MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play critical roles in human disease. Several miRnome profiling studies have identified miRNAs deregulated in cancer and infectious diseases and miRNAs are also involved in regulation of the host response to infection. Thereby, the usage of miRNAs as biomarkers and potential treatments for both human and infectious diseases is under development. This review will provide insights into the contribution of miRNAs to pathogenesis and disease development and will present a general outline of the potential use of miRNAs as therapeutic tools.
Inflammation is an adaptive response to injury, but uncontrolled inflammation can lead to tissue damage and disease. Research in our laboratory (since confirmed in different laboratories worldwide) has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a mediator of inflammation in different disease conditions. Learning about a novel mediator of inflammation results in unique opportunities with which to approach inflammatory diseases. At the same time, the complexity of biological systems and translation of research from the bed to the bedside also presents challenges. This Editorial aims to discuss the opportunities and challenges in relation to the role of H2S in inflammation, and the future prospects for this research.
Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor with the propensity todisseminate at an early stage, and is associated with high morbidity. New treatment strategies are needed toimprove cure rates and to reduce life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies.Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are important players in cell-to-cell communication in health and diseases. A clearerunderstanding of cell-to-cell communication in tumors can be achieved by studying EV secretion inmedullospheres. This can reveal subtle modifications induced by the passage from adherent to non-adherentgrowth, as spheres may account for the adaptation of tumor cells to the mutated environment.Methods: Formation of medullospheres from MB cell lines stabilized in adherent conditions was obtained throughculture conditioning based on low attachment flasks and specialized medium. EVs collected by ultracentrifugation,in adherent conditions and as spheres, were subjected to electron microscopy, NanoSight measurements andproteomics.Results: Interestingly, iron carrier proteins were only found in EVs shed by CSC-enriched tumor cell population ofspheres. We used iron chelators when culturing MB cell lines as spheres. Iron chelators induced a decrease innumber/size of spheres and in stem cell populations able to initiate in vitro spheres formation.Conclusions: This work suggests a not yet identified role of iron metabolism in MB progression and invasion andopens the possibility to use chelators as adjuvants in anti-tumoral chemotherapy.
Retinoids show great potential in various kinds of cancer chemotherapy due to its ability to induce signals for cell differentiation or death, as well as inhibit cancer stem cell proliferation. This paper summarized the recent progress of retinoids induced cancer stem cell differentiation and apoptosis in cancer therapy field, with the highlighted novel retinoid named WYC-209 in our lab, which could inhibit the tumor stem cell and malignant melanoma tumors with high efficacy and little toxicity.
BACKGROUND:For many deadly viruses, there are no preventive and / or therapeutic vaccines approved by health authorities World-wide (e.g., HIV, Ebola, Dengue, and many others). Although, for some viruses, prophylactic vaccines are very effective (e.g., HBV, and many others).In this realm, we design, manufacture, test, and streamline into the clinics novel viral universal vaccines (VUV). VUV have such unique features, that medical vaccination or natural infection induced immunity against some viruses (e.g., HBV) upon the VUV's administration to the infected with other, different viruses patients, is redirected against these other, newly infecting viruses (e.g., HIV). SPECIFIC AIM:The specific aim of this work was biomolecular engineering of the HIV universal vaccine comprising the two main functional domains: CD4 or anti-gp120 - as the HIV tagging domain and HBsAg - as the immune response eliciting domain, so that upon its administration the HBV medical immunization or natural infection induced immunity would be redirected, accelerated, and amplified to fight the HIV infection. HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS:Per the Institutional Review Board approval and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, all healthy donors and patients were presented with the Patients' Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent. All the procedures were pursued by the licensed medical doctors. METHODS & RESULTS:We have biomolecularly engineered HIV universal vaccine (HIVUV) comprising human CD4 or anti-gp120 and HBsAg of HBV. By immunoblotting and magnetic activated molecular sorting, we have demonstrated high specificity of this vaccine in binding HIV. By flow cytometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, we have demonstrated high efficacy of these vaccines to engage HBV immunized patients' immune system against HIV. Administration of HIVUV to blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients resulted in rapid reduction of the HIV viremia down to undetectable. It also resulted in protection of populations of CD4+ cells against HIV caused decline. CONCLUSIONS:We have demonstrated the proof of concept for high efficacy of VUV, specifically HIVUV, in annihilating HIV. Nevertheless, the same compositions, processes, and methods, for persons skilled in biotechnology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular medicine, are adaptable for other deadly viral infections, which we vigorously pursue.
INTRODUCTION:HIV viremia is the essential element for progression of an initial HIV infection into AIDS and death. The currently approved management relies primarily on chemotherapy repressing the HIV replication in the infected CD4+ cells, although with severe systemic adverse effects. The problem is that it does not physically eliminate viruses, which then not only keep infecting healthy cells of these patients, but also promote infections of other people. SPECIFIC AIM:An overall objective of our work is biomolecular engineering of virus apheresis tags (VAT) that eliminate viremias without adverse effects. The specific aim of this project was biomolecular engineering of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT): CD4-Au-Fe3O4, CD4-SiO2-Fe3O4, anti-gp120-Au-Fe3O4, and anti-gp120-SiO2-Fe3O4. HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS:Per the Institutional Review Board's approval and in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki, healthy donors and patients were presented with Patient Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent, while all the procedures were pursued by the licensed physicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS:CD4, gp120, gp41, gp160, anti-gp120, p24 were transgenomically expressed. Superparamagnetic core-shell particles (SPM-CSP) were synthesized. SPM-CSP were used as the nucleation centers for assembling the expressed molecules upon them to create virus apheresis tags (VAT). VAT were injected into the blood or lymph acquired from the HIV+ and HBV+ patients followed by apheresis at 0.47 - 9.4 T. VAT efficacy in eliminating viremia was determined through immunoblots, NMR and q-RT-PCR. RESULTS:Treatment of blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients' with VAT followed by virus apheresis resulted in rapid elimination of the HIV viremia. Efficacy of apheresis was contingent upon the gravity of viremia versus doses and regimens of VAT. Importantly, administration of VAT also effectively improved levels of non-infected CD4+ lymphocytes. DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS:Herein, we present the proof of concept for a new, effective treatment with virus apheresis tags (VAT), specifically Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT), of the HIV+ patients' blood and lymph, which is eliminating the HIV viremia.It can be easily adapted as treatments of viremias perpetrated by other deadly viruses, which we vigorously pursue.
The discovery of charged molecules being able to cross the mitochondrial membrane has prompted many scholars to exploit this idea to find a way of preventing or slowing down aging. In this paper, we will focus on mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which are cationic derivatives of plastoquinone, and in particular on the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. It is well known that the accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in mitochondria and its related mitochondrial dysfunction are critical signatures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the production of Lewy bodies are among their pathological features. Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease has been frequently linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Recent studies show that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, may possess therapeutic potential for Aβ-related and oxidative stress-associated neurodegenerative diseases, especially AD. Although MitoQ has been developed to the stage of clinical trials in PD, its true clinical effect still need further verification. This review aims to discuss the role of mitochondrial pathology in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the recent development of mitochondrial targeted antioxidants as a potential treatment for these diseases by removing excess oxygen free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in order to improve mitochondrial function.
RIPK1 and RIPK3 are homologous Ser/Thr kinases, which act in concert within the necrosome complexes to initiate a sub-type of regulated necrosis, termed necroptosis. Necroptosis has gradually emerged as a highly clinically relevant form of necrosis, which can be targeted therapeutically. Besides necroptosis, RIPK1 and RIPK3 have been implicated in other pathophysiologically-relevant responses, including regulation of apoptosis and inflammation. More recently, it became evident that RIPK1/RIPK3 pathways may be systematically altered in cancers. Status of these pathways may provide a prognostic value, and therapeutic modulation of RIPK1/RIPK3 signaling may represent a new strategy against various forms of human cancer.
Introduction In patients suffering from breast cancer, adjuvant radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, which immediately follow the surgery as the first line therapy, greatly improve overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Various regimens of adjuvant therapy for these patients have been tested contingent upon the clinical staging. Inclusion of adjuvant immunotherapy is particularly promising. Specific aim The aim of this study was to assess efficacy of trastuzumab (Herceptin) - comprising adjuvant immunotherapy in terms of overall and disease-free survival as compared to other adjuvant therapies. Patients All patients were presented with the Patient Bill of Rights and have provided the Patient Informed Consent to participate in this study. Eligible patients include those with primary tumors initially staged at the clinical stages: I-T1c N0, II-T0-2, N0-1, or IIIA-T3 N1, or patients for whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy provides the possibility to remove surgically a tumor at the stage IIIA T0-3 N2. Of 9,058 patients enrolled in the Breast Cancer Treatment Program between 2008 and 2015, 6,832 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Statistical Analysis The effects of clinical and demographic factors on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using Cox’s proportional hazards regression models. OS and DFS were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier calculations. The study was meeting the criteria for a controlled, open-access clinical trial. Results OS rates for years 1-7 were, respectively, 99.42%, 97.26%, 94.57%, 92.41%, 90.48%, 88.63%, and 88.23%; thus with the 5-year survival at 90.48%. The corresponding data for DFS were 96.17%, 84.07%, 77.26%, 72.57%, 68.59%, 65.04%, and 63.05%, respectively; thus with the 5-year DFS at 68.59%. Adverse effects, with the exception of cardiac complications, occurred in 1194 (17%), while causing withdrawal of 421 (6%) patients. Most of other adverse events were related to hepatotoxicity 1755 (25%) and fatigue 681 (9.7%). Conclusion These results demonstrate the great benefits of inclusion of immunotherapy as the adjuvant component as currently the best overall therapeutic strategy for the patients suffering breast cancers. As this strategy greatly exceeds any other therapeutic options available for practicing oncologists at the present time, it definitely justifies allocation of all needed public resources, while assuring highest quality health service for the patients in Poland.
BACKGROUND: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) plays an important role in cellular proliferation and tumor progression. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential mechanism and therapeutic effects of new PI3K inhibitor SHBM1009 on various cancer cells of digestive system on proliferation. METHODS: Six human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines including 97H, 97L, A3, F11, MHCC-1, SMMC7721, one gastric cell line SGC-7901 and three primary testicular cancer TYST,TYST1,TYST2 cells were treated by 100ng/ml epidermal growth factor with or without 1uM NVP-BEZ-235 and SHBM1009 in Cell-IQ system in 24-well plates for 48h and up to 72h. The cell bio-behaviors, especially for cell proliferation of total cell number were measured by a real-time cell monitoring system, Cell-IQ continuous cell culturing platform. Images were captured at 30 min intervals. Cell-IQ system uses machine vision technology for monitoring and recording time-lapse data, and the cell functions and morphological parameters were quantified and analyzed. RESULTS: SHBM1009 could prevent EGF-induced cancer cells proliferation. Different patterns of inhibitory effects of SHBM1009 and NVP-BEZ-235, a dual PI3K/mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor, on EGF-induced cancer cells proliferation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PI3K plays a critical role in the development of cancer progress, including proliferation, differentiation and anti-apoptosis. SHBM1009, a new PI3K inhibitor, could be new therapeutic alternatives for cancer treatment.
Actinidia Chinensis Planch roots (acRoots) are used to treat many cancers, although the anti-tumor mechanism by which acRoots inhibit cancer cell growth remains unclear. The present study aims at investigating inhibitory effects of acRoots on human lung cancer cells and potential mechanisms. Our data demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of acRoots on lung cancer cells depend on genetic backgrounds and phenotypes of cells. We furthermore found the expression of metabolism-associated gene profiles varied between acRoots-hypersensitive (H460) or hyposensitive lung cancer cells (H1299) after screening lung cancer cells with different genetic backgrounds. We selected retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) as the core target within metabolism-associated core gene networks and evaluated RARB changes and roles in cells treated with acRoots at different concentrations and timeframes. Hypersensitive cancer cells with the deletion of RARB expression did not response to the treatment with acRoots, while RARB deletion did not change effects of acRoots on hyposensitive cells. Thus, it seems that RARB as the core target within metabolism-associated networks plays important roles in the regulation of lung cancer cell sensitivity to acRoots.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) play critical roles in the maintenance of cell biological functions and are suggested as a therapeutic target for drug discovery and development. PI3K inhibitors has the magic power to prevent the development of pathological changes and cure the diseases, while such magic powers can be faded by the large profile of their toxicity and side-effects. A number of strategies can prevent, reduce, or decline PI3K inhibitor-associated toxicities, e.g. to make the inhibitors targeting the core molecules more precisely, select the optimal approach of drug delivery, bind the “recognizing” pullets with PI3K inhibitors to target-specific cells, or gene editing. We spotlight that PI3K definitely is an important therapeutic targets for cancer, inflammation, or organ dysfunction and injury, while to catch and hold such magic power of PI3K inhibitors is still the challenge to be faced and solved.
This review is focused in PI3K’s involvement in two widespread mental disorders: Autism and Schizophrenia. A large body of evidence points to synaptic dysfunction as a cause of these diseases, either during the initial phases of brain synaptic circuit’s development or later modulating synaptic function and plasticity. Autism related disorders and Schizophrenia are complex genetic conditions in which the identification of gene markers has proved difficult, although the existence of single-gene mutations with a high prevalence in both diseases offers insight into the role of the PI3K signaling pathway. In the brain, components of the PI3K pathway regulate synaptic formation and plasticity; thus, disruption of this pathway leads to synapse dysfunction and pathological behaviors. Here, we recapitulate recent evidences that demonstrate the imbalance of several PI3K elements as leading causes of Autism and Schizophrenia, together with the plausible new pharmacological paths targeting this signaling pathway.
The effectiveness of a drug is dependent on accumulation at the site of action at therapeutic levels, however, challenges such as rapid renal clearance, degradation or non-specific accumulation requires drug delivery enabling technologies. Albumin is a natural transport protein with multiple ligand binding sites, cellular receptor engagement, and a long circulatory half-life due to interaction with the recycling neonatal Fc receptor. Exploitation of these properties promotes albumin as an attractive candidate for half-life extension and targeted intracellular delivery of drugs attached by covalent conjugation, genetic fusions, association or ligand-mediated association. This review will give an overview of albumin-based products with focus on the natural biological properties and molecular interactions that can be harnessed for the design of a next-generation drug delivery platform.
Background Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease characterized by leukocyte skin infiltration. Interestingly, recent works suggest that the migration of dendritic cells (DCs) is abnormal in psoriatic skin. DCs have significant role in regulating the function of T lymphocytes, at least in part influenced by the local environment of cytokines. In psoriatic skin lesions the expression of IL-20 is highly up-regulated. It is unclear if this cytokine has any influence on DCs. Methods Here, we investigated the influence of IL-20 in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MDDCs) in vitro. This work addressed IL-20 effects on DC maturation, receptor expression and signaling. By use of extra cellular matrix components mimicking the skin environment, we also studied the functional effects of IL-20 on the chemotactic migration of DCs. Based on the recent finding that CD18 integrin are shed during migration of myeloid leukocytes, the concentration of these adhesion molecules was measured in MDDCs culture supernatants post migration. Results Following stimulation with IL-20, immature human MDDCs enhanced the expression of the co-stimulatory molecule CD86, further enabling activation of the p38 MAPK, but not the STAT3, pathway. IL-20 increased the migration of MDDCs in a biphasic response narrowly controlled by the interleukin concentration. A concomitant change in the shedding of CD18 integrins suggested that these adhesion molecules play a role in the migration of the MDDCs through the extracellular matrix layer. Conclusion Taken together, our findings points to a possible, yet subtle, role of IL-20 in DCs migration. The biphasic response suggests that the aberrant IL-20 expression in psoriasis impedes DC migration, which could be a part of the processes that precipitates the dysregulated inflammatory response associated with this disease.
Desferrioxamine (DFO), deferiprone (L1) and desferasirox (ICL-670) are clinically approved iron chelators used to treat secondary iron overload. Although iron chelators have been utilized since the 1960s and there has been much improvement in available therapy, there is still the need for new drug candidates due to limited long-term efficacy and drug toxicity. Moreover, all currently approved iron chelators are of low molecular weight (MW) (<600 Da) and the objectives reported for the “ideal” chelator of low MW, including possessing the ability to promote iron excretion without causing toxic side effects, has proven difficult to realize in practice. With prolonged iron chelator use, patients may develop toxicities or become insensitive. In contrast, the limited research that has been geared towards developing higher MW, polymeric, long circulating iron chelators has shown promise. The inherent potential of polymeric iron chelators toward longer plasma half-lives and reduction in toxicity provides optimism and may be a significant addition to the currently available low MW iron chelators. This article reviews knowledge pertaining to this theme, highlights some unique advantages that these nanomedicines have in treating systemic iron overload as well as their potential utility in the treatment of other disease states.
Background: Soluble TNF superfamily (TNFSF) ligands are less stable and less active than their transmembrane (tm) analogues.This is a problem for the therapeutic use of recombinant TNFSF ligands in diverse diseases including cancer and autoimmunity.Creating TNFSF ligand analogues with improved targeting of their respective receptors is important for research and therapeutic purposes.Findings: Covalent internal cross-linking of TNF monomers by double mutations, S95C/G148C, results in stable trimers with improved TNFR2 function.The resulting mutein induced the selective death of autoreactive CD8 T cells in type-1 diabetic patients and demonstrates targeted proliferation and expansion of human CD4 Tregs.Conclusions: Stable TNF trimers, created by internal covalent cross-linking, show improved signaling.The high structural homology within the TNF superfamily provides an opportunity to extend internal cross-linking to other TNF superfamily proteins to produce active trimers with improved stability and receptor signaling, and with potential applications for cancer, autoimmunity, infections, and transplantation.
Technological advances allowing high throughput analyses across numerous cancer tissues have allowed much progress in understanding complex cellular signaling. In the future, the genetic landscape in cancer may have more clinical relevance than diagnosis based on tumor origin. This progress has emphasized PI3K/AKT/mTOR, among others, as a central signaling center of cancer development due to its governing control in cellular growth, survival, and metabolism. The discovery of high frequencies of mutations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in different cancer entities has sparked interest to inhibit elements of this pathway. In acute leukemia pharmacological interruption has yet to achieve desirable efficacy as targetable downstream mutations in PI3K/AKT/mTOR are absent. Nevertheless, mutations in membrane-associated genes upstream of PI3K/AKT/mTOR are frequent in acute leukemia and are associated with aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR thus providing a good rationale for further exploration. This review attempts to summarize key findings leading to aberrant activation and to reflect on both promises and challenges of targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR in acute leukemia. Our emphasis lies on the insights gained through high-throughput data acquisition that open up new avenues for identifying specific subgroups of acute leukemia as ideal candidates for PI3K/AKT/mTOR targeted therapy.
BACKGROUND:Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor with the propensity to disseminate at an early stage, and is associated with high morbidity. New treatment strategies are needed to improve cure rates and to reduce life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are important players in cell-to-cell communication in health and diseases. A clearer understanding of cell-to-cell communication in tumors can be achieved by studying EV secretion in medullospheres. This can reveal subtle modifications induced by the passage from adherent to non-adherent growth, as spheres may account for the adaptation of tumor cells to the mutated environment.METHODS:Formation of medullospheres from MB cell lines stabilized in adherent conditions was obtained through culture conditioning based on low attachment flasks and specialized medium. EVs collected by ultracentrifugation, in adherent conditions and as spheres, were subjected to electron microscopy, NanoSight measurements and proteomics.RESULTS:Interestingly, iron carrier proteins were only found in EVs shed by CSC-enriched tumor cell population of spheres. We used iron chelators when culturing MB cell lines as spheres. Iron chelators induced a decrease in number/size of spheres and in stem cell populations able to initiate in vitro spheres formation.CONCLUSIONS:This work suggests a not yet identified role of iron metabolism in MB progression and invasion and opens the possibility to use chelators as adjuvants in anti-tumoral chemotherapy.
Background Hemorrhoids are a common disorder that affects the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. The effectiveness of OTC medication is limited and they mainly provide symptomatic relief. In order to treat this ailment, we formulated PP110 Gel and Wipes, as a novel treatment for hemorrhoids. PP110 is based on known active ingredients with a topical film-forming agent designed to provide physical protection and prolonged tissue contact with the active ingredients. Methods PP110 Gel, PP110 Wipes and the comparator Preparation-H® were used on three patient cohorts. Treatment was administered once daily for PP110, and three-four times daily for Preparation-H®, for 14 days. Six different clinical parameters relating to common symptoms of hemorrhoids were monitored. Results PP110 Gel was significantly better than Preparation-H® in reducing bleeding (Δ = 6 %), providing pain relief (Δ = 10 %) and controlling itching (Δ = 11 %). These three parameters are considered as the most common distressing symptoms for hemorrhoids patients, demonstrating that PP110 is superior to conventional treatment. Conclusion This study demonstrated the efficacy of the PP110 Gel in treating hemorrhoids and its superiority to conventional treatments. The PP110 film-based formulation provides a slow-release mechanism and as a consequence, a prolonged therapeutic window. PP110 was both more effective in reducing hemorrhoids symptoms and more convenient to use, in that it only required application once per day.
