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Spontaneous tumor regression is a recognized phenomenon across various cancer types. Recent research emphasizes the alterations in autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I (CA I) (anti-CA I) levels as potential prognostic markers for various malignancies. Particularly, autoantibodies targeting CA I and II appear to induce cellular damage by inhibiting their respective protein’s catalytic functions. Our study illuminates the profound impact of anti-CA I autoantibodies from patient serum on the esterase activity of human CA I, exhibiting inhibitory effects akin to the acetazolamide inhibitor. Concurrently, our newly synthesized mouse monoclonal IgG antibody, mAb 2B8, against human CA I showcased a potent inhibitory action. An in-depth exploration into mAb 2B8′s binding dynamics with its target enzyme was undertaken. Leveraging epitope extraction and phage display library techniques, we identified the amino acid sequence DFWTYP (positions 191–196 of CA I) as crucial for mAb 2B8′s interaction. In 3-D structural analysis, this sequence is spatially adjacent to a previously identified epitope (DFWTYP) that interacts with patient-derived autoantibodies. Critically, mAb 2B8 demonstrated an ability to infiltrate eukaryotic cells, engaging specifically with its intracytoplasmic target. This positions mAb 2B8 as a promising model for future studies aimed at tumor cell eradication.

PurposeTherapeutic thorax irradiation as an intervention in lung cancer has its limitations due to toxic effects leading to pneumonitis and/or pulmonary fibrosis. It has already been confirmed that hyaluronic acid (HA), an extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan, is involved in inflammation disorders and wound healing in lung tissue. We examined the effects after gamma irradiation of hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HANPs) applied into lung prior to that irradiation in a dose causing radiation-induced pulmonary injuries (RIPI).Materials and MethodsBiocompatible HANPs were first used for viability assay conducted on the J774.2 cell line. For in vivo experiments, HANPs were administered intratracheally to C57Bl/6 mice 30 min before thoracic irradiation by 17 Gy. Molecular, cellular, and histopathological parameters were measured in lung and peripheral blood at days 113, 155, and 190, corresponding to periods of significant morphological and/or biochemical alterations of RIPI.ResultsModification of linear hyaluronic acid molecule into nanoparticles structure significantly affected the physiological properties and caused long-term stability against ionizing radiation. The HANPs treatments had significant effects on the expression of the cytokines and particularly on the pro-fibrotic signaling pathway in the lung tissue. The radiation fibrosis phase was altered significantly in comparison with a solely irradiated group.ConclusionsThe present study provides evidence that application of HANPs caused significant changes in molecular and cellular patterns associated with RIPI. These findings suggest that HANPs could diminish detrimental radiation-induced processes in lung tissue, thereby potentially decreasing the extracellular matrix degradation leading to lung fibrosis.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has a special position among glycosaminoglycans. As a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This simple, unbranched polysaccharide is involved in the regulation of various biological cell processes, whether under physiological conditions or in cases of cell damage. This review summarizes the history of this molecule’s study, its distinctive metabolic pathway in the body, its unique properties, and current information regarding its interaction partners. Our main goal, however, is to intensively investigate whether this relatively simple polymer may find applications in protecting against ionizing radiation (IR) or for therapy in cases of radiation-induced damage. After exposure to IR, acute and belated damage develops in each tissue depending upon the dose received and the cellular composition of a given organ. A common feature of all organ damage is a distinct change in composition and structure of the ECM. In particular, the important role of HA was shown in lung tissue and the variability of this flexible molecule in the complex mechanism of radiation-induced lung injuries. Moreover, HA is also involved in intermediating cell behavior during morphogenesis and in tissue repair during inflammation, injury, and would healing. The possibility of using the HA polymer to affect or treat radiation tissue damage may point to the missing gaps in the responsible mechanisms in the onset of this disease. Therefore, in this article, we will also focus on obtaining answers from current knowledge and the results of studies as to whether hyaluronic acid can also find application in radiation science.

Book review: Marie Novotná: Pojetí těla ve staroseverské literatuře. Praha: Herrmann & synové, 2019, 194 pages. (The Concept of the Body in Old Norse Literature)

Scholars have traditionally viewed the post-classical sagas and ˂i˃þættir˂/i˃ of Icelanders, written between the second half of the 13th century and the early 15th century, as inferior to the classical sagas and ˂i˃þættir˂/i˃ in terms of narrative form and social relevance. In the present study we argue that the post-classical texts show an innovative approach to the concept of narrative space, and that they are reflective of the various narrative modes in a way that allows the narratives to become more varied and multi-layered than the classical sagas. We also argue that the increased use of supernatural motifs is not a sign of disinterest in the social concerns, because such motifs contribute to the conceptualization of the social issues that had changed after the end of the Sturlung Age, but they had not become less significant.

An electroanalytical study for possible simultaneous detection of three naturally occurring isomers of vitamin E (α, γ, and δ-tocopherol) was performed. This research includes several optimization steps, such as selection of electrode material, composition of working medium, selection of electrochemical technique, and parameters of square-wave voltammetry (SWV), to reach a well-defined recognition of peaks. A glassy carbon electrode, 99.9% acetonitrile containing 0.1 mol L−1 lithium perchlorate, SWV at the potential step of 1 mV, potential amplitude of 25 mV, and frequency of 25 Hz were decided as the most suitable working conditions. Nevertheless, the corresponding anodic peaks were not sufficiently separated due to their overlapping. Thus, four standard evaluation methods (polynomial or linear baseline, zero base, and deconvolution) were compared, and the last-mentioned method was chosen as optimum. Similar linear ranges from 3.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 were obtained for α, γ, and δ-tocopherol, characterized by determination coefficient of 0.998, 0.985, and 0.994, quantification limits of 11.28, 2.70, and 3.67 × 10−6 mol L−1 and detection limits of 3.72, 0.89, and 1.21 × 10−6 mol L−1, respectively. A recovery from 72.0 to 128.5% for different concetration ratios of tocopherols has been achieved. This recovery range is in the accordance with values reported for liquid chromatography.

A new voltammetric method for the simultaneous determination of vitamin E and vitamin K present in different types of commercially available food supplements has been developed. This electroanalytical method is based on the ex situ adsorptive accumulation of these biologically active compounds onto the surface of a solid glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with subsequent electrochemical detection by square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry in 0.01-mol L−1 HNO3 containing 0.1-mol L−1 KCl at pH 2.08. Due to reversible electrochemical reactions of phylloquinone, a subsequent voltammetric detection of both vitamins in anodic mode can be performed. Since individual forms of vitamins E and K usually exhibit nearly identical electrochemical behavior, it is therefore impossible to distinguish individual forms (quinones and tocopherols) and determine their molar concentrations in this way. Thus, the values of vitamin content were expressed as mass equivalent of phylloquinone and α-tocopherol as they are the most biologically active forms. Despite the high sensitivity, relatively short linear ranges were obtained due to the interaction (competition) of both vitamins during adsorption onto the freshly polished surface of the GCE from a 50% aqueous–acetonitrile mixture. The obtained results showed that the voltammetric approach is a very simple and low-cost analytical method that can be used in analyses of food supplements.