PubMed · 7624785
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P A Takes, D Graham. 1995-08-04. FDA antibody rules.. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7624785
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In glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent and lethal brain tumor, therapies suppressing recurrently altered signaling pathways failed to extend survival. However, in patient subsets, specific genetic lesions can confer sensitivity to targeted agents. By exploiting an integrated model based on patient-derived stem-like cells, faithfully recapitulating the original GBMs in vitro and in vivo, here, we identify a human GBM subset (∼9% of all GBMs) characterized by ERBB3 overexpression and nuclear accumulation. ERBB3 overexpression is driven by inheritable promoter methylation or post-transcriptional silencing of the oncosuppressor miR-205 and sustains the malignant phenotype. Overexpressed ERBB3 behaves as a specific signaling platform for fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), driving PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway hyperactivation, and overall metabolic upregulation. As a result, ERBB3 inhibition by specific antibodies is lethal for GBM stem-like cells and xenotransplants. These findings highlight a subset of patients eligible for ERBB3-targeted therapy.
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using HLA class I molecules purified from pooled platelets has the potential to detect HLA antibodies with increased efficiency without sacrificing sensitivity or specificity. This test, which was originally developed in our institution, has been independently validated by recent studies and is now commercially available. We now present evidence of its usefulness as a routine HLA antibody screening test for renal transplant patients. A total of 515 patients were tested monthly by ELISA (13.9 tests/patient) and by antiglobulin-enhanced panel reactivity (6.3 tests/patient). In patients found to be unsensitized, the incidence of false-positive results was less for ELISA than for the panel studies. In patients who were highly sensitized, both tests performed equally well, whereas discordant results were registered mainly in cases of mild sensitization. Because 66% of our patients were not sensitized, the ELISA was effective in reducing the number of more involved tests aimed at characterizing the antibodies. These results provide a foundation to use the pooled platelet HLA ELISA on a routine basis for HLA antibody screening.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an important modulator of hematopoietic cells. However, the role of GM-CSF in nonhematopoietic cells remains unclear. We have determined whether GM-CSF is an autocrine mitogenic factor for human osteoblastic (hOB) cells. We found by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that hOB cells express constitutively both GM-CSF and the alpha and beta chains of the GM-CSF receptor (GMR). Immunocytochemistry showed that serum-starved hOB cells express both GM-CSF and GMR alpha chain. Recombinant human (rh) GM-CSF induces a dose-dependent stimulation of hOB cell proliferation, showing that hOB cells have functional GMRs. A specific neutralizing GM-CSF antibody decreased the basal growth rate and suppressed cell proliferation induced by media conditioned by hOB cells, indicating that GM-CSF released by hOB cells is biologically active. Treatment of hOB cells with GM-CSF antisense (AS) oligonucleotide inhibited the endogenous GM-CSF production as shown by ELISA and immunocytochemistry, whereas a random (R) sequence had no effect. AS oligonucleotides markedly inhibited hOB cell growth reversibly, whereas R oligonucleotides had no effect. AS was more effective than the anti-GM-CSF antibody, and the addition of rhGM-CSF did not rescue the inhibitory effect of AS on cell growth. The findings that human osteoblastic cells produce GM-CSF and express functional GMR constitutively and that suppression of endogenous GM-CSF results in inhibition of cell growth demonstrate that GM-CSF is involved as an autocrine growth factor for human osteoblastic cells.