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Small Molecule Sarm1 Inhibitors Recapitulate The Sarm1 -/- Phenotype And Allow Recovery Of A Metastable Pool Of Axons Fated To Degenerate, Robert O Hughes, Todd Bosanac, Xianrong Mao, Thomas M Engber, Aaron Diantonio, Jeffrey Milbrandt, Rajesh Devraj, Raul Krauss

Open Access Publications

Axonal degeneration is responsible for disease progression and accumulation of disability in many neurodegenerative conditions. The axonal degenerative process can generate a metastable pool of damaged axons that remain structurally and functionally viable but fated to degenerate in the absence of external intervention. SARM1, an NADase that depletes axonal energy stores upon activation, is the central driver of an evolutionarily conserved program of axonal degeneration. We identify a potent and selective small molecule isoquinoline inhibitor of SARM1 NADase that recapitulates the SARM1

Function Of Mammalian M-Cones Depends On The Level Of Cralbp In Müller Cells, Alexander V. Kolesnikov, Philip D. Kiser, Krzysztof Palczewski, Vladimir J. Kefalov

Open Access Publications

Cone photoreceptors mediate daytime vision in vertebrates. The rapid and efficient regeneration of their visual pigments following photoactivation is critical for the cones to remain photoresponsive in bright and rapidly changing light conditions. Cone pigment regeneration depends on the recycling of visual chromophore, which takes place via the canonical visual cycle in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the Müller cell-driven intraretinal visual cycle. The molecular mechanisms that enable the neural retina to regenerate visual chromophore for cones have not been fully elucidated. However, one known component of the two visual cycles is the cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP), which is …

Clinical Research Coordinator Orientation Manual, Kaitlin Moore, Tarisa Mantia, Jean Flanagan, Kristin Geile, Andrea Morris, Sarah Fowler-Dixon

HRPO Publications

No abstract provided.

Improving Hindlimb Locomotor Function By Non-Invasive Aav-Mediated Manipulations Of Propriospinal Neurons In Mice With Complete Spinal Cord Injury, Benedikt Brommer, Miao He, Zicong Zhang, Zhiyun Yang, Jessica C. Page, Junfeng Su, Yu Zhang, Junjie Zhu, Emilia Gouy, Jing Tang, Philip Williams, Wei Dai, Qi Wang, Ryan Solinsky, Bo Chen, Zhigang He

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Association Of Pet-Based Estradiol-Challenge Test For Breast Cancer Progesterone Receptors With Response To Endocrine Therapy, Farrokh Dehdashti, Ningying Wu, Cynthia X. Ma, Michael J. Naughton, John A. Katzenellenbogen, Barry A. Siegel

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Disrupted Association Of Sensory Neurons With Enveloping Satellite Glial Cells In Fragile X Mouse Model, Oshri Avraham, Pan-Yue Deng, Dario Maschi, Vitaly A Klyachko, Valeria Cavalli

Open Access Publications

Among most prevalent deficits in individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli and somatosensory alterations. Whether dysfunction in peripheral sensory system contributes to these deficits remains poorly understood. Satellite glial cells (SGCs), which envelop sensory neuron soma, play critical roles in regulating neuronal function and excitability. The potential contributions of SGCs to sensory deficits in FXS remain unexplored. Here we found major structural defects in sensory neuron-SGC association in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), manifested by aberrant covering of the neuron and gaps between SGCs and the neuron along their contact surface. Single-cell RNAseq analyses demonstrated …

Apobec1 Complementation Factor Overexpression Promotes Hepatic Steatosis, Fibrosis, And Hepatocellular Cancer, Valerie Blanc, Jesse D Riordan, Saeed Soleymanjahi, Joseph H Nadeau, Ilke Nalbantoglu, Yan Xie, Elizabeth A Molitor, Blair B Madison, Elizabeth M Brunt, Jason C Mills, Deborah C Rubin, Irene O Ng, Yeonjung Ha, Lewis R Roberts, Nicholas O Davidson

Open Access Publications

The RNA-binding protein Apobec1 complementation factor (A1CF) regulates posttranscriptional ApoB mRNA editing, but the range of RNA targets and the long-term effect of altered A1CF expression on liver function are unknown. Here we studied hepatocyte-specific A1cf-transgenic (A1cf+/Tg), A1cf+/Tg Apobec1-/-, and A1cf-/- mice fed chow or high-fat/high-fructose diets using RNA-Seq, RNA CLIP-Seq, and tissue microarrays from human hepatocellular cancer (HCC). A1cf+/Tg mice exhibited increased hepatic proliferation and steatosis, with increased lipogenic gene expression (Mogat1, Mogat2, Cidea, Cd36) associated with shifts in polysomal RNA distribution. Aged A1cf+/Tg mice developed spontaneous fibrosis, dysplasia, and HCC, and this development was accelerated on a high-fat/high-fructose …

Dysfunction Of The Key Ferroptosis-Surveilling Systems Hypersensitizes Mice To Tubular Necrosis During Acute Kidney Injury, Wulf Tonnus, Wenjun Li, Daniel Kreisel, Et Al.

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Overstimulation Causes Acute Injury And Synapse Loss Followed By Fast Recovery In Lateral-Line Neuromasts Of Larval Zebrafish, Melanie Holmgren, Michael E. Ravicz, Kenneth E. Hancock, Olga Strelkova, Dorina Kallogjeri, Artur A. Indzhykulian, Mark E. Warchol, Lavinia Sheets

Open Access Publications

Excess noise damages sensory hair cells, resulting in loss of synaptic connections with auditory nerves and, in some cases, hair-cell death. The cellular mechanisms underlying mechanically induced hair-cell damage and subsequent repair are not completely understood. Hair cells in neuromasts of larval zebrafish are structurally and functionally comparable to mammalian hair cells but undergo robust regeneration following ototoxic damage. We therefore developed a model for mechanically induced hair-cell damage in this highly tractable system. Free swimming larvae exposed to strong water wave stimulus for 2 hr displayed mechanical injury to neuromasts, including afferent neurite retraction, damaged hair bundles, and reduced …

Tissue Biodistribution And Tumor Targeting Of Near-Infrared Labelled Anti-Cd38 Antibody-Drug Conjugate In Preclinical Multiple Myeloma, Nicholas Cho, Sooah Ko, Monica Shokeen

Open Access Publications

Daratumumab (DARA) is an FDA-approved high-affinity monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 that has shown promising therapeutic efficacy in double refractory multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Despite the well-established clinical efficacy of DARA, not all heavily pretreated patients respond to single-agent DARA, and the majority of patients who initially respond eventually progress. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the highly targeted tumor antigen recognition of antibodies with the cell killing properties of chemotherapy for effective internalization and processing of the drug. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of DARA conjugated to the maytansine derivative, mertansine (DM1), linked via a non-cleavable bifunctional linker. The …

Metformin Ameliorates The Severity Of Experimental Alport Syndrome, Kohei Omachi, Jeffrey H. Miner, Et Al.

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Valproate Mediates Radio-Bidirectional Regulation Through Rfwd3-Dependent Ubiquitination On Rad51, Guochao Liu, David Lim, Zuchao Cai, Wenwen Ding, Zhujun Tian, Chao Dong, Fengmei Zhang, Gongshe Guo, Xiaowei Wang, Pingkun Zhou, Zhihui Feng

Open Access Publications

Ionizing radiation (IR) can induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in tumor cells during radiotherapy (RT), but the efficiency of RT is limited because of the toxicity to normal cells. Locating an adjuvant treatment to alleviate damage in normal cells while sensitizing tumor cells to IR has attracted much attention. Here, using the 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA)-induced malignant transformed MCF10A cells, we found that valproate (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), radiosensitized transformed cells while alleviated IR-induced damage in normal cells at a safe dose (0.5 mM). We further demonstrated the decrease of homologous recombination (HR)-associated Rad51 in the transformed cells was related …

Deep Learning Segmentation Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (Tnbc) Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft (Pdx) And Sensitivity Of Radiomic Pipeline To Tumor Probability Boundary, Kaushik Dutta, Sudipta Roy, Timothy Daniel Whitehead, Jingqin Luo, Abhinav Kumar Jha, Shunqiang Li, James Dennis Quirk, Kooresh Isaac Shoghi

Open Access Publications

Preclinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a critical component in a co-clinical research pipeline. Importantly, segmentation of tumors in MRI is a necessary step in tumor phenotyping and assessment of response to therapy. However, manual segmentation is time-intensive and suffers from inter- and intra- observer variability and lack of reproducibility. This study aimed to develop an automated pipeline for accurate localization and delineation of TNBC PDX tumors from preclinical T1w and T2w MR images using a deep learning (DL) algorithm and to assess the sensitivity of radiomic features to tumor boundaries. We tested five network architectures including U-Net, dense U-Net, …

Washington University Magazine, December 2021

Washington University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Washington University Magazine, August 2021

Washington University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Washington University Magazine, April 2021

Washington University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Corynebacterium Species Inhibit Streptococcus Pneumoniae Colonization And Infection Of The Mouse Airway, Kadi J Horn, Alexander C Jaberi Vivar, Vera Arenas, Sameer Andani, Edward N Janoff, Sarah E Clark

Open Access Publications

The stability and composition of the airway microbiome is an important determinant of respiratory health. Some airway bacteria are considered to be beneficial due to their potential to impede the acquisition and persistence of opportunistic bacterial pathogens such as

Green Nanotechnology Of Mgf‑Aunps For Immunomodulatory Intervention In Prostate Cancer Therapy, Menka Khoobchandani, Aslam Khan, Kavita K. Katti, Velaphi C. Thipe, Amal Y. Al-Yasiri, Darsha K. D. Mohandoss, Michael B. Nicholl, Ademar B. Lugão, Chetan P. Hans, Kattesh V. Katti

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Sarm1 Tir Nadase: Mechanistic Similarities To Bacterial Phage Defense And Toxin-Antitoxin Systems, Aaron Diantonio, Jeffrey Milbrandt, Matthew D Figley

Open Access Publications

The Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain is the signature signalling motif of innate immunity, with essential roles in innate immune signalling in bacteria, plants, and animals. TIR domains canonically function as scaffolds, with stimulus-dependent multimerization generating binding sites for signalling molecules such as kinases and ligases that activate downstream immune mechanisms. Recent studies have dramatically expanded our understanding of the TIR domain, demonstrating that the primordial function of the TIR domain is to metabolize NAD

Air Pollution Particulate Matter Amplifies White Matter Vascular Pathology And Demyelination Caused By Hypoperfusion, Mikko T Huuskonen, Qinghai Liu, Krista Lamorie-Foote, Kristina Shkirkova, Michelle Connor, Arati Patel, Axel Montagne, Hans Baertsch, Constantinos Sioutas, Todd E Morgan, Caleb E Finch, Berislav V Zlokovic, William J Mack

Open Access Publications

Cerebrovascular pathologies are commonly associated with dementia. Because air pollution increases arterial disease in humans and rodent models, we hypothesized that air pollution would also contribute to brain vascular dysfunction. We examined the effects of exposing mice to nanoparticulate matter (nPM; aerodynamic diameter ≤200 nm) from urban traffic and interactions with cerebral hypoperfusion. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to filtered air or nPM with and without bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) and analyzed by multiparametric MRI and histochemistry. Exposure to nPM alone did not alter regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) or blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, nPM worsened the white …

Metformin Downregulates Pd-L1 Expression In Esophageal Squamous Cell Catrcinoma By Inhibiting Il-6 Signaling Pathway, Yao Lu, Dao Xin, Lulu Guan, Mengli Xu, Yalan Yang, Yu Chen, Yuanyuan Yang, Andrea Wang-Gillam, Li Wang, Shanggang Zong, Feng Wang

Open Access Publications

Purpose: To characterize the mechanism by which metformin inhibits PD-L1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to evaluate the effect of metformin on the antitumor immune response.

Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze the correlations between IL-6 and prognosis and between IL-6 and PD-L1 gene expression in esophageal cancer. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to study the mechanism by which metformin affects PD-L1 expression. Additionally, T cell function was assessed in a coculture system containing ESCC cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with metformin …

Pharmacokinetics Of Single Domain Antibodies And Conjugated Nanoparticles Using A Hybrid Near Infrared Method, Shiran Su, Thomas J Esparza, Duong Nguyen, Simone Mastrogiacomo, Joong H Kim, David L Brody

Open Access Publications

Iron oxide nanoparticles and single domain antibodies from camelids (VHHs) have been increasingly recognized for their potential uses for medical diagnosis and treatment. However, there have been relatively few detailed characterizations of their pharmacokinetics (PK). The aim of this study was to develop imaging methods and pharmacokinetic models to aid the future development of a novel family of brain MRI molecular contrast agents. An efficient near-infrared (NIR) imaging method was established to monitor VHH and VHH conjugated nanoparticle kinetics in mice using a hybrid approach: kinetics in blood were assessed by direct sampling, and kinetics in kidney, liver, and brain …

Emerging Nanotechnology For Treatment Of Alzheimer's And Parkinson's Disease, Amanda Li, Joel Tyson, Shivni Patel, Meer Patel, Sruthi Katakam, Xiaobo Mao, Weiwei He

Open Access Publications

The prevalence of the two most common neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), are expected to rise alongside the progressive aging of society. Both PD and AD are classified as proteinopathies with misfolded proteins α-synuclein, amyloid-β, and tau. Emerging evidence suggests that these misfolded aggregates are prion-like proteins that induce pathological cell-to-cell spreading, which is a major driver in pathogenesis. Additional factors that can further affect pathology spreading include oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and cell death. Nanomaterials present advantages over traditional chemical or biological therapeutic approaches at targeting these specific mechanisms. They can have intrinsic properties …

Glucose-Mediated De Novo Lipogenesis In Photoreceptors Drives Early Diabetic Retinopathy, Rithwick Rajagopal, Beau Sylvester, Sheng Zhang, Sangeeta Adak, Xiaochao Wei, Megan Bowers, Sebastian Jessberger, Fong-Fu Hsu, Clay F. Semenkovich

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Bromodomain Protein Brd4 Directs And Sustains Cd8 T Cell Differentiation During Infection, J. Justin Milner, Takeshi Egawa, Et Al

Open Access Publications

In response to infection, pathogen-specific CD8 T cells differentiate into functionally diverse effector and memory T cell populations critical for resolving disease and providing durable immunity. Through small-molecule inhibition, RNAi studies, and induced genetic deletion, we reveal an essential role for the chromatin modifier and BET family member BRD4 in supporting the differentiation and maintenance of terminally fated effector CD8 T cells during infection. BRD4 bound diverse regulatory regions critical to effector T cell differentiation and controlled transcriptional activity of terminal effector-specific super-enhancers in vivo. Consequentially, induced deletion of Brd4 or small molecule-mediated BET inhibition impaired maintenance of a terminal …

Local Field Potentials In The Parietal Reach Region Reveal Mechanisms Of Bimanual Coordination, Eric Mooshagian, Charles D. Holmes, Lawrence H. Snyder

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Targeting The Gut To Treat Multiple Sclerosis, Laura Ghezzi, Claudia Cantoni, Gabriela V Pinget, Yanjiao Zhou, Laura Piccio

Open Access Publications

The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the complex interactions between the gut microbiota and the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, together linking brain and gut functions. Perturbations of the GBA have been reported in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), suggesting a possible role in disease pathogenesis and making it a potential therapeutic target. While research in the area is still in its infancy, a number of studies revealed that pwMS are more likely to exhibit altered microbiota, altered levels of short chain fatty acids and secondary bile products, and increased intestinal permeability. However, specific microbes and metabolites identified across studies …

Evaluation Of A Clinical Decision Support Strategy To Increase Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Among Hospitalized Children Before Inpatient Discharge, Evan W. Orenstein, Omar Elsayed-Ali, Swaminathan Kandaswamy, Erin Masterson, Reena Blanco, Pareen Shah, Patricia Lantis, Amy Kolwaite, Thomas E. Dawson, Edwin Ray, Christy Bryant, Srikant Iyer, Andi L. Shane, Stephanie Jernigan

Open Access Publications

Importance: Hospitalized children are at increased risk of influenza-related complications, yet influenza vaccine coverage remains low among this group. Evidence-based strategies about vaccination of vulnerable children during all health care visits are especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To design and evaluate a clinical decision support (CDS) strategy to increase the proportion of eligible hospitalized children who receive a seasonal influenza vaccine prior to inpatient discharge.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This quality improvement study was conducted among children eligible for the seasonal influenza vaccine who were hospitalized in a tertiary pediatric health system providing care to more than half …

Targeting Angiogenesis For Fracture Nonunion Treatment In Inflammatory Disease, Cuicui Wang, Jun Ying, Xiaolei Nie, Tianhong Zhou, Ding Xiao, Guarav Swarnkar, Yousef Abu-Amer, Jianjun Guan, Jie Shen

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Extensive And Functionally Uncharacterized Mitochondrial Phosphoproteome, Natalie M. Niemi, David J. Pagliarini

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.