Michael B. Sporn

Bio: Michael B. Sporn is an academic researcher from Dartmouth College. The author has contributed to research in topics: Transforming growth factor & Transforming growth factor beta. The author has an hindex of 157, co-authored 559 publications receiving 94605 citations. Previous affiliations of Michael B. Sporn include Cornell University & Reata Pharmaceuticals.

A synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im inhibits tumorsphere formation by regulating stem cell signaling pathways in triple-negative breast cancer.

Abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis because of a high rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Previous studies demonstrated that the synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO-Imidazolide (CDDO-Im) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer. Since a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells has been suggested to be responsible for drug resistance and metastasis of tumors, our present study determined whether the effects of CDDO-Im in triple-negative breast cancer are due to the inhibition of a cancer stem cell subpopulation. CDDO-Im treatment markedly induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M-phase and apoptosis in the triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, SUM159 and MDA-MB-231. Because SUM159 cells were more sensitive to CDDO-Im than MDA-MB-231 cells, the effects of CDDO-Im on the cancer stem cell subpopulation were further investigated in SUM159 cells. SUM159 cells formed tumorspheres in culture, and the cancer stem cell subpopulation, CD24−/EpCAM+ cells, was markedly enriched in SUM159 tumorspheres. The CD24−/EpCAM+ cells in SUM159 tumorspheres were significantly inhibited by CDDO-Im treatment. CDDO-Im also significantly decreased sphere forming efficiency and tumorsphere size in both primary and secondary sphere cultures. PCR array of stem cell signaling genes showed that expression levels of many key molecules in the stem cell signaling pathways, such as Notch, TGF-β/Smad, Hedgehog and Wnt, were significantly down-regulated by CDDO-Im in SUM159 tumorspheres. Protein levels of Notch receptors (c-Notch1, Notch1 and Notch3), TGF-β/Smad (pSmad2/3) and Hedgehog downstream effectors (GLI1) also were markedly reduced by CDDO-Im. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO-Im, is a potent anti-cancer agent against triple-negative breast cancer cells by targeting the cancer stem cell subpopulation.

CDDO-Imidazolide inhibits growth and survival of c-Myc-induced mouse B cell and plasma cell neoplasms.

Abstract: Background Gene-targeted iMycEμ mice that carry a His6-tagged mouse Myc(c-myc)cDNA, MycHis, just 5' of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer, Eμ, are prone to B cell and plasma cell neoplasms, such as lymphoblastic B-cell lymphoma (LBL) and plasmacytoma (PCT). Cell lines derived from Myc-induced neoplasms of this sort may provide a good model system for the design and testing of new approaches to prevent and treat MYC-driven B cell and plasma cell neoplasms in human beings. To test this hypothesis, we used the LBL-derived cell line, iMycEμ-1, and the newly established PCT-derived cell line, iMycEμ-2, to evaluate the growth inhibitory and death inducing potency of the cancer drug candidate, CDDO-imidazolide (CDDO-Im).

Mutational analysis of a transforming growth factor-beta receptor binding site.

Abstract: Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-β1,-β2,-β3) are important regulators of cell growth and differentiation which share approximately 70% identical amino acids. Using LS513 colorectal cells, which are growth inhibited by TGF-β 1 (ED50 of 100 pM), but are refractory to TGF-β2 (ED50 of 50,000 to 100,000 pM), we have determined that amino acids 92-98 of TGF-β specify growth inhibition. The chimeric protein TGF-β1/β2(92-98), in which amino acids 92-98 of TGF-β 1 were exchanged for the corresponding amino acids of TGF-β2, was indistinguishable from TGF-β2 at inhibiting growth of LS513 cells. In contrast, both TGF-β1/β2(92-95) and TGF-β1/β2(94-98) inhibited the growth of LS513 cells with an ED50 of approximately 1000 pM. TGF-β1/β2(95-98), in which amino acids 95-98 of TGF-β1 have been replaced with the corresponding amino acids of TGF-β2, had full activity and was indistinguishable from TGF-β1. Receptor cross-linking experiments demonstrated that binding of the chimeras to the type I and type II receptors of LS5...

Uses of 9-cis-retinoic acids and derivatives thereof alone or in combination with antineoplastic agents in the prevention or treatment of cancer

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing or treating cancer. Specifically this invention relates to the use of 9-cis-retinoic acid or derivatives thereof in preventing or treating cancers, in particular breast cancer. The invention also relates to compositions of 9-cis-retinoic acid or derivatives thereof and at least one other antineoplastic agent and to the use of such compositions in the prevention or treatment of cancer, in particular breast cancer.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: a perspective for the 1990s

Abstract: Atherosclerosis, the principal cause of heart attack, stroke and gangrene of the extremities, is responsible for 50% of all mortality in the USA, Europe and Japan. The lesions result from an excessive, inflammatory-fibroproliferative response to various forms of insult to the endothelium and smooth muscle of the artery wall. A large number of growth factors, cytokines and vasoregulatory molecules participate in this process. Our ability to control the expression of genes encoding these molecules and to target specific cell types provides opportunities to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic agents to induce the regression of the lesions and, possibly, to prevent their formation.

TGF-beta signal transduction.

Abstract: The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family of growth factors control the development and homeostasis of most tissues in metazoan organisms. Work over the past few years has led to the elucidation of a TGF-beta signal transduction network. This network involves receptor serine/threonine kinases at the cell surface and their substrates, the SMAD proteins, which move into the nucleus, where they activate target gene transcription in association with DNA-binding partners. Distinct repertoires of receptors, SMAD proteins, and DNA-binding partners seemingly underlie, in a cell-specific manner, the multifunctional nature of TGF-beta and related factors. Mutations in these pathways are the cause of various forms of human cancer and developmental disorders.