Stapled peptide PROTAC induced significantly greater anti-PD-L1 effects than inhibitor in human cervical cancer cells

IntroductionImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies that target immune checkpoints that suppress immune cell activity. Low efficiency and high resistance are currently the main barriers to their clinical application. As a representative technology of targeted protein degradation, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are considered to have potential for addressing these limitations.MethodsWe synthesized a stapled peptide-based PROTAC (SP-PROTAC) that specifically targeted palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC3 and resulted in the decrease of PD-L1 in human cervical cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, protein immunoblotting, Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA), and MTT assay analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of the designed peptide and verify its safety in human cells.ResultsIn cervical cancer celllines C33A and HeLa, the stapled peptide strongly downregulated PD-L1 to < 50% of baseline level at 0.1 μM. DHHC3 expression decreased in both dosedependentand time-dependent manners. MG132, the proteasome inhibitor, can alleviate the SP-PROTAC mediated degradation of PD-L1 in human cancer cells. In a co-culture model of C33A and T cells, treatment with the peptide induced IFN-γ and TNF-α release in a dose-dependent manner by degrading PD-L1. These effects were more significant than that of the PD-L1 inhibitor, BMS-8.ConclusionsCells treated with 0.1 μM of SP-PROTAC or BMS-8 for 4 h revealed that the stapled peptide decreased PD-L1 more effectively than BMS-8. DHHC3-targeting SP-PROTAC decreased PD-L1 in human cervical cancer more effectively than the inhibitor BMS-8

Compositions of Organic Acids in PM10 Emission Sources in Xiamen Urban Atmosphere

对厦门城区大气颗粒物PM10中有机酸的可能来源,如烹调油烟、生物质燃烧颗粒、汽车尾气和土壤/路面扬尘等4种不同排放源,采用再悬浮混合箱得到PM10样品.采用BF3/正丁醇衍生-GC/MS分析方法,测定了包括二元羧酸、脂肪酸和芳香酸共15种有机酸.结果表明,烹调油烟中有机酸的含量远高于其它颗粒物,最高可达53%,其中亚油酸和油酸的含量最高,为24%±14%;而汽车尾气颗粒物中乙二酸的含量最高,其次为邻苯二甲酸Ph;汽油燃烧颗粒物中己二酸与壬二酸的比值显著高于其它样品,可用于环境大气中二元羧酸的人为和生物来源的定性判断.除发电机排放样品外,其它样品中丙二酸与丁二酸的比值(0.07～0.44)远低于环境样品中该比值范围(0.61～3.93),表明丙二酸与丁二酸的比值可用于环境大气中二元羧酸的一次/二次来源的定性判断。Abstract：The possible organic acid emission sources in PM10 in Xiamen urban atmosphere such as cooking，biomass burning，vehicle exhaust and soil /dust were obtained using a re-suspension test chamber． A total of 15 organic acids including dicarboxylic acids，fatty acids and aromatic acids were determined using GC/MS after derivatization with BF3 /n-butanol． The results showed that the highest total concentration of 15 organic acids ( 53%) was found in cooking emission and the average concentration of the sum of linoleic acid and oleic acid was 24% ± 14%． However，oxalic acid was the most abundant species followed by phthalic acid in gasoline vehicle exhaust． The ratios of adipic to azelaic acid in gasoline combustion emissions were significantly higher than those in other emission sources，which can be used to qualitatively differentiate anthropogenic and biological source of dicarboxylic acids in atmospheric samples． The ratios of malonic to succinic acid in source emissions ( except gasoline generator emissions) were lower ( 0. 07-0. 44) than ambient PM10 samples ( 0. 61-3. 93) ，which can be used to qualitatively differentiate the primary source and the secondary source of dicarboxylic acids in urban PM10 .国家自然科学基金项目(40971257,41171365);环境保护公益性行业科研专项(201009004);福建省自然科学基金计划项目(2009J05106

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Exploits CD209 Receptors for Promoting Host Dissemination and Infection

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-negative enteropathogen and causes gastrointestinal infections. It disseminates from gut to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), spleen, and liver of infected humans and animals. Although the molecular mechanisms for dissemination and infection are unclear, many Gram-negative enteropathogens presumably invade the small intestine via Peyer's patches to initiate dissemination. In this study, we demonstrate that Y. pseudotuberculosis utilizes its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core to interact with CD209 receptors, leading to invasion of human dendritic cells (DCs) and murine macrophages. These Y. pseudotuberculosis CD209 interactions result in bacterial dissemination to MLNs, spleens, and livers of both wild-type and Peyer's patch-deficient mice. The blocking of the Y. pseudotuberculosis CD209 interactions by expression of 0-antigen and with oligosaccharides reduces infectivity. Based on the well-documented studies in which HIV-CD209 interaction leads to viral dissemination, we therefore propose an infection route for Y. pseudotuberculosis where this pathogen, after penetrating the intestinal mucosal membrane, hijacks the Y. pseudotuberculosis CD209 interaction antigen-presenting cells to reach their target destinations, MLNs, spleens, and livers.Peer reviewe