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Background We compared estimates of Fire Radiative Power (FRP) from sensors onboard geostationary Himawari-8 (BRIGHT_AHI) and polar-orbiting TERRA/AQUA (MOD14/MYD14) satellites during the 2019/2020 Black Summer Fires in South-Eastern Australia. Aim/methods Analysis was performed on a pixel, bioregion, and wildfire event basis to assess the utility of the new BRIGHT_AHI FRP product. Key results Results show a high agreement between the products (r = 0.74, P

Supplementary Methods.

Effective therapies for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain challenging despite an increasingly comprehensive understanding of somatically altered oncogenic pathways. It is now clear that therapeutic agents with potential to impact the tumor immune microenvironment potentiate immune-orchestrated therapeutic benefit. Herein, we evaluated the immunoregulatory properties of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and bromodomain inhibitors, two classes of drugs that modulate the epigenome, with a focus on key cell subsets that are engaged in an immune response. By evaluating human peripheral blood and NSCLC tumors, we show that the selective HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat promotes phenotypic changes that support enhanced T-cell activation and improved function of antigen-presenting cells. The bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 attenuated CD4+FOXP3+ T regulatory cell suppressive function and synergized with ricolinostat to facilitate immune-mediated tumor growth arrest, leading to prolonged survival of mice with lung adenocarcinomas. Collectively, our findings highlight the immunomodulatory effects of two epigenetic modifiers that, together, promote T cell–mediated antitumor immunity and demonstrate their therapeutic potential for treatment of NSCLC.Significance: Selective inhibition of HDACs and bromodomain proteins modulates tumor-associated immune cells in a manner that favors improved T-cell function and reduced inhibitory cellular mechanisms. These effects facilitated robust antitumor responses in tumor-bearing mice, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of combining these epigenetic modulators for the treatment of NSCLC. Cancer Discov; 7(8); 852–67. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 783

Supplementary Table 1. HDAC inhibitors tested with healthy donor PBMCs and their biochemical potency (nM) across HDACs 1, 2, 3, and 6. Supplementary Table 2. Information for consented Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that underwent surgical resectioning as part of their treatment plan and whose tumor specimen and blood samples obtained after surgery were analyzed. Supplementary Figure 1. Reduced CD4+FOXP3+ Treg cells in healthy donor and NSCLC patient PBMC in the presence of ricolinostat. Supplementary Figure 2. Up-regulation of CD69 on T cells in healthy donor PBMC cultures in the presence of ricolinostat. Supplementary Figure 3. Viability of immune cells within dissociated tumor specimens cultured in the presence of ricolinostat or entinostat. Supplementary Figure 4. Effector function of T cells within 2-D cultures of disaggregated tumor specimens from NSCLC patients. Supplementary Figure 5. Increased expression of MHC class II and CD86 on monocytes in healthy donor PBMC in the presence of ricolinostat. Supplementary Figure 6. Phenotype of T cells infiltrating lung tumors of genetically engineered mice treated with ricolinostat. Supplementary Figure 7. Gene expression profile of Tumor-infiltrating T cells. Supplementary Figure 8. Ricolinostat promotes up-regulation of MHC class II and CD86 on tumor-associated macrophages. Supplementary figure 9. Immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses of acetylated α-tubulin in lung tumors of KP mice. Supplementary Figure 10. Kinetics of tumor growth in KP mice treated with ricolinostat. Supplementary Figure 11. Phenotype of tumor-infiltrating T cell subsets in lung tumors of KP mice treated with JQ1. Supplementary Figure 12. Immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses of phospho-STAT5 levels in lung tumors of KP mice. Supplementary Figure 13. Suppressive function of Tregs isolated from the spleen of lung tumor-bearing KP mice treated with JQ1. Supplementary Figure 14. Phenotype of Tregs in the spleen or lung tumors of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) of NSCLC. Supplementary Figure 15. Phenotype of Tregs within cultures of dissociated tumor specimen from NSCLC patients. Supplementary Figure 17. Histology and immunohistochemical staining of lung tumor sections from treated KP mice. Supplementary Figure 18. Kinetics of tumor growth in TL or wild-type mice. Supplementary Figure 19. Quantification of T cell subsets and TAMs in tumors of KP mice. Supplementary Figure 20. Phenotype of CD8+T cells infiltrating lung tumors of treated KP mice. Supplementary Figure 21. Gene expression profile of tumor-infiltrating macrophages (TAMs) in treated KP mice. Supplementary Figure 22. Gene expression profile of tumor-infiltrating macrophages T cells in treated KP mice. Supplementary Figure 23. Proportion of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs present within tumor-infiltrating T cells utilized in gene expression studies. Supplementary Figure 24. Gating strategy. Supplementary Figure 25. Correlation plot for the expression of indicated genes in CD45+ leukocytes in KP tumors as evaluated by single cell RNA-Sequencing.

Interactions between the HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat (ACY1215) and the irreversible proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib were examined in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) models, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and double-hit lymphoma cells. Marked in vitro synergism was observed in multiple cell types associated with activation of cellular stress pathways (e.g., JNK1/2, ERK1/2, and p38) accompanied by increases in DNA damage (γH2A.X), G2–M arrest, and the pronounced induction of mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. Combination treatment with carfilzomib and ricolinostat increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas the antioxidant TBAP attenuated DNA damage, JNK activation, and cell death. Similar interactions occurred in bortezomib-resistant and double-hit DLBCL, MCL, and primary DLBCL cells, but not in normal CD34+ cells. However, ricolinostat did not potentiate inhibition of chymotryptic activity by carfilzomib. shRNA knockdown of JNK1 (but not MEK1/2), or pharmacologic inhibition of p38, significantly reduced carfilzomib–ricolinostat lethality, indicating a functional contribution of these stress pathways to apoptosis. Combined exposure to carfilzomib and ricolinostat also markedly downregulated the cargo-loading protein HR23B. Moreover, HR23B knockdown significantly increased carfilzomib- and ricolinostat-mediated lethality, suggesting a role for this event in cell death. Finally, combined in vivo treatment with carfilzomib and ricolinostat was well tolerated and significantly suppressed tumor growth and increased survival in an MCL xenograft model. Collectively, these findings indicate that carfilzomib and ricolinostat interact synergistically in NHL cells through multiple stress-related mechanisms, and suggest that this strategy warrants further consideration in NHL. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(12); 2886–97. ©2014 AACR.

Supplementary Figures and Tables. Fig 1: Synergistic interactions between CFZ and ACY1215 lead to induction of apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Fig 2: Knocking down HDAC6 expression by shRNA or pharmacologic inhibition by ACY1215 or Tubastatin A potentiates proteasome inhibitor lethality. Fig 3: Combined CFZ/ACY1215 exposure activates stress pathways and increases DNA damage in SUDHL16 cell. Fig 4: Pre-treatment of cells with pan-caspase inhibitor BOC does not protect JNK activation, induction of DNA damage and inactivation of ERK. Fig 5: Knocking down HDAC6 expression by shRNA recapitulate signaling events when treated with ACY1215 alone similar to combined treatment of CFZ+ ACY1215 to untransfected cells. Fig 6: CFZ and ACY1215 interact synergistically in bortezomib-resistant DLBCL and MCL cells. Fig 7: Constitutive MEK/ERK phosphorylation does not protect SUDHL4 cells from the ACY1215+CFZ regimen. Fig 8: Knocking down of Histone1.2 circumvent the lethality of ACY1215+CFZ drug regimen in U2932 cells. Sup Table 1: Addition of ACY1215 to CFZ does not enhance inhibition of chymotryptic activity in DLBCL cells. Sup Table 2: Combined ACY1215t/CFZ exposure leads to G2M arrest of DLBCL cells.

Background/Aims Interleukin-27 (IL-27) regulates adaptive immune responses and is critical for the timely resolution of inflammation to restore tissue homeostasis. Studies have highlighted roles for IL-27 in limiting immune cell effector function, stromal cell responses and erosive joint pathology in clinical rheumatoid arthritis and experimental models of the disease. In the murine antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model, IL-27 receptor-deficient (Il27ra-/-) mice develop severe synovitis associated with increased infiltration of synovial CD4+ T cells, development of synovial ectopic lymphoid-like structures and exacerbated cartilage and bone erosion. Similarly, mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) administered IL-27 show improved joint pathology and reduced serum IFN-γ and IL-17 levels. Identifying mechanisms by which IL-27 regulates arthritis progression is key to understanding its therapeutic potential. Using RNA-sequencing of synovial tissue and joint-infiltrating CD4+ T cells we reveal that IL-27 regulates the magnitude of synovitis and genes in CD4+ T cells central to neutrophil recruitment. Methods Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) was established in Il27ra-/- and wild-type control mice. RNA-sequencing was performed on whole synovial tissue and joint-infiltrating CD4+ T cells during the peak of joint inflammation and during the resolution of synovitis. Differentially expressed genes were interrogated by molecular pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis. CD4+ T cell culture assays, qPCR and ELISA were used to test and validate genes under IL-27 regulation. Results RNA-sequencing of whole synovial tissue revealed that pathways relating to CD4+ T cell and Th17 biology were significantly overrepresented in Il27ra-/- mice with AIA, consistent with a pathogenic role for these cells in inflammatory arthritis. Genes associated with neutrophil effector function (e.g. Elane, Padi4, Prtn3) and recruitment (e.g. Cxcl1, Cxcr2) were also highly expressed in Il27ra-/- synovium and was reflected in the increased number of Ly6G+CD11b+ neutrophils recovered from the joints of Il27ra-/- mice. In contrast to the transcriptomic analysis of inflamed synovial tissue, surprisingly RNA-sequencing of joint-infiltrating CD4+ T cells revealed that the expression of signature Th17 genes (e.g. Il17a, Il17f, Rorc) was comparable between WT and Il27ra-/- T cells. This implies that IL-27 predominantly regulates the magnitude of the joint CD4+ T cell infiltrate more than the effector characteristics of the infiltrating T cells. Differential gene expression analysis revealed heightened Cxcl1 expression in both whole synovial tissue and joint-infiltrating CD4+ T cells recovered from Il27ra-/- mice with AIA. CD4+ T cell differentiation cultures confirmed upregulation of Cxcl1 following T cell receptor activation and under Th1 polarizing conditions. Here, IL-27 suppressed the expression of CXCL1 at the mRNA and protein level. Conclusion Together, our data reveals a role for IL-27 in limiting CXCL1 expression in activated and joint-infiltrating CD4+ T cells, highlighting a novel mechanism by which IL-27 may integrate innate and adaptive arms of the immune response to regulate arthritis progression. Disclosure I. Burridge: None. S. Eastham: None. D.G. Hill: None. R. Andrews: None. B. Szomolay: None. N. Williams: None. S.A. Jones: None. G.W. Jones: None.

PurposeProvide real-world data regarding the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality in breast cancer (BC) patients on active cancer treatment.MethodsClinical data were abstracted from the 3778 BC patients seen at a multisite cancer center in New York between February 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020, including patient demographics, tumor histology, cancer treatment, and SARS-CoV-2 testing results. Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection by treatment type (chemotherapy [CT] vs endocrine and/or HER2 directed therapy [E/H]) was compared by Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting. In those diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, Mann–Whitney test was used to a assess risk factors for severe disease and mortality.ResultsThree thousand sixty-two patients met study inclusion criteria with 641 patients tested for SARS-COV-2 by RT-PCR or serology. Overall, 64 patients (2.1%) were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by either serology, RT-PCR, or documented clinical diagnosis. Comparing matched patients who received chemotherapy (n = 379) with those who received non-cytotoxic therapies (n = 2343) the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 did not differ between treatment groups (weighted risk; 3.5% CT vs 2.7% E/H, P = .523). Twenty-seven patients (0.9%) expired over follow-up, with 10 deaths attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chemotherapy was not associated with increased risk for death following SARS-CoV-2 infection (weighted risk; 0.7% CT vs 0.1% E/H, P = .246). Advanced disease (stage IV), age, BMI, and Charlson’s Comorbidity Index score were associated with increased mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection (P ≤ .05).ConclusionBC treatment, including chemotherapy, can be safely administered in the context of enhanced infectious precautions, and should not be withheld particularly when given for curative intent.

BackgroundWhile the integration of patient and public involvement (PPI) in clinical research is now widespread and recommended as standard practice, meaningful PPI in pre-clinical, discovery science research is more difficult to achieve. One potential way to address this is by integrating PPI into the doctoral training programmes of discovery science postgraduate students. This paper describes the development and formative evaluation of the Student Patient Alliance (SPA), a programme developed at the University of Birmingham that partners PPI contributors with doctoral students.MethodsFollowing a successful pilot of the SPA by the Rheumatology Research Group at the University of Birmingham, the scheme was implemented across collaborating Versus Arthritis / MRC centres of excellence at a number of different collaborating centres. Students were partnered with PPI contributors, provided with initial information and guidance, and then encouraged to work together on research and public engagement activities. After six months, students, their PPI partners and the PPI coordinators at each centre completed brief surveys about their participation in the SPA.ResultsBoth students and their PPI partners felt that taking part in SPA had a very positive impact. Students reported an increased understanding of PPI and patient priorities and reported improved public engagement and communication skills. Their PPI partners reported a positive impact of the collaboration with the students. They enjoyed learning about the student’s research and contributing to the students ‘personal development. PPI coordinators also highlighted the benefits of the SPA, but noted some challenges they had experienced, such as matching students with PPI partners.ConclusionsThe SPA was valued by students and PPI partners, and it is likely that initiatives of this kind would enhance students’ PPI and public engagement skills and awareness of patients’ experiences on a wider scale. However, appropriate resources are needed at an institutional level to support the implementation of effective programmes of this kind on a larger scale.

Biocompatible cationic graphene flakes efficiently complex and deliver the enzyme to the lysosomes of the fibroblasts derived from the patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI, leading to enhanced degradation of the accumulated lysosomal substrate.