Chunxia Qiao

cAMP Modulates Macrophage Development by Suppressing M-CSF-Induced MAPKs Activation

M-CSF is a key cytokine in macrophage development by inducing MAPKs activation, and cAMP can inhibit MAPKs activation induced by inflammatory stimuli. To explore the effects of cAMP on M-CSF-induced MAPKs activation and on macrophage development, the model of bone marrow-derived murine macrophages (BMMs) was used. The effects of cAMP on M-CSF-induced MAPKs activation were analyzed by Western blotting assay, and the effects of cAMP on CD14 and F4/80 expression during macrophage development were examined by FACS analysis. Macrophage morphology showed the successful establishment of the model of macrophage development. Western blotting assay revealed that M-CSF activated ERK, JNK and p38 in both mature and immature macrophages, and cAMP inhibited M-CSF-induced ERK, JNK and p38 activation in a time-dependent manner. FACS analysis revealed that macrophage development was impaired with cAMP pretreatment. In conclusion, cAMP modulates macrophage development by suppressing M-CSF-induced MAPKs activation.

IGF-1R and ErbB3/HER3 contribute to enhanced proliferation and carcinogenesis in trastuzumab-resistant ovarian cancer model

Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) has demonstrated clinical potential in several types of HER2-overexpressing human cancers. However, primary and acquired resistance occurs in many HER2-positive patients with regimens. To investigate the possible mechanism of acquired therapeutic resistance to trastuzumab, we have developed a preclinical model of human ovarian cancer cells, SKOV3/T, with the distinctive feature of stronger carcinogenesis. The differences in gene expression between parental and the resistant cells were explored by microarray analysis, of which IGF-1R and HER3 were detected to be key molecules in action. Their correctness was validated by follow-up experiments of RT-PCR, shRNA-mediated knockdown, downstream signal activation, cell cycle distribution and survival. These results suggest that IGF-1R and HER3 differentially regulate trastuzumab resistance and could be promising targets for trastuzumab therapy in ovarian cancer.

Defective anchoring of JNK1 in the cytoplasm by MKK7 in Jurkat cells is associated with resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis

MKK7 works as a cytoplasmic anchoring protein for JNK1 in various cell lines but exhibits aberrant nuclear entry in Jurkat cells, which leads to resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

MEKK3 Overexpression Contributes to the Hyperresponsiveness of IL-12–Overproducing Cells and CD4+ T Conventional Cells in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Elevated IL-12 production and higher rate of CD4+ T conventional (Tconv) cell proliferation in NOD mice have been implicated in the progression of type 1 diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown, even though enhanced activation of the IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB pathway has been revealed to mediate IL-12 overproduction. In this study, we report that deviated p38 MAPK activation also contributes to elevated IL-12 production with a mechanism involving MAPK-activated protein kinase-2–mediated stabilization of IL-12p40 mRNA. Aberrant p38 activation induced by various inflammatory stimuli in IL-12–overproducing cells is not due to defective MAPK phosphatase-1 induction in NOD mice. Deviated IKK and MAPKs activation also occurs in NOD CD4+ Tconv cells, which is associated with higher rates of proliferation. All of the above evidence suggests that the signaling defects occur at the level of MAPK kinase kinase (MAK3K or MEKK). Further exploration shows that MEKK3, but not other MAP3Ks, is overexpressed in NOD IL-12–overproducing cells and CD4+ Tconv cells independent of autoimmune inflammation. MEKK3 knockdown leads to reversal of the deviated IKK and MAPKs activation, resulting in reduced IL-12 production and decreased CD4+ Tconv cell proliferation. Thus, this study provides a molecular mechanism of the hyperresponsiveness of IL-12–overproducing cells and CD4+ Tconv cells in NOD mice.

Combination of cetuximab and rapamycin enhances the therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancers worldwide. It is well known that the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, growth and proliferation, and its inhibitors have been used as therapeutic drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cetuximab, a chimerical monoclonal EGFR lgG1 antibody, can block the binding of EGF or other ligands to EGFR and thus inhibit ligands-induced receptor phosphorylation. In the present study, we found that rapamycin could enhance the antiproliferation effect of cetuximab in both HepG2 cells and Huh-7 cells and arrest the cell cycle. Cetuximab in combination with rapamycin had synergistic effects on inhibiting the phosphrylation of proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. Combination of cetuximab with rapamycin treatment significantly suppressed the HCC development in HepG2 cells-xenografted mice and improved the survival. Cetuximab and rapamycin inhibited the growth of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that the combination therapy using the inhibitors for both EGFR and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways may be a novel therapeutic approach for HCC.

Improving Trastuzumab’s Stability Profile by Removing the Two Degradation Hotspots

Stability of recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is essential for their clinical application. The presence of the two degradation hotspots, namely, LC-Asn30 and HC-Asp102, in its complementary determinant regions prevents trastuzumab (Herceptin®) from being supplied in a drug product format of liquid formulation. To improve the stability, a new antibody was created by replacing the two residues with chemically similar amino acids of LC-Gln30 and HC-Glu102. This new mAb, named as T-mAb2, exhibited a simple and more uniform charge heterogeneity profile than T-mAb1, which is trastuzumab made in our laboratory, as displayed by the difference between their main peak area percentages (82.9% for T-mAb2 vs. 60.5% for T-mAb1). Computer modeling results, physicochemical and biological characterization, and stability profiling studies on T-mAb2 and T-mAb1 demonstrated that stability of T-mAb2 was significantly improved. In comparison with T-mAb1, although its in vitro human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-target binding activities were reduced slightly, in vivo tumor growth inhibiting activity was not affected, as demonstrated by the study results using the SKOV3 xenograft mouse model. Hence, a new anti-HER2 antibody was generated with improved stability that could be used to produce the drug product in liquid formulation for cost saving and more convenient usage.

Structure-based affinity maturation of a chimeric anti-ricin antibody C4C13

Ricin is a highly lethal toxin. Anti-ricin chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) C4C13 was prepared in our lab; however, its binding affinity was much weaker than that of the parent antibody 4C13. In this study, based on the computer-guided homology modeling and conformational optimization methods, the 3-D structure of C4C13 variable regions Fv was constructed and optimized. Using molecular docking and dynamics simulation methods, the 3-D complex structure of ricin and C4C13 Fv was obtained. Considering the orientation property, surface electrostatic distribution, residues chemical andphysical character and intermolecular hydrogen bond, the binding mode and key residues were predicted. According to C4C13 Fv fragment and ricin complementary binding surface, electrostatic attraction periphery and van der Waals interaction interface, three mutants (i.e., M1 (NH102F, WH103Y); M2 (WH103Y) and M3 (RL90G)) were designed, in which M1 and M2 were predicted to possess higher antigen-binding activity than C4C13, while M3 was weaker. The relative affinity assays by ELISA showed that M1 and M2 mutations had higher affinity (9.6 and 18.3 nmol/L) than C4C13 (130 nmol/L) and M3 had weaker affinity (234.5 nmol/L) than C4C13. The results showed that the modeling complex structure of the antigen (ricin) and antibody (C4C13) is reasonable. Our work offered affinity maturated antibodies by site mutations, which were beneficial for valuable anti-ricin antibody design and preparation in future.

Affinity maturation of antiHER2 monoclonal antibody MIL5 using an epitope-specific synthetic phage library by computational design

Increased affinities mainly equal to improved biological efficacy in many cases. By now, display methods including phage library are widely exploited to obtain higher affinity antibodies. Traditional library methods mainly focus on complementary determining region mutagenesis, in which extensive screening of variant combinations as well as large library capacity is required to find higher affinity clones. In this study, based on the modeling 3D complex structure of antigen (HER2)–antibody (MIL5) complex, the key residues of contact surface were predicted and identified to guide the synthetic phage library design. Then, epitope-specific site-directed mutagenesis phage library comprised of MIL5_scFv mutants was constructed, from which a higher affinity single chain antibody (M5scFv_ph) was screened out. Following experimental results showed that the novel antibody M5scFv_ph retained superimposed epitope to the parent antibody MIL5_scFv, and possessed similar tumor growth inhibitory activity in vivo on ovarian carcinoma xenografts.

RACK1 antagonizes TNF-α-induced cell death by promoting p38 activation

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity has been reported to either promote or suppress cell death, which depends on cell type and stimulus. Our previous report indicates that p38 exerts a protective role in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced cell death in L929 fibroblastoma cells. However, key molecules regulating p38 activation remain unclear. Here, we show that ectopic expression of scaffold protein receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) suppressed TNF-α-induced cell death in L929 cells, which was associated with enhanced p38 activation. Knockdown of endogenous RACK1 expression exhibited opposite effects. The protective role of RACK1 in TNF-α-induced cell death diminished upon blockade of p38 activation. Therefore, RACK1 antagonizes TNF-α-induced cell death through, at least partially, augmenting p38 activation. Further exploration revealed that RACK1 directly bound to MKK3/6 and enhanced the kinase activity of MKK3/6 without affecting MKK3/6 phosphorylation. Similar effects of RACK1 were also observed in primary murine hepatocytes, another cell type sensitive to TNF-α-induced cell death. Taken together, our data suggest that RACK1 is a key factor involved in p38 activation as well as TNF-α-induced cell death.

Novel anti-CD20 antibody TGLA with enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity mediates potent anti-lymphoma activity

Rituximab is the first anti-cancer antibody approved by the FDA for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. However, its efficacy remains variable and often modest. Some patients are initially unresponsive to rituximab or later develop resistance to it, and require alternative therapies. Rituximab activity has been thought to involve antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and apoptosis. Present studies suggest that the patients unresponsive to rituximab may be helped with other CD20 antibodies with enhanced activities. In this study, we characterized a novel anti-CD20 chimeric antibody, TGLA, which binds to various B-cell lines specially and shares an epitope with rituximab. TGLA shows equal activities with rituximab, such as CDC, cell growth arrest and so on. Interestingly, TGLA also shows significant ADCC activity. Immunotherapeutic studies further show that TGLA is far more effective in delaying tumor growth than rituximab. These findings suggest that the ADCC-enhanced anti-CD20 antibody TGLA might be an alternative therapeutic agent for B-cell lymphoma.