Advancing RAS/RASopathy therapies: An NCI‐sponsored intramural and extramural collaboration for the study of RASopathies

RASopathies caused by germline pathogenic variants in genes that encode RAS pathway proteins. These disorders include neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Noonan syndrome (NS), cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC), and Costello syndrome (CS), and others. RASopathies are characterized by heterogenous manifestations, including congenital heart disease, failure to thrive, and increased risk of cancers. Previous work led by the NCI Pediatric Oncology Branch has altered the natural course of one of the key manifestations of the RASopathy NF1. Through the conduct of a longitudinal cohort study and early phase clinical trials, the MEK inhibitor selumetinib was identified as the first active therapy for the NF1‐related peripheral nerve sheath tumors called plexiform neurofibromas (PNs). As a result, selumetinib was granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of PN. Other RASopathy manifestations may also benefit from RAS targeted therapies. The overall goal of Advancing RAS/RASopathy Therapies (ART), a new NCI initiative, is to develop effective therapies and prevention strategies for the clinical manifestations of the non‐NF1 RASopathies and for tumors characterized by somatic RAS mutations. This report reflects discussions from a February 2019 initiation meeting for this project, which had broad international collaboration from basic and clinical researchers and patient advocates.     

Major phospholipids and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in adult Schistosoma mansoni

The major phospholipids present in the phospholipid extract of Schistosoma mansoni were phosphatidylcholine (28%), phosphatidylethanolamine (25%), phosphatidylserine (15%) and phosphatidylglycerol (8%). The synthesis of phosphatidylcholine in S. mansoni adults occurred by the choline to phosphatidylcholine or Kennedy pathway. Incorporation of CDPcholine and choline into the phosphatidylcholine of worm slices appeared linear over time with no demonstrable sex differences in choline incorporation. A slight difference in the incorporation of CDPcholine by separate sexes was evident. Methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine could not be demonstrated.     

补体经典激活途径C3转化酶的体外组装及活性观察

目的：体外组装包含人C4分子的补体经典激活途径C3转化酶，并对其转化酶活性及衰变特性进行观察。方法：利用豚鼠血清功能纯C1、C2及溶血中间体EAC4^hu体外组装经典途径C3转化酶，观察不同C1、C2用量及孵育温度对C3转化酶形成和自发性衰变的影响，以及人红细胞膜抽提蛋白对C3转化酶衰变化的影响。结果：高剂量和低剂量的C1均会影响C3转化酶的形成，增加C2用量可增加C3转化酶的形成数量，C3转化酶的自发性衰变随孵育温度的升高而加速，人红细胞膜抽提蛋白可抑制C3转化酶的自发性衰变过程，结论：C1、C2用量及孵育温度是影响C3转化酶形成和自发性衰变的主要因素，体外组装的补体经典激活途径C3转化酶可应用于相关补体调控蛋白的活性检测。     

喉癌细胞中S100A8新的相互作用蛋白质的鉴定

目的探索S100A8相互作用蛋白在喉癌发生、发展中的可能机制。方法应用抗S100A8抗体通过免疫沉淀的方法从喉癌细胞系Hep-2中分离与S100A8相互作用的蛋白质。用基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱仪分析目的蛋白条带。根据这些目的蛋白条带的肽指纹谱,用Mascot软件预测其相应的蛋白质。用P-Match软件预测这些蛋白质的NF-kappa B结合位点。用免疫共沉淀方法证实其中一个蛋白质与S100A8相互结合的能力。结果获得了4种与S100A8相互作用的新的蛋白质,它们分别是假想蛋白质LOC80154（hypothetical protein LOC80154）、MHCclass Ⅰ HLA-B、T-box1异构体C相似蛋白质（similar to T-box1 isoformC）和肌纤维膜相关蛋白1（sarcolemmal associated protein 1）。这4种蛋白质均具有NF-kappa B的结合位点,其中MHCclass Ⅰ HLA-B是NF-kappa B通路中的一个成员,我们首次证实该蛋白质具有结合S100A8的能力。结论本研究获得的S100A8新的伴侣可能是NF-kappa B通路的成员。MHCclass Ⅰ HLA-B与S100A8的结合提示S100A8可能作为新成员与包括HLA-B在内的其他蛋白质在NF-kappa B通路中发挥作用。这些发现为进一步研究S100A8在喉癌发生中的分子机制提供了新线索。     

Ca2+ permeability of the plasma membrane induced by rotavirus infection in cultured cells is inhibited by tunicamycin and brefeldin A

Rotavirus infection of cultured cells induces a progressive increase in plasma membrane permeability to Ca2+. The viral product responsible for this effect is not known. We have used tunicamycin and brefeldin A to prevent glycosylation and membrane traffic and study the involvement of viral glycoproteins, NSP4 and/or VP7, in rotavirus-infected HT29 and MA104 cells. In infected cells, we observed an increase of plasma membrane Ca2+ permeability and a progressive depletion of agonist-releasable ER pools measured with fura 2 and an enhancement of total Ca2+ content measured as 45Ca2+ uptake. Tunicamycin inhibited the increase in membrane Ca2+ permeability, induced a depletion of agonist-releasable and 45Ca2+-sequestered pools. Brefeldin A inhibited the increase of Ca2+ permeability and the increase in 45Ca2+ uptake induced by infection. We propose that the glycosylated viral product NSP4 (and/or VP7) travels to the plasma membrane to form a Ca2+ channel and hence elevate Ca2+ permeability.     

Further studies on the aberrant crossed visual corticotectal pathway in rats

Summary An aberrant crossed corticotectal pathway can be generated by removal of one visual cortex and the contralateral superior colliculus from newborn rats. This aberrant crossed corticotectal projection arises from the pyramidal neurons located in layer V of the visual cortex and terminates in a spatially orderly manner in the appropriate laminae of the cortically deafferented contralateral colliculus. Comparable results cannot be reproduced by unilateral collicular lesions alone. The significance of these findings and the possible mechanisms involved in the formation of the aberrant pathway are discussed and compared with the retinotectal system.The research was supported by USPHS Grant EY-00596 from the National Institutes of Health     

基因芯片对大鼠肝移植急性排斥反应T淋巴细胞信号传导基因表达变化的研究

目的：从基因水平研究肝移植急性排斥反应中T淋巴细胞信号传导途径。方法：利用4096条大鼠cDNA克隆的基因芯片对从急性排斥组Wistar→SD(n=5)和对照组SD→SD(n=5)两组肝移植大鼠T细胞中抽提、纯化mRNA，扩增、逆转录成cDNA，荧光标记后与芯片杂交，扫描后筛选出差异表达的基因。结果：在4096个基因中共发现差异表达基因190条，其中ll条与细胞信号传导有关的基因差异表达明显：MHC(3条)、CD3抗原(1条)相关基因；蛋白酶类：蛋白激酶C结合蛋白、蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶D型受体、磷脂酰肌醇二磷酸酶基因各l条；涉及核酸信号传导、激活、转录、翻译的基因3条。结论：T细胞在肝移植术后排斥反应中信号传导机制涉及多个基因，基因芯片技术的大规模筛选为进一步研究T细胞在排斥反应中的信号传导途径提供了客观依据和目标。     

NOD小鼠胸腺细胞TCR介导的信号通路缺陷

目的 进一步研究NOD小鼠T细胞应答改变机理。方法 用抗TCR抗体、ConA激活NOD小鼠胸腺细胞，分析TCR介导的信号通路的水平。结果 与Balb／c小鼠胸腺细胞相比，抗TCR抗体诱导的增殖应答较弱，与年龄及NOD胸腺CD4^ CD8^-和CD4^-CD8^ SP细胞有关；rIL-2能部分恢复对TCR抗体应答的缺乏。NOD小鼠对PMA IONO和PMA anti—TCR-mAb应答正常，但对anti-TCRmAb IONO应答缺乏。结论 与年龄有关的NOD小鼠胸腺细胞对TCR抗体应答的缺乏与T细胞激活时上游PKC信号通路的缺乏有关。     

Antibodies against rabbit red blood cells in murine serum and their effect on the activity of complement alternative pathway

Antibody content against rabbit red blood cells (anti-RaRBC) in murine sera of different strains (Swiss, CBA, C57BL/6, AKR, BALB/c) and activity of complement alternative pathway (AP) were investigated. In contrast to the CBA and C57BL/6, random-bred Swiss strain and inbred BALB/c and AKR strains are good producers of these natural antibodies. There is no correlation between AP activity and anti-RaRBC content. Isolated human anti-RaRBC antibodies, IgM and IgG classes, lead to the enhancement of APhu and APmo activity, contrary to the murine anti-RaRBC which belong solely to IgM class, and do not express this capability.     

兔股动脉粥样硬化斑块模型中TF及TFPI的变化

目的： 观察兔股动脉粥样硬化斑块发展过程中斑块内组织因子（TF）及组织因子途经抑制物-1（TFPI-1）、组织因子途经抑制物-2（TFPI-2）的变化。方法： 新西兰雄兔通过高脂饲养合并股动脉球囊损伤建立动脉粥样硬化斑块模型。在建模8周、10周和12周，分别截取球囊损伤处股动脉标本，检测斑块组织内TF、TFPI-1和TFPI-2的蛋白表达；并测定斑块内TF、TFPI-1和TFPI-2的mRNA水平。结果： 自8周、10周到12周，血管斑块中TF、TFPI-1和TFPI-2的观测区域内阳性染色面积均逐渐增加。自8周、10周到12周，血管斑块中TF的mRNA水平和TFPI-1的mRNA水平均逐渐增加；TFPI-2mRNA表现为前期无明显变化，12周时显著下调。结论： 在兔股动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成过程中，随着斑块内TF基因及蛋白表达的增加,TFPI-1和TFPI-2反应性表达增加，但其表达水平未能完全抑制斑块的进展。