Wellik, Linda E

AbstractPeripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a clinically heterogeneous group that represents 10%–15% of all lymphomas. Despite improved genetic and molecular understanding, treatment outcomes for PTCL have not shown significant improvement. Although Janus kinase‐2 (JAK2) plays an important role in myeloproliferative neoplasms, the critical role of JAK isoforms in mediating prosurvival signaling in PTCL cells is not well defined. Immunohistochemical analysis of PTCL tumors (n = 96) revealed high levels of constitutively active JAK3 (pJAK3) that significantly (p < 0.04) correlated with the activation state of its canonical substrate STAT3. Furthermore, constitutive activation of JAK3 and STAT3 positively correlated, at least in part, with an oncogenic tyrosine phosphatase PTPN11. Pharmacological inhibition of JAK3 but not JAK1/JAK2 significantly (p < 0.001) decreased PTCL proliferation, survival and STAT3 activation. A sharp contrast was observed in the pJAK3 positivity between ALK+ (85.7%) versus ALK‐negative (10.0%) in human PTCL tumors and PTCL cell lines. Moreover, JAK3 and ALK reciprocally interacted in PTCL cells, forming a complex to possibly regulate STAT3 signaling. Finally, combined inhibition of JAK3 (by WHI‐P154) and ALK (by crizotinib or alectinib) significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the survival of PTCL cells as compared to either agent alone by inhibiting STAT3 downstream signaling. Collectively, our findings establish that JAK3 is a therapeutic target for a subset of PTCL, and provide rationale for the clinical evaluation of JAK3 inhibitors combined with ALK‐targeted therapy in PTCL.

Background and objectives Urinary stone disease has been associated with inflammation, but the specific cell interactions that mediate events remain poorly defined. This study compared calcification and inflammatory cell patterns in kidney tissue from radical nephrectomy specimens of patients without and with a history of urinary stone disease. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Nontumor parenchyma of biobanked radical nephrectomy specimens from age- and sex-matched stone formers ( n =44) and nonstone formers ( n =82) were compared. Calcification was detected by Yasue staining and inflammatory cell populations by immunohistochemistry for CD68 (proinflammatory M1 macrophages), CD163 and CD206 (anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages), CD3 (T lymphocytes), and tryptase (mast cells). Calcifications and inflammatory cells were quantified in cortex and medulla using Image-Pro analysis software. Results Calcification in the medulla of stone formers was higher than in nonstone formers ( P <0.001). M1 macrophages in the cortex and medulla of stone formers were greater than in nonstone formers ( P <0.001), and greater in stone former medulla than stone former cortex ( P =0.02). There were no differences in age, sex, body mass index, tumor characteristics (size, stage, or thrombus), vascular disease status, or eGFR between the groups. M2 macrophages, T lymphocytes, and mast cells did not differ by stone former status. There was a correlation between M1 macrophages and calcification in the medulla of stone formers (rho=0.48; P =0.001) and between M2 macrophages and calcification in the medulla of nonstone formers (rho=0.35; P =0.001). T lymphocytes were correlated with calcification in the cortex of both nonstone formers (rho=0.27; P =0.01) and stone formers (rho=0.42; P =0.004), whereas mast cells and calcification were correlated only in the cortex of stone formers (rho=0.35; P =0.02). Conclusions Higher medullary calcification stimulated accumulation of proinflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory macrophages in stone formers.