| 1. |
- Lind, Anne-Li
(författare)
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Biomarkers for Better Understanding of the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Chronic Pain : Investigations of Human Biofluids
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Chronic pain affects 20 % of the global population, causes suffering, is difficult to treat, and constitutes a large economic burden for society. So far, the characterization of molecular mechanisms of chronic pain-like behaviors in animal models has not translated into effective treatments.In this thesis, consisting of five studies, pain patient biofluids were analyzed with modern proteomic methods to identify biomarker candidates that can be used to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology chronic pain and lead to more effective treatments.Paper I is a proof of concept study, where a multiplex solid phase-proximity ligation assay (SP-PLA) was applied to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the first time. CSF reference protein levels and four biomarker candidates for ALS were presented. The investigated proteins were not altered by spinal cord stimulation (SCS) treatment for neuropathic pain. In Paper II, patient CSF was explored by dimethyl and label-free mass spectrometric (MS) proteomic methods. Twelve proteins, known for their roles in neuroprotection, nociceptive signaling, immune regulation, and synaptic plasticity, were identified to be associated with SCS treatment of neuropathic pain. In Paper III, proximity extension assay (PEA) was used to analyze levels of 92 proteins in serum from patients one year after painful disc herniation. Patients with residual pain had significantly higher serum levels of 41 inflammatory proteins. In Paper IV, levels of 55 proteins were analyzed by a 100-plex antibody suspension bead array (ASBA) in CSF samples from two neuropathic pain patient cohorts, one cohort of fibromyalgia patients and two control cohorts. CSF protein profiles consisting of levels of apolipoprotein C1, ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 2, angiotensinogen, prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase, neurexin-1, superoxide dismutases 1 and 3 were found to be associated with neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. In Paper V, higher CSF levels of five chemokines and LAPTGF-beta-1were detected in two patient cohorts with neuropathic pain compared with healthy controls.In conclusion, we demonstrate that combining MS proteomic and multiplex antibody-based methods for analysis of patient biofluid samples is a viable approach for discovery of biomarker candidates for the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic pain. Several biomarker candidates possibly reflecting systemic inflammation, lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation in different pain conditions were identified for further investigation.
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| 2. |
- de Oliveira, Felipe Marques Souza, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of post-translational modifications using solid-phase proximity ligation assay.
- 2018
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Ingår i: New biotechnology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1876-4347 .- 1871-6784. ; 45:October, s. 51-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein activities to help orchestrate and fine-tune cellular processes. Dysregulation of PTMs is often related with disorders and malignancies, and may serve as a precise biomarker of disease. Developing sensitive tools to measure and monitor low-abundant PTMs in tissue lysates or serum will be instrumental for opening up new PTM-based diagnostic avenues. Here, we investigate the use of solid-phase proximity ligation assay (SP-PLA) for detection of different PTMs. The assay depends on the recognition of the target protein molecule and its modification by three affinity binders. Using antibodies and lectins, we applied the method for detection of glycosylated CD44 and E-Cadherin, and phosphorylated p53 and EGFR. The assay was found to have superior dynamic range and limit of detection compared to standard ELISAs. In summary, we have established the use of SP-PLA as an appropriate method for sensitive detection of PTMs in lysates and sera, which may provide a basis for future PTM-based diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
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| 3. |
- Larssen, Pia, et al.
(författare)
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Tracing Cellular Origin of Human Exosomes Using Multiplex Proximity Extension Assay
- 2017
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Ingår i: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. - 1535-9476 .- 1535-9484. ; 16:3, s. 502-511
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated objects such as exosomes and microvesicles, released by many cell-types. Their presence in body fluids and the variable surface composition and content render them attractive potential biomarkers. The ability to determine their cellular origin could greatly move the field forward. We used multiplex proximity extension assays (PEA) to identify with high specificity and sensitivity the protein profiles of exosomes of different origins, including seven cell lines and two different body fluids. By comparing cells and exosomes, we successfully identified the cells originating the exosomes. Furthermore, by principal component analysis of protein patterns human milk EVs and prostasomes released from prostate acinar cells clustered with cell lines from breast and prostate tissues, respectively. Milk exosomes uniquely expressed CXCL5, MIA and KLK6, while prostasomes carried NKX31, GSTP1 and SRC, highlighting that EVs originating from different origins express distinct proteins. In conclusion, PEA provides a powerful protein screening tool in exosome research, for purposes of identifying the cell source of exosomes, or new biomarkers in diseases such as cancer and inflammation.
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| 4. |
- Wisniewski, Andreas, 1991-
(författare)
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Bifunctional ADAPTs: Opportunity for serological Half-life extension and Targeted therapy
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Small engineered scaffold proteins (ESPs) gain more and more popularity as biological drugs, due to their specificity and applicability in diagnostics and therapy. Thanks to their high stability, low immunogenicity and low production cost, they present themselves as a promising alternative to the market-leading antibodies. However, their relatively small size poses the risk of fast blood clearance, a circumstance advantageous for imaging purposes but a disadvantage in a therapeutic setting.This thesis has focused on introducing bifunctionality, the ability of the same engineered scaffold protein to exert more than one function, by applying different engineering approaches. Therefore, a new combinatorial protein library based on ABD-derived affinity proteins (ADAPTs) was generated, originating from a bacterial albumin-binding domain. From this library, it was possible to achieve protein modules with the ability to simultaneously bind to its intended target as well as to human serum albumin (HSA), a feature that has been shown to increase the binder’s half-life in the body. Specific binding modules were achieved by performing phage display selections towards the targets Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF⍺) and Interleukin-17c (IL-17c), both proinflammatory cytokines involved in many different inflammatory diseases and therefore interesting targets for therapeutic applications. The selection output was analyzed through sequencing and promising candidates were cloned and produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli), followed by a detailed characterization of each candidate including target binding, stability and their oligomeric state using methods like Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Circular Dichroism (CD) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). It was possible to generate binders that passed all characterization criteria, most importantly showing simultaneous bispecificity to either TNF⍺ or IL-17c in combination with albumin. Each binder was then examined for their usefulness as a real therapeutic by successfully evaluating its ability to block the interaction of the cytokine and its specific receptor in vitro. These newly developed protein binders, showing high affinity towards their targets as well as keeping their initial binding to HSA, present another possibility to combine the advantages of small engineered scaffold proteins with those of typical larger proteins, allowing for more convenient production in bacteria leading to lower production costs and making them ideal candidates for future therapeutics.Furthermore, a previously developed ADAPT targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was genetically fused to an improved Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) variant, thereby combining the idea of tumor-targeted therapy through the ADAPT with the utilization of HRP to enzymatically catalyze the prodrug IAA into its active form. After proving these new fusion proteins have similar binding kinetics to the target, as well as comparable enzymatic activities, as their free counterpart, the cytotoxic effects were put to the test in vitro. Hereby, the variants showed to benefit immensely through the addition of an ADAPT by being selectively effective only on HER2-positive cells. The evident advantage of these fusion proteins and their competency to be functionally produced in E. coli as well as the possibility to avoid an additional step of conjugation or coupling of affinity proteins to cytotoxic payloads, makes this approach a promising alternative for current procedures and another reason why ESPs are on the rise.
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| 5. |
- Koos, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Next-Generation Pathology : Surveillance of Tumor Microecology
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2836 .- 1089-8638. ; 427:11, s. 2013-2022
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- A tumor is a heterogeneous population of cells that provides an environment in which every cell resides in a microenvironmental niche. Microscopic evaluation of tissue sections, based on histology and immunohistochemistry, has been a cornerstone in pathology for decades. However, the dawn of novel technologies to investigate genetic aberrations is currently adopted in routine molecular pathology. We herein describe our view on how recent developments in molecular technologies, focusing on proximity ligation assay and padlock probes, can be applied to merge the two branches of pathology, allowing molecular profiling under histologic observation. We also discuss how the use of image analysis will be pivotal to obtain information at a cellular level and to interpret holistic images of tissue sections. By understanding the cellular communications in the microecology of tumors, we will be at a better position to predict disease progression and response to therapy.
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| 6. |
- Acharya, Shikha, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced sialyl-Lewis(x) on salivary MUC7 from patients with burning mouth syndrome
- 2019
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Ingår i: Molecular Omics. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2515-4184. ; 15:5, s. 331-339
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We analysed and compared MUC7 O-glycosylation and inflammatory biomarkers in saliva from female patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and gender/age-matched controls. Oligosaccharides from salivary MUC7 from BMS and controls were released. Inflammatory mediators were measured by multiplex proximity extension assay. Presence of sialyl-Lewis(x) (Si-Le(x)) epitope on MUC7 was confirmed using Western blot. MUC7 O-glycans and measured inflammatory biomarkers were found to be similar between BMS and controls. However, oligosaccharides sialyl-Lewis(x) (Si-Le(x)) was found to be reduced in samples from BMS patients. Positive correlation (combined patients and controls) was found between levels of C-C motif chemokine 19 (CCL-19) and the amount of core-2 oligosaccharides on MUC7 as well as fractalkine (CX3CL1) and level of sialylation. Patients with BMS were shown to represent a heterogeneous group in terms of inflammatory biomarkers. This indicates that BMS patients could be further stratified on the basis of low-level inflammation. The results furthermore indicate that reduced sialylation of MUC7, particularly Si-Le(x), may be an important feature in patients with BMS. However, the functional aspects and potential involvement in immune regulation of Si-Le(x) remains unclear. Our data suggests a chemokine driven alteration of MUC7 glycosylation.
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| 7. |
- Hammond, Maria, 1984-
(författare)
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DNA-Mediated Detection and Profiling of Protein Complexes
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Proteins are the effector molecules of life. They are encoded in DNA that is inherited from generation to generation, but most cellular functions are executed by proteins. Proteins rarely act on their own – most actions are carried out through an interplay of tens of proteins and other biomolecules.Here I describe how synthetic DNA can be used to study proteins and protein complexes. Variants of proximity ligation assays (PLA) are used to generate DNA reporter molecules upon proximal binding by pairs of DNA oligonucleotide-modified affinity reagents. In Paper I, a robust protocol was set up for PLA on paramagnetic microparticles, and we demonstrated that this solid phase PLA had superior performance for detecting nine candidate cancer biomarkers compared to other immunoassays. Based on the protocol described in Paper I I then developed further variants of PLA that allows detection of protein aggregates and protein interactions. I sensitively detected aggregated amyloid protofibrils of prion proteins in paper II, and in paper III I studied binary interactions between several proteins of the NFκB family. For all immunoassays the selection of high quality affinity binders represents a major challenge. I have therefore established a protocol where a large set of protein binders can be simultaneously validated to identify optimal pairs for dual recognition immunoassays (Paper IV).
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Manouchehri Doulabi, Ehsan, 1986-
(författare)
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Molecular Tools for Detection and Characterization of Proteins and Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Detecting molecules involved in cancer is critical for cancer research and diagnostics. To achieve this goal, sensitive protein detection is essential to improving the chances of finding, verifying, validating and developing valuable biomarkers. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanometer-size structures that can transport macromolecular information between cells. While they play an essential role in cell-to-cell communication, they may also prove important as biomarkers for minimally invasive detection of cancer. In this doctoral thesis the aim was to establish protocols for proteome analysis of EVs, specifically to identify combinations of surface proteins on the EVs by labeling surface proteins followed by protein identification via mass spectrometry. Also, using the proximity ligation and extension assays the challenges have been met of discovering and validating proteomics biomarkers with very low amounts of EVs. In paper I the aim was to develop a detection method and protocol combining high-resolution mass spectrometry with solid-phase- and Exo PLAs for identifying surface proteins on EVs with relevance in prostate cancer. The protocol allowed identification of more than 1,000 surface proteins, many not previously reported to be carried by EVs. In Paper II we used five protein assay panels consisting of more than 400 proteins to assess and analyze the proteomics profiles of EVs isolated from four different gastric cancer cell lines. The data identified 39 proteins with medium or high expression levels in EVs from gastric cancer cell lines, which were not expressed or are only present at low concentrations in control EVs from seminal fluid. In Paper III we analyzed and measured thymidine kinase 1 enzyme activity in EVs purified from seminal fluids from healthy individuals and from normal and prostate cancer cell lines. Thymidine kinase 1 is a cell cycle-dependent enzyme and a biomarker for cell proliferation. The results indicate a correlation of TK1 enzyme activates with the aggressiveness of the tumor cell lines and higher enzyme activity was recorded for EVs isolated from p53 null and mutated cell lines compared to cells with wild-type p53. Paper IV describes a high-throughput approach using in situ proximity ligation assays (in situ PLA) to investigate protein interactions and post-translational modifications in the HaCAT cell line. In situ PLA was combined with automated microscopy and computerized analysis to evaluate phosphorylation and protein interaction along with subcellular features in response to drug treatment. In summary, the focus of this Ph.D. thesis has been to adopt a variety of proteomic techniques for investigating EVs as biomarkers in health and disease.
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