Over-expression of B7-H1 (PD-L1) molecule in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major immune evasion mechanism in some cancer patients and antibody blockade of the B7-H1/PD-1 interaction can normalize compromised immunity without excessive side-effects. Using a genomescale T-cell activity array, we identified Siglec-15 as a critical immune suppressor. While only expressed on some myeloid cells normally, Siglec-15 is broadly upregulated on human cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells, and its expression is mutually exclusive to B7-H1, partially due to its induction by M-CSF and downregulation by IFN-γ. We demonstrate that Siglec-15 suppresses antigen-specific T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo. Genetic ablation or antibody blockade of Siglec-15 amplifies anti-tumor immunity in the TME and inhibits tumor Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:

The SHC proteins have been implicated in insulin receptor (IR) signaling. In this study, we used the sensitive two-hybrid assay of protein-protein interaction to demonstrate that SHC interacts directly with the IR. The interaction is mediated by SHC amino acids 1 to 238 and is therefore independent of the Src homology 2 domain. The interaction is dependent upon IR autophosphorylation, since the interaction is eliminated by mutation of the IR ATP-binding site. In addition, mutational analysis of the Asn-Pro-Glu-Tyr (NPEY) motif within the juxtamembrane domain of the IR showed the importance of the Asn, Pro, and Tyr residues to both SHC and IR substrate 1 (IRS-1) binding. We conclude that SHC interacts directly with the IR and that phosphorylation of Tyr-960 within the IR juxtamembrane domain is necessary for efficient interaction. This interaction is highly reminiscent of that of IRS-1 with the IR, and we show that the SHC IR-binding domain can substitute for that of IRS-1 in yeast and COS cells. We identify a homologous region within the IR-binding domains of SHC and IRS-1, which we term the SAIN (SHC and IRS-1 NPXY-binding) domain, which may explain the basis of these interactions. The SAIN domain appears to represent a novel motif which is able to interact with autophosphorylated receptors such as the IR.The recent identification and cloning of proteins which interact with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has allowed much insight into the molecular basis for RTK signal transduction (9,10,18,19,24,27,54). These effector proteins contain Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of approximately 100 amino acids which interact directly with phosphotyrosine-containing regions of each RTK (21, 35). Upon receptor autophosphorylation, these SH2 domain-containing proteins interact with the RTK. Unlike most RTKs, the insulin receptor (IR) and the related insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGFIR) appear to interact with and phosphorylate an intermediate signaling protein termed IRS-1, for insulin receptor substrate 1 (17). After tyrosine phosphorylation by the IR, IRS-1 is thought to interact with a variety of SH2 domain-containing proteins, including the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, GRB-2, and SH-PTP2 (Syp) (45, 52). These proteins presumably mediate some of the effects of the IR.Another substrate of the IR is the SH2 domain-containing protein SHC, so named because of its SH2 domain as well as its homology to collagen (36). Multiple SHC proteins exist, two of which (p52 and p46) result from the use of alternative translation start sites, while the origin of the p66 isoform is less clear. The SHC proteins have been implicated in mitogenic signaling by a variety of tyrosine kinases. These include the receptors for nerve growth factor (32), epidermal growth factor (EGF) (36), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (59), and insulin (39). SHC has also been implicated in signaling by other classes of receptors, including the interleukin-2 receptor (40, 62) and the T-cell receptor (41). Other hormones which have been ...

We have utilized the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic domain of the insulin receptor. We identified a human cDNA that is a splice variant of the human GRB10 homolog GRB-IR, which we term GRB10/IR-SV1 (for GRB10/ GRB-IR splice variant 1). The protein encoded by the GRB10/IR-SV1 cDNA contains an SH2 domain and a pleckstrin homology domain. Cloning of a full-length human cDNA revealed a predicted coding sequence that was similar to the mouse GRB10 protein, although GRB10/IR-SV1 contained an 80-amino acid deletion. The GRB10/IR-SV1 cDNA is a splice variant of the GRB-IR cDNA such that GRB10/IR-SV1 contains an intact pleckstrin homology domain and a distinct amino terminus. The interaction of GRB10/IR-SV1 with the insulin receptor and the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor is mediated by the SH2 domain, and we show that glutathione S-transferase-SH2 domain fusion proteins interact specifically in vitro with the insulin receptor derived from mammalian cells. The GRB10/IR-SV1 SH2 domain also interacted with an ϳ135-kDa phosphoprotein from unstimulated cell lysates, an interaction that decreased after insulin stimulation. We present evidence that the GRB10/IR-SV1 protein plays a functional role in insulin and IGF-I signaling by showing that microinjection of an SH2 domain fusion protein inhibited insulin-and IGF-I-stimulated mitogenesis in fibroblasts, yet had no effect on mitogenesis induced by epidermal growth factor. Our findings suggest that GRB10/IR-SV1 may serve to positively link the insulin and IGF-I receptors to an uncharacterized mitogenic signaling pathway.

Although a number of common reproductive disorders in livestock involve bacterial infection, very little is known about their normal vaginal microbiota. Therefore, we sought to determine the species composition of sheep and cattle vaginal microbiota. Twenty Rambouillet ewes and twenty crossbred cows varying in age and reproductive status were sampled by ectocervicovaginal lavage. We amplified and sequenced the V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) contents yielding a total of 907,667 high-quality reads. Good’s Coverage estimates indicated that we obtained data on 98 ± 0.01% of the total microbial genera present in each sample. Cow and ewe vaginal microbiota displayed few differences. Cow microbiota exhibited greater (P ≤ 0.05) α-diversity compared to the ewe microbiota. Both livestock species differed (P ≤ 0.05) from all previously reported vaginal communities. While bacteria were numerically dominant, Archaea were detected in 95% of cow and ewe samples, mainly of the order Desulfurococcales. Both ewes and cows were predominately colonized by the bacterial phyla Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria. The most abundant genera were Aggregatibacter spp., and Streptobacillus spp. Lactobacillus spp. were detected in 80% of ewe and 90% of cow samples, but only at very low abundances. Bacteria previously described from culture-based studies as common to the cow and ewe vaginal tract, except for Escherichia, were variably present, and only in low abundance. Ewe and cow pH differed (P ≤ 0.05), with means (±SD) of 6.7 ± 0.38 and 7.3 ± 0.63, respectively. In conclusion, 16S rRNA sequencing of cow and ewe vaginal ectocervicovaginal lavages showed that cow and ewe vaginal microbiota differ from culture-led results, revealing a microbiota distinct from previously described vaginal ecosystems.

Summary Background Phenytoin is the recommended second-line intravenous anticonvulsant for treatment of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus in the UK; however, some evidence suggests that levetiracetam could be an effective and safer alternative. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of phenytoin and levetiracetam for second-line management of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus. Methods This open-label, randomised clinical trial was undertaken at 30 UK emergency departments at secondary and tertiary care centres. Participants aged 6 months to under 18 years, with convulsive status epilepticus requiring second-line treatment, were randomly assigned (1:1) using a computer-generated randomisation schedule to receive levetiracetam (40 mg/kg over 5 min) or phenytoin (20 mg/kg over at least 20 min), stratified by centre. The primary outcome was time from randomisation to cessation of convulsive status epilepticus, analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population (excluding those who did not require second-line treatment after randomisation and those who did not provide consent). This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN22567894. Findings Between July 17, 2015, and April 7, 2018, 1432 patients were assessed for eligibility. After exclusion of ineligible patients, 404 patients were randomly assigned. After exclusion of those who did not require second-line treatment and those who did not consent, 286 randomised participants were treated and had available data: 152 allocated to levetiracetam, and 134 to phenytoin. Convulsive status epilepticus was terminated in 106 (70%) children in the levetiracetam group and in 86 (64%) in the phenytoin group. Median time from randomisation to cessation of convulsive status epilepticus was 35 min (IQR 20 to not assessable) in the levetiracetam group and 45 min (24 to not assessable) in the phenytoin group (hazard ratio 1·20, 95% CI 0·91–1·60; p=0·20). One participant who received levetiracetam followed by phenytoin died as a result of catastrophic cerebral oedema unrelated to either treatment. One participant who received phenytoin had serious adverse reactions related to study treatment (hypotension considered to be immediately life-threatening [a serious adverse reaction] and increased focal seizures and decreased consciousness considered to be medically significant [a suspected unexpected serious adverse reaction]). Interpretation Although levetiracetam was not significantly superior to phenytoin, the results, together with previously reported safety profiles and comparative ease of administration of levetiracetam, suggest it could be an appropriate alternative to phenytoin as the first-choice, second-line anticonvulsant in the treatment of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus. Funding National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.