Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL proteases in lung epithelial cells.

Inflammation observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients suggests that inflammasomes, proinflammatory intracellular complexes, regulate various steps of infection. Lung epithelial cells express inflammasome-forming sensors and constitute the primary entry door of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe that the NLRP1 inflammasome detects SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lung epithelial cells.

Human monocyte recognition of adenosine-based cyclic dinucleotides unveils the A2a Gαs protein-coupled receptor tonic inhibition of mitochondrially induced cell death.

Cyclic dinucleotides are important messengers for bacteria and protozoa and are well-characterized immunity alarmins for infected mammalian cells through intracellular binding to STING receptors. We sought to investigate their unknown extracellular effects by adding cyclic dinucleotides to the culture medium of freshly isolated human blood cells in vitro. Here we report that adenosine-containing cyclic dinucleotides induce the selective apoptosis of monocytes through a novel apoptotic pathway.

Using lentiviral vectors for efficient pancreatic cancer gene therapy.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a life-threatening disease. Efficient therapeutic gene delivery to PC-derived cells continues to present challenges. We used self-inactivated lentiviral vectors to transduce PC-derived cells in vitro and in vivo.

Adult stromal cells derived from human adipose tissue provoke pancreatic cancer cell death both in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Normal tissue homeostasis is maintained by dynamic interactions between epithelial cells and their microenvironment. Disrupting this homeostasis can induce aberrant cell proliferation, adhesion, function and migration that might promote malignant behavior. Indeed, aberrant stromal-epithelial interactions contribute to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) spread and metastasis, and this raises the possibility that novel stroma-targeted therapies represent additional approaches for combating this malignant disease.