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Although several lysis methods are available, biomedical applications are pushing the demand for miniaturised systems and thus for new ways to lyse cells in small volumes. In this work, we demonstrate in-droplet cell lysis of AC16 human cardiomyocyte cells in 20 μL droplets using high frequency surface acoustic waves. The acoustic streaming leads to high shear flow creating porous or breaking the cell membrane and releasing intracellular material. Contrary to previous work where the lysis efficiency is measured by a cell-permeant dye that can be used to determine cell viability, here we propose to quantify the DNA extracted from the cells as a measure of the lysis efficiency. This reagent-free method provides a valuable cell lysis alternative for many biological and biomedical applications, particularly for the development of point-of-care platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) has been declared the first cause of death by an infectious agent. Annually, 10.4 million people suffer active TB. Most infected individuals live in low-income countries, where social and economic conditions enhance the dissemination and progression of the disease. These countries have a high percentage of smokers. Thousands of studies have linked cigarette smoke (CS) with increased risk of many diseases, such as cancer and lung diseases. Numerous in vitro studies have been conducted to evaluate the general and specific toxic effects of CS in lung immune function. Smoke exposure increases the risk of TB development three-fold. However, until now, only few animal studies have been performed to analyze the association between smoke and TB. In the present work, we review in vitro and in vivo studies whose aim was to analyze the molecular basis of TB susceptibility caused by exposure to CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by the loss of control in the expression of genes known as cancer driver genes. Cancer driver genes trigger uncontrolled cell replication, which leads to the development of malignant tumors. A cluster of signal transduction pathways that contain cancer driver genes involved in cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and dysregulated organ growth, are associated with cancer initiation and progression. In the present study, three signal transduction pathways involved in cervical cancer (CC) development were analyzed: The Hippo pathway (FAT atypical cadherin, yes-associated protein 1, SMAD4 and TEA domain family member 2), the Notch pathway [cellular-MYC, cAMP response element-binding binding protein (CREBBP), E1A-associated cellular p300 transcriptional co-activator protein and F-Box and WD repeat domain containing 7] and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway [NRF2, kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), AKT and PIK3-catalytic subunit α]. Tumor samples from patients diagnosed with various stages of CC, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, CIN 2, CIN 3, in situ CC and invasive CC, were analyzed. The mRNA expression levels were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays, whereas protein expression levels were assessed through immunohistochemical tissue microarrays. High mRNA expression levels of c-MYC and AKT and low expression levels of NRF2 and KEAP1 were associated with a decreased survival time of patients with CC. Additionally, increased expression levels of c-MYC were detected in the invasive CC stage. At the protein level, increased NRF2 expression levels were observed in all five stages of CC samples compared with those in the cancer-free control samples. AKT1 was found to be dysregulated in the CIN 1 and CIN 2 stages, PI3K in the in situ and invasive stages, and CREBBP in the CIN 3 and in situ stages. In summary, the present study demonstrated significant changes in proteins of the Notch and NRF2 pathways in CC. NRF2 was overexpressed in all cervical cancer stages (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, in situ CC and invasive CC). The present study makes an important contribution to the possible biomarker proteins to be analyzed for the presence of premalignant and malignant lesions in the cervix., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Limones-Gonzalez et al.)

Aim: Tumor-infiltrating macrophages are tumor-promoting and show activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The transcription factor X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) is a conserved element of the UPR. Upon activation, the UPR mediates the transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune suppressive factors, hence contributing to immune dysregulation in the tumor microenvironment (TME). miR-214 is a short non-coding miRNA that targets the 3'-UTR of the Xbp1 transcript. Here, we tested a new method to efficiently deliver miR-214 to macrophages as a potential new therapeutic approach., Methods: We generated miR-214-laden extracellular vesicles (iEV-214) in a murine B cell and demonstrated that iEV-214 were enriched in miR-214 between 1,500 - 2,000 fold relative to control iEVs., Results: Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) treated with iEV-214 for 24 h underwent a specific enrichment in miR-214, suggesting transfer of the miR-214 payload from the iEVs to macrophages. iEV-214 treatment of BMDM markedly reduced (> 50%) Xbp1 transcription under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions compared to controls. Immune-related genes downstream of XBP1s ( Il-6 , Il-23p19 , and Arg1 ) were also reduced by 69%, 51%, and 34%, respectively., Conclusions: Together, these data permit to conclude that iEV-214 are an efficient strategy to downregulate the expression of Xbp1 mRNA and downstream genes in macrophages. We propose miRNA-laden iEVs are a new approach to target macrophages and control immune dysregulation in the TME., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest Maurizio Zanetti is a co-founder of FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which has an exclusive license to the miRNA-EVs technology from UCSD. Gonzalo Almanza is a non-compensated advisor to FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The other author declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Cisplatin is used for treatment, but the development of resistance in cancer cells is a significant concern. This study aimed to investigate changes in the transcriptomes of cisplatin-resistant MCF7 cells. We conducted RNA sequencing of cisplatin-resistant MCF7 cells, followed by differential expression analysis and bioinformatic investigations to identify changes in gene expression and modified signal transduction pathways. We examined the size and quantity of extracellular vesicles. A total of 724 genes exhibited differential expression, predominantly consisting of protein-coding RNAs. Notably, two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), NEAT1 and MALAT, were found to be dysregulated. Bioinformatic analysis unveiled dysregulation in processes related to DNA synthesis and repair, cell cycle regulation, immune response, and cellular communication. Additionally, modifications were observed in events associated with extracellular vesicles. Conditioned media from resistant cells conferred resistance to wild-type cells in vitro. Furthermore, there was an increase in the number of vesicles in cisplatin-resistant cells. Cisplatin-resistant MCF7 cells displayed differential RNA expression, including the dysregulation of NEAT1 and MALAT long non-coding RNAs. Key processes related to DNA and extracellular vesicles were found to be altered. The increased number of extracellular vesicles in resistant cells may contribute to acquired resistance in wild-type cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are endogenous vesicles that comprise a variety of submicron vesicular structures. Among these, exosomes have been widely investigated as delivery systems for small and large molecules. Herein, the thin-film freeze-drying technology was utilized to engineer aerosolizable dry powders of miR-335-laden induced EVs (iEV-335) generated in B cells for potential delivery into the lung to treat primary lung cancer and/or pulmonary metastases. The size distribution, structure, and morphology of iEV-335 were preserved after they were subjected to thin-film freeze-drying with the proper excipients. Importantly, iEV-335, in liquid or reconstituted from thin-film freeze-dried powders, were equally effective in downregulating SOX4 gene expression in LM2 human triple-negative mammary cancer cells. The iEV-335 dry powder compositions showed mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) of around 1.2 µm with > 60 % of the emitted doses had an MMAD of ≤ 3 µm, indicating that the powders can potentially achieve efficient deposition within the alveolar region following oral inhalation, which is desirable for treatment of primary lung cancer and pulmonary metastases. Overall, it is concluded that it is feasible to apply thin-film freeze-drying to prepare aerosolizable dry powders of iEVs for pulmonary delivery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [ZC and ROW report financial support by TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ZC reports a relationship with TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that includes equity or stocks and funding. ROW reports a relationship with TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that includes consulting or advisory, equity or stocks, and funding. MZ is founder of FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. GA is a non-compensated advisor to FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ZC is the North America Editor of the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. This paper was subject to all of the Journal’s usual procedures. The peer review was handled and the editorial decision was made independently of ZC and his research group]., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

LncRNA is a group of transcripts with a length exceeding 200 nucleotides that contribute to tumour development. Our research group found that LINC00052 expression was repressed during the formation of breast cancer (BC) multicellular spheroids. Intriguingly, LINC00052 precise role in BC remains uncertain. We explored LINC00052 expression in BC patients` RNA samples (TCGA) in silico, as well as in an in-house patient cohort, and inferred its cellular and molecular mechanisms. In vitro studies evaluated LINC00052 relevance in BC cells viability, cell cycle and DNA damage. Results. Bioinformatic RNAseq analysis of BC patients showed that LINC00052 is overexpressed in samples from all BC molecular subtypes. A similar LINC00052 expression pattern was observed in an in-house patient cohort. In addition, higher LINC00052 levels are related to better BC patient´s overall survival. Remarkably, MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells treated with estradiol showed increased LINC00052 expression compared to control, while these changes were not observed in MDA-MB-231 cells. In parallel, bioinformatic analyses indicated that LINC00052 influences DNA damage and cell cycle. MCF-7 cells with low LINC00052 levels exhibited increased cellular protection against DNA damage and diminished growth capacity. Furthermore, in cisplatin-resistant MCF-7 cells, LINC00052 expression was downregulated. Conclusion. This work shows that LINC00052 expression is associated with better BC patient survival. Remarkably, LINC00052 expression can be regulated by Estradiol. Additionally, assays suggest that LINC00052 could modulate MCF-7 cells growth and DNA damage repair. Overall, this study highlights the need for further research to unravel LINC00052 molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications in BC.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is constituted by a great diversity of highly dynamic cell populations, each of which contributes ligands, receptors, soluble proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs, in order to regulate cellular activities within the TME and even promote processes such as angiogenesis or metastasis. Intravasated platelets (PLT) undergo changes in the TME that convert them into tumor-educated platelets (TEP), which supports the development of cancer, angiogenesis, and metastasis through the degranulation and release of biomolecules. Several authors have reported that the deregulation of PF4 , VEGF , PDGF , ANG-1 , WASF3 , LAPTM4B , TPM3 , and TAC1 genes participates in breast cancer progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The present work aimed to analyze the expression levels of this set of genes in tumor tissues and platelets derived from breast cancer patients by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) assays, in order to determine if there was an expression correlation between these sources and to take advantage of the new information to be used in possible diagnosis by liquid biopsy. Data from these assays showed that platelets and breast cancer tumors present similar expression levels of a subset of these genes' mRNAs, depending on the molecular subtype, comorbidities, and metastasis presence.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive steroid molecules secreted by the adrenal gland and regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. GCs present a circadian release pattern under normal conditions; they increase their release under stress conditions. Their mechanism of action can be via the receptor-independent or receptor-dependent pathway. The receptor-dependent pathway translocates to the nucleus, where the ligand-receptor complex binds to specific sequences in the DNA to modulate the transcription of specific genes. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its endogenous ligand cortisol (CORT) in humans, and corticosterone in rodents or its exogenous ligand, dexamethasone (DEX), have been extensively studied in breast cancer. Its clinical utility in oncology has mainly focused on using DEX as an antiemetic to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In this review, we compile the results reported in the literature in recent years, highlighting current trends and unresolved controversies in this field. Specifically, in breast cancer, GR is considered a marker of poor prognosis, and a therapeutic target for the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype, and efforts are being made to develop better GR antagonists with fewer side effects. It is necessary to know the type of breast cancer to differentiate the treatment for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, ER-negative, and TNBC, to implement therapies that include the use of GCs.

The aim of this study was to analyze molecules associated with regulatory immune response in unvaccinated, recovered COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). We determined anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG in plasma by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The levels of sCD40, TGF-ß, IL-10, and sCTLA-4 were assessed by ELISA in the serum of the subjects, as well as in healthy donors. We observed that only half of the subjects in the non-comorbid group produced antibodies, whereas all subjects in comorbid groups were IgG-positive for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. High levels of sCTL-4 were observed in the non-comorbid group, and the level of IL-10 was observed to increase in seropositive subjects without comorbidities. TGF-ß concentration was similar in all groups studied. Finally, sCD40 decreased in the comorbid group. In conclusion, our results suggest that comorbidities such as DM and HTN alter the production of co-stimulatory inhibitory molecules sCTLA-4 and sCD40 in subjects recovering from mild COVID-19. The alterations observed here were independent of seropositivity, suggesting an effective humoral immune response against COVID-19 separate from the levels of co-stimulatory inhibitory molecules.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Multiple extrinsic and intrinsic factors are associated with this disease's development. Various research groups worldwide have reported the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in samples of malignant breast tumors. Although its role in mammary carcinogenesis is not fully understood, it is known that the HPV genome, once inserted into host cells, has oncogenic capabilities. The present study aimed to detect the presence of HPV DNA in 116 breast tissue biopsies and classify them according to their histology. It was found that 50.9% of the breast biopsies analyzed were malignant neoplasms, of which 74.6% were histologically classified as infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In biopsies with non-malignant breast disease, fibroadenoma was the most common benign neoplasm (39.1%). Detection of HPV DNA was performed through nested PCR using the external primer MY09/11 and the internal primer GP5+/6+. A hybridization assay genotyped HPV. HPV DNA was identified in 20.3% (12/59) of malignant neoplasms and 35% non-malignant breast disease (16/46). It was also detected in 27.3% (3/11) of breast tissue biopsies without alteration. However, there are no statistically significant differences between these groups and the existence of HPV DNA ( p = 0.2521). Its presence was more frequent in non-malignant alterations than in malignant neoplasias. The most frequent genotypes in the HPV-positive samples were low-risk (LR) HPV-42 followed by high-risk (HR) HPV-31.

Successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on vaccines that prevent transmission. The full-length Spike protein is highly immunogenic but the majority of antibodies do not target the virus: ACE2 interface. In an effort to affect the quality of the antibody response focusing it to the receptor-binding motif (RBM) we generated a series of conformationally-constrained immunogens by inserting solvent-exposed RBM amino acid residues into hypervariable loops of an immunoglobulin molecule. Priming C57BL/6 mice with plasmid (p)DNA encoding these constructs yielded a rapid memory response to booster immunization with recombinant Spike protein. Immune sera antibodies bound strongly to the purified receptor-binding domain (RBD) and Spike proteins. pDNA primed for a consistent response with antibodies efficient at neutralizing authentic WA1 virus and three variants of concern (VOC), B.1.351, B.1.617.2, and BA.1. We demonstrate that immunogens built on structure selection can be used to influence the quality of the antibody response by focusing it to a conserved site of vulnerability shared between wildtype virus and VOCs, resulting in neutralizing antibodies across variants., Competing Interests: We have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: MZ is named inventor in US patent 8,372,640 that relates to the protein engineering process and method of immunization used in this work. All other authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

In addition to being biological barriers where the internalization or release of biomolecules is decided, cell membranes are contact structures between the interior and exterior of the cell. Here, the processes of cell signaling mediated by receptors, ions, hormones, cytokines, enzymes, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and vesicles begin. They triggering several responses from the cell membrane that include rearranging its components according to the immediate needs of the cell, for example, in the membrane of platelets, the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia as a tissue repair response. In cancer, the cancer cells must adapt to the new tumor microenvironment (TME) and acquire capacities in the cell membrane to transform their shape, such as in the case of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastatic process. The cancer cells must also attract allies in this challenging process, such as platelets, fibroblasts associated with cancer (CAF), stromal cells, adipocytes, and the extracellular matrix itself, which limits tumor growth. The platelets are enucleated cells with fairly interesting growth factors, proangiogenic factors, cytokines, mRNA, and proteins, which support the development of a tumor microenvironment and support the metastatic process. This review will discuss the different actions that platelet membranes and cancer cell membranes carry out during their relationship in the tumor microenvironment and metastasis.

On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization received a report of several pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. The causative agent was later confirmed as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since then, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread throughout the world, giving rise in 2020 to the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which, according to the world map of the World Health Organization, has, until May 18, 2021, infected 163,312,429 people and caused 3,386,825 deaths throughout the world. Most critical patients progress rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and, in underlying form, septic shock, irreversible metabolic acidosis, blood coagulation dysfunction, or hemostatic and thrombotic anomalies have been reported as the leading causes of death due to COVID-19. The main findings in severe and fatal COVID-19 patients make it clear that platelets play a crucial role in developing severe disease cases. Platelets are the enucleated cells responsible for hemostasis and thrombi formation; thus, platelet hyperreactivity induced by pro-inflammatory microenvironments contributes to the "cytokine storm" that characterizes the more aggressive course of COVID- 19., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Aneuploidy is a chromosomal abnormality associated with poor prognosis in many cancer types. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the unfolded protein response (UPR) mechanistically links aneuploidy and local immune dysregulation. Using a single somatic copy number alteration (SCNA) score inclusive of whole-chromosome, chromosome arm, and focal alterations in a pan-cancer analysis of 9,375 samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found an inverse correlation with a cytotoxicity (CYT) score across disease stages. Co-expression patterns of UPR genes changed substantially between SCNA low and SCNA high groups. Pathway activity scores showed increased activity of multiple branches of the UPR in response to aneuploidy. The PERK branch showed the strongest association with a reduced CYT score. The conditioned medium of aneuploid cells transmitted XBP1 splicing and caused IL-6 and arginase 1 transcription in receiver bone marrow-derived macrophages and markedly diminished the production of IFN-γ and granzyme B in activated human T cells. We propose the UPR as a mechanistic link between aneuploidy and immune dysregulation in the tumor microenvironment., (© 2021 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite novel therapies, MM still remains an incurable cancer and new strategies are needed. Increased expression of the transcription factor Sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility-group box transcription factor 4 ( SOX4 ) has been correlated with tumor development and progression through a variety of distinct processes, including inhibition of apoptosis, increased cell invasion and metastasis, and induction and maintenance of cancer-initiating cells. The role of SOX4 in MM is largely unknown. Since SOX4 is a known target of miR-335, we used miR-335 to assess whether SOX4 modulation could promote apoptosis in MM cells. Using an MM cell model we show that miR-335 acts both on SOX4 -related genes (AKT, PI3K) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (Hif1-α). In addition, we show miR-335-laden extracellular vesicles induced in B cells (iEVs) are also effective in targeting SOX4 , causing apoptosis. Collectively, we propose that miR-335-laden iEVs could be developed as a novel form of gene therapy in MM.

Cancer is one of the leading public health issues worldwide, and the number of cancer patients increases every day. Particularly, cervical cancer (CC) is still the second leading cause of cancer death in women from developing countries. Thus, it is essential to deepen our knowledge about the molecular pathogenesis of CC and propose new therapeutic targets and new methods to diagnose this disease in its early stages. Differential expression analysis using high-throughput techniques applied to biological samples allows determining the physiological state of normal cells and the changes produced by cancer development. The cluster of differential molecular profiles in the genome, the transcriptome, or the proteome is analyzed in the disease, and it is called the molecular signature of cancer. Proteomic analysis of biological samples of patients with different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and CC has served to elucidate the pathways involved in the development and progression of cancer and identify cervical proteins associated with CC. However, several cervical carcinogenesis mechanisms are still unclear. Detecting pathologies in their earliest stages can significantly improve a patient's survival rate, prognosis, and recurrence. The present review is an update on the proteomic study of CC.

Background: Flavonoids are compounds of interest in the search for new anti-cancer therapies. We have previously isolated the methoxyflavones 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,7,8,3'-tetramethoxyflavone (8-methoxycirsilineol), 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (xanthomicrol), and 5,4,'3'-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (sideritoflavone) from Baccharis densiflora. Herein, we investigate the toxicity of these methoxyflavones in human breast-derived cell line. Our main aim was to focus on the cancer stem cell (CSC) sub-population of JIMT-1 breast cancer cells., Methods: Initially, dose response experiments yielding inhibitory concentration 50 (IC 50 ) values were performed using MCF-7, HCC1937, and JIMT-1 breast cancer, and the MCF-10A normal-like breast cell lines to get an understanding of toxic ranges. Due to a clear difference in the toxicity of the flavones, only sideritoflavone was selected for further studies using the JIMT-1 cell line. Effects on the CSC sub-population was investigated using flow cytometry-based methods. A wound healing assay and digital holographic microscopy were used to investigate effects on cell movement. A reporter assay was used to study effects on signal transduction pathways and Western blot for protein expression., Results: The dose response data showed that 8-methoxycirsilineol was non-toxic at concentrations below 100 μM, that the IC 50 of xanthomicrol was between 50 and 100 μM, while sideritoflavone was highly toxic with a single digit μM IC 50 in all cell lines. Treatment of the JIMT-1 cells with 2 μM sideritoflavone did not selectively effect the CSC sub-population. Instead, sideritoflavone treatment inhibited the proliferation of both the non-CSC and the CSC sub-populations to the same extent. The inhibition of cell proliferation resulted in an accumulation of cells in the G 2 phase of the cell cycle and the treated cells showed an increased level of γ-H2A histone family member X indicating DNA double strand breaks. Analysis of the effect of sideritoflavone treatment on signal transduction pathways showed activation of the Wnt, Myc/Max, and transforming growth factor-β pathways. The level of p65/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated Β cells was increased in sideritoflavone-treated cells. Cell movement was decreased by sideritoflavone treatment., Conclusions: Altogether our data show that the methoxyflavone sideritoflavone has favourable anti-cancer effects that may be exploited for development to be used in combination with CSC specific compounds.

Globally, more than six million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi , the causative protozoan parasite of the vector-borne Chagas disease (CD). We conducted a cross-sectional ethnopharmacological field study in Bolivia among different ethnic groups where CD is hyperendemic. A total of 775 extracts of botanical drugs used in Bolivia in the context of CD and botanical drugs from unrelated indications from the Mediterranean De Materia Medic a compiled by Dioscorides two thousand years ago were profiled in a multidimensional assay uncovering different antichagasic natural product classes. Intriguingly, the phylobioactive anthraquinone hotspot matched the antichagasic activity of Senna chloroclada , the taxon with the strongest ethnomedical consensus for treating CD among the Izoceño-Guaraní. Testing common 9,10-anthracenedione derivatives in T. cruzi cellular infection assays demarcates hydroxyanthraquinone as a potential antichagasic lead scaffold. Our study systematically uncovers in vitro antichagasic phylogenetic hotspots in the plant kingdom as a potential resource for drug discovery based on ethnopharmacological hypotheses., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The high mortality rate of breast cancer is mainly caused by the metastatic ability of cancer cells, resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and tumor regression capacity. In recent years, it has been shown that the presence of breast cancer stem cells is closely associated with the migration and metastatic ability of cancer cells, as well as with their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The tumor microenvironment is one of the main molecular factors involved in cancer and metastatic processes development, in this sense it is interesting to study the role of platelets, one of the main communicator cells in the human body which are activated by the signals they receive from the microenvironment and can generate more than one response. Platelets can ingest and release RNA, proteins, cytokines and growth factors. After the platelets interact with the tumor microenvironment, they are called "tumor-educated platelets." Tumor-educated platelets transport material from the tumor microenvironment to sites adjacent to the tumor, thus helping to create microenvironments conducive for the development of primary and metastatic tumors. It has been observed that the clone capable of carrying out the metastatic process is a cancer cell with stem cell characteristics. Cancer stem cells go through a series of processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, intravasation into blood vessels, movement through blood vessels, extravasation at the site of the establishment of a metastatic focus, and site colonization. Tumor-educated platelets support all these processes., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest. No financial support., (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the tumor microenvironment, local immune dysregulation is driven in part by macrophages and dendritic cells that are polarized to a mixed proinflammatory/immune-suppressive phenotype. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is emerging as the possible origin of these events. Here we report that the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α) branch of the UPR is directly involved in the polarization of macrophages in vitro and in vivo, including the up-regulation of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-23, Arginase1, as well as surface expression of CD86 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Macrophages in which the IRE1α/X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) axis is blocked pharmacologically or deleted genetically have significantly reduced polarization and CD86 and PD-L1 expression, which was induced independent of IFNγ signaling, suggesting a novel mechanism in PD-L1 regulation in macrophages. Mice with IRE1α- but not Xbp1-deficient macrophages showed greater survival than controls when implanted with B16.F10 melanoma cells. Remarkably, we found a significant association between the IRE1α gene signature and CD274 gene expression in tumor-infiltrating macrophages in humans. RNA sequencing (RNASeq) analysis showed that bone marrow-derived macrophages with IRE1α deletion lose the integrity of the gene connectivity characteristic of regulated IRE1α-dependent decay (RIDD) and the ability to activate CD274 gene expression. Thus, the IRE1α/Xbp1 axis drives the polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment initiating a complex immune dysregulation leading to failure of local immune surveillance., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a ubiquitous bacterium in soils, insect cadavers, phylloplane, water, and stored grain, that produces several proteins, each one toxic to different biological targets such as insects, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and mammalian cells. Most Bt toxins identify their particular target through the recognition of specific cell membrane receptors. Cry proteins are the best-known toxins from Bt and a great amount of research has been published. Cry are cytotoxic to insect larvae that affect important crops recognizing specific cell membrane receptors such as cadherin, aminopeptidase-N, and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, some Cry toxins such as Cry4A, Cry4B, and Cry11A act synergistically with Cyt toxins against dipteran larvae vectors of human disease. Research developed with Cry proteins revealed that these toxins also could kill human cancer cells through the interaction with specific receptors. Parasporins are a small group of patented toxins that may or may not have insecticidal activity. These proteins could kill a wide variety of mammalian cancer cells by recognizing specific membrane receptors, just like Cry toxins do. Surface layer proteins (SLP), unlike the other proteins produced by Bt, are also produced by most bacteria and archaebacteria. It was recently demonstrated that SLP produced by Bt could interact with membrane receptors of insect and human cancer cells to kill them. Cyt toxins have a structure that is mostly unrelated to Cry toxins; thereby, other mechanisms of action have been reported to them. These toxins affect mainly mosquitoes that are vectors of human diseases like Anopheles spp (malaria), Aedes spp (dengue, zika, and chikungunya), and Culex spp (Nile fever and Rift Valley fever), respectively. In addition to the Cry, Cyt, and parasporins toxins produced during spore formation as inclusion bodies, Bt strains also produce Vip (Vegetative insecticidal toxins) and Sip (Secreted insecticidal proteins) toxins with insecticidal activity during their vegetative growth phase.

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortalities in women from developing countries. Similar to other types of cancer, CC is considered to be a multifactorial disease, involving socioeconomic, cultural, immunological and epigenetic factors, as well as persistent human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. It has been well established that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in defining tumor size, the speed of development and the level of regression following treatment; therefore, CSCs are associated with a poor prognosis. CSCs have been detected in many types of cancer, including leukemia, pancreatic, colon, esophagus, liver, prostate, breast, gastric and lung cancer. In cervical cancer, CSCs have been associated with resistance to normally used drugs such as cisplatin. The present review summarizes the strategies that high-risk HPV viruses (HPV-16 and HPV-18) have developed to transform normal epithelial cells into cancer cells, as well as the cellular pathways and studies associated with the identification of cervical cancer stem cell biomarkers. In this sense, the present review provides state of the art information regarding CC development.

Background: Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are effective against multiple biological targets such as insects, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and importantly, human cancer cells. One of the main mechanisms by which Cry toxins to trigger cell death is the specific recognition of cadherin-like membrane cell receptors., Objective: This work aimed to assess the cytotoxicity of the Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis in HeLa, cervical cancer cell line, as well as their antitumor activity in mouse models., Methods: We analyzed several biological targets of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac including erythrocytes, insect larvae, as well as cancer and non-cancer cell lines. The viability of HeLa, SiHa, MCF7 and HaCat cells was assessed by MTT 24 h after the administration of Cry toxins. We also studied apoptosis as a possible cytotoxicity mechanism in HeLa. The capacity of Cry toxins to eliminate tumors in xenograft mouse models was also analyzed., Results: Both toxins, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac, showed specific cytotoxic activity in HeLa (HPV18+) cervical cancer cell line, with a Cry1Ab LC50 of 2.5 µg/ml, and of 0.5 µg/ml for Cry1Ac. Apoptosis was differentially induced in HeLa cells using the same concentration of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins. Cry1Ac eliminated 50% of the tumors at 10 µg/ml, and eliminate 100% of the tumors at 30 and 50 µg/ml., Conclusion: Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A toxins show dual cytotoxic activity, in insects as well as in HeLa cancer cell line., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The successful implementation of miRNA (miR) therapies in humans will ultimately rely on the use of vehicles with improved cellular delivery capability. Here we tested a new system that leverages extracellular vesicles (EVs) laden with a tumor suppressor miRNA (miR-335) produced in B cells by plasmid DNA induction (iEVs). We demonstrate that iEVs-335 efficiently and durably restored the endogenous miR-335 pool in human triple negative breast cancer cells, downregulated the expression of the miR-335 target gene SOX4 transcription factor, and markedly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Remarkably, iEVs-335 mediated transcriptional effects that persisted in tumors after 60 days post orthotopic implantation. Genome-wide RNASeq analysis of cancer cells treated in vitro with iEVs-335 showed the regulation of a discrete number of genes only, without broad transcriptome perturbations. This new technology may be ideally suited for therapies aimed to restore tumor suppressor miRNAs in cancer cells, disrupting the oncogenic program established after escape from miRNA control.

Tuberculosis (TB) has been declared the first cause of death by an infectious agent. Annually, 10.4 million people suffer active TB. Most infected individuals live in low-income countries, where social and economic conditions enhance the dissemination and progression of the disease. These countries have a high percentage of smokers. Thousands of studies have linked cigarette smoke (CS) with increased risk of many diseases, such as cancer and lung diseases. Numerous in vitro studies have been conducted to evaluate the general and specific toxic effects of CS in lung immune function. Smoke exposure increases the risk of TB development three-fold. However, until now, only few animal studies have been performed to analyze the association between smoke and TB. In the present work, we review in vitro and in vivo studies whose aim was to analyze the molecular basis of TB susceptibility caused by exposure to CS.

New regimens are constantly being pursued in cancer treatment, especially in the context of treatment-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are assumed to be involved in cancer recurrence. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) isolated from Ambrosia arborescens and of synthetic derivatives in breast cancer cell lines, with a specific focus on activity against CSCs. The breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, JIMT-1, and HCC1937 and the normal-like breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A were treated with the SLs damsin and coronopilin, isolated from A. arborescens, and with ambrosin and dindol-01, synthesized using damsin. Inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) values were obtained from dose-response curves. Based on IC50 values, doses in the μM range were used for investigating effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle phase distribution, cell death, micronuclei formation, and cell migration. Western blot analysis was used to investigate proteins involved in cell cycle regulation as well as in the NF-κB pathway since SLs have been shown to inhibit this transcription factor. Specific CSC effects were investigated using three CSC assays. All compounds inhibited cell proliferation; however, damsin and ambrosin were toxic at single-digit micromolar ranges, while higher concentrations were required for coronopilin and dindol-01. Of the four cell lines, the compounds had the least effect on the normal-like MCF-10A cells. The inhibition of cell proliferation can partly be explained by downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2. All compounds inhibited tumour necrosis factor-α-induced translocation of NF-κB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Damsin and ambrosin treatment increased the number of micronuclei; moreover, another sign of DNA damage was the increased level of p53. Treatment with damsin and ambrosin decreased the CSC subpopulation and inhibited cell migration. Our results suggest that these compounds should be further investigated to find efficient CSC-inhibiting compounds.

Short noncoding (snc)RNAs are important new players in the landscape of biologics with therapeutic potential. Recently, we reported on a new method for the synthesis and delivery of snc RNA in B-cells transfected with plasmid DNA. Here using the same approach, we demonstrate that B-cells can be programmed for the enforced biogenesis and synchronous release of multiple sncRNAs. Our data show that this goal is feasible and that multiple sncRNA are released in the extracellular compartment in amounts comparable to those from B-cells programmed to express and secrete one scnRNA only. Furthermore, we found that the cargo of extracellular vescicles (EVs) isolated from programmed B-cells is remarkably enriched for multiple sncRNA. On average, we found that the content of multiple sncRNAs in EVs is 3.6 copynumber/EV. Collectively, we demonstrate that B-cells can be easily programmed toward the synthesis and release of multiple sncRNAs, including sncRNA-laden EVs, efficiently and specifically.

The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a promising target for drug discovery. NF-κB is a heterodimeric complex of RelA and p50 subunits that interact with the DNA, regulating the expression of several genes; its dysregulation can trigger diverse diseases including inflammation, immunodeficiency, and cancer. There is some experimental evidence, based on whole cells studies, that natural sesquiterpene lactones (Sls) can inhibit the interaction of NF-κB with DNA, by alkylating the RelA subunit via a Michael addition. In the present work, 28 natural and semisynthetic pseudoguianolides were screened as potential inhibitors of NF-κB in a biochemical assay that was designed using pure NF-κB heterodimer, pseudoguianolides and a ~1000 bp palindromic DNA fragment harboring two NF-κB recognition sequences. By comparing the relative amount of free DNA fragment to the NF-κB - DNA complex, in a routine agarose gel electrophoresis, the destabilizing effect of a compound on the complex is estimated. The results of the assay and the following structure-activity relationship study, allowed the identification of several relevant structural features in the pseudoguaianolide skeleton, which are necessary to enhance the dissociating capacity of NF-κB-DNA complex. The most active compounds are substituted at C-3 (α-carbonyl), in addition to having the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety which is essential for the alkylation of RelA.

Evolutionarily conserved short (20-30 nucleotides) noncoding RNAs (microRNAs) are powerful regulators of gene expression in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. As such, means to efficiently modulate microRNA function constitute an important therapeutic opportunity. Here we demonstrate that primary B lymphocytes can be genetically programmed with nonviral plasmid DNA for the biogenesis and delivery of antisense sequences (anti-microRNA) against microRNA-150 (miR-150). Within 18 h of transfection with an anti-miR-150 construct, primary B lymphocytes secrete ∼3,000 copies of anti-miR-150 molecules per cell. Anti-miR-150 molecules released by B lymphocytes were internalized by CD8 T lymphocytes during cross-priming in vitro and in vivo, resulting in marked down-regulation of endogenous miR-150. However, such internalization was not observed in the absence of cross-priming. These results suggest that shuttling anti-miR-150 molecules from B lymphocytes to T cells requires the activation of receiver T cells via the antigen receptor. Finally, anti-miR-150 synthesized in B cells were secreted both as free and extracellular vesicle-associated fractions, but only extracellular vesicle-associated anti-miR-150 were apparently taken up by CD8 T cells. Collectively, these data indicate that primary B lymphocytes represent an efficient platform for the synthesis and delivery of short, noncoding RNA, paving the way for an approach to immunogenomic therapies.

Background: Tumor cells adapt to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through a set of conserved intracellular pathways, as part of a process termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). The expression of UPR genes/proteins correlates with increasing progression and poor clinical outcome of several tumor types, including prostate cancer. UPR signaling can activate NF-κB, a master regulator of transcription of pro-inflammatory, tumorigenic cytokines. Previous studies have shown that Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is upregulated in several epithelial cancers, including prostate cancer, and recently Lcn2 was implicated as a key mediator of breast cancer progression. Here, we hypothesize that the tumor cell UPR regulates Lcn2 production., Methods: We interrogated Lcn2 regulation in murine and human prostate cancer cells undergoing pharmacological and physiological ER stress, and tested UPR and NF-κB dependence by using pharmacological inhibitors of these signaling pathways., Results: Induction of ER stress using thapsigargin (Tg), a canonical pharmacologic ER stress inducer, or via glucose deprivation, a physiologic ER stressor present in the tumor microenvironment, upregulates LCN2 production in murine and human prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of the UPR using 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA) dramatically decreases Lcn2 transcription and translation. Inhibition of NF-κB in prostate cancer cells undergoing Tg-mediated ER stress by BAY 11-7082 abrogates Lcn2 upregulation., Conclusions: We conclude that the UPR activates Lcn2 production in prostate cancer cells in an NF-κB-dependent manner. Our results imply that the observed upregulation of Lipocalin 2 in various types of cancer cells may be the direct consequence of concomitant UPR activation, and that the ER stress/Lipocalin 2 axis is a potential new target for intervention in cancer progression.

During an immune response T cells enter memory fate determination, a program that divides them into two main populations: effector memory and central memory T cells. Since in many systems protection appears to be preferentially mediated by T cells of the central memory it is important to understand when and how fate determination takes place. To date, cell intrinsic molecular events that determine their differentiation remains unclear. MicroRNAs are a class of small, evolutionarily conserved RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression, causing translational repression and/or messenger RNA degradation. Here, using an in vitro system where activated CD8 T cells driven by IL-2 or IL-15 become either effector memory or central memory cells, we assessed the role of microRNAs in memory T cell fate determination. We found that fate determination to central memory T cells is under the balancing effects of a discrete number of microRNAs including miR-150, miR-155 and the let-7 family. Based on miR-150 a new target, KChIP.1 (K (+) channel interacting protein 1), was uncovered, which is specifically upregulated in developing central memory CD8 T cells. Our studies indicate that cell fate determination such as surface phenotype and self-renewal may be decided at the pre-effector stage on the basis of the balancing effects of a discrete number of microRNAs. These results may have implications for the development of T cell vaccines and T cell-based adoptive therapies.

T cells alter their functional phenotype during the evolution of an immune response (intra-lineage differentiation), but the driving forces to this plastic intra-lineage differentiation are poorly understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is a possible critical event for the initial T cell differentiation upon antigen recognition. Here we studied the relationship between ER and Il-10 transcription in human Treg clones. The induction of ER stress with a canonical stressor, thapsigargin, enhances Il-10 transcription. Salubrinal, a small molecule inhibitor of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) dephosphporylation, dramatically inhibits it. Il-10 transcription is also enhanced by exogenous TNFα. These results disclose a role for ER stress in driving T cell plasticity., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Several micro-environmental and cell-intrinsic stimuli cause tumor cells to undergo endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in vivo. The occurrence of an ER stress response has been associated with tumor progression and angiogenesis. Recently, we found that pharmacological induction of ER stress in B lymphoma cells upregulates the transcription of several pro-inflammatory cytokines., Results: Here, we show that transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) C1 murine prostate cancer cells induced to undergo ER stress in vitro activate the transcription of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 23p19 (IL-23p19), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Furthermore we show that TRAMP C1 tumors growing in vivo spontaneously experience ER stress and that transcription of IL-6, IL-23p19, and TNF-α correlates with the in vivo ER stress response., Conclusions: These results suggest that an ER stress response in prostate cancer cells activates a program of pro-inflammatory cytokine transcription. A possible implication of this finding is that cancer cells may use the ER stress response to modify their microenvironment.

Generally, APCs activate CD4 T cells against peptides derived from exogenous Ag in the context of MHC II molecules. In this study, using transgenic B lymphocytes as model APCs, we demonstrate CD4 T cell priming in vivo against peptides derived from endogenously synthesized Ag targeted either to the cytosol or to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Surprisingly, priming by Ag containing the KDEL-retention motif yielded higher levels of two important proinflammatory cytokines, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, in responding CD4 T cells. Importantly, we found that KDEL-mediated retention of Ag up-regulates ER-stress responsive genes in primary B lymphocytes. We also found that thapsigargin treatment of A20 lymphoma cells up-regulates transcription of ER stress and proinflammatory genes along with IL-23p19. Induction of ER stress by thapsigargin also up-regulated IL-23p19 in primary B lymphocytes, macrophages, and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. We conclude that perturbation of the secretory pathway and/or ER stress play an important role in modulating the gene program in professional APCs and in shaping CD4 T cell responses in vivo. These findings are relevant to a better understanding of the immune response after infection by viral and bacterial pathogens and the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases.