Death switch for gene therapy: application to erythropoietin transgene expression

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The effectiveness of the caspase-9-based artificial 'death switch' as a safety measure for gene therapy based on the erythropoietin (Epo) hormone was tested in vitro and in vivo using the chemical inducer of dimerization, AP20187. Plasmids encoding the dimeric murine Epo, the tetracycline-controlled transactivator and inducible caspase 9 (ptet-mEpoD, ptet-tTAk and pSH1/Sn-E-Fv'-Fvls-casp9-E, respectively) were used in this study. AP20187 induced apoptosis of iCasp9-modified C2C12 myoblasts. In vivo, two groups of male C57BI/6 mice, 8-12 weeks old, were injected intramuscularly with 5 mu g/50 g ptet-mEpoD and 0.5 mu g/50 g ptet-tTAk. There were 20 animals in group 1 and 36 animals in group 2. Animals from group 2 were also injected with the 6 mu g/50 g iCasp9 plasmid. Seventy percent of the animals showed an increase in hematocrit of more than 65% for more than 15 weeks. AP20187 administration significantly reduced hematocrit and plasma Epo levels in 30% of the animals belonging to group 2. TUNEL-positive cells were detected in the muscle of at least 50% of the animals treated with AP20187. Doxycycline administration was efficient in controlling Epo secretion in both groups. We conclude that inducible caspase 9 did not interfere with gene transfer, gene expression or tetracycline control and may be used as a safety mechanism for gene therapy. However, more studies are necessary to improve the efficacy of this technique, for example, the use of lentivirus vector.437634644Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Suki relationship in the perspective of buyer and seller

The idea of suki that is deeply embedded in Filipino culture was tackled in this paper in line with the classic idea of the eight levels of social interaction by Santiago and Enriquez (1976). The researchers aimed to establish the idea that being a suki is a transition through the eight levels of social interaction. The researchers employed Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) through a semi-structured interview to gather data and process the data as well. The participants were referred by colleagues of the researchers who were identified as either a suki buyer or seller. The participants were strictly taken in pairs of their identified buyer or seller counterparts. The results show that a person starts to become a suki when they transition into the pakikipabagay level and could go up to the pakikisangkot level of social interaction

Impact of molecular mutations on treatment response to DNMT inhibitors in myelodysplasia and related neoplasms

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)We hypothesized that specific molecular mutations are important biomarkers for response to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMT inhibitors) and may have prognostic value in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Mutational analysis was performed in 92 patients with MDS and related disorders who received 5-azacytidine (n = 55), decitabine (n = 26) or both (n = 11). Mutational status was correlated with overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by univariate and multivariate analysis. Risk stratification models were created. TET2, DNMT3A, IDH1/IDH2, ASXL1, CBL, RAS and SF3B1 mutations were found in 18, 9, 8, 26, 3, 2 and 13% of patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis, TET2(MUT) and/or DNMT3A(MUT) (P = 0.03), platelets >= 100 x 10(9)/l (P = 0.007) and WBC = 10 g/dl (P = 0.01). Better OS was associated with ASXL1(WT) (P = 0.008) and SF3B1(MUT) (P = 0.01), and, similar to PFS, cytogenetic risk (P = 0.0002), age (P = 0.02) and hemoglobin (P = 0.04). These data support the role of molecular mutations as predictive biomarkers for response and survival in MDS patients treated with DNMT inhibitors.2817887MDS Foundation YIA grantAA & MDS International Foundation YIACleveland Clinic Institutional Seed SupportScott Hamilton CARES GrantCelgene grantFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2011/20750-9, 2012/09982-8