The f block is a comparatively understudied group of elements that find applications in many areas. Continued development of technologies involving the lanthanides (Ln) and actinides (An) requires a ...better fundamental understanding of their chemistry. Specifically, characterizing the electronic structure of the f elements presents a significant challenge due to the spatially core-like but energetically valence-like nature of the f orbitals. This duality led f-block scientists to hypothesize for decades that f-block chemistry is dominated by ionic metal–ligand interactions with little covalency because canonical covalent interactions require both spatial orbital overlap and orbital energy degeneracy. Recent studies on An compounds have suggested that An ions can engage in appreciable orbital mixing between An 5f and ligand orbitals, which was attributed to “energy-degeneracy-driven covalency”. This model of bonding has since been a topic of debate because different computational methods have yielded results that support and refute the energy-degeneracy-driven covalency model. In this Viewpoint, literatures concerning the metal- and ligand-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of five tetravalent f-block systemsMO2 (M = Ln, An), LnF4, MCl6 2–, and Ln(NP(pip)3)4are compiled and discussed to explore metal–ligand bonding in f-block compounds through experimental metrics. Based on spectral assignments from a variety of theoretical models, covalency is seen to decrease from CeO2 and PrO2 to TbO2 through weaker ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) interactions, while these LMCT interactions are not observed in the trivalent Ln sesquixodes until Yb. In comparison, while XANES characterization of AnO2 compounds is scarce, computational modeling of available X-ray absorption spectra suggests that covalency among AnO2 reaches a maximum between Am and Cm. Moreover, a decrease in covalency is observed upon changing ligands while maintaining an isostructural coordination environment from CeO2 to CeF4. These results could allude to the importance of orbital energy degeneracy in f-block bonding, but there are a variety of data gaps and conflicting results from different modeling techniques that need to be addressed before broad conclusions can be drawn.
Lanthanide (Ln) elements are critical materials that are typically extracted/mined together. Their separation by solvent extraction from acidic media is well known; however, there are few studies in ...basic media with carbonate anions. We investigated the complexation of Eu(III) and Tb(III) carbonates as solids and solutions in alkaline K2CO3, wherein we sought to access a Tb(IV) carbonate complex through ozonolysis. L3‐edge XANES of Eu and Tb carbonate solids, colorless solutions, and a red‐hued Tb solution (obtained by ozonolysis) all showed Ln(III) cations. The absence of evidence for a Tb(IV) complex was confirmed through XAS and EPR analyses, despite the solution exhibiting a deep red color. For solids and solutions, EXAFS results indicate molecular Ln(III)‐carbonato anions. In terms of the Eu(III) carbonate coordination number, the coordination does not change upon dissolution of the solid sample. Furthermore, EXAFS for the solutions revealed evidence for the association of potassium cations with the Ln(III)‐carbonato anions. This direct observation of contact ion pairing by EXAFS at room temperature is rare. The insights into Ln(III) carbonate complexation and solution speciation afforded by XANES‐EXAFS, FT‐IR, and EPR provides perspectives that serve as benchmarks for future computational and experimental efforts focused on caustic‐side solvent extraction of Ln(III) ions.
Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) relapsing after hematopoietic stem cell transplant have limited options for long-term cure. We have shown that infused cytotoxic T cells (CTL) targeting Epstein ...Barr virus (EBV)-derived proteins induced complete remissions in EBV(+) HL patients. A limitation of this approach is that up to 70% of relapsed HL tumors are EBV-negative. For these patients, an alternative is to target the cancer/testis antigen MAGE-A4 present in EBV antigen-negative HL tumors. Furthermore, epigenetic modification by clinically available demethylating agents can enhance MAGE-A4 expression in previously MAGE-negative tumors.
We explored the feasibility of combining adoptive T cell therapy with epigenetic modification of tumor antigen expression. We further characterized MAGE-A4-specific T-cell phenotype and function, and examined the effects of the epigenetic modifying drug decitabine on these T cells.
Cytotoxic T cells were generated specifically recognizing MAGE-A4 expressed by autologous HL targets and tumor cell lines. Decitabine-previously shown to increase tumor antigen expression in HL-did not compromise MAGE-A4-specific T-cell phenotype and function. In patients treated with decitabine, expanded MAGE-A4-specific T cells had a broader antitumor T cell repertoire, consistent with increased antigen stimulation in vivo.
Adoptive transfer of MAGE-A4-specific T cells, combined with epigenetic modifying drugs to increase expression of the protein, may improve treatment of relapsed HL.
Background and Purpose
The potential for therapeutic antibody treatment of neurological diseases is limited by poor penetration across the blood–brain barrier. I.c.v. delivery is a promising route to ...the brain; however, it is unclear how efficiently antibodies delivered i.c.v. penetrate the cerebrospinal spinal fluid (CSF)‐brain barrier and distribute throughout the brain parenchyma.
Experimental Approach
We evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of an inhibitory monoclonal antibody against β‐secretase 1 (anti‐BACE1) following continuous infusion into the left lateral ventricle of healthy adult cynomolgus monkeys.
Key Results
Animals infused with anti‐BACE1 i.c.v. showed a robust and sustained reduction (~70%) of CSF amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptides. Antibody distribution was near uniform across the brain parenchyma, ranging from 20 to 40 nM, resulting in a ~50% reduction of Aβ in the cortical parenchyma. In contrast, animals administered anti‐BACE1 i.v. showed no significant change in CSF or cortical Aβ levels and had a low (~0.6 nM) antibody concentration in the brain.
Conclusion and Implications
I.c.v. administration of anti‐BACE1 resulted in enhanced BACE1 target engagement and inhibition, with a corresponding dramatic reduction in CNS Aβ concentrations, due to enhanced brain exposure to antibody.
Objective Based on promising in vitro and in vivo activity of several histone deacetylase inhibitors in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), we investigated SNDX-275, an oral class 1 isoform–selective histone ...deacetylase inhibitors in HL-derived cell lines. Materials and Methods Proliferation and cell death were examined by MTS assay, Annexin V/propidium iodide, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Gene and protein expression were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical analysis. A multiplex assay was used to determine cytokines and chemokines. Results SNDX-275 induced cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner with an IC50 at the sub- and lower micromolar range at 72 hours. At the molecular level, SNDX-275 increased histone H3 acetylation, upregulated p21 expression, and activated the intrinsic apoptosis pathway by downregulating the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. SNDX-275 downregulated expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins without altering Mcl-1 or Bax levels. Combination studies demonstrated that two Bcl-2 inhibitors (ABT-737 and obatoclax) significantly enhanced the effect of SNDX-275. SNDX-275 modulated the level of several cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin-12 p40-70, interferon-inducible protein-10, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted), interleukin-13, interleukin-4, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and variably induced the cancer/testis antigen expression of MAGE-A4 and survivin in HL cell lines. Conclusions SNDX-275 has antiproliferative activity in HL cell lines, involving several mechanisms: induction of apoptosis, regulation of cytokines and chemokines, and alteration of cancer/testis antigens. Clinical investigation of SNDX-275 alone or in combination with Bcl-2 inhibitors is warranted in patients with HL. Phase 2 studies with SNDX-275 in HL are ongoing, and future clinical studies should investigate combinations with SNDX-275.
An extensive suite of f-element extraction chromatographic (EXC) resins was developed by E. Philip Horwitz and his groups at Argonne National Laboratory, PG Research Foundation, and Eichrom ...Technologies, Inc. The separation character of the specific resins is largely determined by the extractant physisorbed on the solid support. Modelled after solvent extraction systems employing the same extractants, TEVA, UTEVA, TRU, DGA, Actinide, and the LN family of resins have become benchmarks for research comparisons and are available for commercial applications. The f-elements separations community has applied these resins in a multitude of analytical fields from nuclear medicine isotope production to environmental analysis. As the field of extraction chromatography begins to explore innovative solid supports and ingenuity in the applicability of the EXC resins themselves, the tremendous contributions of Horwitz must be considered. This review examines the EXC materials developed by Horwitz, specifically for f-elements, and discusses separation schemes and process development.
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Xenopus laevis prdx1, 2, 3 and 4 are most conserved in evolution and expression pattern. ► prdx1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are found in neural, pharyngeal and proximal tubule tissues. ► prdx5 has distinct ...expression in the pronephric distal tubules and olfactory placode.
Development in the frog,
Xenopus laevis, requires the utilization of yolk glyco-lipo-proteins in a temporally- and spatially-dependent manner. The metabolism of the yolk produces hydrogen peroxide (H
2O
2), a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS). Peroxiredoxins (prdxs) are a family of six anti-oxidant enzymes that, amongst other roles, reduce H
2O
2. Prdxs reduce H
2O
2 through a thiol-redox reaction at conserved cysteine residues which results in the creation of disulfide bonds. Recently the thiol-redox reaction of Prdxs has also been implicated in several cell signaling systems. Here we report the cloning and expression patterns during development of six peroxiredoxin homologs from the frog
X. laevis. Sequence analysis confirmed their identity as well as their evolutionary relationship with peroxiredoxins from several other species. Using RT-PCR and
in situ hybridization analysis we have shown that there is early and robust expression of all six homologs during development. All six
X. laevis peroxiredoxins are expressed in neural regions including the brain, eyes, as well as the somites. Different expression patterns for each peroxiredoxin are also observed in the pronephric region, including the proximal and distal tubules. Expression of several peroxiredoxins was also observed in the blood precursors and the olfactory placode. These results suggest important roles for all six peroxiredoxins during early development. These roles may be restricted to their functions as anti-oxidant enzymes, but may also be related to their emerging roles in redox signaling.
Recent investigations have used a 2-ethylhexyl diamide amine (ADAAM-EH) for Am/Cm separations in combination with N,N,N′,N′-tetraethyldiglycolamide as an aqueous complexant to achieve an ...unprecedented separation factor of 41. The aim of this research effort is to understand the speciation of trivalent lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) ions in the organic phase of an ADAAM-EH extraction system, both with and without phase modifiers (PM) (1-octanol and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP)). Leveraging spectroscopic techniques in combination with distribution ratio measurements provides an understanding of organic phase f-element ligand complexation. In the absence of PM, Ln is extracted in a stoichiometric 1:1 M(ADAAM-EH)1(NO3) x (H2O)1(NO3)3–x complex. The addition of 1-octanol at 20 vol % results in multiple species present. One of the species is the same as the no PM case, and the other species results in an increased −OH coordination to the inner sphere, potentially displacing some NO3. In the case of TBP, increasing concentration results in additional red-shifted bands in the UV–visible spectra, suggesting the complexation of additional ligands of either ADAAM-EH or TBP. The new system knowledge obtained by and spectroscopic experiments will provide benchmarking information for computational studies of the inner- and outer-sphere coordination environments of f-element cations and insights into ADAAM-EH adduct formation with PM, like 1-octanol and TBP.
Side-population (SP) analysis has been used to identify progenitor cells from normal and malignant tissues as well as revealing tumor cells with increased resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. ...Despite enhanced chemoresistance, tumor SP cells may still express tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), which may render them susceptible to elimination by the immune system. In this study, we show that both Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cell lines and primary HL tumor samples contain a distinct SP phenotype. Importantly, while these cells showed increased resistance to gemcitabine, a commonly used drug for the treatment of refractory HL, HL SP cells also expressed higher levels of the TAAs MAGEA4, SSX2, survivin, and NY-ESO-1, which allowed them to be specifically recognized and killed by TAA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This study suggests that chemoresistant HL SP cells can be targeted by the immune system, providing a rationale for combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of HL.
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