Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jian Yao, Jian-wen Hui, Yan-jun Chen, Dong-yang Luo, Jiang-shu Yan, Yi-fan Zhang, Yuan-xiang Lan, Xiu-rui Yan, Zhi-hua Wang, Heng Fan, Xe-chun Xia
Summary: In this study, it was found that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) inhibits glioma cell proliferation by promoting the expression of period 2 (PER2) through the PKA-CREB pathway. LBP also inhibits lipid synthesis by downregulating SREBP1c and its target genes, which depends on the expression of PER2. Moreover, PER2 negatively regulates the expression of SREBP1c by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. This study provides insights into an alternative drug for glioma treatment and elucidates its potential mechanism.
CANCER GENE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenbo Zhou, Julia Craft, Alex Ojemann, Luke Bergen, Arin Graner, Aitana Gonzales, Qianbin He, Timothy Kopper, Marie Smith, Michael W. Graner, Xiaoli Yu
Summary: WHO Grade 4 IDH-wild type astrocytoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor with poor prognosis, while meningioma (MMA) is a common benign tumor. This study identified specific peptides using phage display technology to isolate and characterize extracellular vesicles (EVs) in brain tumors, which may have important implications for the treatment of brain tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xiaoming Wu, Tingting Jiang, Rui Huang, Xue Xiao
Summary: GAS8-AS1 is downregulated while lncRNA NEAT1 is upregulated in GBM patients. Alterations in the expression levels of GAS8-AS1 and NEAT1 can distinguish GBM patients from healthy controls. The expression of GAS8-AS1 and NEAT1 is inversely correlated in GBM patients.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Deobrat Dixit, Briana C. Prager, Ryan C. Gimple, Tyler E. Miller, Qiulian Wu, Shira Yomtoubian, Reilly L. Kidwell, Deguan Lv, Linjie Zhao, Zhixin Qiu, Guoxin Zhang, Derrick Lee, Donglim Esther Park, Robert J. Wechsler-Reya, Xiuxing Wang, Shideng Bao, Jeremy N. Rich
Summary: In this study, DPY30 was identified as an in vivo-specific glioblastoma dependency using in vivo genetic screening. By examining the chromatin characteristics of glioblastoma stem cells, DPY30 was found to regulate angiogenesis and hypoxia pathways critical for tumor growth. However, DPY30 was dispensable in vitro. Additionally, DPY30 was shown to regulate the downstream effector PDE4B, with the inhibitor rolipram preferentially targeting DPY30-expressing cells and impairing the growth of patient-derived xenograft tumors in mice.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Helena Marcelino, Tiago M. A. Carvalho, Joana Tomas, Francisca Teles, Ana C. Honorio, Carolina B. Rosa, Ana R. Costa, Bruno M. Costa, Cecilia R. A. Santos, Ana M. Sebastiao, Jose F. Cascalheira
Summary: The study found that the inhibitory effect of adenosine on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells is significantly weakened, possibly due to increased adenosine elimination by adenosine kinase. Additionally, adenosine also enhances the cytotoxic effect of homocysteine on human astrocytes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wen Peng, Shuang Shi, Jiacheng Zhong, Hanghua Liang, Jianbin Hou, Xiaosong Hu, Feng Wang, Jiayi Zhang, Shengjun Geng, Xiaochuan Sun, Dong Zhong, Hongjuan Cui
Summary: CBX3, also known as HP1 gamma, is upregulated in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis. It regulates the malignant progression of GBM through an EGFR-dependent mechanism. CBX3 directly suppresses the transcriptional levels of PARK2 and STUB1, reducing the ubiquitination of EGFR.
Article
Oncology
Dainan Zhang, Shunchang Ma, Chuanbao Zhang, Peiliang Li, Beibei Mao, Xiudong Guan, Wenjianlong Zhou, Jiayi Peng, Xi Wang, Shaomin Li, Wang Jia
Summary: MiR-935 is downregulated in human glioblastoma (GB) and directly inhibits the expression of FZD6 to suppress cell proliferation, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target in GB.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Weizhuo Lu, Jingru Tong, Miaomiao Zhou, Jiyue Wen
Summary: This study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of TFA on the reactive proliferation of astrocytes in the brain tissues following cerebral ischemia, by upregulating ACE2/Ang-(1-7).
PHARMACOGNOSY MAGAZINE
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Wenjiao Tai, Wei Wu, Lei-Lei Wang, Haoqi Ni, Chunhai Chen, Jianjing Yang, Tong Zang, Yuhua Zou, Xiao-Ming Xu, Chun-Li Zhang
Summary: Adult neurogenesis is crucial for brain homeostasis and recovery from neurogenic insults. Spinal cord injury (SCI) can activate latent neurogenic potential of NG2 + glial cells through ectopic SOX2 expression, leading to the generation of new neurons and functional recovery. This study demonstrates the potential for regenerative medicine by leveraging the neurogenic capacity of somatic glial cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dan Li, Dongdong Luo, Su Hu, Hailin Zhao, Biao Peng
Summary: This study examined the anticancer effects of syringic acid (SA) on human brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) cells. The results demonstrated that SA inhibited GBM cell proliferation and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Therefore, SA may be an ideal neuroprotective agent for controlling brain malignancy.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Qing Ye, Pranay Srivastava, Nasser Al-Kuwari, Xiqun Chen
Summary: This study characterizes the effects of BRAF(V600E) mutation on cell death and proliferation in different cell types of the central nervous system. It reveals that BRAF(V600E) induces cell proliferation in astrocytes and microglia, while directly causing neuronal death. These effects are mediated by different downstream effectors.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Weiye Zhu, Rui Zhang, Zichang Zhao, Na Zhao, Xiao Gui, Xiao Cui, Ni Shen, Jiawei Zhao, Guangping Gao, Haorui Zhang, Chenyang Huan, Yukun Zhou, Yanjie Li, Jianhua Zhang, Hongyuan Song, Wei Shen
Summary: This paper presents a novel concept of engineering exosomes using nanomaterials inside vascular endothelial cells, resulting in exosomes that can inhibit tumor growth and contain miRNAs that disrupt the TGF-beta pathway.
JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Weiye Zhu, Rui Zhang, Zichang Zhao, Na Zhao, Xiao Gui, Xiao Cui, Ni Shen, Jiawei Zhao, Guangping Gao, Haorui Zhang, Chenyang Huan, Yukun Zhou, Yanjie Li, Jianhua Zhang, Hongyuan Song, Wei Shen
Summary: This study reports a novel concept of engineering exosomes using nanomaterials inside vascular endothelial cells. The engineered exosomes can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and invasion, disrupt the TGF-beta pathway, and potentially serve as a therapeutic tool.
JOURNAL OF NANOMATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Qian, Julia TCW
Summary: The high-throughput drug screen identifies potential therapeutics for clinical trials, but current disease modeling methods have limitations with limited physiological relevancy of human patients, hindering clinical efficacy translation and contributing to high clinical attrition rates. The emergence of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology revolutionizes drug discovery by providing more sophisticated tissue architectures and environmental cues through iPSC-based three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering. This advanced modeling with evolved structural complexity, particularly in 3D organoids/spheroids, propels drug discovery by exhibiting more human-specific and diverse pathologies not seen in 2D or animal models.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danuta Branowska, Zbigniew Karczmarzyk, Ewa Wolinska, Waldemar Wysocki, Maja Morawiak, Zofia Urbanczyk-Lipkowska, Anna Bielawska, Krzysztof Bielawski
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dario Manzanares, Valentin Cena
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Serge Mignani, Xiangyang Shi, Joao Rodrigues, Rene Roy, Angeles Munoz-Fernandez, Valentin Cena, Jean-Pierre Majoral
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alba Martin-Moreno, Jose L. Jimenez Blanco, Jamie Mosher, Douglas R. Swanson, Jose M. Garcia Fernandez, Ajit Sharma, Valentin Cena, Maria Angeles Munoz-Fernandez
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Laura Gallego-Yerga, Cristina de la Torre, Francesco Sansone, Alessandro Casnati, Carmen Ortiz Mellet, Jose M. Garcia Fernandez, Valentin Cena
Summary: Cyclodextrin-calixarene giant amphiphiles are capable of encapsulating and delivering anticancer drugs to tumor cells with high efficiency, significantly enhancing therapeutic efficacy. The redox-responsive disulfide bridge modification in these amphiphiles allows for efficient cargo release in a tumor microenvironment, leading to potent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Serge Mignani, Xiangyang Shi, Valentin Cena, Joao Rodrigues, Helena Tomas, Jean-Pierre Majoral
Summary: Nanomedicine plays a significant role in current cancer treatment, with gold nanoparticles emerging as a therapeutic option. Dendrimers, as soft artificial macromolecules, have shown potential as non-viral nanocarriers for targeted imaging, gene delivery, and drug release in cancer therapy.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Sowinska, Monika Szeliga, Maja Morawiak, Elzbieta Zieminska, Barbara Zablocka, Zofia Urbanczyk-Lipkowska
Summary: The study designed polyfunctional peptide-based dendrimeric molecules with antioxidant functionalities for the treatment of glioblastoma and neuroblastoma. The initial results suggest potential therapeutic effects of these molecules on neurons and normal human astrocytes.
Article
Oncology
Shahin Sarowar, Davide Cirillo, Pablo Jativa, Mette Hartmark Nilsen, Sarah-Muheha Anni Otragane, Jan Heggdal, Frode Selheim, Valentin Cena, Hans-Rene Bjorsvik, Per Oyvind Enger
Summary: The xCT inhibitor DC10 has been validated as a radiosensitizer in cancer cells expressing xCT, showing the potential to overcome radioresistance and enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy. The compound effectively inhibits cystine uptake, leading to glutathione depletion and increased oxidative stress in cancer cells.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Inmaculada Posadas, Laura Romero-Castillo, Rosa-Anna Ronca, Andrii Karpus, Serge Mignani, Jean-Pierre Majoral, Mariangeles Munoz-Fernandez, Valentin Cena
Summary: Nanoparticles, specifically phosphorous dendrimers, are increasingly being recognized for their neuroprotective actions in interfering with excitotoxic mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. These dendrimers have the ability to access neurons and exert pharmacological actions in both primary cultures and brain organoids.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Dolores Perez-Carrion, Inmaculada Posadas, Javier Solera, Valentin Cena
Summary: This review summarizes the main pathological mutations in LRRK2 that contribute to Parkinson's disease and discusses the different cellular and therapeutic strategies to correct LRRK2 homeostasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Sowinska, Monika Szeliga, Maja Morawiak, Barbara Zablocka, Zofia Urbanczyk-Lipkowska
Summary: The study designed novel polyfunctional peptide-based dendrimers covalently attached to N-1-alkyl tryptophan residues and tested their antiproliferative properties against glioblastoma (GBM) cells. The dendrimers showed high selectivity towards GBM cells while exhibiting minimal toxicity to normal human astrocytes (NHA). Additionally, the dendrimers demonstrated potent antioxidant activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oleg M. Demchuk, Aleksandra Martyna, Mateusz Kwasnik, Katarzyna Szwaczko, Dorota Strzelecka, Barbara Miroslaw, Kazimierz Michal Pietrusiewicz, Zofia Urbanczyk-Lipkowska
Summary: A series of C-2-symmetric biaryl core-based non-racemic bisphosphines with substituents of different electronic properties were successfully synthesized in this study. Several different approaches for the synthesis of desired ligands were evaluated. The entire series of ligands could be easily obtained using a single early-stage precursor DIDAB. The obtained compounds exhibited various biological activities against normal human dermal fibroblast.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Maria Dolores Perez-Carrion, Inmaculada Posadas
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and current therapies are ineffective, driving the development of new therapies. Dendrimers (DDs) offer a multifunctional platform for developing nanosystems. DDs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), increase drug bioavailability in the brain, and reduce synthesis of specific targets. They also show promise as anti-amyloidogenic and anti-inflammatory agents, with potential for ND diagnosis. Overall, DDs are emerging as promising alternatives for ND therapies, providing neuroprotection and limiting damage.