WS04.6 Balancing the immune response in cystic fibrosis: using zebrafish models of inflammation to uncover new therapeutic approaches

Glycan–lectin interactions play an essential role in different cellular processes. One of their main functions is involvement in the immune response to pathogens or inflammation. However, cancer cells and viruses have adapted to avail themselves of these interactions. By displaying specific glycosylation structures, they are able to bind to lectins, thus promoting pathogenesis. While glycan–lectin interactions promote tumor progression, metastasis, and/or chemoresistance in cancer, in viral infections they are important for viral entry, release, and/or immune escape. For several years now, a growing number of investigations have been devoted to clarifying the role of glycan–lectin interactions in cancer and viral infections. Various overviews have already summarized and highlighted their findings. In this review, we consider the interactions of the lectins MGL, DC-SIGN, selectins, and galectins in both cancer and viral infections together. A possible transfer of ways to target and disrupt them might lead to new therapeutic approaches in different pathological backgrounds.

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Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation: Basic Investigations and New Therapeutic Approaches

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1646152 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 70 (01) ◽

pp. 010-016 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Robert D Rosenberg

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cell ◽

Muscle Cell ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell ◽

Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

New Therapeutic Approaches

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New therapeutic approaches for polymyositis and dermatomyositis

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/oh.2011.29176 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 152 (39) ◽

pp. 1552-1559 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katalin Dankó ◽

Melinda Vincze

Keyword(s):

Immunosuppressive Agents ◽

Inflammatory Myopathy ◽

Proximal Muscle ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

First Line ◽

New Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Remission Period ◽

Immune Mediated ◽

Systemic Manifestations ◽

Line Of Therapy

Inflammatory myopathies are chronic, immune-mediated diseases characterized with progressive proximal muscle weakness. They encompass a variety of syndromes with protean manifestations. The aims of therapy are to increase muscle strength, prevent the development of contractures, and to manage the systemic manifestations of the disease. This is a complex treatment which requires routine and wide knowledge. The most important task is to recognize the disease and guide the patient to immunologic center. Although the first line of therapy continues to include corticosteroids, there are a multitude of agents available for treating patients with myositis. There are several different immunosuppressive agents which may be applied alone or in combination with each other, as well as an increasing number of novel and exciting biologic agents targeting molecules participating in the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathy. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation in the remission period may significantly improve the functional outcome of patients with these disorders. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 1552–1559.

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New Aspects of the Epigenetics of Pancreatic Carcinogenesis

Epigenomes ◽

10.3390/epigenomes4030018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

Murat Toruner ◽

Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico ◽

Christopher L. Pin

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Dna Methylation ◽

Survival Rate ◽

Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Cancer Epigenetics ◽

Pancreatic Carcinogenesis ◽

New Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Environmental Events ◽

Underlying Pathogenesis

Pancreatic cancer remains among the deadliest forms of cancer with a 5 year survival rate less than 10%. With increasing numbers being observed, there is an urgent need to elucidate the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. While both contribute to disease progression, neither genetic nor environmental factors completely explain susceptibility or pathogenesis. Defining the links between genetic and environmental events represents an opportunity to understand the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Epigenetics, the study of mitotically heritable changes in genome function without a change in nucleotide sequence, is an emerging field of research in pancreatic cancer. The main epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA interference, all of which are altered by changes to the environment. Epigenetic mechanisms are being investigated to clarify the underlying pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer including an increasing number of studies examining the role as possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. These mechanisms also provide targets for promising new therapeutic approaches for this devastating malignancy.

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A Brief Analysis of Tissue-Resident NK Cells in Pregnancy and Endometrial Diseases: The Importance of Pharmacologic Modulation

Immuno ◽

10.3390/immuno1030011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 174-193

Author(s):

Jenny Valentina Garmendia ◽

Juan Bautista De Sanctis

Keyword(s):

Nk Cells ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Embryo Implantation ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Cell Physiology ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Pharmacological Modulation ◽

New Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Pharmacologic Modulation ◽

Inflammatory Burden

NK cells are lymphocytes involved in the innate and adaptative immune response. These cells are located in peripheral blood and tissues with ample functions, from immune vigilant to tolerogenic reactions. In the endometrium, NK cell populations vary depending on age, hormones, and inflammation. When pregnancy occurs, tissue-resident NK cells and conventional NK cells are recruited to protect the fetus, a tolerogenic response. On the contrary, in the inflamed endometrium, various inflammatory cells down-regulate NK tolerance and impair embryo implantation. Therefore, NK cells’ pharmacological modulation is difficult to achieve. Several strategies have been used, from progesterone, lipid emulsions to steroids; the success has not been as expected. However, new therapeutic approaches have been proposed to decrease the endometrial inflammatory burden and increase pregnancy success based on understanding NK cell physiology.

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