The airway epithelium restricts the penetration of inhaled pathogens into the underlying tissue and plays a crucial role in the innate immune defense against respiratory infections. The whooping cough agent, , adheres to ciliated cells of the human airway epithelium and subverts its defense functions through the action of secreted toxins and other virulence factors. We examined the impact of infection and of adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) action on the functional integrity of human bronchial epithelial cells cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI). adhesion to the apical surface of polarized pseudostratified VA10 cell layers provoked a disruption of tight junctions and caused a drop in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The reduction of TEER depended on the capacity of the secreted CyaA toxin to elicit cAMP signaling in epithelial cells through its adenylyl cyclase enzyme activity. Both purified CyaA and cAMP-signaling drugs triggered a decrease in the TEER of VA10 cell layers. Toxin-produced cAMP signaling caused actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and induced mucin 5AC production and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion, while it inhibited the IL-17A-induced secretion of the IL-8 chemokine and of the antimicrobial peptide beta-defensin 2. These results indicate that CyaA toxin activity compromises the barrier and innate immune functions ofinfected airway epithelia.

Melphalan flufenamide (hereinafter referred to as “melflufen”) is a peptide‐conjugated drug currently in phase 3 trials for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Due to its lipophilic nature, it readily enters cells, where it is converted to the known alkylator melphalan leading to enrichment of hydrophilic alkylator payloads. Here, we have analysed in vitro and in vivo the efficacy of melflufen on normal and cancerous breast epithelial lines. D492 is a normal‐derived nontumorigenic epithelial progenitor cell line whereas D492HER2 is a tumorigenic version of D492, overexpressing the HER2 oncogene. In addition we used triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB231. The tumorigenic D492HER2 and MDA‐MB231 cells were more sensitive than normal‐derived D492 cells when treated with melflufen. Compared to the commonly used anti‐cancer drug doxorubicin, melflufen was significantly more effective in reducing cell viability in vitro while it showed comparable effects in vivo. However, melflufen was more efficient in inhibiting metastasis of MDA‐MB231 cells. Melflufen induced DNA damage was confirmed by the expression of the DNA damage proteins ƴH2Ax and 53BP1. The effect of melflufen on D492HER2 was attenuated if cells were pretreated with the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin, which is consistent with previous reports demonstrating the importance of aminopeptidase CD13 in facilitating melflufen cleavage. Moreover, analysis of CD13high and CD13low subpopulations of D492HER2 cells and knockdown of CD13 showed that melflufen efficacy is mediated at least in part by CD13. Knockdown of LAP3 and DPP7 aminopeptidases led to similar efficacy reduction, suggesting that also other aminopeptidases may facilitate melflufen conversion. In summary, we have shown that melflufen is a highly efficient anti‐neoplastic agent in breast cancer cell lines and its efficacy is facilitated by aminopeptidases.

Background Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving therapy for critically ill patients, providing rest to the respiratory muscles and facilitating gas exchange in the lungs. Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is an unfortunate side effect of mechanical ventilation that may lead to serious consequences for the patient and increase mortality. The four main injury mechanisms associated with VILI are: baro/volutrauma caused by overstretching the lung tissues; atelectrauma, caused by repeated opening and closing of the alveoli resulting in shear stress; oxygen toxicity due to use of high ratio of oxygen in inspired air, causing formation of free radicals; and biotrauma, the resulting biological response to tissue injury, that leads to a cascade of events due to excessive inflammatory reactions and may cause multi-organ failure. An often-overlooked part of the inflammatory reaction is oxidative stress. In this research, a mouse model of VILI was set up with three tidal volume settings (10, 20 and 30 mL/kg) at atmospheric oxygen level. Airway pressures and heart rate were monitored and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue samples were taken. Results We show a correlation between increased inflammation and barrier failure, and higher tidal volumes, evidenced by increased IL-6 expression, high concentration of proteins in BALF along with changes in expression of adhesion molecules. Furthermore, swelling of mitochondria in alveolar type II cells was seen indicating their dysfunction and senescence-like state. RNA sequencing data present clear increases in inflammation, mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative stress as tidal volume is increased, supported by degradation of Keap1, a redox-regulated substrate adaptor protein. Conclusions Oxidative stress seems to be a more prominent mechanism of VILI than previously considered, indicating that possible treatment methods against VILI might be identified by impeding oxidative pathways.

The novel bioconjugation method makes use of maleimides and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) to conjugate small molecules to proteins via alkenes.

The human breast is composed of terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) that are surrounded by stroma. In the TDLUs, basement membrane separates the stroma from the epithelial compartment, which is divided into an inner layer of luminal epithelial cells and an outer layer of myoepithelial cells. Stem cells and progenitor cells also reside within the epithelium and drive a continuous cycle of gland remodelling that occurs throughout the reproductive period. D492 is an epithelial cell line originally isolated from the stem cell population of the breast and generates both luminal and myoepithelial cells in culture. When D492 cells are embedded into 3D reconstituted basement membrane matrix (3D-rBM) they form branching colonies mimicking the TDLUs of the breast, thereby providing a well-suited in vitro model for studies on branching morphogenesis and breast development. Peroxidasin (PXDN) is a heme-containing peroxidase that crosslinks collagen IV with the formation of sulfilimine bonds. Previous studies indicate that PXDN plays an integral role in basement membrane stabilisation by crosslinking collagen IV and as such contributes to epithelial integrity. Although PXDN has been linked to fibrosis and cancer in some organs there is limited information on its role in development, including in the breast. In this study, we demonstrate expression of PXDN in breast epithelium and stroma and apply the D492 cell line to investigate the role of PXDN in cell differentiation and branching morphogenesis in the human breast. Overexpression of PXDN induced basal phenotype in D492 cells, loss of plasticity and inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as is displayed by complete inhibition of branching morphogenesis in 3D culture. This is supported by results from RNA-sequencing which show significant enrichment in genes involved in epithelial differentiation along with significant negative enrichment of EMT factors. Taken together, we provide evidence for a novel role of PXDN in breast epithelial differentiation and mammary gland development.