Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiao Sun, Naima Ahmed Fahmi, Heba Nassereddeen, Sze Cheng, Irene Martinez, Deliang Fan, Jeongsik Yong, Wei Zhang
Summary: This study analyzed RNA-seq data from SARS-CoV-2 infected and mock-treated lung alveolar cells, revealing more AS events and fewer APA events in the infected cells. Most genes with transcript variants were not differentially expressed, indicating a weak correlation between differential gene expression and AS/APA events. These genes with transcript variants could serve as additional molecular signatures for COVID-19 studies, and their enrichment in important biological pathways may lead to new insights into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Katja Zappe, Antonio Kopic, Alexandra Scheichel, Ann-Katrin Schier, Lukas Emanuel Schmidt, Yasmin Borutzki, Heidi Miedl, Martin Schreiber, Theresa Mendrina, Christine Pirker, Georg Pfeiler, Stefan Hacker, Werner Haslik, Dietmar Pils, Andrea Bileck, Christopher Gerner, Samuel Meier-Menches, Petra Heffeter, Margit Cichna-Markl
Summary: The expression of ABC transporter ABCA7 is aberrantly regulated in breast cancer. Epigenetic and genetic alterations, as well as alternative splicing variants, were investigated in ABCA7 in breast cancer. CpG methylation abnormalities were observed at the exon 5-intron 5 boundary in a subtype-specific manner. Treatment with chemotherapeutic agents altered ABCA7 intron levels and dysregulated splicing factors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lindsay M. Payer, Jared P. Steranka, Maria S. Kryatova, Giacomo Grillo, Mathieu Lupien, Pedro P. Rocha, Kathleen H. Burns
Summary: Alu elements are high-copy interspersed repeats that have accumulated near genes during primate and human evolution, contributing to structural variation in modern humans. This study investigates the regulatory effects of polymorphic Alu insertions on gene expression, particularly in relation to disease risk. The findings demonstrate that Alu genotype can alter expression of genes involved in cancer risk, highlighting the potential contribution of commonly occurring polymorphic Alu elements to disease risk.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zuzana Tothova, Jana Tomc, Natasa Debeljak, Peter Solar
Summary: Erythropoietin acts on multiple tissues through the receptor EPOR, triggering various signaling pathways such as JAK2/STAT5 and PI3K/AKT that regulate erythropoiesis and cell functions, with potential implications for cancer research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eman A. Al Abdulsalam, Rowyda N. Al Harithy
Summary: The study found significantly higher expression levels of visfatin and global H3K9me in colon cancerous tissue compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissue. This indicates a potential role of visfatin in colon cancer development through the mechanism of H3K9me.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abolfazl Shakeri, Toktam Hafezian, Norbert Kusz, Judit Hohmann, Motahare Boozari, Javad Mottaghipisheh, Seyed Ahmad Emami, Zahra Tayarani-Najaran, Javad Asili
Summary: The methanolic crude extract of Stachys parviflora and its sub-fractions were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities, with 1-hydroxy-tanshinone IIA showing the highest cytotoxicity. Further investigation revealed enhanced DNA fragmentation and altered protein levels in response to the methanolic extract and 1-hydroxy-tanshinone IIA.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Xydia, Raheleh Rahbari, Eliana Ruggiero, Iain Macaulay, Maxime Tarabichi, Robert Lohmayer, Stefan Wilkening, Tillmann Michels, Daniel Brown, Sebastiaan Vanuytven, Svetlana Mastitskaya, Sean Laidlaw, Niels Grabe, Maria Pritsch, Raffaele Fronza, Klaus Hexel, Steffen Schmitt, Michael Mueller-Steinhardt, Niels Halama, Christoph Domschke, Manfred Schmidt, Christof von Kalle, Florian Schuetz, Thierry Voet, Philipp Beckhove
Summary: Regulatory T cells in breast cancer do not show clonal relationship with their circulating counterpart, but share a common origin with intratumoral antigen-experienced conventional T cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Feihong Liang, Huiting Guan, Wenhua Li, Xue Zhang, Tingting Liu, Yu Liu, Jie Mei, Cheng Jiang, Fengxue Zhang, Bangwei Luo, Zhiren Zhang
Summary: The research shows that erythropoietin (EPO) can promote resolution of infections caused by E. coli and S. aureus, while enhancing the actions of antibiotics. EPO increases macrophage clearance of bacteria, ameliorates inflammation, and reduces antibiotic requirements in resolving infections.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingxiao Zhang, Yue Song, Kunxia Cao, Yangyang Du, Mingda Han, Zhan Shi, Fei Yan, Shouhua Feng
Summary: Despite recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies in acute myeloid leukemia, ferrotherapy using iron-based compounds offers a novel approach to bypass chemoresistance. However, overexpression of ferroportin in cancer cells may limit the efficacy of ferrotherapy and lead to systemic toxic effects. The development of a hepcidin-based nanocomposite shows promise as an epigenetic drug and immunotherapeutic agent for treating leukemia.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Shuye Lin, Hanli Xu, Mengdi Pang, Xiaomeng Zhou, Yuanming Pan, Lishu Zhang, Xin Guan, Xiaoyue Wang, Bonan Lin, Rongmeng Tian, Keqiang Chen, Xiaochen Zhang, Zijiang Yang, Fengmin Ji, Yingying Huang, Wu Wei, Wanghua Gong, Jianke Ren, Ji Ming Wang, Mingzhou Guo, Jiaqiang Huang
Summary: This study provides the first evidence for the transcriptional and functional characterization of PRSS3 transcripts in HCC. Aberrant expression of divergent PRSS3 splice variants disrupted by site-specific CpG methylation may integrate the effects of oncogenic PRSS3-V2 and tumor-suppressive PRSS3-V1, resulting in the molecular diversity and functional plasticity of PRSS3 in HCC. Dysregulated expression of PRSS3-V2 by site-specific CpG methylation may have potential diagnostic value for patients with early HCC.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Zhu, Wenjie Sun, Xueping Jiang, Rui Bai, Yuan Luo, Yanping Gao, Shuying Li, Zhengrong Huang, Yan Gong, Conghua Xie
Summary: Different transcript variants of WRAP53 gene have different functions in non-small cell lung cancer cells and regulate cell behaviors depending on the expression level of p53.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zuzana Tothova, Martina Semelakova, Katarina Bhide, Mangesh Bhide, Andrej Kovac, Petra Majerova, Monika Kvakova, Jana Stofilova, Zuzana Solarova, Peter Solar
Summary: The erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) plays an essential role in the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors, and it also has a protective effect in non-hematopoietic tissues including tumors. In addition to its well-known function in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation, EPOR is also associated with metabolic processes, small molecule transport, signal transduction, and tumorigenesis. Through comparative transcriptome analysis, 233 differentially expressed genes were identified in cells overexpressing EPOR, including downregulated genes such as GPC4, RAP2C, STK26, and upregulated genes such as CDH13, NR0B1, OCM2. Surprisingly, ephrin receptors EPHA4 and EPHB3, as well as EFNB1 ligand, were also found to be upregulated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sarah Foerster, Maryam Givehchi, Katja Nitschke, Thomas Mayr, Kerstin Kilian, Samikshan Dutta, Kaustubh Datta, Philipp Nuhn, Zoran Popovic, Michael H. Muders, Philipp Erben
Summary: This study investigates the predictive and biological functions of neuropilin-2 (NRP2) and its transcript variants in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, finding that NRP2A emerges as an independent prognostic marker associated with more aggressive disease. High messenger expression of NRP2, NRP1, PDGFC, and PDGFD are also linked to aggressive disease and reduced survival in this cohort.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jelena Vukelic, Renata Dobrila-Dintinjana, Blazen Marijic, Diana Marzic, Tamara Braut, Marko Velepic
Summary: The study found that Epo and EpoR are expressed in malignant laryngeal tumors, with Epo expression levels showing a significant difference in survival. However, there was no significant correlation between Epo and EpoR expression levels and other clinical and pathological features of the tumor. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of Epo and EpoR in the treatment of patients with laryngeal cancer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bongki Cho, Seung-Jun Yoo, So Yeon Kim, Chang-Hun Lee, Yun-Il Lee, Seong-Ryong Lee, Cheil Moon
Summary: In this study, divergently modified peptide analogs derived from EPO showed potent neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress without inducing cell proliferation. One of the peptides, ML1-h3, exhibited unique binding potency to EPOR and inhibited neuronal death and brain injury under hypoxic stress.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marek Samec, Alena Mazurakova, Vincent Lucansky, Lenka Koklesova, Renata Pecova, Martin Pec, Olga Golubnitschaja, Raghad Khalid Al-Ishaq, Martin Caprnda, Ludovit Gaspar, Robert Prosecky, Katarina Gazdikova, Mariusz Adamek, Dietrich Buesselberg, Peter Kruzliak, Peter Kubatka
Summary: Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells involves changes in signaling cascades and is modulated by flavonoids, which have various beneficial effects on human health. Flavonoids influence lipid metabolism, redox balance, and amino acid flux and synthesis in cancer cells. This article discusses the impact of flavonoids on cancer metabolism, focusing on lipid and amino acid metabolic cascades, redox balance, and ketone bodies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Aranka Brockmueller, Samson Mathews Samuel, Alena Mazurakova, Dietrich Busselberg, Peter Kubatka, Mehdi Shakibaei
Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global malignant disease often resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Two polyphenolic turmeric ingredients, calebin A and curcumin, show anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, including the ability to sensitize CRC cells to chemotherapy drugs. They modulate inflammation, proliferation, cell cycle, cancer stem cells, and apoptotic signaling to convert chemoresistant CRC cells into non-chemoresistant cells. Further studies and clinical trials are needed to test their effectiveness in overcoming cancer chemoresistance.
Article
Cell Biology
Laura Kate Gadanec, Kristen Renee McSweeney, Peter Kubatka, Martin Caprnda, Ludovit Gaspar, Robert Prosecky, Jozef Dragasek, Peter Kruzliak, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Anthony Zulli
Summary: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are caused by abnormal remodeling of the vascular wall and have different vasoactive responses to Angiotensin II (AngII). This study found that mouse arteries have different responses to AngII, with iliac arteries showing significantly higher vasoconstriction responses, which may play a role in AAA development.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lenka Koklesova, Jana Jakubikova, Dana Cholujova, Marek Samec, Alena Mazurakova, Miroslava Sudomova, Martin Pec, Sherif T. S. Hassan, Kamil Biringer, Dietrich Busselberg, Tatiana Hurtova, Olga Golubnitschaja, Peter Kubatka
Summary: Cancer causes a high number of deaths each year due to tumor heterogeneity, and targeted treatment of cancer stem cells is still a challenge. Nanotherapeutic agents have the potential to improve overall cancer management, and phytochemical-based nanoparticles show promise in targeting cancer stem cells.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alena Mazurakova, Lenka Koklesova, Desanka Vybohova, Marek Samec, Erik Kudela, Kamil Biringer, Miroslava Sudomova, Sherif T. S. Hassan, Martin Kello, Dietrich Busselberg, Olga Golubnitschaja, Peter Kubatka
Summary: The limitation of reactive medical approach in breast cancer management is evident from the worldwide statistics. Breast malignancies have become the most common cancer type, with an increasing number of aggressive cases in premenopausal women. Stem cells play a crucial role in tumor biology, metastasis, and therapy resistance in aggressive breast cancer. Targeting breast cancer stem cells using naturally occurring substances shows promise in cost-effective management. Flavonoids are highlighted as potential agents for targeting breast cancer stem cells and overcoming therapy resistance.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Martina Kropp, Olga Golubnitschaja, Alena Mazurakova, Lenka Koklesova, Nafiseh Sargheini, Trong-Tin Kevin Steve Vo, Eline de Clerck, Jiri Polivka Jr, Pavel Potuznik, Jiri Polivka, Ivana Stetkarova, Peter Kubatka, Gabriele Thumann
Summary: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a major cause of blindness. The current screening process for DR is not effective in detecting the disease early enough. PDR is characterized by ocular damage, inflammation, neovascularization, and reduced visual field. It can also predict other severe diabetic complications. This article focuses on the use of multi-omic tear fluid analysis for DR prognosis and PDR prediction, and suggests personalized medicine approaches for prevention and management of DR.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aisha Kafoud, Zoya Salahuddin, Raghad Sabaawi Ibrahim, Reem Al-Janahi, Alena Mazurakova, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Buesselberg
Summary: Neuroblastoma is a common malignancy in infants and children, and the current treatment often leads to relapse and long-term side effects. Polyphenols, including the subclass of flavonoids, have shown potential in inducing apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells. This review explores the use of various polyphenols and their mechanisms of action, suggesting significant potential for in vivo research.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Viktoria Bukova, Jana Vargova, Marian Babincak, Rastislav Jendzelovsky, Zbynek Zdrahal, Pavel Roudnicky, Jan Kosuth, Peter Fedorocko
Summary: The presence of key hypoxia regulators, HIF-1 alpha or HIF-2 alpha, in tumors is associated with poor patient prognosis. Hypericin, a natural agent found in Hypericum plants, efficiently accumulated in hypoxic cancer cells and decreased BCRP efflux and the side population (SP). However, this favorable result was accompanied by the stimulated migration of the SP population.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Peter Kubatka, Lenka Koklesova, Alena Mazurakova, Aranka Brockmueller, Dietrich Busselberg, Martin Kello, Mehdi Shakibaei
Summary: Cancer cell plasticity plays a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Flavonoids, as phytochemicals, act as significant regulators of the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, mitigating cancer resistance.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Aranka Brockmueller, Anjana Sajeev, Lenka Koklesova, Samson Mathews Samuel, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Busselberg, Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara, Mehdi Shakibaei
Summary: Despite medical treatment successes, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy can lead to side effects and drug resistance, highlighting the need for natural compounds that can sensitize cancer cells to overcome resistance. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by modulating multiple pathways in CRC cells.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Elizabeth Varghese, Samson Mathews Samuel, Aranka Brockmueller, Mehdi Shakibaei, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Busselberg
Summary: This study explores the role of B7-H3 in tumor plasticity, focusing on tumor glucose metabolism, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, apoptosis, and changes in immune signatures. The authors discuss how B7-H3-induced tumor plasticity contributes to immune evasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance, as well as the potential of B7-H3-based tumor immunotherapy in CRC treatment.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Raghad Khalid AL-Ishaq, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Busselberg
Summary: This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding the role of the gut microbiome in metabolizing selected sweeteners and discusses the influence of five selected sweeteners and their metabolites on GI cancer-related pathways.
Review
Oncology
Pia Puzar Dominkus, Petra Hudler
Summary: The mutational signatures found in gastric tumors can be used as prognostic biomarkers and provide new information about the drivers of gastric carcinogenesis, which might be useful for the improvement in disease treatment options.
Review
Oncology
Raghad Sabaawi Ibrahim, Shahad Sabaawi Ibrahim, Ahmed El-Naas, Lenka Koklesova, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Buesselberg
Summary: This review examines how the antidiabetic drug metformin and dietary supplement resveratrol can complement current treatment methods for glioblastoma. Metformin and resveratrol exert anticancer effects on major metabolic pathways, resulting in reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. So far, there is a lack of clinical studies, warranting further investigations.
Article
Cell Biology
R. Holota, V. Decmanova, A. . Alexovic Matiasova, J. Kosuth, L. Slovinska, L. Pacut, Z. Tomori, Z. Daxnerova, J. Sevc
Summary: This study found that cleaved caspase-3 (cC3) is not an exclusive marker for apoptosis, especially in glial cells, which may be due to its presence in inhibited forms or its involvement in other non-apoptotic roles. In contrast, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (cPARP) appears to be a more appropriate marker for detecting apoptosis.
HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)