TspanC8 tetraspanins have a conserved function in the regulation of ADAM10 trafficking and activity, thereby positively regulating Notch activation.

We characterized the functions of melanoma-associated MITF E318K mutations. Our results demonstrate that MITF E318K reduces the program of senescence to potentially favor melanoma progression in vivo.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. A clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor growth and invasiveness remains crucial for developing new therapies. Here, the expression of tetraspanins, a family of plasma membrane organizers involved in tumor progression, has been addressed. Integrative approaches combining transcriptomics and bioinformatics allow demonstrating the induced and heterogeneous expression of Tspan15 in HCC. Tspan15 positive tumors exhibit signatures related to hepatic progenitor cells as well as recurrence of cancer. Immunohistochemistry experiments confirm Tspan15 expression in the subset of HCC expressing stemness‐related markers such as EpCAM and Cytokeratin‐19. Functional networks reveal that most of these genes expressed in correlation to Tspan15 support cell proliferation. Furthermore, Tspan15 overexpression in the hepatoma cell line HepG2 significantly increases cell proliferation. A quantitative proteomic analysis of the secretome reveals a higher abundance of the protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a pleiotropic matricellular signaling protein. Proteomic profiling of Tspan15 complexes allows identifying numerous membrane proteins including several growth factor receptors. Finally, Tspan15 increases ERK1/2 phosphorylation that directly controls CTGF expression and secretion. In conclusion, Tspan15 is a new stemness‐related marker in HCC which exhibits high potential of tumor growth and recurrence.

Novel therapies for hemophilia, including non‐factor replacement and in vivo gene therapy, are showing promising results in the clinic, including for patients having a history of inhibitor development. Here, we propose a novel therapeutic approach for hemophilia based on llama‐derived single‐domain antibody fragments (sdAbs) able to restore hemostasis by inhibiting the antithrombin (AT) anticoagulant pathway. We demonstrated that sdAbs engineered in multivalent conformations were able to block efficiently AT activity in vitro, restoring the thrombin generation potential in FVIII‐deficient plasma. When delivered as a protein to hemophilia A mice, a selected bi‐paratopic sdAb significantly reduced the blood loss in a model of acute bleeding injury. We then packaged this sdAb in a hepatotropic AAV8 vector and tested its safety and efficacy profile in hemophilic mouse models. We show that the long‐term expression of the bi‐paratopic sdAb in the liver is safe and poorly immunogenic, and results in sustained correction of the bleeding phenotype in hemophilia A and B mice, even in the presence of inhibitory antibodies to the therapeutic clotting factor.

Background Activated factor VII (FVIIa) is pertinent to the initiation of blood coagulation. Proteolytic and amidolytic activity of FVIIa are greatly enhanced by its cofactor, tissue factor (TF). Objective We aimed to generate a single‐domain antibody (sdAb) that recognizes free FVIIa rather than TF‐bound FVIIa. Methods A llama‐derived phage library was used to screen for anti‐FVIIa sdAbs. Results One sdAb, KB‐FVIIa‐004, bound to FVIIa, but not to its precursor FVII or to homologous proteins (prothrombin, factor X, or their activated derivatives). FVIIa amidolytic activity was inhibited by KB‐FVIIa‐004 (Ki = 28‐45 nM) in a competitive manner. KB‐FVIIa‐004 also inhibited FVIIa‐mediated FX activation (Ki = 26 nM). In contrast, KB‐FVIIa‐004 was inefficient in prolonging the clotting time of the prothrombin time‐test, which was prolonged by a maximum of 10 s at high sdAb concentrations (10 μM). Furthermore, FVIIa/TF amidolytic activity or FVIIa/TF‐mediated FX activation remained unaffected up to a 50‐fold to 1000‐fold molar excess of KB‐FVIIa‐004. These data suggest that KB‐FVIIa‐004 loses its inhibitory activity in the presence of TF. A KB‐FVIIa‐004/albumin fusion‐protein (004‐HSA) was generated for in vivo testing. By using 004‐HSA, we observed that this sdAb blocked the therapeutic capacity of FVIIa to correct bleeding in FVIII‐deficient mice. Discussion This observation is compatible with the view that FVIIa functions independently of TF under these conditions. In conclusion, we have generated a sdAb that specifically blocks TF‐independent activity of FVIIa. This antibody can be used to gain insight into the roles of TF‐bound and TF‐free FVIIa.

3448 Introduction SDF-1/CXCL12 chemokine exhibits a well-known effect on retention, migration and homing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HP). We have previously demonstrated that it is also a key regulator of hematopoiesis homeostasis, acting, at low concentrations, as a survival and cell cycle promoting factor for human CD34+ HP. It has long been considered that CXCR4 was responsible for SDF-1 induced biological effects until the recent discovery of its second receptor, CXCR7. In the present study, we explored the respective role of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in the cell cycling and survival promoting effect of SDF-1/CXCL12 on human CD34+HP. Material and Methods We used CD34+ HP purified from the peripheral blood (PB) of healthy un-mobilized donors since they are mainly in G0. This allows to study the role of CXCR4 and CXCR7 receptors in 0.5ng/ml SDF-1/CXCL12 induced G0-G1 transition in synchronized quiescent cells. Gene expression was detected by RT-QPCR. Protein expression was detected and quantified using confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Cell cycling experiments were performed using a Ki67 antibody and CXCR7 binding assay was performed using SDF-1/CXCL12AF647. Neutralization experiments were performed using a specific CXCR4 antibody or CXCR7 chemical inhibitors, a kind gift from ChemoCentryx, Inc (CCX771 and CCX733) and their respective controls (IgG and CCX704). Results Flow cytometry and confocal analysis showed that CXCR7 and CXCR4 are differentially distributed in PB CD34+ cells. In contrast to CXCR4 that is present at both the plasma membrane and intracellular level, CXCR7 expression is mainly restricted to the intracellular compartment. Confocal analysis suggested the presence of CXCR4/CXCR7 heterodimers on these cells the presence of which were confirmed by immunoprecipitation in a HP cell line. Despite its very low expression at the surface of CD34+ cells, we found that CXCR7 is capable of binding to exogenous SDF-1/CXCL12. Indeed, pretreatment with CXCR7 antibody or a chemical inhibitor reduces the mean fluorescence of bound fluorescent SDF-1/CXCL12AF647, a fully functional and specific chemokine with similar effects compared to unlabeled SDF-1/CXCL12. Neutralizing either CXCR4 or CXCR7 in PB CD34+ cells strongly reduced Akt activation induced by SDF-1/CXCL12 (0.5 ng/ml) as well as the percentage of cells in cycle (G1 and S + G2/M), colony formation and cell survival. This demonstrates that both receptors cooperate in SDF-1/CXCL12 induced functional effects. We further analyzed the respective role of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in SDF-1/CXCL12 signalization. In contrast to CXCR4, CXCR7 is reported not to activate G protein signaling pathways in response to SDF-1/CXCL12. However, it can transduce cell signaling through the β-arrestin pathway. In the present study, we showed that CXCR7 and β-arrestin 2 colocalize near the plasma membrane in freshly purified PB CD34+ cells, suggesting that CXCR7 is constitutively activated. After SDF-1/CXCL12 treatment, the majority of β-arrestin 2 was translocated to the nucleus and only a partial colocalization persisted in the cytoplasm. Using neutralizing antibodies and specific inhibitors, we showed that β-arrestin 2 nuclear translocation was dependent on both CXCR7 and CXCR4 receptors. Reducing β-arrestin 2 expression using siRNA decreased SDF-1/CXCL12 induced Akt activation in PB CD34+cells indicating the involvement of β-arrestin 2 in this process. Conclusion Altogether, our results demonstrate for the first time the role of CXCR7 together with CXCR4 in SDF-1/CXCL12-induced CD34+ cell cycling/proliferation. They also suggest the involvement of β-arrestin 2 as signalling hubs, downstream of both receptors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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