scholarly journals Apoptosis-reactivating agents for targeted anticancer therapy

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Philchenkov
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Drugs ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Apoptotic Pathways

The current knowledge on molecular mechanisms of apoptosis is presented focusing on the key elements of the extrinsic death receptor pathway as well as the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Disregulation of apoptotic pathways is considered as a key factor in the survival of cancer cells in response to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation therapy. Substances that selectively reactivate apoptosis in malignant cells are the promising candidate anticancer drugs, which have now entered various phases of clinical trials. The up-to-date techniques allowing for non-invasive in vivo visualization of apoptotic cells with special reference to therapy-induced cell death are briefly surveyed.

scholarly journals Manipulation of Axonal Outgrowth via Exogenous Low Forces

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8009
Author(s):  
Sara De Vincentiis ◽  
Alessandro Falconieri ◽  
Vincenzo Scribano ◽  
Samuele Ghignoli ◽  
Vittoria Raffa
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Axonal Outgrowth ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Neurite Initiation ◽  
Applied Forces ◽  
And Control ◽  
Regenerative Therapies

Neurons are mechanosensitive cells. The role of mechanical force in the process of neurite initiation, elongation and sprouting; nerve fasciculation; and neuron maturation continues to attract considerable interest among scientists. Force is an endogenous signal that stimulates all these processes in vivo. The axon is able to sense force, generate force and, ultimately, transduce the force in a signal for growth. This opens up fascinating scenarios. How are forces generated and sensed in vivo? Which molecular mechanisms are responsible for this mechanotransduction signal? Can we exploit exogenously applied forces to mimic and control this process? How can these extremely low forces be generated in vivo in a non-invasive manner? Can these methodologies for force generation be used in regenerative therapies? This review addresses these questions, providing a general overview of current knowledge on the applications of exogenous forces to manipulate axonal outgrowth, with a special focus on forces whose magnitude is similar to those generated in vivo. We also review the principal methodologies for applying these forces, providing new inspiration and insights into the potential of this approach for future regenerative therapies.

scholarly journals Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols Against Prostate Cancer

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyoshi Miyata ◽  
Yohei Shida ◽  
Tomoaki Hakariya ◽  
Hideki Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Green Tea ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Tea Polyphenols ◽  
Green Tea Polyphenols ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Prevention And Treatment

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. Green tea consumption is reported to play an important role in the prevention of carcinogenesis in many types of malignancies, including prostate cancer; however, epidemiological studies show conflicting results regarding these anti-cancer effects. In recent years, in addition to prevention, many investigators have shown the efficacy and safety of green tea polyphenols and combination therapies with green tea extracts and anti-cancer agents in in vivo and in vitro studies. Furthermore, numerous studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of green tea extracts. We believe that improved understanding of the detailed pathological roles at the molecular level is important to evaluate the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, in this review, we present current knowledge regarding the anti-cancer effects of green tea extracts in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms of action, such as influencing tumor growth, apoptosis, androgen receptor signaling, cell cycle, and various malignant behaviors. Finally, the future direction for the use of green tea extracts as treatment strategies in patients with prostate cancer is introduced.

Pathologic up-regulation of TNFSF15–TNFRSF25 axis sustains endothelial dysfunction in unprovoked venous thromboembolism

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 698-707
Author(s):  
Silvia Della Bella ◽  
Francesca Calcaterra ◽  
Monica Bacci ◽  
Claudia Carenza ◽  
Chiara Pandolfo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Endothelial Colony Forming Cells ◽  
Healthy Donors ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Microarray Expression

Abstract Aims The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying unprovoked venous thromboembolism (uVTE) are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in uVTE pathogenesis by using ex vivo expanded endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), which represent a valuable non-invasive tool for the assessment of endothelial function. Methods and results We isolated and expanded ECFCs from the peripheral blood of uVTE patients and observed that these cells underwent earlier senescence and showed lower growth rate compared with ECFCs obtained from healthy donors. Through microarray expression profiling, we demonstrated that 2905 genes were differentially expressed between patients and controls. Among them, the anti-angiogenic cytokine TNF superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) and its death-receptor TNFRSF25 were up-regulated in uVTE ECFCs, and this finding was validated by RT-qPCR. TNFSF15 up-regulation was confirmed at the protein level in ECFC supernatants, and the in vivo relevance of these findings was further corroborated by demonstrating that also the plasmatic levels of TNFSF15 are increased in uVTE patients. After proving that exogenous TNFSF15 exerts pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity on control ECFCs, we demonstrated through blocking experiments that TNFSF15 up-regulation contributes to impaired survival and proliferation of uVTE ECFCs. Conclusion By providing evidence that TNFSF15 impairs ECFC functions crucial to endothelial repair, and that uVTE patients have increased TNFSF15 levels both ex vivo and in vivo, the results of this study suggest that pathologic up-regulation of TNFSF15–TNFRSF25 axis may contribute to uVTE pathogenesis, and may represent the target for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing recurrences in uVTE patients.

scholarly journals Solanum lyratumExtracts Induce Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Apoptosis in WEHI-3 Murine Leukemia Cells and Inhibit Allograft Tumor

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jai-Sing Yang ◽  
Chia-Chun Wu ◽  
Chao-Lin Kuo ◽  
Yu-Hsuan Lan ◽  
Chin-Chung Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
Apoptotic Pathways ◽  
Murine Leukemia

We investigated the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic death induced bySolanum lyratumextracts (SLE) or diosgenin in WEHI-3 murine leukemia cellsin vitroand antitumor activityin vivo. Diosgenin is one of the components of SLE. Our study showed that SLE and diosgenin decreased the viable WEHI-3 cells and inducedG0/G1phase arrest and apoptosis in concentration- or time-dependent manners. Both reagents increased the levels of ROS production and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). SLE- and diosgenin-triggered apoptosis is mediated through modulating the extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways. Intriguingly, the p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-α), anti-Fas ligand (FasL) mAb, and specific inhibitors of caspase-8 (z-IETD-fmk), caspase-9 (z-LEHD-fmk), and caspase-3 (z-DEVD-fmk) blocked SLE- and diosgenin-reduced cell viability of WEHI-3 cells. Thein vivostudy demonstrated that SLE has marked antitumor efficacy against tumors in the WEHI-3 cell allograft model. In conclusion, SLE- and diosgenin-inducedG0/G1phase arrest and triggered extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways via p53 activation in WEHI-3 cells. SLE also exhibited antitumor activityin vivo. Our findings showed that SLE may be potentially efficacious in the treatment of leukemia in the future.

scholarly journals Mecanismos Moleculares de Adesão e Colonização da Mucosa Gástrica pela Helicobacter pylori e suas Implicações Clínicas

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabete Coelho ◽  
Ana Magalhães ◽  
Mário Dinis-Ribeiro ◽  
Celso A. Reis
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori Infection ◽  
Gastric Epithelium ◽  
Antibiotics Resistance ◽  
Gastric Disease ◽  
Preventive Strategy

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori infection is very prevalent worldwide and is associated with the progression of the gastriccarcinogenesis cascade, being one of the main risk factors for the development of gastric carcinoma. Several factors are determinant for the infection and for the development of gastric disease, including environmental factors, host genetic factors and virulence factors of the bacteria.Material and Methods: In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge on the determinants of the infection and on the recently described molecular mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori adhesion to the gastric mucosa, as well as its possible future therapeutic application.Results: The adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to the gastric epithelium is critical for gastric pathogenesis, allowing bacterial access to nutrients and the action of bacterial virulence factors, promoting recurrence of the infection and the progression of the gastric carcinogenesis pathway.Discussion: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is the best preventive strategy available against gastric cancer, mainly if it is achieved before the development of pre-neoplastic lesions. The increase in antibiotics resistance, together with the eradication failures in some patients, has promoted the development of alternative treatments.Conclusion: The new therapeutic strategies, focused on the molecular mechanism of Helicobacter pylori adhesion, are very promising; however, future studies are needed to evaluate its in vivo efficiency and toxicity.

scholarly journals Genetic Mouse Models as In Vivo Tools for Cholangiocarcinoma Research

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oihane Erice ◽  
Adrian Vallejo ◽  
Mariano Ponz-Sarvise ◽  
Michael Saborowski ◽  
Arndt Vogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Models ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Dismal Prognosis ◽  
Genetic Mouse Models

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a genetically and histologically complex disease with a highly dismal prognosis. A deeper understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of human CCA will increase our current knowledge of the disease and expedite the eventual development of novel therapeutic strategies for this fatal cancer. This endeavor is effectively supported by genetic mouse models, which serve as sophisticated tools to systematically investigate CCA pathobiology and treatment response. These in vivo models feature many of the genetic alterations found in humans, recapitulate multiple hallmarks of cholangiocarcinogenesis (encompassing cell transformation, preneoplastic lesions, established tumors and metastatic disease) and provide an ideal experimental setting to study the interplay between tumor cells and the surrounding stroma. This review is intended to serve as a compendium of CCA mouse models, including traditional transgenic models but also genetically flexible approaches based on either the direct introduction of DNA into liver cells or transplantation of pre-malignant cells, and is meant as a resource for CCA researchers to aid in the selection of the most appropriate in vivo model system.

scholarly journals Revealing the bovine embryo transcript profiles during early in vivo embryonic development

Reproduction ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maud Vallée ◽  
Isabelle Dufort ◽  
Stéphanie Desrosiers ◽  
Aurélie Labbe ◽  
Catherine Gravel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Early Embryonic Development ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Rna Content

Gene expression profiling is proving to be a powerful approach for the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying complex cellular functions such as the dynamic early embryonic development. The objective of this study was to perform a transcript abundance profiling analysis of bovine early embryonic development in vivo using a bovine developmental array. The molecular description of the first week of life at the mRNA level is particularly challenging when considering the important fluctuations in RNA content that occur between developmental stages. Accounting for the different intrinsic RNA content between developmental stages was achieved by restricting the reaction time during the global amplification steps and by using spiked controls and reference samples. Analysis based on intensity values revealed that most of the transcripts on the array were present at some point during in vivo bovine early embryonic development, while the varying number of genes detected in each developmental stage confirmed the dynamic profile of gene expression occurring during embryonic development. Pair-wise comparison of gene expression showed a marked difference between oocytes and blastocysts profiles, and principal component analysis revealed that the majority of the transcripts could be regrouped into three main clusters representing distinct RNA abundance profiles. Overall, these data provide a detailed temporal profile of the abundance of mRNAs revealing the richness of signaling processes in early mammalian development. Results presented here provide better knowledge of bovine in vivo embryonic development and contribute to the progression of our current knowledge regarding the first week of life in mammals.

scholarly journals Parkinson's disease and mitophagy: an emerging role for LRRK2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois Singh ◽  
Ian G. Ganley
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta ◽  
Common Mutation ◽  
Common Denominator

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around 2% of individuals over 60 years old. It is characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the midbrain, which is thought to account for the major clinical symptoms such as tremor, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Its aetiology is poorly understood as the physiological and molecular mechanisms leading to this neuronal loss are currently unclear. However, mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction seem to play a central role in this disease. In recent years, defective mitochondrial elimination through autophagy, termed mitophagy, has emerged as a potential contributing factor to disease pathology. PINK1 and Parkin, two proteins mutated in familial PD, were found to eliminate mitochondria under distinct mitochondrial depolarisation-induced stress. However, PINK1 and Parkin are not essential for all types of mitophagy and such pathways occur in most cell types and tissues in vivo, even in the absence of overt mitochondrial stress — so-called basal mitophagy. The most common mutation in PD, that of glycine at position 2019 to serine in the protein kinase LRRK2, results in increased activity and this was recently shown to disrupt basal mitophagy in vivo. Thus, different modalities of mitophagy are affected by distinct proteins implicated in PD, suggesting impaired mitophagy may be a common denominator for the disease. In this short review, we discuss the current knowledge about the link between PD pathogenic mutations and mitophagy, with a particular focus on LRRK2.

scholarly journals Effects of Red Ginseng on Neural Injuries with Reference to the Molecular Mechanisms

J ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-127
Author(s):  
Pengxiang Zhu ◽  
Masahiro Sakanaka
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Brain And Spinal Cord ◽  
The Brain

Red ginseng, as an effective herbal medicine, has been traditionally and empirically used for the treatment of neuronal diseases. Many studies suggest that red ginseng and its ingredients protect the brain and spinal cord from neural injuries such as ischemia, trauma, and neurodegeneration. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of red ginseng and its ingredients. Ginsenoside Rb1 and other ginsenosides are regarded as the active ingredients of red ginseng; the anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative actions of ginsenosides, together with a series of bioactive molecules relevant to the above actions, appear to account for the neuroprotective effects in vivo and/or in vitro. Moreover, in this review, the possibility is raised that more effective or stable neuroprotective derivatives based on the chemical structures of ginsenosides could be developed. Although further studies, including clinical trials, are necessary to confirm the pharmacological properties of red ginseng and its ingredients, red ginseng and its ingredients could be promising candidate drugs for the treatment of neural injuries.

A cytotoxic nitrido-osmium(vi) complex induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in HepG2 cancer cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (47) ◽  
pp. 17173-17182
Author(s):  
Wan-Qiong Huang ◽  
Chuan-Xian Wang ◽  
Tao Liu ◽  
Zi-Xin Li ◽  
Chen Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Hepg2 Cell ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Death Receptor Pathway

A structurally fine-tuned nitridoosmium(vi) complex induces HepG2 cell apoptosis through activation of the mitochondrial pathway and death receptor pathway, showing promising in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document