Biology subjects

Oh, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Oh, B..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

CAR T cell targeting of inflammatory myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow remodels border-associated macrophages and reverses cognitive aging

Aging is associated with progressive neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, yet the cellular sources that sustain this process and whether they can be targeted peripherally remain unclear. Here, we identify inflammatory border-associated macrophages (BAMs) as key drivers of neuroinflammation in aging and show that their therapeutic and prophylactic elimination through intrathecal CAR T cell therapy restores cognitive performance in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, targeting of aged inflammatory bone marrow myeloid progenitors through either intravenous CAR T cells, which do not infiltrate the brain, or through transplantation of CAR T-treated progenitors is sufficient to reduce neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. These findings reveal that bone marrow myeloid progenitors harbor a heritable inflammatory transcriptional state that is transmitted to their BAM progeny, driving neuroinflammation and cognitive deterioration, and conserved in human aging. Critically, this proinflammatory state is marked by the upregulation of surface proteins, enabling precise peripheral CAR T cell targeting of these progenitors for long-lasting therapeutic effects in cognitive aging.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Resolution of MALDI-TOF MS Compared to Whole Genome Sequencing for the Identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strains Isolated from Oysters

Climate change and eutrophication are driving the expansion of the range of Vibrio species, including V. parahaemolyticus. This bacterium is a major foodborne pathogen and understanding the biogeography of virulent strains of this species is crucial for ensuring food safety. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides strain-level identification of bacteria and is widely used for tracking bacterial pathogens; however, WGS is costly and labor-intensive. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) provides a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective method for bacterial identification; however, the resolving power of MALDI-TOF MS and WGS for V. parahaemolyticus has not been systematically compared. In this study, 70 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from oysters (Crassostrea virginica) collected from the Gulf Coast and Massachusetts. Oysters were collected in Galveston Bay (Texas) and aquaculture plots in Massachusetts, and purchased from seafood markets in Texas and Louisiana in the U.S. For comparison, two isolates of V. anguillarum were cultured from the exoskeleton of blue crabs purchased from a seafood market in Seabrook (Texas). All isolates were identified using the MALDI Biotyper system and analyzed with custom R scripts. Cluster analysis of mass spectra generated by MALDI-TOF MS, and phylogenomic analysis revealed distinct clusters corresponding to the source of oysters. In both the mass spectra and WGS analysis, V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from Massachusetts formed a coherent cluster. For comparisons between species, cosine similarities of mass spectra generated by MALDI-TOF MS ranged from 0.43 to 0.59, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values generated by WGS ranged from 76% to 77%. For comparisons within species, cosine similarities of mass spectra ranged from 0.68 to 0.91 and ANI values ranged from 98% to 100%. This suggests that MALDI-TOF MS has a resolution comparable to WGS and can be used to track strains of V. parahaemolyticus associated with oysters.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

TACE reprograms RANKL-mediated differentiation of macrophages by activating the non-canonical pathway of IRF3

Inflammation is associated with an influx of inflammatory macrophages and increased activation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) is a key driver for osteoclast differentiation. However, the pathogenic mechanisms augmenting RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in inflammatory conditions are not fully elucidated. Here, we show that TNF- converting enzyme (TACE) plays a critical role in pathological bone erosion and enhances osteoclast differentiation in inflammatory conditions. Myeloid cell-specific TACE deletion in a murine arthritis model attenuates joint inflammation and bone destruction. TACE deficiency suppresses distal RANKL signaling in macrophages by increasing IRF3 activation, while enhancing proximal RANKL signaling, leading to the suppression of osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistically, IRF3 activation limits macrophage reprogramming by suppressing NFATc1 and HB-EGF in response to RANKL through a non-canonical pathway. HB-EGF, a TACE substrate, activates EGFR signaling and promotes osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting IRF3 activation. TACE regulates the reciprocal inhibition of the IRF3-HBEGF axis. Our study highlights a role for TACE as a rheostat, balancing both pro- and anti-osteoclastogenic signals.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Prediction of zoonotic virus-host transmissibility using comparative airway organoids

AbstractThe emergence of new pandemic zoonotic diseases is accelerating. However, current approaches to control after outbreaks often allow the epidemic or pandemic spread of new zoonotic diseases, exemplified by the case of COVID-19. Prediction of zoonotic transmissibility will help minimize the outbreaks and socioeconomic damage. Here, we established highly efficient comparative airway organoids with minimal components from a panel of mammalian species for long-term culture and passaging and validated their utility to predict the transmissibility of zoonotic pathogens. Airway organoids from each species recapitulated the airway histology and contained the major cell types in the airway. They recapitulated the known susceptibility of their host species and tissues to diverse viruses. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that organoids from susceptible species induced genes of anti-viral immune responses only in common upon exposure to the same virus, although each species organoids displayed differential gene expression profiles. Also, organoids of the same species displayed differential transcriptomic responses against different viruses but induced anti-viral immune genes only in common. Our work provides a roadmap for comprehensive species- and tissue-level organoid panels for quick and reproducible uncharacterized pathogen surveillance to predict and prevent the next pandemic.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

In-situ microscopy-assisted meniscus-guided coating for highly sensitive reduced graphene oxide-based nanocomposite biosensor

Meniscus-guided coating provides great potential for fabricating the nanomaterial-based thin film into high-performance biomedical devices due to the strong relationship between its experimental parameters and the resulting structural properties. However, the complex leverages of various fluid dynamics phenomena hamper optimization of structural properties and device performances. This is due to the absence of in-depth analytical techniques to observe, interpret, and control the solidification process. In this work, we propose an analytical strategy based on the rheological properties of a rGO-based solution using computational fluid dynamics modeling and in situ high-speed microscopy. Through this, we reveal the principles of the solidification mechanism that creates a rGO-based nanocomposite in the form of highly- and evenly-wrinkled thin film and the experimental condition at which this mechanism occurs. The optimized thin film presents high electroconductivity, low chip-to-chip signal variation, and multiplexed electrochemical biosensing performance for three classes of antibodies related to the excessive enrichment of endoplasmic reticulum stress, with detection limits of picomolar levels. This optimizing technique can be universally applied to understanding various solution-based coating systems, and can streamline the production of large-area and high-quality nanocomposite biosensors.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Enlarged Perivascular Spaces are Associated with White Matter Injury, Brain Atrophy, Cognitive Decline and Markers of Inflammation in an Autosomal Dominant Vascular Neurodegenerative Disease (CADASIL)

Background and ObjectivesEnlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) have been previously reported in Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL), but their significance and pathophysiology remains unclear. We investigated associations of ePVS with classical imaging measures, cognitive measures and plasma proteins to better understand what ePVS represents in CADASIL and whether radiographic measures of ePVS would be of value in future therapeutic discovery studies for CADASIL. Methods24 individuals with CADASIL and 24 age and sex matched controls were included. Disease status was determined based on presence of NOTCH3 mutation. Brain imaging measures of white matter hyperintensity (WMH), brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), ePVS volumes, clinical, and cognitive measures, as well as plasma proteomics were used in models. Global ePVS volumes were calculated via a novel, semi-automated pipeline and levels of 7363 proteins were quantified in plasma using the SomaScan assay. The relationship of ePVS with global burden of WMH, brain atrophy, functional status, neurocognitive measures, and plasma proteins were modelled with linear regression models. ResultsCADASIL and control groups did not exhibit differences in mean ePVS volumes. However, increased ePVS volumes in CADASIL were associated with increased WMH volume ({beta}=0.57, p=0.05), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Sum-of-Boxes score ({beta}=0.49, p=0.04), and decreased brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) ({beta}=-0.03, p=0.10). In interaction term models, the interaction term between CADASIL disease status and ePVS volume was associated with increased WMH volume ({beta}=0.57, p=0.02), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Sum-of-Boxes score ({beta}=0.52, p=0.02), decreased BPF ({beta}=-0.03, p=0.07) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ({beta}=-1.49, p=0.03). Proteins positively associated with ePVS volumes were found to be related to leukocyte migration and inflammation, while negatively associated proteins were related to lipid metabolism. Two central hub proteins were identified in protein networks associated with ePVS volumes: CXCL8/IL-8, and CCL2/MCP-1. The levels of CXCL8/IL8 were also associated with increased WMH volume ({beta}=2.44, p < 0.01), and levels of CCL2/MCP-1 were further associated with decreased BPF ({beta}=-0.0007, p < 0.01), MMSE score ({beta}=-0.02, p < 0.01), and increased Trail Making Test B (TRAILB) completion time ({beta}=0.76, p < 0.01). No protein was associated with all 3 studied imaging measures of pathology (BPF,ePVS,WMH). DiscussionBased on associations uncovered between ePVS volumes and cognitive functions, imaging and plasma proteins, we conclude that ePVS volumes capture pathologies contributing to chronic brain dysfunction and degeneration in CADASIL, with relevance to future clinical trials for novel therapeutic discoveries to prevent decline and injury in individuals carrying NOTCH3 mutations.

neuroscience↗