U.S. patent application number 14/572445 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-14 for bag3 as biochemical serum and tissue marker.
The applicant listed for this patent is BIOUNIVERSA S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Maria Caterina TURCO.
Application Number | 20150132764 14/572445 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48607259 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150132764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TURCO; Maria Caterina |
May 14, 2015 |
BAG3 AS BIOCHEMICAL SERUM AND TISSUE MARKER
Abstract
The present invention concerns the field of diagnostic
biological markers. Specifically the invention relates to BAG3 RNA
or a fragment thereof for use as biological markers for the
diagnosis of a pathological state. Furthermore, the invention
involves specific kits and methods, for detecting and/or evaluating
the levels of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof in a biological
sample.
Inventors: |
TURCO; Maria Caterina;
(Avellino, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BIOUNIVERSA S.R.L. |
FISCIANO (SA) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
48607259 |
Appl. No.: |
14/572445 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2013/061971 |
Jun 11, 2013 |
|
|
|
14572445 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/6.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/57407 20130101;
G01N 2800/325 20130101; C12Q 1/6886 20130101; G01N 33/57496
20130101; G01N 33/6887 20130101; C12Q 2600/158 20130101; C12Q
1/6883 20130101; C07K 14/47 20130101; C12Q 2600/118 20130101; G01N
2800/324 20130101; G01N 33/6893 20130101; C07K 16/18 20130101; G01N
2800/7095 20130101; G01N 2333/47 20130101; C07K 2317/21 20130101;
G01N 33/57438 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/6.12 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 1/68 20060101
C12Q001/68 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2012 |
EP |
12172531.1 |
Claims
1. A method for diagnosing in vitro or ex-vivo of a pathological
state, comprising the step of detecting and/or quantifying the
levels of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof in a biological sample,
wherein said pathological state is selected from the group
consisting of: heart disease, diabetes, inflammation and
inflammatory related diseases of the skin, nerves, bones, blood
vessels or connective tissues, and cancer disease selected from the
group consisting of pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and prostate
cancer.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting and/or
quantifying comprise the steps of: a. obtaining the biological
sample, consisting of serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue. b.
extracting the total RNA from the biological sample. c. quantifying
the BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof by quantitative real-time
RT-PCR.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting and/or
quantifying further comprises the step of: d. comparing the values
obtained from the biological sample with reference values or with
values obtained from healthy donors.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biological sample
is from a mammalian.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biological sample
is from a human.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said heart disease is
selected from the group consisting of angina pectoris,
pre-infarction angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure,
ischemia, acute coronary disease, acute heart failure, chronic
heart failure and iatrogenic heart disease.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said BAG3 RNA is a BAG3
mRNA.
8. A kit for the detection and/or quantification of BAG3 gene
expression in a biological sample, comprising a pair of
single-stranded oligonucleotide primers encompassed by the bag3
nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO 18).
9. The kit according to claim 8, comprising a pair of primers
selected from those having a nucleotide sequence included in one of
the region from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 360, from nucleotide 466
to nucleotide 1570 or from nucleotide 1801 to nucleotide 2533 of
the bag3 nucleotide sequence.
10. The kit according to claim 8, comprising a pair of primers
selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO.
2; SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4; SEQ ID NO. 5 and SEQ ID NO. 6;
SEQ ID NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 8; and SEQ ID NO. 9 and SEQ ID NO.
10.
11. The kit according to claim 8, wherein said primers have an
annealing temperature between 60.degree. and 75.degree. C.,
preferably of 72.degree. C.
12. The kit according to claim 8, wherein said set of primers is
suitable for the detection and/or quantification of BAG3 RNA or a
fragment thereof by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
13. The kit according to claim 8 wherein said biological sample is
serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue sample.
14. The kit according to claim 13, wherein said serum, plasma,
urine, saliva or tissue sample is from a mammalian.
15. The kit according to claim 13, wherein said serum, plasma,
urine, saliva or tissue sample is from a human.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/EP2013/061971,
filed Jun. 11, 2013; which claims priority to European Application
No. 12172531.1, filed Jun. 19, 2012. The contents of the
above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference
in their entireties.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM
[0002] The Sequence Listing is concurrently submitted herewith with
the specification as an ASCII formatted text file via EFS-Web with
a file name of Sequence_Listing.txt with a creation date of Dec.
12, 2014, and a size of 13.0 kilobytes. The Sequence Listing filed
via EFS-Web is part of the specification and is hereby incorporated
in its entirety by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention concerns BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof for use as biochemical markers in the diagnosis of a
pathological state.
STATE OF THE ART
[0004] BAG3 (RefSeq: NP.sub.--004272; Gene ID 9531) is a 74 kDa
cytoplasmic protein particularly concentrated in the rough
endoplasmic reticulum. BAG3 protein belongs to the family of
co-chaperones that interact with the ATPase domain of the heat
shock protein HSP70 through the structural domain known as BAG
domain (110-124 amino acids). In addition to the BAG domain, BAG3
contains a WW domain and a proline-rich repeat (PXXP), that can
mediate binding to other proteins. Furthermore, two conserved IPV
(Ile-Pro-Val) motifs are located between the WW and the PXXP
regions and mediate BAG3 binding to HspB8, a member of the HspB
family of molecular chaperones. Therefore BAG3, due to the adaptor
nature of its multidomain structure, can interact with different
partner proteins. bag3 gene expression is constitutive in a few
normal cell types, including myocytes, and in several primary
tumours or tumour cell lines. Moreover it can be induced by a
variety of stressors: indeed stressful stimuli activate the heat
shock transcription factor (HSF) 1, that is responsible for the
expression of stress-activated genes, including bag3 (Rosati A,
Graziano V, De Laurenzi V, Pascale M, Turco M C. BAG3: a
multifaceted protein that regulates major cell pathways. Cell Death
Dis. 2011; 2: e141). Evidence indicates that BAG3 has a role in
sustaining cell survival, by modulating, in either Hsp70-dependent
or -independent fashion, the levels or localisation of
apoptosis-regulating proteins, such as IKK.gamma., Bax or BRAF,
depending on cell context.
[0005] BAG3 protein appears to be expressed during cardiomyoblasts
differentiation and to sustain myogenin expression. These findings
indicate an involvement of BAG3 in late heart development (De Marco
M, Turco M C, Rosati A. BAG3 protein is induced during
cardiomyoblast differentiation and modulates myogenin expression.
Cell Cycle. 2011; 10: 850-852). Moreover, in cardiomyocytes BAG3
has been shown to localize at Z-disc and interact with the actin
capping protein, CapZ.beta.1, stabilizing myofibril structure and
possibly preserving myofibrillar integrity during mechanical
stress. BAG3 mutations can impair the Z-disc assembly and increase
the sensitivity to stress-induced apoptosis. In keeping with the
role of BAG3 in the survival and myofibrillar integrity in
cardiocytes and, in general, in muscle cells, mutations in bag3
gene have been associated with some forms of myofibrillar myopathy
and dilated cardiomyopathy.
[0006] Up to now both a cytoplasmic BAG3 and soluble serical form
of BAG3 have been detected and found associated with different
pathologies, as well as more generally to cell survival.
[0007] The need and importance is increasingly felt for the
identification of a biological marker which allows the rapid
identification of such pathologies, without having the
disadvantages of being associated with invasive diagnostics in a
surprisingly specific and sensitive manner, and/or that can allow
to early detect the pathology, monitor the effect of therapy,
predict the risk of complication, perform an informative
follow-up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention concerns BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof for use as biochemical markers in the diagnosis of a
pathological state.
[0009] Preferably, said BAG3 RNA is a BAG3 mRNA.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
said diagnosis is in vitro or ex vivo.
[0011] A further aspect of the present invention is that the
recipient of said diagnosis is a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0012] As will be further described in the detailed description of
the invention, the use of BAG-3 RNA or a fragment thereof of the
present invention has the advantages of being specific for a
pathological state selected from the group consisting of a heart
disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related
diseases of the skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective
tissues.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
heart disease is selected from: angina pectoris, pre-infarction
angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia, acute
coronary disease, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure and
iatrogenic heart disease.
[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the cancer is selected from: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and
prostate cancer.
[0015] A further embodiment of the present invention is a kit for
the detection and/or quantification of BAG3 gene expression in a
biological sample characterized by comprising a couple of
single-stranded oligonucleotide primers encompassed by the bag3
nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO 18).
[0016] Preferably said kit comprise a couple of primers selected
from those having a nucleotide sequence included in one of the
region from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 360, from nucleotide 466 to
nucleotide 1570 or from nucleotide 1801 to nucleotide 2533 of the
bag3 nucleotide sequence.
[0017] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is
that the kit comprises a couple of primers selected from those
having the following sequences: SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2; SEQ
ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4; SEQ ID NO. 5 and SEQ ID NO. 6; SEQ ID
NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 8; SEQ ID NO. 9 and SEQ ID NO. 10.
[0018] Preferably, said primers have an annealing temperature
between 60 and 75.degree. C., preferably of 72.degree. C.
[0019] Preferably, said set of primers is suitable for the
detection and/or quantification of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof
by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said
biological sample is a serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue
sample.
[0021] Preferably, said serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue
sample is from a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0022] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
said kit is specific for the diagnosis of a pathological state
selected from the group consisting of a heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related diseases of the
skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective tissues.
[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
heart disease is selected from: angina pectoris, pre-infarction
angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia, acute
coronary disease, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure and
iatrogenic heart disease.
[0024] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the cancer is selected from: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and
prostate cancer.
[0025] A further embodiment of the present invention is a method
for detecting and quantify the levels of BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: [0026] a.
obtaining a biological sample, consisting of serum, plasma, urine,
saliva or tissue sample. [0027] b. extracting the total RNA from
the biological sample. [0028] c. quantifying the BAG3 RNA or a
fragment thereof by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the method of the
present invention further comprises the additional step of: [0030]
c. comparing the values obtained from biological sample with
reference values or with the values obtained from healthy
donors.
[0031] According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention said serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue sample is
from a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0032] According to a preferred embodiment in the method of the
present invention the presence of said BAG3 RNA or of a fragment
thereof is associated with a pathological condition.
[0033] Preferably, said pathological condition is selected from the
group consisting of a heart disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation
and inflammatory related diseases of the skin, nerves, bones, blood
vessels and connective tissues.
[0034] Preferably said heart disease is selected from: angina
pectoris, pre-infarction angina, myocardial infarction, heart
failure, ischemia, acute coronary disease, acute heart failure,
chronic heart failure and iatrogenic heart disease.
[0035] Preferably said cancer disease is selected from: pancreatic
cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer.
[0036] The invention still further relates to a
immunohistochemistry (IHC) kit for the detection of BAG3 protein in
a biological sample, wherein said biological sample is preferably a
tissue sample, comprising BAG3-specific antibodies and reagents
including probes needed for the staining.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The characteristics and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent from the detailed description reported below, from
the Examples given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, and
from the annexed FIGS. 1-9, wherein:
[0038] FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 1A: detection of BAG3 protein in supernatants from
cultured cardiomyocytes. Human (HCMa) and rat (H9c2) cardiomyocytes
at 80% confluency were incubated with or without 10% FBS for 16
hours at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 atmosphere. Supernatants
were dialyzed in a buffer containing 50 mM NaCl and 0.05% IGEPAL,
lyophilized, resuspended in 1 ml of RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris HCl pH
7.6, 150 mM sodium chloride, 2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 4 mM EDTA,
10 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1% NP-40, 0.1% sodium deoxycholate),
and analyzed with anti-BAG3 or anti-GAPDH antibodies by western
blotting.
[0040] FIG. 1B: detection of BAG3 protein in exocytic vesicles.
Surnatants obtained from H9c2 cells were subjected to sequential
centrifugations: (i) 2'000.times.g for 15 min, to remove cells;
(ii) 10'000.times.g for 30 min, to remove cellular debris; (iii)
150'000.times.g for 90 min, to pellet exocytic vesicles. The pellet
was washed once in PBS at 150'000.times.g for 90 min and analyzed
with the anti-BAG3 TOS-2 polyclonal antibody in comparison with a
whole-cell lysate by western blot. Rab-4 was analyzed as a marker
for exocytic vesicles. GAPDH, a cytosolic protein, was analyzed as
a control.
[0041] FIG. 1C: Sera from two healthy donors and from two patients
affected by chronic heart failure were analyzed with the anti-BAG3
antibody TOS-2 polyclonal antibody in western blotting.
[0042] FIG. 1D: Bands obtained in two patients affected by chronic
heart failure were excised from the gel and its identity analyzed
by mass spectrometry using the program MASCOT.
[0043] FIG. 2.
[0044] FIG. 2A: detection of BAG3 protein in sera from CHF
patients. BAG3 recombinant protein and whole-cell lysate from HCMa
cells were analyzed by western blotting with serum (1:40) obtained
from a patient with heart failure. Analysis with serum from a
healthy donor was performed as negative control.
[0045] FIG. 2B: detection of anti-BAG3 antibodies by ELISA test.
Sera from 50 CHF patients (with ejection fraction<60%) were
compared with sera from 50 healthy donor for the presence of
anti-BAG3 antibodies in a specific ELISA test. Results are plotted
as arbitrary units.
[0046] FIG. 2C: ROC analysis of ELISA test results. Cut-off on
0.083 A.U. results in 74% sensitivity and 68% specificity.
[0047] FIG. 3.
[0048] FIG. 3A: Confocal microscopy analysis of direct fluorescence
performed for detection of rBAG3-FITC binding to HCMa cells (a, b,
c) and J774 A1 cells (d, e, f, g, h, i). BAG3 recombinant protein
and purified BSA (albumin from bovine serum purchased from SIGMA)
were conjugated to FITC using the FluoroTag FITC Conjugation Kit
purchased from SIGMA following the manufacturer instructions. Equal
amount of rBAG3-FITC (b, e) and BSA-FITC (h) proteins, calculated
following the manufacturer instructions, were added in HCM and J774
A1 culture media with 0.1% NaN3 for 1 h. .beta.-integrin was
analyzed as control (a, d, g). Cells were analyzed by a Zeiss LSM
confocal microscope. Merged images are shown in c, f and i.
[0049] FIG. 3B: BAG3 binds macrophages. J774 A1 macrophages
(1.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml) were incubated with different
concentration of Fitc-BAG3 protein (7, 14 and 70 nm). FITC-BSA (70
nM) was used as a negative control (grey). Cells fluorescence was
analyzed by flow cytometry.
[0050] FIG. 3C: panel a--Analysis of Cox-2 and iNOS levels in J774
A1 macrophages incubated with BAG3. J774 A1 cells at 80% confluency
were incubated with control medium, BSA, LPS or rBAG3, for 20
hours. Polymixin was added where indicated to verify that the
effects of E. coli-derived rBAG3 were independent from the presence
of contaminating endotoxin. Cox-2 and iNOS expression were analyzed
in cell lysates by Western blotting.
[0051] FIG. 3C panel b--Analysis of nitrite release from J774 A1
macrophages incubated with BAG3. J774 A1 cells at 80% confluency
were incubated with control medium, BSA, LPS or rBAG3 for 24 hours.
100 .mu.l of supernatants from each sample were incubated with 100
.mu.l of Griess reagent; the optical density at 550 nm (OD550) was
measured with a Beckman DU62 spectrophotometer. Nitrite
concentration was evaluated by comparing the OD550 of the sample
with that of a standard curve of sodium nitrite.
[0052] FIG. 3C panel c--Analysis of IL-6 release from J774 A1
macrophages incubated with BAG3. J774 A1 cells at 80% confluency
macrophages were incubated with control medium, BSA, LPS or
recombinant BAG3 for 5 hours. BAG3 peptides (peptide 1, peptide 2,
peptide 3, peptide 4 or scrambled peptide) 625 nM were added where
indicated to verify their ability to block BAG3 activity. IL-6
production was measured in cell culture medium using an ELISA test.
IL-6 concentration was evaluated by comparing the OD of the sample
with that of a standard curve of recombinant IL-6.
[0053] FIG. 4.
[0054] FIG. 4A.
[0055] Representative images of BAG3 staining using the monoclonal
anti-BAG3 antibody AC-1 in normal pancreas tissue. Sections were
counterstained with hematoxylin. Staining revealed a moderate
positivity of Langerhans islets, while normal pancreatic ducts and
pancreatic acinar cells had no BAG3 expression.
[0056] FIG. 4B.
[0057] Representative images of BAG3 low positive and BAG3 high
positive tumour samples stained using a monoclonal anti-BAG3
antibody revealed with a biotinylated secondary antibody. Sections
were counterstained with hematoxylin. Two different magnifications
are shown: 100.times. (left panels) and 400.times. (right panels).
We assigned a score based on the proportion of positive cancer
cells in the sample by counting the number of positive cells over
the total cancer cells in 10 non-overlapping fields using a
400.times. magnification. The median percentage of BAG3 positive
cells, calculated as described, was 40% and this value was used as
a cut-off to separate low and high positive samples.
[0058] FIG. 4C.
[0059] Survival curves were made comparing 39 patients with low
BAG3 staining (.ltoreq.40% of positive cells) and 27 patients with
high BAG3 staining (>40% of positive cells). All patients
analyzed underwent R0 resection of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Median survival increases from 12 months in the high positive group
to 23 months in the low positive group. Log-rank test
p-value=0.0013.
[0060] FIG. 5.
[0061] Representative image of BAG3 staining in synovial tissues
from several rheumatoid arthritis. BAG3 positivity is observed in
synovial fibroblasts and inflammatory infiltrates. Sections were
counterstained with hematoxylin.
[0062] FIG. 6.
[0063] Representative image of BAG3 staining in normal urocystis
that resulted negative and in transitional cell bladder carcinoma
that resulted highly positive for BAG3 in cytoplasm of tumor cells.
Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin.
[0064] FIG. 7.
[0065] FIG. 7A.
[0066] bag3 mRNA relative expression evaluated by qRT-PCR is shown
in a graph where values are reported as mean+S.D. The blue line
represents the median value calculated.
[0067] FIG. 7B.
[0068] Survival analysis was made for all patients analyzed with
qRT-PCR. 13 patients with high bag3 expression had shorter survival
(median survival=19.0 months) as compared to 12 patients with low
bag3 expression (median survival=32.0 months). Log-rank test
p-value=0.0198.
[0069] FIG. 8.
[0070] FIG. 8A.
[0071] Pancreatic cancer cell lines (PSN1, Capan-1, AsPC-1, PANC-1
and MIA PaCa-2) were treated with different concentrations of
gemcitabine as indicated in the graph. After 48 hours, apoptotic
cell death was analyzed. Graph depicts mean percentage of Sub G0/G1
cells (.+-.S.D.). Data are representative of three independent
experiments.
[0072] FIG. 8B.
[0073] Western blot analysis of BAG3 in pancreatic cancer cell
lines; GAPDH housekeeping protein contents were used to monitor
equal loading conditions.
[0074] FIG. 8C.
[0075] MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines were treated with 2 .mu.M
gemcitabine (GEM) for the indicated times BAG3 protein expression
levels were monitored by western blot.
[0076] FIG. 8D.
[0077] bag3 mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-PCR; graph depicts
relative bag3 mRNA levels (.+-.S.D.) and data are representative of
three independent experiments.
[0078] FIG. 8E.
[0079] MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines were transfected with BAG3
siRNA or a non-targeted siRNA (NTsiRNA) for 72 hours and then
treated with 2 .mu.M gemcitabine (GEM) for 24 h. BAG3 levels were
analyzed by western blot and GAPDH levels were detected to monitor
equal loading conditions.
[0080] FIG. 8F.
[0081] MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells were transfected as described
above and treated with 2 .mu.M gemcitabine (GEM) for 24 h or 48 h.
Apoptotic cell death was analyzed as described. Graph depicts mean
percentage of Sub G0/G1 cells (.+-.S.D.). Data are representative
of three independent experiments.
[0082] FIG. 9.
[0083] FIG. 9A: Detection of BAG3 specific immuno-complexes by
ELISA test. Sera from 55 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients were
compared with sera from 51 healthy donors for the presence of BAG3
specific immune-complexes in a specific ELISA test. Results are
plotted as arbitrary units.+-.S. E.
[0084] FIG. 9B: ROC analysis of ELISA test results. Cut-off on
0.183 A.U. results in 65% sensitivity and 78% specificity.
[0085] FIG. 10.
[0086] Bag3 score was calculated in each sample, as relative
expression levels using the comparative method, after normalizing
for the expression of the endogenous GAPDH. The mean of bag3 score
was evaluated in two groups of patients: low PCA3 score patients
and high PCA3 score patients. Difference between the two groups was
measured by student t test and resulted significant: P=0.001.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0087] The present invention concerns BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof for use as biochemical markers in the diagnosis of a
pathological state.
[0088] With the term "BAG3 RNA fragment" in the present invention
we refer to fragments of 150-300 nucleotides.
[0089] With the term "diagnosis" in the present invention we refer
to medical diagnosis (often simply termed diagnosis) that refers to
the process of attempting to determine or identify a possible
disease or disorder. The diagnosis of the present invention
encompasses also the early diagnosis. With the term "early
diagnosis" we refer to the capacity of the test to discriminate a
pathological state before specific or aspecific symptoms.
[0090] Anti-BAG3 antibodies have now been advantageously detected
in serum. Until now such antibodies had never been found in serum
either in physiological or pathological condition. The detection of
anti-BAG3 antibodies in serum has the advantage of being a rapid
and non-invasive technique be exploited for diagnostic, early
diagnosis and prognostic purposes, risk stratification, as a tool
for the identification and for monitoring therapies.
[0091] A further advantage of the detection of antibodies is that a
very small amount of serum is required for the detection. In fact,
soluble BAG3 protein can also be detected in the serum of patients
suffering from some pathologies, but the amount of serum requested
for the detection of the soluble protein is much higher than that
required for the detection of antibodies. Furthermore, it is
possible that soluble BAG3 protein levels can be much lower than
those of antibodies and/or that, respect to soluble BAG3 protein,
antibodies can be detectable in earlier phases of specific
pathologies and/or can more efficiently predict risk of
complications or monitor the effects of therapies.
[0092] In the present invention, by serum is intended the component
of blood that is neither a blood cell nor a clotting factor; it is
the blood plasma with the fibrinogens removed. Serum includes all
proteins not used in blood clotting (coagulation) and all the
electrolytes, antibodies, antigens, hormones, and any exogenous
substances.
[0093] In the present invention, by plasma is intended the
straw-colored/pale-yellow liquid component of blood that normally
holds the blood cells in whole blood in suspension. It contains
clotting factors, such as fibrinogens.
[0094] In a further embodiment, the invention provides the use of
anti-BAG3 antibodies as biochemical markers, wherein said anti-BAG3
antibodies are bound to soluble BAG3 to form immune complexes.
[0095] Anti-BAG3 antibodies, either free or bound to soluble BAG3
to form immune complexes have advantageously been now detected in a
biological and may be used as a marker in the diagnosis of a
pathological condition. The detection of such antibodies and/or
immune complexes in a biological sample also has the advantage of
being a rapid and non-invasive technique for diagnostic and/or
prognostic purposes.
[0096] In the present invention, by immune complex or
protein/antibody complex is intended the integral binding of an
antibody to a soluble antigen, the bound antigen acting as a
specific epitope, bound to an antibody is referred to as a singular
immune complex.
[0097] Such immune complexes have the same advantages seen as for
the detection of antibodies, since a very small amount of serum is
required also for the detection of the immune complex. The amount
of serum required for the detection of soluble BAG3 is much higher
also than that required for the detection of the protein/antibody
(immune) complexes. Immune complexes as well as free antibodies can
be detectable in earlier phases of specific pathologies and can
more efficiently predict risk of complications or monitor the
effects of therapies.
[0098] A still further embodiment of the invention is the use of
anti-BAG3 antibodies or said immune complexes (formed by anti-BAG3
antibodies bound to soluble BAG3) as biological markers of a
pathological state, wherein said pathological state is a heart
disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related
diseases of the skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective
tissues.
[0099] Preferably said heart disease is selected from the group
consisting of: angina pectoris, pre-infarction angina, ischemia,
myocardial infarction, heart failure, acute coronary disease, acute
heart failure, chronic heart failure and iatrogenic heart
disease.
[0100] A further embodiment of the present invention is method for
detecting the presence of an anti-BAG3 antibody or an anti-BAG3
antibody bound to soluble BAG3 to form an immune complex in a
biological sample, comprising the steps of: [0101] a. obtaining a
biological sample, consisting of serum, plasma, [0102] b.
determining the presence of anti-BAG3 or BAG3 associated antibodies
in the biological sample.
[0103] The method according to the present invention has the
advantage of allowing to detect significant differences between
anti-BAG3 antibodies and/or BAG3/antibodies complexes between
healthy individuals and patients affected by BAG3-involving
pathologies. The proposed assay method allows a statistically
significant separation of the group of cardiac patients from the
group of healthy people. It can also stratify such patients with
heart disease in subgroups of patients at increased risk (heart
failure, HF).
[0104] In a still further aspect the invention relates to a method
for detecting the presence of an anti-BAG3 antibody in a biological
sample or an anti-BAG3 antibody bound to soluble BAG3 to form an
immune complex, further comprising the step of: [0105] c. comparing
the values obtained from the biological sample with reference
values or with the values obtained from healthy donors.
[0106] In a preferred aspect the method according to the present
invention is a method wherein said determination step b. is
performed by an ELISA test.
[0107] The method according to the present invention has the
advantage of allowing the rapid and non-invasive detection of the
biological markers allowing the evaluation of pathologies, risks
for diseases and/or their complications, and monitoring of
therapies.
[0108] According to a further aspect the invention relates to a
detection method wherein the presence of said anti-BAG3 antibody or
said anti-BAG3 antibody bound to soluble BAG3 to form an immune
complex is associated with a pathological condition.
[0109] In a preferred embodiment said pathological condition is
chosen from the group consisting of heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related diseases of the
skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective tissues.
[0110] In particular said heart disease is selected from the group
consisting of: angina pectoris, pre-infarction angina, myocardial
infarction, ischemia, heart failure, acute coronary disease, acute
heart failure, chronic heart failure or iatrogenic heart
disease.
[0111] The invention further relates to an ELISA kit for the
detection of anti-BAG3 antibodies or anti-BAG3 antibodies bound to
soluble BAG3 to form an immune complexes in a biological
sample.
[0112] The ELISA kit according to the present invention comprises a
BAG3 recombinant protein for capturing anti-BAG3 antibodies or
BAG3-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, AC-4
and AC-5, for capturing soluble BAG3 and antibodies able to
recognize human immunoglobulins.
[0113] Such antibodies can be enzyme-linked antibodies able to
recognize human immunoglobulins.
[0114] The invention also relates to a kit for the detection of
BAG3-associated antibodies in a biological sample and is performed
by ELISA with BAG3-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies AC-1, AC-2,
AC-3, AC-4 and AC-5, capturing soluble BAG3 and enzyme-linked
antibodies for the detection able to recognize human
immunoglobulins.
[0115] The invention still further relates to a
immunohistochemistry (IHC) kit for the detection of BAG3 protein in
a biological sample, wherein said biological sample is preferably a
tissue sample. Tissue samples can be biopsies, frozen tissues,
paraffin embedded tissues.
[0116] The IHC kit according to the present invention comprises
BAG3-specific antibodies and reagents including probes needed for
the staining.
[0117] Said BAG3-specific antibodies can be mouse monoclonal
antibodies AC-1, AC-2 and AC-3 and/or enzyme-linked antibodies for
the detection able to recognize mouse immunoglobulins.
[0118] In particular, the IHC kit advantageously allows to reveal
BAG3 protein in 100% of pancreatic carcinoma tissue samples from
patients that undergo pancreas resection and is expressed in most
bladder carcinoma samples. Furthermore, BAG3 protein can be
revealed with the kit for BAG3 detection by IHC also in normal
pancreas tissue in Langerhans islets while other normal tissues
result negative (such for example normal urocystis). BAG3
positivity can be also observed in synovial fibroblasts and
inflammatory infiltrates in rheumatoid arthritis tissue
samples.
[0119] Long-term survival of patients affected by PDAC is very
poor: only about 4% of patients will live 5 years after diagnosis.
Indeed, surgical reception is presently the only chance of cure,
but only approximately 20% of patients are diagnosed with
resectable disease; furthermore, in a large proportion (about 80%)
of such subset of patients the metastatization process is already
occurring at diagnosis, and indeed distant metastases appear after
surgical resection. Hence we need to better understand early stages
in the development of pancreatic cancer and identify molecules that
can allow detecting them. Also, markers that can allow a better
prognosis and help the choice of therapies are highly required.
[0120] Advantageously the BAG3 IHC kit allows the identification of
the prognosis of PDAC patients. It was seen that the intensity of
BAG3 expression identified by IHC, correlates with patients'
survival. Therefore it can be used for both prognosis and for
making a choice of therapy.
[0121] A further embodiment of the present invention is BAG3 RNA or
a fragment thereof for use as biochemical markers in the diagnosis
of a pathological state.
[0122] Preferably, said BAG3 RNA is a BAG3 mRNA.
[0123] The BAG3 RNA corresponds to the BAG3 nucleotide sequence of
SEQ ID N. 18 (Reference: NCBI PubMed, XM 055575.1 Homo sapiens
BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) mRNA).
TABLE-US-00001 SEQ ID NO: 18 1gcggagctcc gcatccaacc ccgggccgcg
gccaactttt Ttggactgga ccagaagttt ctagccggcc agttgctacc tccctttatc
tcctccttcc cctctggcag cgaggaggct atttccagac acttccaccc ctctctggcc
acgtcacccc cgcctttaat tcataaaggt gcccggcgcc ggcttcccgg acacgtcggc
ggcggagagg ggcccacggc ggcggcccgg ccagagactc ggcgcccgga gccagcgccc
cgcacccgcg ccccagcggg cagaccccaa cccagcatga gcgccgccac ccactcgccc
atgatgcagg tggcgtccgg caacggtgac cgcgaccctt tgccccccgg atgggagatc
aagatcgacc cgcagaccgg ctggcccttc ttcgtggacc acaacagccg caccactacg
tggaacgacc cgcgcgtgcc ctctgagggc cccaaggaga ctccatcctc tgccaatggc
ccttcccggg agggctctag gctgccgcct gctagggaag gccaccctgt gtacccccag
ctccgaccag gctacattcc cattcctgtg ctccatgaag gcgctgagaa ccggcaggtg
caccctttcc atgtctatcc ccagcctggg atgcagcgat tccgaactga ggcggcagca
gcggctcctc agaggtccca gtcacctctg cggggcatgc cagaaaccac tcagccagat
aaacagtgtg gacaggtggc agcggcggcg gcagcccagc ccccagcctc ccacggacct
gagcggtccc agtctccagc tgcctctgac tgctcatcct catcctcctc ggccagcctg
ccttcctccg gcaggagcag cctgggcagt caccagctcc cgcgggggta catctccatt
ccggtgatac acgagcagaa cgttacccgg ccagcagccc agccctcctt ccaccaagcc
cagaagacgc actacccagc gcagcagggg gagtaccaga cccaccagcc tgtgtaccac
aagatccagg gggatgaccg ggagccccgg cccctgcggg cggcatcccc gttcaggtca
tctgtccagg gtgcatcgag ccgggagggc tcaccagcca ggagcagcac gccactccac
tccccctcgc ccatccgtgt gcacaccgtg gtcgacaggc ctcagcagcc catgacccat
cgagaaactg cacctgtttc ccagcctgaa aacaaaccag aaagtaagcc aggcccagtt
ggaccagaac tccctcctgg acacatccca attcaagtga tccgcaaaga ggtggattct
aaacctgttt cccagaagcc cccacctccc tctgagaagg tagaggtgaa agttccccct
gctccagttc cttgtcctcc tcccagccct ggcccttctg ctgtcccctc ttcccccaag
agtgtggcta cagaagagag ggcagccccc agcactgccc ctgcagaagc tacacctcca
aaaccaggag aagccgaggc tcccccaaaa catccaggag tgctgaaagt ggaagccatc
ctggagaagg tgcaggggct ggagcaggct gtagacaact ttgaaggcaa gaagactgac
aaaaagtacc tgatgatcga agagtatttg accaaagagc tgctggccct ggattcagtg
gaccccgagg gacgagccga tgtgcgtcag gccaggagag acggtgtcag gaaggttcag
accatcttgg aaaaacttga acagaaagcc attgatgtcc caggtcaagt ccaggtctat
gaactccagc ccagcaacct tgaagcagat cagccactgc aggcaatcat ggagacgggt
gccgtggcag cagacaaggg caagaaaaat gctggaaatg cagaagatcc ccacacagaa
acccagcagc cagaagccac agcagcagcg acttcaaacc ccagcagcat gacagacacc
cctggtaacc cagcagcacc gtagcctctg ccctgtaaaa atcagactcg gaaccgatgt
gtgctttagg gaattctaag ttgcatgcat ttcagagact ttaagtcagt tggtttttat
tagctgcttg gtatgcagta acttgggtgg aggcaaaaca ctaataaaag ggctaaaaag
gaaaatgatg cttttcttct atattcttac tccgtacaaa taaagaagtt gcttgttgtt
tcagaagttt aaccccgttg cttgttctgc agccctgtct acttgggcac ccccaccacc
tgttagctgt ggttgtgcac tgtcttttgt agctctggac tggaggggta gatggggagt
caattaccca tcacataaat atgaaacatt tatcagaaat gttgccattt taatgagatg
attttcttca tctcataatt aaaatacctg actttagaga gagtaaaatg tgccaggagc
cataggaata tctgtatgtt ggatgacttt aatgctacat ttt.
[0124] BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof has now been advantageously
detected in serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue sample. Until
now such BAG3 RNA had never been found in the above mentioned
biological sample either in physiological or pathological
condition. The detection of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof in
serum, and in different biological sample, such as plasma, urine,
saliva or tissue has the advantage of being a rapid and
non-invasive technique be exploited for diagnostic, early diagnosis
and prognostic purposes, risk stratification, as a tool for the
identification and for monitoring therapies.
[0125] A further advantage of the detection and the quantification
of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof is that a very small amount of
sample is required for the detection.
[0126] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
said diagnosis is in vitro or ex vivo.
[0127] A further aspect of the present invention is that the
recipient of said diagnosis is a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0128] As will be further described in the detailed description,
the use of BAG-3 RNA or of a fragment thereof of the present
invention has the advantages of being specific for a pathological
state selected from the group consisting of a heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related diseases of
the skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective tissues.
[0129] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
heart disease is selected from: angina pectoris, pre-infarction
angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia, acute
coronary disease, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure and
iatrogenic heart disease.
[0130] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the cancer is selected from: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and
prostate cancer.
[0131] A further embodiment of the present invention is a kit for
the detection and/or quantification of BAG3 gene expression in a
biological sample characterized by comprising a couple of
single-stranded oligonucleotide primers encompassed by the bag3
nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO 18).
[0132] Preferably said kit comprise a couple of primers selected
from those having a nucleotide sequence included in one of the
region from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 360, from nucleotide 466 to
nucleotide 1570 or from nucleotide 1801 to nucleotide 2533 of the
bag3 nucleotide sequence.
[0133] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is
that the kit comprises a couple of primers selected from those
having the following sequences: SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2; SEQ
ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4; SEQ ID NO. 5 and SEQ ID NO. 6; SEQ ID
NO. 7 and SEQ ID NO. 8; SEQ ID NO. 9 and SEQ ID NO. 10. Specific
primers bag3 primers according to primer sets 1 to 5, which are
described below and identified by the SEQ ID NO. 1 to SEQ ID NO.
10, allow the detection and quantification of BAG3 expression by
quantitative real-time PCR.
TABLE-US-00002 Primer set 1 fw: SEQ ID NO. 1: AACGGTGACCGCGACCCTTT;
rev: SEQ ID NO. 2: CCTTCCCTAGCAGGCGGCAG Primer set 2 fw: SEQ ID NO.
3: CCGGCTGGCCCTTCTTCGTG; rev: SEQ ID NO. 4: CAGCCTAGAGCCCTCCCGGG
Primer set 3 fw: SEQ ID NO. 5: GTCACCTCTGCGGGGCATGC; rev: SEQ ID
NO. 6: GGTGACTGCCCAGGCTGCTC Primer set 4 fw: SEQ ID NO. 7:
CCAGCCTCCCACGGACCTGA; rev: SEQ ID NO. 8: CTGGTGACTGCCCAGGCTGC
Primer set 5 fw: SEQ ID NO. 9: CAGGAGCAGCACGCCACTCC; rev: SEQ ID
NO. 10: TGGTCCAACTGGGCCTGGCT.
[0134] The RT-PCR kit for bag3 mRNA detection in a biological
sample allows to correlate the levels of bag3 gene expression with
patients' survival and can be used for prognosis and for choice of
therapy. Preferably said biological sample is a serum, plasma,
saliva, urine and tissue sample.
[0135] Preferably, said primers have an annealing temperature
between 60 and 75.degree. C., more preferably of 72.degree. C.
[0136] Preferably, said set of primers is suitable for the
detection and/or quantification of BAG3 RNA or a fragment thereof
by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
[0137] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said
biological sample is a serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue
sample.
[0138] Preferably, said serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue
sample is from a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0139] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
said kit is specific for the diagnosis of a pathological state
selected from the group consisting of a heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, inflammation and inflammatory related diseases of the
skin, nerves, bones, blood vessels and connective tissues.
[0140] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
heart disease is selected from: angina pectoris, pre-infarction
angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia, acute
coronary disease, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure and
iatrogenic heart disease.
[0141] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the cancer is selected from: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and
prostate cancer.
[0142] A further embodiment of the present invention is a method
for detecting and quantify the levels of BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: [0143] a.
obtaining a biological sample, consisting of serum, plasma, urine,
saliva or tissue. [0144] b. extracting the total RNA from the
biological sample. [0145] c. quantifying the BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.
[0146] In molecular biology there are different methods for
detecting or quantify the RNA levels in a biological sample:
Northern blot, RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, DNA-microarray.
[0147] A real-time polymerase chain reaction, also called
quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or kinetic
polymerase chain reaction is a laboratory technique based on the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is used to amplify and
simultaneously quantify a targeted DNA molecule. For one or more
specific sequences in a DNA sample, Real Time-PCR enables both
detection and quantification. The quantity can be either an
absolute number of copies or a relative amount when normalized to
DNA input or additional normalizing genes.
[0148] The procedure follows the general principle of polymerase
chain reaction; its key feature is that the amplified DNA is
detected as the reaction progresses in real time. This is a new
approach compared to standard PCR, where the product of the
reaction is detected at its end. Two common methods for the
detection of products in real-time PCR are: (1) non-specific
fluorescent dyes that intercalate with any double-stranded DNA, and
(2) sequence-specific DNA probes consisting of oligonucleotides
that are labelled with a fluorescent reporter which permits
detection only after hybridization of the probe with its
complementary DNA target.
[0149] Frequently, real-time PCR is combined with reverse
transcription to quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) and non-coding RNA
in cells, tissues or biological samples.
[0150] Real-time reverse-transcription PCR is often denoted as:
qRT-PCR. The acronym "RT-PCR" commonly denotes reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction.
[0151] According to a preferred embodiment, the method of the
present invention further comprises the additional step of: [0152]
d. comparing the values obtained from biological sample with
reference values or with the values obtained from healthy
donors.
[0153] According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention said serum, plasma, urine, saliva or tissue sample is
from a mammalian, preferably a human.
[0154] According to a preferred embodiment in the method of the
present invention the presence of said BAG3 RNA or a fragment
thereof is associated with a pathological condition.
[0155] Preferably, said pathological condition is selected from the
group consisting of a heart disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation
and inflammatory related diseases of the skin, nerves, bones, blood
vessels and connective tissues.
[0156] Preferably said heart disease is selected from: angina
pectoris, pre-infarction angina, myocardial infarction, heart
failure, ischemia, acute coronary disease, acute heart failure,
chronic heart failure and iatrogenic heart disease.
[0157] Preferably said cancer disease is selected from: pancreatic
cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer.
[0158] A still further aspect of the invention is represented by
anti-BAG3 monoclonal antibodies, their fragments, and peptides
corresponding to specific aminoacidic sequences of BAG3 protein
that are able to block macrophage activation and can therefore be
used for therapy of inflammatory, oncologic or other diseases
involving macrophage activation. See in particular FIG. 3 and Table
I.
[0159] This invention relates to the use of BAG3-specific mouse
monoclonal antibodies AC-1, AC-2 and AC-3 or same modified as
F(ab), F(ab')2, F(ab) or humanized; or peptides comprising
sequences as follows:
TABLE-US-00003 (SEQ ID NO. 11) PEP 1: DRDPLPPGWEIKIDPQ (SEQ ID NO.
12) PEP2: SSPKSVATEERAAPS (SEQ ID NO. 13) PEP3: DKGKKNAGNAEDPHT
(SEQ ID NO. 14) PEP4: NPSSMTDTPGNPAAP
as molecules able to bind and/or block soluble BAG3 effects.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Serum Deprivation-Induced Stress in Cultured Human Primary
Cardiomyocytes and the Rat Cardiomyocyte Cell Line H9c2
[0160] Cardiomyocytes are known to release protective factors in
mounting a response against stressful agents. Since stress-induced
proteins, such as Hsp70, Hp27, Hsp90 and others, although exerting
an intracellular activity, can also be secreted in response to
stress, BAG3 release by cardiomyocytes was analyzed in stressful
conditions. For this purpose, we analyzed the effect of serum
deprivation-induced stress in cultured human primary cardiomyocytes
or the rat cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2. As shown in FIG. 1, we
could detect BAG3 protein in the supernatants of cardiomyocytes
exposed to serum deprivation for 16 h (FIG. 1A). Since at that time
point cell survival was not affected by serum deprivation (results
not shown), we discarded the hypothesis that BAG3 release was due
to cell necrosis. Therefore we verified whether BAG3 was present in
exocytic vesicles. Indeed, by isolating extracellular vesicles
through a differential centrifugation procedure (16), we found that
they contained BAG3 protein (FIG. 1B).
[0161] To further verify the existence of a soluble form of BAG3,
we investigated its presence in two blood sera from patients
affected by chronic heart failure (CHF). Through western blot
analysis, we could identify a band recognized by anti-BAG3
antibody. We excised the band and subjected it to mass
spectrometry, confirming its identity (FIG. 1C). This evidence
confirmed that the protein could be detected in an extracellular
form. We could not detect the protein in sera from healthy donors
(FIG. 1C).
[0162] Peptides recognized and matched by mass spectrometry on the
entire BAG3 protein sequence are indicated in bold:
TABLE-US-00004 (SEQ ID NO: 15) MSAATHSPMM QVASGNGDRD PLPPGWEIKI
DPQTGWPFFV DHNSRTTTWN DPRVPSEGPK ETPSSANGPS REGSRLPPAR EGHPVYPQLR
PGYIPIPVLH EGAENRQVHP FHVYPQPGMQ RFRTEAAAAA PQRSQSPLRG MPETTQPDKQ
CGQVAAAAAA QPPASHGPER SQSPAASDCS SSSSSASLPS SGRSSLGSHQ LPRGYISIPV
IHEQNVTRPA AQPSFHQAQK THYPAQQGEY QTHQPVYHKI QGDDWEPRPL RAASPFRSSV
QGASSREGSP ARSSTPLHSP SPIRVHTVVD RPQQPMTHRE TAPVSQPENK PESKPGPVGP
ELPPGHIPIQ VIRKEVDSKP VSQKPPPPSE KVEVKVPPAP VPCPPPSPGP SAVPSSPKSV
ATEERAAPST APAEATPPKP GEAEAPPKHP GVLKVEAILE KVQGLEQAVD NFEGKKTDKK
YLMIEEYLTK ELLALDSVDP EGRADVRQAR RDGVRKVQTI LEKLEQKAID VPGQVQVYEL
QPSNLEADQP LQAIMEMGAV AADKGKKNAG NAEDPHTETQ QPEATAAATS NPSSMTDTPG
NPAAP.
[0163] The human BAG 3 protein has the amino acid sequence
according to SEQ ID NO:15.
Example 2
Anti-BAG3 Antibodies in CHF Patients' Sera
[0164] We found that sera from CHF patients recognized BAG3 protein
in western blotting, using an anti-human IgG as secondary antibody
(results representative of experiments with sera from three
different patients are shown in FIG. 2A). This result indicated the
presence of anti-BAG3 antibodies in CHF patients' sera. To confirm
this finding, we analyzed sera from 50 CHF patients (with ejection
fraction<60%) compared with sera from 50 healthy donors, for the
presence of anti-BAG3 antibodies in a specific ELISA test. As shown
in FIG. 2B, we detected significantly higher values of anti-BAG3
antibodies in patients' compared to controls' sera. ROC analysis of
ELISA test results, using as cut-off 0.083 A.U., in 74% sensitivity
and 68% specificity (FIG. 2C).
Example 3
BAG3 Binding to Macrophages
[0165] We addressed the functional significance of BAG3 release by
cardiomyocytes. We excluded that the protein could be involved in
an autocrine pathway, because it did not apparently bind to the
cardiomyocyte surface, as we assessed in experiments using
fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated BAG3 (FIG. 3A).
Therefore we investigated whether BAG3 could interact with blood
cells. Indeed, we found that FITC-BAG3 bound to macrophages of the
cell line J774 (FIG. 3B). BAG3 binding to macrophages was
specifically impaired by competing BAG3 peptides or by
BAG3-sequestering F(ab')2 fragments from anti-BAG3 monoclonal
antibodies (Table I).
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE I FITC-rBAG3 FITC-BSA Competiton assays % % %
of positive of positive of positive % cells (.+-.S.D.) cells
(.+-.S.D.) cells (.+-.S.D.) inhibition FITC-rBAG3 15.7 (.+-.0.45)
FITC-BSA 4.04 (.+-.0.06) (FITC-rBAG3)- 11.06 (.+-.0.45) (FITC-BSA)
FITC-rBAG3 + 0.18 (.+-.0.05) 98.4 Pepl FITC-rBAG3 + 1.21 (.+-.0.63)
89.1 Pep2 FITC-rBAG3 + 5.86 (.+-.0.43) 47.2 Pep3 FITC-rBAG3 + 0.68
(.+-.0.20) 93.8 Pep4 FITC-rBAG3 + 12.1 (.+-.0.21) 0.0 Pep Scr
FITC-rBAG3 + 12.3 (.+-.0.40) 0.0 Mouse IgG F(ab')2 FITC-rBAG3 +
14.7 (.+-.0.20) 0.0 Rabbit IgG F(ab')2 FITC-rBAG3 + 4.11 (.+-.0.26)
62.8 AC1 IgG F(ab')2 FITC-rBAG3 + 3.76 (.+-.0.43) 66.0 AC2 IgG
F(ab')2 FITC-rBAG3 + 3.19 (.+-.0.21) 71.1 TOS2 IgG F(ab')2
[0166] In particular J774 cells were incubated with 14 nM FITC-BAG3
protein and with 625 nM of BAG3 peptides (peptide 1, peptide 2,
peptide 3, peptide 4 or scrambled peptide) or with 420 nM of
F(ab')2 fragments from anti-BAG3 monoclonal and polyclonal
antibodies (mouse monoclonal AC1, AC2 and rabbit polyclonal TOS2).
F(ab')2 fragments from mouse IgG or F(ab')2 fragments from rabbit
IgG were used as a negative control.
[0167] To explore functional consequences of BAG3 binding to
macrophages, we tested the effect of recombinant BAG3 on the
expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and
cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 in the cells. As shown in FIG. 3C panel a
the levels of those enzymes were enhanced in BAG3-treated
macrophages. Furthermore, BAG3 induced the release of nitrite and
interleukin (IL)-6 (FIG. 3C panels b and c) confirming that
macrophages were activated in response to their binding to the
protein.
[0168] In sera from CHF patients we could detect significant
amounts of anti-BAG3 antibodies (FIG. 2A,B). Autoantibodies
production is likely related to the extracellular release of a
normally intracellular protein, as happens, for example, in chronic
ischaemia patients who produce anti-troponin autoantibodies. ELISA
values of anti-BAG3 antibodies in CHF patients' sera are
significantly higher than those detected in healthy controls'
sera.
[0169] Therefore, production of anti-BAG3 antibodies, detected by
ELISA, appears a biomarker of chronic heart failure. Its utility
for risk stratification and therapy monitoring is worthy of
investigation.
[0170] BAG3 release by stressed cardiomyocytes and subsequent
activation of macrophages, leading to local release of NO, might
constitute a protective circuit in heart ischemia. Indeed,
vasodilation, neoangiogenesis and remodelling might be targeted.
BAG3 release and its transient or chronic effects deserve
investigation and could contribute to our understanding of ischemia
and other heart stress states.
[0171] Furthermore, BAG3-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies AC-1,
AC-2 and AC-3 and/or others or same modified as F(ab), F(ab')2,
F(ab) or humanized; or peptides comprising sequences PEP 1 to 4
and/or others are molecules able to bind and/or block soluble BAG3
effects to be used for therapy of inflammatory, oncologic or other
diseases involving macrophage activation.
Example 4
BAG3 Expression in PDAC by Immunohistochemistry
[0172] We have developed an immunohistochemistry (IHC) kit,
including our anti-BAG3 monoclonal antibodies and able to detect
BAG3 protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC). This kit revealed BAG3
expression in all the 346 (100%) PDAC biopsies that we analyzed.
BAG3 staining revealed a moderate positivity of Langerhans islets,
while normal pancreatic ducts and pancreatic acinar cells had no
BAG3 expression. This was true in both normal pancreas and
non-neoplastic pancreatic tissue adjacent to the tumour mass. BAG3
staining was observed predominantly in the cytoplasm of tumor
cells. The intensity of staining of BAG3 was variable as was the
number of positive cancer cells. Furthermore, Langerhans insulae
were positive and constituted a good internal control of IHC (FIG.
4A). Therefore our kit allows the detection of BAG3 protein in PDAC
by IHC. Furthermore, it allows detecting BAG3 protein by IHC also
in other tumor or normal tissues.
[0173] We investigated also the expression of BAG3 in correlation
with patients' survival and in response to therapy. We analyzed a
cohort of 346 PDAC samples from the same number of patients (Table
II) describing data of all tumor samples analyzed by
immunohistochemistry and data of the subgroup of R0 patients
analyzed with survival data; We assigned a score based on the
proportion of positive cancer cells in the sample by counting the
number of positive cells over the total cancer cells in 10
non-overlapping fields using a 400.times. magnification.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE II age Nodal stage Tumor grade No. average
.+-. sex Local tumor stage T (%) N (%) G (%) Tot S.D. M F T1 T2 T3
T4 N0 N1 G1 G2 G3 PDAC 346 63.0 .+-. 10.5 181 165 5 59 264 18 130
216 16 177 153 patients data (1.4) (17.1) (76.3) (5.2) (37.6)
(62.4) (4.6) (51.2) (44.2) PDAC patients 66 61.9 .+-. 11.3 36 30 0
1 65 0 13 53 3 37 26 with survival data (0.0) (1.5) (98.5) (0.0)
(19.7) (80.3) (4.5) (56.1) (39.4)
[0174] The median percentage of BAG3 positive cells, calculated as
described, was 40% and this value was used as a cut-off to separate
low and high positive samples. Based on this classification 190
patient samples (55%) were classified as low positive (.ltoreq.40%
of positive cells), and 156 (45%) were classified as high positive
(>40% of positive cells) (FIG. 4, panel B). The survival
analysis was performed in a cohort of 66 patients of which all the
lesions examined were with resection margins free from tumor cells
(R0) and only the 3.7% showed the presence of metastases to distant
organs (Table II). Obtained data showed that patients with high
BAG3 expression had a significantly shorter survival (median
survival=12.0 months) than those with low BAG3 expression (median
survival=23.0 months), (p=0.0013) (FIG. 4, panel C). Based on Cox
proportional analysis high BAG3 expression was associated with a
more than two-fold higher risk of death (Table III).
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE III Parameter HR 95% CI p-value Age (years)
0.99 0.97-1.02 0.601 Sex (M vs. F) 0.86 0.48-1.55 0.617 Tumor grade
(G2 vs. G1) 0.84 0.24-2.98 0.789 Tumor grade (G3 vs. G1) 1.55
0.45-5.37 0.486 Local tumor stage (T3 vs. T2) 2.5 0.30-21.17 0.400
Nodal stage (N1 vs. N0) 1.17 0.58-2.37 0.668 BAG3 Positivity (High
vs. Low) 2.7 1.53-4.78 <0.001 events = 66 n = 66
Example 5
BAG3 Protein in Response to Therapy
[0175] The first-line chemotherapy for treatment of pancreatic
cancer is gemcitabine. In order to investigate the role of BAG3
protein in response to therapy, we analyzed the effect of BAG3
down-modulation in human PDAC cells. We transfected the cells with
a specific siRNA targeting bag3 mRNA or with a non specific (NT)
siRNA, and treated cells with gemcitabine for the indicated times.
Silencing of BAG3 enhanced cell apoptosis in response to the drug
(FIG. 8).
[0176] These results demonstrate the over expression of BAG3
protein and mRNA in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the association
of high expression levels with a higher risk of death, assigning to
BAG3 a role of marker useful for prognosis and therapy choice.
Furthermore they show that BAG3 down-modulation enhances apoptosis
in PDAC cells. Due to its wide expression in all the lesions tested
and to its involvement in sustaining pancreatic cancer cell
survival, BAG3 represents a valuable target for innovative
therapies in PDAC.
Example 6
BAG3 Protein in Sera of Pancreatic Cancer Patients
[0177] Because of its wide expression in pancreatic cancer
patients, we investigated whether BAG3 was present in sera of
pancreatic cancer patients. We found that indeed BAG3 was
detectable. Also anti-BAG3 antibodies were detectable, although in
prevalence complexed with BAG3. We therefore developed an ELISA
test for detecting BAG3/antibody complexes. We analyzed sera from
51 healthy donors and 55 patients affected by PDAC (Table IV).
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE IV N AGE (TOT) (median + s.e.) M F healthy
donor 51 58.7 + 1.6 35 16 PDAC patients 55 64.0 + 1.3 30 25
[0178] As shown in FIG. 9A, immunocomplexes (measured in arbitrary
units) were significantly higher in sera from patients that in
those from healthy donors. Furthermore ROC analysis of ELISA test
results, using as cut-off 0.183 A.U., in 65% sensitivity and 78%
specificity (FIG. 9B).
Example 7
BAG3 Expression by Quantitative Real-Time PCR
[0179] The immunohistochemical data on BAG3 expression was also
confirmed measuring bag3 mRNA levels in 25 PDAC tissue samples
(Table V).
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE V No. age average + sex Local tumor stage T
(%) Nodal stage N (%) Tumor grade G (%) Tot S.D. M F T1 T2 T3 T4 N0
N1 G1 G2 G3 25* 65.4 .+-. 11.9 21 4 2 (8.0) 3 (12.0) 20 (80.0) -- 6
(24.0) 19 (76.0) 3 (12.5) 13 (54.2) 8 (33.3)
[0180] In particular, there were 16 survivors out of the 25
patients, while 9 patients died of pancreatic cancer progression,
at the time of the analysis. The median of expression of bag3 mRNA
in tumors analyzed was set at 0.0068 (Q1=0.004; Q3=0.010) (FIG. 7,
panel A). All the considered demographics and clinical features of
PDAC patients were unrelated to bag3 mRNA levels. Thus, correlation
with survival was evaluated and the median of bag3 expression
levels in PDAC samples was used as a cut-off to separate patients
with low from those with high bag3 expression. Thirteen samples
(52%) were thus classified as high bag3 positive and 12 samples
(48%) as low bag3 positive. Patients with high bag3 expression had
shorter survival (median survival=19.0 months) than those with low
bag3 expression (median survival=32.0 months), p-value=0.0198 (FIG.
7, panel B). Based on Cox proportional analysis high bag3
expression was associated with over six fold higher risk of death
(univariate: HR=6.094; 95% CI=1.105-33.597, p=0.038).
[0181] bag3 primers that detect BAG3 expression by quantitative
real-time RT-PCR. We developed a RT-PCR kit containing specific
primers for bag3 mRNA detection and quantification.
Example 8
[0182] 1 ml of urine, after prostatic massage was collected from
male patients screened for prostate cancer. Total RNA was obtained
from urine and bag3 RNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. Bag3 score
was calculated in each sample, as relative expression levels using
the comparative method, after normalizing for the expression of the
endogenous GAPDH. In the reported table bag3 was compared between
two groups having displaying different PCA3 score.
[0183] PCA3 is a prostate specific non-coding mRNA that is
significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer tissue.
[0184] Urinary PCA3 RNA levels have been associated with prostate
cancer grade suggesting a significant role in the diagnosis of
prostate cancer. PCA3 score is calculated using quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology; in particular PCA3 and
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) mRNA molecules are amplified and
the PCA3 Score is calculated as equal to 1000.times.[mRNA
PCA3]/[mRNA PSA]. (ref: Bussemakers M J, van Bokhoven A, Verhaegh G
W, Smit F P, Karthaus H F, Schalken J A et al. DD3: a new
prostate-specific gene, highly overexpressed in prostate cancer.
Cancer Res 1999; 59: 5975-9).
[0185] A patient with a PCA3 Score.gtoreq.35 has a high probability
of having PCA and repeat biopsy is advisable. If the outcome is
negative (PCA3 Score<35), the patient has a lower probability of
having PCA and repeat biopsy might be delayed with active
surveillance/follow-up of the patient. BAG3 score analysis in these
two groups of samples showed a similar trend between bag3 score and
PCA3 score, indeed, patients having a low PCA3 score were
associated with a BAG3 score mean of 1.20 while high PCA3 score
patients were associated with a BAG3 score mean of 2.88. Difference
between the two groups was measured by student t test and resulted
significant: P=0.001.
[0186] This result suggests the possibility that bag3 RNA
determination in urine samples can represent a novel tool for risk
assessment to develop prostate cancer.
Methods
Cell Cultures
[0187] HCMa (Human Cardiac Myocytes-adult) were purchased from
Sciencell Research Laboratories (San Diego, Calif.) and grown in
Cardiac Myocyte Medium (CMM, FBS 5%, Cardiac Myocyte Growth
Supplement 1%, penicillin/streptomycin solution 1%) (Sciencell
Research Laboratories, San Diego, Calif.). All experiments were
performed on low-passage cell cultures. Embryonic rat
cardiomyoblasts (line H9c2) was purchased from the American Type
Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, Va., USA) and grown in
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10%
fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 .mu.g/mL
streptomycin. J774A.1, murine monocyte macrophage cell line (ATCC,
Manassas, Va., USA), was grown in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal
bovine serum (FBS), 25 mM HEPES, 2 mM glutamine, 100 u/mL
penicillin and 100 .mu.g/mL streptomycin.
[0188] The pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIA PaCa-2, AsPC-1, PSN1,
Capan-1 and PANC-1) were received from the American Type Culture
Collection (ATCC; Manassas, Va.) cell bank. MIA PaCa-2 cells were
cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and
supplemented with 10% FBS and 2.5% horse serum. AsPC-1 and PSN1
cells were grown in RPMI-1640 Medium supplemented with 10% FBS.
Capan-1 were cultured in RPMI-1640 containing 20% FBS while PANC-1
were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. All media for the
above cell lines were purchased from BioWhittaker-Lonza (Bergamo,
Italy) MediaTech (Manassas, Va.) and were supplemented with 100
units of penicillin/mL and 2 .mu.g streptomycin/mL (Sigma-Aldrich,
St. Louis, Mo.). The cells were incubated at 37.degree. C. in a 5%
CO.sub.2 environment. Cells were treated with Gemcitabine
(2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine; GEM, Gemzar.RTM.) provided by Eli
Lilly (Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) at the indicated
concentrations.
Dissociation of BAG3 Antibodies in Human Sera
[0189] Sera were diluted 1:40 with dissociation buffer (PBS with
1.5% BSA and 0.2 M glycine-acetate pH 2.5) to a 500 .mu.l final
volume and incubated for 20 min at room temperature. The sera were
then pipetted into the sample reservoir of Microcon centrifugal
filter device, YM-100 (100,000 MW cut-off; Millipore, Billerica,
Mass., USA) and centrifuged at 14,100 rpm for 20 min at room
temperature. The sample reservoir was then separated from the flow
through, placed inverted into a second tube and centrifuged at
5,000 rpm for 3 min at room temperature. The collected solution
containing the antibody dissociated was adjusted to pH 7.0 with 1 M
Tris buffer, pH 9.0. The retentate volume was reconstituted to the
initial volume (500 .mu.l) with dilution buffer (PBS with 1.5% BSA
and 0.1% Tween-20). 14 For detection of BAG3 protein by
immunoblotting, the dissociated antibodies were diluted 1:200 in
TBST containing 5% bovine serum albumin overnight at 4.degree.
C.
Western Blot Analysis
[0190] Cells were harvested and lysed in a buffer containing 20 mM
HEPES (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% Triton (TNN buffer) supplemented
with a protease inhibitors cocktail (1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl
fluoride, 1 mg/ml pepstatin A, 2 mg/ml aprotinin) by 3 cycles of
freezing and thawing. Soluble proteins were collected after a
centrifugation at 10,000 g for 15 min and their amount was
determined by Bradford assay (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). 25 .mu.g
of total protein and serum samples (1:2 in PBS-T 0.05%) were run on
8% or 10% SDS-PAGE gels and electrophoretically transferred to
nitrocellulose membrane. Nitrocellulose blots were blocked with 10%
non-fat dry milk in TBST buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 500 mM
NaCl, and 0.1% Tween 20) and incubated with primary antibodies in
TBST containing 5% bovine serum albumin or 5% non-fat dry milk,
overnight at 4.degree. C. Immunoreactivity was detected by
sequential incubation with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated
secondary antibodies purchased from Pierce (Rockford, Ill.) and ECL
detection reagents purchased from Amersham Life Sciences Inc.
(Arlington Heights, Ill., USA).
[0191] Scanning densitometry of the bands was performed with an
Image Scan (SnapScan 1212; Agfa-Gevaert NV). The area under the
curve related to each band was determined using Gimp2 software.
Background was subtracted from the calculated values.
Mass Spectrometry
[0192] Protein bands were excised and gel pieces were subsequently
washed with MilliQ Water and Acetonitrile and the proteins were
digested in situ as described in Shevchenko protocol. Briefly, gel
slices were reduced in 1,4-dithiothreitol (10 mM) and alkylated
with iodoacetamide (50 mM), then washed and rehydrated in trypsin
solution (12 ng/.mu.L) on ice for 1 h. After the addition of 30
.mu.L ammonium bicarbonate (10 mM, pH 7.5), samples were digested
overnight at 25.degree. C. 5 .mu.L of the obtained peptide mixture
were injected onto a nano Acquity LC system (Waters Corp.
Manchester, United Kingdom). The peptides were separated on a 1.7
.mu.m BEH C-18 column (Waters Corp. Manchester, United Kingdom) at
a flow rate of 200 nl/min. The gradient (Solution A: 0.1% formic
acid, solution B: 0.1% formic acid, 100% ACN) started at 5% and
ended at 50% B after 55 min. MS and MS/MS data were acquired using
a Q-TOF Premier mass spectrometer (Waters Corp., Micromass,
Manchester, United Kingdom). Doubly and triply charged peptide-ions
were automatically chosen by the MassLynx software and fragmented.
MS data were automatically processed and peak lists for protein
identifications by database searches were generated by the
ProteinLynx software. Database searches were carried out with
MASCOT server using the SwissProt protein database. The SwissProt
human database (405506 sequences; 146166984 residues) was searched
allowing 1 missed cleavage, carbamidomethyl(C) as fixed
modification. The peptide tolerance was set to 60 ppm and the MS/MS
tolerance to 0.8 Da.
Purification of Exocytic Vesicles by Differential
Ultracentrifugation
[0193] Serum-free medium of H9c2 was cleared of cells and large
debris by serial centrifugation at 4.degree. C. (2000.times.g for
15 min, 10,000.times.g for 30 min). After each of the first two
centrifugations, pellets are discarded, and the supernatant is kept
for the next step. The final supernatant is then ultracentrifuged
at 150,000.times.g for 90 min at 4.degree. C. (with a SW50.1 rotor,
and an Optima L-90K Ultracentrifuge, Beckman Coulter) to pellet
exosomes. The pellet is washed in PBS to eliminate contaminating
proteins and centrifuged one last time at 150,000.times.g for 90
min at 4.degree. C. 16 After washing, the pellet (exosomes) was
resuspended in 20 .mu.l of PBS and analyzed with the anti-BAG3
TOS-2 polyclonal antibody in comparison with a whole-cell lysate by
western blot. Rab-4 was analyzed as a marker for exocytic
vesicles.
FACS Analysis
[0194] rBAG3 binding--J774 A.1 cells were blocked with 2% FBS+0.1%
NaN3 in PBS for 15 min on ice and incubated (2.5.times.105/100
.mu.l) with different concentration of FITC-rBAG3 protein (7, 14
and 70 nm) or FITC-BSA (70 nM) in PBS containing 2% FBS+0.1% NaN3
for 30 min at 4.degree. C. in the dark. After washing with PBS, the
cells were resuspended in PBS+2% FBS+0.1% NaN3 and analyzed with a
FACScan (BD Biosciences) flow cytometer.
[0195] Competition--J774 A.1 cells (2.5.times.105/100 .mu.l) were
incubated with 625 nM of BAG3 peptides (peptide 1, peptide 2,
peptide 3, peptide 4 or scrambled peptide) or with 420 nM of
F(ab')2 fragments from anti-BAG3 monoclonal and polyclonal
antibodies (mouse monoclonal AC1, AC2 and rabbit polyclonal TOS2)
or F(ab')2 fragments from mouse IgG or F(ab')2 fragments from
rabbit IgG in PBS containing 2% FBS+0.1% NaN3 for 30 min on ice.
After incubation the cells were washing with PBS and then were
incubated with of FITC-rBAG3 protein (14 nM), in PBS containing 2%
FBS+0.1% NaN.sub.3 for 30 min at 4.degree. C. in the dark. After
washing with PBS, the cells were resuspended in PBS+2% FBS+0.1%
NaN3 and analyzed by flow cytometer (BD Biosciences).
IL6 Detection by ELISA
[0196] IL6 was measured in supernatant of J774 A.1 cells
(5.times.10.sup.4/in 96-well microplates) treated with LPS (10
ng/ml) or with rBAG3 (14 nM) or BSA (14 nM) for 10 or 20 hours in
absence or presence of polymyxin B sulfate (5 .mu.g/ml). After
treatment 50 .mu.L of cell culture medium were collected and
analyzed in triplicate with a mouse IL6 Kit (eBioscience).
Fluorescence
[0197] Cells were cultured on coverslips in six-well plates to
60-70% confluence and equal amount of rBAG3-FITC and BSA-FITC
proteins were added in HCMa and J774 A1 culture media with 0.1%
NaN.sub.3 for 1 h. Coverslips were washed in 1.times.PBS and fixed
in 3.7% formaldehyde in 1.times.PBS for 30 min at room temperature,
and then incubated for 5 min with 1.times.PBS 0.1M glycine.
Following incubation with a 1:100 dilution of anti-.beta.-integrin
monoclonal antibody at 4.degree. C., coverslips were washed three
times with 1.times.PBS. After incubation with a 1:500 dilution of
goat anti-mouse IgG DyLight 594-conjugated antibodies (Jackson
ImmunoResearch, West Grove, Pa., USA) at room temperature for 45
min, coverslips were again washed for three times in 1.times.PBS.
Once incubation with Hoechst 33342 (Sigma Aldrich, 2 .mu.g/ml) at
room temperature for 10 min, coverslips were again washed for 3
times in PBS and then in distilled water. The coverslips were then
mounted on a slide with interspaces containing 47% (v/v) glycerol.
Samples were analyzed using a confocal laser scanning microscope
(Zeiss LSM confocal microscope, Germany). Images were acquired in
sequential scan mode by using the same acquisitions parameters
(laser intensities, gain photomultipliers, pinhole aperture,
objective 63.times., zoom 2) when comparing experimental and
control material. For production of figures, brightness and
contrast of images were adjusted by taking care to leave a light
cellular fluorescence background for visual appreciation of the
lowest fluorescence intensity features and to help comparison among
the different experimental groups. Final figures were assembled
using Adobe Photoshop 7 and Adobe Illustrator 10. Leica Q9 Confocal
Software and ImageJ were used for data analysis.
Measurement of Antibody Titers by ELISA
[0198] NUNC Maxisorp 96 well ELISA plates were coated with
recombinant BAG3 protein 1 .mu.g/ml (50 .mu.l/well) in PBS, pH 7
and incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. Plates were washed 2 times
with washing buffer (PBS+0.05% Tween-20), and then blocked (150
.mu.l/well) for one hour at room temperature with 0.5% fish gelatin
in PBS. Following blocking, the plates were washed 2 times with
washing buffer and sera were diluted 1:70 with 0.5% fish gelatin in
washing buffer and then applied (50 .mu.l/well) in triplicate and
incubated at room temperature for two hour. The plates were then
washed 6 times with washing buffer. Anti-human IgG (H+L) antibody
(Sigma Aldrich) was diluted 1:20,000 with 0.5% fish gelatin in
washing buffer, added at 50 .mu.l/well and incubated at 4.degree.
C. for 30 minutes. After incubation, the plates were washed 6
times, developed with TMB (50 .mu.l/well) (eBioscience), the
reaction stopped with 4.5 M sulfuric acid (25 .mu.l/well) and the
plates were analyzed spectrophotometrically at 450 nm.
NO.sub.2.sup.- Assay
[0199] Nitrite content (NO.sub.2.sup.-), a stable metabolite of NO
released by cells in the culture supernatant, was measured in J774
A.1 cells (5.times.104/in 96-well microplates) treated with LPS (10
ng/ml) or with rBAG3 (7, 14 and 28 nM) or BSA (28 nM) for 24 hours
in absence or presence of polymyxin B sulfate (Sigma-Aldrich, St.
Louis, Mo., USA) 5 .mu.g/ml. NO.sub.2.sup.- amounts were measured
by Griess reaction. Briefly, 100 .mu.L of cell culture medium were
mixed with 100 .mu.L of Griess reagent--equal volumes of 1% (w:v)
sulphanilamide in 5% (v:v) phosphoric acid and 0.1% (w:v)
naphtylethylenediamine-HCl--and incubated at room temperature for
10 min, and then the absorbance was measured at 550 nm in a
microplate reader Titertek (Dasit, Cornaredo, Milan, Italy). The
amount of NO2- (as .mu.M) in the samples was calculated from a
sodium nitrite standard curve.
Measurement of BAG3/Antibody Immunocomplexes by ELISA NUNC Maxisorp
96 well ELISA plates were coated with anti-BAG3 monoclonal antibody
AC-1, AC-2 or AC-3 in PBS, pH 7 and incubated overnight at
4.degree. C. Plates were washed 2 times with washing buffer
(PBS+0.05% Tween-20), and then blocked (150 .mu.l/well) for one
hour at room temperature with 0.5% fish gelatin in PBS. Following
blocking, the plates were washed 2 times with washing buffer and
sera were diluted 1:70 with 0.5% fish gelatin in washing buffer and
then applied (50 .mu.l/well) in triplicate and incubated at room
temperature for two hour. The plates were then washed 6 times with
washing buffer. Anti-human IgG (H+L) antibody (Sigma Aldrich) was
diluted 1:20,000 with 0.5% fish gelatin in washing buffer, added at
50 .mu.l/well and incubated at 4.degree. C. for 30 minutes. After
incubation, the plates were washed 6 times, developed with TMB (50
.mu.l/well) (eBioscience), the reaction stopped with 4.5 M sulfuric
acid (25 .mu.l/well) and the plates were analyzed
spectrophotometrically at 450 nm.
Immunohistochemistry
[0200] Immunohistochemistry protocol included: deparaffination in
xylene, re-hydration through descending concentrations of alcohol
up to pure water, non-enzymatic antigen retrieval in citrate
buffer, pH 6.0, for 30 minutes at 95.degree. C., and endogenous
peroxidase quenching with H2O2 in methanol for 20 minutes. After
rinsing with PBS, the samples were blocked with 5% normal horse
serum in 0.1% PBS/BSA. To detect BAG3, samples were incubated for 1
hour at room temperature with BAG3 monoclonal antibody AC-1, AC-2
or AC-3 at the concentration of 3 microg/ml. After washing
thoroughly with PBS, sections were incubated with a biotinylated
secondary anti-mouse IgG for 20 minutes, then rinsed, incubated
with avidin-biotin-complexes peroxidase (purchased from
Novocastra-Leica Microsystems, Milano, IT) and developed with
diaminobenzidine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.). Finally, the
sections were counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated in
alcohol, cleared in xylene, and mounted with Permount (Fisher
Scientific, Milan, IT).
Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR
[0201] Tissue specimens of resected pancreatic cancer were taken,
immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80.degree. C.
until RNA extraction. Total RNA was isolated from frozen tissues
and from pancreatic cancer cell lines by means of phenol extraction
(TRIzol Reagent, Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif., USA). In
tissue samples Cancer cellularity was enriched by cryostat
sectioning and dissection of most cellular areas. RNA concentration
and purity (A260:A280>2.0; A260/A230>1.8) were validated by
NanoDrop Spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher, Waltham, Mass., USA).
1.0 .mu.g of total RNA was reverse-transcribed using the
High-Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit according to the
manufacturer's instructions (Applied Biosystems, Applera, Foster
City, Calif., USA). Quantitative real-time PCR assay was used to
assess the differential expression of BAG3 in tumor tissue samples.
Primers for the human bag3 gene were synthesized by Primm srl
(Milano, Italy) (forward primer: (SEQ ID NO:16) CCT GTT AGC TGT GGT
TG; reverse primer: (SEQ ID NO:17) AAC ATA CAG ATA TTC CTA TGG
C).
[0202] For urine samples, 1 ml of urine collected after prostatic
massage and stabilized with RNA protector buffer were transferred
in 15 ml falcon tube, and mixed with 2 ml of Trizol Reagent.RTM.
and 1 ml of chloroform. Samples were centrifuged for 15 minutes at
4.degree. C., 8000 rpm. Aqueous phase was transferred in a new
falcon tube and 1 ml of pure ethanol was added. Sample was mixed
and transferred (in 4 steps) on RNAeasy qiagen column, then
supplier protocol suitable for RNA purification was followed. RNA
was eluted in 15 .mu.l of elution buffer. 12 .mu.l of eluted RNA
were used for the Reverse transcription reaction performed in a
final volume of 20 .mu.l. (Quantitect reverse transcription kit,
Qiagen). 2 .mu.l of synthesized cDNA were used for Real Time PCR
screening, on Light Cycler 480 Roche instrument.
[0203] Bag3 primers were: fw 5'-CAGGAGCAGCACGCCACTCC-3' (SEQ ID
NO:16); rev 5'-TGGTCCAACTGGGCCTGGCT-3'(SEQ ID NO:17).
[0204] GAPDH mRNA was measured to normalize measured bag3 RNA
values with primers: fw 5'-AGCCTCCCGCTTCGCTCTCT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 19);
rev 5'-CCAGGCGCCCAATACGACCA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 20).
[0205] All qPCRs were performed in a 25-.mu.l final volume, in
three replicates per sample, by using QuantiFast SYBR Green PCR kit
(QIAGEN, Hamburg, Germany) and run in an ABI PRISM.RTM. 7700
Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems, Applera, Foster
City, Calif., USA) or in a Light Cycler 480 Roche instrument,
according to the following conditions: 95.degree. C. for 5 min, 40
cycles at 95.degree. C. for 10 s and at 60.degree. C. for 30 sec.
Data were acquired as threshold cycle (Ct) value using the S.D.S
software v 2.1. In each sample, bag3 mRNA relative expression
levels was obtained using the comparative method, after normalizing
for the expression of the endogenous GAPDH.
[0206] From the above description and the above-noted examples, the
advantage obtained by the biological markers described and obtained
according to the present invention are apparent.
Sequence CWU 1
1
20120DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned DNA"
/note="Forward primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 1aacggtgacc
gcgacccttt 20220DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Reverse primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 2ccttccctag
caggcggcag 20320DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Forward primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 3ccggctggcc
cttcttcgtg 20420DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Reverse primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 4cagcctagag
ccctcccggg 20520DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="forward primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 5gtcacctctg
cggggcatgc 20620DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Reverse primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 6ggtgactgcc
caggctgctc 20720DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Forward primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 7ccagcctccc
acggacctga 20820DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Reverse primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 8ctggtgactg
cccaggctgc 20920DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Forward primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 9caggagcagc
acgccactcc 201020DNAHomo sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned
DNA" /note="Reverse primer" /organism="Homo sapiens" 10tggtccaact
gggcctggct 201116PRTHomo sapiensprotein 11Asp Arg Asp Pro Leu Pro
Pro Gly Trp Glu Ile Lys Ile Asp Pro Gln 1 5 10 15 1215PRTHomo
sapiensProtein 12Ser Ser Pro Lys Ser Val Ala Thr Glu Glu Arg Ala
Ala Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 1315PRTHomo sapiensProtein 13Asp Lys Gly Lys
Lys Asn Ala Gly Asn Ala Glu Asp Pro His Thr 1 5 10 15 1415PRTHomo
sapiensProtein 14Asn Pro Ser Ser Met Thr Asp Thr Pro Gly Asn Pro
Ala Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 15575PRTHomo sapiensBAG3 15Met Ser Ala Ala
Thr His Ser Pro Met Met Gln Val Ala Ser Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 Gly Asp
Arg Asp Pro Leu Pro Pro Gly Trp Glu Ile Lys Ile Asp Pro 20 25 30
Gln Thr Gly Trp Pro Phe Phe Val Asp His Asn Ser Arg Thr Thr Thr 35
40 45 Trp Asn Asp Pro Arg Val Pro Ser Glu Gly Pro Lys Glu Thr Pro
Ser 50 55 60 Ser Ala Asn Gly Pro Ser Arg Glu Gly Ser Arg Leu Pro
Pro Ala Arg 65 70 75 80 Glu Gly His Pro Val Tyr Pro Gln Leu Arg Pro
Gly Tyr Ile Pro Ile 85 90 95 Pro Val Leu His Glu Gly Ala Glu Asn
Arg Gln Val His Pro Phe His 100 105 110 Val Tyr Pro Gln Pro Gly Met
Gln Arg Phe Arg Thr Glu Ala Ala Ala 115 120 125 Ala Ala Pro Gln Arg
Ser Gln Ser Pro Leu Arg Gly Met Pro Glu Thr 130 135 140 Thr Gln Pro
Asp Lys Gln Cys Gly Gln Val Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala 145 150 155 160
Gln Pro Pro Ala Ser His Gly Pro Glu Arg Ser Gln Ser Pro Ala Ala 165
170 175 Ser Asp Cys Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Pro Ser Ser
Gly 180 185 190 Arg Ser Ser Leu Gly Ser His Gln Leu Pro Arg Gly Tyr
Ile Ser Ile 195 200 205 Pro Val Ile His Glu Gln Asn Val Thr Arg Pro
Ala Ala Gln Pro Ser 210 215 220 Phe His Gln Ala Gln Lys Thr His Tyr
Pro Ala Gln Gln Gly Glu Tyr 225 230 235 240 Gln Thr His Gln Pro Val
Tyr His Lys Ile Gln Gly Asp Asp Trp Glu 245 250 255 Pro Arg Pro Leu
Arg Ala Ala Ser Pro Phe Arg Ser Ser Val Gln Gly 260 265 270 Ala Ser
Ser Arg Glu Gly Ser Pro Ala Arg Ser Ser Thr Pro Leu His 275 280 285
Ser Pro Ser Pro Ile Arg Val His Thr Val Val Asp Arg Pro Gln Gln 290
295 300 Pro Met Thr His Arg Glu Thr Ala Pro Val Ser Gln Pro Glu Asn
Lys 305 310 315 320 Pro Glu Ser Lys Pro Gly Pro Val Gly Pro Glu Leu
Pro Pro Gly His 325 330 335 Ile Pro Ile Gln Val Ile Arg Lys Glu Val
Asp Ser Lys Pro Val Ser 340 345 350 Gln Lys Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Glu
Lys Val Glu Val Lys Val Pro Pro 355 360 365 Ala Pro Val Pro Cys Pro
Pro Pro Ser Pro Gly Pro Ser Ala Val Pro 370 375 380 Ser Ser Pro Lys
Ser Val Ala Thr Glu Glu Arg Ala Ala Pro Ser Thr 385 390 395 400 Ala
Pro Ala Glu Ala Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Gly Glu Ala Glu Ala Pro 405 410
415 Pro Lys His Pro Gly Val Leu Lys Val Glu Ala Ile Leu Glu Lys Val
420 425 430 Gln Gly Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Phe Glu Gly Lys Lys
Thr Asp 435 440 445 Lys Lys Tyr Leu Met Ile Glu Glu Tyr Leu Thr Lys
Glu Leu Leu Ala 450 455 460 Leu Asp Ser Val Asp Pro Glu Gly Arg Ala
Asp Val Arg Gln Ala Arg 465 470 475 480 Arg Asp Gly Val Arg Lys Val
Gln Thr Ile Leu Glu Lys Leu Glu Gln 485 490 495 Lys Ala Ile Asp Val
Pro Gly Gln Val Gln Val Tyr Glu Leu Gln Pro 500 505 510 Ser Asn Leu
Glu Ala Asp Gln Pro Leu Gln Ala Ile Met Glu Met Gly 515 520 525 Ala
Val Ala Ala Asp Lys Gly Lys Lys Asn Ala Gly Asn Ala Glu Asp 530 535
540 Pro His Thr Glu Thr Gln Gln Pro Glu Ala Thr Ala Ala Ala Thr Ser
545 550 555 560 Asn Pro Ser Ser Met Thr Asp Thr Pro Gly Asn Pro Ala
Ala Pro 565 570 575 1617DNAHomo
sapienssource1..17/mol_type="unassigned DNA" /note="Forward primer"
/organism="Homo sapiens" 16cctgttagct gtggttg 171722DNAHomo
sapienssource1..22/mol_type="unassigned DNA" /note="Reverse primer"
/organism="Homo sapiens" 17aacatacaga tattcctatg gc 22182533DNAHomo
sapienssource1..2533/mol_type="mRNA" /note="Homo sapiens
BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) mRNA" /organism="Homo sapiens"
18gcggagctcc gcatccaacc ccgggccgcg gccaactttt ttggactgga ccagaagttt
60ctagccggcc agttgctacc tccctttatc tcctccttcc cctctggcag cgaggaggct
120atttccagac acttccaccc ctctctggcc acgtcacccc cgcctttaat
tcataaaggt 180gcccggcgcc ggcttcccgg acacgtcggc ggcggagagg
ggcccacggc ggcggcccgg 240ccagagactc ggcgcccgga gccagcgccc
cgcacccgcg ccccagcggg cagaccccaa 300cccagcatga gcgccgccac
ccactcgccc atgatgcagg tggcgtccgg caacggtgac 360cgcgaccctt
tgccccccgg atgggagatc aagatcgacc cgcagaccgg ctggcccttc
420ttcgtggacc acaacagccg caccactacg tggaacgacc cgcgcgtgcc
ctctgagggc 480cccaaggaga ctccatcctc tgccaatggc ccttcccggg
agggctctag gctgccgcct 540gctagggaag gccaccctgt gtacccccag
ctccgaccag gctacattcc cattcctgtg 600ctccatgaag gcgctgagaa
ccggcaggtg caccctttcc atgtctatcc ccagcctggg 660atgcagcgat
tccgaactga ggcggcagca gcggctcctc agaggtccca gtcacctctg
720cggggcatgc cagaaaccac tcagccagat aaacagtgtg gacaggtggc
agcggcggcg 780gcagcccagc ccccagcctc ccacggacct gagcggtccc
agtctccagc tgcctctgac 840tgctcatcct catcctcctc ggccagcctg
ccttcctccg gcaggagcag cctgggcagt 900caccagctcc cgcgggggta
catctccatt ccggtgatac acgagcagaa cgttacccgg 960ccagcagccc
agccctcctt ccaccaagcc cagaagacgc actacccagc gcagcagggg
1020gagtaccaga cccaccagcc tgtgtaccac aagatccagg gggatgactg
ggagccccgg 1080cccctgcggg cggcatcccc gttcaggtca tctgtccagg
gtgcatcgag ccgggagggc 1140tcaccagcca ggagcagcac gccactccac
tccccctcgc ccatccgtgt gcacaccgtg 1200gtcgacaggc ctcagcagcc
catgacccat cgagaaactg cacctgtttc ccagcctgaa 1260aacaaaccag
aaagtaagcc aggcccagtt ggaccagaac tccctcctgg acacatccca
1320attcaagtga tccgcaaaga ggtggattct aaacctgttt cccagaagcc
cccacctccc 1380tctgagaagg tagaggtgaa agttccccct gctccagttc
cttgtcctcc tcccagccct 1440ggcccttctg ctgtcccctc ttcccccaag
agtgtggcta cagaagagag ggcagccccc 1500agcactgccc ctgcagaagc
tacacctcca aaaccaggag aagccgaggc tcccccaaaa 1560catccaggag
tgctgaaagt ggaagccatc ctggagaagg tgcaggggct ggagcaggct
1620gtagacaact ttgaaggcaa gaagactgac aaaaagtacc tgatgatcga
agagtatttg 1680accaaagagc tgctggccct ggattcagtg gaccccgagg
gacgagccga tgtgcgtcag 1740gccaggagag acggtgtcag gaaggttcag
accatcttgg aaaaacttga acagaaagcc 1800attgatgtcc caggtcaagt
ccaggtctat gaactccagc ccagcaacct tgaagcagat 1860cagccactgc
aggcaatcat ggagatgggt gccgtggcag cagacaaggg caagaaaaat
1920gctggaaatg cagaagatcc ccacacagaa acccagcagc cagaagccac
agcagcagcg 1980acttcaaacc ccagcagcat gacagacacc cctggtaacc
cagcagcacc gtagcctctg 2040ccctgtaaaa atcagactcg gaaccgatgt
gtgctttagg gaattttaag ttgcatgcat 2100ttcagagact ttaagtcagt
tggtttttat tagctgcttg gtatgcagta acttgggtgg 2160aggcaaaaca
ctaataaaag ggctaaaaag gaaaatgatg cttttcttct atattcttac
2220tctgtacaaa taaagaagtt gcttgttgtt tcagaagttt aaccccgttg
cttgttctgc 2280agccctgtct acttgggcac ccccaccacc tgttagctgt
ggttgtgcac tgtcttttgt 2340agctctggac tggaggggta gatggggagt
caattaccca tcacataaat atgaaacatt 2400tatcagaaat gttgccattt
taatgagatg attttcttca tctcataatt aaaatacctg 2460actttagaga
gagtaaaatg tgccaggagc cataggaata tctgtatgtt ggatgacttt
2520aatgctacat ttt 25331920DNAHomo
sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned DNA" /note="Forward primer"
/organism="Homo sapiens" 19agcctcccgc ttcgctctct 202020DNAHomo
sapienssource1..20/mol_type="unassigned DNA" /note="Reverse primer"
/organism="Homo sapiens" 20ccaggcgccc aatacgacca 20
* * * * *