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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (27 results)

  • Thesis
  • Peer Reviewed
UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2023)

Steroid induced ocular hypertension is a serious adverse effect of prolonged steroid therapy in patients. If left untreated, steroid induced ocular hypertension may progress to steroid induced glaucoma, involving glaucomatous optic neuropathy and permanent vision loss. Chronic steroid administration elevates intraocular pressure in approximately 40% of the general population. If this increase is of sufficient magnitude and duration, steroid induced ocular hypertension may develop. This condition is associated with the abnormal contractility of the cells residing within the trabecular meshwork, the tissue responsible for intraocular pressure regulation. Numerous studies have provided insight into the molecular mechanism changes that occur in the trabecular meshwork as a result of prolonged steroid exposure. These changes include but are not limited to alterations in extracellular matrix metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, and gene expression. However, the specific functional changes occurring at the cellular level as a result of these molecular alterations, which contribute to trabecular meshwork dysfunction and ultimately ocular hypertension, remain poorly characterized. To address the need for a comprehensive evaluation of contractile cell function, we have adapted and optimized an assay, hereinafter referred to as fluorescently labeled elastomeric contractible surfaces (FLECS), to assess the functional effects of steroids on human trabecular meshwork cells in vitro. The FLECS assay provides a flexible tool for obtaining contractility measurements of thousands of cells at the single-cell level on substrates with tunable stiffness. In this thesis, I present, for the first time, single-cell-level contractile variations in human trabecular meshwork cells in primary culture and in an in vitro model of chronic steroid exposure. Furthermore, I report alterations in single-cell contraction kinetics associated with modifications in extracellular matrix substrates and stiffness, as well as the addition of a ROCK inhibitor. These findings provide compelling supportive evidence for a model in which increased contractility, accompanied by changes in extracellular matrix components, cytoskeletal organization, and stiffness, may contribute to elevated intraocular pressure and, consequently, ocular hypertension.

    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UCLA Previously Published Works (2017)
    Wnt signaling is a critical component during embryonic development and also plays an important role in regulating adult tissue homeostasis. Abnormal activation of Wnt signaling has been implicated in many cancers, while reduced activity of Wnt signaling leads to poor wound healing and structural formations. Thus, extensive efforts have been focused on developing small molecules that have potential to either inhibit or activate the pathway, hoping these molecules can offer leads for novel approaches in treating different human diseases. Many small-molecule inhibitors specifically target various elements, such as Frizzled, Disheveled, Porcupine, or Tankyrase, within the Wnt signaling pathways. These small molecules not only have the potential to be further developed as therapeutic reagents, but they may also be used as chemical probes to dissect the underlying mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathways. Therefore, their respective mechanisms and effective dosages are highly pertinent. Aiming to provide an overview of those molecules in a concise, easy-to-use manner, we summarize and organize the current research on them so that it may be helpful for utilization in different studies.
      Cover page: Modulating the wnt signaling pathway with small molecules
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UCLA Previously Published Works (2010)
      PDZ domains are abundant protein interaction modules that often recognize short amino acid motifs at the C-termini of target proteins. They regulate multiple biological processes such as transport, ion channel signaling, and other signal transduction systems. This review discusses the structural characterization of PDZ domains and the use of recently emerging technologies such as proteomic arrays and peptide libraries to study the binding properties of PDZ-mediated interactions. Regulatory mechanisms responsible for PDZ-mediated interactions, such as phosphorylation in the PDZ ligands or PDZ domains, are also discussed. A better understanding of PDZ protein-protein interaction networks and regulatory mechanisms will improve our knowledge of many cellular and biological processes.
        Cover page: PDZ domains and their binding partners: structure, specificity, and modification
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UCLA Previously Published Works (2019)
        Abnormal retinal neovascularization associated with various retinopathies can result in irreversible vision loss. Although the mechanisms involved in this occurrence is unclear, increasing evidence suggests that aberrant Wnt signaling participates in the pathogenesis of abnormal neovascularization. Because Wnt signaling upregulation can be induced by oxidative stress through the activation of disheveled (DVL), a key molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway, we investigated whether oxidative stress can activate Wnt signaling and induce angiogenic phenotypes in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). We found that increased Wnt signaling activity, as well as enhanced angiogenic phenotypes, such as tube formation and cell migration, were detected in the hydrogen peroxide-treated HRMECs. Moreover, these effects were effectively suppressed by a small-molecule Wnt inhibitor targeting the PDZ domain of DVL. Therefore, we propose that targeting abnormal Wnt signaling at the DVL level with a small-molecule inhibitor may represent a novel approach in retinal neovascularization treatment and prevention.
          Cover page: Oxidative stress upregulates Wnt signaling in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells through activation of disheveled
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)
          Wnt signaling pathways have been extensively studied in the context of several diseases, including cancer, coronary artery disease, and age-related disorders. β-Catenin plays a central role in the most studied Wnt pathways, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, commonly referred to as the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. β-catenin is a substrate of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), and the phosphorylated β-catenin by GSK-3β can be degraded by the proteasome through ubiquitination. Thus, GSK-3β inhibitors have become a widely used chemical biology tool to study the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Among the varied GSK-3β inhibitors, a compound known as CHIR-99021 is one of the most widely used. Although these inhibitors contribute greatly to our understanding of the canonical Wnt pathway, certain pitfalls associated with such an approach may have been overlooked. In many published studies, micromolar concentrations of CHIR-99021 are used to activate the canonical Wnt pathway. Although CHIR-99021 is a specific GSK-3β inhibitor, it specifically inhibits the kinase at the nanomolar level. Therefore, caution is required when micromolar levels of CHIR-99021 are used for the purpose of activating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.
            Cover page: Premise and peril of Wnt signaling activation through GSK-3β inhibition
            • Article
            • Peer Reviewed
            UCLA Previously Published Works (2015)
            The intracellular signaling molecule Dishevelled (Dvl) mediates canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling via its PDZ domain. Different pathways diverge at this point by a mechanism that remains unclear. Here we show that the peptide-binding pocket of the Dvl PDZ domain can be occupied by Dvl's own highly conserved C-terminus, inducing a closed conformation. In Xenopus, Wnt-regulated convergent extension (CE) is readily affected by Dvl mutants unable to form the closed conformation than by wild-type Dvl. We also demonstrate that while Dvl cooperates with other Wnt pathway elements to activate canonical Wnt signaling, the open conformation of Dvl more effectively activates Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These results suggest that together with other players in the Wnt signaling pathway, the conformational change of Dvl regulates Wnt stimulated JNK activity in the non-canonical Wnt signaling.
              Cover page: Conformational change of Dishevelled plays a key regulatory role in the Wnt signaling pathways
              • Article
              • Peer Reviewed
              UCLA Previously Published Works (2013)
              Genomic structural alteration is common in pediatric cancers, and analysis of data generated by the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project reveals such tumor-related alterations in many Wnt signaling-associated genes. Most pediatric cancers are thought to arise within developing tissues that undergo substantial expansion during early organ formation, growth and maturation, and Wnt signaling plays an important role in this development. We examined three pediatric tumors-medullobastoma, early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and retinoblastoma-that show multiple genomic structural variations within Wnt signaling pathways. We mathematically modeled this pathway to investigate the effects of cancer-related structural variations on Wnt signaling. Surprisingly, we found that an outcome measure of canonical Wnt signaling was consistently similar in matched cancer cells and normal cells, even in the context of different cancers, different mutations, and different Wnt-related genes. Our results suggest that the cancer cells maintain a normal level of Wnt signaling by developing multiple mutations.
                Cover page: Genome-wide network analysis of Wnt signaling in three pediatric cancers
                • Article
                • Peer Reviewed
                UCLA Previously Published Works (2021)
                Wnt proteins are secreted morphogens that play critical roles in embryonic development, stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, tissue regeneration and remodeling in adults. While aberrant Wnt signaling contributes to diseases such as cancer, activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a target of interest in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Recent high throughput screenings from chemical and biological libraries, combined with improved gene expression reporter assays of Wnt/β-catenin activation together with rational drug design, led to the development of a myriad of Wnt activators, with different mechanisms of actions. Among them, Wnt mimics, antibodies targeting Wnt inhibitors, glycogen-synthase-3β inhibitors, and indirubins and other natural product derivatives are emerging modalities to treat bone, neurodegenerative, eye, and metabolic disorders, as well as prevent ageing. Nevertheless, the creation of Wnt-based therapies has been hampered by challenges in developing potent and selective Wnt activators without off-target effects, such as oncogenesis. On the other hand, to avoid these risks, their use to promote ex vivo expansion during tissue engineering is a promising application.
                  Cover page: Wnt signaling activation: targets and therapeutic opportunities for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine
                  • Article
                  • Peer Reviewed
                  UCLA Previously Published Works (2011)
                  Enhancing the affinity of therapeutic T cell receptors (TCR) without altering their specificity is a significant challenge for adoptive immunotherapy. Current efforts have primarily relied on empirical approaches. Here, we used structural analyses to identify a glycine-serine variation in the TCR that modulates antigen sensitivity. A G at position 107 within the CDR3β stalk is encoded within a single mouse and human TCR, TRBV13-2 and TRBV12-5 respectively. Most TCR bear a S107. The S hydroxymethyl side chain intercalates into the core of the CDR3β loop, stabilizing it. G107 TRBV possess a gap in their CDR3β where this S hydroxymethyl moiety would fit. We predicted based on modeling and molecular dynamics simulations that a G107S substitution would increase CDR3β stability and thereby augment receptor sensitivity. Experimentally, a G107S replacement led to an ∼10-1000 fold enhanced antigen sensitivity in 3 of 4 TRBV13-2(+) TCR tested. Analysis of fine specificity indicated a preserved binding orientation. These results support the feasibility of developing high affinity antigen specific TCR for therapeutic purposes through the identification and manipulation of critical framework residues. They further indicate that amino acid variations within TRBV not directly involved in ligand contact can program TCR sensitivity, and suggest a role for CDR3 stability in this programming.
                    Cover page: Rational Design of T Cell Receptors with Enhanced Sensitivity for Antigen
                    • Article
                    • Peer Reviewed
                    UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)
                    The trabecular meshwork (TM) is the leading site of aqueous humor outflow in the eye and plays a critical role in maintaining normal intraocular pressure. When the TM fails to maintain normal intraocular pressure, glaucoma may develop. Mitochondrial damage has previously been found in glaucomatous TM cells; however, the precise metabolic activity of glaucomatous TM cells has yet to be quantitatively assessed. Using dexamethasone (Dex) treated primary human TM cells to model glaucomatous TM cells, we measure the respiratory and glycolytic activity of Dex-treated TM cells with an extracellular flux assay. We found that Dex-treated TM cells had quantifiably altered metabolic profiles, including increased spare respiratory capacity and ATP production rate from oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, we propose that reversing or preventing these metabolic changes may represent an avenue for future research.
                      Cover page: Characterizing the metabolic profile of dexamethasone treated human trabecular meshwork cells
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