Modifications of gene expression detected in peripheral blood after brain ischemia treated with remote postconditioning

The urgency of the search for inexpensive and effective drugs with localized action for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis continues unabated. In this study, for the first time we investigated the Cytos-11 antisense oligonucleotide suppression of TNF-α gene expression in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant. Cytos-11 has been shown to effectively reduce peripheral blood concentrations of TNF-α, reduce joint inflammation, and reduce pannus development. The results achieved following treatment with the antisense oligonucleotide Cytos-11 were similar to those of adalimumab (Humira®); they also compared favorably with those results, which provides evidence of the promise of drugs based on antisense technologies in the treatment of this disease.

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The hypoxia sensitive metal transcription factor MTF-1 activates NCX1 brain promoter and participates in remote postconditioning neuroprotection in stroke

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03705-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Valeria Valsecchi ◽

Giusy Laudati ◽

Ornella Cuomo ◽

Rossana Sirabella ◽

Lucio Annunziato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Brain Ischemia ◽

Femoral Artery ◽

Infarct Volume ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Sodium Calcium Exchanger ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Relevant Role ◽

Remote Postconditioning

AbstractRemote limb ischemic postconditioning (RLIP) is an experimental strategy in which short femoral artery ischemia reduces brain damage induced by a previous harmful ischemic insult. Ionic homeostasis maintenance in the CNS seems to play a relevant role in mediating RLIP neuroprotection and among the effectors, the sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1) may give an important contribution, being expressed in all CNS cells involved in brain ischemic pathophysiology. The aim of this work was to investigate whether the metal responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1), an important hypoxia sensitive transcription factor, may (i) interact and regulate NCX1, and (ii) play a role in the neuroprotective effect mediated by RLIP through NCX1 activation. Here we demonstrated that in brain ischemia induced by transient middle cerebral occlusion (tMCAO), MTF-1 is triggered by a subsequent temporary femoral artery occlusion (FAO) and represents a mediator of endogenous neuroprotection. More importantly, we showed that MTF-1 translocates to the nucleus where it binds the metal responsive element (MRE) located at −23/−17 bp of Ncx1 brain promoter thus activating its transcription and inducing an upregulation of NCX1 that has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective. Furthermore, RLIP restored MTF-1 and NCX1 protein levels in the ischemic rat brain cortex and the silencing of MTF-1 prevented the increase of NCX1 observed in RLIP protected rats, thus demonstrating a direct regulation of NCX1 by MTF-1 in the ischemic cortex of rat exposed to tMCAO followed by FAO. Moreover, silencing of MTF-1 significantly reduced the neuroprotective effect elicited by RLIP as demonstrated by the enlargement of brain infarct volume observed in rats subjected to RLIP and treated with MTF-1 silencing. Overall, MTF-dependent activation of NCX1 and their upregulation elicited by RLIP, besides unraveling a new molecular pathway of neuroprotection during brain ischemia, might represent an additional mechanism to intervene in stroke pathophysiology.

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389 Combining transcriptomic- and tissue-based immune biomarkers to evaluate GB1275, a CD11b modulator, as a single agent or with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-sitc2020.0389 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽

pp. A414-A414

Author(s):

Wells Messersmith ◽

Drew Rasco ◽

Johann De Bono ◽

Andrea Wang-Gillam ◽

Wungki Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Solid Tumors ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Transcriptomic Analysis ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Advanced Solid Tumors ◽

Core Tissue ◽

Dose Dependent

BackgroundGB1275 is a first-in-class CD11b modulator in development as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab or chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Nonclinical data show that GB1275 reduced influx of tumor-associated myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and macrophages (TAMs), and repolarized M2 immuno-suppressive TAMs towards an M1 phenotype. We hypothesize that GB1275 administration can alleviate myeloid cell-mediated immunosuppressive effects and improve cancer treatment outcomes. A phase 1 trial evaluating GB1275 as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in specified advanced tumors in ongoing (NCT04060342).MethodsBlood gene expression variations as well as core tissue biopsies pre- and post-treatment were assessed following GB1275 monotherapy and combination with pembrolizumab. After obtaining informed consent, peripheral blood for MDSCs was collected from 21 patients pre- and two weeks post-treatment; core tissue biopsies were collected from 13 patients pre- and post-treatment. The frequency of MDSCs in whole blood was measured using the Serametrix MDSC FACS Assay. Gene expression transcriptome profiles were generated using NovaSeq platform. CD8 staining was performed at Neogenomics, and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) quantification was performed by an independent pathologist.ResultsPreliminary statistical analysis of MDSC immunophenotyping pre- and post- treatment is consistent with the proposed mechanism of GB1275, showing modulation of peripheral blood MDSCs in some patients. Preliminary gene expression analysis in the blood showed dose-dependent clusters following treatment with GB1275 alone. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis revealed two unique expression patterns for patients treated with GB1275 monotherapy or in combination with pembrolizumab. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that the CD11b pathway is downregulated in patients treated with GB1275. Analyses of TIL count revealed an increase in lymphocyte trafficking into the tumor after treatment with GB1275 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab. CD8 expression and transcriptomic analysis are underway and will be presented.ConclusionsGB1275 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab demonstrates biological activity, which may be dose dependent. The observed increase in TILs after treatment is supportive of the mechanism of action of GB1275. Further biomarker analyses in blood and tissues are ongoing and will be correlated with clinical activity in a larger number of patients.Ethics ApprovalThis ongoing study is being conducted in accordance with the the Declaration of Helsinki and Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) International Ethical Guidelines. The study was approved by the Ethics Boards of University of Colorado Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine - Siteman Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology, South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

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