Project description:Metabolism of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is emerging as an important area to improve CAR-T cell therapy in cancer treatment. Mitochondrial respiration is essential for survival and function of CAR-T cells, but developing strategies to specifically enhance mitochondrial respiration has been challenging. Here we identify MCJ/DnaJC15, an endogenous negative regulator of mitochondrial Complex I, as a metabolic target to enhance mitochondrial respiration in CD8 CAR-T cells. Loss of MCJ in CD8 CAR-T cells increases their in vitro and in vivo efficacy against mouse B cell leukemias. MCJ deficiency in TCR- specific CD8 cells also increases their efficacy against solid tumors in vivo. Furthermore, we reveal that human CD8 cells express MCJ and that silencing MCJ expression increases mitochondrial metabolism and anti-tumor activity of human CAR-T cells. Thus, we demonstrate the unique therapeutic potential of targeting MCJ to enhance the metabolism and efficacy of adoptive T cell therapies.
Project description:Differential expression of IBD susceptibility and IL23R associated pathway genes during ongoing anti-TNF therapy (anti-TNF non-responder vs anti-TNF responder)
Project description:Expression profiles of anti-TNF responders were compared to profiles of anti-TNF non-responders in order to identify an expression signature for anti-TNF response In total 42 patients were treated with anti-TNF. RNA was isoloated from white blood cells and anti-TNF responders (n=18) were compared to nonresponders (n=24) regarding expression profiles
Project description:Background: In pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) up to 30% of patients do not respond to anti-TNF therapy. The aim was to identify pharmacogenomic markers that predict early response to anti-TNF drugs in pediatric patients with IBD. Methods: The study population included 29 responders and 9 non-responders to anti-TNF therapy patients aged <18 years with IBD who started treatment with infliximab or adalimumab. Whole gene expression profiles from total RNA isolated from whole-blood samples of 6 responders and 6 non-responders taken before biologic administration and after 2 weeks were analyzed by RNA next-generation sequencing. The expression of 6 selected genes was measured for validation in all of 38 patients recruited using qPCR; Results: Differentially expressed genes in non-responders versus responders to anti-TNF treatment were identified, 32 prior treatment initiation and 44 after 2 weeks (Log2FC (Fold change)>0.6 o <-0.6 and p value < 0.05). After validation, FCGR1A, FCGR1B and GBP1 were overexpressed in non-responders after 2 weeks of anti-TNF treatment (Log2FC 1.05, 1.21 and 1.08, respectively, p value <0.05,); Conclusion: Expression of the FCGR1A, FCGR1B, and GBP1 genes is a pharmacogenomic biomarker of early response to anti-TNF agents in pediatric IBD.
Project description:Expression profiles of anti-TNF responders were compared to profiles of anti-TNF non-responders in order to identify an expression signature for anti-TNF response
Project description:IL23R signaling dependent genes are significantly upregulated in Crohn’s disease non-responders compared to responders during ongoing anti-TNF therapy
Project description:Drug serum concentrations will be measured at several time-points for inflammatory disease patients treated with anti-TNF agents. The purpose is to determine which patients that will clinically benefit from either discontinue treatment, adjusting the dose, switch to another anti-TNF agent or a different class of medication.