Neutron diffraction study of 243AmO2

The actinide compound AmO2 was studied by neutron diffraction at different temperatures in order to check the occurrence of antiferromagnetism below 8.5 K as predicted by magnetic susceptibility measurements. No antiferromagnetic order was observed in agreement with Mössbauer results. Furthermore, the coherent neutron scattering length of Am and the Debye-Waller factors for Am and O were determined.L'oxyde d'américium AmO2 a été étudié par diffraction neutronique à différentes températures afin de vérifier l'apparition d'une phase antiferromagnétique en dessous de 8,5 K que des mesures de susceptibilité magnétique avaient prévue. Aucun ordre antiferromagnétique n'a été observé en accord avec des expériences Mössbauer. De plus, la longueur de Fermi de l'americium et les facteurs de température de l'americium et de l'oxygène ont été déterminés

Recognition of pleural mesothelioma by mucin-1(950-958)/human leukocyte antigen A*0201-specific CD8+ T-cells

International audienceRecent clinical investigations have demonstrated that T-cell-based immunotherapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) could represent an alternative to the other therapeutic strategies. However, its development suffers from the lack of identified tumour antigenic targets. Mucin (MUC)1, which is expressed and recognised by cytotoxic T-cells in numerous cancer types, has not been investigated as a potential immune target in MPM. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyse MUC1 expression by MPM cells and to determine whether this antigen can be the target of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells (cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs)). We first evaluated the expression and glycosylation of MUC1 by MPM cell lines using different MUC1-specific monoclonal antibodies. We then obtained a CTL clone specific for a MUC1 peptide (residues 950-958) presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 and studied its interferon-c and cytotoxic response to MPM cell lines. We found that all MPM cell lines expressed MUC1 protein at the cell surface with different glycosylation profiles. We also observed that HLA-A*0201+ MPM cell lines are recognised and lysed by a HLA-A*0201/MUC1(950-958)-specific CTL clone independently of the MUC1 glycosylation profile. Thus, MUC1 expression and antigen presentation by MPM cells may represent an attractive target for immunotherapeutic treatment of MPM despite its hyperglycosylated profile

The oncomiR miR-197 is a novel prognostic indicator for non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background:MicroRNA expression signatures can promote personalised care for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Our aim was to evaluate the previously unexplored prognostic potential of miR-197, a key oncogenic molecule for NSCLC.Methods:Total RNA isolation (n=124 NSCLC and n=21 tumour-adjacent normal tissues), was performed using the QIAsymphony SP workstation. The quantity and quality of RNA were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis and an Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer. Polyadenylation and reverse transcription were subsequently carried out. MiR-197 expression levels were measured by qPCR, after quality control (inter-assay CV=7.8%). Internal validation procedures were followed by assigning training and test sets and robust biostatistical analyses were performed, including bootstrap resampling.Results:MiR-197 is associated with larger tumours (P=0.042) and the squamous cell carcinoma histotype (P=0.032). Interestingly, after adjusting for important prognostic indicators, miR-197 expression was identified as a novel independent predictor of unfavourable prognosis for NSCLC patients (HR=1.97, 95% CI=1.10-3.38, P=0.013). We also demonstrate that miR-197 retains its prognostic performance in both early-stage I (P=0.045) and more advanced-stage individuals (P=0.036).Conclusions:The cost-effective expression analysis of miR-197 could constitute a novel molecular tool for NSCLC management. © 2015 Cancer Research UK

Dehydroepiandrosterone up-regulates the Adrenoleukodystrophy-related gene (ABCD2) independently of PPAR alpha in rodents

International audienceX-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene, which encodes a peroxisomal ABC transporter, ALDP, supposed to participate in the transport of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA). The adrenoleukodystrophyrelated protein (ALDRP), which is encoded by the ABCD2 gene, is the closest homolog of ALDP and is considered as a potential therapeutic target since functional redundancy has been demonstrated between the two proteins. Pharmacological induction of Abcd2 by fibrates through the activation of PPARa has been demonstrated in rodent liver. DHEA, the most abundant steroid in human, is described as a PPARa activator and also as a prohormone able to mediate induction of several genes. Here, we explored the in vitro and in vivo effects of DHEA on the expression of peroxisomal ABC transporters. We show that Abcd2 and Abcd3 but not Abcd4 are induced in primary culture of rat hepatocytes by DHEA-S. We also demonstrate that Abcd2 and Abcd3 but not Abcd4 are inducible by an 11-day treatment with DHEA in the liver of male rodents but not in brain, testes and adrenals. Finally and contrary to Abcd3, we show that the mechanism of induction of Abcd2 is independent of PPARa

Development of triazolyl-based pH responsive releasing systems

International audienc