Mycobacterial lipoarabinomannans modulate cytokine production in human T helper cells by interfering with raft/microdomain signalling

Abstract.: Lipoarabinomannans (LAMs) are major lipoglycans of the mycobacterial envelope and constitute immunodominant epitopes of mycobacteria. In this paper, we show that mannose-capped (ManLAM) and non-mannose- capped (PILAM) mycobacterial lipoglycans insert into T helper cell rafts without apparent binding to known receptors. T helper cells modified by the insertion of PILAM responded to CD3 cross-linking by decreasing type 1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and increasing type 2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine production. Modification by the mannose-capped ManLAMs had similar, but more limited effects on T helper cell cytokine production. When incorporated into isolated rafts, PILAMs modulated membrane-associated kinases in a dose-dependent manner, inducing increased phosphorylation of Src kinases and Cbp/PAG in Th1 rafts, while decreasing phosphorylation of the same proteins in Th2 rafts. Mycobacterial lipoglycans thus modify the signalling machineries of rafts/microdomains in T helper cells, a modification of the membrane organization that eventually leads to an overall enhancement of type 2 and inhibition of type 1 cytokine productio

PEACE V - Salvage Treatment of OligoRecurrent nodal prostate cancer Metastases (STORM): a study protocol for a randomized controlled phase II trial

BACKGROUND: Pelvic nodal recurrences are being increasingly diagnosed with the introduction of new molecular imaging techniques, like choline and PSMA PET-CT, in the restaging of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). At this moment, there are no specific treatment recommendations for patients with limited nodal recurrences and different locoregional treatment approaches are currently being used, mostly by means of metastasis-directed therapies (MDT): salvage lymph node dissection (sLND) or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Since the majority of patients treated with MDT relapse within 2 years in adjacent lymph node regions, with an estimated median time to progression of 12-18 months, combining MDT with whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) may improve oncological outcomes in these patients. The aim of this prospective multicentre randomized controlled phase II trial is to assess the impact of the addition of WPRT to MDT and short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on metastasis-free survival (MFS) in the setting of oligorecurrent pelvic nodal recurrence. METHODS & DESIGN: Patients diagnosed with PET-detected pelvic nodal oligorecurrence (≤5 nodes) following radical local treatment for PCa, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio between arm A: MDT and 6 months of ADT, or arm B: WPRT added to MDT and 6 months of ADT. Patients will be stratified by type of PET-tracer (choline, FACBC or PSMA) and by type of MDT (sLND or SBRT). The primary endpoint is MFS and the secondary endpoints include clinical and biochemical progression-free survival (PFS), prostate cancer specific survival, quality of life (QoL), toxicity and time to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and to palliative ADT. Estimated study completion: December 31, 2023. DISCUSSION: This is the first prospective multicentre randomized phase II trial assessing the potential of combined WPRT and MDT as compared to MDT alone on MFS for patients with nodal oligorecurrent PCa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03569241, registered June 14, 2018, ; Identifier on Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (SNCTP): SNCTP000002947, registered June 14, 2018.status: publishe

A Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Methodology for Copper(II) in Environmental Samples Prior to Determination Using Microsample Injection Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A simple, environmentally friendly, and efficient dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method combined with microsample injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed for the separation and preconcentration of Cu(II). 2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (5-Br-PADAP) was used to form a hydrophobic complex of Cu(II) ions in the aqueous phase before extraction. To extract the Cu(II)-5-Br-PADAP complex from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, 2.0 mL of acetone as a disperser solvent and 200 mu L of chloroform as an extraction solvent were used. The influences of important analytical parameters, such as the pH, types and volumes of the extraction and disperser solvents, amount of chelating agent, sample volume, and matrix effects, on the microextraction procedure were evaluated and optimized. Using the optimal conditions, the LOD, LOQ, preconcentration factor, and RSD were determined to be 1.4 mu g/L, 4.7 mu g/L, 120, and 6.5%, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was investigated using standard addition/recovery tests. The analysis of certified reference materials produced satisfactory analytical results. The developed method was applied for the determination of Cu in real samples

RITUXIMAB INDUCES DIFFERENT BUT OVERLAPPING SETS OF GENES IN HUMAN B-LINPHOMA CELL LINES

The therapeutic unconjugated anti-CD20 Mab rituximab is used for the treatment of B-non-Hodgkins lymphomas. We have studied the direct biological effects, signalling and gene expression profiles induced by rituximab in two human B-lymphoma cell lines, DHL4 and BJAB, using microarray, quantitative PCR and gel shift analysis. Rituximab alone inhibited thymidine uptake and induced homotypic adhesion in DHL4 only, but not BJAB. Analysis of Affymetrix microchips carrying probes for about 10,000 human cDNAs, allowed us to identify 16 genes in DHL4 and 12 in BJAB induced by rituximab at 4 h. Eleven and seven of these genes were specific for DHL4 and BJAB, respectively; whereas the remaining five were up-regulated in both cell lines. Mean induction ranged from 2- to 16-fold. Real time PCR analysis allowed us to confirm up-regulation of all genes identified, except one in BJAB. Time course of induction of eight genes was studied, showing peak induction in most cases at 4 h. The up-regulation of 5/5 genes was also observed with the F(ab)2 fragment of rituximab. Analysis of three further B-cell lymphoma lines showed that gene induction is not restricted to BJAB and DHL4. Finally, we show that rituximab alone can induce AP1 activation in both cell lines and provide evidence that the ERK1/2 pathway is involved in the rituximab-mediated up-regulation of gene expression. These data demontrate that rituximab alone has direct signalling capacity in different B-lymphoma lines, inducing distinct but overlapping sets of genes which may play a role in the biological and/or therapeutic effect of the antibody