Article
Immunology
Kawaljit Kaur, Po-Chun Chen, Meng-Wei Ko, Ao Mei, Emanuela Senjor, Subramaniam Malarkannan, Janko Kos, Anahid Jewett
Summary: In this study, it was found that sequential treatment of supercharged NK cells with chemotherapeutic drugs or check-point inhibitors could eliminate both poorly differentiated and well-differentiated tumors in humanized-BLT mice. The sNK cells were a unique population of activated NK cells with distinct genetic, proteomic, and functional attributes. The combination of sNK cells with CDDP, paclitaxel, or anti-PD-1 antibody showed promising results in inhibiting tumor growth and increasing immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kawaljit Kaur, Anahid Jewett
Summary: There is a debate about the best mouse model for studying human diseases, and the NSG mouse model is commonly used for cancer research. However, this model is immunodeficient and does not accurately represent human diseases. This study compared NSG mice and hu-BLT mice for oral and pancreatic tumor studies, and found that the hu-BLT model is more suitable for studying human cancer due to its similarities to the human immune system. The report also discusses the advantages and challenges of using hu-BLT mice in cancer studies.
Review
Microbiology
Jocelyn T. Kim, Gabrielle Bresson-Tan, Jerome A. Zack
Summary: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has caused a widespread global health crisis, and there is a need for a suitable animal model to study its pathogenesis and immune responses. Humanized mice were created by transplanting human cells and/or tissues into immunodeficient mice to mimic a human immune system. Despite their importance as a model, current humanized mice have limitations such as susceptibility to graft versus host disease and inadequate levels of human cytokines. This article discusses recent advances in humanization procedures and genetically modified immunodeficient mice to overcome these limitations.
Article
Oncology
Feifei Guo, Yi Zhang, Ling Bai, Jiuwei Cui
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small group of cancer cells with stem cell-like properties, which can be used for identifying malignant tumor phenotypes and patients with poor prognosis. Targeting CSCs has been shown to improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies. However, CSCs are resistant to conventional treatment methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, hence the need for more effective anti-CSC therapies.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kawaljit Kaur, Yujie Sun, Keiichi Kanayama, Kenzo Morinaga, Akishige Hokugo, Ichiro Nishimura, Anahid Jewett
Summary: The potential mechanisms governing drug-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) were investigated in this study by testing the release of IFN-gamma within different immune compartments upon treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL) and denosumab. The results showed that ZOL and denosumab can suppress the secretion of IFN-gamma in the gingiva through different mechanisms, and restoration of IFN-gamma may help prevent ONJ.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Xin Chen, Lei Jiang, Xuesong Liu
Summary: This review discusses the contributions of natural killer (NK) cells in cancer treatment, explores the current strategies at harnessing NK cells for cancer treatment, and highlights the importance of NK cell-mediated therapies in the next wave of cancer immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Kari A. Shaver, Tayler J. Croom-Perez, Alicja J. Copik
Summary: This review highlights the crucial role of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy, emphasizing their importance in priming the immune system, activating the adaptive immune response, and improving treatment success rates. However, compromised NK cell immunity in many patients reduces the likelihood of successful outcomes from immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zhenglin Ou, Yebin Lu, Dayong Xu, Zhen Luo
Summary: This study reveals that low oxygen conditions can decrease the expression of miR-1275 and negatively affect NK cell functionality. The miR-1275/AXIN2 axis plays a crucial role in immune escape in pancreatic cancer.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Nurul Izza Ismail
Summary: As the placenta is semi-allogenic, it is expected that maternal immune cells would attack the invading trophoblast, but studies have shown that they cooperate with the trophoblast to disrupt the arterial wall. uNK cells, unique immune cells, play a role in pregnancy. The interaction between HLA class 1b genes and maternal uNK cells in humans is described in this review.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sorayya Ghasemi, Suowen Xu, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Mohammad Amir Amirkhani, Antoni Sureda, Silvia Tejada, Zahra Lorigooini
Summary: Epigenetic alterations play a significant role in cancer development, especially in cancer stem cells (CSCs). Epigenetic therapies targeting CSCs are emerging as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, with phenolic compounds potentially neutralizing CSCs development and metabolism through epigenetic mechanisms.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sepide Hossenipour Khodaei, Shahbaz Sabetnam, Hojjatollah Nozad Charoudeh, Khadijeh Dizaji Asl, Ali Rafat, Zeinab Mazloumi
Summary: This study demonstrated that inhibiting mitochondria with Tigecycline can enhance the cytotoxicity of NK cells against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and promote apoptosis in TNBC cells. This suggests that mitochondria inhibition may improve the function of NK cells.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kawaljit Kaur, Tahmineh Safaie, Meng-Wei Ko, Yuhao Wang, Anahid Jewett
Summary: Natural killer cells can eliminate tumors through direct cytotoxicity and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The use of antibodies targeting specific surface receptors can enhance antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. CD16 receptors may mediate both direct cytotoxicity and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity, leading to competitive usage depending on differentiation status of tumor cells and activation stage of NK cells.
Review
Immunology
Dillon Corvino, Ananthi Kumar, Tobias Bald
Summary: NK cells are crucial in human immunity, demonstrating plasticity to alter function and phenotype in response to external signals. They play a critical role in tumor immunity, directly targeting malignant cells and coordinating anti-tumor immune responses by recruiting other leukocytes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Anirban Goutam Mukherjee, Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari, Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan, Pragya Bradu, Aarthi Sukumar, Megha Patil, Kaviyarasi Renu, Abhijit Dey, Balachandar Vellingiri, Alex George, Raja Ganesan
Summary: This review provides a detailed study on pancreatic cancer and its association with different types of cancer related to diabetes. It discusses the combination of anti-diabetic drugs with other anti-cancer drugs and phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of the disease. The migration and development of pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) are also discussed. Additionally, it explores the mechanisms of diabetes development that enhance the proliferation of pancreatic CSCs, such as increased IGF factor levels, epigenetic modifications, DNA damage, and lifestyle factors like obesity and inflammation.
Review
Immunology
E. Hui Clarissa Lee, Darren Chen Pei Wong, Jeak Ling Ding
Summary: NK cells play a key role in shaping the immune response against cancer, but their functions are hindered by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. While checkpoint inhibition shows promise in early-stage studies, further exploration is needed in the context of the TME. Surface receptors and T-box transcription factors may play crucial roles in identifying and characterizing NK cell dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Janko Kos, Milica Perisic Nanut, Mateja Prunk, Jerica Sabotic, Esmeralda Dautovic, Anahid Jewett
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2018)
Review
Immunology
Kawaljit Kaur, Milica Periic Nanut, Meng-Wei Ko, Tahmineh Safaie, Janko Kos, Anahid Jewett
CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Oncology
Mateja Prunk, Milica Perisic Nanut, Tanja Jakos, Jerica Sabotic, Urban Svajger, Janko Kos
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Milica Perisic Nanut, Graham Pawelec, Janko Kos
Summary: CD4+ cytotoxic T cells exist at high levels under different pathological conditions, suggesting their role in immune functions. These cells express cytotoxic machinery components, including cystatin F, which plays a crucial role in regulating cytotoxicity in CD4+ T cells. These findings highlight the potential involvement of CD4+ CTLs in immune responses through cystatin F secretion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Emanuela Senjor, Milica Perisic Nanut, Barbara Breznik, Ana Mitrovic, Jernej Mlakar, Ana Rotter, Andrej Porcnik, Tamara Lah Turnsek, Janko Kos
Summary: The study found that cystatin F expression increased with glioma progression and was mainly present in cancer stem-like cells and microglia/monocytes in tumor tissues. Internalized cystatin F affected cathepsin L activity in glioblastoma cells, reducing invasiveness and susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxicity. This suggests that cystatin F may mediate immune suppression in glioblastoma.
Review
Immunology
Milica Perisic Nanut, Ursa Pecar Fonovic, Tanja Jakos, Janko Kos
Summary: Cysteine cathepsins play important roles in immune functions by regulating processes such as cell migration, antigen presentation, and cell death. Their activities, both intracellular and extracellular, directly impact the function and differentiation of immune cells, closely linked to immune dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tina Vida Plavec, Ana Mitrovic, Milica Perisic Nanut, Borut Strukelj, Janko Kos, Ales Berlec
Summary: The development of targeted treatment for colorectal cancer is crucial for avoiding side effects. In this study, safe multifunctional cancer cell-targeting bacteria Lactococcus lactis were engineered to target cancer-associated receptors like EpCAM and HER2. Through in vitro experiments on human cell lines, it was demonstrated that the engineered bacteria could successfully target cells with overexpressed tumor antigens, showing promise for future biopharmaceutical delivery in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Janko Kos, Ana Mitrovic, Milica Perisic Nanut, Anja Pislar
Summary: Lysosomal peptidases play important roles in various cellular processes and pathologies. They are involved in protein degradation, cancer progression, neurodegeneration, and other pathological states. Understanding their function could potentially lead to new diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Milica Perisic Nanut, Simon Zurga, Spela Konjar, Mateja Prunk, Janko Kos, Jerica Sabotic
Summary: Clitocybe nebularis lectin (CNL) exhibits antiproliferative effect on Jurkat leukemic T cell line by inducing homotypic aggregation and cell death. The cell death of Jurkat cells shows features of early apoptosis without caspase activation. Binding of CNL induces Jurkat cells to release the damage-associated molecular pattern molecule HMGB1. Another lectin with similar glycan-binding specificity, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), also shows cytotoxicity and induces cell death in Jurkat cells.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emanuela Senjor, Janko Kos, Milica Perisic Nanut
Summary: Cysteine cathepsins, the most abundant proteases in lysosomes, play essential roles in various cellular processes. Their upregulation is associated with pathological conditions such as cancer and neurodegeneration. This review provides an overview of their involvement in immune disorders and suggests potential targeting options.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Mitrovic, Emanuela Senjor, Marko Jukic, Lara Bolcina, Mateja Prunk, Matic Proj, Milica Perisic Nanut, Stanislav Gobec, Janko Kos
Summary: A new potent inhibitor of cathepsin V has been identified, which significantly affects cell proliferation, elastin degradation, and immune cell cytotoxicity, suggesting its potential application in cancer therapy.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Lea Gazvoda, Milica Perisic Nanut, Matjaz Spreitzer, Marija Vukomanovic
Summary: Piezostimulation using piezoelectric polymers is an innovative approach for designing antimicrobial protection, targeting bacterial cells in a non-specific manner. This method could be of great importance in the context of avoiding resistant bacterial strains.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Anja Pislar, Ana Mitrovic, Jerica Sabotic, Ursa Pecar Fonovic, Milica Perisic Nanut, Tanja Jakos, Emanuela Senjor, Janko Kos
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ursa Pecar Fonovic, Milica Perisic Nanut, Nace Zidar, Brigita Lenarcic, Janko Kos
ACTA CHIMICA SLOVENICA
(2019)
Article
Oncology
Mateja Prunk, Milica Perisic Nanut, Jerica Sabotic, Urban Svajger, Janko Kos
RADIOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
(2019)