Dual targeting of CD19 and CD22 against B-ALL using a novel high-sensitivity aCD22 CAR.

CAR T cells recognizing CD19 effectively treat relapsed and refractory B-ALL and DLBCL. However, CD19 loss is a frequent cause of relapse. Simultaneously targeting a second antigen, CD22, may decrease antigen escape, but is challenging: its density is approximately 10-fold less than CD19, and its large structure may hamper immune synapse formation.

Lymphangiogenesis requires Ang2/Tie/PI3K signaling for VEGFR3 cell-surface expression.

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) induces lymphangiogenesis via VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR3), which is encoded by the most frequently mutated gene in human primary lymphedema. Angiopoietins (Angs) and their Tie receptors regulate lymphatic vessel development, and mutations of the ANGPT2 gene were recently found in human primary lymphedema. However, the mechanistic basis of Ang2 activity in lymphangiogenesis is not fully understood.

ASTX029, a Novel Dual-mechanism ERK Inhibitor, Modulates Both the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK.

The MAPK signaling pathway is commonly upregulated in human cancers. As the primary downstream effector of the MAPK pathway, ERK is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of MAPK-activated cancers and for overcoming resistance to upstream inhibition. ASTX029 is a highly potent and selective dual-mechanism ERK inhibitor, discovered using fragment-based drug design.

Identification of ILK as a critical regulator of VEGFR3 signalling and lymphatic vascular growth.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR3) signalling promotes lymphangiogenesis. While there are many reported mechanisms of VEGFR3 activation, there is little understanding of how VEGFR3 signalling is attenuated to prevent lymphatic vascular overgrowth and ensure proper lymph vessel development. Here, we show that endothelial cell-specific depletion of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in mouse embryos hyper-activates VEGFR3 signalling and leads to overgrowth of the jugular lymph sacs/primordial thoracic ducts, oedema and embryonic lethality.

Heterogeneity in VEGFR3 levels drives lymphatic vessel hyperplasia through cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms.

Incomplete delivery to the target cells is an obstacle for successful gene therapy approaches. Here we show unexpected effects of incomplete targeting, by demonstrating how heterogeneous inhibition of a growth promoting signaling pathway promotes tissue hyperplasia. We studied the function of the lymphangiogenic VEGFR3 receptor during embryonic and post-natal development.

Pdgfrb-Cre targets lymphatic endothelial cells of both venous and non-venous origins.

The Pdgfrb-Cre line has been used as a tool to specifically target pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. Recent studies showed additional targeting of cardiac and mesenteric lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) by the Pdgfrb-Cre transgene. In the heart, this was suggested to provide evidence for a previously unknown nonvenous source of LECs originating from yolk sac (YS) hemogenic endothelium (HemEC).

Vegfr3-CreER (T2) mouse, a new genetic tool for targeting the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is essential in many physiological and pathological processes. Still, much remains to be known about the molecular mechanisms that control its development and function and how to modulate them therapeutically. The study of these mechanisms will benefit from better controlled genetic mouse models targeting specifically lymphatic endothelial cells.

cKit Lineage Hemogenic Endothelium-Derived Cells Contribute to Mesenteric Lymphatic Vessels.

Pathological lymphatic diseases mostly affect vessels in specific tissues, yet little is known about organ-specific regulation of the lymphatic vasculature. Here, we show that the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3)/p110α PI3-kinase signaling pathway is selectively required for the formation of mesenteric lymphatic vasculature. Using genetic lineage tracing, we demonstrate that part of the mesenteric lymphatic vasculature develops from cKit lineage cells of hemogenic endothelial origin through a process we define as lymphvasculogenesis.

Nonvenous origin of dermal lymphatic vasculature.

Rationale: The formation of the blood vasculature is achieved via 2 fundamentally different mechanisms, de novo formation of vessels from endothelial progenitors (vasculogenesis) and sprouting of vessels from pre-existing ones (angiogenesis). In contrast, mammalian lymphatic vasculature is thought to form exclusively by sprouting from embryonic veins (lymphangiogenesis). Alternative nonvenous sources of lymphatic endothelial cells have been suggested in chicken and Xenopus, but it is unclear whether they exist in mammals.

The Schlemm's canal is a VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-responsive lymphatic-like vessel.

In glaucoma, aqueous outflow into the Schlemm's canal (SC) is obstructed. Despite striking structural and functional similarities with the lymphatic vascular system, it is unknown whether the SC is a blood or lymphatic vessel. Here, we demonstrated the expression of lymphatic endothelial cell markers by the SC in murine and zebrafish models as well as in human eye tissue.