Citations

Rationale: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has a high prevalence and mortality in critically ill patients. It is also a powerful risk factor for heart failure incidence driven by hemodynamic changes and neurohormonal activation. However, no drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Endogenous pGC-A (particulate guanylyl cyclase A receptor) activators were reported to preserve renal function and improve mortality in AKI patients, although hypotension accompanied by pGC-A activators have limited their therapeutic potential. Objective: We investigated the therapeutic potential of a nonhypotensive pGC-A activator/designer natriuretic peptide, CRRL269, in a short-term, large animal model of ischemia-induced AKI and also investigated the potential of uCNP (urinary C-type natriuretic peptide) as a biomarker for AKI. Methods and Results: We first showed that CRRL269 stimulated cGMP generation, suppressed plasma angiotensin II, and reduced cardiac filling pressures without lowering blood pressure in the AKI canine model. We also demonstrated that CRRL269 preserved glomerular filtration rate, increased renal blood flow, and promoted diuresis and natriuresis. Further, CRRL269 reduced kidney injury and apoptosis as evidenced by ex vivo histology and tissue apoptosis analysis. We also showed, compared with native pGC-A activators, that CRRL269 is a more potent inhibitor of apoptosis in renal cells and induced less decreases in intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in vascular smooth muscle cells. The renal antiapoptotic effects were at least mediated by cGMP/PKG pathway. Further, CRRL269 inhibited proapoptotic genes expression using a polymerase chain reaction gene array. Additionally, we demonstrated that AKI increased uCNP levels. Conclusions: Our study supports developing CRRL269 as a novel renocardiac protective agent for AKI treatment.

242 Background: We evaluated plasma cell free based genomic aberrations for prognosticating survival of newly diagnosed metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients (pts). Methods: Plasma was collected from mHSPC pts enrolled between 2009-2014. Platelet poor plasma (PPP) fractions were processed uniformly and cell free DNA (cfDNA) extracted using Qiagen kits. Pts were followed after initiating hormonal therapy until death. Next Gen Sequencing (NGS) of cfDNA was performed using Illumina HiSeq X for a preselected panel of 128 genes (PredicineDDR-77 cancer driver genes; 29 genes in BRCA-FA homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) pathway; 22 DNA damage repair pathway genes). Statistical analyses of plasma genome based aberrations with overall survival (OS) were performed in R 3.5.1. Cox proportional-hazard models were used for survival analysis. Results: An average of 2.5 ml PPP from 99 pts yielded a median of 10.5 ng (range: 2.8-702) cfDNA per sample. 15/99 pt samples with a yield < 5 ng were excluded from sequencing; 9/99 samples failed NGS. Median follow-up time was 80.2 months (mths) (Range: 74.7, 87]); median OS was 69.1 mths (range: 54,NR). 29 pts with full NGS data had high volume metastatic disease. cfDNA yield correlated with metastatic volume (P = 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed both variables prognostic for OS (Metastatic volume: log-rank P=0.01, HR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-3.8; cfDNA yield: P =0.04, HR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.03-1.7). Multivariate regression showed prognostic value of cfDNA yield remained independent of metastatic volume (P = 0.03, HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.02-1.76). 54/67 samples with NGS data had at least one mutation/copy number variation detected. Top mutated genes included TP53 (N=18), ATM (N=9), CHEK2 (N=7), FANCM (N=6), RB1 (N=6), BRCA2 (N=5), PIK3CA (N=4) and 37/67 pts harbored 1≥ variant in HDR pathways. These pts had a shorter survival (median: 58.6 mths) (P=0.04, HR= 2.28, 95% CI: 1.01-5.18) and pts with ATM mutations did significantly worse (median survival: 47.4 mths) (HR=4.03, P=0.0005, 95% CI: 1.73-9.37). Conclusions: Plasma cfDNA yield is prognostic for survival in newly diagnosed mHSPC state and presence of HRD pathway genomic aberrations in plasma cfDNA are associated with poor survival.

ABSTRACT The Ca 2+ ‐activated Cl − channel, anoctamin 1 (Ano1, also known as transmembrane protein 16A) contributes to intestinal pacemaking, fluid secretion, cellular excitability, and tissue development. The human ANO1 promoter contains binding sites for the glioma‐associated oncogene (Gli) proteins. We investigated regulation of ANO1 transcription by Gli. ANO1 promoter activity was determined using a luciferase reporter system. Binding and functional effects of Glis on ANO1 transcription and expression were demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation, small interfering RNA knockdown, PCR, immunolabeling, and recordings of Ca 2+ ‐activated Cl − currents in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. Results from previous genome‐wide association studies were used to test ANO1 promoter polymorphisms for association with disease. Gli1 and Gli2 bound to the promoter and repressed ANO1 transcription. Repression depended on Gli binding to a site close to the ANO1 transcriptional start site. Mutation of this site prevented Gli binding and transcriptional repression. Knockdown of Gli expression and inhibition of Gli activity increased expression of ANO1 RNA and Ca 2+ ‐activated Cl − currents in HEK293 cells. A single‐nucleotide polymorphism prevented Gli binding and showed association with irritable bowel syndrome. We conclude that Gli1 and Gli2 repress ANO1 by a novel mechanism that is independent of Gli cleavage and that has a role in gastrointestinal function.—Mazzone, A., Gibbons, S. J., Eisenman, S. T., Strege, P. R., Zheng, T., D'Amato, M., Ordog, T., Fernandez‐Zapico, M. E., Farrugia, G. Direct repression of anoctamin 1 (ANO1) gene transcription by Gli proteins. FASEB J. 33, 6632–6642 (2019). www.fasebj.org

Despite optimal current therapies, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause for death worldwide. Importantly, advances in peptide engineering have accelerated the development of innovative therapeutics for diverse human disease states. Additionally, the advancement of bispecific therapeutics targeting >1 signaling pathway represents a highly innovative strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. We, therefore, engineered a novel, designer peptide, which simultaneously targets the pGC-A (particulate guanylyl cyclase A) receptor and the MasR (Mas receptor), potentially representing an attractive cardiorenoprotective therapeutic for cardiovascular disease. We engineered a novel, bispecific receptor activator, NPA7, that represents the fusion of a 22-amino acid sequence of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide; an endogenous ligand of pGC-A) with Ang 1–7 (angiotensin 1–7)—the 7-amino acid endogenous activator of MasR. We assessed NPA7’s dual receptor activating actions in vitro (second messenger production and receptor interaction). Further, we performed an intravenous peptide infusion comparison study in normal canines to study its biological actions in vivo, including in the presence of an MasR antagonist. Our in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate the successful synthesis of NPA7 as a bispecific receptor activator targeting pGC-A and MasR. In normal canines, NPA7 possesses enhanced natriuretic, diuretic, systemic, and renal vasorelaxing and cardiac unloading properties. Importantly, NPA7’s actions are superior to that of the individual native pGC-A or MasR ligands. These studies advance NPA7 as a novel, bispecific designer peptide with potential cardiorenal therapeutic benefit for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension and heart failure.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to estimate the extent of potential antidepressant overprescribing in a geographically defined U.S. population, and to determine the indications and factors that account for it. We conducted a cohort study of new antidepressant prescriptions for elderly residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, 2005‐2012, using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records‐linkage system. Indications for antidepressants were abstracted from health records for all cohort members. Potential antidepressant overprescribing was defined based on regulatory approval, the level of evidence identified from a standardized drug information database, and multidisciplinary expert review. Predictors of potential antidepressant overprescribing were investigated using logistic regression models, stratified by general antidepressant indication (general medical indication, specific psychiatric diagnosis, and non‐specific psychiatric symptoms). Potential antidepressant overprescribing occurred in 24% of 3199 incident antidepressant prescriptions during the study period, and involved primarily newer antidepressants that were prescribed for non‐specific psychiatric symptoms and subthreshold diagnoses. Potential antidepressant overprescribing was associated with nursing home residence, having a higher number of comorbid medical conditions and outpatient prescribers, taking more concomitant medications, having greater use of urgent or acute care services in the year preceding the index antidepressant prescription, and being prescribed antidepressants via telephone, e‐mail, or patient portal. In conclusion, potential antidepressant overprescribing occurred in elderly persons and involved mainly newer antidepressants used for non‐specific psychiatric symptoms and subthreshold diagnoses, and was associated with indicators of higher clinical complexity or severity and with prescribing without face‐to‐face patient contact.

Abstract Background: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most frequent pediatric retinal tumor. In the present study, to elucidate chemoresistance mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers in RB, we utilized RNA sequencing (RNAseq) technological platforms to reveal transcriptome profiles and identify any differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between an etoposide drug-resistant subline (Y79/EDR) and parental Y79 cells. Methods: To test whether Y79/EDR cells showed resistance to antineoplastic agents for RB, we treated the cells with etoposide, carboplatin and vincristine and analyzed them with a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Y79/EDR and parental Y79 cells were used for RNAseq and bioinformatics analysis to enable a genome-wide review of DEGs between the two lines using the DESeq R package (1.10.1). Then, DEG enrichment in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways was analyzed with KOBAS software. Next, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and cytotoxicity assays were performed to experimentally and functionally validate the identified candidate biomarkers. Results: Y79/EDR cells showed resistance to etoposide, carboplatin and vincristine at different concentrations. In total, 524 transcripts were differentially expressed in Y79/EDR cells based on analysis of fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped (FPKM); among these, 57 genes were downregulated and 467 genes were upregulated in Y79/EDR cells compared to parental Y79 cells. We selected candidate DEGs, including ARHGAP9, HIST1H4H, RELN, DDIT4, HK2, STC1 and PFKFB4, for mRNA expression validation with QRT-PCR assays and found that the expression levels determined by QRT-PCR were consistent with the RNAseq data. Further studies involving downregulation of ARHGAP9 with a specific siRNA pool showed that ARHGAP9 altered the cellular sensitivity of Y79 cells to etoposide and carboplatin. Conclusion: Our initial findings provided a genomic view of the transcription profiles of etoposide-induced acquired resistance in RB. Follow-up studies indicated that ARHGAP9 might be a chemoresistance biomarker in RB, providing insight into potential therapeutic targets for overcoming acquired chemoresistance in RB. These findings can aid in understanding and overcoming chemoresistance during treatment of RB in the clinic.

Abstract DNA methylation is instrumental for gene regulation. Global changes in the epigenetic landscape have been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. However, the role of DNA methylation in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear. In this study, high-density genetic and DNA methylation data in white blood cells from the Framingham Heart Study (N = 1,595) were used to build genetic models to predict DNA methylation levels. These prediction models were then applied to the summary statistics of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of ovarian cancer including 22,406 EOC cases and 40,941 controls to investigate genetically predicted DNA methylation levels in association with EOC risk. Among 62,938 CpG sites investigated, genetically predicted methylation levels at 89 CpG were significantly associated with EOC risk at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P &lt; 7.94 × 10−7. Of them, 87 were located at GWAS-identified EOC susceptibility regions and two resided in a genomic region not previously reported to be associated with EOC risk. Integrative analyses of genetic, methylation, and gene expression data identified consistent directions of associations across 12 CpG, five genes, and EOC risk, suggesting that methylation at these 12 CpG may influence EOC risk by regulating expression of these five genes, namely MAPT, HOXB3, ABHD8, ARHGAP27, and SKAP1. We identified novel DNA methylation markers associated with EOC risk and propose that methylation at multiple CpG may affect EOC risk via regulation of gene expression. Significance: Identification of novel DNA methylation markers associated with EOC risk suggests that methylation at multiple CpG may affect EOC risk through regulation of gene expression.

AbstractBiodegradable drug‐eluting stents (DESs) are used today to treat atherosclerotic arteries and as vehicles to deliver inhibitors to suppress restenosis, with potential applications also in localized cancer therapy. Here the development of a series of drug‐eluting poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) coils that may find possible use as DESs is reported. PGS is a tough, biodegradable, and biocompatible elastomer that has adjustable mechanical properties thanks to careful control of the fabrication process. Specifically, 3D PGS coils featuring superior mechanical and fracture‐resistance properties are fabricated. The surface erosion profile of PGS is designed to further reduce the risk of fragmentation and non‐target embolization during the degradation process. A dual‐encapsulation mechanism is applied, first poly(ε‐caprolactone) microparticles loaded with an anticancer drug Doxorubicin followed by dispersion of these microparticles in the PGS coils, to prolong the release of drug molecules from the interior. Systematic evaluations of the mechanical properties of the PGS coils and their drug release behaviors are conducted. It is anticipated that, these PGS coils may enable minimally invasive delivery using standard endovascular catheters, for achieving localized and sustained release of chemotherapy to tumors, as well as conventional applications in treating vascular disorders.