GAS1 is required for NOTCH-dependent facilitation of SHH signaling in the ventral forebrain neuroepithelium

Growth arrest-specific 1 (GAS1) acts as a co-receptor to patched 1, promoting sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in the developing nervous system. GAS1 mutations in humans and animal models result in forebrain and craniofacial malformations, defects ascribed to a function for GAS1 in SHH signaling during early neurulation. Here, we confirm loss of SHH activity in the forebrain neuroepithelium in GAS1-deficient mice and in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cell models of human neuroepithelial differentiation. However, our studies document that this defect can be attributed, at least in part, to a novel role for GAS1 in facilitating NOTCH signaling, which is essential to sustain a persistent SHH activity domain in the forebrain neuroepithelium. GAS1 directly binds NOTCH1, enhancing ligand-induced processing of the NOTCH1 intracellular domain, which drives NOTCH pathway activity in the developing forebrain. Our findings identify a unique role for GAS1 in integrating NOTCH and SHH signal reception in neuroepithelial cells, and they suggest that loss of GAS1-dependent NOTCH1 activation contributes to forebrain malformations in individuals carrying GAS1 mutations

Aspirin use and bleeding events during thrombocytopenia after autologous stem-cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

BackgroundIn patients with cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities that necessitate antiplatelet therapy (APT), its optimal management during chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia remains elusive, as the risk of bleeding has to be balanced against the risk of CV events. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk for bleeding with APT during thrombocytopenia in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and subsequent autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) with and without acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as comedication.MethodsWe assessed patients who underwent ASCT at the Heidelberg University Hospital between 2011 and 2020 for bleeding events, management strategies for ASA intake during thrombocytopenia, transfusion requirements, and the occurrence of CV events.ResultsThere were 57/1,113 patients who continued ASA until at least 1 day after ASCT; thus, a continuous platelet inhibition during thrombocytopenia was assumed. Most of the patients (41/57) continued ASA until they had a platelet count of 20–50/nl. This range reflects the kinetics of thrombocytopenia and nondaily measurements of platelets during ASCT. A tendency toward a higher risk for bleeding events in the ASA group was demonstrated (1.9% (control group) vs. 5.3% (ASA), p = 0.082). The risk factors for bleeding in multivariate analysis were the duration of thrombocytopenia < 50/nl, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, and diarrhea. The factors predicting the duration of thrombocytopenia were age >60 years, a hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation comorbidity index ≥3, and an impaired bone marrow reserve at admission. CV events occurred in three patients; none of them took ASA or had an indication for APT.ConclusionsThe intake of ASA until thrombocytopenia with a platelet count of 20–50/nl appears safe, although an elevated risk cannot be excluded. If ASA is indicated for the secondary prevention of CV events, the evaluation of risk factors for bleeding and a prolonged time of thrombocytopenia before conditioning is crucial to adapt the strategy for ASA intake during thrombocytopenia

Induction of the DNA damage response by IAP inhibition triggers natural immunity via upregulation of NKG2D ligands in Hodgkin lymphoma in vitro

Evasion of apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer cells. Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) act as endogenous inhibitors of programmed cell death and are overexpressed in several tumors including Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Preclinical studies indicate antitumor activity of IAP antago-nists and clinical studies in hematological malignancies are underway. Here, we investigate the impact of the small molecule IAP antagonist LCL161 on HL cell lines. Although the antagonist caused rapid degradation of cIAP1 leading to TNF alpha secretion, LCL161 did not promote apoptosis significantly. However, LCL161 induced expression of MICA and MICB, ligands for the activating immune receptor NKG2D, and enhanced the susceptibility of HL cells to NKG2D-dependent lysis by NK cells. MICA/B upregulation was dependent on activation of the DNA damage response upon LCL161 treatment. Taken together, we demonstrate a novel link between IAP inhibition, DNA damage and immune recognition

Distinct Morphological and Behavioural Alterations in ENU-Induced Heterozygous <i>Trpc7^K810Stop</i> Mutant Mice

Trpc7 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 7; 862 amino acids) knockout mice are described showing no clear phenotypic alterations, therefore, the functional relevance of the gene remains unclear. A complementary approach for the functional analysis of a given gene is the examination of individuals harbouring a mutant allele of the gene. In the phenotype-driven Munich ENU mouse mutagenesis project, a high number of phenotypic parameters was used for establishing novel mouse models on the genetic background of C3H inbred mice. The phenotypically dominant mutant line SMA002 was established and further examined. Analysis of the causative mutation as well as the phenotypic characterization of the mutant line were carried out. The causative mutation was detected in the gene Trpc7 which leads to the production of a truncated protein due to the novel stop codon at amino acid position 810 thereby affecting the highly conserved cytoplasmic C terminus of the protein. Trpc7 heterozygous mutant mice of both sexes were viable and fertile, but showed distinct morphological and behavioural alterations which is in contrast to the published phenotype of Trpc7 knockout mice. Thus, the Trpc7K810Stop mutation leads to a dominant negative effect of the mutant protein

DNA damage response and evasion from immunosurveillance in CLL: new options for NK cell-based immunotherapies

Chronic lyrnphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most prominent B cell malignancy among adults in the Western world and characterized by a clonal expansion of B cells. The patients suffer from severe immune defects resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and failure to generate an antitumor immune response. Defects in both, DNA damage response (DDR) pathway and crosstalk with the tissue microenvironment have been reported to play a crucial role for the survival of CLL cells, therapy resistance and impaired immune response. To this end, major advances over the past years have highlighted several T cell immune evasion mechanisms in CLL. Here, we discuss the consequences of an impaired DDR pathway for detection and elimination of CLL cells by natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are considered to be a major component of the irnmunosurveillance in leukemia but NK cell activity is impaired in CLL. Restoration of NK cell activity using immunoligands and immunoconstructs in combination with the conventional chemotherapy may provide a future perspective for CLL treatment

Datenreport: Ergebnisse einer Befragung zu Problemen in Online-Beteiligungsverfahren und den Potenzialen von Künstlicher Intelligenz zur Lösung dieser Probleme

Als Reaktion auf wachsende Akzeptanz- und Legitimationsprobleme laden Politik und Verwaltung seit geraumer Zeit Bürger:innen dazu ein, in den Dialog zu treten. Unter dem Stichwort Bürgerbeteiligung existieren zahlreiche Formate – etwa Bürgerräte oder -foren – mit dem Ziel, politische Entscheidungen legitimer, akzeptierter und sachgerechter zu machen. Online-Plattformen sind mittlerweile ein gängiges Instrument zur Durchführung von Bürgerbeteiligungsprozessen. Bei ihrem Einsatz können jedoch eine Reihe von Problemen auftauchen, von denen viele aus der Forschung zu politischer Online-Kommunikation bekannt sind, etwa Inzivilität oder die Dominanz des Diskurses durch wenige Beteiligte. Als Option zur Lösung solcher Probleme wird die Unterstützung der Verfahren durch Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) diskutiert. Dieser Datenreport enthält Ergebnisse einer Befragung zu Online-Beteiligungsverfahren unter 475 Personen (N), die solche Verfahren entweder kennen oder bereits an mindestens einem Verfahren teilgenommen haben. Ziele der Befragung waren 1) die Identifikation von wahrgenommenen oder antizipierten Problemen in Online-Beteiligungsverfahren, 2) die Evaluation der Potenziale von KI-Verfahren zur Lösung dieser Probleme und 3) die Ermittlung der Gründe, aus denen Bürger:innen an Online-Beteiligungsverfahren teilnehmen oder nicht teilnehmen

The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor LBH589 (Panobinostat) Modulates the Crosstalk of Lymphocytes with Hodgkin Lymphoma Cell Lines

Epigenetic changes have been implicated in the malignant phenotype of Hodgkin Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), where HRS survival and proliferation depends on the microenvironment. The histone-deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor LBH589 (panobinostat) showed clinical efficacy but its impact on the HRS microenvironment is unclear. Hence, we analysed the effects of LBH589 on lymphocytes and also potential combination therapies. In lymphocyte-target cell killing assays, LBH589-treatment triggered an enhanced lymphocyte-dependent lysis of HL cells despite of mild lymphocytopenic effects. In co-culture experiments of lymphocytes with HL cells, LBH589 suppressed the IFNgamma-release but increased the TNFalpha secretion. Recombinant TNFalpha boosted the lymphocyte-dependent lysis of HL target cells. In HL cell lines, LBH589 induced cell death, autophagy, and an increase of MICA/B that are ligands to natural killer cell receptors. The combination of LBH589 with Brentuximab Vedotin was inefficient due to down-regulation of CD30 as a target. Combination with gemcitabine revealed highly significant effects, suggesting a potential combination for future therapy. Based on these data we suggest that LBH589 favourably modulates the cytokine network and lymphocyte activity in the HL microenvironment