Article
Oncology
K. M. A. Zinnah, Sang-Youel Park
Summary: The study demonstrated the mechanism behind the synergistic anticancer effect of amitriptyline and TRAIL, showing that amitriptyline increases TRAIL-induced apoptosis by upregulating death receptors DR4 and DR5. Inhibition of autophagy by amitriptyline was also shown to enhance DR4 and DR5 expression.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyeonwoo Je, Gi-Hoon Nam, Gi Beom Kim, Wonjun Kim, Soo Rin Kim, In-San Kim, Eun Jung Lee
Summary: TRAIL shows promising anti-tumor activity, but faces challenges such as resistance and delivery issues. A nanocage has been developed to efficiently deliver TRAIL and a re-sensitizing drug (DOX) to overcome TRAIL-resistant tumors, demonstrating potential as an effective antitumor agent.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Poulami Tapadar, Ambika Pal, Nirajan Ghosal, Bhupender Kumar, Tamalika Paul, Nabendu Biswas, Ranjana Pal
Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify key factors regulating TRAIL resistance in breast cancer. CDH1 was identified as a candidate hub gene, and its overexpression increased apoptosis in TR cells after rhTRAIL treatment. Analysis of patient data also showed low CDH1 mRNA levels in the TRAIL resistant group compared to the TRAIL sensitive group.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Bo-Kyoung Jung, Yong Hee An, Sung Hoon Jang, Gyoungah Ryu, Saet-byel Jung, Seonhee Kim, Cuk-Seong Kim, Hyun Jang
Summary: This study found that Newcastle disease virus infection can enhance the expression of death receptors in colorectal cancer cells, increasing their sensitivity to the anticancer drug TRAIL. Additionally, the recombinant Newcastle disease virus containing the TRAIL gene showed better apoptotic efficacy than the traditional recombinant Newcastle disease virus therapy, and had a stronger killing effect on TRAIL-resistant cancer cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Oliver H. Voss, Daniel Arango, Justin C. Tossey, Miguel A. Villalona Calero, Andrea Doseff
Summary: Apigenin sensitizes primary lung cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through reprogramming alternative splicing of key TRAIL/DISC components and directly binding heat shock protein 70 to promote cell death. These findings emphasize the synergies between diet and cancer treatments, providing new avenues for improved cancer therapies.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Anna-Christina Rambow, Insa Aschenbach, Sofie Hagelund, Doaa Tawfik, Jan-Paul Gundlach, Sebastian Weisse, Nicolai Maass, Anna Trauzold
Summary: Binding of TRAIL to its death domain-containing receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 can induce cell death and/or pro-inflammatory signaling. The importance of TRAIL and TRAIL-R1/R2 in tumor immune surveillance and cancer biology has meanwhile been well documented. TRAIL also binds to TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4, which have regulatory functions in apoptotic and non-apoptotic signaling pathways. Knockdown of TRAIL-R4 affects the activation of apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways in cancer cells, showing opposing effects on cell death and clonogenic survival. TRAIL-R4 also regulates the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and affects the activity of AKT, ERK, p38 and NF-kappa B. This study provides evidence for the important role of endogenous TRAIL-R4 in cancer cells and improves the understanding of the complex TRAIL/TRAIL-R system in humans.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manami Semba, Shinji Takamatsu, Sachiko Komazawa-Sakon, Eiji Miyoshi, Chiharu Nishiyama, Hiroyasu Nakano, Kenta Moriwaki
Summary: The study identified proscillaridin A as a promising agent that enhances the anti-cancer efficacy of TRAIL therapeutics, particularly in colon cancer cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Andrea Rizzo, Alessandro Satta, Giulia Garrone, Adalberto Cavalleri, Alessandra Napoli, Francesco Raspagliesi, Mariangela Figini, Loris De Cecco, Egidio Iorio, Antonella Tomassetti, Delia Mezzanzanica, Marina Bagnoli
Summary: The study showed that down-regulation of CHKA can enhance the sensitivity of OC cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, resulting in increased expression of TRC and TRAIL-R2, regulation of TRAIL-R2 localization, and enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptotic signaling.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomoya Fukuoka, Kenta Moriwaki, Shinji Takamatsu, Jumpei Kondo, Miki Tanaka-Okamoto, Azusa Tomioka, Manami Semba, Sachiko Komazawa-Sakon, Yoshihiro Kamada, Hiroyuki Kaji, Yasuhide Miyamoto, Masahiro Inoue, Kazuhiko Bessho, Yoko Miyoshi, Keiichi Ozono, Hiroyasu Nakano, Eiji Miyoshi
Summary: The study reveals that Lewis glycans positively regulate TRAIL-induced cell death, providing important insights into TRAIL sensitivity. Moreover, the expression of type I Lewis glycans is positively correlated with TRAIL sensitivity in colon cancer cell lines and patient-derived cancer organoids.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qiang Zhou, Jianxia Yuan, Yi Liu, Yayun Wu
Summary: Cisatracurium besilate inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis, increases the expression of p53 and PUMA, and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis. However, pifithrin-alpha can reverse the synergistic effects of cisatracurium besilate and TRAIL on AGS cell activities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ella Rimmer, Sadaf Rashid, Igor Kraev, Francesc Miralles, Androulla Elia
Summary: Pancreatic cancer cells release extracellular vesicles that confer resistance to gemcitabine and TRAIL treatment. Removal of these vesicles during treatment may improve the response of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine and TRAIL.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Mary Steitz, Clarissa Schroeder, Isabel Knuth, Corinna U. Keber, Leah Sommerfeld, Florian Finkernagel, Julia M. Jansen, Uwe Wagner, Sabine Muller-Bruesselbach, Thomas Worzfeld, Magdalena Huber, Vanessa M. Beutgen, Johannes Graumann, Elke Pogge von Strandmann, Rolf Mueller, Silke Reinartz
Summary: In ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), disruption of the protective peritoneal mesothelium is a crucial requirement for metastasis formation. This study discovered that tumor-associated NK cells induce TRAIL-dependent apoptosis in mesothelial cells via death receptors DR4 and DR5 when encountering activated T cells. The upregulation of TRAIL expression in NK cells and enhanced cytotoxicity towards mesothelial cells are primarily driven by T-cell-derived TNFa. Apoptotic mesothelial cells were found in the peritoneal fluid of HGSC patients, indicating a cooperative action of T and NK cells in breaching the mesothelial barrier.
Article
Cell Biology
Emir Bozkurt, Heiko Dussmann, Manuela Salvucci, Brenton L. Cavanagh, Sandra Van Schaeybroeck, Daniel B. Longley, Seamus J. Martin, Jochen H. M. Prehn
Summary: The study reveals that TRAIL signaling not only activates apoptosis in colon cancer cells but also induces entosis through TRAIL receptors and the structural presence of caspase-8. The association of TRAIL signaling with cell-in-cell structures is significant in colorectal cancer, especially in the context of patient prognosis. Factors controlling entosis in tumors remain to be elucidated despite the evidence of entosis in cancers.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bingyu Sun, Yongqiang Liu, Danhua He, Jinke Li, Jiawei Wang, Wulin Wen, Ming Hong
Summary: Current chemotherapy agents have severe cytotoxicity to normal cells, resulting in decreased quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine ingredients have shown potential to sensitize tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, offering new insights for cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY-SCIENCE B
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Nisitha Wijewantha, Sanam Sane, Morgan Eikanger, Ryan M. Antony, Rashaun A. Potts, Lydia Lang, Khosrow Rezvani, Grigoriy Sereda
Summary: This study developed a new potential anticancer therapeutic by encapsulating eugenol in casein-coated nanoparticles, which can be selectively delivered to and released in colorectal cancer cells. Eugenol induces apoptosis in CRC cells and reduces their migration and invasion ability, without toxicity on normal cells.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yutong Zou, Thuy Tien Bui, Kumar Selvarajoo
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thuy Tien Bui, Kumar Selvarajoo
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thuy Tien Bui, Daniel Lee, Kumar Selvarajoo
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Editorial Material
Biology
Kumar Selvarajoo
PHYSICS OF LIFE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Kychygina, Marina Dall'Osto, Joshua A. M. Allen, Jean-Charles Cadoret, Vincent Piras, Hilda A. Pickett, Laure Crabbe
Summary: The study reveals that defects in the nuclear lamina in HGPS cells lead to changes in telomere organization and chromatin state, affecting replication timing and DNA synthesis process. Increasing dNTP levels in HGPS cells can rescue fragile telomeres and enhance replicative capacity, highlighting a functional connection between NE dysfunction and telomere homeostasis in the context of premature aging.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alessandro Giuliani, Thuy Tien Bui, Mohamed Helmy, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: The study investigates the transcriptome-wide scatter of 23 cell types and conditions across different levels of biological complexity, focusing on genes that act as toggle switches between pairwise replicates of the same cell type. It is found that the proportion of toggle genes dramatically increases from unicellular to multicellular organization, with a significant portion being non-coding genes such as tRNA, rRNA, lncRNA, sncRNA, and pseudogenes. The presence of disease associated microRNAs, pseudogenes, and uncharacterized transcripts in both development and cancer cells suggests toggle genes as a novel component creating transcriptome-wide variability.
Article
Immunology
Mohamed Helmy, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: The majority of human genome consists of non-coding genes, with about half made up of transposable elements, including endogenous retroviruses. While generally harmless, endogenous retroviruses have been linked to inflammatory diseases and cancer, posing a challenge in elucidating the mechanistic understanding between them.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Derek J. Smith, Mohamed Helmy, Nicholas D. Lindley, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: This article highlights the progress and global interest in alternative proteins, cultured meat, and nutrition. It discusses the efforts made by governments, industries, and researchers to address the impending worldwide food crisis. The findings reveal that there is significant investment and potential in this field, covering various aspects of the food system. However, concerns regarding religion, safety, and taste/texture still need to be addressed.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hock Chuan Yeo, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning has become a viable alternative to systems biology for understanding biological phenomena and achieving design objectives in synthetic biology. However, there are fundamental and practical challenges in using AI for studying emergent behaviors in chaotic or stochastic biological systems. Without proper consideration of suitability, data quality, and preprocessing approaches, the research and development community may face similar challenges experienced in other fields, known as 'AI winters'. Instead, an integration or combination of both approaches is anticipated for future advancements.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mohamed Helmy, Hosam Elhalis, Yan Liu, Yvonne Chow, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: Food security is a pressing issue due to population growth, the COVID-19 pandemic, political conflicts, and climate change. Fundamental changes to the current food system and exploring alternative food sources are necessary. Microalgae are gaining attention as a lab-based source of nutrition and their potential in the circular economy. Overcoming challenges and limitations, such as toxicity, can be achieved through systems biology and artificial intelligence, with the help of data-driven metabolic optimization and advanced analytics methods using microalgal databases.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jasmeet Kaur Khanijou, Hanna Kulyk, Cecilia Berges, Leng Wei Khoo, Pnelope Ng, Hock Chuan Yeo, Mohamed Helmy, Floriant Bellvert, Wee Chew, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: Metabolic engineering manipulates microbes to produce desired compounds, while metabolomics quantifies intracellular and extracellular metabolites. Dynamic models and machine learning algorithms can be used in conjunction with time-series metabolomics data to advance metabolic engineering research.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Olga Sirbu, Mohamed Helmy, Alessandro Giuliani, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: Cancer is considered a genetic disease, and recent studies have shown that every human gene may be associated with cancer. The distinction between oncogenes that drive cancer and those that are associated but do not play a role is important. Through analysis of single-cell and bulk datasets of cancer transcriptomes and proteomes, it was found that oncogenes have higher connectivity in protein-protein interaction networks compared to random genes. Additionally, at the single-cell level, there is variant behavior in a subset of oncogenes for each cancer type. Further study using protein causality and higher-resolution single-cell analysis is needed to understand the role of oncogenes.
NPJ SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kumar Selvarajoo, Alessandro Giuliani
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Mohamed Helmy, Rahul Agrawal, Javed Ali, Mohamed Soudy, Thuy Tien Bui, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: Gene expression profiling techniques, such as DNA microarray and RNA-Sequencing, have significantly impacted biomedical research. GeneCloudOmics is a user-friendly web server that extends the functionality of previous tools, allowing rapid execution of various bioinformatics tasks with comprehensive data analytics tools.
FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohamed Helmy, Derek Smith, Kumar Selvarajoo
METABOLIC ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
