BackgroundTo understand how to improve the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in uveal melanoma (UM), we need a better understanding of the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, their relation with the... Show moreBackgroundTo understand how to improve the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in uveal melanoma (UM), we need a better understanding of the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, their relation with the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and their prognostic relevance in UM patients. Materials and methodsExpression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was assessed in 71 UM tissue samples by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and further validated by western blotting. The effect of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) on PD-1/PD-L1 expression was determined on four UM cell lines. ResultsImmunoreactivity of PD-1 was found in 30/71 cases and of PD-L1 in 44/71 UM samples. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were found in 46% of UM tissues. PD-1 was expressed on TILs while tumor cells expressed PD-L1. UM with and without TILs showed expression of PD-1 in 69% and 18% cases, respectively (p=0.001). Similarly, PD-L1 was found in 75% of UM with TILs and in 50% of cases without TILs, respectively (p=0.03). DFS rate were lower in patients with TILs with expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, but the rate of DFS was higher with expression of PD-L1 in patients without TILs. After treatment of UM cell lines with IFN-gamma, PD-1 expression was induced in all UM cell lines whereas PD-L1 expression was found at a lower level in untreated cells, while expression also increased following treatment with IFN-gamma .ConclusionOur study suggests that increased infiltration with TILs promotes the aggressive behavior and suppresses the immune response of UM cells, thereby inhibiting immunotherapy. Show less
Senjean, B.; Sen, S.; Repisky, M.; Knizia, G.; Visscher, L. 2021
Fluorescent labeling of biomacromolecules enjoys increasing popularity for structural, mechanistic, and microscopic investigations. Its success hinges on the ability of the dye to alternate between... Show moreFluorescent labeling of biomacromolecules enjoys increasing popularity for structural, mechanistic, and microscopic investigations. Its success hinges on the ability of the dye to alternate between bright and dark states. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is an important source of fluorescence modulation. Photo-induced electron transfer (PET) may occur as well, but is often considered only when donor and acceptor are in van der Waals contact. In this study, PET is shown between a label and redox centers in oxidoreductases, which may occur over large distances. In the small blue copper protein azurin, labeled with ATTO655, PET is observed when the label is at 18.5 angstrom, but not when it is at 29.1 angstrom from the Cu. For Cu-II, PET from label to Cu occurs at a rate of (4.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) s(-1) and back at (0.7 +/- 0.1) x 10(3) s(-1). With Cu-I the numbers are (3.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(6) s(-1) and (1.0 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) s(-1). Reorganization energies and electronic coupling elements are in the range of 0.8-1.2 eV and 0.02-0.5 cm(-1), respectively. These data are compatible with electron transfer (ET) along a through-bond pathway although transient complex formation followed by ET cannot be ruled out. The outcome of this study is a useful guideline for experimental designs in which oxidoreductases are labelled with fluorescent dyes, with particular attention to single molecule investigations. The labelling position for FRET can be optimized to avoid reactions like PET by evaluating the structure and thermodynamics of protein and label. Show less
We developed a new FRET-based technique, “Fluredox”, which allows fluorescence readout of the redox state of oxido-reductases at single molecule level. Commercially available red-absorbing... Show moreWe developed a new FRET-based technique, “Fluredox”, which allows fluorescence readout of the redox state of oxido-reductases at single molecule level. Commercially available red-absorbing fluorophore ATTO655 was selected for labeling Azurin, a small blue mononuclear copper protein. Single molecule fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) of the fluorescently labeled Copper azurin in solution reveals how the position of the label in the 3-D structure of the protein affects the redox kinetics of the redox center as well as the label. Under certain redox conditions, we have been able to observe a microsecond dynamics for intramolecular ET reaction between the label and the metal center in azurin. Our results show that this FRET technique can be profitably used to study the enzyme activity of dye-labeled oxidoreductases. Show less
Modi, A.; Sen, S.; Adachi, J.D.; Adami, S.; Cortet, B.; Cooper, A.L.; ... ; MUSIC-OS Study Grp 2016
