2023
Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions
Kaffe E, Roulis M, Zhao J, Qu R, Sefik E, Mirza H, Zhou J, Zheng Y, Charkoftaki G, Vasiliou V, Vatner D, Mehal W, AlcHepNet, Kluger Y, Flavell R. Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions. Cell 2023, 186: 3793-3809.e26. PMID: 37562401, PMCID: PMC10544749, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetabolic functionsSpecies-specific interactionsKey metabolic functionsCell-autonomous mechanismsNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseMajor metabolic hubNon-parenchymal cellsMetabolic hubHuman hepatocytesMicroenvironmental regulationHuman diseasesHuman-specific aspectsHuman pathologiesHomeostatic processesSpecies mismatchCholesterol uptakeFatty liver diseaseParacrine mannerHuman immuneBile acid conjugationSinusoidal endothelial cellsHepatic metabolic functionMouse liverEndothelial cellsCellsIL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory
Micevic G, Daniels A, Flem-Karlsen K, Park K, Talty R, McGeary M, Mirza H, Blackburn H, Sefik E, Cheung J, Hornick N, Aizenbud L, Joshi N, Kluger H, Iwasaki A, Bosenberg M, Flavell R. IL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2304319120. PMID: 37459511, PMCID: PMC10372654, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304319120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIL-7R expressionT cellsIL-7RAntitumor memorySuperior antitumor efficacyCell-based therapiesTumor-specific T cellsAntigen-specific T cellsAntitumor efficacyPowerful antitumor immune responseMarkers of exhaustionTumor-specific CD8Antitumor immune responseIndependent prognostic factorAntitumor immune memoryMemory T cellsMajor risk factorSuperior antitumor activityFunctional CD8Memory CD8Prognostic factorsSurgical resectionAdvanced melanomaLymph nodesNaive mice
2022
An update on ductal plate malformations and fibropolycystic diseases of the liver
Mirza H, Besse W, Somlo S, Weinreb J, Kenney B, Jain D. An update on ductal plate malformations and fibropolycystic diseases of the liver. Human Pathology 2022, 132: 102-113. PMID: 35777701, DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2022.06.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDuctal plate malformationLiver diseaseAdult polycystic liver diseaseAutosomal dominant polycystic kidneyFibropolycystic liver diseaseIsolated liver involvementCongenital hepatic fibrosisPolycystic liver diseaseVon Meyenburg complexesGenetic underpinningsMultiple clinical phenotypesFibropolycystic diseasePortal hypertensionCaroli's diseaseLiver involvementLiver cystsMeyenburg complexesHepatic fibrosisFibrocystic lesionsHepatocellular malignanciesCyst enlargementAbnormal organ developmentPolycystic kidneysAnimal modelsHepatocellular malignancyInflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology
Sefik E, Qu R, Junqueira C, Kaffe E, Mirza H, Zhao J, Brewer JR, Han A, Steach HR, Israelow B, Blackburn HN, Velazquez SE, Chen YG, Halene S, Iwasaki A, Meffre E, Nussenzweig M, Lieberman J, Wilen CB, Kluger Y, Flavell RA. Inflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology. Nature 2022, 606: 585-593. PMID: 35483404, PMCID: PMC9288243, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04802-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammasome activationLung inflammationInflammatory responseInfected macrophagesSARS-CoV-2 infectionHuman macrophagesChronic lung pathologyPersistent lung inflammationSevere COVID-19Immune inflammatory responseInflammatory cytokine productionHumanized mouse modelNLRP3 inflammasome pathwayCOVID-19 pathologyCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Productive viral cycleHyperinflammatory stateChronic stageIL-18Cytokine productionInflammatory cytokinesLung pathologyInflammasome pathwayInterleukin-1
2021
A humanized mouse model of chronic COVID-19
Sefik E, Israelow B, Mirza H, Zhao J, Qu R, Kaffe E, Song E, Halene S, Meffre E, Kluger Y, Nussenzweig M, Wilen CB, Iwasaki A, Flavell RA. A humanized mouse model of chronic COVID-19. Nature Biotechnology 2021, 40: 906-920. PMID: 34921308, PMCID: PMC9203605, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01155-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic COVID-19Humanized mouse modelImmune responseMouse modelAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionCOVID-19Adaptive human immune responsesInterferon-stimulated gene signaturePersistent viral RNACoronavirus 2 infectionPatient-derived antibodiesT-cell lymphopeniaHuman immune responseHyperactive immune responseCoronavirus disease 2019Inflammatory macrophage responseImmunological injuryLung pathologyCell lymphopeniaDisease 2019Severe diseaseRodent modelsInflammatory macrophages
2015
Bimodal Influence of Vitamin D in Host Response to Systemic Candida Infection—Vitamin D Dose Matters
Lim JH, Ravikumar S, Wang YM, Thamboo TP, Ong L, Chen J, Goh JG, Tay SH, Chengchen L, Win MS, Leong W, Lau T, Foo R, Mirza H, Tan KS, Sethi S, Khoo AL, Chng WJ, Osato M, Netea MG, Wang Y, Chai LY. Bimodal Influence of Vitamin D in Host Response to Systemic Candida Infection—Vitamin D Dose Matters. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2015, 212: 635-644. PMID: 25612733, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCandidiasisCholecalciferolCohort StudiesDose-Response Relationship, DrugGene Expression RegulationHumansInflammationInterferon-gammaLeukocytes, MononuclearMiceMice, Inbred BALB CPromoter Regions, GeneticRNA, MessengerSTAT Transcription FactorsSuppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 ProteinSuppressor of Cytokine Signaling ProteinsVitamin DConceptsVitamin D levelsCandida infectionsVitamin DD levelsVitamin D3 dosesVitamin D3 supplementationProinflammatory immune responseSystemic Candida infectionSuppression of SOCS3Vitamin D receptorVitamin D response elementD response elementCandidemic patientsD3 supplementationUntreated micePoor outcomeAntiinflammatory effectsFungal burdenVitamin D3Immune responseInterferon γD receptorBetter survivalDose matterBimodal influence
2010
A Rapid, High-Throughput Viability Assay for Blastocystis spp. Reveals Metronidazole Resistance and Extensive Subtype-Dependent Variations in Drug Susceptibilities
Mirza H, Teo JD, Upcroft J, Tan KS. A Rapid, High-Throughput Viability Assay for Blastocystis spp. Reveals Metronidazole Resistance and Extensive Subtype-Dependent Variations in Drug Susceptibilities. Antimicrobial Agents And Chemotherapy 2010, 55: 637-648. PMID: 21098237, PMCID: PMC3028762, DOI: 10.1128/aac.00900-10.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreatment failureBlastocystis infectionBlastocystis sppNew treatment optionsDrug-resistant isolatesStandard therapyTreatment regimensTreatment optionsMetronidazole resistanceControversial pathogenesisSubtype 4Drug susceptibilityImportant subtypeDrug sensitivitySubtypesStandard antimicrobialsInfectionZoonotic subtypesViability assaysPresent studyParasitesFirst studyCotrimoxazoleRegimensFailure
2008
Blastocystis exhibits inter- and intra-subtype variation in cysteine protease activity
Mirza H, Tan KS. Blastocystis exhibits inter- and intra-subtype variation in cysteine protease activity. Parasitology Research 2008, 104: 355-361. PMID: 18846388, DOI: 10.1007/s00436-008-1203-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCysteine protease activityIntra-subtype variationRodent isolatesIL-8 responseColonic epithelial cellsHuman secretory IgAClinical studiesSecretory IgAAnimal modelsNon-virulent strainsProtease activityBlastocystis subtypesCysteine proteasesEpithelial cellsGiardia intestinalisCellular mechanismsZoonotic potentialBlastocystisEntamoeba histolyticaAvian isolatesPresent studyIsolatesSame isolatesParasitesIgA