Papers by Nicole Avitahl-Curtis
The PTPN11 gene encodes SHP-2, a non-receptor tyrosine PTPase that relays signals from activated ... more The PTPN11 gene encodes SHP-2, a non-receptor tyrosine PTPase that relays signals from activated growth factor receptors to p21 Ras (Ras) and other signaling molecules. Mutations in PTPN11 cause Noonan syndrome (NS), a developmental disorder characterized by cardiac and skeletal defects. NS is also associated with a spectrum of hematologic disorders including juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). To test the hypothesis that PTPN11 mutations might contribute to myeloid leukemogenesis, we screened the entire coding region for mutations in 51 JMML specimens and in selected exons from 60 patients with other myeloid malignancies.
Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, 2004
Oncogenic mutations in the KRAS2, NRAS, or FLT3 gene are detected in more than 50% of patients wi... more Oncogenic mutations in the KRAS2, NRAS, or FLT3 gene are detected in more than 50% of patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). RAS mutations are also prevalent in de novo myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), especially chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. However, few studies have examined these genetic lesions in therapy-related myeloid malignancies. Monosomy 7/del(7q) and monosomy 5/del(5q) represent the most common cytogenetic abnormalities in therapy-related MDS and AML (t-MDS/t-AML) and are strongly associated with prior exposure to alkylating agents. Mutational analysis of bone marrow specimens from a well-characterized cohort of 26 t-MDS/t-AML patients with abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7 revealed 3 with RAS mutations. Further analyses of 23 of these cases uncovered one FLT3 internal tandem duplication and five TP53 mutations. The four patients with RAS or FLT3 mutations had monosomy 7, including one with abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and 7. One specimen demonstrated mutations in both KRAS2 and TP53. RAS and FLT3 mutations, which are thought to stimulate the proliferation of leukemia cells, appear to be less common in t-MDS/t-AML than in de novo AML, whereas TP53 mutations are more frequent.
Mutations in PTPN11 implicate the SHP-2 phosphatase in leukemogenesis
Blood, 2004
The PTPN11 gene encodes SHP-2 (Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine Phosphatase), a ... more The PTPN11 gene encodes SHP-2 (Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine Phosphatase), a nonreceptor tyrosine protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) that relays signals from activated growth factor receptors to p21Ras (Ras) and other signaling molecules. Mutations in PTPN11 cause Noonan syndrome (NS), a developmental disorder characterized by cardiac and skeletal defects. NS is also associated with a spectrum of hematologic disorders, including juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). To test the hypothesis that PTPN11 mutations might contribute to myeloid leukemogenesis, we screened the entire coding region for mutations in 51 JMML specimens and in selected exons from 60 patients with other myeloid malignancies. Missense mutations in PTPN11 were detected in 16 of 49 JMML specimens from patients without NS, but they were less common in other myeloid malignancies. RAS, NF1, and PTPN11 mutations are largely mutually exclusive in JMML, which suggests that mutant SHP-2 proteins deregulate myeloid growth through Ras. However, although Ba/F3 cells engineered to express leukemia-associated SHP-2 proteins cells showed enhanced growth factor-independent survival, biochemical analysis failed to demonstrate hyperactivation of the Ras effectors extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) or Akt. We conclude that SHP-2 is an important cellular PTPase that is mutated in myeloid malignancies. Further investigation is required to clarify how these mutant proteins interact with Ras and other effectors to deregulate myeloid growth.
Inhibition of Glycolate Oxidase with Dicer-Substrate siRNA Reduces Calcium Oxalate Deposition in a Mouse Model of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I
Molecular Therapy, 2016
Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive, metabolic disorder caused by mutati... more Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive, metabolic disorder caused by mutations of alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), a key hepatic enzyme in the detoxification of glyoxylate arising from multiple normal metabolic pathways to glycine. Accumulation of glyoxylate, a precursor of oxalate, leads to the overproduction of oxalate in the liver, which accumulates to high levels in kidneys and urine. Crystalization of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in the kidney ultimately results in renal failure. Currently, the only treatment effective in reduction of oxalate production in patients who do not respond to high-dose vitamin B6 therapy is a combined liver/kidney transplant. We explored an alternative approach to prevent glyoxylate production using Dicer-substrate small interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) targeting hydroxyacid oxidase 1 (HAO1) mRNA which encodes glycolate oxidase (GO), to reduce the hepatic conversion of glycolate to glyoxylate. This approach efficiently reduces GO mRNA and protein in the livers of mice and non-human primates. Reduction of hepatic GO leads to normalization of urine oxalate levels and reduces CaOx deposition in a preclinical mouse model of PH1. Our results support the use of DsiRNA to reduce liver GO levels as a potential therapeutic approach to treat PH1.Molecular Therapy (2016); doi:10.1038/mt.2016.4.
Discovery and Characterization of a Potent Interleukin-6 Binding Peptide with Neutralizing Activity In Vivo
PLOS ONE, 2015
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important member of the cytokine superfamily, exerting pleiotropic act... more Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important member of the cytokine superfamily, exerting pleiotropic actions on many physiological processes. Over-production of IL-6 is a hallmark of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as Castleman's Disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Antagonism of the interleukin IL-6/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)/gp130 signaling complex continues to show promise as a therapeutic target. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against components of this complex have been approved as therapeutics for both CD and RA. To potentially provide an additional modality to antagonize IL-6 induced pathophysiology, a peptide-based antagonist approach was undertaken. Using a combination of molecular design, phage-display, and medicinal chemistry, disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs) directed against IL-6 were developed with low nanomolar potency in inhibiting IL-6-induced pSTAT3 in U937 monocytic cells. Targeted PEGylation of IL-6 binding peptides resulted in molecules that retained their potency against IL-6 and had a prolongation of their pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles in rodents and monkeys. One such peptide, PN-2921, contained a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety and inhibited IL-6-induced pSTAT3 in U937 cells with sub-nM potency and possessed 23, 36, and 59 h PK half-life values in mice, rats, and cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. Parenteral administration of PN-2921 to mice and cynomolgus monkeys potently inhibited IL-6-induced biomarker responses, with significant reductions in the acute inflammatory phase proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This potent, PEGylated IL-6 binding peptide offers a new approach to antagonize IL-6-induced signaling and associated pathophysiology.
956 IW-9179, a Potent Guanylate Cyclase-C (GC-C) Agonist, Improves Gastric Emptying In Vivo and Modulates Gastric Vagal Afferent Mechanosensitivity In Vitro
Gastroenterology, 2015
Abstract B20: EnCore-LNP mediated tumor delivery of MYC and CTNNB1 Dicer Substrate RNAs (DsiRNAs)
Molecular Cancer Research, 2015
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Papers by Nicole Avitahl-Curtis