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Despite no apparent defects in T cell priming and recruitment to tumors, a large subset of T cell rich tumors fail to respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). We leveraged a neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 trial in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as additional samples collected from patients treated off-label, to explore correlates of response to ICB within T cell-rich tumors. We show that ICB response correlated with the clonal expansion of intratumoral CXCL13+CH25H+IL-21+PD-1+CD4+T helper cells (“CXCL13+TH”) and Granzyme K+PD-1+effector-like CD8+T cells, whereas terminally exhausted CD39hiTOXhiPD-1hiCD8+T cells dominated in nonresponders. CD4+and CD8+T cell clones that expanded post-treatment were found in pretreatment biopsies. Notably, PD-1+TCF-1+(Progenitor-exhausted) CD8+T cells shared clones mainly with effector-like cells in responders or terminally exhausted cells in nonresponders, suggesting that local CD8+T cell differentiation occurs upon ICB. We found that these Progenitor CD8+T cells interact with CXCL13+THwithin cellular triads around dendritic cells enriched in maturation and regulatory molecules, or “mregDC”. These results suggest that discrete intratumoral niches that include mregDC and CXCL13+THcontrol the differentiation of tumor-specific Progenitor exhasuted CD8+T cells following ICB.

Clonal haematopoiesis involves the expansion of certain blood cell lineages and has been associated with ageing and adverse health outcomes1, 2, 3, 4–5. Here we use exome sequence data on 628,388 individuals to identify 40,208 carriers of clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Using genome-wide and exome-wide association analyses, we identify 24 loci (21 of which are novel) where germline genetic variation influences predisposition to CHIP, including missense variants in the lymphocytic antigen coding gene LY75, which are associated with reduced incidence of CHIP. We also identify novel rare variant associations with clonal haematopoiesis and telomere length. Analysis of 5,041 health traits from the UK Biobank (UKB) found relationships between CHIP and severe COVID-19 outcomes, cardiovascular disease, haematologic traits, malignancy, smoking, obesity, infection and all-cause mortality. Longitudinal and Mendelian randomization analyses revealed that CHIP is associated with solid cancers, including non-melanoma skin cancer and lung cancer, and that CHIP linked to DNMT3Ais associated with the subsequent development of myeloid but not lymphoid leukaemias. Additionally, contrary to previous findings from the initial 50,000 UKB exomes6, our results in the full sample do not support a role for IL-6 inhibition in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease among CHIP carriers. Our findings demonstrate that CHIP represents a complex set of heterogeneous phenotypes with shared and unique germline genetic causes and varied clinical implications.

Surgical resection of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma is standard clinical practice; however, most tumours recur despite surgery, and no perioperative intervention has shown a survival benefit. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy has induced pathological responses in multiple tumour types and might decrease the risk of postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the clinical activity of neoadjuvant cemiplimab (an anti-PD-1) in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

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CD3-engaging bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are potent therapeutic approaches for redirecting patient T cells to recognize and kill tumors. Here we describe a fully human bsAb (REGN5458) that binds to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD3, and compare its antitumor activities vs those of anti-BCMA CAR T cells to identify differences in efficacy and mechanism of action. In vitro, BCMAxCD3 bsAb efficiently induced polyclonal T-cell killing of primary human plasma cells and multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines expressing a range of BCMA cell surface densities. In vivo, BCMAxCD3 bsAb suppressed the growth of human MM tumors in murine xenogeneic models and showed potent combinatorial efficacy with programmed cell death protein 1 blockade. BCMAxCD3 bsAb administration to cynomolgus monkeys was well tolerated, resulting in the depletion of BCMA+ cells and mild inflammatory responses characterized by transient increases in C-reactive protein and serum cytokines. The antitumor efficacy of BCMAxCD3 bsAb was compared with BCMA-specific CAR T cells containing a BCMA-binding single-chain variable fragment derived from REGN5458. Both BCMAxCD3 bsAb and anti-BCMA CAR T cells showed similar targeted cytotoxicity of MM cell lines and primary MM cells in vitro. In head-to-head in vivo studies, BCMAxCD3 bsAb rapidly cleared established systemic MM tumors, whereas CAR T cells cleared tumors with slower kinetics. Thus, using the same BCMA-binding domain, these results suggest that BCMAxCD3 bsAb rapidly exerts its therapeutic effects by engaging T cells already in place at the tumor site, whereas anti-BCMA CAR T cells require time to traffic to the tumor site, activate, and numerically expand before exerting antitumor effects.

Antibodies labeled with positron-emitting isotopes have been used for tumor detection, predicting which patients may respond to tumor antigen-directed therapy, and assessing pharmacodynamic effects of drug interventions. Prolactin receptor (PRLR) is overexpressed in breast and prostate cancers and is a new target for cancer therapy. We evaluated REGN2878, an anti-PRLR monoclonal antibody, as an immunoPET reagent. REGN2878 was labeled with Zr-89 after conjugation with desferrioxamine B or labeled with I-131/I-124. In vitro determination of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of parental REGN2878, DFO-REGN2878, and iodinated REGN2878 was performed by examining the effect of the increasing amounts of these on uptake of trace-labeled I-131 REGN2878. REGN1932, a non-PRLR binding antibody, was used as a control. Imaging and biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing tumor xenografts with various expression levels of PRLR, including MCF-7, transfected MCF-7/PRLR, PC3, and transfected PC3/PRLR and T4D7v11 cell lines. The specificity of uptake in tumors was evaluated by comparing Zr-89 REGN2878 and REGN1932, and in vivo competition compared Zr-89 REGN2878 uptake in tumor xenografts with and without prior injection of 2 mg of nonradioactive REGN2878. The competition binding assay of DFO-REGN2878 at ratios of 3.53–5.77 DFO per antibody showed IC50 values of 0.4917 and 0.7136 nM, respectively, compared to 0.3455 nM for parental REGN2878 and 0.3343 nM for I-124 REGN2878. Imaging and biodistribution studies showed excellent targeting of Zr-89 REGN2878 in PRLR-positive xenografts at delayed times of 189 h (presented as mean ± 1 SD, percent injected activity per mL (%IA/mL) 74.6 ± 33.8%IA/mL). In contrast, MCF-7/PRLR tumor xenografts showed a low uptake (7.0 ± 2.3%IA/mL) of control Zr-89 REGN1932 and a very low uptake and rapid clearance of I-124 REGN2878 (1.4 ± 0.6%IA/mL). Zr-89 REGN2878 has excellent antigen-specific targeting in various PRLR tumor xenograft models. We estimated, using image-based kinetic modeling, that PRLR antigen has a very rapid in vivo turnover half-life of ∼14 min from the cell membrane. Despite relatively modest estimated tumor PRLR expression numbers, PRLR-expressing cells have shown final retention of the Zr-89 REGN2878 antibody, with an uptake that appeared to be related to PRLR expression. This reagent has the potential to be used in clinical trials targeting PRLR.

Notch signaling promotes T cell pathogenicity and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in mice, with a dominant role for the Delta-like Notch ligand DLL4. To assess whether Notch’s effects are evolutionarily conserved and to identify the mechanisms of Notch signaling inhibition, we studied antibody-mediated DLL4 blockade in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model similar to human allo-HCT. Short-term DLL4 blockade improved posttransplant survival with durable protection from gastrointestinal GVHD in particular. Unlike prior immunosuppressive strategies tested in the NHP GVHD model, anti-DLL4 interfered with a T cell transcriptional program associated with intestinal infiltration. In cross-species investigations, Notch inhibition decreased surface abundance of the gut-homing integrin α4β7 in conventional T cells while preserving α4β7 in regulatory T cells, with findings suggesting increased β1 competition for α4 binding in conventional T cells. Secondary lymphoid organ fibroblastic reticular cells emerged as the critical cellular source of Delta-like Notch ligands for Notch-mediated up-regulation of α4β7 integrin in T cells after allo-HCT. Together, DLL4-Notch blockade decreased effector T cell infiltration into the gut, with increased regulatory to conventional T cell ratios early after allo-HCT. Our results identify a conserved, biologically unique, and targetable role of DLL4-Notch signaling in intestinal GVHD.

Although many patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may achieve a complete response to frontline chemoimmunotherapy, patients with relapsed/refractory disease typically have poor outcomes. Odronextamab, a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody that provides “signal 1” through the activation of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex, has exhibited early, promising activity for patients with highly refractory DLBCL in phase 1 trials. However, not all patients achieve complete responses, and many relapse, thus representing a high unmet medical need. Here, we investigated whether adding a costimulatory “signal 2” by engaging CD28 receptors on T cells could augment odronextamab activity. We demonstrate that REGN5837, a bispecific antibody that cross-links CD22-expressing tumor cells with CD28-expressing T cells, enhances odronextamab by potentiating T cell activation and cytolytic function. In preclinical DLBCL studies using human immune system–reconstituted animals, REGN5837 promotes the antitumor activity of odronextamab and induces intratumoral expansion of reprogrammable T cells while skewing away from a dysfunctional state. Although REGN5837 monotherapy shows limited activity and no toxicity in primate studies, it augments T cell activation when dosed in combination with odronextamab. In addition, analysis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma clinical samples reveals an increase in CD28+CD8+T cells after odronextamab treatment, demonstrating the presence of a population that could potentially be targeted by REGN5837. Collectively, our data demonstrate that REGN5837 can markedly enhance the antitumor activity of odronextamab in preclinical NHL models, and the combination of these two bispecific antibodies may provide a chemotherapy-free approach for the treatment of DLBCL.

Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4)–Notch signaling is essential for T cell development and alternative thymic lineage decisions. How Dll4–Notch signaling affects pro-T cell fate and thymic dendritic cell (tDC) development is unknown. We found that Dll4 pharmacological blockade induces accumulation of tDCs and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the thymic cortex. Both genetic inactivation models and anti-Dll4 antibody (Ab) treatment promote de novo natural Treg cell expansion by a DC-dependent mechanism that requires major histocompatibility complex II expression on DCs. Anti-Dll4 treatment converts CD4−CD8−c-kit+CD44+CD25− (DN1) T cell progenitors to immature DCs that induce ex vivo differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Treg cells. Induction of these tolerogenic DN1-derived tDCs and the ensuing expansion of Treg cells are Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) independent, occur in the context of transcriptional up-regulation of PU.1, Irf-4, Irf-8, and CSF-1, genes critical for DC differentiation, and are abrogated in thymectomized mice. Anti-Dll4 treatment fully prevents type 1 diabetes (T1D) via a Treg cell–mediated mechanism and inhibits CD8+ T cell pancreatic islet infiltration. Furthermore, a single injection of anti-Dll4 Ab reverses established T1D. Disease remission and recurrence are correlated with increased Treg cell numbers in the pancreas-draining lymph nodes. These results identify Dll4–Notch as a novel Flt3-alternative pathway important for regulating tDC-mediated Treg cell homeostasis and autoimmunity.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A is a major promoter of tumor angiogenesis and a prime target of antiangiogenic cancer therapy. To examine whether endothelial cell signaling might provide histological biomarkers of angiogenesis and VEGF activity in vivo, normal mouse organs and multiple tumor models were studied immunohistochemically for endothelial expression of activated ERK, STAT3, and AKT. Phospho(p)-ERK and p-STAT3 expression was negligible in the endothelia of normal organs but was significantly elevated in tumor endothelium. p-AKT was present at significant and comparable levels in both tumor and normal endothelia. In K1735 tumors induced to express more VEGF, endothelial p-ERK, p-STAT3 and p-AKT increased accompanied by signs of accelerated angiogenesis. Treatment of K1735 and Colo-205 tumors with the VEGF inhibitor, VEGF Trap (aflibercept), decreased tumor endothelial p-ERK, p-STAT3 and p-AKT expression accompanied by signs of antiangiogenic effect. These results show that endothelial p-ERK and p-STAT3 (but not p-AKT) distinguish tumor from normal vessels and that the presence of these two signaling intermediates may be useful indicators of tumor angiogenic activity and angiogenesis inhibition by VEGF antagonist

Vascular remodeling is a feature of chronic inflammation during which capillaries transform into venules that expand the region of the vasculature in which leakage and leukocyte emigration both occur. Recently, we found that angiopoietin/Tie2 receptor signaling drives the transformation of capillaries into venules at an early stage of the sustained inflammatory response in the airways of mice infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis. However, the precise contributions of both angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) are not clear. In this study, we sought to determine the contribution of Ang2 to this vascular remodeling. Ang2 mRNA expression levels increased and phosphorylated Tie2 immunoreactivity in mucosal blood vessels decreased, indicative of diminished receptor signaling after infection. Selective inhibition of Ang2 throughout the infection by administration of either of two distinct function-blocking antibodies reduced the suppression of Tie2 phosphorylation and decreased the remodeling of mucosal capillaries into venules, the amount of leukocyte influx, and disease severity. These findings are consistent with Ang2 acting as an antagonist of Tie2 receptors and the reduction of Tie2 phosphorylation in endothelial cells rendering the vasculature more responsive to cytokines that promote both vascular remodeling and the consequences of inflammation after M. pulmonisinfection. By blocking such changes, Ang2 inhibitors may prove beneficial in the treatment of sustained inflammation in which vascular remodeling, leakage, and leukocyte influx contribute to its pathophysiology.

Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) is a Notch ligand that is predominantly expressed in the endothelium. Evidence from xenografts suggests that inhibiting Dll4 may overcome resistance to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. The aims of this study were to characterize the expression of Dll4 in breast cancer and assess whether it is associated with inflammatory markers and prognosis. We examined 296 breast adenocarcinomas and 38 ductal carcinoma in situtissues that were represented in tissue microarrays. Additional whole sections representing 10 breast adenocarcinomas, 10 normal breast tissues, and 16 angiosarcomas were included. Immunohistochemistry was then performed by using validated antibodies against Dll4, CD68, CD14, Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin (DC-SIGN), CD123, neutrophil elastase, CD31, and carbonic anhydrase 9. Dll4 was selectively expressed by intratumoral endothelial cells in 73% to 100% of breast adenocarcinomas, 18% of in situductal carcinomas, and all lactating breast cases, but not normal nonlactating breast. High intensity of endothelial Dll4 expression was a statistically significant adverse prognostic factor in univariate (P= 0.002 and P= 0.01) and multivariate analyses (P= 0.03 and P= 0.04) of overall survival and relapse-free survival, respectively. Among the inflammatory markers, only CD68 and DC-SIGN were significant prognostic factors in univariate (but not multivariate) analyses of overall survival (P= 0.01 and 0.002, respectively). In summary, Dll4 was expressed by endothelium associated with breast cancer cells. In these retrospective subset analyses, endothelial Dll4 expression was a statistically significant multivariate prognostic factor.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key angiogenic factor in tumors, but less is known about what drives vascular remodeling in inflammation, where plasma leakage and leukocyte influx are prominent features. In chronic airway inflammation in mice infected by the bacterium Mycoplasma pulmonis (M. pulmonis), the segment of the microvasculature that supports leukocyte adhesion and migration expands through remodeling of capillaries into vessels with features of venules. Here, we report that the angiopoietin/Tie2 pathway is an essential driving force for capillary remodeling into venules in M. pulmonis–infected mouse airways. Similar to M. pulmonisinfection, systemic overexpression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) resulted in remodeling of airway capillaries into venular-like vessels that expressed venous markers like P-selectin, ICAM-1, and EphB4 and were sites of leukocyte adhesion during lipopolysaccharide-induced acute inflammation. Ang1 and Ang2 protein increased in M. pulmonis–infected mouse airways but came from different cellular sources: Ang1 was expressed in infiltrating neutrophils and Ang2 in endothelial cells. Indeed, systemic administration of soluble Tie2 inhibited capillary remodeling, induction of venous markers, and leukocyte influx in M. pulmonis–infected mouse airways. Together, these findings suggest that blockade of the Ang/Tie2 pathway may represent a therapeutic approach in airway inflammation.

Although the mechanisms of cross-talk that regulate the hematopoietic and epithelial compartments of the thymus are well established, the interactions of these compartments with the thymic endothelium have been largely ignored. Current understanding of the thymic vasculature is based on studies of adult thymus. We show that the neonatal period represents a unique phase of thymic growth and differentiation, marked by endothelium that is organized as primitive, dense networks of capillaries dependent on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF dependence in neonates is mediated by significantly higher levels of both VEGF production and endothelial VEGF receptor 2 (VEGF-R2) expression than in the adult thymus. VEGF is expressed locally in the neonatal thymus by immature, CD4−CD8− “double negative” (DN) thymocytes and thymic epithelium. Relative to adult thymus, the neonatal thymus has greater thymocyte proliferation, and a predominance of immature thymocytes and cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs). Inhibition of VEGF signaling during the neonatal period results in rapid loss of the dense capillaries in the thymus and a marked reduction in the number of thymocytes. These data demonstrate that, during the early postnatal period, VEGF mediates cross-talk between the thymocyte and endothelial compartments of the thymus.

STAT3 plays important roles in cell proliferation and survival signaling and is often constitutively activated in transformed cells. In this study, we examined STAT3 activation in endothelial cells (EC) during angiogenic activation and therapeutic angiogenesis inhibition. VEGF stimulation of cultured EC induced STAT3 phosphorylation by a VEGFR2- and Src-dependent mechanism. FGF2 but not PlGF also induced EC STAT3 activation in vitro. Activated STAT3 mediated VEGF induction of EC Bcl-2 and contributed to VEGF protection of EC from apoptosis. In vivo, p-STAT3 was absent by immunohistological staining in the vascular EC of most normal mouse organs but was present in the vessels of mouse and human tumors. Tumor vascular p-STAT3 increased as tumors were induced to overexpress VEGF, indicating that VEGF is an activator of EC p-STAT3 in vivo. Tumor vascular p-STAT3 decreased during angiogenesis inhibition by antagonists of VEGF-VEGFR signaling, VEGF Trap and SU5416, indicating that VEGF contributed to the EC STAT3 activation seen in the tumors prior to treatment and that p-STAT3 may be used to monitor therapy. These studies show that p-STAT3 is a mediator and biomarker of endothelial activation that reports VEGF-VEGFR2 activity and may be useful for studying the pharmacodynamics of targeted angiogenesis inhibitors.

Brouwer-Visser: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Fiaschi:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Deering:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dhanik:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Cygan:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jeong:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Pourpe:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Boucher:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hamon:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Topp:Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, KITE, Regeneron, Roche: Research Funding; Amgen, KITE, Novartis, Regeneron, Roche: Consultancy. Bannerji:Sanofi-Pasteur: Other: Spouse is employee; AbbVie: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd/Genentech, Inc and Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Duell:Morphosys: Research Funding. Advani:Celgene, Forty Seven, Inc., Genentech/Roche, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Kura, Merck, Millenium, Pharmacyclics, Regeneron, Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Cell Medica, Celgene, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, KitePharma, Kyowa, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Takeda: Consultancy. Flink:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chaudhry:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sirulnik:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Murphy:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Weinreich:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Yancopoulos:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Thurston:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ambati:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jankovic:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.The biomarker data described in the abstract will report on use of odronextamab in a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with B-NHL

Angiopoietin 1 (Ang1), a ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2, regulates the formation and stabilization of the blood vessel network during embryogenesis. In adults, Ang1 is associated with blood vessel stabilization and recruitment of perivascular cells, whereas Ang2 acts to counter these actions. Recent results from gene-targeted mice have shown that Ang2 is also essential for the proper patterning of lymphatic vessels and that Ang1 can be substituted for this function. In order to characterize the effects of the angiopoietins on lymphatic vessels, we employed viral vectors for overexpression of Ang1 in adult mouse tissues. We found that Ang1 activated lymphatic vessel endothelial proliferation, vessel enlargement, and generation of long endothelial cell filopodia that eventually fused, leading to new sprouts and vessel development. Cutaneous lymphatic hyperplasia was also detected in transgenic mice expressing Ang1 in the basal epidermal cells. Tie2 was expressed in the lymphatic endothelial cells and Ang1 stimulation of these cells resulted in up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3). Furthermore, a soluble form of VEGFR-3 inhibited the observed lymphatic sprouting. Our results reinforce the concept that Ang1 therapy may be useful in settings of tissue edema. (Blood. 2005;105:4642-4648)

Numerous cytokines, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis. While overexpression of VEGF produces pulmonary capillary leak, the role of VEGF in sepsis is less clear. We investigated VEGF in sepsis, utilizing a VEGF trap (VEGFT). Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and resulted in significantly increased plasma VEGF levels (234 vs. 46 pg/mL; p= 0.03). Inhibition of VEGF had no effect on mortality or lung leak but did attenuate plasma IL-6 (120 vs. 236 ng/mL; p= 0.02) and IL-10 (16 vs. 41 ng/mL; p= 0.03). These alterations in inflammatory cytokines were associated with increased levels of the dominant negative inhibitory C/EBPβ. In vitro, VEGF stimulated IL-6, IL-10 and reduced the inhibitory isoform of C/EBPβ in cultured macrophages. Together these data suggest VEGF can regulate inflammatory cytokine production in murine polymicrobial sepsis, via regulation of C/EBPβ.

Angiogenesis inhibitors are receiving increased attention as cancer therapeutics, but little is known of the cellular effects of these inhibitors on tumor vessels. We sought to determine whether two agents, AG013736 and VEGF-Trap, that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, merely stop angiogenesis or cause regression of existing tumor vessels. Here, we report that treatment with these inhibitors caused robust and early changes in endothelial cells, pericytes, and basement membrane of vessels in spontaneous islet-cell tumors of RIP-Tag2 transgenic mice and in subcutaneously implanted Lewis lung carcinomas. Strikingly, within 24 hours, endothelial fenestrations in RIP-Tag2 tumors disappeared, vascular sprouting was suppressed, and patency and blood flow ceased in some vessels. By 7 days, vascular density decreased more than 70%, and VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 expression was reduced in surviving endothelial cells. Vessels in Lewis lung tumors, which lacked endothelial fenestrations, showed less regression. In both tumors, pericytes did not degenerate to the same extent as endothelial cells, and those on surviving tumor vessels acquired a more normal phenotype. Vascular basement membrane persisted after endothelial cells degenerated, providing a ghost-like record of pretreatment vessel number and location and a potential scaffold for vessel regrowth. The potent anti-vascular action observed is evidence that VEGF signaling inhibitors do more than stop angiogenesis. Early loss of endothelial fenestrations in RIP-Tag2 tumors is a clue that vessel phenotype may be predictive of exceptional sensitivity to these inhibitors.

The angiopoietins Ang-1 and Ang-2 have been identified as ligands with opposing functions of the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2 regulating endothelial cell survival and vascular maturation. Ang-1 acts in a paracrine agonistic manner, whereas Ang-2 appears to act primarily as an autocrine antagonistic regulator. To shed further light on the complexity of autocrine/paracrine agonistic/antagonistic functions of the angiopoietin/Tie-2 system, we have studied Ang-2 synthesis and secretion in different populations of wild-type and retrovirally Ang-2–transduced endothelial cells. Endogenous and overexpressed endothelial cell Ang-2 is expressed in a characteristic granular pattern indicative of a cytoplasmic storage granule. Light and electron microscopic double staining revealed Ang-2 colocalization with von Willebrand factor, identifying Ang-2 as a Weibel-Palade body molecule. Costaining with P-selectin showed that storage of Ang-2 and P-selectin in Weibel-Palade bodies is mutually exclusive. Stored Ang-2 has a long half-life of more than 18 hours and can be secreted within minutes of stimulation (eg, by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate [PMA], thrombin, and histamine). Collectively, the identification of Ang-2 as a stored, rapidly available molecule in endothelial cells strongly suggests functions of the angiopoietin/Tie-2 system beyond the established roles during angiogenesis likely to be involved in rapid vascular homeostatic reactions such as inflammation and coagulation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Angiopoietins are families of vascular‐specific growth factors that regulate blood vessel growth, maturation and function. To learn more about the effects of these factors in vivo, we have overexpressed VEGF‐A or Angiopoietin‐1 (Ang1) in two systems in mice, and examined the effects on blood vessel growth and function. In one set of studies, VEGF, Ang1, or both factors, were transgenically overexpressed in the skin under the keratin‐14 (K14) promoter. The skin of mice overexpressing VEGF (K14‐VEGF) had numerous tortuous, capillary‐sized vessels which were leaky to the plasma tracer Evans blue under baseline conditions. In contrast, the skin of mice overexpressing Ang1 (K14‐Ang1) had enlarged dermal vessels without a significant increase in vessel number. These enlarged vessels were less leaky than those of wild‐type mice in response to inflammatory stimuli. In double transgenic mice overexpressing VEGF and Ang1, the size and number of skin vessels were both increased; however, the vessels were not leaky. In a second set of studies, VEGF or Ang1 was systemically delivered using an adenoviral approach. Intravenous injection of adenovirus encoding VEGF (Adeno‐VEGF) resulted in widespread tissue oedema within 1–2 days after administration, whereas injection of Adeno‐Ang1 resulted in the skin vessels becoming less leaky in response to topical inflammatory stimuli or local injection of VEGF. The decreased leakage was not accompanied by morphological changes. Thus, overexpressing VEGF appears to promote growth of new vessels accompanied by plasma leakage, whereas overexpressing Ang1 promotes the enlargement of existing vessels and a resistance to leakage. Further understanding of the interrelationship of these factors during normal development could lead to their application in the treatment of ischaemic diseases.

Angiogenesis and vascular remodeling are features of many chronic inflammatory diseases. When diseases evolve slowly, the accompanying changes in the microvasculature would seem to be similarly gradual. Here we report that the rate of endothelial cell proliferation and the size of blood vessels increases rapidly after the onset of an infection that leads to chronic inflammatory airway disease. In C3H mice inoculated with Mycoplasma pulmonis, the tracheal microvasculature, made visible by perfusion of Lycopersicon esculentumlectin, rapidly enlarged from 4 to 7 days after infection and then plateaued. Diameters of arterioles, capillaries, and venules increased on average 148, 214, and 74%, respectively. Endothelial cell proliferation, measured by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, peaked at 5 days (18 times the pathogen-free value), declined sharply until day 9, but remained at ∼3 times the pathogen-free value for at least 28 days. Remodeled capillaries and venules were sites of focal plasma leakage and extensive leukocyte adherence. Most systemic manifestations of the infection occurred well after the peak of endothelial proliferation, and the humoral immune response to M. pulmoniswas among the latest, increasing after 14 days. These data show that endothelial cell proliferation and microvascular remodeling occur at an early stage of chronic airway disease and suggest that the vascular changes precede widespread tissue remodeling.

Leakiness of blood vessels in tumors may contribute to disease progression and is key to certain forms of cancer therapy, but the structural basis of the leakiness is unclear. We sought to determine whether endothelial gaps or transcellular holes, similar to those found in leaky vessels in inflammation, could explain the leakiness of tumor vessels. Blood vessels in MCa-IV mouse mammary carcinomas, which are known to be unusually leaky (functional pore size 1.2–2 μm), were compared to vessels in three less leaky tumors and normal mammary glands. Vessels were identified by their binding of intravascularly injected fluorescent cationic liposomes and Lycopersicon esculentumlectin and by CD31 (PECAM) immunoreactivity. The luminal surface of vessels in all four tumors had a defective endothelial monolayer as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. In MCa-IV tumors, 14% of the vessel surface was lined by poorly connected, overlapping cells. The most superficial lining cells, like endothelial cells, had CD31 immunoreactivity and fenestrae with diaphragms, but they had a branched phenotype with cytoplasmic projections as long as 50 μm. Some branched cells were separated by intercellular openings (mean diameter 1.7 μm; range, 0.3–4.7 μm). Transcellular holes (mean diameter 0.6 μm) were also present but were only 8% as numerous as intercellular openings. Some CD31-positive cells protruded into the vessel lumen; others sprouted into perivascular tumor tissue. Tumors in RIP-Tag2 mice had, in addition, tumor cell-lined lakes of extravasated erythrocytes. We conclude that some tumor vessels have a defective cellular lining composed of disorganized, loosely connected, branched, overlapping or sprouting endothelial cells. Openings between these cells contribute to tumor vessel leakiness and may permit access of macromolecular therapeutic agents to tumor cells.

We sought to determine whether the changes in microvascular endothelial cells (EC) caused by a polarized chronic inflammatory stimulus depend on proximity to the stimulus. C3H mice were infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis, which attaches to the airway epithelium and creates a polarized inflammatory stimulus across the airway wall. At 1, 2, or 4 weeks, the tracheal vasculature was stained by perfusion of silver nitrate to mark EC borders or biotinylated Lycopersicon esculentum. lectin to label the EC surface and adherent leukocytes. E-selectin immunoreactivity and EC proliferation were also localized. We found that the size, shape, and immunoreactivity for adhesion molecules on EC nearest the airway lumen (subepithelial EC) were different from those on the opposite surface of the same vessels. Subepithelial EC were smaller, more irregular in shape, had greater E-selectin immunoreactivity, and had twice as many adherent leukocytes. In contrast, proliferating EC were uniformly distributed around the vessel circumference. We conclude that the polarized stimulus created by M. pulmonisinfection differentially changes the size, shape, and function of EC nearest the airway epithelium. This heterogeneity may result from a gradient of inflammatory mediators that triggers the influx of leukocytes into the airway lumen.

Chronic inflammation is associated with blood vessel proliferation and enlargement and changes in vessel phenotype. We sought to determine whether these changes represent different types of angiogenesis and whether they are stimulus dependent. Chronic airway inflammation, produced by infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis, was compared in strains of mice known to be resistant (C57BL/6) or susceptible (C3H). Tracheal vascularity, assessed in whole mounts after Lycopersicon esculentumlectin staining, increased in both strains at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after infection, but the type of vascular remodeling was different. The number of vessels doubled in tracheas of C57BL/6 mice, with corresponding increases of capillaries and venules. In contrast, neither the number nor the length of vessels changed in C3H mice. Instead, vessel diameter and endothelial cell number doubled, and the proportion of venules doubled with a corresponding decrease of capillaries. Although the infection had no effect on baseline plasma leakage, in both strains it potentiated the leakage produced by substance P. We conclude that the same stimulus can result in blood vessel proliferation or enlargement, depending on the host response. Endothelial cells proliferate in both cases, but in one case new capillaries form whereas in the other capillaries convert to venules.

The actin cytoskeleton of the endothelium plays a key role in the maintenance of an endothelial permeability barrier. Inflammatory agonists, such as thrombin, cause an increase in vascular permeability associated with changes in the actin filament system. However, the full nature and extent of agonist-induced changes to endothelial actin have not been documented. We have studied the actin cytoskeleton in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) growing on tissue culture plastic coverslips or 0.4-µm pore-size polycarbonate membranes. We found: (1) Thrombin (0.3 U/ml) induced a rapid (within 5 min) increase in the number of microfilaments in HUVEC. (2) Using a quantitative assay for cellular filamentous actin (F-actin), thrombin induced a 1.7-fold increase in HUVEC F-actin within 1 min which persisted for at least 30 min. (3) Blockage of the thrombin-induced intracellular calcium ion ([Ca²⁺)_i) signal did not block the thrombin-induced increase in F-actin, and calcium inophores did not cause an increase in F-actin. (4) Protein kinase C inhibitors (calphostin C and staurosporine both at 100 nM) partially blocked the actin increase. Higher doses of staurosporine (500 nM) resulted in complete blockage of the thrombin-induced increase in F-actin. (5) Treatment with phorbol ester (100 nM PMA) or mezerein (100 nM) did not produce significant changes in F-actin content. These results suggest that an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i is not necessary for the thrombin-induced increase in endothelial F-actin and, further, that the effect is mediated by protein kinases not yet identified. Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press

This study sought to determine whether neurogenic inflammation occurs in the airways by examining the effects of capsaicin or substance P on microvascular plasma leakage in the trachea and lungs of male pathogen‐free C57BL/6 mice.Single bolus intravenous injections of capsaicin (0.5 and 1 μmol kg−1, i.v.) or substance P (1, 10 and 37 nmol kg−1, i.v.) failed to induce significant leakage in the trachea, assessed as extravasation of Evans blue dye, but did induce leakage in the urinary bladder and skin.Pretreatment with captopril (2.5 mg kg−1, i.v.), a selective inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), either alone or in combination with phosphoramidon (2.5 mg kg−1, i.v.), a selective inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), increased baseline leakage of Evans blue in the absence of any exogenous inflammatory mediator. The increase was reversed by the bradykinin B2receptor antagonist Hoe 140 (0.1 mg kg−1, i.v.).After pretreatment with phosphoramidon and captopril, capsaicin increased the Evans blue leakage above the baseline in the trachea, but not in the lung. This increase was reversed by the tachykinin (NK1) receptor antagonist SR 140333 (0.7 mg kg−1, i.v.), but not by the NK2receptor antagonist SR 48968 (1 mg kg−1, i.v.).Experiments using Monastral blue pigment as a tracer localized the leakage to postcapillary venules in the trachea and intrapulmonary bronchi, although the labelled vessels were less numerous in mice than in comparably treated rats. Blood vessels of the pulmonary circulation were not labelled.We conclude that neurogenic inflammation can occur in airways of pathogen‐free mice, but only after the inhibition of enzymes that normally degrade inflammatory peptides. Neurogenic inflammation does not involve the pulmonary microvasculature.

Antibodies cross-linking the CD28 costimulatory pathway and a target antigen on tumors potentiate the effects of checkpoint immunotherapy.

CD28 bispecific antibodies are well tolerated and enhance the antitumor efficacy of CD3 bispecifics as a potential off-the-shelf antibody therapy.

Bannerji: AbbVie, Inc: Consultancy, travel support; Gilead: Other: travel support; Gilead: Other: travel support; Pharmacyclics: Other: travel support; Merck: Other: travel support, Patents & Royalties: IP rights; AbbVie, Inc: Consultancy; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Other: travel support, Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Other: travel support, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Merck: Other: travel support, Patents & Royalties: IP rights; Pharmacyclics: Other: travel support. Allan:Acerta Pharma: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie, Inc: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy; Verastem Oncology, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Arnason:Celgene/Juno: Consultancy; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy. Brown:AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy; Morphosys: Other: Data safety monitoring boards ; Sun Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Sun: Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Teva: Honoraria; Sunesis: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; Invectys: Other: other; Loxo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dynamo Therapeutics: Consultancy; Catapult Therapeutics: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Consultancy. Advani:Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Developments, Inc.: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celmed: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forty-Seven: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kura: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences, Inc./Kite Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Infinity Pharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cell Medica, Ltd: Consultancy; Autolus: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agensys: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Stanford University: Employment, Equity Ownership; Regeneron: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Ansell:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment. O'Brien:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Acerta: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Aptose Biosciences, Inc: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Eisai: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Kite: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vaniam Group LLC: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Chavez:Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Speakers Bureau; Kite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Duell:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding. Martin:I-MAB: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Sandoz: Consultancy; Teneobio: Consultancy. Charnas:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ambati:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Adriaens:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ufkin:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhu:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Li:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gasparini:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ibrahim:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jankovic:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fiaschi:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Aina:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Deering:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hamon:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thurston:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Murphy:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Weinreich:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yancopoulos:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lowy:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sternberg:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Topp:Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.The data described in the abstract will report on use REGN1979 in a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with B-NHL.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic cancer derived from the malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors. Outcomes remain poor for T-ALL patients who have either primary resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapy or disease relapse. Notably, there are currently no targeted therapies available in T-ALL. This lack of next-generation therapies highlights the need for relevant preclinical disease modeling to identify and validate new targets and treatment approaches. Here, we adapted a spontaneously arising, genetically heterogeneous, thymic transplantation-based murine model of T-ALL, recapitulating key histopathological and genetic features of the human disease, to the preclinical testing of targeted and immune-directed therapies. Genetic engineering of the murine Notch1 locus aligned the spectrum of Notch1 mutations in the mouse model to that of human T-ALL and confirmed aberrant, recombination-activating gene (RAG)-mediated 5′ Notch1 recombination events as the preferred pathway in murine T-ALL development. Testing of Notch1-targeting therapeutic antibodies demonstrated T-ALL sensitivity to different classes of Notch1 blockers based on Notch1 mutational status. In contrast, genetic ablation of Notch3 did not impact T-ALL development. The T-ALL model was further applied to the testing of immunotherapeutic agents in fully immunocompetent, syngeneic mice. In line with recent clinical experience in T-cell malignancies, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade alone lacked anti-tumor activity against murine T-ALL tumors. Overall, the unique features of the spontaneous T-ALL model coupled with genetic manipulations and the application to therapeutic testing in immunocompetent backgrounds will be of great utility for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies against T-ALL.

A CD3 bispecific antibody targeting Mucin 16 shows preclinical efficacy in mouse tumor models and a tolerable safety profile in nonhuman primates.

The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved, cell-cell communication system with critical functions in organogenesis and tissue homeostasis, including hemato- and immuno-poiesis. Recent data have revealed important roles for Notch in the regulation of mature T cell differentiation and function. Studies in mouse models have identified Notch as a critical regulator of pathogenic T-cell responses during acute GVHD (aGVHD) (Zhang Y, 2011, Blood). However, the exact biological effects and the therapeutic potential of Notch pathway manipulation in clinical settings remains unclear.

Bannerji: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; AbbVie, Inc.: Consultancy. Arnason:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy. Advani:Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Janssen Pharmaceutical: Other: Institutional Research Support; Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: Consultancy/Advisory role and Institutional Research Support; Pharmacyclics: Other: Institutional Research Support; Takeda: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Millenium: Other: Institutional Research Support; Gilead/Kite: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Infinity: Other: Institutional Research Support; Merck: Other: Institutional Research Support; Forty Seven, Inc: Other: Institutional Research Support; Cell Medica: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Agensys: Other: Institutional Research Support; Celgene: Other: Institutional Research Support; Seattle Genetics: Other: Consultancy/Advisory role, Institutional Research Support; Kura: Other: Institutional Research Support; Roche/Genentech: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role, Institutional Research Support; Kyowa: Other: Consulting/Advisory Role; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Institutional Research Support; Autolus: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; AstraZeneca: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role. Brown:Acerta / Astra-Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sun Pharmaceutical Industries: Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Loxo: Consultancy; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Invectys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Boehringer: Consultancy. Allan:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta: Consultancy. Ansell:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Merck & Co: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding. O'Brien:Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Aptose Biosciences Inc.: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vaniam Group LLC: Consultancy; Regeneron: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Acerta: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding. Chavez:Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Humanigen: Consultancy. Lowy:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Charnas:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sternberg:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ambati:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Adriaens:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ufkin:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yan:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Li:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Navarro:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Gasparini:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jankovic:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fiaschi:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hamon:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thurston:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Topp:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Angiopoietin-1 is dysregulated in pediatric severe malaria, and targeting it prevents vascular dysfunction and death in a mouse model of cerebral malaria.

Varghese: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Menon:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Rodriguez:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Olson:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Krueger:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Huang:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Smith:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Thurston:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Kirshner:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment.

Varghese: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Menon:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rodriguez:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Haber:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Olson:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Duramad:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Oyejide:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Smith:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thurston:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kirshner:Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership.