Publications by authors named "Ho-Sun Lam"

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAA) is a variant of acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in which immune-mediated bone marrow failure (BMF) develops following an acute episode of seronegative hepatitis. Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited BMF syndrome characterized by the presence of short telomeres, mucocutaneous abnormalities, and cancer predisposition. While both conditions may cause BMF and hepatic impairment, therapeutic approaches are distinct, making it imperative to establish the correct diagnosis.

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Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare, congenital erythrocyte aplasia that is usually caused by haploinsufficiency of ribosomal proteins due to diverse mutations in one of several ribosomal genes. A striking feature of this disease is that a range of different mutations in ribosomal proteins results in similar disease phenotypes primarily characterized by erythrocyte abnormalities and macrocytic anemia, while most other cell types in the body are minimally affected. Previously, we analyzed the erythrocyte membrane proteomes of several DBA patients and identified several proteins that are not typically associated with this cell type and that suggested inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of DBA.

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A series of (hetero)arylpyrimidines agonists of the Wnt-beta-catenin cellular messaging system have been prepared. These compounds show activity in U2OS cells transfected with Wnt-3a, TCF-luciferase, Dkk-1 and tk-Renilla. Selected compounds show minimal GSK-3beta inhibition indicating that the Wnt-beta-catenin agonism activity most likely comes from interaction at Wnt-3a/Dkk-1.

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A high-throughput screening campaign to discover small molecule leads for the treatment of bone disorders concluded with the discovery of a compound with a 2-aminopyrimidine template that targeted the Wnt beta-catenin cellular messaging system. Hit-to-lead in vitro optimization for target activity and molecular properties led to the discovery of (1-(4-(naphthalen-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)piperidin-4-yl)methanamine (5, WAY-262611). Compound 5 has excellent pharmacokinetic properties and showed a dose dependent increase in the trabecular bone formation rate in ovariectomized rats following oral administration.

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Estrogens play a critical role in the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Evidence indicates that this regulation is mediated by a complex interface of direct control of gene expression (so-called "genomic action") and by regulation of cell-signaling/phosphorylation cascades (referred to as the "non-genomic", or "extranuclear" action). However, the mechanisms of the non-genomic action of estrogens are not well defined.

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A single point mutation (G to T) in the low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 5 (LRP5) gene results in a glycine to valine amino acid change (G171V) and is responsible for an autosomal dominant high bone mass trait (HBM) in two independent kindreds. LRP5 acts as a co-receptor to Wnts with Frizzled family members and transduces Wnt-canonical signals which can be antagonized by LRP5 ligand, Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1). In the presence of Wnt1, LRP5 or the HBM variant (LRP5-G171V) induces beta-catenin nuclear translocation and activates T cell factor (TCF)-luciferase reporter activity.

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The activated form of prothrombin plays pivotal roles in the regulation of crucial coagulation, fibrinolytic, and cellular processes. Among several congenital genetic defects affecting the prothrombin gene, a G-->A mutation at position 20210--the accepted polyadenylation site--has been linked to hyperprothrombinemia and a corresponding increase in venous and arterial thrombotic risk. The current study substantiates the hypothesis that the 20210A mutation effects posttranscriptional dysregulation of the prothrombin messenger RNA (mRNA).

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