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Journal of Microbiology and... Jun 2024This study investigates whether red pine ( Sieb. et Zucc.) bark extract (PBE) can alleviate diabetes and abnormal apoptosis signaling pathways in the hippocampus of...
This study investigates whether red pine ( Sieb. et Zucc.) bark extract (PBE) can alleviate diabetes and abnormal apoptosis signaling pathways in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Two dosages of PBE (15 and 30 mg/kg of body weight/day) were administered orally to STZ-induced diabetic SD rats for 20 days. Blood glucose level and body weight were measured once per week. After 20 days of oral administration of PBE, the rat hippocampus was collected, and the production of Akt, -Akt, GSK-3β, -GSK-3β, tau, -tau, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins were determined by western blot analysis. A decrease in blood glucose level and recovery of body weight were observed in PBE-treated diabetic rats. In the Akt/GSK-3β/tau signaling pathway, PBE inhibited diabetes-induced Akt inactivation, GSK-3β inactivation, and tau hyperphosphorylation. The protein production ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was restored to the control group level. These results suggest that PBE, rich in phenolic compounds, can be used as a functional food ingredient to ameliorate neuronal apoptosis in diabetes mellitus.
Topics: Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Plant Extracts; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Hippocampus; Plant Bark; Rats; Male; Blood Glucose; Pinus; Apoptosis; Streptozocin; tau Proteins; Body Weight; Phosphorylation; bcl-2-Associated X Protein
PubMed: 38881175
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2403.03038 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Jun 2024Sporadic venous malformations are genetic conditions primarily caused by somatic gain-of-function mutation of PIK3CA or TEK, an endothelial transmembrane receptor...
Sporadic venous malformations are genetic conditions primarily caused by somatic gain-of-function mutation of PIK3CA or TEK, an endothelial transmembrane receptor signaling through PIK3CA. Venous malformations are associated with pain, bleedings, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, esthetic deformities and, in severe cases, life-threatening situations. No authorized medical treatment exists for patients with venous malformations. Here, we created a genetic mouse model of PIK3CA-related capillary venous malformations that replicates patient phenotypes. We showed that these malformations only partially signal through AKT proteins. We compared the efficacy of different drugs, including rapamycin, a mTORC1 inhibitor, miransertib, an AKT inhibitor and alpelisib, a PI3Kα inhibitor at improving the lesions seen in the mouse model. We demonstrated the effectiveness of alpelisib in preventing vascular malformations' occurrence, improving the already established ones, and prolonging survival. Considering these findings, we were authorized to treat 25 patients with alpelisib, including 7 children displaying PIK3CA (n = 16) or TEK (n = 9)-related capillary venous malformations resistant to usual therapies including sirolimus, debulking surgical procedures or percutaneous sclerotherapies. We assessed the volume of vascular malformations using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for each patient. Alpelisib demonstrated improvement in all 25 patients. Vascular malformations previously considered intractable were reduced and clinical symptoms were attenuated. MRI showed a decrease of 33.4% and 27.8% in the median volume of PIK3CA and TEK malformations respectively, over 6 months on alpelisib. In conclusion, this study supports PI3Kα inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with PIK3CA or TEK-related capillary venous malformations.
Topics: Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Animals; Mice; Humans; Vascular Malformations; Capillaries; Female; Male; Sirolimus; Child; Disease Models, Animal; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Thiazoles
PubMed: 38880808
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01862-9 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2024Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare diseases typically arising from connective tissues in children and adults. However, chemotherapies involved in the treatment of STS...
BACKGROUND
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare diseases typically arising from connective tissues in children and adults. However, chemotherapies involved in the treatment of STS may cause toxic side effects and multi-drug chemoresistance, making the treatment even more challenging. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are epigenetic agents which have shown anti-tumor effects as single agent as well as combination use with other drugs. Our project intends to prove the same effects in STS.
METHODS
Panobinostat (LBH589) plus doxorubicin was selected for investigations based on our previous research. Tumor xenografts were tried in an epithelioid sarcoma model to validate good synergy effects in vivo and a leiomyosarcoma model was used as a negative comparison group. Gene profile changes were studied afterwards. The possible pathway changes caused by HDACi were explored and validated by several assays.
RESULTS
Synergy effect of LBH589 plus doxorubicin was successfully validated in STS cell lines and an epithelioid sarcoma mice model. We tried to reduce the dose of doxorubicin to a lower level and found the drug combination can still inhibit tumor size in mice. Furthermore, gene profile changes caused by LBH589 was studied by RNA-Sequencing analysis. Results showed LBH589 can exert effects on a group of target genes which can regulate potential biological functions especially in the cell cycle pathway.
Topics: Panobinostat; Doxorubicin; Animals; Sarcoma; Humans; Drug Synergism; Cell Line, Tumor; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Mice; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Mice, Nude; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
PubMed: 38876055
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116895 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2024The unresectable or postoperative recurrence of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is the difficulty of its clinical management, and pharmacological therapy is...
The unresectable or postoperative recurrence of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is the difficulty of its clinical management, and pharmacological therapy is the main source of benefit. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are therapeutic options but are effective in approximately 5 % of patients with deficient mismatch repair (MMR)/microsatellite instability CRC and are ineffective in patients with MMR-proficient (pMMR)/microsatellite stable (MSS) CRCs, which may be associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we propose a new combination strategy and evaluate the efficacy of rapamycin (Rapa) combined with anti-PD-1 (αPD-1) in CT26 tumor-bearing mice, azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) inflammation-associated CRC mice, CT26-Luc tumor-bearing mice with postoperative recurrence, and CT26 liver metastasis mice. The results revealed that Rapa improved the therapeutic effect of αPD-1 and effectively inhibited colorectal carcinogenesis, postoperative recurrence, and liver metastasis. Mechanistically, Rapa improved the anticancer effect of αPD-1, associated with Rapa reprograming of the immunosuppressive TME. Rapa effectively depleted α-SMA cancer-associated fibroblasts and degraded collagen in the tumor tissue, increasing T lymphocyte infiltration into the tumor tissue. Rapa induced the downregulation of programed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein and transcript levels in CT26 cells, which may be associated with the inhibition of the mTOR/P70S6K signaling axis. Furthermore, co-culture of tumor cells and CD8 T lymphocytes demonstrated that Rapa-induced PD-L1 downregulation in tumor cells increased spleen-derived CD8 T lymphocyte activation. Therefore, Rapa improves the anti-tumor effect of αPD-1 in CRCs, providing new ideas for its use to improve combinatorial strategies for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
Topics: Animals; Tumor Microenvironment; Colorectal Neoplasms; Sirolimus; B7-H1 Antigen; Mice; Cell Line, Tumor; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Male; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
PubMed: 38876047
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116883 -
Renal Failure Dec 2024Podocyte loss in glomeruli is a fundamental event in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases. Currently, mitotic catastrophe (MC) has emerged as the main cause of...
Podocyte loss in glomeruli is a fundamental event in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases. Currently, mitotic catastrophe (MC) has emerged as the main cause of podocyte loss. However, the regulation of MC in podocytes has yet to be elucidated. The current work aimed to study the role and mechanism of p53 in regulating the MC of podocytes using adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephropathy. podocyte stimulation with ADR triggered the occurrence of MC, which was accompanied by hyperactivation of p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1)/cyclin B1. The inhibition of p53 reversed ADR-evoked MC in podocytes and protected against podocyte injury and loss. Further investigation showed that p53 mediated the activation of CDK1/cyclin B1 by regulating the expression of Wee1. Restraining Wee1 abolished the regulatory effect of p53 inhibition on CDK1/cyclin B1 and rebooted MC in ADR-stimulated podocytes p53 inhibition. In a mouse model of ADR nephropathy, the inhibition of p53 ameliorated proteinuria and podocyte injury. Moreover, the inhibition of p53 blocked the progression of MC in podocytes in ADR nephropathy mice through the regulation of the Wee1/CDK1/cyclin B1 axis. Our findings confirm that p53 contributes to MC in podocytes through regulation of the Wee1/CDK1/Cyclin B1 axis, which may represent a novel mechanism underlying podocyte injury and loss during the progression of chronic kidney disorder.
Topics: Podocytes; Animals; CDC2 Protein Kinase; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Mice; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Doxorubicin; Cyclin B1; Cell Cycle Proteins; Mitosis; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Male
PubMed: 38874119
DOI: 10.1080/0886022X.2024.2365408 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Autoimmune cytopenias (AICs) are a group of disorders characterized by immune-mediated destruction of blood cells. In children, they are often secondary to immune...
INTRODUCTION
Autoimmune cytopenias (AICs) are a group of disorders characterized by immune-mediated destruction of blood cells. In children, they are often secondary to immune dysregulation that may require long-lasting immunosuppression. Mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus represent two well-tolerated options to treat these disorders, often as a steroid-sparing option. However, no data are available on the infection risk for patients undergoing long-lasting treatments.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The rate of severe infective events was calculated in episodes per 100 persons/months at risk (p/m/r) documented by the analysis of hospitalization charts between January 2015 and July 2023 of patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil or sirolimus given for isolated AIC or AICs associated with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)/ALPS-like syndromes in two large Italian pediatric hematology units.
RESULTS
From January 2015 to July 2023, 13 out of 96 patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil or sirolimus developed 16 severe infectious events requiring hospitalization. No patients died. Overall infection rate was 0.24 person/*100 months/risk (95% CI 0.09-0.3). Serious infectious events incidence was higher in patients with ALPS-like compared to others (0.42 versus 0.09; = 0.006) and lower in patients who underwent mycophenolate treatment alone compared to those who started sirolimus after mycophenolate failure (0.04 versus 0.29, = 0.03). Considering only patients who started treatment at the beginning of study period, overall cumulative hazard was 18.6% at 60 months (95% CI 3.4-31.4) with higher risk of infectious events after 5 years in ALPS-like patients (26.1%; 95% CI 3.2-43.5) compared to other AICs (4%; 95% CI 0-11.4; = 0.041).
DISCUSSION
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the infectious risk related to mycophenolate and sirolimus chronic treatment in patients with AICs and immune dysregulation. Our data highlight that infection rate is very low and mainly related to the underlying hematological condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Mycophenolate and sirolimus represent a safe immunosuppressive therapy in AICs and immune dysregulation syndromes.
Topics: Humans; Mycophenolic Acid; Sirolimus; Female; Male; Child; Immunosuppressive Agents; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Infant; Autoimmune Diseases; Infections; Risk Factors; Retrospective Studies; Incidence; Cytopenia
PubMed: 38873600
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1415389 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Jun 2024Multidrug resistance (MDR) limits successful cancer chemotherapy. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), BCRP and MRP1 are the key triggers of MDR. Unfortunately, no MDR modulator was...
BACKGROUND
Multidrug resistance (MDR) limits successful cancer chemotherapy. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), BCRP and MRP1 are the key triggers of MDR. Unfortunately, no MDR modulator was approved by FDA to date. Here, we will investigate the effect of BI-2865, a pan-KRAS inhibitor, on reversing MDR induced by P-gp, BCRP and MRP1 in vitro and in vivo, and its reversal mechanisms will be explored.
METHODS
The cytotoxicity of BI-2865 and its MDR removal effect in vitro were tested by MTT assays, and the corresponding reversal function in vivo was assessed through the P-gp mediated KBv200 xenografts in mice. BI-2865 induced alterations of drug discharge and reservation in cells were estimated by experiments of Flow cytometry with fluorescent doxorubicin, and the chemo-drug accumulation in xenografts' tumor were analyzed through LC-MS. Mechanisms of BI-2865 inhibiting P-gp substrate's efflux were analyzed through the vanadate-sensitive ATPase assay, [I]-IAAP-photolabeling assay and computer molecular docking. The effects of BI-2865 on P-gp expression and KRAS-downstream signaling were detected via Western blotting, Flow cytometry and/or qRT-PCR. Subcellular localization of P-gp was visualized by Immunofluorescence.
RESULTS
We found BI-2865 notably fortified response of P-gp-driven MDR cancer cells to the administration of chemo-drugs including paclitaxel, vincristine and doxorubicin, while such an effect was not observed in their parental sensitive cells and BCRP or MRP1-driven MDR cells. Importantly, the mice vivo combination study has verified that BI-2865 effectively improved the anti-tumor action of paclitaxel without toxic injury. In mechanism, BI-2865 prompted doxorubicin accumulating in carcinoma cells by directly blocking the efflux function of P-gp, which more specifically, was achieved by BI-2865 competitively binding to the drug-binding sites of P-gp. What's more, at the effective MDR reversal concentrations, BI-2865 neither varied the expression and location of P-gp nor reduced its downstream AKT or ERK1/2 signaling activity.
CONCLUSIONS
This study uncovered a new application of BI-2865 as a MDR modulator, which might be used to effectively, safely and specifically improve chemotherapeutic efficacy in the clinical P-gp mediated MDR refractory cancers.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Mice; Cell Line, Tumor; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Mice, Nude; Doxorubicin; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Female
PubMed: 38872211
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01698-4 -
The Journal of International Medical... Jun 2024This report presents a case involving a woman aged >65 years who had been diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma 3 years prior. The patient was hospitalized with enlarged... (Review)
Review
Brentuximab vedotin therapy followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation as a viable treatment option for an older adult with transformed lymphoma: a case report and literature review.
This report presents a case involving a woman aged >65 years who had been diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma 3 years prior. The patient was hospitalized with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, and pathological examination revealed that the lymphoma had transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After two cycles of brentuximab vedotin in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (BV-R-CHP) chemotherapy, the patient achieved complete remission. This treatment was followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and lenalidomide maintenance therapy. At the last follow-up, the patient had been in continuous remission for 24 months. This case study suggests that the utilization of BV and R-CHP in conjunction can result in rapid remission, and it can be followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and maintenance therapy with lenalidomide. This treatment approach exhibits potential as a viable option for older individuals with transformed lymphoma.
Topics: Humans; Female; Brentuximab Vedotin; Aged; Transplantation, Autologous; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Doxorubicin; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; Rituximab; Prednisone; Cyclophosphamide; Lenalidomide; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Combined Modality Therapy
PubMed: 38869106
DOI: 10.1177/03000605241258597 -
Microbial Cell Factories Jun 2024The objectives of the current study were to extract pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates, characterize its chemical nature, and assess its biological...
Transforming microbial pigment into therapeutic revelation: extraction and characterization of pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its therapeutic potential as an antibacterial and anticancer agent.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of the current study were to extract pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates, characterize its chemical nature, and assess its biological activity against different bacteria and cancer cells. Due to its diverse bioactive properties, pyocyanin, being one of the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, holds a promising, safe, and available therapeutic potential.
METHODS
30 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from different sources of infections and identified by routine methods, the VITEK 2 compact system, and 16 S rRNA. The phenazine-modifying genes (phzM, phzS) were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pyocyanin chemical characterization included UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The biological activity of pyocyanin was explored by determining the MIC values against different clinical bacterial strains and assessing its anticancer activity against A549, MDA-MB-231, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines using cytotoxicity, wound healing and colony forming assays.
RESULTS
All identified isolates harboured at least one of the phzM or phzS genes. The co-presence of both genes was demonstrated in 13 isolates. The UV-VIS absorbance peaks were maxima at 215, 265, 385, and 520 nm. FTIR could identify the characteristic pyocyanin functional groups, whereas both GC-MS and LC-MS elucidated the chemical formula CHNO, with a molecular weight 210. The quadri-technical analytical approaches confirmed the chemical nature of the extracted pyocyanin. The extract showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with the greatest activity against Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species (MICs 31.25-125 µg/mL), followed by E. coli isolates (MICs 250-1000 µg/mL). Regarding the anticancer activity, the pyocyanin extract showed IC values against A549, MDA-MB-231, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines of 130, 105, and 187.9 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, pyocyanin has markedly suppressed colony formation and migratory abilities in these cells.
CONCLUSIONS
The extracted pyocyanin has demonstrated to be a potentially effective candidate against various bacterial infections and cancers. Hence, the current findings could contribute to producing this natural compound easily through an affordable method. Nonetheless, future studies are required to investigate pyocyanin's effects in vivo and analyse the results of combining it with other traditional antibiotics or anticancer drugs.
Topics: Pyocyanine; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Antineoplastic Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Cell Line, Tumor; Caco-2 Cells
PubMed: 38867319
DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02438-6