scholarly journals MicroRNAs: a complex regulatory network drives the acquisition of malignant cell phenotype

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. F51-F75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libero Santarpia ◽  
Milena Nicoloso ◽  
George A Calin
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Endocrine Tumors ◽  
Functional Capabilities ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Multistep Process ◽  
The Common ◽  
Insight Into

Several lines of evidence indicate that tumorigenesis is a complex multistep process, and that most, if not all, cancers acquire the same set of functional capabilities during development and progression, albeit through various mechanistic strategies. Increasing data show an important role of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) in regulating various aspects of cancer biology. This review describes the role of microRNAs during the multiple steps that drive the progressive transformation of normal cells into highly malignant derivatives, outlining the role of microRNAs in regulating the common hallmarks of tumorigenesis: self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to antigrowth signals, abnormal apoptosis, limitless replicative potential, induction and sustained angiogenesis, and tissue invasion and metastasis. Recent evidence suggests an important role of microRNAs in the regulation of the expression of most genes regulating and coordinating a wide variety of processes in endocrine glands. We will highlight microRNAs of potential relevance to endocrine tumors and hormone-dependent cancers. Through this overview of how microRNAs regulate multiple targets and entire pathways, we will provide insight into the potential to develop new molecular microRNA-targeted therapies for endocrine tumors.

scholarly journals Role of Extracellular Matrix in Development and Cancer Progression

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Walker ◽  
Elijah Mojares ◽  
Armando del Río Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Cell Behaviour ◽  
Biophysical Forces ◽  
Key Drivers

The immense diversity of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins confers distinct biochemical and biophysical properties that influence cell phenotype. The ECM is highly dynamic as it is constantly deposited, remodelled, and degraded during development until maturity to maintain tissue homeostasis. The ECM’s composition and organization are spatiotemporally regulated to control cell behaviour and differentiation, but dysregulation of ECM dynamics leads to the development of diseases such as cancer. The chemical cues presented by the ECM have been appreciated as key drivers for both development and cancer progression. However, the mechanical forces present due to the ECM have been largely ignored but recently recognized to play critical roles in disease progression and malignant cell behaviour. Here, we review the ways in which biophysical forces of the microenvironment influence biochemical regulation and cell phenotype during key stages of human development and cancer progression.

scholarly journals Long Noncoding RNA and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gugnoni ◽  
Ciarrocchi
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Protein Localization ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Multistep Process ◽  
Genomic Studies

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep process that allows epithelial cells to acquire mesenchymal properties. Fundamental in the early stages of embryonic development, this process is aberrantly activated in aggressive cancerous cells to gain motility and invasion capacity, thus promoting metastatic phenotypes. For this reason, EMT is a central topic in cancer research and its regulation by a plethora of mechanisms has been reported. Recently, genomic sequencing and functional genomic studies deepened our knowledge on the fundamental regulatory role of noncoding DNA. A large part of the genome is transcribed in an impressive number of noncoding RNAs. Among these, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to control several biological processes affecting gene expression at multiple levels from transcription to protein localization and stability. Up to now, more than 8000 lncRNAs were discovered as selectively expressed in cancer cells. Their elevated number and high expression specificity candidate these molecules as a valuable source of biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Rising evidence currently highlights a relevant function of lncRNAs on EMT regulation defining a new layer of involvement of these molecules in cancer biology. In this review we aim to summarize the findings on the role of lncRNAs on EMT regulation and to discuss their prospective potential value as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

scholarly journals The importance of the traditional milpa in food security and nutritional self-sufficiency in the highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246281
Author(s):  
Ivan P. Novotny ◽  
Pablo Tittonell ◽  
Mariela H. Fuentes-Ponce ◽  
Santiago López-Ridaura ◽  
Walter A. H. Rossing
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Common Bean ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Subsistence Farmers ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
The Common ◽  
Global Food

Around 30% of global food is produced by smallholder farmers, yet they constitute the most food-insecure group. In Mexico, food self-sufficiency is declining. Rural policies in the country have stimulated the production of cash crops to the detriment of the traditional intercropping system, the milpa. Such a decline may have negative consequences for the food security of subsistence farmers. This study aimed to assess changes in nutritional self-sufficiency over the last 30 years and the role of milpa systems in food security for two communities in the highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico. The study used satellite images, censuses, and field data to estimate food production. Three cropping systems, monoculture of maize, monoculture of common bean, and the milpa were compared in terms of nutrients and vitamins produced. Furthermore, a household typology was developed for each community to contrast nutritional self-sufficiency levels between the different household types. Results showed that the milpa produced more volume of food per area compared to the other systems. The milpa also produced all the nutrients and vitamins (except for B12) required to feed at least 2 persons ha-1. Monocultures of maize lacked vitamins A, B9, B12, and C, and the common bean lacked vitamins A, B12, and C. While farmers recognized the importance of the milpa, they preferred monocultures due to the reduced labor demands of this system. Households that obtained most of their income from off-farm activities had the lowest nutritional self-sufficiency. Enhancing nutritional self-sufficiency through crop diversification has the potential to not only improve the nutrition of subsistence farmers, but also to enhance ecosystem service provision, promote biodiversity conservation and restoration, and improve resilience to climate change.

Exploiting S-nitrosylation for cancer therapy: facts and perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (19) ◽  
pp. 3649-3672
Author(s):  
Salvatore Rizza ◽  
Giuseppe Filomeni
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Tissue Homeostasis ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Insight Into

S-nitrosylation, the post-translational modification of cysteines by nitric oxide, has been implicated in several cellular processes and tissue homeostasis. As a result, alterations in the mechanisms controlling the levels of S-nitrosylated proteins have been found in pathological states. In the last few years, a role in cancer has been proposed, supported by the evidence that various oncoproteins undergo gain- or loss-of-function modifications upon S-nitrosylation. Here, we aim at providing insight into the current knowledge about the role of S-nitrosylation in different aspects of cancer biology and report the main anticancer strategies based on: (i) reducing S-nitrosylation-mediated oncogenic effects, (ii) boosting S-nitrosylation to stimulate cell death, (iii) exploiting S-nitrosylation through synthetic lethality.

scholarly journals The Return to Ethiopia of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Giulia Bonacci
Keyword(s):  
International Expansion ◽  
Internal Dynamics ◽  
New West ◽  
Long Time ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
Seminal Article ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Insight Into

Twenty-eight years ago, F.J. van Dijk published in the New West Indian Guide what remained for a long time the only scholarly paper on the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Undoubtedly the largest Rastafari organization both in terms of membership and international expansion, the Twelve Tribes of Israel remains little known in public and academic circles. This article fills two major but closely related gaps in Van Dijk’s seminal article. The first is information on the formation and history of the Twelve Tribes, and the second is how the organization mobilized the return of members to Africa, a cornerstone of Rastafari belief. This article argues that the issue of return to the continent determined the very genesis of the organization and subsequently the development of its eighteen international branches. In its turn, this focus on return to Africa offers another perspective on the internal dynamics of the Rastafari movement, namely the structuring role of Rastafari organizations, a role which challenges the common image of Rastafari as an “acephalous” movement. Exploring the tangible relationship of Rastafari with Ethiopia, through the return to Ethiopia of members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, offers new insight into the history of the Rastafari movement.

Transcription factor STAT1 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by upregulating LINC01160

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingang Ai ◽  
Guolin Tan ◽  
Tiansheng Wang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Ru Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ◽  
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Carcinoma Cells ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Cell Phenotype

Aim: To investigate the role of LINC01160 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials & methods: Using NPC cells CNE-2 and HNE-2 in vitro, we performed quantitative PCR to determine mRNA expression and western blotting to determine protein expression. CCK-8, transwell, flow cytometry and wound healing assays were done to examine the function of LINC01160 and STAT1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation PCR (ChIP-PCR) confirmed that STAT1 combines with the LINC01160 promoter region. Xenograft experiments were used to verify the role of STAT1 and LINC01160 in vivo. Results: LINC01160 is upregulated in NPC and can promote a malignant cell phenotype. STAT1 is a transcription factor of LINC01160 and can promote a malignant cell phenotype through upregulating LINC01160 expression. Conclusion: STAT1 can promote a malignant cell phenotype by upregulating LINC01160.

Cogeneration potential in Colombian sugar factories

2010 ◽  
pp. 561-565
Author(s):  
Edgar F. Castillo ◽  
Adolfo L. Gómez ◽  
Diego Cobo ◽  
Carlos Aguirre
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Industry ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Sugar Factory ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
The Common ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Special Case ◽  
Typical Process

Nowadays, the Colombian sugar industry is involved in an expansion process, mainly related to the diversification of final products. In this way, since 2005 five ethanol distilleries have been running, covering just 65% of total ethanol demand. The distilleries were designed coupled with a composting plant, based on vinasses and carbonatation sludge from the sugar factory. Both distilleries and composting plants show many features which make them a special case in the ethanol market, so they produce a maximum of 3 L vinasse/L ethanol. Besides, in all cases, the thermal and electrical power requirements in the ethanol plant are supplied by the sugar factory. In this paper, a brief description of technological features of the typical process configuration followed by the Colombian sugar industry is shown. It comprises the steam consumption distribution by sections, the common configuration of the heat exchanger network (HEN) developed for bleed vapor usage and the role of energy self-sufficiency of the factory played by the bagasse quality. A set of possible scenarios for improving energy efficiency in a selected sugar factory which comprises a modified HEN can be formulated, including a revamping of the existing boiler and finally a new boiler operating at higher pressure. Based on the previous information, the state of the main Colombian cogeneration projects based on sugarcane and its potential impact on the national energy supply is shown. Finally, the paper describes how Colombian governmental requirements for cogeneration plants are trying to establish a legal framework for this novel industrial activity in the country.

The Role of Integrins in Cancer and the Development of Anti-Integrin Therapeutic Agents for Cancer Therapy

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 1177391X0800200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinjie Lu ◽  
Dong Lu ◽  
Mike Scully ◽  
Vijay Kakkar
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Integrin Receptors ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mediate Cell ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Insight Into

Integrins have been reported to mediate cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration programs. For this reason, the past few years have seen an increased interest in the implications of integrin receptors in cancer biology and tumor cell aggression. This review considers the potential role of integrins in cancer and also addresses why integrins are present attractive targets for drug design. It discusses of the several properties of the integrin-based chemotherapeutic agents currently under consideration clinically and provides an insight into cancer drug development using integrin as a target.

scholarly journals Language, Media and Ideology: CDA of an Animation, “The Donkey King”

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Afshan Quyyum ◽  
Sikandar Ali ◽  
Junaid Akash
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
False Consciousness ◽  
Reality Construction ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Random Sampling Approach ◽  
Insight Into

The present study has looked into the hidden realities and ideologies in an animation “The Donkey King” released on 13th October 2018, by using the English subtitles. This animation seems to be a reminiscent of the Orwellian plot and is a phenomenal depiction of the contemporary political scenario in Pakistan. Realities can be constructed, ideologies can be created and false consciousness can be spread among the common masses by unknown and unseen powers of the society. The research has explicated the hidden realities and ideologies through CDA three-dimensional framework proposed by Norman Fairclough (1989, 1992a, 1993, 1995). Qualitative method with convenient random sampling approach in chronological order has been utilized to carry out the research. CDA is a combination of politics and language use and the study provides a deep insight into the role of cinema, in reality construction. The study concludes that cinema is a powerful tool capable enough to create realities and ideologies among the masses. The study also contains message for all ages that the real king is the savior of the nation no matter which creed or cast he belongs to. The study is significant to bring changes in the society and recommends some practical and useful suggestions to the readers, leaders, viewers of cinema and for the upcoming researchers who can bring a positive change in the society. The main significance of the study lies in creating awareness in the masses for the welfare of a free and open society. Additionally, the current study suggests that critical thinking is crucial for viewers and readers; critical thinking would help them not to easily get triggered by the issues intended by the powerful institutions, in which ideology and power keep important influences. This study filled many gaps and persisted with numerous gaps for upcoming researchers. It is expected that the current study is going to serve a useful reference resource for the researchers in understanding the study about ideology and power in media discourse.

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