Project description:Using a mouse model of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), we investigated two potential alternatives to steroid treatment, the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibitor takinib, and the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib. The drug effects were assessed histopathologically and by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). MRL/MpJ mice that received injections of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid developed severe AIP with inflammation, destruction of acinar tissue, and fibrosis. The steroid dexamethasone significantly attenuated the disease, while takinib or tofacitinib had no effects. In the principal component analysis of pancreatic RNA-seq data, poly I:C-injected mice treated with tofacitinib, takinib, and solvent formed a common cluster whereas completely untreated and dexamethasone-treated mice clustered separately. We conclude that inhibition of TAK1 or JAKs alone is not sufficient to improve AIP in mice.
Project description:Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a disease with unclear immunologic triggers. This study shows that the pancreatic stellate cells(PSCs) are involved in the regulation of the immune response and can cause autoimmunity when the NF-κB signalling in these cells is disrupted. The PSCs were isolated from animals which show autoimmune pancreatitis (NEMO knockout group) or chronic pancreatitis (NEMO wildtype group).
Project description:Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a recently identified disease of the pancreas with unknown etiology and antigens. The aim of this study was to determine new target antigens and differentially regulated genes and proteins by means of transcriptomics and proteomics and to validate them in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis. Here we report a distinct downregulation at the RNA and protein level of pancreatic proteases (anionic trypsinogen, cationic trypsinogen, mesotrypsinogen, elastase IIIB) and pancreatic stone protein in autoimmune pancreatitis in comparison to alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis.
Project description:Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a disease with unclear immunologic triggers. This study shows that the pancreatic stellate cells are involved in the regulation of the immune response and can cause autoimmunity when the NF-κB signalling in these cells is disrupted.
Project description:Transgenic KrasG12D mice can recapitulate pancreas intra-epithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Caerulein is a cholecystokinin analogue and induces acute pancreatitis when injected intra-abdominally. Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis will accelerate PanIN progression in KrasG12D mice. We compared mRNA profile changes between KrasG12D mice with acute caerulein-induced pancreatitis and wild-type mice without acute pancreatitis. The experiment had two groups. Experiment group: KrasG12D mice with acute caerulein-induced pancreatitis (N=6). Three mice in experiment group received 1-week caerulein injection, and the other three mice received 2-week caerulein injection. All experiment group mice started to receive caerulein injection at 1-month of age, and were sacrificed at the last day of caerulein injection. Control group: wild-type mice without acute pancreatitis (N=6). The mice were sacrificed at 1.5-month of age. Whole pancreas tissue lysate samples were subjected to mRNA array assay.
Project description:Transgenic KrasG12D mice can recapitulate pancreas intra-epithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Caerulein is a cholecystokinin analogue and induces acute pancreatitis when injected intra-abdominally. Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis will accelerate PanIN progression in KrasG12D mice. We compared mRNA profile changes between KrasG12D mice with acute caerulein-induced pancreatitis and wild-type mice without acute pancreatitis.
Project description:The myeloma bone marrow microenvironment drives proliferation of malignant plasma cells and promotes resistance to therapy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and downstream JAK/STAT signaling are thought to be central components of these microenvironment-induced phenotypes. In a prior drug repurposing screen, we identified tofacitinib, a pan-JAK inhibitor FDA-approved for rheumatoid arthritis, as an agent that may reverse the tumor-stimulating effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells.Here, we validated both in vitro, in stromal-responsive human myeloma cell lines, and in vivo, in orthotopic disseminated murine xenograft models of myeloma, that tofacitinib showed both single-agent and combination therapeutic efficacy in myeloma models. Surprisingly, we found that ruxolitinib, an FDA-approved agent targeting JAK1 and JAK2, did not lead to the same anti-myeloma effects. Combination with a novel irreversible JAK3-selective inhibitor also did not rescue ruxolitinib effects. RNA-seq and unbiased phosphoproteomics revealed that marrow stromal cells drive a JAK/STAT-mediated proliferative program in myeloma plasma cells, and tofacitinib reversed the large majority of these pro-growth signals. Taken together, our results suggest that tofacitinib specifically reverses the growth-promoting effects of the tumor microenvironment through blocking an IL-6-mediated signaling axis. As tofacitinib is already FDA-approved, these results can be rapidly translated into potential clinical benefits for myeloma patients.
Project description:The myeloma bone marrow microenvironment promotes proliferation of malignant plasma cells and resistance to therapy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and downstream JAK/STAT signaling are thought to be central components of these microenvironment-induced phenotypes. In a prior drug repurposing screen, we identified tofacitinib, a pan-JAK inhibitor FDA-approved for rheumatoid arthritis, as an agent that may reverse the tumor-stimulating effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Here, we validated both in vitro, in stromal-responsive human myeloma cell lines, and in vivo, in orthotopic disseminated murine xenograft models of myeloma, that tofacitinib showed both single-agent and combination therapeutic efficacy in myeloma models. Surprisingly, we found that ruxolitinib, an FDA-approved agent targeting JAK1 and JAK2, did not lead to the same anti-myeloma effects. Combination with a novel irreversible JAK3-selective inhibitor also did not enhance ruxolitinib effects. RNA-seq and unbiased phosphoproteomics revealed that marrow stromal cells stimulate a JAK/STAT-mediated proliferative program in myeloma plasma cells, and tofacitinib reversed the large majority of these pro-growth signals. Taken together, our results suggest that tofacitinib specifically reverses the growth-promoting effects of the tumor microenvironment through blocking an IL-6-mediated signaling axis. As tofacitinib is already FDA-approved, these results can be rapidly translated into potential clinical benefits for myeloma patients.