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Abstract Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is a highly chemoresistant subtype of breast cancer with no standardized therapy options. A clinical study in anthracycline-refractory MpBC patients suggested that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA) may augment anti-tumor efficacy of taxane. We report that NOS blockade potentiated response of human MpBC cell lines and tumors to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor alpelisib and taxane. Mechanistically, NOS blockade leads to a decrease in the S-nitrosylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)/c-Jun complex to repress its transcriptional output, leading to enhanced tumor differentiation and associated chemosensitivity. As a result, combined NOS and PI3K inhibition with taxane targets MpBC stem cells and improves survival in patient-derived xenograft models relative to single-/dual-agent therapy. Similarly, biopsies from MpBC tumors that responded to L-NMMA+taxane therapy showed a post-treatment reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and decreased stemness. Our findings suggest that combined inhibition of iNOS and PI3K is a unique strategy to decrease chemoresistance and improve clinical outcomes in MpBC.

Time-resolved crystallography (TRX) is used for monitoring only small conformational changes of biomacromolecules within the same lattice. Here, the authors report the interplay between synchronous molecular rearrangements and lattice phase transitions in RNA crystals, providing the basis for the investigation of large conformational changes using TRX.

Summary: Investigating mechanisms that regulate endothelial cell (EC) growth and survival is important for understanding EC homeostasis and how ECs maintain stem cell niches. We report here that targeted loss of Id genes in adult ECs results in dilated, leaky sinusoids and a pro-inflammatory state that increases in severity over time. Disruption in sinusoidal integrity leads to increased hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation, differentiation, migration, and exhaustion. Mechanistically, sinusoidal ECs (SECs) show increased apoptosis because of reduced Bcl2-family gene expression following Id gene ablation. Furthermore, Id1−/−Id3−/− SECs and upstream type H vessels show increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 and impaired ability to proliferate, which is rescued by reducing E2-2 expression. Id1−/−Id3−/− mice do not survive sublethal irradiation because of impaired vessel regeneration and hematopoietic failure. Thus, Id genes are required for the survival and regeneration of BM SECs during homeostasis and stress to maintain HSC development. : Gadomski et al. show that Id genes are critical regulators of bone marrow endothelial cell proliferation and survival. Selective loss of Id genes in endothelial cells promotes vessel dilation, apoptosis, and increased permeability, leading to the functional decline of hematopoietic stem cells under steady-state and stress conditions. Keywords: endothelial cells, ID proteins, hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic microenvironment, instructive niche, transcription factors, tissue regeneration, progenitor cells, proliferation, bone marrow

Microglia are important participants in inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. We previously observed that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) induces the expression of the formylpeptide receptor mFPR2 on microglial cells. This chemoattractant receptor mediates microglial cell chemotaxis in response to a variety of peptides, including amyloid β peptide (Aβ42), a major pathogenic factor in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In search for agents that regulate microglial activation, we unexpectedly found that IL-10 enhanced the expression of mFPR2 on TNFα-activated microglia. This was associated with a markedly increased microglial chemotaxis to Aβ42 and its endocytosis via mFPR2. Mechanistic studies revealed that the synergistic effect of IL-10 on TNFα-induction of mFPR2 in microglia was dependent on activation of p38 MAPK. Our results suggest that IL-10 may affect the pathogenic process of AD by up-regulating mFPR2 and thus favoring the recognition and internalization of Aβ42 by activated microglial cells.

Ceramide transfer protein (CERT) transfers ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex. Its deficiency in mouse leads to embryonic death at E11.5. CERT deficient embryos die from cardiac failure due to defective organogenesis, but not due to ceramide induced apoptotic or necrotic cell death. In the current study we examined the effect of CERT deficiency in a primary cell line, namely, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We show that in MEFs, unlike in mutant embryos, lack of CERT does not lead to increased ceramide but causes an accumulation of hexosylceramides. Nevertheless, the defects due to defective sphingolipid metabolism that ensue, when ceramide fails to be trafficked from ER to the Golgi complex, compromise the viability of the cell. Therefore, MEFs display an incipient ER stress. While we observe that ceramide trafficking from ER to the Golgi complex is compromised, the forward transport of VSVG-GFP protein is unhindered from ER to Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. However, retrograde trafficking of the plasma membrane-associated cholera toxin B to the Golgi complex is reduced. The dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism also leads to increased mitochondrial hexosylceramide. The mitochondrial functions are also compromised in mutant MEFs since they have reduced ATP levels, have increased reactive oxygen species, and show increased glutathione reductase activity. Live-cell imaging shows that the mutant mitochondria exhibit reduced fission and fusion events. The mitochondrial dysfunction leads to an increased mitophagy in the CERT mutant MEFs. The compromised organelle function compromise cell viability and results in premature senescence of these MEFs.

Abstract Understanding tissue development, tissue homeostasis and what goes wrong in these processes during tumorigenesis, requires knowledge of the kinetics of multiple, molecular pathways in individual cells while cells are in their tissue context. This review outlines progress and future directions necessary in quantitative microscopy for gaining this knowledge, using the mammary gland as a model system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]