Mean Fold Change Research Articles

Preclinical characterisation and first-in-human results on the tolerability and pharmacodynamic effect of REGN9933, a monoclonal antibody targeting the factor XI/activated factor XI apple 2 domain

Abstract Background/Introduction Standard-of-care anticoagulants are associated with increased bleeding risk. Genetic/pharmacological data suggest coagulation factor XI (FXI) inhibition can prevent thrombosis with minimal increased bleeding risk. We present preclinical and first-in-human (FIH) data on REGN9933, a FXI-binding monoclonal Ab. Purpose To characterise REGN9933 epitope binding sites, affinities for FXI and activated FXI (FXIa), and effect on high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK)’s interaction with FXI. Also, to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics in healthy human participants (pts). Methods Epitope binding sites mapped with cryogenic electron microscopy, binding affinities determined with plasmon resonance techniques, effect on thrombin generation assessed with a thrombin generation assay, and impact on HMWK:FXI interaction analysed using ELISAs. In the FIH, Ph 1, randomised, double-blind, single-centre study, pts received a single dose of REGN9933 intravenously (IV; 3–300 mg) or subcutaneously (SC; 100 mg & 300 mg), or placebo (PBO). Primary endpoint: incidence and severity of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs). Other endpoints: effect of REGN9933 on activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) to assess intrinsic and extrinsic pathway-triggered coagulation, respectively; and FXI activity. Results REGN9933 was found to bind the FXI apple 2 domain, with subnanomolar binding affinities for FXI and FXIa at 37°C, resulting in reduced thrombin generation from the intrinsic (not extrinsic) pathway. REGN9933 competed with HMWK for FXI binding in a dose-related manner. In the Ph 1 study, 56 pts received REGN9933 (IV, n=30; SC, n=12) or PBO (n=14); 42.9% and 21.4% had ≥1 TEAE, respectively (most common with REGN9933: headache, 12%; oropharyngeal pain, 5%). No serious/severe TEAEs, or TEAEs of special interest (inc. moderate/severe bleeding) reported. Laboratory tests revealed no clinically meaningful differences in the number/type of treatment-emergent potentially clinically significant values with REGN9933 vs PBO. REGN9933 resulted in dose-dependent prolongation of aPTT; aPTT mean fold change from baseline was highest with IV 300 mg after 8 hrs (2.7) and remained >2 for 36 days (Fig 1). There was no detectable effect on PT or clinically meaningful effect on bleeding time. REGN9933 supressed FXI activity in a dose-dependent manner, with suppression to approx. the lower limit of assay quantification (5%) with IV ≥30 mg (Fig 2). Conclusion(s) REGN9933 binds the FXI apple 2 domain and inhibits HMWK:FXI interaction, preventing intrinsic pathway-triggered FXI activation. FIH data showed dose-dependent inhibition of the intrinsic coagulation pathway by REGN9933, without affecting the extrinsic or common pathways. Pharmacodynamic and safety findings support continued development of REGN9933 as an anticoagulant that may carry less bleeding risk than currently approved agents.

Kinetics of humoral and cellular immune responses 5 months post-COVID-19 booster dose by immune response groups at the peak immunity phase: An observational historical cohort study using the Fukushima vaccination community survey

BackgroundUnderstanding the waning of immunity after booster vaccinations is important to identify which immune-low populations should be prioritized. MethodsWe investigated longitudinal cellular and humoral immunity after the third vaccine dose in both high- and low-cellular and humoral immunity groups at the peak immunity phase after the booster vaccination in a large community-based cohort. Blood samples were collected from 1045 participants at peak (T1: median 54 days post-third dose) and decay (T2: median 145 days post-third dose) phases to assess IgG(S), neutralizing activity, and ELISpot responses. Participants were categorized into high/low ELISpot/IgG(S) groups at T1. Cellular and humoral responses were tracked for approximately five months after the third vaccination. ResultsIn total, 983 participants were included in the cohort. IgG(S) geometric mean fold change between timepoints revealed greater waning in the >79 years age group (T2/T1 fold change: 0.27) and higher IgG(S) fold change in the low-ELISpot group at T1 (T2/T1 fold change: 0.32–0.33) than in the other groups, although ELISpot geometric mean remained stable. ConclusionsAntibody level of those who did not respond well to third dose vaccination waned rapidly than those who responded well. Evidence-based vaccine strategies are essential in preventing potential health issues caused by vaccines, including side-effects.

Targeted metabolomics identifies accurate CSF metabolite biomarkers for the differentiation between COVID-19 with neurological involvement and CNS infections with neurotropic viral pathogens

BackgroundCOVID-19 is primarily considered a respiratory tract infection, but it can also affect the central nervous system (CNS), which can result in long-term sequelae. In contrast to CNS infections by classic neurotropic viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is usually not detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with COVID-19 with neurological involvement (neuro-COVID), suggesting fundamental differences in pathogenesis.MethodsTo assess differences in CNS metabolism in neuro-COVID compared to CNS infections with classic neurotropic viruses, we applied a targeted metabolomic analysis of 630 metabolites to CSF from patients with (i) COVID-19 with neurological involvement [n = 16, comprising acute (n = 13) and post-COVID-19 (n = 3)], (ii) viral meningitis, encephalitis, or myelitis (n = 10) due to herpes simplex virus (n = 2), varicella zoster virus (n = 6), enterovirus (n = 1) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (n = 1), and (iii) aseptic neuroinflammation (meningitis, encephalitis, or myelitis) of unknown etiology (n = 21) as additional disease controls.ResultsStandard CSF parameters indicated absent or low neuroinflammation in neuro-COVID. Indeed, CSF cell count was low in neuro-COVID (median 1 cell/µL, range 0–12) and discriminated it accurately from viral CNS infections (AUC = 0.99) and aseptic neuroinflammation (AUC = 0.98). 32 CSF metabolites passed quality assessment and were included in the analysis. Concentrations of differentially abundant (fold change ≥|1.5|, FDR ≤ 0.05) metabolites were both higher (9 and 5 metabolites) and lower (2 metabolites) in neuro-COVID than in the other two groups. Concentrations of citrulline, ceramide (d18:1/18:0), and methionine were most significantly elevated in neuro-COVID. Remarkably, triglyceride TG(20:1_32:3) was much lower (mean fold change = 0.09 and 0.11) in neuro-COVID than in all viral CNS infections and most aseptic neuroinflammation samples, identifying it as highly accurate biomarker with AUC = 1 and 0.93, respectively. Across all samples, TG(20:1_32:3) concentration correlated only moderately with CSF cell count (ρ = 0.65), protein concentration (ρ = 0.64), and Q-albumin (ρ = 0.48), suggesting that its low levels in neuro-COVID CSF are only partially explained by less pronounced neuroinflammation.ConclusionsThe results suggest that CNS metabolite responses in neuro-COVID differ fundamentally from viral CNS infections and aseptic neuroinflammation and may be used to discover accurate diagnostic biomarkers in CSF and to gain insights into differences in pathophysiology between neuro-COVID, viral CNS infections and aseptic neuroinflammation.

Significance and implications of FHIT gene expression and promoter hypermethylation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

BackgroundFragile histidine triad (FHIT) has been documented to play a vital role in various cancers including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Keeping in view the plausible role of FHIT gene, we aimed to examine DNA promoter hypermethylation and mRNA expression in ALL cases in Kashmir (North India).MethodsA total of 66 cases of ALL were analyzed for FHIT mRNA expression and promoter methylation by qRT-PCR and Methylation Specific-PCR (MS-PCR) respectively.ResultsFHIT mRNA expression showed significantly decreased expression in ALL cases with mean fold change of 9.24 ± 5.44 as compared to healthy controls (p = 0.01). The pattern of FHIT deregulation in ALL cases differed significantly between decreased and increased expression (p < 0.0001). A threefold decreased expression was observed in 75% of ALL cases than healthy controls (− 3.58 ± 2.32). ALL patients with FHIT gene promoter hypermethylation presented significantly higher in 80% (53/66) of cases (p = 0.0005). The association of FHIT gene hypermethylation and its subsequent expression showed FHIT mRNA expression as significantly lower in ALL cases with hypermethylation (p = 0.0008). B-ALL cases exhibited a highly significant association between the methylation pattern and its mRNA expression (p = 0.000). In low range WBC group, a significant association was found between increased expression (26%) of the cases and methylated (4%)/unmethylated group 86% (p = 0.0006).ConclusionThe present study conclude that FHIT gene hypermethylation and its altered expression may be linked in the pathogenesis of ALL and provide an evidence for the role of FHIT in the development of ALL.

Abstract 614: Src family kinase inhibition demonstrates antitumor activity in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models of human cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a lethal and heterogenous malignancy of the biliary tree characterized by perineural invasion. About 85% of CCA show activation of YAP signaling, which promotes proliferation, anti-apoptosis, and therapeutic resistance. YAP signaling is mediated by Src family kinases (SFK) by phosphorylation of YAP (pYAPy357). NXP900 is a first-in-class, highly selective, SFK inhibitor with a novel mechanism of action which locks SFK in its closed and inhibited conformation, in contrast to other Src inhibitors such as dasatinib. A phase 1a study of NXP900 in patients with advanced solid tumors was recently initiated. Here, we examined treatment responses of CCA to NXP900 in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cell viability was determined in seven CCA cell lines by CellTiter-Glo. Cell death and apoptosis were assayed by PI/Hoechst and Caspase-Glo 3/7 assay. CalcuSyn software was used to determine synergistic drug effects. Immunoblot analysis, RT-PCR, and IF staining of YAP localization were used to evaluate YAP knockdown. Clones of human CCA cell lines resistant to NXP900 were generated through escalating exposure to NXP900 over 6 months. Five patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors were expanded into flanks of NOD/SCID mice. Tumor bearing mice were randomized 1:1 with 5 mice per arm and treated with vehicle or NXP900 (40 mg/kg) once daily for up to 4 weeks. To determine drivers of sensitivity and resistance, predicted sensitivity scores based on tumor growth were linked to multi-omics (RNA seq and [phospho-]proteomics) of our PDX models. Results: All cell lines were sensitive to NXP900 with IC50 values between 7nM-15µM; IC50’s of resistant clones were 1000 times higher. NXP900 induced more cell death compared to vehicle, which appeared to be through apoptosis. NXP900 inhibited pSrc, decreased pYAPy357, and upregulated inactive pYAPs127. Correspondingly, decreased YAP target gene (Cyr61, NUAK, and CTGF) levels and a nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation were observed. NXP900/GemCis combination therapy increased cell death demonstrated a synergistic effect (Combination Indices &amp;lt;1) at all concentrations. In our PDX models, treatment was associated with a significant decrease in tumor growth in 3 models (mean fold change 3.1 vs. 14.2; 1.0 vs. 7.6; 1.4 vs. 2.6). The major resistant signature was the TRK signaling network, involved in nerve growth factor binding activity, while drivers of sensitivity included the SRC network. Conclusion: NXP900 demonstrated therapeutic activity in vitro and in human PDX models. We are currently performing multi-omic approaches in NXP900 sensitive and resistant cell lines to unravel determinants of activity and resistance. Additional in vivo studies will be performed to determine effects of NXP900/GemCis and NXP900/anti-PDL-1 combination therapy. Citation Format: Hendrien Kuipers, Jennifer L. Tomlinson, Danielle M. Carlson, Amro M. Abdelrahman, Erik Jessen, Jack W. Sample, Nathan W. Werneburg, Hannah E. Stumpf, Mark J. Truty, Sumera I. Ilyas, Gregory J. Gores, Rory L. Smoot. Src family kinase inhibition demonstrates antitumor activity in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models of human cholangiocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 614.

Abstract 1529: Development of lymphoid aggregates in metastatic uveal melanoma tumors treated with tebentafusp

Abstract Tebentafusp (tebe), targeting gp100, is the first TCR-CD3 bispecific to demonstrate overall survival (OS) benefit and is approved for the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). We have previously shown B cell recruitment into the tumor associates with OS on tebe [1]. We explored further the formation of lymphoid aggregates (LA) within the tumor microenvironment in response to tebe. HLA-A*02:01+ 2L+ adult patients (pts) with mUM were treated with tebe (NCT02570308). Paired tumor biopsies were collected at baseline (n=70), after 3 doses of tebe (n=48), and at radiographical progression (n=17). Presence of B cells, T cells and macrophages was assessed by immunohistochemistry, using antibodies against CD20, CD3 and CD163 respectively, and digitally quantified. Using digital density analysis, aggregates of ≥10 CD20+ B cells within CD3+ T cell area in a 100µm radius were defined as LA. At progression pts were categorized by OS ≥12 or &amp;lt;12 months. Mean fold change (FC) was used. At baseline, B cells were detected in 90% of pts (median 5 B cells/mm2) with those pts having no more than 2 LA/mm2 (17% pts with 1 LA/mm2 and 3% pts with 2 LA/mm2). The median number of B cells in the biggest LA per sample was 24.B cells were recruited into the tumor after 3 doses of tebe (median 32 B cells/mm2, FC 3, p=6.5e-05). The LA density increased up to 6 LA/mm2 (23% pts with 1 LA/mm2, 8% pts with 2 LA/mm2, 6% pts with 3 LA/mm2 and 2% pts with 6 LA/mm2) with a trend for an increase in LA size (median B cell number in biggest LA = 30, p = 0.67). Tumors with a low baseline CD163+ macrophage to CD3+ T cell ratio, which was previously associated with longer OS on tebe, tended to have more LA/mm2 at baseline and on-treatment than those with a high ratio. At progression, pts with long OS had more B cells in the tumor compared to short OS (median 20 vs 2 B cells/mm2; FC 5, p=0.05). Additionally, more pts with long OS had LA than pts with short OS (6/12 pts vs 1/5 pts respectively) with a density not exceeding 1 LA/mm2. LA size was larger in pts with long OS compared to short OS (median B cell number in biggest LA 30 vs 10 respectively). LA in the short OS patient was found in the normal adjacent tissue compared to the LA in long OS patients which were located in the tumor and invasive margin. Tebe enhanced the formation of LA in the tumor microenvironment, notably in the low immunosuppressed tumors, which is consistent with the hypothesis that it results in epitope spread. These observations provide deeper insight into the mechanism of action of tebe and helps to explain prolonged survival of mUM pts beyond radiographical progression. [1] Greenshields-Watson A. et al., 619, SITC 2022 Citation Format: Takami Sato, Camille Britton-Rivet, Sophie Khakoo, Alistair Easton, Anastasiya Kazachenka, Laura Collins, Emma Leach, Adel Benlarech, Sarah Stanhope, Marcus O. Butler. Development of lymphoid aggregates in metastatic uveal melanoma tumors treated with tebentafusp [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1529.

L-carnitine contributes to enhancement of viability and quality of platelet concentrates through changing the apoptotic and anti-apoptotic associated microRNAs

BackgroundMicro RNAs are known as the main regulator of messenger RNA translation in platelets and have a vital role in process of apoptosis during platelet storage. Our pervious study revealed that the expression of miR-145 and miR-326 changed significantly in platelets under maintenance conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine (LC) as an additive to augment platelet quality by changing the microRNA expression. MethodsWe used ten platelet concentrate (PC) bags and divided each into two equal parts, LC- treated, and LC free PC. The expression of miR-145 and miR-326 were determined using real-time PCR. Moreover, we measured platelet count, platelet aggregation, platelet viability, and lactate dehydrogenase activity in all samples. ResultsThe miR-326 expression significantly increased during platelet storage with mean fold changes of 3.2 for the control and 2.5 for LC- treated PC. The mean fold changes in miR-145 expression was less in the control PC (0.52) compared to the LC- treated PC (0.79). Increased levels of platelet count, platelet aggregation, and platelet viability were found in the LC-treated compared to the untreated PC. ConclusionLC has a protective effect on platelet apoptosis, reduces the expression of apoptotic microRNA, and prevents the reduction of anti-apoptotic microRNA.

Analyzing the Expression of MicroRNA-375 and its Target Gene p53 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and its Implication in Oral Carcinogenesis

Objective: Oral mucosal cancers are the 11th most common human malignancies worldwide with a five-year survival rate of ≤50%. The lacunae of reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers pose an enormous challenge to the timely identification and prediction of disease progression in oral cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging molecular markers associated with cancer initiation, progression, and therapy. The present study evaluated the microRNA -375(miR-375) expression and its target p53 gene in Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to validate its utility as a diagnostic marker of the disease. Patients and Methods: This case-control study targeted histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSCC. miR-375 was quantified from 22 cases of OSCC and corresponding control tissues using qRT-PCR. Mutant p53 expression in cases and controls was determined by subjecting the tissues to immunohistochemical Results: Significant downregulation of miR-375 was noted in OSCC tissues (68.1%) compared to the control tissues with a mean fold change of 83.9 (p&lt;0.05). Significant downregulation of miR-375 was noted in Paan and tobacco chewing patients (77.8%). Men exhibited considerable downregulation compared to women (p&lt;0.05). The miR-375 expression levels did not correlate with the patient’s age, location, size, nodal status, and histopathological grade of the tumor. About 63.6 % of OSCC tissues showed mutant p53 positivity. Mutant p53 expression was noted in 73.3% of miR-375 downregulated tumors. Smokers exhibited higher expression of mutant p53 contrary to non-smokers(p&lt;0.00). P53 immunopositivity showed a correlation with tumor size, histopathological grade, and nodal metastasis. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that miR-375 downregulation may have a crucial effect on oral carcinogenesis by targeting p53. miR-375 should be further evaluated as a potential marker for oral cancer diagnosis.

Comparative Evaluation of Bacterial Reduction by Laser-Activated Irrigation Technique (LAI) With Conventional Needle Irrigation (CNI) in Single-Rooted Teeth With Pulpal Necrosis: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim To compare the bacterial reduction in single-rooted teeth with pulpal necrosis after laser-activated irrigation technique(LAI) and conventional needle irrigation (CNI). Methodology In this clinical trial (CTRI/2021/09/047767), 32 patients with pulpal necrosis were enrolled. Under complete aseptic conditions, access cavity preparation was done and the baseline sample S1 was collectedfrom the root canal using paper points. After chemo-mechanical preparation they were allocated into two groups, following block randomization; Group A - CNI with 27 gauge side-vented needle, Group B - LAI with pulsed Er,Cr:YSGG (erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet) (2780 nm) laser. After irrigant activation, canals were dried and a second sample S2 was taken using paper points. Microbial analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was done to quantify the bacterial reduction among the two groups. Inter-group and intra-group analysis was done using the independent student t-test and Bonferroni test, respectively. The data was represented in terms of quantification cycle (Cq) values, which are inversely proportional to the microbial count. Results There was no significant difference in S1 between the two groups (mean difference=0.0205; p=0.912). There was a significant difference in S2 between the two groups for the organisms (mean difference=0.8042; p=0.000). The mean percentage of bacterial reduction in CNI was 10.82% and in LAI it was 25.92%. There was a significant difference in S1 through S2 within the two groups for the organisms (p=0.000). The mean difference of Cq value is high for LAI compared to CNI (1.3494). The fold change was calculated by taking the ΔCq value and ΔΔCq value after the logarithmic transformation of the Cq value. LAI showed lower levels of DNA at S2 similar to CNI. There is no significant difference in mean fold change between CNI and LAI (p=0.564). Conclusion This clinical trial concluded that both LAI and CNI were effective in bacterial reduction. There was greater bacterial reduction with LAI (25.92%) than with the CNI (10.82%) in single-rooted teeth with pulpal necrosis using qPCR analysis.

Transient Autoreactive PF4 and Antiphospholipid Antibodies in COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare autoimmune condition associated with recombinant adenovirus (rAV)-based COVID-19 vaccines. It is thought to arise from autoantibodies targeting platelet factor 4 (aPF4), triggered by vaccine-induced inflammation and the formation of neo-antigenic complexes between PF4 and the rAV vector. To investigate the specific induction of aPF4 by rAV-based vaccines, we examined sera from rAV vaccine recipients (AZD1222, AD26.COV2.S) and messenger RNA (mRNA) based (mRNA-1273, BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine recipients. We compared the antibody fold change (FC) for aPF4 and for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) of rAV to mRNA vaccine recipients. We combined two biobanks of Dutch healthcare workers and matched rAV-vaccinated individuals to mRNA-vaccinated controls, based on age, sex and prior history of COVID-19 (AZD1222: 37, Ad26.COV2.S: 35, mRNA-1273: 47, BNT162b2: 26). We found no significant differences in aPF4 FCs after the first (0.99 vs. 1.08, mean difference (MD) = -0.11 (95% CI -0.23 to 0.057)) and second doses of AZD1222 (0.99 vs. 1.10, MD = -0.11 (95% CI -0.31 to 0.10)) and after a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S compared to mRNA-based vaccines (1.01 vs. 0.99, MD = 0.026 (95% CI -0.13 to 0.18)). The mean FCs for the aPL in rAV-based vaccine recipients were similar to those in mRNA-based vaccines. No correlation was observed between post-vaccination aPF4 levels and vaccine type (mean aPF difference -0.070 (95% CI -0.14 to 0.002) mRNA vs. rAV). In summary, our study indicates that rAV and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines do not substantially elevate aPF4 levels in healthy individuals.

Circulating CD8 lymphocytes predict response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Due to the lack of biomarkers predictive of response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab, the standard of care for advanced HCC, we analyzed baseline and early on-treatment variation of peripheral lymphocyte populations of 37 prospective patients treated by atezolizumab-bevacizumab and in 15 prospective patients treated by sorafenib or lenvatinib (TKIs). RNAseq analysis followed by RT-PCR validation on patients-derived PBMC was also performed. At first imaging, re-evaluation 13 patients receiving atezolizumab-bevacizumab, showed an objective response, 17 stable disease, while 7 were nonresponders. Baseline CD8+ and CD8+PD-L1+ peripheral lymphocytes were lower in responders versus nonresponders (T-test, p = 0.012 and 0.004, respectively). At 3 weeks, 28 of 30 responders displayed a rise of CD8+PD1+ lymphocytes with a positive mean fold change of 4.35 (±5.6 SD), whereas 6 of 7 nonresponders displayed a negative fold change of 0.89 (±0.84 SD). These changes were not observed in patients treated by TKIs. TRIM56, TRIM16, TRIM64, and Ki67 mRNAs were validated as upregulated in responders versus nonresponders after 3 weeks after treatment start, providing possible evidence of immune activation. Baseline CD8+ and CD8+PD-L1+ peripheral lymphocytes and early changes in CD8+PD1+ lymphocytes predict response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab providing noninvasive markers to complement clinical practice in the very early phases of treatment of HCC patients.

CD38-Directed, Single-Chain T Cell-Engager Targets Leukemia Stem Cells through IFNγ-Induced CD38 Expression

Leukemia stem cells (LSCs), enriched in the CD34+CD38- AML population, are considered the main drivers of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While more differentiated progenitors and bulk AML blasts reside in the CD34+CD38+ fraction, targeting CD38 in AML is less pursued, as LSCs are mainly CD38-. We show IFNγ (10 ng/ml) induced an increase in CD38 mRNA (mean fold change IFNγ over vehicle = 7.7, p=0.03, n=3) and surface CD38 (mean CD38 High% population IFNγ 56%±17 vs vehicle 16%±10, p&amp;lt;0.0001) in both CD34+ and CD34- AML primary blasts, and decreased the clonogenic activities of primary AML cells (colony forming unit IFNγ 50±36 vs vehicle 216±117, p=0.002, n=4) regardless of cytogenetics. scRNA and total RNA sequencing data in CD34+ AML primary blasts showed that upon IFNγ treatment, CD38 and Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF-1) were consistently the most upregulated genes compared to vehicle (&amp;gt;2.5 Log 2 Fold Change; p=0; FDR=0). Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (FDR=0) indicated IFNγ induced an upregulation of genes involved in apoptosis and DNA repair, and a suppression of genes in the pro-oncogenic Wnt beta catenin pathways. CD38 luciferase-based reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and IRF-1 knockdown experiments in AML cells showed that, upon IFNγ treatment, IRF1 is pivotal in CD38 transcriptional regulation. Because CD4+T helper type 1 and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells release IFNγ once engaged on their target, we hypothesized a CD38-directed T cell engager will convert CD34+CD38- LSC into CD34+CD38+ blasts via the secreted IFNγ to kill LSCs and blasts. We created a single chain construct (BN-CD38), inserting a CD38 nanobody between the light and heavy chains of an anti-CD3 Fab using two short peptide linkers. Based on modeling, BN-CD38 reproduces the distance between T cell receptor and the major histocompatibility complex, mimicking the natural immunological synapse. Surface plasmon resonance and cytometry studies showed BN-CD38 had strong binding affinity to both CD38 (K D 4.77xE -10 M) and CD3 (K D 4.27xE -8 M). The IC 50 for BN-CD38 at 1:1 E:T at 24hrs in different CD38+ AML cell lines (n=6) was within the 0.01 to 0.1 ng/ml range, whereas the IC 50 of a non-binding CD38 construct (BN-CD38Mut) was 100-fold higher. By 24hrs of treatment, we noted &amp;gt;60% CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation (CD69+, CD25+, IFNγ+) with BN-CD38 (e.g., CD69: 60%±27) in contrast to controls (e.g., CD69: IgG 7%±0.8 and BN-CD38Mut 11%±10, p&amp;lt;0.0001). In primary AML samples (n=10) BN-CD38 activated &amp;gt;70% T cells against autologous leukemia cells (CD69: BN-CD38 73%±16, BN-CD38Mut 10%±9, IgG 11%±10, p&amp;lt;0.0001). CyTOF analysis showed BN-CD38 but not controls significantly reduced CD34+CD38+ AML blasts (%change to IgG range: BN-CD38 -27 to -82% vs BN-CD38Mut 1% to 7%, p = 0.01) and CD34+CD38- LSCs (%change to IgG range: BN-CD38 -78 to -99% vs BN-CD38Mut -7 to 11%, p= 0.0003) and expanded CD8+ effector memory (p&amp;lt;0.01), CD8+ terminally differentiated effector memory CD45RA+ (p&amp;lt;0.05), NKT cells (p&amp;lt;0.01), and central memory Tregs (p&amp;lt;0.0001). Anti-human-IFNγ neutralizing antibody reverted BN-CD38 induced expression of CD38 and BN-CD38 killing activity on CD34+CD38- AML cells (p&amp;lt;0.05). BN-CD38 (2.5 mg/kg, i.v, n=6/group) co-injected weekly with healthy 3x10 6 T cells induced near-complete disease eradication in mice xenografted with luciferase-CD38+ THP1 (p=0.003) and U937 (p=0.004) cells. Long-term survival analysis showed 38% of BN-CD38-treated THP-1 engrafted mice achieved complete cure compared to IgG (OS median: BN-CD38 61.5d, control IgG 29d, p=0.0005). Consistently, BN-CD38 suppressed AML cell engraftment, splenomegaly, and prolonged survival in three patient-derived xenografts (PDX) with complex karyotypes including TP53 mutation (PDX1: OS median BN-CD38 undefined, BN-CD38Mut 28d (p=0.002), and IgG 27d (p=0.002); PDX2: OS median BN-CD38 39d, BN-CD38Mut and control IgG 32d (p&amp;lt;0.01); PDX3: OS median BN-CD38 undefined, BN-CD38Mut 92d (p=0.001), and IgG 81d (p=0.0007)). BN-CD38 did not affect normal hematopoietic stem cell clonogenicity and the development of multi-lineage human immune cells in CD34+ humanized mice. In sum, BN-CD38 induces an effective T cell synapse and IFNγ release, while concomitantly blocking the clonogenicity and inducing CD38 expression on LSCs. These studies suggest a new mechanism to unmask and target LSCs, providing the rationale for using BN-CD38 to effectively treat AML.

A First-in-Human Phase 1 Study of the Menin-KMT2A (MLL1) Inhibitor JNJ-75276617 in Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Leukemia Harboring KMT2A or NPM1 Alterations

Background: Relapsed/refractory (R/R)acute leukemia withalterations in KMT2A (also called MLL1; 9-15% of adult AML, 10% of ALL) or NPM1 (30% of adult AML) are often associated with poor outcomes. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated the relevance of the menin-KMT2A protein-protein interaction in sustaining leukemic cells with KMT2A and NPM1 alterations (Kuhn 2016). JNJ-75276617 is a potent and selective inhibitor of the interaction between the scaffolding protein menin and the methyltransferase KMT2A with preclinical activity in KMT2A-rearranged or NPM1-mutated leukemic cell lines and primary leukemia patient samples in vitro and in vivo (Kwon 2022). We report initial data investigating JNJ-75276617 in adult participants (pts) with R/R acute leukemia harboring KMT2A alterations (rearrangements, amplifications, or partial tandem duplications) or NPM1 mutations. Methods: 75276617ALE1001 (NCT04811560) is an ongoing Phase 1, multicenter, open-label, dose-finding study. Pts in dose escalation receive JNJ-75276617 orally on a 28-day cycle. As of 8 April 2023, multiple dose levels ≥15 mg have been explored on either a daily or twice daily (BID) dosing schedule. AEs were graded by CTCAE v5.0. Responses were investigator-assessed per ELN2017. Preliminary safety, efficacy and PD data are reported herein, with a focused review of the efficacy in higher dose levels with ≥3 pts dosed. Results: Fifty-eight pts received JNJ-75276617. The median age was 63 (range: 19-83) years; 56 pts (97%) had R/R AML and 2 (3%) had R/R ALL. The median number of prior lines of treatment was 2 (range: 1-7), including 10 (17%) pts with a prior allogeneic stem cell transplant. A KMT2A or NPM1 alteration was present in 33 (57%) and 25 (43%) pts, respectively. Thirty (52%) pts experienced ≥1 treatment-related AE (TRAE); most commonly differentiation syndrome (DS) (8 [14%]). Grade ≥3 TRAEs were observed in 17 (29%) pts; those reported in ≥2 pts were neutropenia (6 [10%]), anemia and thrombocytopenia (4 [7%] each), DS (3 [5%]), and ALT and AST increase (2 [3%] each). Dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 5 (9%) pts, with DS (2 [3%]) as the only DLT reported in ≥2 pts. In 26 (63%) of the 41 pts with disease evaluation data, there was a reduction in bone marrow (BM) disease burden ( Figure 1). Of these, a ≥50% decrease in BM blasts was observed in 16 (39%) pts. In the highest dose level with ≥3 pts (90 mg BID; n=8), the ORR (≥PR) was 50% (n=4), with all responders ongoing ( Figure 2). These responders (2 NPM1-, 2 KMT2A-altered) achieved CR (1 pt), CRh (1 pt), and CRi (2 pts). In a review of higher dose levels with ≥3 pts (≥45 mg BID; n=20), the ORR was 40% (n=8), with 7 responders ongoing ( Figure 2). These responders (5 NPM1-, 3 KMT2A-altered) achieved CR (3 pts), CRh (1 pt), CRi (3 pts), and PR (1 pt); median (range) time to first response (≥PR) 1.81 mos (1.0-3.3; n=8); time to CR, CRh, or CRi 1.77 mos (1.0-3.3; n=7); and time to CR 2.79 mos (1.8-2.9; n=3). Across all cohorts there were 12 responders, including 1 MRD negative CR. One responder discontinued treatment for allogeneic transplant; however, 8 responders continue on treatment, including 2 pts in cycle 9. Preliminary PD data from unfractionated BM and/or PBMCs in paired samples among responders (n=12) show biologic activity as indicated by reduction in expression (mean fold change from baseline calculated as [on-tx-baseline]/baseline [range]) of menin-KMT2A target genes ( MEIS1 -0.42 [-1.0-9.0]; HOXA9 -0.03 [-1.0-21.7]; FLT3 18.6 [-1.0-425]) and induction of genes associated with differentiation ( ITGAM 55.0 [-0.93-1467]; MNDA 5.9 [-1.0-83.5]). Compared to baseline, the percentage of KMT2A-altered cells or NPM1 variant allele frequency (VAF) was reduced in responders, with a decrease in KMT2A-altered cells by break-apart FISH probe from 59.2% at baseline to 8.1% post-treatment and in NPM1 VAF using a myeloid gene NGS panel from 13.1% at baseline to 2.8% post-treatment. Conclusions: Dose escalation in 75276617ALE1001 is ongoing with the RP2D(s) yet to be determined. Pts in dose expansion will receive JNJ-75276617 at the identified RP2D(s). Preliminary results of this FIH Phase 1 study demonstrate that JNJ-75276617 monotherapy has an acceptable safety profile, encouraging antileukemic activity, and emerging biologic activity consistent with the proposed mechanism of action in pts with R/R acute leukemia harboring KMT2A or NPM1 alterations.

Evaluation of Mirna-155 and Mirna-223 in Blood in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is common and complex conditions that are difficult to cure. MiRNAs are a class of small, non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules which play a key role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases especially in IBD. Despite the efficacy of biological treatment, a significant proportion of patients with IBD do not show an adequate response. For this reason it is crucial to identify biomarkers useful to predict clinical response. In present study, we aimed to evaluate the microRNA-155 (miR-155) and microRNA-223 (miR-223) as prognostic marker in disease response to therapy in patients with UC. This study included 80 patients with UC (40 patients who response to conventional treatment and 40 who resist and they are on biological treatment) and 40 healthy controls. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed for evaluation miRNA-155 and miRNA-223. According to the results of this study, There was significant variation in mean fold change of miR-155 among groups (p &lt;0.001), the level was highest in patients on conventional treatment followed by patients on biological therapy and then by control group. With respect to miR-223, the difference in mean fold change was significant among study groups (p &lt;0.001), the level was highest in patients on biological treatment followed control group and then by patients on conventional therapy. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried, the cutoff value of miRNA-155 was ≤1.43 with 20 % sensitivity level, 95 % specificity level and 53.3% accuracy level. The cutoff vale of miRNA-223 was &gt;4.51with 25 % sensitivity level, 92.5% specificity level and 59.1 % accuracy level. In conclusion, this study have evaluated the therapeutic response to corticosteroid, or IFX therapy and blood expression of miRNA by screening the responses to anti-TNF-α and conventional therapy, this study demonstrated that the level of miRNA-223 associated with the response to IFX which is highly increased in biological therapy (negative response) comparing to the conventional therapy (positive response) group after IFX therapy while the present study demonstrated that miRNA-155 fold change upregulated in patients with ulcerative colitis and on conventional therapy (positive response) in comparison with healthy control group.

Effect of BTS, GEPS and MODENA Extender on DNA Integrity and Relative Expression of HSP70 and Cas3 Gene in HD-K75 Boar Semen

Background: The present study compared the quality characteristics of boar semen diluted with three extenders at different hours of preservation. Methods: A total of 24 ejaculates comprising 6 ejaculates from each of four boars of 10-12 months age maintained under uniform management conditions are being selected for the present study. Semen was collected once weekly from four clinically healthy HD-K75 boars by simple fist method. The ejaculated semen was extended in BTS, GEPS and MODENA extender and maintained at 15°C upto 120 hours of preservation. The DNA integrity and the mean fold change in relative expression of HSP70 and Cas3 gene in BTS, GEPS and MODENA extender is also being studied. Result: The percentage of DNA integrity revealed that no DNA damaged spermatozoa were observed in MODENA extender from 0 to 120 hours of preservation. The relative expression of HSP70 gene elucidated significant difference (P less than 0.01) at 24 hours in three extenders. The relative expression of Cas3 gene in BTS, GEPS and MODENA extender differed significantly (P less than 0.01) at 0, 72 and 96 hours of preservation. The overall expression (fold change) of apoptotic gene was found to be higher in BTS extender followed by MODENA and GEPS.

Effect of External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and Brachytherapy (BT) on Circulating MDSC Populations in Patients Treated Definitively for Cervical Cancer

The immunosuppressive function of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) has been implicated in the regulation of immune responses against cancer. MDSCs have been associated with progression and poor response to therapy in various types of cancer, including cervical cancer. Radiation treatment (RT) alters immune cell populations within the tumor and is thought to augment antitumor responses. However, whether RT also recruits immunosuppressive MDSC populations is not well understood. Here, we investigate how circulating MDSC populations change in response to RT and if changes in MDSC frequency or subsets is predictive of RT responses in cervical cancer patients. Newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve pts with locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix will be enrolled from July 2022 to July 2023. EBRT to the pelvis was delivered at a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions with a simultaneous integrated boost of 52-55 Gy to involved regional lymph nodes and parametria and concurrent weekly cisplatin. Gross tumor was boosted via interstitial or tandem ring BT (22.5-27.5 Gy) after completion of EBRT. Serial blood samples were collected prior to initiating therapy (T0), post-EBRT and pre-BT (T1), and one-month post-BT (T2). Treatment response was determined based on pre-treatment MRI compared to MRI post-EBRT. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood using density gradient centrifugation and stained for analysis via flow cytometry. MDSC populations were identified by Live/Dead-CD11b+CD33+HLA-DR- staining. MDSC subsets were further subdivided into granulocytic (G-, CD15+CD14-), monocytic (M-, CD15-CD14+), or early-MDSCs (e-, CD15-CD14-). Blood samples were collected at indicated time points for four patients (FIGO stage IIA-IIB). Three had partial responses to chemoradiotherapy (CRT), while one had a complete response. All three patients with partial response had an increase in total frequency of circulating MDSCs in response to EBRT/BT (mean %fx MDSC 16.6 at T0 to 35.9 at T2), and an increase in total MDSCs in two of these patients occurred with EBRT alone. Interestingly, the patient that had a complete response had fewer MDSCs at T2 relative to T0 (35.8% at T0 to 27% at T2). Proportion of MDSC subsets varied considerably among the patients, and all had altered distribution of subsets in response to RT. G-MDSCs expanded the most to RT while M-MDSCs and e-MDSCs were less affected (mean fold change from T0 to T2 G-MDSC 4.75, M-MDSC 1.27, e-MDSC 0.942). In this cohort of patients, an increase in MDSC frequency occurred after RT and altered subset distribution. Only the patient with a complete response had fewer total MDSCs following completion of CRT, suggesting further studies are needed to determine if circulating MDSCs could be a biomarker for treatment response to RT in cervical cancer.

Altered Vitamin D Receptor Expression in Apa-I (rs7975232) Allelic Variants-A Probable Risk Factor for Susceptibility to Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Disease Progression.

Vitamin D exerts its antiviral effect through vitamin D receptor (VDR)/retinoid X receptor-mediated host immunomodulation. Besides the downregulation of VDR expression, its polymorphism was also observed among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive patients. To understand the possible link between VDR polymorphism and its altered expression during HBV infection and disease progression, VDR Apa-I [rs7975232 (C>A)] single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was analyzed in a case-control manner. VDR Apa-I (rs7975232, C>A) polymorphism was studied using 340 HBV patients and 102 healthy controls. Genotype analysis and gene expression study was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM) considering p-value <0.05 as significant for comparing the differences between the groups. Significant mean difference in VDR expression was observed between HBV-positive patients (1.6 ± 0.94) and controls (0.69 ± 0.73). Furthermore, the mean fold change of Healthy control with CC genotype (1.92 ± 0.99) was found to be marginally significant compared with mutant genotype (CA/AA) (1.08 ± 0.43/0.59 ± 0.56, p = 0.045). In HBV+ patients, the mean fold change in the CC genotype was 0.88 ± 0.38, which exhibits a significant mean difference upon comparison with other genotypes (0.52 ± 0.49, 0.113 ± 0.34; p = 0.018, p = 0.048). However, the fold change value does not differ between CA and AA genotypes. Further comparative analysis of VDR expression between the control and case also exhibits significant differences (p = 0.001) among allelic variants. Observed genotype distribution frequency exhibits a significant association with disease type. The mutant genotype was found to be significantly associated with HBV infection and disease progression, (odds ratio = 0.730, 95% confidence interval = 0.462-1.152, p = 0.06). VDR SNP rs7975232 (C>A) may affect VDR expression by controlling several other variables and suggest that deviation from wild-type genotype (CC) is associated with downregulation of expression, which in turn involved in host immunomodulation in favor of HBV infection and disease progression.

Biomarker-Guided Drug Repurposing and Molecular Validation of Angiotensin-2 Receptor Type-1 in Brain Tumor

Glioma, the most frequent and malignant brain tumor, is one of the most lethal forms of cancer. Among a wide range of aberrantly expressed genes, Angiotensin-2 Receptor Type-1 (AGTR1) is reported to be up-regulated in glioma and associated with aggressive tumor traits and progression. The current study evaluates the anticancer potential of commonly used angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan. A total of eleven, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ARBs were selected, and eight drugs were docked against the AGTR1 receptor. The antihypertensive drug with the highest docking score was selected for in vitro experimentation. Half maximal inhibitory concentration was determined and subsequently applied to patient-derived glioma cell lines. Quantitative gene expression post-drug treatment was determined through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In vitro growth inhibitory assays revealed that telmisartan at a dose of 45±0.06 μM was able to inhibit 50% of the cell population in malignant glioma U87 cell lines. The PCR results show that AGTR1 expression in the untreated sample was high, as evidenced by 2-ΔΔCt values (342.4, 138.5, 1467.3) for sample IK148-Glioblastma multiform (GBM), IK163-low grade glioma (LGG), and IK231-Medulloblastoma (MDB), respectively. The comparison was made with positive control U-87 cell lines. Following the drug treatment, an increase in the cycle threshold (Ct) mean value for AGTR1 was observed, coinciding with a decrease in mean fold changes of 0.06±0.8, 0.5±2.0, and 0.02±0.02 for GBM, LGG, and MDB samples, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that telmisartan exhibits successful inhibitory effects against AGTR1 expression in glioma cell lines.

Bax mRNA Expression as A Potential Biomarker of Placental Apoptosis in Early-onset Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Early-onset preeclampsia is characterized by higher oxidative stress and apoptosis level than late-onset one. Studies comparing the expression of the Bcl-2 family protein in early and late-onset preeclampsia are still lacking and show inconclusive evidence. This study aimed to compare the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) as a biomarker of placental apoptosis between early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded preeclamptic placental samples and dividing them into early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia groups. Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions were assessed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Apoptosis was assessed through DNA fragmentation examination by the ligation-mediated real-time polymerase chain reaction method.RESULTS: Thirty early-onset and 30 late-onset preeclamptic placental samples were included. The mean fold change Bax mRNA in early-onset was higher than in late-onset preeclampsia (6.02±3.59 vs. 2.82±1.97; p=0.00). The mean fold change Bcl-2 mRNA early-onset was not different from late-onset preeclampsia (31.20±17.94 vs. 31.01±27.60; p=0.98). The mean DNA fragmentation cycle threshold in early-onset preeclampsia was lower than in late-onset preeclampsia (28.07±0.64 vs. 30.63±0.96; p=0.00). A weak negative correlation exists between fold change Bax mRNA and DNA fragmentation cycle threshold (r=-0.30; p=0.02).CONCLUSION: Bax mRNA showed significant correlation in DNA fragmentation compared to Bcl-2 mRNA; hence, might show more role in apoptotic pathway. Early-onset preeclampsia has higher Bax mRNA relative expression and apoptosis than late-onset preeclampsia. Therefore, Bax mRNA can be potential biomarker in early-onset preeclampsia.KEYWORDS: mRNA, Bax, Bcl-2, apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, early-onset, preeclampsia

STUDY THE EXPRESSION OF IL-22 GENE IN AUTOIMMUNE HYPOTHYROIDISM IN IRAQ

This study was aimed to assess expression of IL-22 gene in patients with newly diagnosed autoantibodies against the thyroid antigens; anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) in comparison with patients previously diagnosed and treated for autoimmune hypothyroidism as well as healthy control individuals. Twenty-eight patients with positive anti-TG and/or anti-TPO were enrolled in this study along with twelve age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assess gene expression and fold change among the study groups. Results revealed anti-TG concentration ranges of 134.3 to 2998.9 IU/mL and anti-TPO concentration ranges of 41.6 to 1018.4 IU/mL in patients while control group individuals were negative for these autoantibodies. The mean fold change of IL-22 expression (2-∆∆Ct) was the highest in newly diagnosed patients compared to patients on treatment for autoimmune hypothyroidism and healthy controls indicating the potential role of IL-22 in the early stages of the disease and its contribution in immune imbalance.