Publications by authors named "R Sasik"

Article Synopsis
  • Extrachromosomal circular DNA (ecDNA) is commonly found in various human cancers, particularly in oropharyngeal cancer linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), but its role in cancer development is not fully understood.
  • Researchers studied the epigenetic characteristics of hybrid ecDNA in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer cell lines and tumor models, discovering that HPV oncogenes E6/E7 are associated with unique enhancer regions.
  • By using targeted therapies, such as CRISPR interference and specific inhibitors, they were able to decrease E6/E7 gene expression and inhibit tumor growth, highlighting the potential for new treatments that target ecDNA-driven cancer biology.
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Virulent infectious agents such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) induce tissue damage that recruits neutrophils, monocyte, and macrophages, leading to T cell exhaustion, fibrosis, vascular leak, epithelial cell depletion, and fatal organ damage. Neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages recruited to pathogen-infected lungs, including SARS-CoV-2-infected lungs, express phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kγ), a signaling protein that coordinates both granulocyte and monocyte trafficking to diseased tissues and immune-suppressive, profibrotic transcription in myeloid cells. PI3Kγ deletion and inhibition with the clinical PI3Kγ inhibitor eganelisib promoted survival in models of infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 and MRSA, by suppressing inflammation, vascular leak, organ damage, and cytokine storm.

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Background: Ménière's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodic bouts of severe dizziness, roaring tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss. To date, no targeted therapy exists. As such, we have undertaken a large whole genome sequencing study on carefully phenotyped unilateral MD patients with the goal of gene/pathway discovery and a move towards targeted intervention.

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Leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) are regarded as the origin of leukemia relapse and therapeutic resistance. Identifying direct stemness determinants that fuel LIC self-renewal is critical for developing targeted approaches. Here, we show that the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 is a crucial stemness factor that promotes LIC self-renewal by attenuating aberrant double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensing.

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Leukemia initiating cells (LICs) are regarded as the origin of leukemia relapse and therapeutic resistance. Identifying direct stemness determinants that fuel LIC self-renewal is critical for developing targeted approaches to eliminate LICs and prevent relapse. Here, we show that the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 is a crucial stemness factor that promotes LIC self-renewal by attenuating aberrant double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensing.

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