Functional impairment of HDL may contribute to the excess cardiovascular mortality experienced by patients with renal disease, but the effect of advanced renal disease on the composition and function of HDL is not well understood. Here, we used mass spectrometry and biochemical analyses to study alterations in the proteome and lipid composition of HDL isolated from patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We identified a significant increase in the amount of acute phase protein serum amyloid A1, albumin, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, and apoC-III composing uremic HDL. Furthermore, uremic HDL contained reduced phospholipid and increased triglyceride and lysophospholipid. With regard to function, these changes impaired the ability of uremic HDL to promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages. In summary, the altered composition of HDL in renal disease seems to inhibit its cardioprotective properties. Assessing HDL composition and function in renal disease may help identify patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org more than the skin ( 1 ). Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity, are more frequent in psoriatic patients ( 2-4 ). However, even after adjusting for these risk factors, psoriasis has been shown to be associated with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality ( 3,5,6 ). In moderate to severe psoriasis, a signifi cantly deteriorated lipid profi le was observed compared with healthy controls, with higher values of low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and signifi cantly decreased HDL levels ( 7 ).Recent studies clearly demonstrated that infl ammation impairs reverse cholesterol transfer in vivo ( 8, 9 ), providing evidence that infl ammation impairs HDL function. Emerging evidence suggests that assessment of HDL plasma concentrations alone is insuffi cient and indicate that the quality, rather than the mere quantity, of HDL determines its potential benefi cial effects against atherosclerosis ( 10 ). HDL is a complex lipoprotein particle with a broad variety of functions, also exerting atheroprotective activity via effects on the endothelium and by potent antiinfl ammatory capabilities ( 11-13 ). Recent studies have identifi ed HDL-associated proteins to be involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism, complement activation, growth-factor secretion, and proteolysis (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19).Functional impairment of HDL may contribute to the increased cardiovascular mortality experienced by psoriatic patients, but the impact of psoriasis on the composition and function of HDL has not been assessed. As qualitative alterations of HDL seem to be linked with increased cardiovascular complications, we hypothesized that HDL from psoriatic patients displays altered protein cargo and lipid composition, thereby rendering HDL dysfunctional.Abstract Psoriasis, a chronic infl ammatory skin disease, has been linked to increased myocardial infarction and stroke. Functional impairment of HDL may contribute to the excess cardiovascular mortality of psoriatic patients. However, data available regarding the impact of psoriasis on HDL composition and function are limited. HDL from psoriasis patients and healthy controls was isolated by ultracentrifugation and shotgun proteomics, and biochemical methods were used to monitor changed HDL composition. We observed a signifi cant reduction in apoA-I levels of HDL from psoriatic patients, whereas levels of apoA-II and proteins involved in acute-phase response, immune response, and endopeptidase/protease inhibition were increased. Psoriatic HDL contained reduced phospholipid and cholesterol. With regard to function, these compositional alterations impaired the ability of psoriatic HDL to promote cholesterol effl ux from macrophages. Importantly, HDLcholesterol effl ux capability negatively correlated with psoriasis area and severity index. We observed that control HDL, as well as psoriatic HDL, inhibited dihydrorhodamine (DHR) oxidation to a similar...

Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family proteins are key regulators of gene expression in cancer. Herein, we utilize BRD4 profiling to identify critical pathways involved in pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). BRD4 is overexpressed in CLL and is enriched proximal to genes upregulated or expressed in CLL with known functions in disease pathogenesis and progression. These genes, including key members of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway, provide a rationale for this therapeutic approach to identify new targets in alternative types of cancer. Additionally, we describe PLX51107, a structurally distinct BET inhibitor with novel and pharmacologic properties that emulates or exceeds the efficacy of BCR signaling agents in preclinical models of CLL. Herein, the discovery of the involvement of BRD4 in the core CLL transcriptional program provides a compelling rationale for clinical investigation of PLX51107 as epigenetic therapy in CLL and application of BRD4 profiling in other cancers. To date, functional studies of BRD4 in CLL are lacking. Through integrated genomic, functional, and pharmacologic analyses, we uncover the existence of BRD4-regulated core CLL transcriptional programs and present preclinical proof-of-concept studies validating BET inhibition as an epigenetic approach to target BCR signaling in CLL. .

The nuclear export receptor, Exportin 1 (XPO1), mediates transport of growth-regulatory proteins including tumor suppressors and is overactive in many cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and aggressive lymphomas. Oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compounds that block XPO1 function were recently identified and hold promise as a new therapeutic paradigm in many neoplasms. One of these compounds, KPT-330 (selinexor), has made progress in Phase I/II clinical trials, but systemic toxicities limit its administration to twice-per-week and requiring supportive care. We designed a new generation SINE compound, KPT-8602, with a similar mechanism of XPO1 inhibition and potency but considerably improved tolerability. Efficacy of KPT-8602 was evaluated in preclinical animal models of hematologic malignancies including CLL and AML. KPT-8602 shows similar in vitro potency compared to KPT-330 but lower central nervous system penetration which resulted in enhanced tolerability, even when dosed daily, and improved survival in CLL and AML murine models compared to KPT-330. KPT-8602 is a promising compound for further development in hematologic malignancies and other cancers in which upregulation of XPO1 is seen. The wider therapeutic window of KPT-8602 may also allow increased on-target efficacy leading to even more efficacious combinations with other targeted anticancer therapies.

MPO-mediated decomposition of SCN and/or urea might be a relevant mechanism for generating dysfunctional HDL in human disease.

Effective therapeutics are urgently needed to counter infection and improve outcomes for patients suffering from COVID-19 and to combat this pandemic. Manipulation of epigenetic machinery to influence viral infectivity of host cells is a relatively unexplored area. The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of epigenetic readers have been reported to modulate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we demonstrate apabetalone, the most clinical advanced BET inhibitor, downregulates expression of cell surface receptors involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4 or CD26) in SARS-CoV-2 permissive cells. Moreover, we show that apabetalone inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro to levels comparable to those of antiviral agents. Taken together, our study supports further evaluation of apabetalone to treat COVID-19, either alone or in combination with emerging therapeutics.

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The dramatic cardiovascular mortality of chronic kidney disease patients is attributable in a significant proportion to endothelial dysfunction. Cyanate, a reactive species in equilibrium with urea, is formed in excess in chronic kidney disease. Cyanate is thought to have a causal role in promoting cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Immunohistochemical analysis performed in the present study revealed that carbamylated epitopes associate mainly with endothelial cells in human atherosclerotic lesions. Cyanate treatment of human coronary artery endothelial cells reduced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increased tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression. In mice, administration of cyanate -promoting protein carbamylation at levels observed in uremic patients -attenuated arterial vasorelaxation of aortic rings in response to acetylcholine, without affecting sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation. Total endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production were significantly reduced in aortic tissue of cyanate-treated mice. This coincided with a marked increase of tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 protein levels in aortas of cyanate-treated mice. These data provide evidence that cyanate compromises endothelial functionality in vitro and in vivo and may contribute to the dramatic cardiovascular risk of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.