic cell transcription factor important for lineage commitment, proliferation, and differentiation. Given its critical functions, c-Myb regulatory factors are of great interest but remain incompletely defined. Herein we show that c-Myb expression is subject to posttranscriptional regulation by microRNA (miRNA)-15a. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we found that miR-15a directly binds the 3'-UTR of c-myb mRNA. By transfecting K562 myeloid leukemia cells with a miR-15a mimic, functionality of binding was shown. The mimic decreased c-Myb expression, and blocked the cells in the G(1) phase of cell cycle. Exogenous expression of c-myb mRNA lacking the 3'-UTR partially rescued the miR-15a induced cell-cycle block. Of interest, the miR-15a promoter contained several potential c-Myb protein binding sites. Occupancy of one canonical c-Myb binding site was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and shown to be required for miR-15a expression in K562 cells. Finally, in studies using normal human CD34(+) cells, we showed that c-Myb and miR-15a expression were inversely correlated in cells undergoing erythroid differentiation, and that overexpression of miR-15a blocked both erythroid and myeloid colony formation in vitro. In aggregate, these findings suggest the presence of a c-Myb-miR-15a autoregulatory feedback loop of potential importance in human hematopoiesis.

Cholestane and spirostane glycosides from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba.

Cholestane glycosides, dioseptemlosides A (1) and B (2), together with six spirostane glycosides, dioseptemlosides C-H (3-8), were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba. Their structures were established on the basis of physical data, spectroscopic analysis (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR), and chemical methods. Spirostane aglcones containing hydroxyl group at C-7, as found in compounds 4-7, were reported in the family Dioscoreaceae for the first time. These compounds did not show considerable inhibitory anti-tumor activities at a concentration of 10 microM.

UXT is a novel centrosomal protein essential for cell viability.

Ubiquitously expressed transcript (UXT) is a prefoldinlike protein that has been suggested to be involved in human tumorigenesis. Here, we have found that UXT is overexpressed in a number of human tumor tissues but not in the matching normal tissues. We demonstrate that UXT is located in human centrosomes and is associated with gamma-tubulin. In addition, overexpression of UXT disrupts centrosome structure. Furthermore, abrogation of UXT protein expression by small interfering RNA knockdown leads to cell death. Together, our findings suggest that UXT is a component of centrosome and is essential for cell viability. We propose that UXT may facilitate transformation by corrupting regulated centrosome functions.

The centrosome in normal and transformed cells.

The centrosome is a unique organelle that functions as the microtubule organizing center in most animal cells. During cell division, the centrosomes form the poles of the bipolar mitotic spindle. In addition, the centrosomes are also needed for cytokinesis. Each mammalian somatic cell typically contains one centrosome, which is duplicated in coordination with DNA replication. Just like the chromosomes, the centrosome is precisely reproduced once and only once during each cell cycle. However, it remains a mystery how this protein-based structure undergoes accurate duplication in a semiconservative manner. Intriguingly, amplification of the centrosome has been found in numerous forms of cancers. Cells with multiple centrosomes tend to form multipolar spindles, which result in abnormal chromosome segregation during mitosis. It has therefore been postulated that centrosome aberration may compromise the fidelity of cell division and cause chromosome instability. Here we review the current understanding of how the centrosome is assembled and duplicated. We also discuss the possible mechanisms by which centrosome abnormality contributes to the development of malignant phenotype.