scholarly journals Clinicopathological and prognostic significance and molecular mechanisms governing uveal melanoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175883592091756
Author(s):  
Meng-Yu Wu ◽  
Tzu-Ting Lai ◽  
Wan-Ting Liao ◽  
Chia-Jung Li
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Common Skin ◽  
Metastasis Growth

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Although UM and cutaneous melanoma are derived from melanocytes, UM differs clinically and biologically from its more common skin counterparts. More than half of primary UMs metastasize. However, there is currently no effective treatment for metastatic UM. Therefore, studying mutations related to the metastasis, growth, proliferation, and survival of UM can help researchers understand its pathogenesis and metastatic mechanism, thereby leading to a more effective treatment. In addition, we provide an overview of the recent basic and clinical studies to provide a strong foundation for developing novel anti-carcinogenesis targets for future interventions.

Excitotoxicity as a Target Against Neurodegenerative Processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1251-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio Binvignat ◽  
Jordi Olloquequi
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunctions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Clinical Investigations ◽  
Turn Over ◽  
Excitotoxic Cell Death ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

: The global burden of neurodegenerative diseases is alarmingly increasing in parallel to the aging of population. Although the molecular mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration are not completely understood, excitotoxicity, defined as the injury and death of neurons due to excessive or prolonged exposure to excitatory amino acids, has been shown to play a pivotal role. The increased release and/or decreased uptake of glutamate results in dysregulation of neuronal calcium homeostasis, leading to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, disturbances in protein turn-over and neuroinflammation. : Despite the anti-excitotoxic drug memantine has shown modest beneficial effects in some patients with dementia, to date, there is no effective treatment capable of halting or curing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This has led to a growing body of research focusing on understanding the mechanisms associated with the excitotoxic insult and on uncovering potential therapeutic strategies targeting these mechanisms. : In the present review, we examine the molecular mechanisms related to excitotoxic cell death. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive and updated state of the art of preclinical and clinical investigations targeting excitotoxic- related mechanisms in order to provide an effective treatment against neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals Hypoxia, Metabolic Reprogramming, and Drug Resistance in Liver Cancer

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1715
Author(s):  
Macus Hao-Ran Bao ◽  
Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Liver Cancer ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Combination Therapies ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Treatment Regimens

Hypoxia, low oxygen (O2) level, is a hallmark of solid cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Hypoxia contributes to drug resistance in cancer through various molecular mechanisms. In this review, we particularly focus on the roles of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-mediated metabolic reprogramming in drug resistance in HCC. Combination therapies targeting hypoxia-induced metabolic enzymes to overcome drug resistance will also be summarized. Acquisition of drug resistance is the major cause of unsatisfactory clinical outcomes of existing HCC treatments. Extra efforts to identify novel mechanisms to combat refractory hypoxic HCC are warranted for the development of more effective treatment regimens for HCC patients.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanisms and the vital roles of resistin, TLR 4, and NF-κB in treating type 2 diabetic complications

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkataiah Gudise ◽  
Bimalendu Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Diabetic Complications ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cellular Proliferation ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Main Body

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes in obese (≥ 25 and ≥ 30 kg/m2) patients is the foremost cause of cardiovascular complications like stroke, osteoarthritis, cancers (endometrial, breast, ovarian, liver, kidney, colon, and prostate), and vascular complications like diabetic neuropathy, diabetic and retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy. It is recognized as a global burden disorder with high prevalence in middle-income nations which might lead to a double burden on health care professionals. Hence, this review emphasizes on understanding the complexity and vital signaling tracts involved in diabetic complications for effective treatment. Main body Type 2 diabetes in overweight patients induces the creation of specific ROS that further leads to changes in cellular proliferation, hypothalamus, and fringe. The resistin, TLR4, and NF-κB signalings are mainly involved in the progression of central and fringe changes such as insulin resistance and inflammation in diabetic patients. The overexpression of these signals might lead to the rapid progression of diabetic vascular complications induced by the release of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, interleukins, and cyclooxygenase-mediated chemicals. Until now, there has been no curative treatment for diabetes. Therefore, to effectively treat complications of type 2 diabetes, the researchers need to concentrate on the molecular mechanisms and important signaling tracts involved. Conclusion In this review, we suggested the molecular mechanism of STZ-HFD induced type 2 diabetes and the vital roles of resistin, TLR4, and NF-κB signalings in central, fringe changes, and development diabetic complications for its effective treatment. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals CCL20/TNF/VEGFA Cytokine Secretory Phenotype of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Is a Negative Prognostic Factor in Cutaneous Melanoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3943
Author(s):  
Alba Gutiérrez-Seijo ◽  
Elena García-Martínez ◽  
Celia Barrio-Alonso ◽  
Miriam Pareja-Malagón ◽  
Alejandra Acosta-Ocampo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Primary Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Intracellular Cytokines ◽  
Negative Prognostic Factor

TAMs constitute a large fraction of infiltrating immune cells in melanoma tissues, but their significance for clinical outcomes remains unclear. We explored diverse TAM parameters in clinically relevant primary cutaneous melanoma samples, including density, location, size, and polarization marker expression; in addition, because cytokine production is a hallmark of macrophages function, we measured CCL20, TNF, and VEGFA intracellular cytokines by single-cell multiparametric confocal microscopy. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyze correlation with melanoma-specific disease-free survival and overall survival. No significant correlations with clinical parameters were observed for TAM density, morphology, or location. Significantly, higher contents of the intracellular cytokines CCL20, TNF, and VEGFA were quantified in TAMs infiltrating metastasizing compared to non-metastasizing skin primary melanomas (p < 0.001). To mechanistically explore cytokine up-regulation, we performed in vitro studies with melanoma-conditioned macrophages, using RNA-seq to explore involved pathways and specific inhibitors. We show that p53 and NF-κB coregulate CCL20, TNF, and VEGFA in melanoma-conditioned macrophages. These results delineate a clinically relevant pro-oncogenic cytokine profile of TAMs with prognostic significance in primary melanomas and point to the combined therapeutic targeting of NF-kB/p53 pathways to control the deviation of TAMs in melanoma.

Potential Role of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Traumatic Brain Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Alexandre Santos Marzano ◽  
Fabyolla Lúcia Macedo de Castro ◽  
Caroline Amaral Machado ◽  
João Luís Vieira Monteiro de Barros ◽  
Thiago Macedo e Cordeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
The Brain

: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious cause of disability and death among young and adult individuals, displaying complex pathophysiology including cellular and molecular mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Many experimental and clinical studies investigated the potential relationship between TBI and the process by which neurons are formed in the brain, known as neurogenesis. Currently, there are no available treatments for TBI’s long-term consequences being the search for novel therapeutic targets, a goal of highest scientific and clinical priority. Some studies evaluated the benefits of treatments aimed at improving neurogenesis in TBI. In this scenario, herein, we reviewed current pre-clinical studies that evaluated different approaches to improving neurogenesis after TBI while achieving better cognitive outcomes, which may consist in interesting approaches for future treatments.

scholarly journals Transcription of the Human 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor 2B (HTR2B) Gene Is under the Regulatory Influence of the Transcription Factors NFI and RUNX1 in Human Uveal Melanoma

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manel Benhassine ◽  
Sylvain Guérin
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Serotonin Receptor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Factor I

Because it accounts for 70% of all eye cancers, uveal melanoma (UM) is therefore the most common primary ocular malignancy. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to the aberrant expression of the gene encoding the serotonin receptor 2B (HTR2B), one of the most discriminating among the candidates from the class II gene signature, in metastatic and non-metastatic UM cell lines. Transfection analyses revealed that the upstream regulatory region of the HTR2B gene contains a combination of alternative positive and negative regulatory elements functional in HTR2B− but not in HTR23B+ UM cells. We demonstrated that both the transcription factors nuclear factor I (NFI) and Runt-related transcription factor I (RUNX1) interact with regulatory elements from the HTR2B gene to either activate (NFI) or repress (RUNX1) HTR2B expression in UM cells. The results of this study will help understand better the molecular mechanisms accounting for the abnormal expression of the HTR2B gene in uveal melanoma.

scholarly journals circHMGCS1–016 reshapes immune environment by sponging miR-1236-3p to regulate CD73 and GAL-8 expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Ping Xu ◽  
Ze-Ning Dong ◽  
Si-Wei Wang ◽  
Yi-Min Zheng ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Mouse Tumor ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Potential Biomarker

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence indicates that circRNAs may serve as essential regulators in the progression of several human cancers, but the function and mechanism of circRNAs in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are largely unknown. Methods RNA-seq was used to assess differentially expressed circRNAs between 4 ICC and peritumor tissues. Quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to determine the circHMGCS1–016 expression in ICC tissues. The function and mechanism of circHMGCS1–016 were further identified via in vivo experiments. The clinical characteristics and prognostic significance of circHMGCS1–016 were analyzed by a retrospective study. The functions of circHMGCS1–016 were assessed via modifying circRNA expression in ICC cells. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms of circHMGCS1–016 in ICC cells were explored by circRNA precipitation, miRNA immunoprecipitation, SILAC and luciferase reporter assays. Results We identified that compared with peritumor tissues, ICC tissues expressed hsa_circ_0008621 (circHMGCS1–016) high by RNA-seq, which was further identified by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Moreover, the expression of circHMGCS1–016 was revealed to be associated with survival and recurrence of ICC patients. By regulating circHMGCS1–016 expression, we found that elevated circHMGCS1–016 promoted ICC development both in vitro and in vivo. By SILAC and circRNA-pull down, we demonstrated that circHMGCS1–016 induced ICC cell invasion and reshaped the tumor immune microenvironment via the miR-1236-3p/CD73 and GAL-8 axis. In ICC tissues, we uncovered that a high level of circHMGCS1–016 was positively associated with CD73 and GAL-8 expression and negatively related to the CD8+ T cells infiltration, which was further validated by establishing a humanized mouse tumor model. Importantly, we displayed that ICC patients with high levels of circHMGCS1–016 in tumor tissues benefited less from anti-PD1 treatment compared to those with low levels of circHMGCS1–016. Conclusions CircHMGCS1–016 is a forceful contributor in ICC development and immune tolerance via miR-1236-3p/CD73 and GAL-8 axis. CircHMGCS1–016 can be explored as a new potential biomarker and therapeutic target for PD1-resistant ICC.

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