Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of interleukin-10 on mast cell development from bone marrow progenitors.Materials and Methods. Unseparated mouse bone marrow cells were cultured in IL-3+SCF, giving rise to mast cells and monocytes/macrophages. The addition of IL-10, and the use of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)3-deficient bone marrow cells were employed to measure the effects of IL-10 and STAT3 expression on cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. Bax-deficient and Bcl-2 transgenic bone marrow cells were used to determine the importance of the mitochondria in IL-10-mediated effects.Overview. Mast cells arise from hematopoietic stem cells and continue development in either connective tissue or mucosa. Th2 cytokines have been implicated in the regulation of mast cell development and subsequent function. Mast cells have also been shown to be essential players in many Th2 immune responses. In the following study we investigate the effects of the Th2 cytokine IL-10 on mast cell development from isolated bone marrow progenitors. The addition of IL-10 to whole murine bone marrow greatly reduced cell numbers and altered the phenotype of the developing progenitor cells. The reduction in cell numbers was due to apoptosis, as judged by DNA fragmentation and caspase activation. The apoptosis observed included alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, apoptosis could be reduced by the overexpression of Bcl-2 or by ablating p53 expression. Utilizing a flox/cre system we found that IL-10 mediated apoptosis required expression of Stat-3, since Stat-3 deficient bone marrow cells did not undergo apoptosis in response to IL-10. In this study we also observed significant alterations in the mast cell growth factor receptors IL-3R and c-kit. The loss of these growth factor receptors may explain the apoptosis induced by IL-10. These data demonstrate the potent regulatory capabilities of Th2 cytokines on mast cells, a central effector in the Th2 response.

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), a common oncogenic mediator, is constitutively activated in many types of human cancers and plays a critical role in tumor growth and cancer immune evasion. The focus of this dissertation is the delivery of STAT3 inhibitor cucurbitacins to tumors using polymeric nano-carriers for the inhibition of tumor growth and modulation of tumor-induced immunosuppression. The anticancer and immunomodulatory activity of STAT3 inhibitor JSI-124 (cucurbitacin I) was studied in mice carrying B16 tumor. The results showed that JSI-124 + CpG or 7-acyl lipid A combination therapy modulated immunosuppression in tumor environment and generated superior anti-tumor effects compared to monotherapy. In further studies, a sensitive and reproducible liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for quantitative analysis of STAT3 inhibitor cucurbitacins in vitro and in biological samples. Moreover, nano-delivery systems based on poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) micelles and its analogues containing physically encapsulated cucurbitacin and poly(D,L -lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) containing chemically conjugated JSI-124 for the delivery of STAT3 inhibitor to tumor and dendritic cells (DCs) were developed and characterized. Polymeric micelles of different PCL based core structure were able to significantly increase the water solubility of STAT3 inhibitor cucurbitacins, and slow the rate of drug release by a diffusion dependent mechanism. The chemical structure of the micellar core was found to control the release rate of cucurbitacin from the micelles. PLGA NPs containing conjugated JSI-124, on the other hand, demonstrated a degradation dependent drug release profile over a 1-month period. Both nanoparticulate formulations exhibited potent anticancer and STAT3 inhibitory activity against B16 cancer. Moreover PLGA-JSI-124 NPs suppressed STAT3 activation in immunosuppressed p-STAT3highDCs and significantly improved their function in stimulating T cell proliferation in vitro. These findings show that JSI-124 esters of PLGA NPs can potentially provide a useful platform for JSI-124 delivery to tumor and its targeted delivery to DCs. The results of this research not only proved the principle of STAT3 inhibition in tumors as an efficient intervention for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of TLR ligand-based cancer immunotherapy, but led to development of nano-delivery systems with potential application in cancer chemo-and immunotherapy. / Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Submitted by Hiolanda Rêgo (hiolandarego@gmail.com) on 2016-08-18T14:47:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_ODONTO_Leonardo de Araújo Melo.pdf: 1484624 bytes, checksum: f3ede85bed6a663ebad60c8f5126c11a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Delba Rosa (delba@ufba.br) on 2016-08-23T14:40:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_ODONTO_Leonardo de Araújo Melo.pdf: 1484624 bytes, checksum: f3ede85bed6a663ebad60c8f5126c11a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-23T14:40:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_ODONTO_Leonardo de Araújo Melo.pdf: 1484624 bytes, checksum: f3ede85bed6a663ebad60c8f5126c11a (MD5) / Stat3 é um fator de transcrição que está envolvido em diversos processos fisiológicos incluindo proliferação e sobrevivência celular. Expressão elevada da Stat3 tem sido encontrada em diversos tipos de neoplasias de mama, pulmão, próstata, esófago, fígado e ovário. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a expressão da Stat3 em uma série de tumores odontogênicos para adicionar mais informações ao conhecimento do perfil biológico deste grupo de neoplasias. Para isto, nós quantificamos a expressão do gene Stat3 por qPCR em 30 amostras de tumores odontogênicos sendo 23 casos de tumor odontogênico queratocístico (TOQ) e 7 casos de ameloblastoma (AB) e comparamos esta expressão com a mucosa bucal não-neoplásica. Nós também mensuramos a expressão da proteína Stat3 por imuno-histoquímica em 43 casos de TOQ e 47 casos de AB. Transcritos de Stat3 foram encontrados em 96,6% dos tumores estudados, no entanto este gene foi subexpresso nos TOQ e AB comparado a amostra bucal não-neoplásica. TOQs esporádicos apresentaram maiores níveis de transcritos de Stat3 em relação aos TOQs sindrômicos (p=0,04). Não foi observada diferença na expressão do gene Stat3 entre TOQ e AB (p=0,88). Na imunomarcação da Stat3, não foi observada diferença estatística na proporção de células positivas, intensidade de marcação e escore final entre os TOQs esporádicos e associados a SCBCN (p=0,31; p=0,39; p=0,65, respectivamente), bem como não foi observada diferença entre ABs sólidos e unicísticos (p=0,35; p=0,13; p=0,37, respectivamente). ABs apresentaram uma significativa maior imunomarcação da Stat3 em relação aos TOQs (p=0,03). Foi evidenciado que os TOQs com inflamação tiveram uma maior proporção de células marcadas pela Stat3 (p=0,001). Em TOQs e ABs, a marcação da Stat3 foi predominantemente citoplasmática não sendo observada diferença na localização celular da Stat3 entre estes tumores (p-0,58). Nossos achados mostraram uma baixa expressão de Stat3 nos TOQs e ABs. No entanto, foi observada uma maior imunomarcação da Stat3 nos ABs em comparação aos TOQs demonstrando que Stat3 pode contribuir no comportamento mais agressivo dos ABs. A presença de inflamação parece ter influenciado numa maior imunomarcação da Stat3 nos TOQs.

Glioblastoma é um tumor cerebral que apresenta uma alta taxa de invasão, sendo que os pacientes portadores do mesmo possuem uma baixa sobrevida. Um dos maiores desafios encontrados é a resistência do tumor ao principal agente quimioterápico utilizado, a temozolomida, além de apresentar um fenótipo de resistência cruzada a outros quimioterápicos tradicionais como a doxorrubicina. Diversos estudos tem mostrado uma ativação contínua do fator de transcrição Transdutor de sinais e ativador de transcrição 3 (STAT3) em glioblastomas resistentes a quimioterapia. Neste trabalho nós examinamos se células de glioma de rato da linhagem C6 que se tornaram resistentes aos quimioterápicos doxorrubicina e/ou temozolamida, apresentam um conteúdo elevado de STAT3 fosforilada (p-STAT3) e se a inibição deste fenômeno pelo inibidor específico de JAK2/STAT3 AG490, poderia sensibilizar novamente estas células a quimioterápicos. Nós observamos que nossas linhagens resistentes apresentaram um IC50 para temozolamida 11 vezes maior do que a linhagem paterna e 33 vezes maior para doxorrubicina em comparação com a linhagem paterna. Além disto, ambas as linhagens resistentes apresentaram um imunoconteúdo elevado de STAT3. A inibição de STAT3 pelo inibidor de JAK2, AG490, apresentou um decréscimo no imunoconteúdo de p-STAT3, uma parada no ciclo celular na fase G2/M e uma consequente ressensibilização das linhagens resistentes aos seus quimioterápicos. Em suma, os dados aqui apresentados nos levam a acreditar que a inibição de STAT3 poderia ser uma interessante terapia adjuvante a ser estudada para a ressensibilização de pacientes com glioblastoma à quimioterapia. / Glioblastoma is a brain tumor whit high invasiveness and low survival. One of the main characteristics of the tumor is the resistance to the standard chemotherapy to the alkylating agent temozolomide, and the multidrug resistance to other traditional chemotherapeutics like doxorubicin. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) has been shown to be constitutive active in glioblastomas resistant to chemotherapy. In this work we examined if C6 cells that became resistant to temozolomide and/or doxorubicin have increased STAT3 phosphorylation (p-STAT3) and if the inhibition of this phosphorylation could re-sensitize these cells. We observed that our two resistant lineages showed higher IC50 for TMZ and DOX in order of 11 and 33 fold higher respectively, and elevated p-STAT3 immunocontent when compared to their parental C6 lineage. The inhibition of p-STAT3 by AG490 50 μM decreased the p-STAT3 immunocontent, induced a G2/M arrest in cell cycle and re-sensitizes the resistant C6-TR and C6-DR to their chemotherapeutics showing a synergetic effect with both chemotherapeutics used in this work. In summary, data present here suggest that the inhibition of STAT3 could be an interesting adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma cells that became resistant to the traditional chemotherapy.

Glioblastoma é um tumor cerebral que apresenta uma alta taxa de invasão, sendo que os pacientes portadores do mesmo possuem uma baixa sobrevida. Um dos maiores desafios encontrados é a resistência do tumor ao principal agente quimioterápico utilizado, a temozolomida, além de apresentar um fenótipo de resistência cruzada a outros quimioterápicos tradicionais como a doxorrubicina. Diversos estudos tem mostrado uma ativação contínua do fator de transcrição Transdutor de sinais e ativador de transcrição 3 (STAT3) em glioblastomas resistentes a quimioterapia. Neste trabalho nós examinamos se células de glioma de rato da linhagem C6 que se tornaram resistentes aos quimioterápicos doxorrubicina e/ou temozolamida, apresentam um conteúdo elevado de STAT3 fosforilada (p-STAT3) e se a inibição deste fenômeno pelo inibidor específico de JAK2/STAT3 AG490, poderia sensibilizar novamente estas células a quimioterápicos. Nós observamos que nossas linhagens resistentes apresentaram um IC50 para temozolamida 11 vezes maior do que a linhagem paterna e 33 vezes maior para doxorrubicina em comparação com a linhagem paterna. Além disto, ambas as linhagens resistentes apresentaram um imunoconteúdo elevado de STAT3. A inibição de STAT3 pelo inibidor de JAK2, AG490, apresentou um decréscimo no imunoconteúdo de p-STAT3, uma parada no ciclo celular na fase G2/M e uma consequente ressensibilização das linhagens resistentes aos seus quimioterápicos. Em suma, os dados aqui apresentados nos levam a acreditar que a inibição de STAT3 poderia ser uma interessante terapia adjuvante a ser estudada para a ressensibilização de pacientes com glioblastoma à quimioterapia. / Glioblastoma is a brain tumor whit high invasiveness and low survival. One of the main characteristics of the tumor is the resistance to the standard chemotherapy to the alkylating agent temozolomide, and the multidrug resistance to other traditional chemotherapeutics like doxorubicin. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) has been shown to be constitutive active in glioblastomas resistant to chemotherapy. In this work we examined if C6 cells that became resistant to temozolomide and/or doxorubicin have increased STAT3 phosphorylation (p-STAT3) and if the inhibition of this phosphorylation could re-sensitize these cells. We observed that our two resistant lineages showed higher IC50 for TMZ and DOX in order of 11 and 33 fold higher respectively, and elevated p-STAT3 immunocontent when compared to their parental C6 lineage. The inhibition of p-STAT3 by AG490 50 μM decreased the p-STAT3 immunocontent, induced a G2/M arrest in cell cycle and re-sensitizes the resistant C6-TR and C6-DR to their chemotherapeutics showing a synergetic effect with both chemotherapeutics used in this work. In summary, data present here suggest that the inhibition of STAT3 could be an interesting adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma cells that became resistant to the traditional chemotherapy.

Glioblastoma é um tumor cerebral que apresenta uma alta taxa de invasão, sendo que os pacientes portadores do mesmo possuem uma baixa sobrevida. Um dos maiores desafios encontrados é a resistência do tumor ao principal agente quimioterápico utilizado, a temozolomida, além de apresentar um fenótipo de resistência cruzada a outros quimioterápicos tradicionais como a doxorrubicina. Diversos estudos tem mostrado uma ativação contínua do fator de transcrição Transdutor de sinais e ativador de transcrição 3 (STAT3) em glioblastomas resistentes a quimioterapia. Neste trabalho nós examinamos se células de glioma de rato da linhagem C6 que se tornaram resistentes aos quimioterápicos doxorrubicina e/ou temozolamida, apresentam um conteúdo elevado de STAT3 fosforilada (p-STAT3) e se a inibição deste fenômeno pelo inibidor específico de JAK2/STAT3 AG490, poderia sensibilizar novamente estas células a quimioterápicos. Nós observamos que nossas linhagens resistentes apresentaram um IC50 para temozolamida 11 vezes maior do que a linhagem paterna e 33 vezes maior para doxorrubicina em comparação com a linhagem paterna. Além disto, ambas as linhagens resistentes apresentaram um imunoconteúdo elevado de STAT3. A inibição de STAT3 pelo inibidor de JAK2, AG490, apresentou um decréscimo no imunoconteúdo de p-STAT3, uma parada no ciclo celular na fase G2/M e uma consequente ressensibilização das linhagens resistentes aos seus quimioterápicos. Em suma, os dados aqui apresentados nos levam a acreditar que a inibição de STAT3 poderia ser uma interessante terapia adjuvante a ser estudada para a ressensibilização de pacientes com glioblastoma à quimioterapia. / Glioblastoma is a brain tumor whit high invasiveness and low survival. One of the main characteristics of the tumor is the resistance to the standard chemotherapy to the alkylating agent temozolomide, and the multidrug resistance to other traditional chemotherapeutics like doxorubicin. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) has been shown to be constitutive active in glioblastomas resistant to chemotherapy. In this work we examined if C6 cells that became resistant to temozolomide and/or doxorubicin have increased STAT3 phosphorylation (p-STAT3) and if the inhibition of this phosphorylation could re-sensitize these cells. We observed that our two resistant lineages showed higher IC50 for TMZ and DOX in order of 11 and 33 fold higher respectively, and elevated p-STAT3 immunocontent when compared to their parental C6 lineage. The inhibition of p-STAT3 by AG490 50 μM decreased the p-STAT3 immunocontent, induced a G2/M arrest in cell cycle and re-sensitizes the resistant C6-TR and C6-DR to their chemotherapeutics showing a synergetic effect with both chemotherapeutics used in this work. In summary, data present here suggest that the inhibition of STAT3 could be an interesting adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma cells that became resistant to the traditional chemotherapy.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Many factors are present in the development of skeletal tissue. Some factors lead to an increase in bone mass while some lead to a decrease. One factor that is known to have an influence on skeletal development is Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (Stat3). This knowledge arose because of a mutation in the Stat3 gene in humans causing a disease called Hyper-IgE Syndrome. This mutation leads to a variety of issues, including decreased bone mass. Because of this, our lab has sought to study Stat3 in its relation to bone. Many studies have already been conducted that discern how Stat3 influences skeletal biology by observing its role in osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and other bone cells. Its role is still unclear, and many studies have provided seemingly contradictory results in how it works on bone tissue. Our lab set up several different studies in order to further elucidate what role Stat3 plays in skeletal development by looking at its effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the bone-forming and bone-destroying cells of the body, respectively. We conditionally knocked out Stat3 in the osteoblasts of mice and compared several different bone parameters to their wild type counterparts at 8 weeks of age. Differences were noted in bone phenotype, including decreased femur length, weight, bone mineral density, and bone mineral content in the cKO compared to their WT counterparts. While no significant difference in trabecular integrity was noted, several differences were observed in cortical bone. These differences indicate that Stat3 has a positive role in osteoblast differentiation, leading to an overall positive effect on bone mass. To observe the role of Stat3 in osteoclasts, in vitro experiments were set up in which pre-osteoclast RAW 264.7 cells were manipulated with Stat3 siRNA or a Stat3 overexpression construct and RANKL to induce differentiation. Using qPCR and western blot assays, it was determined that when Stat3 is knocked down, several important genes in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function are more highly expressed than in the control groups. When Stat3 is overexpressed, a similar pattern is observed where these same genes are downregulated in the presence of higher Stat3 levels. These results indicate that Stat3 has an overall inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function, indicating it has a positive effect on bone mass. Future studies could be performed to further elucidate the effects of Stat3 on skeletal development. Isolating the osteoblasts from cKO and WT mice and performing qPCR and western blot assays could be useful in finding out how Stat3 is influencing these cells. Further studies could also be done on the RAW 264.7 cells to find where Stat3 is interacting with the RANKL pathway. A resorption assay could be done with these cells to better understand how function might be influenced by Stat3.

With the critical role of aberrantly active Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat) 3 protein in many human cancers, selective small-molecule inhibitors targeting the dimerization event which is required for stat3 activation, would be valuable as therapeutic agents. And the inhibitors will be useful chemical probes to clarify the complex biological functions of Stat3. By computational and structural analyses of the interaction between Stat3 and the lead dimerization disruptor, S3I-201, we have designed a diverse set of analogs. One of the most active analogs, S3I-201.1066 is derived to contain a cyclo-hexyl benzyl moiety on the amide nitrogen, which increases the binding to the Stat3 SH2 domain. Evidence is presented from in vitro biochemical and biophysical studies that S3I-201.1066 directly interacts with Stat3 or the SH2 domain, with an affinity (K[subscript D]) of 2.74 [micrometer], and disrupts the binding of Stat3 to the cognate pTyr-peptide, GpYLPQTV-NH2, with an IC₅₀ of 23 [micrometer]. Moreover, S3I-201.1066 selectively blocks the association of Stat3 with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and inhibits Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in EGF-stimulated mouse fibroblasts. In cancer cells that harbor aberrant Stat3 activity, S3I-201.1066 inhibits constitutive Stat3 DNA-binding and transcriptional activities. By contrast, S3I-201.1066 has no effect on Src activation or the EGFR-mediated activation of the Erk1/2MAPK pathway. S3I-201.1066 selectively suppresses the viability, survival, and malignant transformation of the human breast and pancreatic cancer lines and the v-Src-transformed mouse fibroblasts harboring persistently active Stat3. Treatment with S3I-201.1066 on malignant cells harboring aberrantly active Stat3 down regulated the expression of c-Myc, Bcl-xL, Survivin, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and VEGF, which are known Stat3-regulated genes important in diverse tumor processes. The in vivo administration of S3I-201.1066 induced significant anti-tumor response in mouse models of human breast cancer, which correlates with the inhibition of constitutively active Stat3 and the suppression of known Stat3-regulated genes. Further computer-aided lead optimization derives higher-affinity (K[subscript D], 504 nM), orally bioavailable Stat3 SH2 domain-binding ligand, BP-1-102 as a structural analog of S3I-201.1066. The most significant modification is the pentafluorobenzene sulfonamide component of BP-1-102, which permits accessibility of a third sub-pocket of the Stat3 SH2 domain surface. BP-1-102-mediated inhibition of aberrantly-active Stat3 in human pancreatic cancer, Panc-1, breast cancer, MDA-MB-231, and prostate (DU145) cancer cells and in the mouse transformed fibroblasts harboring aberrantly-active Stat3. It also disrupts Stat3-NF[kappa]B cross-talk and suppresses the release of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, macrophage-migration-inhibitory factor/glycosylation-inhibiting factor, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) protein 1, and the expression of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, Bcl-xL, Survivin, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of tumor cell-associated constitutively-active Stat3 further suppresses focal adhesion kinase and paxillin induction, enhances E-cadherin expression, and down-regulates Kruüppel-like factor 8 expression. Consequently, BP-1-102 selectively suppresses anchorage-dependent and independent growth, survival, migration and invasion of Stat3-dependent tumor cells in vitro. Intravenous or oral gavage delivery of BP-1-102 furnishes micromolar or microgram levels in tumor tissues and inhibits growth of mouse xenografts of human breast and lung tumors. Computer-aided lead optimization has therefore derived a more suitable small-molecule inhibitor as a drug candidate. Our studies of the Stat3 SH2 protein surface and of the interactions between lead agents and the SH2 domain provided significant data to facilitate the structural optimization. From S2I-201 to S3I-201.1066 and to BP-1-102, we note the substantial gain in potency and efficacy, and the pharmacokinetic improvements. The oral bioavailability of BP-1-102 represents a substantial advancement in the discovery of small-molecule Stat3 inhibitors as novel anticancer agents.

BACKGROUND: Protein disulfide isomerase A3 (PDIA3, also named GRP58, ER-60, ERp57) is conserved across species and mediates protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. PDIA3 is, reportedly, a chaperone for STAT3. However, the role of PDIA3 in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics and STAT3 phosphorylation at serine 727 (S727) has not been described. METHODS: Mitochondrial respiration was compared in immortalized human cerebral microvascular cells (CMEC) wild type or null for PDIA3 and in whole organism C. Elegans WT or null for pdi-3 (worm homologue). Mitochondrial morphology and cell signaling pathways in PDIA3-/- and WT cells were assessed. PDIA3-/- cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to determine the effects of PDIA3 on cell survival after injury. RESULTS: We show that PDIA3 gene deletion using CRISPR-Cas9 in cultured CMECs leads to an increase in mitochondrial bioenergetic function. In C. elegans, gene deletion or RNAi knockdown of pdi-3 also increased respiratory rates, confirming a conserved role for this gene in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics. The PDIA3-/- bioenergetic phenotype was reversed by overexpression of WT PDIA3 in cultured PDIA3-/- CMECs. PDIA3-/- and siRNA knockdown caused an increase in phosphorylation of the S727 residue of STAT3, which is known to promote mitochondrial bioenergetic function. Increased respiration in PDIA3-/- CMECs was reversed by a STAT3 inhibitor. In PDIA3-/- CMECs, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species production, but not mitochondrial mass, was increased, suggesting an increased mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity. Finally, PDIA3-/- CMECs were more resistant to oxygen-glucose deprivation, while STAT3 inhibition reduced the protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: We have discovered a novel role for PDIA3 in suppressing mitochondrial bioenergetic function by inhibiting STAT3 S727 phosphorylation.