Project description:In spontaneous type 1 diabetes (T1D) non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, the insulin B chain peptide 9-23 (B:9-23) can bind to the MHC class II molecule (IAg7) in register 3 (R3), creating a bimolecular IAg7/InsulinB:9-23 register 3 conformational epitope (InsB:R3). Previously, we showed that the InsB:R3-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), constructed using an InsB:R3-monoclonal antibody, could guide CAR-expressing CD8 T cells to migrate to the islets and pancreatic lymph nodes. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) specific for an islet antigen can broadly suppress various pathogenic immune cells in the islets and effectively halt the progression of islet destruction. Therefore, we hypothesized that InsB:R3 specific Tregs would suppress autoimmune reactivity in islets and efficiently protect against T1D. To test our hypothesis, we produced InsB:R3-Tregs and tested their disease-protective effects in spontaneous T1D NOD CD28-/- mice. InsB:R3-CAR expressing Tregs secrete IL-10 dominated cytokines upon engagement with InsB:R3 antigens. A single infusion of InsB:R3 Tregs delayed the onset of T1D in 95% of treated mice, with 35% maintaining euglycemia for two healthy lifespans, while whereas control Tregs did not. Our data demonstrate that Tregs specific for MHC class II: Insulin peptide epitope (MHCII/Insulin) protect mice against T1D more efficiently than polyclonal Tregs lacking islet antigen specificity, suggesting that the MHC II/insulin-specific Treg approach is a promising immune therapy for safely preventing T1D.
Project description:3 samples of R1, R2 and R3 bone marrow monocytes were compared from 3 biological replicates in 3 separate experiments. R1, R2 and R3 were sorted from triplicate experiments from pools of mice
Project description:One of the most detrimental hallmarks of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is cellular invasiveness, considered a potential cause of tumor recurrence. Infiltrated GBM cells are difficult to completely eradicate surgically and with local therapeutic modalities. Although much effort has focused on understanding the various mechanisms controlling GBM invasiveness, the nature of the invasiveness remains poorly characterized. Here, we established a highly invasive glioma cell line (U87MGR2/R3 cells) and a non-invasive cell line (U87MGL2/L3 cells) from U87MG glioma cells following four rounds of serial in vivo intracranial transplantation. Compared to U87MGL2/L3 cells, U87MGR2/R3 cells were highly invasive and had glioma stem cell-like properties. Microarray analysis showed that apoptosis-inducing genes (caspase3 and PDCD4) were downregulated, whereas several cancer stem cell-relevant genes (Wnt10A, Frizzled 4, and CD44) were upregulated in U87MGR2/R3 cells compared to U87MGL2/L3 cells. U87MGR2/R3 cells were resistant to anticancer drug-induced cell death, which was partially due to downregulation of caspase3 and PDCD4. U87MGR2/R3 cells retained activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling through Frizzled 4, which was sufficient to control neurosphere formation. In addition, Frizzled 4 promoted expression of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition regulator, SNAI1, and acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype. Taken together, our results indicate that Frizzled 4 may be a member of the Wnt signaling family that governs both stemness and invasiveness of glioma stem cells, and may be a major cause of GBM recurrence and poor prognosis.