Search

Simple Summary Preclinical 3D in vitro coculture models are known to be more complex systems than monolayer cell culture and mimic the physiological environment more closely. Three-dimensional dermal equivalents provide a relevant environment for cutaneous metastatic melanoma cells and are capable of modulating a cancer cell’s response to drugs. We showed that a combined targeted therapy (vemurafenib and cobimetinib) efficiently inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, especially in the 3D coculture model. A cancer-associated fibroblast population isolated from a cutaneous melanoma was also sensitive to the treatment but with no detectable induction of apoptosis. To better understand the complex crosstalk between melanoma cells and their microenvironment, we compared the influence of conditioned media obtained from healthy or cancer-associated fibroblasts on the response of metastatic melanomas to the drugs. Our data indicate that normal fibroblast supernatants potentialize the therapy’s efficiency, whereas cancer-associated fibroblast secretomes favor melanoma cell survival. Abstract The sensitivity of melanoma cells to targeted therapy compounds depends on the tumor microenvironment. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro coculture systems better reflect the native structural architecture of tissues and are ideal for investigating cellular interactions modulating cell sensitivity to drugs. Metastatic melanoma (MM) cells (SK-MEL-28 BRAF V600E mutant and SK-MEL-2 BRAF wt) were cultured as a monolayer (2D) or cocultured on 3D dermal equivalents (with fibroblasts) and treated with a BRAFi (vemurafenib) combined with a MEK inhibitor (MEKi, cobimetinib). The drug combination efficiently inhibited 2D and 3D MM cell proliferation and survival regardless of their BRAF status. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), isolated from a cutaneous MM biopsy, were also sensitive to the targeted therapy. Conditioned media obtained from healthy dermal fibroblasts or CAFs modulated the MM cell’s response differently to the treatment: while supernatants from healthy fibroblasts potentialized the efficiency of drugs on MM, those from CAFs tended to increase cell survival. Our data indicate that the secretory profiles of fibroblasts influence MM sensitivity to the combined vemurafenib and cobimetinib treatment and highlight the need for 3D in vitro cocultures representing the complex crosstalk between melanoma and CAFs during preclinical studies of drugs.

The stability of cosmetic products in terms of microbial safety or oxidation is a major challenge when faced with consumer's expectations for less controversial compounds used in their formulation. In this context, we present new vanillin derivatives synthesized in a two steps one-pot process. The synthesis was based on the reductive amination reaction between vanillin and a selected panel of amines with different structural units such as alkyl chains, halogens and aromatics. The different molecules were designed to bring a better understanding of the structure-preservative activity relationships in vanillin-based molecules. Most compounds exhibited strong antioxidant activities in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The antibacterial and antifungal properties were evaluated on several strains known to be responsible for the contamination of cosmetic products. Some of these vanillin compounds derived with a p-ethylaniline (2c), with a p-butylaniline (2d), with a p-hexylaniline (2e) and a p-iodoaniline (3b) showed a promising level of antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus. In particular, 2d was very active against most of the tested bacterial and fungal strains and showed very promising antibacterial and antifungal capabilities while displaying among the highest antioxidant capacity and no cytotoxic effect on human fibroblasts. We investigated if a correlation between the hydrophobicity and biological activities of the compounds could be established and we highlighted that the presence of aliphatic chains grafted on the aromatic amine ring is associated to the highest antimicrobial activities. The structure-activity relationships highlighted in this study allow paving the way for future applications of these compounds in cosmetics as alternative to controversial molecules.

Surface-active compounds derived from biomass, especially sugar-based amphiphiles, have received wide attention regarding their biodegradability, low toxicity and ecological acceptability. Compared to nonionic sugar-based surfactants, the anionic ones show significantly better solubility, higher surface activity and foaming performance. Thus they are largely used in personal care formulations and many technological applications. However, anionic surfactants are well known to induce skin and eye irritation. In this study, three sugar-based anionic surfactants, bearing a lipidic chain grafted to the anomeric position of a monosaccharide (glucose or xylose) and a sulfate group on the primary hydroxyl, were synthesized: 6-O-sulfo-N-(β- d -glucopyranosyl) dodecanamide (GlcNC12S), N-dodecyl-6-O-sulfo- d -gluconamide (GlcCC12S) and N-dodecyl-6-O-sulfo- d -xylonamide (XylCC12S). These molecules were investigated in details for their self-assembling behavior, foaming properties and biological effects. All their properties were compared to those of two commercially available anionic surfactants, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Results revealed that the three anionic glycolipids show surface properties and foaming behavior comparable to those of SDS. Furthermore, their cytotoxic and irritation potentials are significantly lower compared to commercial molecules, which make these renewable molecules potential candidates for replacement of petroleum-based compounds.

Recent studies have pointed out the preventive role of beetroot extracts against cancers and their cytotoxic activity on cancer cells. Among many different natural compounds, these extracts contained betanin and its stereoisomer isobetanin, which belongs to the betalain group of highly bioavailable antioxidants. However, a precise identification of the molecules responsible for this tumor-inhibitory effect was still required. We isolated a betanin/isobetanin concentrate from fresh beetroots, corresponding to the highest purified betanin extract used for studying anticancer activities of these molecules. The cytotoxicity of this betanin-enriched extract was then characterized on cancer and normal cells and we highlighted the death signalling pathways involved. Betanin/isobetanin concentrate significantly decreased cancer cell proliferation and viability. Particularly in MCF-7-treated cells, the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (Bad, TRAILR4, FAS, p53) were strongly increased and the mitochondrial membrane potential was altered, demonstrating the involvement of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Autophagosome vesicles in MCF-7-treated cells were observed, also suggesting autophagic cell death upon betanin/isobetanin treatment. Importantly, the betanin-enriched extract had no obvious effect towards normal cell lines. Our data bring new insight to consider the betanin/isobetanin mix as therapeutic anticancer compound, alone or in combination with classical chemotherapeutic drugs, especially in functional p53 tumors.

International audience; Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is an important target of anticancer therapy. Nowadays, the search for new molecules inhibiting this receptor is turning toward natural substances. One of the most promising natural compounds that have shown an anti-EGFR activity is curcumin, a polyphenol found in turmeric. Its effect on the receptor kinase activity and on the receptor autophosphorylation has been already described, but the mechanism of how curcumin interacts with EGFR is not fully elucidated. We demonstrate that the mode of action of curcumin is dual. This polyphenol is able to inhibit directly but partially the enzymatic activity of the EGFR intracellular domain. The present work shows that curcumin also influences the cell membrane environment of EGFR. Using biomimetic membrane models, we show that curcumin insertion into the lipid bilayer leads to its rigidification. Single particle tracking analyses performed in the membrane of A431 cancer cells confirmed that this effect of curcumin on the membrane slows down the receptor diffusion. This is likely to affect the receptor dimerization and, in turn, its activation.

Since a few years, the acoustic sensing of whole cell is the focus of increasing interest for monitoring the cytoskeletal cellular response to morphological modulators. We aimed at illustrating the potentialities of the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique for the real-time detection of the earliest morphological changes that occur at the cell-substrate interface during programmed cell death. Human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) grown on serum protein-coated gold sensors were placed in dynamic conditions under a continuous medium flow. The mass and viscoelasticity changes of the cells were tracked by monitoring the frequency and dissipation shifts during the first 4 h of cell exposure to staurosporine, a well-known apoptosis inducer. We have identified a QCM-D signature characteristic of morphological modifications and cell detachment from the sensing surface that are related to the pro-apoptotic treatment. In particular, for low staurosporine doses below 1 µM, we showed that recording the dissipation shift allows to detect an early cell response which is undetectable after the same duration by the classical analytical techniques in cell biology. Furthermore, this sensing method allows quantifying the efficiency of the drug effect in less than 4 h without requiring labeling and without interfering in the system, thus preventing any loss of information. In the actual context of targeted cancer therapy development, we believe that these results bring new insights in favor of the use of the non invasive QCM-D technique for quickly probing the cancer cell sensitivity to death inducer drugs.

International audience; Nosocomial infections are often induced by the presence of pathogenic organisms on the surface of medical devices or hospital equipment. Chemical modifications of the surface are recognized as efficient strategies to prevent bacterial adhesion but they may have a negative impact on the material's interaction with living tissues. Here we have developed a photoactivated method for the modification of titanium substrates. A photoinduced technique employing a grafting-onto process has been successfully performed to covalently anchor an imidazolium-derivative siloxane onto titanium surfaces. Imidazolium surfaces showed higher bacteria-repellency performances than native titanium substrates, achieving more than 98% anti-adhesion efficiency against Escherichia coli after 24 h of incubation. In addition, these surfaces allowed for the adhesion and viability of osteoblasts cells without evidence of cytotoxicity.

Sugar-based surfactants present surface-active properties and relatively low cytotoxicity. They are often considered as safe alternatives to currently used surfactants in cosmetic industries. In this study, four sugar-based surfactants, each with an eight carbon alkyl chain bound to a glucose or a maltose headgroup through an amide linkage, were synthesized and compared to two standard surfactants. The cytotoxic and irritant effects of surfactants were evaluated using two biologically relevant models: 3D dermal model (mouse fibroblasts embedded in collagen gel) and reconstituted human epidermis (RHE, multi-layered human keratinocytes). Results show that three synthesized surfactants possess lower cytotoxicity compared to standard surfactants as demonstrated in the 3D dermal model. Moreover, the IC50s of surfactants against the 3D dermal model are higher than IC50s obtained with the 2D dermal model (monolayer mouse fibroblasts). Both synthesized and standard surfactants show no irritant effects after 48h of topical application on RHE. Throughout the study, we demonstrate the difficulty to link the physico-chemical properties of surfactants and their cytotoxicity in complex models. More importantly, our data suggest that, prior to in vivo tests, a complete understanding of surfactant cytotoxicity or irritancy potential requires a combination of cellular and tissue models.

To investigate the effects of a neonatal low-protein diet on the number of macrophages in culture and the expression/production of proteins that regulate macrophage fusion in young and adult rats.Male Wistar rats (n = 18) were suckled by mothers fed diets containing 17 % protein (controls, C) or 8 % protein (undernourished, UN). All rats were fed a normal protein diet after weaning. Bronchoalveolar lavage was collected from 42-, 60- and 90-day-old rats. Alveolar macrophages were cultured for 4 days to assess the number of cells and the expression of cadherins, key proteins involved in macrophage fusion, by western blotting. IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.Offspring from mothers fed a low-protein diet showed a lower body weight gain. The number of cells in cultured macrophages from UN was reduced at 42 and 60 days and increased at 90 days. IL-4 production was increased in the supernatants from UN group at 60 days but did not affect the expression of cadherins. IFN-γ production was increased in the supernatants from UN group at 42 and 60 days and reduced at 90 days.This study thus demonstrated that dietary restriction during lactation altered the number of alveolar macrophages in culture and the production of fusion proteins of offspring aged 42, 60 or 90 days but did not modify the expression of adhesion molecules important for the fusion of these cells.

In the highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cell line, activation of the signalling molecules that promote cell proliferation and survival on conventional adhesive culture dishes may also be responsible for the growth and resistance to anoikis of aggregates on a non-adhesive substratum. We have examined the influence of bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferases C3-like exoenzymes, which selectively modify RhoA, B and C proteins and inhibit signal pathways controlled by them. RNA interference [siRNA (small interfering RNA) Akt (also known as protein kinase B)] and a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor were used to analyse the changes caused by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Inhibiting the activation of RhoA, B, C and Akt expression resulted in a decrease of the number of cells cultured in aggregates, and caspase 3 activation. RhoA activation and RhoB and RhoC expression were controlled by Akt, but not RhoA expression. Inhibiting Akt and RhoA reduced the expression of α5 integrin, and inactivated FAK (focal adhesion kinase) in B16F10 cells cultured as aggregates. Thus, inhibiting Rho subfamily proteins and Akt expression inactivates the FAK pathway and induces anoikis in anoikis-resistant cells. The activation of RhoA in melanoma cells can depend on PI3K/Akt activation, suggesting that PI3K/Akt is a suitable target for new therapeutic approaches.

The proliferation and apoptosis of metastatic melanoma cells are often abnormal. We have evaluated the action of a pectic rhamnogalacturonan obtained by hot buffer extraction of okra pods (okra RG-I) on melanoma cell growth and survival in vitro. We added okra RG-I containing an almost pure RG-I carrying very short galactan side chains to 2D (on tissue culture polystyrene, tPS) and 3D (on poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyHEMA) cultures of highly metastatic B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. We then analyzed cell morphology, proliferation index, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the expression of adhesion molecules. Immunostaining and western blotting were used to assay galectin-3 (Gal-3) protein.Incubation with okra RG-I altered the morphology of B16F10 cells and significantly reduced their proliferation on both tPS and polyHEMA. The cell cycle was arrested in G2/M, and apoptosis was induced, particularly in cells on polyHEMA. The expression of N-cadherin and alpha5 integrin subunit was reduced and that of the multifunctional carbohydrate-binding protein, Gal-3, at the cell membrane increased.These findings suggest that okra RG-I induces apoptosis in melanoma cells by interacting with Gal-3. As these interactions might open the way to new melanoma therapies, the next step will be to determine just how they occur.

International audience; Recent studies have pointed out the preventive role of beetroot extracts against cancers and their cytotoxic activity on cancer cells. Among many different natural compounds, these extracts contained betanin and its stereoisomer isobetanin, which belongs to the betalain group of highly bioavailable antioxidants. However, a precise identification of the molecules responsible for this tumor-inhibitory effect was still required. We isolated a betanin/isobetanin concentrate from fresh beetroots, corresponding to the highest purified betanin extract used for studying anticancer activities of these molecules. The cytotoxicity of this betanin-enriched extract was then characterized on cancer and normal cells and we highlighted the death signalling pathways involved. Betanin/isobetanin concentrate significantly decreased cancer cell proliferation and viability. Particularly in MCF-7-treated cells, the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (Bad, TRAILR4, FAS, p53) were strongly increased and the mitochondrial membrane potential was altered, demonstrating the involvement of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Autophagosome vesicles in MCF-7-treated cells were observed, also suggesting autophagic cell death upon betanin/isobetanin treatment. Importantly, the betanin-enriched extract had no obvious effect towards normal cell lines. Our data bring new insight to consider the betanin/isobetanin mix as therapeutic anticancer compound, alone or in combination with classical chemotherapeutic drugs, especially in functional p53 tumors.

p53-Related genes, p73 and p63, encode 2 classes of proteins, TA-p73/p63 and DeltaN-p73/p63. TA-p73/p63 demonstrate p53-like properties including gene transactivation and cell death promotion, whereas DeltaN-p73/p63 lack these p53-like functions. Although p53-deficient cancer cells are often less responsive to chemotherapy, they are not completely drug resistant, suggesting that other apoptotic pathways are at work. Here, we compared for the first time to our knowledge p73 and p63 activation in various breast cancer (BC) cell lines after Adriamycin (ADR) treatment, an agent considered as mandatory in breast cancer chemotherapy. Our study was carried out using 1 p53-proficient BC cell line (MCF7 cells) and 3 BC cell lines deficient in p53 response (MCF7/ADR(IGR), MDA-MB157 and T47D) after ADR-induced genotoxic stress. We report that in cells with no p53 response after ADR treatment, TAp73, but not TAp63 or DeltaN-p73/p63, may replace p53 in triggering not only apoptosis but also cell cycle arrest or DNA repair effectors such as p21, GADD45, 14-3-3sigma and p53R2. We also demonstrate that TAp73 siRNA inhibits the accumulation of TAp73 in response to ADR treatment in MDA-MB157 cells and confers protection against ADR. ADR-induced downregulation of the DeltaNp73 isoform in the T47D cell line with nonfunctional mutant p53 further supports anti-apoptotic function of the isoform antagonistic to both p53 and TA-p73/p63. Exogenous TAp73 and DeltaNp73 overexpression in p53-response-deficient cell lines further confirms these results. cDNA microarray techniques demonstrated that the cellular response induced by p73 during ADR treatment could involve specific genes.

As the antimitotic agent vincristine (VCR) has been reported to induce a weak p53 response in some studies, we hypothesised that p73 and p63, the recently described p53 homologues, may replace p53 in triggering apoptosis or cell cycle arrest effectors in VCR-treated cell lines. To address this issue, we measured p53, p73 and p63 mRNA and protein levels in two VCR-treated breast cancer cell lines, one p53-proficient (MCF7) and the other p53-deficient (MDA-MB157). We found an increase of p53 mRNA and protein levels in VCR-treated MCF7 cells, while, as expected, no p53 protein was detected in VCR-treated MDA-MB157 cells. Surprisingly, the p73 mRNA and protein expression levels decreased in both cell lines during VCR treatment, whereas p63 protein levels remained unchanged. In both cell lines, up-regulations of the canonical p53-target genes, such as p21 and GADD45, were consistently observed. We conclude that, in response to VCR treatment: (1) p53 is markedly induced in MCF7 cells, with the same extent than after DNA damaging drugs treatments; and (2) p63 is not involved, while p73 expression is down-regulated regardless of the p53 status of the cell lines. Our results therefore suggest the involvement of a fourth member of the p53 gene family, or the use of another pathway able to trigger canonical p53-target genes in response to VCR in p53-deficient cells.

P73, a p53-homologue gene, has been studied for its possible role in head and neck squamous epithelium (HNSE) differentiation and carcinogenesis. P73 RNA and protein were analysed in 50 biopsies, including well- and moderately-differentiated carcinomas, and 21 matched normal adjacent tissues. P73 immunohistochemical analyses revealed intense p73 nuclear staining in basal and parabasal cells of normal squamous epithelium, in contrast with complete absence of staining in the more superficial cell layers. Moderately-differentiated carcinomas demonstrated homogeneous and diffuse staining in all tumour cells, while only basal cells were stained in well-differentiated carcinomas as in normal tissue. No correlation was observed between p73 and p53 protein expression. Immunostaining for p63, another p53-related protein previously described as being involved in HNSE morphogenesis and overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), was found to be similar to p73 labelling in carcinomas, but spread to the more differentiated layers in normal epithelium. Biallelic expression of p73 was found in tumours as well as in matched normal tissues. Comparison of p73 transcript levels between tumours and normal tissues showed decreased mRNA expression in 5/17 (30%) tumours independently of the differentiation status. Mutation and loss of heterozygosity analyses of the p73 gene revealed wild type status and no deletion. Our results strongly suggest that: (i) p73 is associated with homeostasis and control of differentiation of head and neck squamous epithelium probably in concert with p53 and p63; (ii) down-regulation of p73 expression could participate in HNSE carcinogenesis.

International audience; In the context of rapid development of nanoparticles (NPs) for industrial applications, the question of their toxicity and biological effects must be considered. In this work, we have assessed the influence of titanium dioxide NPs on the adhesion and spreading of MC-3T3 pre-osteoblasts by using a cell subclone that does not produce its own extracellular matrix. Petri dishes were coated with the important adhesion protein fibronectin (Fn). By incubating these Fn-coated surfaces with different amounts of TiO(2) NPs, we have shown that the adhesion of pre-osteoblasts is disturbed, with an important decrease in the number of adherent cells (from 40 to 75% depending upon the concentration and type of NPs). Petri-dish surfaces were analyzed with environmental scanning electron microscropy (ESEM), with images showing that TiO(2) NP aggregates are bound to the layer of adsorbed Fn molecules. The cells cultured on these Fn/NP surfaces adopted an irregular shape and an aberrant organization of actin cytoskeleton, as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. Most importantly, these results, taken together, have revealed that the actin cytoskeleton forms abnormal aggregates, even on top of the nucleus, that coincide with the presence of large aggregates of NPs on top of cells. On the basis of these observations, we propose that some Fn molecules are able to desorb from the Petri dish surface to coat TiO(2) NPs. Fn/NP complexes are not attached firmly enough on the surface to allow for normal cell adhesion/spreading and the development of tense actin fibers. These results stress the paramount need for the assessment of the toxicology of NPs, with special attention to their interactions with biomolecules.

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a near net shape manufacturing method that allows for the production of components of small to moderate size and complex shape. MIM is a cost-effective and flexible manufacturing technique that provides a large innovative potential over existing methods for the industry of implantable devices. Commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) samples were machined to the same shape as a composite feedstock with titanium and polyoxymethylene, and these metals were injected, debinded and sintered to assess comparative biological properties. Moreover, we treated MIM-Ti parts with BIOCOAT®, BIODIZE® and BIOCER®, three different anodic oxidation techniques that treat titanium using acid, alkaline and anion enriched electrolytes, respectively. Cytocompatibility as well as morphological and chemical features of surfaces was comparatively assessed on each sample, and the results revealed that MIM-Ti compared to CP-Ti demonstrated a specific surface topography with a higher roughness. MIM-Ti and BIOCER® samples significantly enhanced cell proliferation, cell adhesion and cell differentiation compared to CP-Ti. Interestingly, in the anodization post-treatment established in this study, we demonstrated the ability to improve osseointegration through anionic modification treatment. The excellent biological response we observed with MIM parts using the injection molding process represents a promising manufacturing method for the future implantable devices in direct contact with bones.

There is a bundle of proofs suggesting that some industrial nanoparticles (NPs) can provoke diseases and pollute the environment durably. However, these issues still remain controversial. In the biomedical field, TiO(2) NPs were recently proposed to serve as fillers in polymeric materials to improve bone prostheses and scaffolds. Submicrometer TiO(2) particles could also result from wear debris of prostheses. Thus, it appears to be of the highest importance to elucidate the effects of well-characterized TiO(2) NPs on the behaviour of osteoblasts. In this work, we have measured the toxicity of anatase TiO(2) NPs with two different cell types, on L929 fibroblasts and for the first time on MC-3T3 pre-osteoblasts, with the aim to determine the level of cellular toxicity and inflammation. Our results clearly show that these NPs provoke different dose-response effects, with the pre-osteoblasts being much more sensitive than fibroblasts. Furthermore, we observed that anatase TiO(2) NPs had no effect on cell adhesion. By contrast, both cell types had their morphology and LDH release modified in the presence of NPs. Their DNA was also found to be fragmented as analyzed by quantifying the sub-G1 cell population with flow cytometry. By measuring the production of IL-6 and TNF-α proinflammatory cytokines, we have shown that TNF-α was never produced and that MC-3T3 cells were secreting IL-6. Most importantly, our results highlight the necessity of evaluating the toxicity of prostheses wear debris, and of NP coatings of medical implants, to determine if they can possibly provoke inflammation and inhibit bone reconstruction.

The two-way communication between the ECM (extracellular matrix) and the cytoplasm via the integrins has many functions in cancer cells, including the suppression of apoptosis. As cells in a 3D (three-dimensional) architecture resemble the in vivo situation more closely than do cells in more conventional 2D cultures, we have employed a substratum that prevents cell adhesion and induces cell aggregation to determine why highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells resist anoikis. We compared the behaviour of B16F10 cells in 2D [on tPS (tissue culture polystyrene)] and 3D culture {on polyHEMA [poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)]} configurations. For this, we analysed cell morphology, proliferation, apoptosis and the activation status of several proteins involved in cell proliferation and survival [RhoA, FAK (focal adhesion kinase), Akt, ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2)]. B16F10 cells in 3D architecture were able to proliferate as cell aggregates for 3 days, after which the number of cells decreased. The normal Swiss 3T3 cells used as an anoikis-sensitive control did not proliferate on the anti-adhesive substratum. Rho A was activated in B16F10 aggregates throughout their time in culture, whereas it was not in Swiss 3T3 aggregates. An absence of apoptotic activity was correlated with the proliferation of B16F10 cells in aggregates: caspase 3 was significantly activated only after 3 days in culture on polyHEMA. FAK and Akt were transiently activated, and their inactivation was correlated with the induction of apoptosis. ERK1/2 were activated throughout the 3D culture. No survival protein was activated in Swiss 3T3 aggregates. Data obtained from cells in 3D culture suggest that B16F10 cells are resistant to anoikis through the activation of the FAK and Akt signalling pathways.

The proliferation and apoptosis of metastatic melanoma cells are often abnormal. We have evaluated the action of a pectic rhamnogalacturonan obtained by hot buffer extraction of okra pods (okra RG-I) on melanoma cell growth and survival in vitro. We added okra RG-I containing an almost pure RG-I carrying very short galactan side chains to 2D (on tissue culture polystyrene, tPS) and 3D (on poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyHEMA) cultures of highly metastatic B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. We then analyzed cell morphology, proliferation index, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the expression of adhesion molecules. Immunostaining and western blotting were used to assay galectin-3 (Gal-3) protein.Incubation with okra RG-I altered the morphology of B16F10 cells and significantly reduced their proliferation on both tPS and polyHEMA. The cell cycle was arrested in G2/M, and apoptosis was induced, particularly in cells on polyHEMA. The expression of N-cadherin and alpha5 integrin subunit was reduced and that of the multifunctional carbohydrate-binding protein, Gal-3, at the cell membrane increased.These findings suggest that okra RG-I induces apoptosis in melanoma cells by interacting with Gal-3. As these interactions might open the way to new melanoma therapies, the next step will be to determine just how they occur.

Stromal cells, or mesenchymal stem cells, are adherent clonogenic cells that can form colonies. They are mainly isolated from bone marrow but can also be found in umbilical cord blood, adipose tissues and amniotic fluids. These stem cells are easy to culture in vitro, and can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, or adipocytes when stimulated appropriately. When seeded on a natural (titanium, ceramics, collagen fibers, silk, etc.) or synthetic (PLLA, PLGA, etc.) biomaterial scaffold, they adhere and differentiate to form a new tissue. Many studies have also explored stromal cell differentiation in bioreactors to form a 3-dimensional culture. This review focuses on the biomaterials used for tissue engineering with stromal cells.

The surface of an implant device can be modified by immobilizing biological molecules on it to improve its integration into the host tissue. We have previously demonstrated that enzymatically tailored plant pectins are promising nanocoatings for biomaterials. This study investigates whether a coating of modified hairy region (rhamnogalacturonan-I) from apple pectin (MHR-alpha) which has anti-adhesive properties can inhibit the generation of inflammatory mediators by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. For that purpose, J774.2 murine macrophages were cultured for 24h on MHR-alpha-coated Petri dishes and tissue culture polystyrene controls, with and without LPS. Cell morphology, cell growth, nitrite and TNF-alpha secretion were studied. The results indicate that MHR-alpha coating inhibits the LPS-induced activation of macrophages.

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as an anti-adhesive in several biomaterial applications. We have shown that an original bi-layered hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)-CMC-coated substratum (CEL) is suitable for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying cell–substratum and cell–cell interactions. The present work was carried out to assess the anti-adhesive properties of a CEL substratum by analysing the behaviour of three types of adherent cells (Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, MC-3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts and B16F10 highly metastatic melanoma cells). Tissue culture polystyrene (tPS) was used as an adhesive control and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) PolyHEMA as an anti-adhesive control. Cell morphology, growth, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis were compared. The proliferation of cells on CEL was significantly decreased, cells were arrested in the G1 phase and underwent apoptosis (except for melanoma cells) 48 h post-seeding. We conclude that CEL is an effective anti-adhesive cellulose biomaterial that gives reproducible and demonstratable results, especially for apoptosis. Its advantage as a coating for culture devices is its long shelf-live. It may therefore also be a very good candidate for other biomedical applications requiring adhesion-resistant substrata.

There is evidence that the shape of cells and their contact with a matrix direct the growth and the differentiation of both normal and cancer cells. Cells in 3D culture resemble the in vivo situation more closely than do those in conventional 2D cultures. We have studied the interactions and functions of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells, which spread and grow well on tissue culture polystyrene (tPS), when they were made to aggregate on cellulose-coated Petri dishes (CEL). This aggregation of melanoma cells on CEL was Ca2+ dependent and mediated by N-cadherins. The levels of N-cadherin and beta-catenin transcripts in cells cultured on CEL and tPS were similar, but those on CEL contained less beta-catenin protein. Immunoprecipitation and immunostaining showed that both N-cadherins and beta-catenins were present at the membranes of cells on CEL. Cells proliferated significantly more slowly after 48 h on CEL and the cellulose coating caused most of them to arrest in G1. We also compared the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity of cells on CEL and controls grown on tPS. Melanogenesis was induced in cells aggregated on CEL. A cellulose substrate thus appears to be an outstanding tool for studying cell-cell interactions and cell functions in 3D cultures.

Cells aggregate on an original cellulose substratum (CEL). This influences the signaling programs of adhering cells. CEL thus appears to be a suitable tool for studying the regulation of cell-substratum and cell-cell interactions.

The p73 gene is a p53 homologue located at 1p36-33, a region submitted to deletions in breast cancer (BC) and putatively imprinted. To study whether p73 was associated with breast carcinogenesis, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), allele expression and transcript levels were assessed in 59 BC, including 39 BC presenting no inflammatory symptoms (NBC) and 20 inflammatory BC (IBC). IBC is a rare but aggressive form of cancer with a very poor prognosis. Normal breast epithelium (BE) and lymphocytes from patients were used as controls. StyI polymorphism generating GC and/or AT alleles was used to select 22 heterozygous patients. p73 LOH was significantly higher in IBC than in NBC [five of eight cases (62%) versus two of 14 cases (14%); Fisher's exact test, P=0.05]. p73 was biallelically expressed in all BE. In contrast, 12 of 16 (75%) BC were monoallelically expressed, showing that allele silencing was significantly associated with breast carcinogenesis (P=0.012), AT being the preferential silent allele (10 out of 12 tumours). p73 mRNA levels in NBC and IBC were two- and threefold lower than in BE, respectively, suggesting that decreased expression could be related to tumour aggressiveness. In conclusion, LOH, allele silencing and decreased expression of the p73 gene may play a role in breast carcinogenesis.

MD NAGEL, P VIGNERON, C BUSSY, M VAYSSADE, JL DUVAL, M GALLET, M DUFRESNE, R VERHOEF , M MORRA, JP KNOX, H SCHOLS, G CECCONE , C DELLA VOLPE Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, UMR CNRS 6600, BP 20529, F-60205 Compiegne Cedex 2 Wageningen University, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, The Netherlands 3 Nobil BioRicerche srl, Italy 4 University of Leeds, Centre for Plant Sciences, United Kingdom European Commission, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection 6 University of Trento, Department of Materials Engineering and Industrial Technologies, Italy

Biomaterials, used as culture cell supports, can control the behaviour of cells. Adherent cells seeded onto anti-adhesive surfaces cannot find anchorage sites and then aggregate (Gekas et al. 2004;...

Introduction : Les lignées de cellules cancéreuses cultivées in vitro sont largement utilisées lors du développement de nouvelles molécules thérapeutiques. Cependant, ces modèles simplifiés ne prennent pas en compte la complexité physiologique des cancers, expliquant en partie la différence entre l’effet constaté in vitro et la réalité clinique. Le développement de nouveaux modèles expérimentaux plus représentatifs des tumeurs est devenu une étape cruciale en cancérologie. Matériel et méthode : Deux lignées cellulaires de mélanome métastatique (SK-MEL-3 et SK-MEL-28) ont été cultivées en monocouche (culture 2D) ou sur un équivalent de derme (culture 3D). Après traitement par une thérapie ciblée (vémurafénib), la prolifération, la viabilité et la mort cellulaire (apoptose) ont été analysées dans les modèles 2D et 3D, afin d’évaluer l’impact de l’environnement tissulaire sur l’efficacité de la molécule. Résultats : L’action du vémurafénib a été caractérisée sur les deux lignées de mélanomes cultivées en 2D. Les cellules SK-MEL28, plus sensibles, ont alors été cultivées sur un équivalent de derme (fibroblastes humains et collagène), histologiquement proche d’un derme humain. Le traitement du modèle tumoral 3D par le vémurafénib a provoqué une diminution de la prolifération et du nombre de cellules. Discussion : Le modèle tumoral 3D établi permet d’évaluer l’efficacité du vémurafénib dans un environnement tissulaire. L’intégration de mélanocytes de patients (atteints de mélanome métastatique) dans ces modèles pourrait permettre de prédire in vitro la réponse des cellules tumorales à différents traitements, et de proposer ainsi les thérapies les plus efficaces.

Nowadays, a wide variety of new molecules can derive from biomass. Among them, the family of sugar-based surfactants, which are considered as alternatives to fossil-based surfactants, due to their relatively high biodegradability and biocompatibility, exhibit interesting properties both in terms of their self-assembly and their ability to induce biological responses. In the study, for the purpose to analyse these properties, different methodologies have been established. In this work, physico-chemistry and cellular biology methodologies are associated to analyse the properties of pre-selected molecules characterized by gradua) structure modifications. Firstly, we have screened synthesized sugar-based surfactants according to their solubility and their ability to reduce surface tension of water. Four pre-selected molecules, with a C8 chain linked to a glucose or maltose head through an amide functional group, either under the form of carbamoyl (carbohydrate scaffold bearing the carbonyl) or alkylcarboxamide (the alkyl chain bearing the carbonyl), were then dissolved in water/ cell culture media for surface tension measurements. Their behaviors in solutions were characterized by Krafft points, Critical Micellar Concentrations or self-assembling properties through different methods. To evaluate the cytotoxic/ irritant effects of these molecules on cells and tissues, 3 in-vitro models were established: I) 2D cell culture mode! (L929 cell monolayer) II) 3D ce!! culture mode! (L929 cells embedded in collagen gel) and III) Reconstituted human epidermis (differentiated human keratinocytes). Corresponding experiments were carried out on these models with increasing complexity. Results show that the synthesized sugar-based surfactants, GlulamideC8, Glu6amideC8, Glu6amideC8' and MallamideC8 can reduce the surface tension of water solution to the came level as standard surfactants (Tween 20 and Hecameg). In the meantime, GlulamideC8, Glu6amideC8' and MallamideC8 present Iess cytotoxicity effects on L929 cells both in the monolayer model and the 3D mode! than Tween 20 and Hecameg. All synthesized and standard surfactants (GlulamideC8, Glu6amideC8, Gu6amideC8', MallamideC8, Tween 20 and Hecameg) have no significant cytotoxic/ irritant effects on reconstituted human epidermis at 1000 ig/mL after 48 h of topical application. Discussions have been made according to the results of experiments to establish possible structures/ physico-chemical properties - cytotoxicity relationships of these surfactants., Aujourd'hui, un grand nombre de nouvelles molécules peuvent être synthétisées à partir de la biomasse. Les tensioactifs dérivés de sucre sont notamment considérés comme une alternative aux tensioactifs fossiles en raison de leur biodégradabilité et de leur biocompatibilité. Cependant, les études associant la caractérisation physico-chimique et les propriétés biologiques de ce type de tensio-actifs sont limitées. Il est ainsi difficile de prédire les propriétés d'un tensioactif à partir de sa structure chimique. L'établissement d'une méthodologie permettant de relier la structure des surfactants à leurs propriétés apparait pertinent. Dans ce travail, quatre surfactants dérivés de sucre ayant chacun une chaîne C8 liée à une tête glucose ou maltose par un groupe amide ont été caractérisés par leurs propriétés tensio-actives dans différentes solutions (eau et milieu biologique). Leurs interactions avec des protéines ont également été analysées. Concernant l'évaluation des propriétés biologiques, des tests de cytotoxicité/irritation ont été effectués sur trois modèles in-vitro : 1) modèle cellulaire 20 (cellules L929 cultivées en monocouche), Il) modèle cellulaire 30 (cellules L929 cultivées dans un gel de collagène), Ill) épiderme humain reconstitué. Les résultats indiquent que les quatre surfactants synthétisés présentent de bonnes propriétés tensio-actives et trois d'entre eux sont moins cytotoxiques que des tensioactifs de référence. Plusieurs hypothèses permettant de relier la structure chimique des molécules à leurs propriétés physico-chimiques et biologiques ont été proposées. Des travaux futurs permettront d'enrichir la base de données sur les relations structure-propriétés des tensioactifs issus de la biomasse, et de l'utiliser pour synthétiser des surfactants présentant des propriétés adaptées aux applications envisagées.