Biology subjects

Li, R. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Li, R. G..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Preclinical Evaluation of PTK7-Targeted Radionuclide Therapy

Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), a receptor found in tumor-initiating cells, is expressed in various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. While PTK7 has been explored as a target for antibody-drug conjugates, this study is the first to investigate its potential for targeted radionuclide therapy. We developed a murine monoclonal IgG1 antibody (mOI-1) using hybridoma technology and generated a chimeric version (chOI-1) with human IgG1 constant regions. A cell-based screening approach using a library of 6100 cell surface proteins identified PTK7 as the target, confirmed by flow cytometry and surface plasmon resonance analyses. Immunohistochemistry showed strong PTK7 expression in ovarian cancer tissues, and in vitro studies demonstrated specific binding and internalization of OI-1 in the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3-luc. Biodistribution studies using 177Lu-DOTA-mOI-1 injected intravenously in xenograft mice with subcutaneous SKOV-3-luc revealed high tumor uptake and retention. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by intraperitoneal treatment with 212Pb-TCMC-chOI-1 in an intraperitoneal xenograft model, showing significant tumor growth inhibition compared to non-radioactive controls. This study provides the first proof-of-principle for using the PTK7-targeting OI-1 antibody as an antibody-radionuclide conjugate (212Pb-labeled), demonstrating its therapeutic potential in a preclinical model of intraperitoneal ovarian cancer. These results support further investigation of OI-1 as a candidate for targeted radionuclide therapy in PTK7-expressing cancers.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 suppresses the Hippo pathway downstream effector YAP

The Hippo pathway controls organ development, homeostasis, and regeneration primarily by modulating YAP/TEAD-mediated gene expression. Although emerging studies report Hippo-YAP dysfunction after viral infection, it is largely unknown in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we analyzed RNA sequencing data from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and SARS-CoV-2-infected human lung samples, and observed a decrease in YAP target gene expression. In screening SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins, we found that nonstructural protein 13 (NSP13), a conserved coronavirus helicase, inhibits YAP transcriptional activity independent of the upstream Hippo kinases LATS1/2. Consistently, introducing NSP13 into cardiomyocytes suppresses an active form of YAP (YAP5SA) in vivo. Subsequent investigations on NSP13 mutants revealed that NSP13 helicase activity, including DNA binding and unwinding, is crucial for suppressing YAP transactivation. Mechanistically, TEAD4 serves as a platform to recruit NSP13 and YAP. NSP13 likely inactivates the YAP/TEAD4 transcription complex by remodeling chromatin to recruit proteins, such as transcription termination factor 2 (TTF2), to bind the YAP/TEAD/NSP13 complex. These findings reveal a novel YAP/TEAD regulatory mechanism and uncover molecular insights into Hippo-YAP regulation after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

In vivo expansion of gene-targeted hepatocytes through transient inhibition of an essential gene

Homology Directed Repair (HDR)-based genome editing is an approach that could permanently correct a broad range of genetic diseases. However, its utility is limited by inefficient and imprecise DNA repair mechanisms in terminally differentiated tissues. Here, we tested "Repair Drive", a novel method for improving targeted gene insertion in the liver by selectively expanding correctly repaired hepatocytes in vivo. Our system consists of transient conditioning of the liver by knocking down an essential gene, and delivery of an untargetable version of the essential gene in cis with a therapeutic transgene. We show that Repair Drive dramatically increases the percentage of correctly targeted hepatocytes, up to 25%. This resulted in a five-fold increased expression of a therapeutic transgene. Repair Drive was well-tolerated and did not induce toxicity or tumorigenesis in long term follow up. This approach will broaden the range of liver diseases that can be treated with somatic genome editing.

genetics↗