scholarly journals Insights into the Mechanisms of Action of MDA-7/IL-24: A Ubiquitous Cancer-Suppressing Protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Jinkal Modi ◽  
Abhishek Roy ◽  
Anjan K. Pradhan ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
Sarmistha Talukdar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Secreted Protein ◽  
Biological Mechanisms ◽  
Inhibition Of Tumor Growth ◽  
Preclinical Animal Models ◽  
Potent Tumor

Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24), a secreted protein of the IL-10 family, was first identified more than two decades ago as a novel gene differentially expressed in terminally differentiating human metastatic melanoma cells. MDA-7/IL-24 functions as a potent tumor suppressor exerting a diverse array of functions including the inhibition of tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis, and induction of potent “bystander” antitumor activity and synergy with conventional cancer therapeutics. MDA-7/IL-24 induces cancer-specific cell death through apoptosis or toxic autophagy, which was initially established in vitro and in preclinical animal models in vivo and later in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers. This review summarizes the history and our current understanding of the molecular/biological mechanisms of MDA-7/IL-24 action rendering it a potent cancer suppressor.

Epithelial Organotypic Cultures: A Viable Model to Address Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis by Epitheliotropic Viruses

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Termini ◽  
Enrique Boccardo
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Organotypic Cultures ◽  
Skin Physiology

In vitro culture of primary or established cell lines is one of the leading techniques in many areas of basic biological research. The use of pure or highly enriched cultures of specific cell types obtained from different tissues and genetics backgrounds has greatly contributed to our current understanding of normal and pathological cellular processes. Cells in culture are easily propagated generating an almost endless source of material for experimentation. Besides, they can be manipulated to achieve gene silencing, gene overexpression and genome editing turning possible the dissection of specific gene functions and signaling pathways. However, monolayer and suspension cultures of cells do not reproduce the cell type diversity, cell-cell contacts, cell-matrix interactions and differentiation pathways typical of the three-dimensional environment of tissues and organs from where they were originated. Therefore, different experimental animal models have been developed and applied to address these and other complex issues in vivo. However, these systems are costly and time consuming. Most importantly the use of animals in scientific research poses moral and ethical concerns facing a steadily increasing opposition from different sectors of the society. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative in vitro experimental models that accurately reproduce the events observed in vivo to reduce the use of animals. Organotypic cultures combine the flexibility of traditional culture systems with the possibility of culturing different cell types in a 3D environment that reproduces both the structure and the physiology of the parental organ. Here we present a summarized description of the use of epithelial organotypic for the study of skin physiology, human papillomavirus biology and associated tumorigenesis.

scholarly journals Rho GTPases as Key Molecular Players within Intestinal Mucosa and GI Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Rashmita Pradhan ◽  
Phuong A. Ngo ◽  
Luz d. C. Martínez-Sánchez ◽  
Markus F. Neurath ◽  
Rocío López-Posadas
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Rho Proteins

Rho proteins operate as key regulators of the cytoskeleton, cell morphology and trafficking. Acting as molecular switches, the function of Rho GTPases is determined by guanosine triphosphate (GTP)/guanosine diphosphate (GDP) exchange and their lipidation via prenylation, allowing their binding to cellular membranes and the interaction with downstream effector proteins in close proximity to the membrane. A plethora of in vitro studies demonstrate the indispensable function of Rho proteins for cytoskeleton dynamics within different cell types. However, only in the last decades we have got access to genetically modified mouse models to decipher the intricate regulation between members of the Rho family within specific cell types in the complex in vivo situation. Translationally, alterations of the expression and/or function of Rho GTPases have been associated with several pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. In the context of the GI tract, the continuous crosstalk between the host and the intestinal microbiota requires a tight regulation of the complex interaction between cellular components within the intestinal tissue. Recent studies demonstrate that Rho GTPases play important roles for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the gut. We will summarize the current knowledge on Rho protein function within individual cell types in the intestinal mucosa in vivo, with special focus on intestinal epithelial cells and T cells.

scholarly journals Marine-Derived Compounds with Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease Activities

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 410
Author(s):  
Salar Hafez Ghoran ◽  
Anake Kijjoa
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Brain Disorder ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
Pharmacologically Active Compounds

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to perform simple tasks. As the aging population continues to increase exponentially, AD has become a big concern for society. Therefore, neuroprotective compounds are in the spotlight, as a means to tackle this problem. On the other hand, since it is believed—in many cultures—that marine organisms in an individual diet cannot only improve brain functioning, but also slow down its dysfunction, many researchers have focused on identifying neuroprotective compounds from marine resources. The fact that the marine environment is a rich source of structurally unique and biologically and pharmacologically active compounds, with unprecedented mechanisms of action, marine macroorganisms, such as tunicates, corals, sponges, algae, as well as microorganisms, such as marine-derived bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi, have been the target sources of these compounds. Therefore, this literature review summarizes and categorizes various classes of marine-derived compounds that are able to inhibit key enzymes involved in AD, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase (BACE-1), and different kinases, together with the related pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The compounds discussed herein are emerging as promising anti-AD activities for further in-depth in vitro and in vivo investigations, to gain more insight of their mechanisms of action and for the development of potential anti-AD drug leads.

scholarly journals Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Polymerized Anionic Corona on Gold Nanoparticles for Anti-Cancer Therapy

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Wei Mao ◽  
Sol Lee ◽  
Ji Un Shin ◽  
Hyuk Sang Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Transfection Efficiency ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Atom Transfer ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Metallic Particles ◽  
Anti Cancer

Surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) documented a simple but efficient technique to grow a dense polymer layer on any surface. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) give a broad surface to immobilize sulfhyryl group-containing initiators for SI-ATRP; in addition, AuNPs are the major nanoparticulate carriers for delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics, since they are biocompatible and bioinert. In this work, AuNPs with a disulfide initiator were polymerized with sulfoethyl methacrylate by SI-ATRP to decorate the particles with anionic corona, and branched polyethyeleneimine (PEI) and siRNA were sequentially layered onto the anionic corona of AuNP by electrostatic interaction. The in vitro anti-cancer effect confirmed that AuNP with anionic corona showed higher degrees of apoptosis as well as suppression of the oncogene expression in a siRNA dose-dependent manner. The in vivo study of tumor-bearing nude mice revealed that mice treated with c-Myc siRNA-incorporated AuNPs showed dramatically decreased tumor size in comparison to those with free siRNA for 4 weeks. Furthermore, histological examination and gene expression study revealed that the decorated AuNP significantly suppressed c-Myc expression. Thus, we envision that the layer-by-layer assembly on the anionic brushes can be potentially used to incorporate nucleic acids onto metallic particles with high transfection efficiency.

scholarly journals A Novel Bispecific Antibody Targeting EGFR and VEGFR2 Is Effective against Triple Negative Breast Cancer via Multiple Mechanisms of Action

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027
Author(s):  
Nishant Mohan ◽  
Xiao Luo ◽  
Yi Shen ◽  
Zachary Olson ◽  
Atul Agrawal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Cancer Cell Growth ◽  
Anti Tumor Activity ◽  
Enhance Tumor Growth

Both EGFR and VEGFR2 frequently overexpress in TNBC and cooperate with each other in autocrine and paracrine manner to enhance tumor growth and angiogenesis. Therapeutic mAbs targeting EGFR (cetuximab) and VEGFR2 (ramucirumab) are approved by FDA for numerous cancer indications, but none of them are approved to treat breast cancers. TNBC cells secrete VEGF-A, which mediates angiogenesis on endothelial cells in a paracrine fashion, as well as promotes cancer cell growth in autocrine manner. To disrupt autocrine/paracrine loop in TNBC models in addition to mediating anti-EGFR tumor growth signaling and anti-VEGFR2 angiogenic pathway, we generated a BsAb co-targeting EGFR and VEGFR2 (designated as anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb), using publicly available sequences in which cetuximab IgG backbone is connected to the single chain variable fragment (scFv) of ramucirumab via a glycine linker. Physiochemical characterization data shows that anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb binds to both EGFR and VEGFR2 in a similar binding affinity comparable to parental antibodies. Anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb demonstrates in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity in TNBC models. Mechanistically, anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb not only directly inhibits both EGFR and VEGFR2 in TNBC cells but also disrupts autocrine mechanism in TNBC xenograft mouse model. Furthermore, anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb inhibits ligand-induced activation of VEGFR2 and blocks paracrine pathway mediated by VEGF secreted from TNBC cells in endothelial cells. Collectively, our novel findings demonstrate that anti-EGFR/VEGFR2 BsAb inhibits tumor growth via multiple mechanisms of action and warrants further investigation as a targeted antibody therapeutic for the treatment of TNBC.

scholarly journals Natural products with therapeutic potential in melanoma metastasis

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1170-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. AlQathama ◽  
J. M. Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Melanoma Metastasis ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Cytotoxic Compounds

Natural products continue to provide lead cytotoxic compounds for cancer treatment but less attention has been given to antimigratory compounds. We here systematically and critically survey more than 30 natural products with direct in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects on migration and/or metastasis of melanoma cells and chart the mechanisms of action for this underexploited property.

scholarly journals Biomaterial Approaches to Modulate Reactive Astroglial Response

2018 ◽  
Vol 205 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 372-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Zuidema ◽  
Ryan J. Gilbert ◽  
Manoj K. Gottipati
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Glial Scar ◽  
Secondary Injury ◽  
Injury Site ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Preclinical Animal Models

Over several decades, biomaterial scientists have developed materials to spur axonal regeneration and limit secondary injury and tested these materials within preclinical animal models. Rarely, though, are astrocytes examined comprehensively when biomaterials are placed into the injury site. Astrocytes support neuronal function in the central nervous system. Following an injury, astrocytes undergo reactive gliosis and create a glial scar. The astrocytic glial scar forms a dense barrier which restricts the extension of regenerating axons through the injury site. However, there are several beneficial effects of the glial scar, including helping to reform the blood-brain barrier, limiting the extent of secondary injury, and supporting the health of regenerating axons near the injury site. This review provides a brief introduction to the role of astrocytes in the spinal cord, discusses astrocyte phenotypic changes that occur following injury, and highlights studies that explored astrocyte changes in response to biomaterials tested within in vitro or in vivo environments. Overall, we suggest that in order to improve biomaterial designs for spinal cord injury applications, investigators should more thoroughly consider the astrocyte response to such designs.

The in vitro and in vivo anti-metastatic efficacy of oxythiamine and the possible mechanisms of action

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 341-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Min Yang ◽  
Yi-Zih Liu ◽  
Jiunn-Wang Liao ◽  
Miao-Lin Hu
Keyword(s):  
Mechanisms Of Action

scholarly journals A note on the antibiotic properties of Bacillus subtilis against Colletotrichum trifolii

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Douville ◽  
J.G. Boland
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Colletotrichum Trifolii ◽  
Growth Room ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Germ Tubes

The influence and mechanisms of action of Bacillus subtilis on Colletotrichum trifolii, a causal agent of anthracnose of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), were studied in vivo and in vitro. In growth room conditions, a cell-free culture filtrate of B. subtilis significantly reduced disease incidence and severity on alfalfa seedlings from 56% to 16% and from 2.0 to 1.2, respectively. Treatment of seedlings with washed cell suspensions of B. subtilis had no influence on disease. Applications of crude filtrate on alfalfa leaflets inoculated with C. trifolii were associated with reduced germination of conidia, lysis of conidia, and reduced formation of appressoria. Under in vitro conditions, crude filtrate reduced germination of conidia, and induced lysis of conidia and the formation of inflated germ tubes on germinating conidia. An antibiotic of the iturin family, iturin D, was tentatively identified as the active compound responsible for the suppressive effect of B. subtilis on C. trifolii.

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