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The FcγRII (CD32) ligands are IgFc fragments and pentraxins. The existence of additional ligands is unknown. We engineered T cells with human chimeric receptors resulting from the fusion between CD32 extracellular portion and transmembrane CD8α linked to CD28/ζ chain intracellular moiety (CD32-CR). Transduced T cells recognized three breast cancer (BC) and one colon cancer cell line among 15 tested in the absence of targeting antibodies. Sensitive BC cell conjugation with CD32-CR T cells induced CD32 polarization and down-regulation, CD107a release, mutual elimination, and proinflammatory cytokine production unaffected by human IgGs but enhanced by cetuximab. CD32-CR T cells protected immunodeficient mice from subcutaneous growth of MDA-MB-468 BC cells. RNAseq analysis identified a 42 gene fingerprint predicting BC cell sensitivity and favorable outcomes in advanced BC. ICAM1 was a major regulator of CD32-CR T cell–mediated cytotoxicity. CD32-CR T cells may help identify cell surface CD32 ligand(s) and novel prognostically relevant transcriptomic signatures and develop innovative BC treatments.

We give a summary of SARS-genetic CoV-2’s structure and evolution, as well as current attempts to develop efficient vaccine and treatment methods for SARS-CoV-2 infection, in this article. Most therapeutic strategies are based on repurposing of existing therapeutic agents used against various virus infections and focused mainly on inhibition of the virus replication cycle, enhancement of innate immunity, and alleviation of CRS caused by COVID-19. Currently, more than 100 clinical trials on COVID-19 aim to provide robust evidence on the efficacy of the currently available anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral substances, such as the nucleotide analogue remdesivir, the antimalarial drug chloroquine, and drugs directed against docking of SARS-CoV-2 to the membrane-associated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) such as transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). The current vaccination campaign is ongoing worldwide using different types of vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Novavax, and others with efficacy ranging from 72–95%. In March 2021 Germany limited the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to people 60 years of age and older due to concerns that it may be causing blood clots. Further study and more data are needed to confirm the safety of different available vaccines.

Fcγ RIIA (CD32A) and their ligands, including the immunoglobulin Fc fragment and pentraxins, are key players in a variety of innate immune responses. Still unclear is whether additional ligands of CD32A do exist. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that CD32A-chimeric receptor (CR) can be utilized for the identification of CD32A cell surface ligand(s). Among fifteen cancer cell lines tested, CD32A-CR T cells recognized three of breast cancer (BC) including the MDA-MB-468 and one colorectal carcinoma (HT29) in the absence of targeting antibodies. Conjugation of sensitive BC cells with CD32A-CR T cells induced CD32A polarization and down-regulation, CD107 release, and mutual cell eliminationin vitro. Conversely, normal fibroblasts and myoblasts were not affected while normal HUVEC cells promoted CD32A down-regulation. CD32A-CR T cell activity was not inhibited by human IgGs or human serum, but; it was rather enhanced by cetuximab antibody. RNAseq analysis of sensitive vs resistant BC cells identified a fingerprint of 42 genes predicting the sensitivity of BC cells to CD32A-CR T cells and their association with favorable prognostic significance in advanced BC patients. Our data also identify ICAM 1 as a major regulator of CD32A-CR T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Finally, CD32A-CR T cell administration protected immunodeficient mice from subcutaneous growth of MDA-MB-468 cells in the absence of tumor-specific antibodies. These data indicate that CD32A-CR can be utilized for the identification of (1) cell surface CD32A ligand(s); (2) rational therapeutic strategies to target BC; and (3) novel transcriptomic signatures prognostically relevant for advanced BC patients.

Rosemary oil (ROO) is known to have multiple pharmacological effects: it is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective. In the present study, we examined the effects of ROO on Human olfactory bulb neuronal stem cells (hOBNSCs) after their transplantation into rats, with the ibotenic (IBO) acid-induced cognitive deficit model. After 7 weeks, cognitive functions were assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM). After two months blood and hippocampus samples were collected for biochemical, gene expression, and histomorphometric analyses. Learning ability and memory function were significantly enhanced (P 0.05) after hOBNSCs transplantation and were nearly returned to normal in the treated group. The IBO acid injection was associated with a significant decline (P 0.05) of total leukocyte count (TLC) and a significant increase (P 0.05) in total and toxic neutrophils. As well, the level of IL-1β, TNF-α CRP in serum and levels of MDA and NO in hippocampus tissue were significantly elevated (P 0.05), while antioxidant markers (CAT, GSH, and SOD) were reduced (P 0.05) in treated tissue compared to controls. The administration of ROO before or with cell transplantation attenuated all these parameters. In particular, the level of NO nearly returned to normal when rosemary was administrated before cell transplantation. Gene expression analysis revealed the potential protective effect of ROO and hOBNSCs via down-expression of R-βAmyl and R- CAS 3 and R-GFAP genes. The improvement in the histological organization of the hippocampus was detected after the hOBNSCs transplantation especially in h/ROO/hOBNSCs group.

Walkman and iPod devices have often been discussed in quasi-cinematic terms. This typically implies an analogy between the personal stereo user and the transcendental subject of film theory, who is allowed to see and hear without being seen or heard. This chapter offers an alternative route. Taking as starting point a cinematic moment in which iPod listening is turned into a first-person voiceover, it suggests that cinematic and personal stereo listening share not only an orientation towards privatization and individualization but also a fantasy of communication: one that blurs the lines between “self” and “other” and between listening and speaking. Analyzing a wide range of films and historical marketing campaigns by Sony and Apple, the chapter shows how mainstream cinema—through its representational tropes and modes of spectatorial address—feeds into a broader cultural construction of personal stereo listening as a highly individualized activity that is always imaginatively open-ended.

This introduction maps out the methodological and intellectual issues at stake in the study of “cinematic listening.” The first half argues that the vagueness of the “cinematic” and the elusiveness of “listening” can be productive if, instead of attempting to define what cinematic listening is, we focus on analyzing how changing notions of the “cinematic” and of “listening” have shaped each other through time, exploring cinema’s changing relationship with listening cultures past, present, and imagined. The second half offers an overview of the structure and content of this volume. It sums up how, by means of engaging with the archaeologies, aesthetics, and extensions of cinema’s aural protocols, each volume section contributes to our understanding of how listening to film is mediated by particular texts, places, and practices, and how listening cinematically extends beyond the texts, places, and practices typically associated with film.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest brain tumors with an unfavorable prognosis and overall survival of approximately 20 months following diagnosis. The current treatment for GBM includes surgical resections and chemo‐ and radiotherapeutic modalities, which are not effective. CAR‐T immunotherapy has been proven effective for CD19‐positive blood malignancies, and the application of CAR‐T cell therapy for solid tumors including GBM offers great hope for this aggressive tumor which has a limited response to current treatments. CAR‐T technology depends on the use of patient‐specific T cells genetically engineered to express specific tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs). Interaction of CAR‐T cells with tumor cells triggers the destruction/elimination of these cells by the induction of cytotoxicity and the release of different cytokines. Despite the great promise of CAR‐T cell‐based therapy several challenges exist. These include the heterogeneity of GBM cancer cells, aberrant various signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, antigen escape, the hostile inhibitory GBM microenvironment, T cell dysfunction, blood‐brain barrier, and defective antigen presentation. All need to be addressed before full application at the clinical level can begin. Herein we provide a focused review of the rationale for the use of different types of CAR‐T cells (including FcγRs), the different GBM‐associated antigens, the challenges still facing CAR‐T‐based therapy, and means to overcome such challenges. Finally, we enumerate currently completed and ongoing clinical trials, highlighting the different ways such trials are designed to overcome specific problems. Exploitation of the full potential of CAR‐T cell therapy for GBM depends on their solution., Here, we provided a focused review on the rationale of the use of different types of CAR‐T cells including FcγRs CAR‐T cells, different GBM‐associated antigens, challenges still facing CAR‐T‐based therapy for GBM, and strategies to overcome such challenges. Finally, we enumerated the completed and ongoing clinical trials for GBM and highlighted the different ways such trials are designed to overcome specific challenges that guard against the exploitation of the full potential of CAR‐T cell therapy for GBM.

KRAS mutations hinder therapeutic efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific monoclonal antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab-based immunotherapy of EGFR+ cancers. Although cetuximab inhibits KRAS-mutated cancer cell growth in vitro by natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), KRAS-mutated colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells escape NK cell immunosurveillance in vivo. To overcome this limitation, we used cetuximab and panitumumab to redirect Fc gamma chimeric receptor (CR) T cells against KRAS-mutated HCT116 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We compared four polymorphic Fc gamma-CR constructs including CD16(158F)-CR, CD16(158V)-CR, CD32(131H)-CR, and CD32(131R)-CR transduced into T cells by retroviral vectors. Percentages of transduced T cells expressing CD32(131H)-CR (83.5 +/- 9.5) and CD32(131R)-CR (77.7 +/- 13.2) were significantly higher than those expressing with CD16(158F)-CR (30.3 +/- 10.2) and CD16(158V)-CR (51.7 +/- 13.7) (p < 0.003). CD32(131R)-CR T cells specifically bound soluble cetuximab and panitumumab. However, only CD16(158V)-CR T cells released high levels of interferon gamma (IFN gamma = 1,145.5 pg/ml +/- 16.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha = 614 pg/ml +/- 21 pg/ml, p < 0.001) upon incubation with cetuximab-opsonized HCT116 cells. Moreover, only CD16(158V)-CR T cells combined with cetuximab killed HCT116 cells and A549 KRAS-mutated cells in vitro. CD16(158V)-CR T cells also effectively controlled subcutaneous growth of HCT116 cells in CB17-SCID mice in vivo. Thus, CD16(158V)-CR T cells combined with cetuximab represent useful reagents to develop innovative EGFR+KRAS-mutated CRC immunotherapies.

In the central nervous system, oligodendrocytes are the glial element in charge of myelin formation. Obtaining an overall presence of oligodendrocyte precursor cells/oligodendrocytes. (OPCs/OLs) in culture from different sources of NSCs is an important research area, because OPCs/OLs may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for diseases affecting myelination of axons. The present study was designed to differentiate human olfactory bulb NSCs (OBNSCs) into OPCs/OLs and using expression profiling (RT-qPCR) gene, immunocytochemistry and specific protein expression to highlight molecular mechanism(s) underlying differentiation of human OBNSCs into OPCs/OLs. The differentiation of OBNSCs was characterized by a simultaneous appearance of neurons and glial cells. The differentiation medium, containing cAMP, PDGFA, T3, and all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), promotes OBNSCs to generate mostly oligodendrocytes displaying morphological changes and appearance of long cytoplasmic processes. OBNSCs showed, after five days in oligodendrocytes differentiation medium, a considerable decrease in the number of nestin positive cells, which was associated with a concomitant increase of NG2 immunoreactive cells and few O4(+)-OPCs. In addition, a significant up regulation in gene and protein expression profile of stage specific cell markers for OPCs/OLs (CNPase, Galc, NG2, MOG, OLIG1, OLIG2, MBP), neurons and astrocytes (MAP2, ?-TubulinIII, GFAP) and concomitant decrease of OBNSCs pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nestin), was demonstrated following induction of OBNSCs differentiation. Taken together, the present study demonstrate the marked ability of a cocktail of factors containing PDGFA, T3, cAMP and ATRA, to induce OBNSCs differentiation into OPCs/OLs and shed light on the key genes and pathological pathways involved in this process. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent self-renewing cells that could be used in cellular-based therapy for a wide variety of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's diseases (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Being multipotent in nature, they are practically capable of giving rise to major cell types of the nervous tissue including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This is in marked contrast to neural progenitor cells which are committed to a specific lineage fate. In previous studies, we have demonstrated the ability of NSCs isolated from human olfactory bulb (OB) to survive, proliferate, differentiate, and restore cognitive and motor deficits associated with AD, and PD rat models, respectively. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance the survivability and differentiation potential of NSCs following their in vivo engraftment have been recently suggested. Here, in order to assess the ability of CNTs to enhance the therapeutic potential of human OBNSCs for restoring cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative lesions, we co-engrafted CNTs and human OBNSCs in TMT-neurodegeneration rat model. The present study revealed that engrafted human OBNSCS-CNTs restored cognitive deficits, and neurodegenerative changes associated with TMT-induced rat neurodegeneration model. Moreover, the CNTs seemed to provide a support for engrafted OBNSCs, with increasing their tendency to differentiate into neurons rather than into glia cells. The present study indicate the marked ability of CNTs to enhance the therapeutic potential of human OBNSCs which qualify this novel therapeutic paradigm as a promising candidate for cell-based therapy of different neurodegenerative diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

// Carlo Cenciarelli 1 , Hany E. Marei 2 , Manuela Zonfrillo 1 , Patrizia Casalbore 3 , Armando Felsani 3 , Stefano Giannetti 4 , Gianluca Trevisi 5 , Asma Althani 2 , Annunziato Mangiola 5 1 Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Roma, Italy 2 Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar 3 Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), National Research Council (CNR), Roma, Italy 4 Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University-School of Medicine, Roma, Italy 5 Department of Head and Neck, Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University-School of Medicine, Roma, Italy Correspondence to: Carlo Cenciarelli, email: carlo.cenciarelli@ift.cnr.it Keywords: glioblastoma stem cells, Notch1, Hes1, self-renewal, differentiation Received: December 27, 2016 Accepted: January 25, 2017 Published: February 02, 2017 ABSTRACT The invasive and lethal nature of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) necessitates the continuous identification of molecular targets and search of efficacious therapies to inhibit GBM growth. The GBM resistance to chemotherapy and radiation it is attributed to the existence of a rare fraction of cancer stem cells (CSC) that we have identified within the tumor core and in peritumor tissue of GBM. Since Notch1 pathway is a potential therapeutic target in brain cancer, earlier we highlighted that pharmacological inhibition of Notch1 signalling by γ-secretase inhibitor-X (GSI-X), reduced cell growth of some c-CSC than to their respective p-CSC, but produced negligible effects on cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and cell invasion. In the current study, we assessed the effects of Hes1-targeted shRNA, a Notch1 gene target, specifically on GBM CSC refractory to GSI-X. Depletion of Hes1 protein induces major changes in cell morphology, cell growth rate and in the invasive ability of shHes1-CSC in response to growth factor EGF. shHes1-CSC show a decrease of the stemness marker Nestin concurrently to a marked increase of neuronal marker MAP2 compared to pLKO.1-CSC. Those effects correlated with repression of EGFR protein and modulation of Stat3 phosphorylation at Y705 and S727 residues. In the last decade Stat3 has gained attention as therapeutic target in cancer but there is not yet any approved Stat3-based glioma therapy. Herein, we report that exposure to a Stat3/5 inhibitor, induced apoptosis either in shHes1-CSC or control cells. Taken together, Hes1 seems to be a favorable target but not sufficient itself to target GBM efficaciously, therefore a possible pharmacological intervention should provide for the use of anti-Stat3/5 drugs either alone or in combination regimen.

Several clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that regular use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) correlates with a reduced risk of cancer and that the drug exerts direct anti‐tumour effects. We have previously reported that ASA inhibits proliferation of human glioblastoma multiforme‐derived cancer stem cells. In the present study, we analysed the effects of ASA on nervous system‐derived cancer cells, using the SK‐N‐SH (N) human neuroblastoma cell line as an experimental model. ASA treatment of SK‐N‐SH (N) dramatically reduced cell proliferation and motility, and induced neuronal‐like differentiation, indicated by the appearance of the neuronal differentiation marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) after 5 days. ASA did not affect cell viability, but caused a time‐dependent accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a concomitant decrease in the percentage of cells in the G2 phase. These effects appear to be mediated by a COX‐independent mechanism involving an increase in p21Waf1 and underphosphorylated retinoblastoma (hypo‐pRb1) protein levels. These findings may support a potential role of ASA as adjunctive therapeutic agent in the clinical management of neuroblastoma.

The chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) immunotherapy currently represents a hot research trend and it is expected to revolutionize the field of cancer therapy. Promising outcomes have been achieved using CAR-T cell therapy for haematological malignancies. Despite encouraging results, several challenges still pose eminent hurdles before being fully recognized. Directing CAR-T cells to target a single tumour associated antigen (TAA) as the case in haematological malignancies might be much simpler than targeting the extensive inhibitory microenvironments associated with solid tumours. This review focuses on the basic principles involved in development of CAR-T cells, emphasizing the differences between humoral IgG, T-cell receptors, CAR and Fcgamma-CR constructs. It also highlights the complex inhibitory network that is usually associated with solid tumours, and tackles recent advances in the clinical studies that have provided great hope for the future use of CAR-T cell immunotherapy. While current Fcgamma-CR T cell immunotherapy is in pre-clinical stage, is expected to provide a sound therapeutic approach to add to existing classical chemo- and radio-therapeutic modalities.

KRAS mutation hinders the therapeutic efficacy of epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR) mAb (cetuximab and panitumumab)-based immunotherapy of EGFR+ cancers. Although, cetuximab controls KRAS-mutated cancer cell growthin vitroutilizing a NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity-(ADCC) mechanism, KRAS-mutated colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells can still escape NK cell immunosurveillance. To overcome this limitation, we used cetuximab and panitumumab to redirect Fcγ chimeric receptor (CR) T cells against KRAS-mutated HCT116 CRC cells. We compared 4 polymorphic Fcγ-CR constructs including CD16158F-CR, CD16158V-CR, CD32131H-CR, and CD32131R-CR which were transduced into T cells utilizing retroviral transduction. Percentages of transduced T cells expressing CD32131H-CR (83.5±9.5) and CD32131R–CR (77.7.±13.2) were significantly higher than those expressing with CD16158F-CR (30.3±10.2) and CD16158V-CR (51.7±13.7) (p131R-CR T cells specifically bound soluble cetuximab and panitumumab. However, only CD16158V-CR T cells released significantly higher levels of interferon gamma (IFNγ=1145.5 pg/ml ±16.5 pg/ml, p158V-CR T cells combined with cetuximab controlled the growth of HCT116 cells subcutaneously engrafted in CB17-SCID mice. These results suggest that CD16158V-CR T cells combined with cetuximab represent useful reagents to develop an effective immunotherapy of EGFR+KRAS-mutated cancer.

Cetuximab and panitumumab bind the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Although the chimeric cetuximab (IgG1) triggers antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) of EGFR positive target cells, panitumumab (a human IgG2) does not. The inability of panitumumab to trigger ADCC reflects the poor binding affinity of human IgG2 Fc for the FcγRIII (CD16) on natural killer (NK) cells. However, both human IgG1 and IgG2 bind the FcγRII (CD32A) to a similar extent. Our study compares the ability of T cells, engineered with a novel low-affinity CD32A(131R)-chimeric receptor (CR), and those engineered with the low-affinity CD16(158F)-CR T cells, in eliminating EGFR positive epithelial cancer cells (ECCs) in combination with cetuximab or panitumumab. After T-cell transduction, the percentage of CD32A(131R)-CR T cells was 74 ± 10%, whereas the percentage of CD16(158F)-CR T cells was 46 ± 15%. Only CD32A(131R)-CR T cells bound panitumumab. CD32A(131R)-CR T cells combined with the mAb 8.26 (anti-CD32) and CD16(158F)-CR T cells combined with the mAb 3g8 (anti-CD16) eliminated colorectal carcinoma (CRC), HCT116(FcγR+) cells, in a reverse ADCC assay in vitro. Crosslinking of CD32A(131R)-CR on T cells by cetuximab or panitumumab and CD16(158F)-CR T cells by cetuximab induced elimination of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-468 cells, and the secretion of interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Neither cetuximab nor panitumumab induced Fcγ-CR T antitumor activity against Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS)-mutated HCT116, nonsmall-cell-lung-cancer, A549 and TNBC, MDA-MB-231 cells. The ADCC of Fcγ-CR T cells was associated with the overexpression of EGFR on ECCs. In conclusion, CD32A(131R)-CR T cells are efficiently redirected by cetuximab or panitumumab against breast cancer cells overexpressing EGFR.

Cetuximab and panitumumab bind the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). While the chimeric cetuximab (IgG1) triggers antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) of EGFR positive target cells, panitumumab (a human IgG2) does not. The inability of panitumumab to trigger ADCC reflects a poor binding affinity of human IgG2 Fc for the FcγRIII (CD16) on NK cells. However, both human IgG1 and IgG2 bind the FcγRII (CD32) to a similar extent. Here, we have compared the ability of T cells, engineered with a novel low-affinity CD32131R -chimeric receptor (CR), and those engineered with the low-affinity CD16158F–CR T cells in eliminating EGFR positive epithelial cancer cells (ECCs) in combination with cetuximab or panitumumab. Following T cell transduction, the percentage of CD32131R-CR T cells was (74±10) significantly higher than that of CD16158F-CR T cells (46±15). Only CD32131R-CR T cells bound panitumumab. CD32131R-CR T cells combined with the mAb 8.26 (anti-CD32) and CD16158F-CR T cells combined with the mAb 3g8 (anti-CD16) eliminated colorectal carcinoma (CRC), HCT116FcγR+ cells, in a reverse ADCC assay in vitro. Cross-linking of CD32131R-CR on T cells by cetuximab or panitumumab and CD16158F-CR T cells by cetuximab induced elimination of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-468 cells, and secretion of IFN gamma (IFNγ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Neither cetuximab nor panitumumab induced Fcγ-CR T anti-tumor activity against KRAS-mutated HCT116, non-small-cell-lung-cancer, A549 and TNBC, MDA-MB-231 cells. ADCC of Fcγ-CR T cells was significantly associated with the over-expression of EGFR on ECCs. In conclusion, CD32131R-CR T cells are efficiently redirected by cetuximab or panitumumab against BC cells overexpressing EGFR.Article categoryTumor Immunology and MicroenvironmentNovelty and ImpactMonoclonal antibody-redirected Fcγ-CR T cell immunotherapy represents a promising approach in the fight against cancer. Here, we expand the application of this methodology to TNBC overexpressing the EGFR utilizing a novel CD32A131R-CR in combination with anti-EGFR mAbs. Our study supports the use of CD32A131R-CR T cells combined with panitumumab or cetuximab for targeting TNBC cells overexpressing the EGFR. Our results may be utilized as a platform for the rational design of therapies targeting TNBC overexpressing EGFR.

Several clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that regular use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) correlates with a reduced risk of cancer and that the drug exerts direct anti-tumour effects. We have previously reported that ASA inhibits proliferation of human glioblastoma multiforme-derived cancer stem cells. In the present study, we analysed the effects of ASA on nervous system-derived cancer cells, using the SK-N-SH (N) human neuroblastoma cell line as an experimental model. ASA treatment of SK-N-SH (N) dramatically reduced cell proliferation and motility, and induced neuronal-like differentiation, indicated by the appearance of the neuronal differentiation marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) after 5 days. ASA did not affect cell viability, but caused a time-dependent accumulation of cells in the G0 /G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a concomitant decrease in the percentage of cells in the G2 phase. These effects appear to be mediated by a COX-independent mechanism involving an increase in p21Waf1 and underphosphorylated retinoblastoma (hypo-pRb1) protein levels. These findings may support a potential role of ASA as adjunctive therapeutic agent in the clinical management of neuroblastoma.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that have the ability of self-renewal and trans-differentiation into other cell types. They hold out hope for finding a cure for many diseases. Nevertheless, there are still some obstacles that limit their clinical transplantation. One of these obstacles are the xenogeneic substances added in either proliferation or differentiation media with subsequent immunogenic and infectious transmission problems. In this study, we aimed to replace fetal bovine serum (FBS), the main nutrient source for MSC proliferation with xeno-free blood derivatives. We tested the effect of human activated pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) on the proliferation of human adipose derived-MSCs (AD-MSCs) at different concentrations. For the induction of MSC neural differentiation, we used human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at different concentrations in combination with P-PRP to effect xeno-free/species-specific neuronal/glial differentiation and we found that media with 10% CSF and 10% PRP promoted glial differentiation, while media with only 10% PRP induced a neuron-like phenotype.

Right from the start, Before Sunrise presents us with the problem of its ending. The film narrates the on-the-road romance of Jesse and Celine, who meet on a train through central Europe, fall for each other, and decide to spend a day and night together in Vienna before continuing their respective journeys, never to see each other again. In a move that is typical of indie cinema, the two protagonists trade the idea of a ‘happily ever after’ with the possibility of experiencing a moment together. And yet, for this same reason, their time together is inseparable from the feeling of the approaching goodbye, which threatens their very ability to experience the moment. My chapter explores how Before Sunrise draws on music to find a solution to this conundrum. I show that, as we approach the temporal deadline of the title, Bach’s music is used to mobilise a set of complementary eschatological frameworks that are meant both to freeze and extend the time in Vienna. More broadly, I suggest that the film provides a model of cinema’s use of music to make sense of endings and of the time-bound nature of the cinematic experience.

Human microbiota are distinct communities of microorganisms that resides at different body niches. Exploration of the human microbiome has become a reality due to the availability of powerful metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analysis technologies. Recent advances in sequencing and bioinformatics over the past decade help provide a deep insight into the nature of the host-microbial interactions and identification of potential deriver genes and pathways associated with human health, well-being, and predisposition to different diseases. In the present review, we outline recent studies devoted to elucidate the possible link between the microbiota and various type of diseases. The present review also highlights the potential utilization of microbiota as a potential therapeutic option to treat a wide array of human diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1688-1694, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Currently, there is much interest in the characterization of metabolic profiling of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of tumor cells with self-renewal capacity. Indeed, ever-growing evidence indicate that metabolism and stemness are highly intertwined processes in tumor tissue. In this review, we analyze the potential metabolic targeting strategies for eradicating CSCs that could help to develop a more effective therapeutic approach for gastrointestinal cancers. Indeed, the successful elimination of a tumor requires an anticancer therapy that affects both cancer cells and CSCs. The observation that gastrointestinal CSCs possess higher inducible nitric oxide sinthase (iNOS) expression, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and a different metabolism respect to no-CSCs tumor cells has paved the way to develop drugs targeting CSC specific signaling. In particular, several studies have highlighted that metformin, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, and iNOS inhibitors selectively suppressed CSC growth and that combinatorial therapy of them with standard chemotherapeutic drugs had a synergistic effect resulting in reduced tumor burden and delayed tumor recurrence. Thus, the possibility of combining specific CSC metabolism inhibitors with existing therapeutic approaches could have profound anticancer effects, changing the conventional treatment approaches to gastrointestinal cancers. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2081-2087, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most devastating disorders. Despite the continuing increase of its incidence among aging populations, no effective cure has been developed mainly due to difficulties in early diagnosis of the disease before damaging of the brain, and the failure to explore its complex underlying molecular mechanisms. Recent technological advances in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and high throughput next generation whole genome, and exome sequencing had deciphered many of AD-related loci, and discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with altered AD molecular pathways. Highlighting altered molecular pathways linked to AD pathogenesis is crucial to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic AD targets.

Several clinical studies indicated that the daily use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) reduces the cancer risk via Cyclooxygenases (Cox-1 and Cox-2) inhibition. In addition, aspirin-induced Cox-dependent and independent anti-tumor effects have also been described. Here we report, for the first time, that aspirin treatment of human glioblastoma cancer (GBM) stem cells, a small population responsible for tumor progression and recurrence, is associated to reduced cell proliferation and motility. Aspirin did not interfere with cell viability but induced cell-cycle arrest. Exogenous Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) significantly increased cell proliferation but did not abrogate the aspirin-mediated growth inhibition, suggesting a Cox-independent mechanism. These effects appear to be mediated by the increase of p21waf1 and p27Kip1, associated with a reduction of CyclinD1 and Rb1 protein phosphorylation, and involve the down-regulation of key molecules responsible of tumor development, i.e. Notch1, Sox2, Stat3 and Survivin. Our results support a possible role of aspirin as an adjunctive therapy in the clinical management of GBM patients.

The potential uniformity between differentiation and therapeutic potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) remains debatable. We studied the gene expression profiles, pathways analysis and the ability to differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and motor neurons (MNs) of genetically unmatched integration-free hiPSC versus hESC to highlight possible differences/similarities between them at the molecular level. We also provided the functional information of the neurons derived from the different hESCs and hiPSCs lines using the Neural Muscular Junction (NMJ) Assay. The hiPSC line was generated by transfecting human epidermal fibroblasts (HEF) with episomal DNAs expressing Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, Nanog, L-Myc and shRNA against p53. For the hESCs line, we used the NIH-approved H9 cell line. Using unsupervised clustering both hESCs and hiPSCs were clustered together implying homogeneous genetic states. The genetic profiles of hiPSCs and hESCs were clearly similar but not identical. Collectively, our data indicate close molecular similarities between genetically unmatched hESCs and hiPS in term of gene expression, and signaling pathways. Moreover, both cell types exhibited similar cholinergic motor neurons differentiation potential with marked ability of the differentiated hESCs and hiPSCs-derived MNs to induce contraction of myotubes after 4 days of co-culture.

Chronic inflammation is a leading cause of neoplastic transformation in many human cancers and especially in colon cancer (CC), in part due to tumour promotion by nitric oxide (NO) generated at inflammatory sites. It has also been suggested that high NO synthesis, secondary to inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression, is a distinctive feature of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of tumour cells with self-renewal capacity. In this study we explored the contribution of NO to the development of colon CSC features and evaluated potential strategies to treat CC by modulating NO production. Our data show an integral role for endogenous NO and iNOS activity in the biology of colon CSCs. Indeed, colon CSCs with high endogenous NO production (NOhigh) displayed higher tumourigenic abilities than NOlow fractions. The blockade of endogenous NO availability, using either a specific iNOS inhibitor or a genetic knock-down of iNOS, resulted in a significant reduction of colon CSC tumourigenic capacities in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, analysis of genes altered by iNOS-directed shRNA showed that the knockdown of iNOS expression was associated with a significant down-regulation of signalling pathways involved in stemness and tumour progression in colon CSCs. These findings confirm that endogenous NO plays an important role in defining the stemness properties of colon CSCs through cross-regulation of several cellular signalling pathways. This discovery could shed light on the mechanisms by which NO induces the growth and invasiveness of CC, providing new insights into the link between inflammation and colon tumourigenesis. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells that are capable of differentiating into different neuronal and glial elements. The production of DA neurons from NSCs could potentially alleviate behavioral deficits in Parkinsonian patients; timely intervention with NSCs might provide a therapeutic strategy for PD. We have isolated and generated highly enriched cultures of neural stem/progenitor cells from the human olfactory bulb (OB). If NSCs can be obtained from OB, it would alleviate ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic tissue, and provide an easily accessible cell source that would preclude the need for invasive brain surgery. Following isolation and culture, olfactory bulb neural stem cells (OBNSCs) were genetically engineered to express hNGF and GFP. The hNFG-GFP-OBNSCs were transplanted into the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamin (6-OHDA) Parkinsonian rats. The grafted cells survived in the lesion environment for more than eight weeks after implantation with no tumor formation. The grafted cells differentiated in vivo into oligodendrocyte-like (25 ± 2.88%), neuron-like (52.63 ± 4.16%), and astrocyte -like (22.36 ± 1.56%) lineages, which we differentiated based on morphological and immunohistochemical criteria. Transplanted rats exhibited a significant partial correction in stepping and placing in non-pharmacological behavioral tests, pole and rotarod tests. Taken together, our data encourage further investigations of the possible use of OBNSCs as a promising cell-based therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1614–1629, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company

Neural stem cells are multipotent self-renewing cells that could be used in cellular-based therapy for a wide variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, to assess the ability of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance the therapeutic potential of human Olfactory Bulb Neural Stem Cells (OBNSCs) for restoring cognitive deficts and neurodegenerative lesions, we co-engrafted CNTs and human OBNSCs in trimethyltin (TMT)-neurodegenration rat model. The present study revealed that engrafted human OBNSCs-CNTs restored cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative changes associated with TMT-induced rat neurodegeneration model. Moreover, the CNTs seemd to provide a support for engrafted OBNSCs with increasing their tendecny to differentiate into neurons rather than into glia cells.

In this study, we aim to demonstrate the fate of allogenic adult human olfactory bulb neural stem/progenitor cells (OBNSC/NPCs) transplanted into the rat hippocampus treated with ibotenic acid (IBO), a neurotoxicant specific to hippocampal cholinergic neurons that are lost in Alzheimer's disease. We assessed their possible ability to survive, integrate, proliferate, and differentiate into different neuronal and glial elements: we also evaluate their possible therapeutic potential, and the mechanism(s) relevant to neuroprotection following their engraftment into the CNS milieu. OBNSC/NPCs were isolated from adult human olfactory bulb patients, genetically engineered to express GFP and human nerve growth factor (hNGF) by lentivirus-mediated infection, and stereotaxically transplanted into the hippocampus of IBO-treated animals and controls. Stereological analysis of engrafted OBNSCs eight weeks post transplantation revealed a 1.89 fold increase with respect to the initial cell population, indicating a marked ability for survival and proliferation. In addition, 54.71 ± 11.38%, 30.18 ± 6.00%, and 15.09 ± 5.38% of engrafted OBNSCs were identified by morphological criteria suggestive of mature neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes respectively. Taken together, this work demonstrated that human OBNSCs expressing NGF ameliorate the cognitive deficiencies associated with IBO-induced lesions in AD model rats, and the improvement can probably be attributed primarily to neuronal and glial cell replacement as well as the trophic influence exerted by the secreted NGF. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 116–130, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells differentiation ability toward neuronal fate. Human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hWJMSC) have been isolated from human umbilical cord of full-term births and characterized by flow cytometry analysis for their stem mesenchymal properties through specific surface markers expression (CD73, CD90, and CD105). hWJMSC mesodermal lineage differentiation ability and karyotype analysis were assessed. The trans-differentiation of hWJMSC into neural lineage was investigated in presence of forskolin, an agent known to increase the intracellular levels of cAMP. A molecular profile of differentiated hWJMSC was performed by microarray technology which revealed 1,532 statistically significant modulated genes respect to control cells. Most of these genes are mainly involved in functional neuronal signaling pathways and part of them are specifically required for the neuronal dopaminergic induction. The acquisition of the dopaminergic phenotype was evaluated via immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis revealed the significant induction of Nurr1, NeuroD1, and TH proteins expression in forskolin-induced hWJMSC. Moreover, the treatment with forskolin promoted, in hWJMSC, a strong upregulation of the neurotrophin Trk receptors related to the high release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Taken together these findings show that hWJMSC may be represent an optimal therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases.

This article focuses on the paratexts of opera DVDs as a route into the status and cultural placement of opera videos in contemporary visual culture. In particular, it analyses the picture covers, menus and openings credits of four productions of Verdi's Don Carlo, arguing that, although the videos fall within the broader discourse of the ‘televisual’ (a discourse that encourages the viewer to conceive the image as a transparent document of the performance on-stage), these paratexts put forward alternative ways of conceiving the relationship between medium and subject matter, imagining opera's materials, however briefly, in terms of narrative cinema and music video, video games and computer loops.