A Virtual Screening Platform Identifies Chloroethylagelastatin A as a Potential Ribosomal Inhibitor.

Chloroethylagelastatin A (CEAA) is an analogue of agelastatin A (AA), a natural alkaloid derived from a marine sponge. It is under development for therapeutic use against brain tumors as it has excellent central nervous system (CNS) penetration and pre-clinical therapeutic activity against brain tumors. Recently, AA was shown to inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the ribosomal A-site.

Pomalidomide Alters Pancreatic Macrophage Populations to Generate an Immune-Responsive Environment at Precancerous and Cancerous Lesions.

During development of pancreatic cancer, alternatively activated macrophages contribute to fibrogenesis, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesion growth, and generation of an immunosuppressive environment. Here, we show that the immunomodulatory agent pomalidomide depletes pancreatic lesion areas of alternatively activated macrophage populations. Pomalidomide treatment resulted in downregulation of interferon regulatory factor 4, a transcription factor for M2 macrophage polarization.

Combined alkylation and histone deacetylase inhibition with EDO-S101 has significant therapeutic activity against brain tumors in preclinical models.

There is a clear unmet need for novel therapeutic agents for management of primary and secondary brain tumors. Novel therapeutic agents with excellent central nervous system (CNS) penetration and therapeutic activity are urgently needed. EDO-S101 is a novel alkylating and histone deacetylase inhibiting agent created by covalent fusion of bendamustine and vorinostat.

Osteopontin is a multi-faceted pro-tumorigenic driver for central nervous system lymphoma.

Osteopontin (OPN) is the most upregulated gene in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) compared to non-CNS diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We show here that OPN is a key mediator of intracerebral tumor growth, invasion, and dissemination in CNS lymphoma, and that these effects depend upon activation of NF-κB. We further show that activation of NF-κB by OPN occurs through a unique mechanism in which intracellular OPN (iOPN) causes transcriptional downregulation of the NF-κB inhibitors, A20/TNFAIP3 and ABIN1/TNIP1, and secretory OPN (sOPN) promotes receptor-mediated activation of NF-κB.

T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma Presenting as a Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system (PCNSL) lymphoma is an aggressive extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and most cases are classified as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by histology. T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBCL) represents a distinct subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and is characterized by the presence of scattered large neoplastic B-cells in a background of abundant T-cells and histiocytes. This is in contrast to the dense perivascular cuffing of neoplastic B-cells in classic DLBCL.

Pomalidomide shows significant therapeutic activity against CNS lymphoma with a major impact on the tumor microenvironment in murine models.

Primary CNS lymphoma carries a poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed. Pomalidomide (POM) is a novel immunomodulatory drug with anti-lymphoma activity.

LRRTM3 interacts with APP and BACE1 and has variants associating with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD).

Leucine rich repeat transmembrane protein 3 (LRRTM3) is member of a synaptic protein family. LRRTM3 is a nested gene within α-T catenin (CTNNA3) and resides at the linkage peak for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) risk and plasma amyloid β (Aβ) levels. In-vitro knock-down of LRRTM3 was previously shown to decrease secreted Aβ, although the mechanism of this is unclear.

Apoptotic non-beta cells suppress beta cell antigen-reactive T cells and induce beta cell antigen-specific regulatory T cells.

Steady-state cell apoptosis plays an important role in maintenance of self-tolerance. Based on this notion, the use of apoptotic cells to restore self-tolerance to beta cell antigens is a rational approach to type 1 diabetes (T1D) prevention. Our previous study demonstrated that transfusion of apoptotic beta cells induced immune tolerance to beta cell antigens in NOD mice.

Infusion of UVB-treated splenic stromal cells induces suppression of beta cell antigen-specific T cell responses in NOD mice.

Our previous study has demonstrated that transfusion of UVB-irradiation-induced apoptotic beta cells effectively prevents type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. However, the limitation of beta cell source would preclude the clinical application of this approach. Therefore, in the present study, we have attempted to establish a more practical approach by utilizing apoptotic non-beta cells to prevent T1D.

Transfusion of apoptotic beta-cells induces immune tolerance to beta-cell antigens and prevents type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.

In vivo induction of beta-cell apoptosis has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. Based on the notion that steady-state cell apoptosis is associated with self-tolerance and the need for developing a more practical approach using apoptotic beta-cells to prevent type 1 diabetes, the current study was designed to investigate apoptotic beta-cells induced ex vivo in preventing type 1 diabetes. The NIT-1 cell line serves as a source of beta-cells.