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result(s) for
"Braunstein, Zachary"
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S100 Proteins As an Important Regulator of Macrophage Inflammation
by
Braunstein, Zachary
,
Xia, Chang
,
Toomey, Amelia C.
in
Apoptosis
,
biomarkers
,
Calcium (extracellular)
2018
The S100 proteins, a family of calcium-binding cytosolic proteins, have a broad range of intracellular and extracellular functions through regulating calcium balance, cell apoptosis, migration, proliferation, differentiation, energy metabolism, and inflammation. The intracellular functions of S100 proteins involve interaction with intracellular receptors, membrane protein recruitment/transportation, transcriptional regulation and integrating with enzymes or nucleic acids, and DNA repair. The S100 proteins could also be released from the cytoplasm, induced by tissue/cell damage and cellular stress. The extracellular S100 proteins, serving as a danger signal, are crucial in regulating immune homeostasis, post-traumatic injury, and inflammation. Extracellular S100 proteins are also considered biomarkers for some specific diseases. In this review, we will discuss the multi-functional roles of S100 proteins, especially their potential roles associated with cell migration, differentiation, tissue repair, and inflammation.
Journal Article
Transcription Factor C/EBP Homologous Protein in Health and Diseases
by
Braunstein, Zachary
,
Naik, Ishan
,
Yang, Yuan
in
Amino acids
,
Apoptosis
,
C/EBP homologous protein
2017
C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), known also as DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 and as growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 153 (GADD153), is induced in response to certain stressors. CHOP is universally acknowledged as a main conduit to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. Ongoing research established the existence of CHOP-mediated apoptosis signaling networks, for which novel downstream targets are still being determined. However, there are studies that contradict this notion and assert that apoptosis is not the only mechanism by which CHOP plays in the development of pathologies. In this review, insights into the roles of CHOP in pathophysiology are summarized at the molecular and cellular levels. We further focus on the newest advances that implicate CHOP in human diseases including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and notably, fibrosis.
Journal Article
A Potential Role for Dendritic Cell/Macrophage-Expressing DPP4 in Obesity-Induced Visceral Inflammation
by
Braunstein, Zachary
,
Deiuliis, Jeffrey
,
Mikami, Dean
in
Adenosine
,
Adenosine Deaminase - metabolism
,
Adipose tissue
2013
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP4) inhibitors target the enzymatic degradation of incretin peptides and represent a major advance in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. DPP4 has a number of nonenzymatic functions that involve its interaction with adenosine deaminase (ADA) and other extracellular matrix proteins. Here, we assessed the nonenzymatic role of DPP4 in regulating dendritic cell (DC)/macrophage–mediated adipose inflammation in obesity. Both obese humans and rodents demonstrated increased levels of DPP4 expression in DC/macrophage cell populations from visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The DPP4 expression increased during monocyte differentiation to DC/macrophages and with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of DC/macrophages. The DPP4 colocalized with membrane-bound ADA on human DCs and enhanced the ability of the latter to stimulate T-cell proliferation. The DPP4 interaction with ADA in human DC/macrophages was competitively inhibited by the addition of exogenous soluble DPP4. Knockdown of DPP4 in human DCs, but not pharmacologic inhibition of their enzymatic function, significantly attenuated the ability to activate T cells without influencing its capacity to secrete proinflammatory cytokines. The nonenzymatic function of DPP4 on DC may play a role in potentiation of inflammation in obesity by interacting with ADA. These findings suggest a novel role for the paracrine regulation of inflammation in adipose tissue by DPP4.
Journal Article
Role of Incretin Axis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
2017
The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and involve a complicated reciprocity of environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors. Despite substantial advances in the foundational understanding of the immunological pathogenesis of IBD, the detailed mechanism of the pathological progression in IBD remains unknown. In addition to Th1/Th2 cells, whose role in IBD has been previously well defined, recent evidence indicates that Th17 cells and Tregs also play a crucial role in the development of IBD. Diets which contain excess sugars, salt, and fat may also be important actors in the pathogenesis of IBD, which may be the cause of high IBD incidence in western developed and industrialized countries. Up until now, the reason for the variance in prevalence of IBD between developed and developing countries has been unknown. This is partly due to the increasing popularity of western diets in developing countries, which makes the data harder to interpret. The enterocrinins glucagon-like peptides (GLPs), including GLP-1 and GLP-2, exhibit notable benefits on lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis formation, plasma glucose levels, and maintenance of gastric mucosa integrity. In addition to the regulation of nutrient metabolism, the emerging role of GLPs and their degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) in gastrointestinal diseases has gained increasing attention. Therefore, here we review the function of the DPP-4/GLP axis in IBD.
Journal Article
Trimetazidine Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction in Endotoxemia and Sepsis by Promoting Neutrophil Migration
by
Wang, Bei
,
Braunstein, Zachary
,
Cianflone, Katherine
in
AMPK-Nrf2-CXCR2 axis
,
Animal research
,
Apoptosis
2018
Cardiac dysfunction can be a fatal complication during severe sepsis. The migration of neutrophils is significantly impaired during severe sepsis. We sought to determine the role of trimetazidine (TMZ) in regulation of neutrophil migration to the heart in a mouse model of sepsis and endotoxemia, and to identify the mechanism whereby TMZ confers a survival advantage.
C57/BL6 mice were (1) injected with LPS followed by 24-h TMZ administration, or (2) treated with TMZ (20 mg/kg/day) for 1 week post cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) operation. Echocardiography and Millar system detection showed that TMZ alleviated cardiac dysfunction and histological staining showed the failure of neutrophils migration to heart in both LPS- and CLP-induced mice. Bone marrow transplantation revealed that TMZ-pretreated bone marrow cells improved LPS- and CLP-induced myocardial dysfunction and enhanced neutrophil recruitment in heart. In CXCL2-mediated chemotaxis assays, TMZ increased neutrophils migration via AMPK/Nrf2-dependent up-regulation of CXCR2 and inhibition of GRK2. Furthermore, using luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we found that TMZ promoted the binding of the Nrf2 and CXCR2 promoter regions directly. Application of CXCR2 inhibitor completely reversed the protective effects of TMZ
. Co-culture of neutrophils and cardiomyocytes further validated that TMZ decreased LPS-induced cardiomyocyte pyroptosis by targeting neutrophils.
Our findings suggested TMZ as a potential therapeutic agent for septic or endotoxemia associated cardiac dysfunction in mice.
What is the current knowledge on the topic? Migration of neutrophils is significantly impaired during severe sepsis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. What question did this study address? The effects of TMZ on cardiac dysfunction via neutrophils migration. What this study adds to our knowledge TMZ attenuated LPS-induced cardiomyocyte pyroptosis and cardiac dysfunction by promoting neutrophils recruitment to the heart tissues via CXCR2. How this might change clinical pharmacology or translational science Our findings suggested TMZ as a potential therapeutic agent for septic cardiac dysfunction.
Journal Article
Comparison of atrial fibrillation prevalence and in-hospital cardiovascular outcomes between patients undergoing allogeneic versus autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: insights from the national inpatient sample
2024
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy for several malignant and non-malignant hematologic conditions. However, patients undergoing HSCT are at increased risk of developing serious cardiovascular events. Whether cardiovascular risks differ by the type of transplantation strategy used, allogeneic versus autologous HSCT, is unknown. Leveraging the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2019), we assessed the incidence of early cardiovascular events by HSCT mode (allogeneic vs autologous). The primary outcome was the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The secondary outcome was the occurrence of any major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as acute heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI), symptomatic atrial or ventricular arrhythmia or heart block, and cardiovascular death. Outcomes were compared between those undergoing allogeneic versus autologous HSCT. Multivariable regression, adjusting for cardiovascular and cancer-related factors, was used to define the association between pre-HSCT factors and MACE. We further assessed the effect of acute cardiovascular events on in-patient mortality by calculating adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) and
p
-values. Overall, 64,705 weighted hospitalizations for HSCT were identified, of which 22,655 (35.0%) were allogeneic HSCT and 42,050 (65.0%) were autologous HSCT. The prevalence of AF was 9.1%, and 12.1% for any arrhythmia. In multivariable regression, allogeneic HSCT was associated with higher adjusted odds of peri-HSCT acute heart failure (aOR 2.64; 1.86–3.76;
p
< 0.0001), QT prolongation (aOR 1.40; 1.04–1.88;
p
= 0.025), MI (aOR 2.87; 1.16–7.11;
p
= 0.023), any major cardiovascular complication (aOR 1.16; 1.03–1.32;
p
= 0.016), and inpatient mortality (aOR 4.87; 3.60–6.58;
p
< 0.0001). Following cerebrovascular events, AF was the strongest predictor of mortality. Allogeneic HSCT was associated with higher odds of in-hospital cardiovascular complications among patients undergoing HSCT.
Journal Article
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Regulates Macrophage Migration in Monosodium Urate-Induced Peritoneal Inflammation
2022
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an insulinotropic peptide that signals through the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). GLP-1R, therefore, plays a critical role in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Whether GLP-1R is involved in inflammatory disease such as gout remains unclear. Macrophages are critical effector cells in the pathogenesis of gout, a common form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of uric acid in joints. The expression of GLP-1R at the protein level is controversial due to the lack of specificity of existing antibodies against GLP-1R. Using a transgenic mouse model expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of GLP-1R promoter, here we confirmed the expression of GLP-1R by macrophages. M2 type macrophages and Ly6C + macrophages expressed higher levels of GLP-1R, compared to their counterparts. GLP-1R deficient macrophages displayed a reduced the migratory ability and an enhanced expression of interleukin (IL)-6, while the expression of IL-1β was not affected. In monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced peritonitis, an experimental model of gout, the recruitment of macrophages, especially M2 macrophages, was significantly suppressed in GLP-1R knockout mice compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, our data suggests that GLP-1R plays a critical role in macrophage migration in MSU-induced inflammation.
Journal Article
A Case of Primary Pulmonary Meningioma With Genetic Characterization and Literature Review
2025
Primary pulmonary meningiomas (PPMs) are exceptionally rare tumors, accounting for a small fraction of ectopic meningiomas found outside the central nervous system (CNS). These tumors are typically benign, with only 5%–8% being malignant. Since the first reported case in 1982, fewer than 100 cases have been documented. We report a unique case of PPM in a 58‐year‐old male detected incidentally during lung cancer screening. Histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis confirmed the diagnosis, and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) revealed a Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) inactivating mutation and a likely subclonal PALB2 mutation—findings not commonly reported in the PPM literature. Our comprehensive review of 70 reported cases reveals a female predominance, asymptomatic presentation in most cases, and strong IHC positivity for EMA, PR, and vimentin. Malignant cases tended to be larger and more symptomatic. Our case highlights the value of molecular profiling in differentiating PPMs from other pulmonary neoplasms and CNS metastases. Given the emerging role of NGS in identifying tumor‐specific mutations, further exploration of the genetic landscape of PPMs is warranted. Recognition of NF2 mutations as potential drivers may open new avenues for targeted therapies and long‐term monitoring strategies in affected individuals.
Journal Article
Bone Marrow Involvement in Sarcoidosis: A Case Report of Granulomatous and Hematologic Complications
by
Braunstein, Zachary
,
Brammer, Jonathan E.
,
Jones, Daniel
in
Anemia
,
aplastic anemia
,
Autoimmune diseases
2026
Bone marrow involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and poorly understood. This case highlights the hematologic complexity of sarcoidosis, including its association with aplastic anemia and T‐cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T‐LGLL). We report a 70‐year‐old male with longstanding sarcoidosis who developed multiple hematologic complications, including bone marrow granulomatous infiltration, aplastic anemia, and T‐LGLL.
Journal Article
Early toxicity and clinical outcomes after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for lymphoma
2021
BackgroundChimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) infusion is associated with early toxicity. Yet, whether early toxicity development holds ramifications for long-term outcomes is unknown.MethodsFrom a large cohort of consecutive adult patients treated with CAR-T therapies for relapsed or refractory lymphomas from 2016 to 2019, we assessed progression-free survival (PFS), by toxicity development (cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, or cardiotoxicity]. We also assessed the relationship of toxicity development to objective disease response, and overall survival (OS). Multivariable regression was utilized to evaluate relationships between standard clinical and laboratory measures and disease outcomes. Differences in outcomes, by toxicity status, were also assessed via 30-day landmark analysis. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of early anti-CRS toxicity therapy use (at ≤grade 2 toxicity) on maximum toxicity grade observed, and long-term disease outcomes (PFS and OS).ResultsOverall, from 102 CAR-T-treated patients, 90 were identified as treated with single-agent therapy, of which 88.9% developed toxicity (80 CRS, 41 neurotoxicity, and 17 cardiotoxicity), including 28.9% with high-grade (≥3) events. The most common manifestations were hypotension at 96.6% and fever at 94.8%. Among patients with cardiac events, there was a non-significant trend toward a higher prevalence of concurrent or preceding high-grade (≥3) CRS. 50.0% required tocilizumab or corticosteroids. The median time to toxicity was 3 days; high grade CRS development was associated with cardiac and neurotoxicity. In multivariable regression, accounting for disease severity and traditional predictors of disease response, moderate (maximum grade 2) CRS development was associated with higher complete response at 1 year (HR: 2.34; p=0.07), and longer PFS (HR: 0.41; p=0.02, in landmark analysis), and OS (HR: 0.43; p=0.03). Among those with CRS, relative blood pressure (HR: 2.25; p=0.004), respectively, also associated with improved PFS. There was no difference in disease outcomes, or maximum toxicity grade (CRS, neurotoxicity, or cardiotoxicity) observed, based on the presence or absence of the use of early CRS-directed therapies.ConclusionsAmong adult lymphoma patients, moderate toxicity manifest as grade 2 CRS after CAR-T infusion may associate with favorable clinical outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Journal Article