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Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) are caused by aberrant mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) activation due to loss of either TSC1 or TSC2. Cytokine profiling of TSC2-deficient LAM patient-derived cells revealed striking up-regulation of Interleukin-6 (IL-6). LAM patient plasma contained increased circulating IL-6 compared with healthy controls, and TSC2-deficient cells showed up-regulation of IL-6 transcription and secretion compared to wild-type cells. IL-6 blockade repressed the proliferation and migration of TSC2-deficient cells and reduced oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification. U-13C glucose tracing revealed that IL-6 knockout reduced 3-phosphoserine and serine production in TSC2-deficient cells, implicating IL-6 in de novo serine metabolism. IL-6 knockout reduced expression of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1), an essential enzyme in serine biosynthesis. Importantly, recombinant IL-6 treatment rescued PSAT1 expression in the TSC2-deficient, IL-6 knockout clones selectively and had no effect on wild-type cells. Treatment with anti-IL-6 (αIL-6) antibody similarly reduced cell proliferation and migration and reduced renal tumors in Tsc2+/- mice while reducing PSAT1 expression. These data reveal a mechanism through which IL-6 regulates serine biosynthesis, with potential relevance to the therapy of tumors with mTORC1 hyperactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver(I)-imidazole cyclophane gem-diol complex, [Ag2C36 N10O4](super 2+)2(x)(super -), where x = OH(super -) or CO3(super 2-), is synthesized and well characterized. The minimum inhibition concentration tests showed that the aqueous form of [Ag2C36 N10O4](super 2+)2(x)(super -) is 2 times less effective as an antibiotic than 0.5 percent AgNO3, with about the same amount of silver.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a tumor suppressor syndrome characterized by benign tumors in multiple organs, including the brain and kidney. TSC-associated tumors exhibit hyperactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a direct inhibitor of autophagy. Autophagy can either promote or inhibit tumorigenesis, depending on the cellular context. The role of autophagy in the pathogenesis and treatment of the multisystem manifestations of TSC is unknown. We found that the combination of mTORC1 and autophagy inhibition was more effective than either treatment alone in inhibiting the survival of tuberin (TSC2)-null cells, growth of TSC2-null xenograft tumors, and development of spontaneous renal tumors in Tsc2+/- mice. Down-regulation of Atg5 induced extensive central necrosis in TSC2-null xenograft tumors, and loss of one allele of Beclin1 almost completely blocked macroscopic renal tumor formation in Tsc2+/- mice. Surprisingly, given the finding that lowering autophagy blocks TSC tumorigenesis, genetic down-regulation of p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), the autophagy substrate that accumulates in TSC tumors as a consequence of low autophagy levels, strongly inhibited the growth of TSC2-null xenograft tumors. These data demonstrate that autophagy is a critical component of TSC tumorigenesis, suggest that mTORC1 inhibitors may have autophagy-dependent prosurvival effects in TSC, and reveal two distinct therapeutic targets for TSC: autophagy and the autophagy target p62/SQSTM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A class of Ag(I) N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes, 1-3, derived from 4,5-dichloro-1H-imidazole has been evaluated for their anticancer activity against the human cancer cell lines OVCAR-3 (ovarian), MB157 (breast), and Hela (cervical). Silver complexes 1-3 are active against the ovarian and breast cancer cell lines. A preliminary in vivo study shows 1 to be active against ovarian cancer in mice. The results obtained in these studies warrant further investigation of these compounds in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver(I)--imidazole cyclophane gem-diol complex, 3 [Ag2C36N10O4]2+2(x)-, where x = OH- or CO2-3, was synthesized and well characterized. The minimum inhibition concentration tests showed that the aqueous form of 3 is 2 times less effective as an antibiotic than 0.5% AgNO3, with about the same amount of silver. The antimicrobial activity of 3 was enhanced when encapsulated into Tecophilic polymer by electrospinning to obtain mats made of nano-fibers. The fiber mats released nanosilver particles, which in turn sustained the antimicrobial activity of the mats over a long period of time. The rate of bactericidal activity of 3 was greatly improved by encapsulation, and the amount of silver used was much reduced. The amount of silver contained in the fiber mat of 3, with 75% of 3 and 25% Tecophilic, was 8 times less than that in 0.5% AgNO3 and 5 times lower than that in silver sulfadiazine cream 1%. The fiber mat was found to kill S. aureus at the same rate as 0.5% AgNO3, with zero colonies on an agar plate, and about 6 times faster than silver sulfadiazine cream. The silver mats were found effective against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, C. albicans, A. niger, and S. cerevisiae. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the fiber mats. The acute toxicity of the ligand (imidazolium cyclophane gem-diol dichloride) was assessed by intravenous administration to rats, with an LD 50 of 100 mg/kg of rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]