The development of 3D in vitro models capable of recapitulating native tumor microenvironments could improve the translatability of potential anticancer drugs and treatments. Here, 3D bioprinting techniques are used to build tumor constructs via precise placement of living cells, functional biomaterials, and programmable release capsules. This enables the spatiotemporal control of signaling molecular gradients, thereby dynamically modulating cellular behaviors at a local level. Vascularized tumor models are created to mimic key steps of cancer dissemination (invasion, intravasation, and angiogenesis), based on guided migration of tumor cells and endothelial cells in the context of stromal cells and growth factors. The utility of the metastatic models for drug screening is demonstrated by evaluating the anticancer efficacy of immunotoxins. These 3D vascularized tumor tissues provide a proof‐of‐concept platform to i) fundamentally explore the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and metastasis, and ii) preclinically identify therapeutic agents and screen anticancer drugs.

Autoantibodies are clinically relevant biomarkers for numerous autoimmune disorders. The genetic basis of autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized autoantibody profiles in 1506 individuals from 229 multiplex SLE pedigrees. There was strong familial aggregation of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), anti-La/SSB, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-Sm, antinRNP (nuclear ribonucleoprotein), IgM antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies (Abs) and rheumatoid factor (RF) across these families enriched for lupus. We performed genome-wide linkage analyses in an effort to map genes that contribute to the production of the following autoantibodies: Ro/SSA, La/SSB, nRNP, Sm, dsDNA, RF, nuclear and phospholipids. Using an approach to minimize false positives and adjust for multiple comparisons, evidence for linkage was found to anti-La/SSB Abs on chromosome 3q21 (adjusted P ¼ 1.9 Â 10 À6 ), to anti-nRNP and/or anti-Sm Abs on chromosome 3q27 (adjusted P ¼ 3.5 Â 10 À6 ), to anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB Abs on chromosome 4q34-q35 (adjusted P ¼ 3.4 Â 10 À4 ) and to antiIgM aPL Abs on chromosome 13q14 (adjusted P ¼ 2.3 Â 10 À4). These results support the hypothesis that autoantibody production is a genetically complex trait. Identification of the causative alleles will advance our understanding of critical molecular mechanisms that underlie SLE and perhaps other autoimmune diseases.

The lung changes functionally and structurally with aging. However, age-related effects on the extracellular matrix (ECM) and corresponding effects on lung cell behavior are not well understood. We hypothesized that ECM from aged animals would induce aging-related phenotypic changes in healthy inoculated cells. Decellularized whole organ scaffolds provide a powerful model for examining how ECM cues affect cell phenotype. The effects of age on ECM composition in both native and decellularized mouse lungs were assessed as was the effect of young vs old acellular ECM on human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) and lung fibroblasts (hLFs). Native aged (1 year) lungs demonstrated decreased expression of laminins α3 and α4, elastin and fibronectin, and elevated collagen, compared to young (3 week) lungs. Proteomic analyses of decellularized ECM demonstrated similar findings, and decellularized aged lung ECM contained less diversity in structural proteins compared to young ECM. When seeded in old ECM, hBECs and hLFs demonstrated lower gene expression of laminins α3 and α4, respectively, as compared to young ECM, paralleling the laminin deficiency of aged ECM. ECM changes appear to be important factors in potentiating aging-related phenotypes and may provide clues to mechanisms that allow for aging-related lung diseases.

Background We report the ability to extend lung preservation up to 24 hours (24H) by using autologous whole donor blood circulating within an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) system. This approach facilitates donor lung reconditioning in a model of extended normothermic EVLP. We analyzed comparative responses to cellular and acellular perfusates to identify these benefits. Methods Twelve pairs of swine lungs were retrieved after cardiac arrest and studied for 24H on the Organ Care System (OCS) Lung EVLP platform. Three groups (n=4 each) were differentiated by perfusate: (1) isolated red blood cells (RBCs) (current clinical standard for OCS); (2) whole blood (WB); and (3) acellular buffered dextran-albumin solution (BDAS, analogous to STEEN solution). Results Only the RBC and WB groups met clinical standards for transplantation at 8 hours; our primary analysis at 24H focused on perfusion with WB versus RBC. The WB perfusate was superior (vs. RBC) for maintaining stability of all monitored parameters, including the following mean 24H measures: pulmonary artery pressure (6.8 vs. 9.0 mmHg), reservoir volume replacement (85 vs. 1607 mL), and PaO2:FiO2 ratio (541 vs. 223). Acellular perfusion was limited to 6 hours on the OCS system due to prohibitively high vascular resistance, edema, and worsening compliance. Conclusions The use of an autologous whole donor blood perfusate allowed 24H of preservation without functional deterioration and was superior to both RBC and BDAS for extended lung preservation in a swine model using OCS Lung. This finding represents a potentially significant advance in donor lung preservation and reconditioning.