Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor Research Articles

Abstract IA020: Deciphering the mechanisms of neutrophil immune response in bone metastatic prostate cancer

Abstract Metastatic disease of prostate cancer (PCa) is currently incurable. Bone is the most common tissue site for prostate cancer metastasis and progression in bone is largely dictated by tumor-stromal interactions in the bone microenvironment. We showed previously that bone marrow neutrophils inhibit bone metastatic PCa growth, however metastatic PCa becomes resistant to neutrophil response and progresses within the bone compartment. It is unclear how these findings translate to a clinical setting. Further, the mechanisms associated with tumor resistance to neutrophil immune response remain unknown and presents a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. Thus, the goals of this study were: 1) to define the impact of metastatic PCa on neutrophil function throughout prostate cancer progression and 2) to determine the potential of neutrophils as predictive biomarkers of PCa disease progression. To do this, peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were collected from 4 patient cohorts (localized PCa, metastatic hormone-sensitive PCa (mHSPC), metastatic castration-resistant (mCRPC) and healthy men) and PMN molecular and functional properties assessed, including: cancer cell cytotoxicity and cell surface markers. There was a significant decrease with disease progression in PMN expression of CD10, a marker for differentiation, while in tandem, there was an increase in pro-inflammatory marker, CD88 (complement receptor) in mCRPC men compared to mHSPC. PMNs from all disease stages were equally cytotoxic to human PCa cell lines (LNCaP, C42B, and PC3). However, second generation androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) suppressed patient PMN cytotoxicity against mCRPC cells (C42B, PC3). This suppression was due to androgen receptor (AR)-mediated regulation of the pleotropic and immune suppressant cytokine, transforming growth factor beta receptor I (TβRI). PMNs from mCRPC patients who received 2nd generation ADT, expressed significantly more TβRI than patients who only received 1st line ADT. Further, we found that PMNs in CRPC patient bone metastases express more TβRI than PMNs in matched liver metastases, which express little to no TβRI. Treatment of mouse bone marrow neutrophils with enzalutamide, increased neutrophil TβRI expression in a dose dependent manner and blocked cytotoxicity against PCa cells. Exogenous testosterone treatment in vivo, pharmacologic inhibition (using Repsox, a small molecule kinase inhibitor of TβRI) or genetic deletion (using conditional TβRI knockout mice) rescued enzalutamide-mediated neutrophil suppression and restored neutrophil cytotoxicity. These data collectively suggest that AR inhibition suppresses anti-tumor neutrophil responses via TβRI however, this study highlights the ability to leverage standard-care ADT to generate neutrophil anti-tumor responses against bone metastatic PCa. Citation Format: Leah M Cook. Deciphering the mechanisms of neutrophil immune response in bone metastatic prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr IA020.

MiR-301b-3p promotes breast cancer development through inhibiting the expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2.

Breast cancer (BC) is a serious health threat to the patients. The present work explored the mechanism of miR-301b-3p and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2 ) in affecting BC progression. The miR-301b-3p-inhibitor and si-TGFBR2 solution were added to the DEME/F12 medium to culture the BC and normal breast epithelial cell lines to prepare negative control, miR-301b-3p-IN and miR-301b-3p-IN+si-TGFBR2 in the two types of cell lines. The relative expression of target genes and the interference effect were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT- PCR). Cell viability was detected applying cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Transwell and wound healing assay were conducted to evaluate the invasion and migration of BC cells after miR-301b-3p inhibition. Additionally, cell apoptosis and the expression STAT protein were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot, respectively. The qRT-PCR results showed that miR-301b-3p were high-expressed but the level of TGFBR2 was significantly inhibited in BC cells. The miR-301b-3p-inhibitor significantly downregulated the expression of miR-301b-3p and upregulated that of TGFBR2. Meanwhile, inhibition of miR-301b-3p suppressed the cell viability, invasion, and migration of BC cells, which, however, were restored by the inhibition of TGFBR2. MiR-301b-3p conferred anti-apoptosis ability to BC cells, while TGFBR2 promoted apoptosis of BC cells through producing an antagonistic effect with miR-301b-3p. We found that miR-301b-3p played a crucial role in the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3 to promote BC progression. The present findings demonstrated that miR-301b-3p played a crucial role in promoting BC cell growth, invasion and migration and anti-apoptosis, and that targeting TGFBR2 could inhibit the tumor-promoting effect of miR-301b-3p.

Exosomal let-7b-5p deriving from parietal epithelial cells attenuate renal fibrosis through suppression of TGFβR1 and ARID3a in obstructive kidney disease.

As renal progenitor cells, parietal epithelial cells (PECs) have demonstrated multilineage differentiation potential in response to kidney injury. However, the function of exosomes derived from PECs has not been extensively explored. Immunofluorescent staining of Claudin-1 was used to identify primary PECs isolated from mouse glomeruli. Transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blotting were used to characterize the properties of PECs-derived exosomes (PEC-Exo). The therapeutic role of PEC-Exo in tubulointerstitial fibrosis was investigated in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model and TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells. High-throughput miRNA sequencing was employed to profile PEC-Exo miRNAs. One of the most enriched miRNAs in PEC-Exo was knocked down by transfecting miRNA inhibitor, and then we investigated whether this candidate miRNA was involved in PEC-Exo-mediated tubular repair. The primary PECs expressed Claudin-1, PEC-Exo was homing to obstructed kidney, and TGF-β1 induced HK-2 cells. PEC-Exo significantly alleviated renal inflammation and ameliorated tubular fibrosis both invivo and invitro. Mechanistically, let-7b-5p, highly enriched in PEC-Exo, downregulated the protein levels of transforming growth factor beta receptor 1(TGFβR1) and AT-Rich Interaction Domain 3A(ARID3a) in tubular epithelial cells (TECs), leading to the inhibition of p21 and p27 to restoring cell cycle. Furthermore, administration of let-7b-5p agomir mitigated renal fibrosis invivo. Our findings demonstrated that PEC-derived exosomes significantly repressed the expression of TGFβR1 and ARID3a by delivering let-7b-5p, thereby alleviating renal fibrosis. This study provides novel insights into the role of PEC-Exo in the repair of kidney injury and new ideas for renal fibrosis intervention.

Investigation of genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding growth factors and dental pulp calcification in orthodontic patients

Background and objectivesPulp calcification is associated with many factors and triggers, including individual genetic predisposition and orthodontic forces. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1), and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2 (TGFβR2) are associated with a risk of dental pulp calcifications in orthodontic patients. Materials and methodsDigital orthopantomography (OPG) and genomic DNA from 132 patients were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. Pulp calcification was observed in the maxillary and mandibular first molars. Genomic DNA extracted from saliva cells was used to genotype eight genetic polymorphisms using real-time polymerase chain reaction: EGF (rs2237051 and rs4444903), EGFR (rs2227983 and rs763317), TGFβ1 (rs1800469 and rs4803455), and TGFβR2 (rs3087465 and rs764522). The association between pulp calcification and genetic polymorphisms was analyzed using allelic and genotypic distributions, and haplotype frequencies (P < 0.05). ResultsThe prevalence of pulp calcification was 42.4 % in 490 molars. Genotypic analysis and allelic distribution showed no statistically significant association between the evaluated growth factors and molar calcification (P > 0.05). No haplotype combinations showed a statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe genetic polymorphisms investigated were not associated with dental pulp calcification in orthodontic patients. Further studies should investigate other polymorphisms in genes encoding growth factors.

TGFBR3 inhibits progression of papillary thyroid cancer by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and EMT.

Transforming growth factor beta receptor III (TGFBR3) has been shown to play a tumor suppressive role in a variety of cancers. However, its role in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains unknown. TGFBR3 expression levels in PTC were analyzed utilizing TCGA and GEO database. Edu, wounding healing and Transwell assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the underlying mechanism of TGFBR3 in PTC progression. This study demonstrated that TGFBR3 expression was significantly down-regulated in PTC compared to normal thyroid tissues. Low expression of TGFBR3 was associated with poor prognosis of patients with PTC. Furthermore, TGFBR3 expression positively correlated with thyroid differentiation score. In investigating the biological impact of TGFBR3 over-expression in PTC cell lines, we found that the proliferation, migration and invasion of PTC cells were significantly inhibited in response to TGFBR3 overexpression. Moreover, we also demonstrated that overexpression of TGFBR3 inhibited PI3K/AKT pathway and epithelial mesenchymal transformation processes. Lastly, TGFBR3 expression was found to be involved in tumor immune infiltration, highlighting its potential influence on immune dynamics within the tumor microenvironment in PTC. TGFBR3 plays a tumor suppressive role in PTC progression by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and EMT.

Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 – A novel signaling molecule for rejuvenating aged skin

The skin seems to rejuvenate upon exposure to factors within the circulation of young organisms. Intrinsic factors that modulate skin aging are poorly understood. We used heterochronic parabiosis and aptamer-based proteomics to identify serum-derived rejuvenating factors. We discovered a novel extracellular function of hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1). Its serum levels decreased with age, disturbing the integrity of the skin extracellular matrix, which is predominantly composed of collagen I and hyaluronan; levels of various markers, which decrease in aged skin, were significantly restored in vivo and in vitro by the administration of recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1). rhHAPLN1 protected transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 on the cell surface from endocytic degradation via mechanisms such as regulation of viscoelasticity, CD44 clustering. Moreover, rhHAPLN1 regulated the levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2, phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B, and some cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors such as p16 and p21. Therefore, rhHAPLN1 may act as a novel biomechanical signaling protein to rejuvenate aged skin.

Like Father like Daughter: Surgical Redo Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repairs in a Family With Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.

Loeys Dietz Syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder resulting from a mutation in the transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFBR) family of genes. It is commonly associated with the development of aortic aneurysms and dissections. We report the successful open surgical management of thoracoabdominal aneurysms in a father and daughter with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome after failed endovascular repair. The daughter required stent graft explantation, while the stent graft remained in the father. These cases highlight the importance of early genetic testing of both patients and first-degree family members in those with a strong history of aortic disease, even when there is a lack of typical connective tissue disorder associated physical exam findings and open surgical index operations.

Association of ventricular-arterial coupling with biomarkers involved in heart failure pathophysiology-the STANISLAS cohort.

Impaired left ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) has been shown to correlate with worse prognosis in cardiac diseases and heart failure (HF). The extent of the relationship between VAC and circulating biomarkers associated with HF has been scarcely documented. We aimed to explore associations of VAC with proteins involved in HF pathophysiology within a large population-based cohort of middle-aged individuals. In the forth visit of the STANISLAS family cohort, involving 1309 participants (mean age 48 ± 14 years; 48% male) from parent and children generations, we analysed the association of 32 HF-related proteins with non-invasively assessed VAC using pulse wave velocity (PWV)/global longitudinal strain (GLS) and arterial elastance (Ea)/ventricular end-systolic elastance (Ees). Among the 32 tested proteins, fatty acid-binding protein adipocyte 4, interleukin-6, growth differentiation factor 15, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-9 and adrenomedullin were positively associated with PWV/GLS whereas transforming growth factor beta receptor type 3, MMP-2 and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were negatively associated. In multivariable models, only MMP-2 and NT-proBNP were significantly and inversely associated with PWV/GLS in the whole population and in the parent generation. Higher levels of NT-proBNP were also negatively associated with Ea/Ees in the whole cohort but this association did not persist in the parent subgroup. Elevated MMP-2 and NT-proBNP levels correlate with better VAC (lower PWV/GLS), possibly indicating a compensatory cardiovascular response to regulate left ventricular pressure amidst cardiac remodelling and overload.

Soluble TGF-β decoy receptor TGFBR3 exacerbates Alzheimer's disease pathology by modifying microglial function.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major cause of progressive dementia characterized by memory loss and progressive neurocognitive dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To elucidate the molecular mechanism contributing to AD, an integrated analytical workflow was deployed to identify pivotal regulatory target within the RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data of the temporal cortex from AD patients. Soluble transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (sTGFBR3) was identified as a critical target in AD, which was abnormally elevated in AD patients and AD mouse models. We then demonstrated that sTGFBR3 deficiency restored spatial learning and memory deficits in amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neuronal impairment mice after its expression was disrupted by a lentiviral (LV) vector expressing shRNA. Mechanistically, sTGFBR3 deficiency augments TGF-β signaling and suppressing the NF-κB pathway, thereby reduced the number of disease-associated microglia (DAMs), inhibited proinflammatory activity and increased the phagocytic activity of DAMs. Moreover, sTGFBR3 deficiency significantly mitigated acute neuroinflammation provoked by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and alleviated neuronal dysfunction induced by STZ. Collectively, these results position sTGFBR3 as a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention in AD.

MiR-20a-5p Targeting the TGFBR2 Gene Regulates Inflammatory Response of Chicken Macrophages Infected with Avian Pathogenic E. coli.

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) causes localized and systemic infections and are a threat to human health. microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in inflammation and immune regulation following pathogen invasion. However, the related regulatory mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the involvement of chicken microRNA-20a-5p (gga-miR-20a-5p) in host defense against APEC in chickens and the underlying mechanisms. We evaluated the expression levels of gga-miR-20a-5p in chicken tissues and cells and observed a significant decrease in expression following APEC infection. Dual luciferase reporter assays showed that gga-miR-20a-5p directly targeted transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2), specifically by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of TGFBR2. Overexpression of gga-miR-20a-5p markedly reduced both the mRNA and protein levels of TGFBR2, whereas inhibition of gga-miR-20a-5p significantly increased expression. Mechanistic investigations revealed that overexpression of gga-miR-20a-5p also attenuated the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL8, TNFα, IL6, and IL1β, whereas inhibition of gga-miR-20a-5p had the opposite effects. Collectively, our findings suggest that gga-miR-20a-5p regulates the immune response during APEC infection by targeting TGFBR2, thereby suppressing inflammatory cytokine production. This study provides valuable insights into the role of gga-miR-20a-5p in the host defense against APEC.

Abstract Tu061: Pericyte-mediated perivascular fibrosis in the pressure-overloaded heart is dependent on TGF-β signaling and is restrained by ITGB1.

Background: Pericytes exhibit remarkable phenotypic plasticity and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Cardiac pericytes are involved in repair and fibrotic remodeling of the infarcted heart; however, their role in the cardiomyopathy induced by pressure overload is not known. We hypothesized that cardiac pericytes may contribute to remodeling of the pressure-overloaded heart by converting into fibroblasts and we examined the molecular signals mediating pericyte activation. Methods and Results: Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) protocols were performed to study the role of pericytes in the pressure-overloaded heart. Using fibroblast:pericyte dual reporter mice and lineage tracing experiments with the inducible NG2 CreER mice (to track pericytes) combined with PDGFRa EGFP reporter mice (to reliably label fibroblasts), we found no pericyte to fibroblast conversion in the pressure-overloaded heart. scRNA-seq demonstrated that pericyte lineage cells do not express fibroblast identity genes after TAC but acquire a fibrogenic phenotype expressing high levels of matricellular genes, growth factors, adhesion molecules and integrins. Bioinformatic analysis identified transforming growth factor (TGF)-b and integrin beta-1 (ITGB1) as important upstream regulators of the transcriptional profile of pericytes after TAC. Pericyte-specific loss of transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2) attenuated dysfunction and perivascular fibrosis after TAC. In contrast, pericyte-specific ITGB1 loss had deleterious effects increasing mortality, promoting dysfunction, inducing microvascular rarefaction and stimulating a pro-inflammatory and fibrogenic pericyte phenotype. Conclusions: In the pressure-overloaded heart, pericytes acquire a fibrogenic phenotype without converting to fibroblasts. Pericyte-specific activation of TGF-β pathways mediates perivascular myocardial fibrosis after TAC. In contrast, pericyte-specific ITGB1 signaling exerts protective actions, preserving microvascular structure, attenuating inflammation and inhibiting fibrosis.

Discovery of a novel Xanthone derivative P24 for anti-AD via targeting sTGFBR3

Soluble transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (sTGFBR3) antagonist is a new focus in the research and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) drugs. Our previous studies have identified sTGFBR3 as a promising new target for AD, with few targeted antagonists identified. In this study, we performed structural modeling of sTGFBR3 using AlphaFold2, followed by high-throughput virtual screening and surface plasmon resonance assays. which collectively identified Xanthone as potential compounds for targeting sTGFBR3. After optimizing the sTGFBR3-Xanthone complex using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we prepared a series of novel Xanthone derivatives and evaluated their anti-inflammatory activity, toxicity, and structure-activity relationship in BV2 cell model induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or APP/PS1/tau mouse brain extract (BE). Several derivatives with the most potent anti-inflammatory activity were tested for blood-brain barrier permeability and sTGFBR3 affinity. Derivative P24, selected for its superior properties, was further evaluated in vitro. The results indicated that P24 increased the activation of TGF-β signaling and decreased the activation of IκBα/NF-κB signaling by targeting sTGFBR3, thereby regulating the inflammation-phagocytosis balance in microglia. Moreover, the low acute toxicity, long half-life, and low plasma clearance of P24 suggest that it can be sustained in vivo. This property may render P24 a more effective treatment modality for chronic diseases, particularly AD. The study demonstrates P24 serve as potential novel candidates for the treatment of AD via antagonizing sTGFBR3.

Myosin light chain phosphatase is a downstream target of Rho-kinase in endothelin-1-induced transactivation of the TGF-β receptor.

Rho-kinase (ROCK) regulates actomyosin contraction, coronary vasospasm, and cytoskeleton dynamics. ROCK and of NADPH oxidase (NOX) play an essential role in cardiovascular disease and proteoglycan synthesis, which promotes atherosclerosis by trapping low density lipoprotein. ROCK is activated by endothelin-1 (ET1) and transactivates the transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFβR1), intensifying Smad signaling and proteoglycan production. This study aimed to identify the role of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) as a downstream target of ROCK in TβR1 transactivation. Vascular smooth muscle cells were treated with ET1 and inhibitors of ROCK and MLCP were added. The phosphorylation levels of Smad2C, myosin light chain (MLC), and MLCP were monitored by western blot, and the mRNA expression of chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase 1 (C4ST1) was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. We examined ROCK's role in ET1-induced TGFβR1 activation. ROCK phosphorylated MLCP at the MYPT1 T853 residue, blocked by the ROCK inhibitor Y27632. ROCK also increased MLC phosphorylation and actomyosin contraction in response to ET1, enhanced by the phosphatase inhibitor Calyculin A. Calyculin A also increased C4ST1 expression, GAG-chain synthesizing enzymes. This work suggests that ROCK is involved in ET1-mediated TβR1 activation through increased MLCP phosphorylation, which leads to Smad2C phosphorylation and stimulates C4ST1 expression.

MiR-27b-3p reduces muscle fibrosis during chronic skeletal muscle injury by targeting TGF-βR1/Smad pathway

BackgroundFibrosis is a significant pathological feature of chronic skeletal muscle injury, profoundly affecting muscle regeneration. Fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) have the ability to differentiate into myofibroblasts, acting as a primary source of extracellular matrix (ECM). the process by which FAPs differentiate into myofibroblasts during chronic skeletal muscle injury remains inadequately explored.Methodmouse model with sciatic nerve denervated was constructed and miRNA expression profiles between the mouse model and uninjured mouse were analyzed. qRT/PCR and immunofluorescence elucidated the effect of miR-27b-3p on fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Dual-luciferase reporter identified the target gene of miR-27b-3p, and finally knocked down or overexpressed the target gene and phosphorylation inhibition of Smad verified the influence of downstream molecules on the abundance of miR-27b-3p and fibrogenic differentiation of FAPs.ResultFAPs derived from a mouse model with sciatic nerves denervated exhibited a progressively worsening fibrotic phenotype over time. Introducing agomiR-27b-3p effectively suppressed fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo. MiR-27b-3p targeted Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 1 (TGF-βR1) and the abundance of miR-27b-3p was negatively regulated by TGF-βR1/Smad.ConclusionmiR-27b-3p targeting the TGF-βR1/Smad pathway is a novel mechanism for regulating fibrogenic differentiation of FAPs. Increasing abundance of miR-27b-3p, suppressing expression of TGF-βR1 and inhibiting phosphorylation of smad3 presented potential strategies for treating fibrosis in chronic skeletal muscle injury.

An open-label, phase 1, multicenter study to evaluate the safety and preliminary anti-tumor activity of NT-112 in human leukocyte antigen-C*08:02–positive adult patients with unresectable, advanced, and/or metastatic solid tumors that are positive for the KRAS G12D mutation.

TPS2677 Background: The landscape of cancer treatment is evolving with the emergence of innovative immunotherapies. Among these, T cell receptor-engineered T cell (TCR-T) therapy has shown promise for patients with solid tumor malignancies. Targeting driver mutations, such as KRAS, may offer novel therapeutic options for patients with limited treatment options. Oncogenic driver mutations in KRAS typically involve single-base mutations at genomic hotspot locations. The KRAS isoform is mutated in 84% of RAS-driven cancers and in nearly 100% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The KRAS G12D mutation is the most frequent mutation in PDAC (28%), followed by colorectal cancers (12%). Despite its well-established target role in tumorigenesis, there is no FDA-approved therapy targeting the G12D variant. NT-112 is an autologous TCR-T cell therapy targeting the KRAS G12D mutation presented by HLA-C*08:02, armored by disruption of the gene encoding the transforming growth factor beta receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) in order to reduce the immunosuppressive effect of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment. Methods: This first-in-human, open label, multicenter, Phase 1, dose escalation study aims to assess the safety, identify the MTD and evaluate potential anti-tumor activities of NT-112 in subjects with solid tumors. The study will enroll up to 24 adult subjects harboring the KRAS G12D mutation that are HLA-C*08:02 positive, who exhibit progressive or recurrent disease after at least one line of standard of care treatment. Enrolled patients will undergo leukapheresis, from which, CD4 and CD8 T cells will be enriched and activated ex vivo. The genes encoding the TGFBR2 and the endogenous TCR α and β chains are knocked out from the activated T cells utilizing clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9). The HLA-C*08:02-restricted TCR specific to the KRAS G12D mutation is knocked-in in the TCR α locus. Subjects will undergo standard lymphodepletion followed by a single infusion of NT-112 and concurrent, daily, subcutaneous, recombinant IL-2 for up to 8 days. Dose escalation will occur across 3 ascending dose levels following the BOIN design. Subjects will be monitored for dose-limiting toxicities for 28 days following NT-112 infusion. Disease response will be assessed according to the RECIST v1.1 criteria. Comprehensive translational analysis will be conducted to gain insights into the mechanism of action, biomarkers associated with treatment response, and potential mechanisms of resistance. All subjects will be followed for up to 15 years. Clinical trial information: NCT06218914 .

Open-label, phase 1, multicenter study to evaluate the safety and preliminary anti-tumor activity of NT-175 in human leukocyte antigen-a*02:01-positive adult subjects with unresectable, advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors that are positive for the TP53 R175H mutation.

e14514 Background: The TP53 tumor suppressor gene is the most commonly mutated gene across all cancer types, and TP53 R175H is the most common recurrent mutation across indications, identified in 6.7% of patients with breast cancer, 6% of patients withs colorectal cancer, and 4.2% of patients with pancreatic cancer. No therapy is approved for treatment directly targeting TP53 R175H. NT-175 is an armored autologous T-cell product expressing an HLA-A*02:01-restricted TCR recognizing TP53 R175H with disruption of the endogenous TCR and the transforming growth factor beta receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) genes. Methods: This first-in-human phase I, open label study will assess the safety and preliminary anti-tumor activity, identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and evaluate the persistence, and functional capacity of NT-175 in subjects with advanced, recurrent unresectable/metastatic solid tumors refractory to treatment options. The study will enroll approximately 24 subjects harboring TP53 R175H and HLA-A*02:01. Enrolled patients will undergo leukapheresis from which CD4 and CD8 T cells will be enriched and activated ex vivo. The endogenous TCR α and β chain gene are knocked out utilizing clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) and the TCR encoding an HLA-A*02:01-restricted TCR specific to the TP53 R175H mutation is inserted in the TCR α locus. Additionally, the T cells are edited to disrupt the gene encoding the TGFBR2 to reduce the immunosuppressive effect of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment. Subjects will undergo lymphodepletion chemotherapy with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide followed by a single infusion of NT-175 and subcutaneous recombinant IL-2 administration for up to 8 days. Dose escalation will occur across 3 ascending dose levels following the BOIN design. Subjects will be monitored for dose-limiting toxicities for 28 days after NT-175 infusion. Tumor response will be assessed by RECISTv1.1 criteria. All subjects will be followed for up to 15 years. Primary endpoints include safety, dose limited toxicities, MTD determination, and recommended Phase II dose. Secondary endpoints include preliminary efficacy measures. Translational analysis will evaluate potential biomarkers for insights into mechanism of action, response prediction, or resistance mechanisms. The study was activated in March 2023 and is open to accrual; 5 patients have been enrolled as of 4 Jan 2024.

CircRNA CDR1as affects functional repair after spinal cord injury and regulates fibrosis through the SMAD pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex problem in modern medicine. Fibroblast activation and fibroscarring after SCI impede nerve recovery. Non-coding RNA plays an important role in the progression of many diseases, but the study of its role in the progression of spinal fibrosis is still emerging. Here, we investigated the function of circular RNAs, specifically antisense to the cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 (CDR1as), in spinal fibrosis and characterized its molecular mechanism and pathophysiology. The presence of CDR1as in the spinal cord was verified by sequencing and RNA expression assays. The effects of inhibition of CDR1as on scar formation, inflammation and nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury were investigated in vivo and in vitro. Further, gene expression of miR-7a-5p and protein expression of transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor II (TGF-βR2) were measured to evaluate their predicted interactions with CDR1as. The regulatory effects and activation pathways were subsequently verified by miR-7a-5p inhibitor and siCDR1as. These results indicate that CDR1as/miR-7a-5p/TGF-βR2 interactions may exert scars and nerves functions and suggest potential therapeutic targets for treating spinal fibrotic diseases.

Microglia differential genes and their functions in paraquat-induced Parkinson's disease-like in mice's brains based on single-cell RNA sequencing

Objective: To analyze the differential genes and related signaling pathways of microglia subpopulations in Parkinson's disease (PD) -like mouse brains induced by paraquat (PQ) based on single-cell RNA sequencing, and provide clues to elucidate the mechanism of PQ-induced PD-like changes in the brain of animals. Methods: In September 2021, six male 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and experimental group (three mice in each group) . The mice were injected with saline, 10.0 mg/kg PQ intraperitoneally, once every three days, and 10 consecutive injections were used for modeling. After infection, the brains of mice were taken and 10×Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing was performed. Microglia subpopulations were screened based on gene expression characteristics, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. The differential genes of microglia subpopulations between the experimental group and control group were further screened, and functional enrichment analysis was performed using bioinformatics tools. Mouse microglia (BV2 cells) were treated with 0, 60, 90 μmol/L PQ solution, respectively. And real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR experiments were conducted to validate the expressions of differential genes hexokinase 2 (Hk2) , ATPase H+ Transporting V0 Subunit B (Atp6v0b) and Neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) . Results: Cluster 7 and Cluster 20 were identified as microglia subpopulations based on the signature genes inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase d, Inpp5d (Inpp5d) and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (Tgfbr1) , and they reflected the microglia-activated M2 phenotype. The bioinformatics analysis showed that the characteristic genes of identified microglia subpopulations were enriched in endocytosis. In terms of molecular function, it mainly enriched in transmembrane receptor protein kinase activity and cytokine binding. The up-regulated genes of Cluster 7 were mainly enriched in lysosomal pathway, endocytosis pathway, and down-regulated genes were mainly enriched in neurodegenerative disease and other signaling pathways. The up-regulated genes of Cluster 20 were mainly enriched in signaling pathways related to PD, and down-regulated genes were mainly enriched in cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways, neurological development, synaptic function and other signaling pathways. The results of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the expressions of Hk2 mRNA and Atp6v0b mRNA increased and the expression of Nrg1 mRNA decreased in the 90 μmol/L PQ-treated BV2 cells compared with the 0 μmol/L, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Microglia are activated in the PQ-induced PD-like mouse model and polarized toward the M2 phenotype. And their functions are associated with lysosomal (endocytosis) , synaptic functions and the regulation of PD-related pathways.

Innate lymphoid cell subsets in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by destructive lymphocytic cholangitis and specific anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have been reported to play a role in liver homeostasis and autoimmunity. We evaluated the features of peripheral ILC1s and ILC3 in patients with PBC and hepatic ILC1 and ILC3 in two different PBC mouse models (dominant-negative transforming growth factor-beta receptor II [dnTGFβRII] and 2-octynoic acid-bovine serum albumin [2OA-BSA]). A total of 115 patients and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Decreased circulating ILC1/3s were observed in early-stage PBC patients, and the numbers of ILC1/3s were negatively correlated with specific parameters and the proportion of T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells. Reduced numbers of ILC1s were observed in PBC mouse models with different etiologies. ILC1-deficient mice had more severe hepatic inflammation after inducing the 2OA-BSA model. Continuous low-dose injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduced ILC1 levels in mice, consistent with the lower level of ILC1s in PBC patients with high LPS (>50ng/mL), and aggravated hepatic lymphocyte infiltration. Patients with PBC had decreased ILC1s, which were negatively correlated with CD4+ T cells. Deficient ILC1 populations led to disease exacerbations in mice. Our results indicated that ILC1s may participate in the pathogenesis of PBC.

An Updated Review of Membranous Nephropathy.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The discovery of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as a target antigen has led to a paradigm shift in the understanding and management of MN. At present, serum PLA2R antibodies are used for diagnosis, prognostication, and guiding treatment. Now, with the discovery of more than 20 novel target antigens, antigen mapping is almost complete. The clinical association of certain antigens provides clues for clinicians, such as the association of nerve epidermal growth factor-like 1 with malignancies and indigenous medicines. Serum antibodies are detected for most target antigens, except exostosin 1 and 2 and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3, but their clinical utility is yet to be defined. Genome-wide association studies and studies investigating environmental factors, such as air pollution, shed more light on the underpinnings of MN. The standard therapy of MN diversified from cyclical cyclophosphamide and steroids to include rituximab and calcineurin inhibitors over the past decades. Here, we provide a cutting-edge review of MN, focusing on genetics, immune system and environmental factors, novel target antigens and their clinical characteristics, and currently available and emerging novel therapies in MN.