Probes for INS

Abstract

AIM:

To determine whether it is possible to identify different immune phenotypic subpopulations of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic cancer (PC).

METHODS:

We defined four different stromal compartments in surgical specimens with PC: The juxtatumoural, peripheral, lobular and septal stroma. Tissue microarrays were produced containing all pre-defined PC compartments, and the expression of 37 fibroblast (FB) and 8 extracellular matrix (ECM) markers was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF), double-IF, and/or in situ hybridization. The compartment-specific mean labelling score was determined for each marker using a four-tiered scoring system. DOG1 gene expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR).

RESULTS:

CD10, CD271, cytoglobin, DOG1, miR-21, nestin, and tenascin C exhibited significant differences in expression profiles between the juxtatumoural and peripheral compartments. The expression of CD10, cytoglobin, DOG1, nestin, and miR-21 was moderate/strong in juxtatumoural CAFs (j-CAFs) and barely perceptible/weak in peripheral CAFs (p-CAFs). The upregulation of DOG1 gene expression in PC compared to normal pancreas was verified by qPCR. Tenascin C expression was strong in the juxtatumoural ECM and barely perceptible/weak in the peripheral ECM. CD271 expression was barely perceptible in j-CAFs but moderate in the other compartments. Galectin-1 was stronger expressed in j-CAFs vs septal fibroblasts, PDGF-Rβ, tissue transglutaminase 2, and hyaluronic acid were stronger expressed in lobular fibroblasts vs p-CAFs, and plectin-1 was stronger expressed in j-CAFs vs l-FBs. The expression of the remaining 33 markers did not differ significantly when related to the quantity of CAFs/FBs or the amount of ECM in the respective compartments.

CONCLUSION:

Different immune phenotypic CAF subpopulations can be identified in PC, using markers such as cytoglobin, CD271, and miR-21. Future studies should determine whether CAF subpopulations have different functional properties.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is essential for many developmental processes and plays a pivotal role in skeletal homeostasis, regeneration and wound healing. FGF signals through one of five tyrosine kinase receptors: Fgfr1a, -1b, -2, -3, -4. To characterize the expression of zebrafish fgfr3 from the larval stage to adulthood, we used RNAscope in situ hybridization on paraffin sections of the zebrafish head. Our study revealed spatial and temporal distribution of fgfr3 transcript in chondrocytes of the head cartilages, osteoblasts involved in bone formation, ventricular zone of the brain, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells of the skin, and lens epithelium of the eye. In general, the expression pattern of zebrafish fgfr3 is similar to the expression observed in higher vertebrates.

Abstract

Background and Aims

Regulatory macrophages play a critical role in tissue repair, and we have previously shown that anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] antibodies induce these macrophages in vitro and in vivo in IBD patients. The induction of regulatory macrophages can be potentiated using the combination of anti-TNF and thiopurines, consistent with the enhanced efficacy of this combination therapy described in clinical trials. As thiopurines are unfortunately associated with significant side effects, we here aimed to identify alternatives for combination therapy with anti-TNF, using the macrophage induction model as a screening tool.

Methods

Mixed lymphocyte reactions were treated with anti-TNF and a library of 1600 drug compounds. Induction of CD14+CD206+ macrophages was analysed by flow cytometry. Positive hits were validated in vitro and in the T cell transfer model of colitis.

Results

Among the 98 compounds potentiating the induction of regulatory macrophages by anti-TNF were six benzimidazoles, including albendazole. Albendazole treatment in the presence of anti-TNF resulted in alterations in the tubulin skeleton and signalling though AMPK, which was required for the enhanced induction. Combination therapy also increased expression levels of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10. In vivo, albendazole plus anti-TNF combination therapy was superior to monotherapy in a model of colitis, in terms of both induction of regulatory macrophages and improvement of clinical symptoms.

Conclusions

Albendazole enhances the induction of regulatory macrophages by anti-TNF and potentiates clinical efficacy in murine colitis. Given its favourable safety profile, these data indicate that the repurposing of albendazole may be a novel option for anti-TNF combination therapy in IBD.

Central nervous system germinomas are characterized by a massive immune cell infiltrate. We systematically characterized these immune cells in 28 germinomas by immunophenotyping and image analysis. mRNA expression was analyzed by Nanostring technology and in situ RNA hybridization. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were composed of 61.8% ± 3.1% (mean ± SE) CD3-positive T cells, including 45.2% ± 3.5% of CD4-positive T-helper cells, 23.4% ± 1.5% of CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells, 5.5% ± 0.9% of FoxP3-positive regulatory T cells, and 11.9% ±1.3% PD-1-positive TILs. B cells accounted for 35.8% ± 2.9% of TILs and plasma cells for 9.3% ± 1.6%. Tumor-associated macrophages consisted of clusters of activated PD-L1-positive macrophages and interspersed anti-inflammatory macrophages expressing CD163. Germinoma cells did not express PD-L1. Expression of genes encoding immune cell markers and cytokines was high and comparable to mRNA levels in lymph node tissue. IFNG and IL10 mRNA was detected in subfractions of TILs and in PD-L1-positive macrophages. Taken together, the strong immune reaction observed in germinomas involves inflammatory as well as various suppressive mechanisms. Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 and infiltration of cytotoxic T cells are biomarkers predictive of response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies, constituting a rationale for possible novel treatment approaches.

Regardless of host, pathogenic mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex such as Mycobacterium bovis, induce a characteristic lesion known as agranuloma, tubercle or tuberculoid granuloma. Granulomas represent a distinct host response to chronic antigenic stimuli, such as foreign bodies, certain bacterial components, or persistent pathogens such as M. bovis. Granulomas are composed of specific cell types including epithelioid macrophages, lymphocytes and a morphologically distinctive cell type, the multinucleated giant cell. Multinucleated giant cells are formed by the fusion of multiple macrophages; however, their function remains unclear. In humans, giant cells in tuberculous granulomas have been shown to express various cytokines, chemokines and enzymes important to the formation and maintenance of the granuloma. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess multinucleated giant cell cytokine expression in bovine tuberculoid granulomas; focusing on cytokines of suspected relevance to bovine tuberculosis. Using calves experimentally infected with M. bovis, in situ cytokine expression was quantitatively assessed using RNAScope^® for the following cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-17A and IL-10. Multinucleated giant cells in bovine tuberculoid granulomas expressed all examined cytokines to varying degrees, with differential expression of TGF-β, IL-17A and IL-10 in giant cells from early versus late stage granulomas. There was a modest, positive correlation between the level of cytokine expression and cell size or number of nuclei. These results suggest that multinucleated giant cells are active participants within bovine tuberculoid granulomas, contributing to the cytokine milieu necessary to form and maintain granulomas.

The periodontal complex is essential for tooth attachment and function and includes the mineralized tissues, cementum and alveolar bone, separated by the unmineralized periodontal ligament (PDL). To gain insights into factors regulating cementum-PDL and bone-PDL borders and protecting against ectopic calcification within the PDL, we employed a proteomic approach to analyze PDL tissue from progressive ankylosis knock-out (Ank−/−) mice, featuring reduced PPi, rapid cementogenesis, and excessive acellular cementum. Using this approach, we identified the matrix protein osteopontin (Spp1/OPN) as an elevated factor of interest in Ank−/− mouse molar PDL. We studied the role of OPN in dental and periodontal development and function. During tooth development in wild-type (WT) mice, Spp1 mRNA was transiently expressed by cementoblasts and strongly by alveolar bone osteoblasts. Developmental analysis from 14 to 240 days postnatal (dpn) indicated normal histological structures in Spp1−/− comparable to WT control mice. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis at 30 and 90 dpn revealed significantly increased volumes and tissue mineral densities of Spp1−/− mouse dentin and alveolar bone, while pulp and PDL volumes were decreased and tissue densities were increased. However, acellular cementum growth was unaltered in Spp1−/− mice. Quantitative PCR of periodontal-derived mRNA failed to identify potential local compensators influencing cementum in Spp1−/− vs. WT mice at 26 dpn. We genetically deleted Spp1 on the Ank−/− mouse background to determine whether increased Spp1/OPN was regulating periodontal tissues when the PDL space is challenged by hypercementosis in Ank−/− mice. Ank−/−; Spp1−/−double deficient mice did not exhibit greater hypercementosis than that in Ank−/− mice. Based on these data, we conclude that OPN has a non-redundant role regulating formation and mineralization of dentin and bone, influences tissue properties of PDL and pulp, but does not control acellular cementum apposition. These findings may inform therapies targeted at controlling soft tissue calcification.