The microRNA-29 (miR-29) family is among the most abundantly expressed microRNA in the pancreas and liver. Here, we investigated the function of miR-29 in glucose regulation using miR-29a/b-1 (miR-29a)-deficient mice and newly generated miR-29b-2/c (miR-29c)-deficient mice. We observed multiple independent functions of the miR-29 family, which can be segregated into a hierarchical physiologic regulation of glucose handling. miR-29a, and not miR-29c, was observed to be a positive regulator of insulin secretion in vivo, with dysregulation of the exocytotic machinery sensitizing β-cells to overt diabetes after unfolded protein stress. By contrast, in the liver both miR-29a and miR-29c were important negative regulators of insulin signaling via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulation. Global or hepatic insufficiency of miR-29 potently inhibited obesity and prevented the onset of diet-induced insulin resistance. These results demonstrate strong regulatory functions for the miR-29 family in obesity and diabetes, culminating in a hierarchical and dose-dependent effect on premature lethality.

BackgroundAnti-angiogenic therapy in certain cancers has been associated with improved control of tumor growth and metastasis. Development of anti-angiogenic agents has, however, been saddled with higher attrition rate due to suboptimal efficacy, narrow therapeutic windows, or development of organ-specific toxicities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the translational ability of the zebrafish efficacy–toxicity model to stratify anti-angiogenic agents based on efficacy, therapeutic windows, and off-target effects to streamline the compound selection process in anti-angiogenic discovery.MethodsThe embryonic model of zebrafish was employed for studying angiogenesis and toxicity. The zebrafish were treated with anti-angiogenic compounds to evaluate their effects on angiogenesis and zebrafish-toxicity parameters. Angiogenesis was measured by scoring the development of subintestinal vessels. Toxicity was evaluated by calculating the median lethal concentration, the lowest observed effect concentration, and gross morphological changes. Results of efficacy and toxicity were used to predict the therapeutic window.ResultsIn alignment with the clinical outcomes, the zebrafish assays demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors are the most potent anti-angiogenic agents, followed by multikinase inhibitors and inhibitors of endothelial cell proliferation. The toxicity assays reported cardiac phenotype in zebrafish treated with VEGFR inhibitors and multikinase inhibitors with VEGFR activity suggestive of cardiotoxic potential of these compounds. Several other pathological features were reported for multikinase inhibitors suggestive of off-target effects. The predicted therapeutic window was translational with the clinical trial outcomes of the anti-angiogenic agents. The zebrafish efficacy–toxicity approach could stratify anti-angiogenic agents based on the mechanism of action and delineate chemical structure-driven biological activity of anti-angiogenic compounds.ConclusionThe zebrafish efficacy–toxicity approach can be used as a predictive model for translational anti-angiogenic drug discovery to streamline compound selection, resulting in safer and efficacious anti-angiogenic agents entering the clinics.

MicroRNA (miR) are short non-coding RNA sequences of 19-24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by binding to mRNA target sequences. The miR-29 family of miR (miR-29a, b-1, b-2 and c) is a key player in T-cell differentiation and effector function, with deficiency causing thymic involution and a more inflammatory T-cell profile. However, the relative roles of different miR-29 family members in these processes have not been dissected. We studied the immunological role of the individual members of the miR-29 family using mice deficient for miR-29a/b-1 or miR-29b-2/c in homeostasis and during collagen-induced arthritis. We found a definitive hierarchy of immunological function, with the strong phenotype of miR-29a-deficiency in thymic involution and T-cell activation being reduced or absent in miR-29c-deficient mice. Strikingly, despite elevating the Th1 and Th17 responses, loss of miR-29a conferred near-complete protection from collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), with profound defects in B-cell proliferation and antibody production. Our results identify the hierarchical structure of the miR-29 family in T-cell biology, and identify miR-29a in B cells as a potential therapeutic target in arthritis.

Introduction: Vodobatinib, a novel 3rd generation (3G) TKI effective against wild-type and mutated BCR-ABL1 with limited off-target activity, was evaluated in a Phase I multicentre dose-escalation study in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients (pts) who failed ≥ 3 TKIs or less (if not eligible for other approved 3G TKIs) (NCT02629692). The activity and safety of vodobatinib was evaluated in ponatinib treated (PT) and ponatinib naïve (PN) chronic phase (CP)-CML subjects in an exploratory analysis. Methods: Multiple escalating doses of vodobatinib (once daily) in 28-day cycles were evaluated in a 3+3 study design. The primary objective was determination of the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) along with safety and a secondary objective was to evaluate anti-leukemic activity. Dose escalation involved dose doubling until 2 pts in a cohort experienced Grade 2 toxicity, or 1 pt experienced Grade 3 or 4 toxicity, after which dose escalation was reduced to 40% increments. Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression (PD), consent withdrawal, or death. Results: As of 15 Jul 2020, 31 CP-CML pts received vodobatinib at doses of 12 to 240 mg; 16 pts (9 males) in ponatinib treated (PT) cohort [7 (44%) ponatinib was the immediate prior TKI] and 15 pts (7 males) in the ponatinib naïve (PN) cohort. The baseline demographics and disease history are represented in Table 1. Efficacy: Median duration of treatment was 17.3 (0.6-36) and 14.8 (0.5- 42) months in the Ponatinib treated and naive groups, respectively; 11 pts in the PT group [2 in Deep molecular response (DMR), 3 in MMR; 5 in MCyR (2 in CCyR and 3 in PCyR); 1 in stable disease] and 10 pts in the PN group (2 in DMR, 4 in MMR and 3 in CCyR, 1 in stable disease) are continuing on treatment. Overall efficacy outcomes are included in Tables 2 and 3. Of 16 PT pts, 2 (13%) pts, both with double mutations, had disease progression. Of 15 PN pts, 4 (26%) pts (with baseline mutation of T315I at 48 mg, Y253H at 66 mg, F317L and E255V mutation at 174 mg) progressed. Safety: In ponatinib treated pts, the most commonly reported treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), (all grades) included nausea (4, 25%) and diarrhea (3, 25%). Other commonly reported TEAEs included thrombocytopenia (3, 19%), rash (3, 19%), non-cardiac chest pain (3, 19%), increased amylase (3, 19%), and fall (3, 19%). Grade ≥ 3 TEAEs were reported in 10 (63%) pts included 1 pt each with anemia, lymphopenia, fall, skull fracture, spinal fracture, lipase increase, fluid overload, syncope, dyspnea, and hypertension. Vodobatinib related AEs included amylase increase, lipase increase, dyspnea, fluid overload, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Grade ≥ 3 TEAEs reported in more than one pt included neutropenia (2, 13%) amylase increase (2, 13%) and thrombocytopenia (2, 13%). In PN pts, the most commonly reported TEAEs (all grades) included myalgia (5, 33%) and back pain (4, 27%). Other commonly reported TEAEs were thrombocytopenia (4, 27%), and nasopharyngitis (3, 20%).Grade ≥ 3 TEAEs were reported in 7 (47%) pts (1 pt with anemia, 1 pt with pneumonia, 1 pt with neutropenia, 1 pt with gout, hypokalemia, thrombocytopenia, 1 pt with increased liver and pancreatic enzymes and 1 pt each with dementia and amnesia. Vodobatinib related AEs included alanine aminotransferase increase, blood bilirubin increased, amnesia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. No grade ≥ 3 event was reported in more than 1 pt. Overall, three cardiovascular TEAEs were reported, in 2 pts (1 each in PT and PN), all deemed unrelated to vodobatinib. Three pts died on study: 1 due to disease progression in the PT group; 1 due to pneumonia (suspected COVID-19) and 1 due to intracranial hemorrhage in the PN group. The intracranial hemorrhage event (Grade 5 AE) was considered possibly related and was confounded by disease progression to blast phase that included extra-medullary sites. At the highest dose of 240 mg, two dose limiting toxicities were reported. The next lower dose level of 204 mg was established as MTD with a favorable safety profile in heavily pre-treated CP-CML pts. Conclusion: Vodobatinib was evaluated over 9 escalating doses. Comparable and promising efficacy was noted in both PT (50% CCyR) and PN (67% CCyR) groups, meriting further study of vodobatinib as a potential new agent for treatment of previously treated CP-CML. Disclosures Cortes: Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Immunogen: Research Funding; Merus: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sun Pharma: Research Funding; BioPath Holdings: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Telios: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Amphivena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; BiolineRx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kim:Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sun Pharma.: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; ILYANG: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Alvarado:BerGenBio ASA: Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Sun Pharma: Research Funding; FibroGen: Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding. Nicolini:Sun Pharma Ltd: Consultancy; Incyte: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Apperley:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Deininger:DisperSol: Consultancy; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other, Research Funding; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Medscape: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Other, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Fusion Pharma: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: part of a study management committee, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other, Research Funding; Sangamo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; SPARC: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other, Research Funding; Galena: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Celgene: Research Funding. de Lavallade:Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Charbonnier:Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartts: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Gambacorti-Passerini:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy. Lucchesi:Pfizer: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Mauro:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Sun Pharma/SPARC: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding. Whiteley:Novartis: Consultancy; Dova: Consultancy; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Aprea: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; MorphoSys: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Rigel: Consultancy. Yao:Sun Pharma Industries Incorporated: Current Employment. Kothekar:Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Limited: Current Employment. Sreenivasan:Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Limited: Current Employment. HV:Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Limited: Current Employment. Chimote:Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Limited: Current Employment.