Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lihua Chen, Lixiang Huang, Yu Gu, Wei Cang, Pengming Sun, Yang Xiang
Summary: Lactate plays a crucial role in connecting immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Lactate metabolism promotes key processes in tumor development, and protein lactylation is essential for lactate's function.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evan Ja-Yang Wang, I-Hsuan Chen, Brian Yu-Ting Kuo, Chia-Cheng Yu, Ming-Tsung Lai, Jen-Tai Lin, Leo Yen-Ting Lin, Chih-Mei Chen, Tritium Hwang, Jim Jinn-Chyuan Sheu
Summary: Cytoskeleton proteins provide mechanical support for cell development and tissue homeostasis. Mutated genes associated with cytoskeletal proteins have been found in cancer, some of which have clinical implications. Cytoskeleton-associated proteins also play important signaling roles in cancer development. Mutations in cytoskeleton components can change the physical/mechanical properties of cells and determine cell fate during cancer development.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alberto Cruz-Bermudez, Raquel Laza-Briviesca, Marta Casarrubios, Belen Sierra-Rodero, Mariano Provencio
Summary: The tumor microenvironment undergoes altered metabolic properties due to the needs of tumor cells, natural selection of adapted clones, and selfish relationships with other cell types. Metabolism not only supports uncontrolled tumor growth but also plays a key role in controlling tumor immune evasion. Despite revolutionizing cancer treatment, immunotherapy may not benefit all patients, leading to eventual relapse.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Zhihao Zhang, Tian Fang, Yonggang Lv
Summary: In this study, a novel prognostic signature based on three lactate metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) was constructed for breast cancer (BC) patients. The results showed that the signature was closely related to the immune microenvironment, providing new insight into future anticancer therapies. The findings suggest that this signature could be used to predict the prognosis of BC patients and guide personalized treatment strategies.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katrin Pansy, Barbara Uhl, Jelena Krstic, Marta Szmyra, Karoline Fechter, Ana Santiso, Lea Thueminger, Hildegard Greinix, Julia Kargl, Katharina Prochazka, Julia Feichtinger, Alexander JA. Deutsch
Summary: The TME plays a crucial role in regulating tumor growth and metastasis, with immune escape enabling tumor cells to maintain their proliferation. Novel immunotherapies have been successfully developed based on intensive study of the mechanisms involved in immune evasion, such as membrane-bound and soluble factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jia Bo Zheng, Chau Wei Wong, Jia Liu, Xiao-Jing Luo, Wei-Yi Zhou, Yan-Xing Chen, Hui-Yan Luo, Zhao-Lei Zeng, Chao Ren, Xiao-Ming Xie, De-Shen Wang
Summary: PFKFB3 inhibition suppresses tumor growth in vitro and in vivo, but induces upregulation of PD-L1 levels, compromising anti-tumor immunity and reducing efficacy.
Review
Oncology
Seyedeh Sahar Mortazavi Farsani, Vivek Verma
Summary: New research reveals that not only cancer cells but also other cell types, including immune cells, exhibit the Warburg effect, converting glucose to lactate even in the presence of sufficient oxygen. Lactate plays a crucial role in metabolism and cell signaling, but high levels can inhibit immune cell function.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Rafael Mena-Osuna, Ana Mantrana, Silvia Guil-Luna, Maria Teresa Sanchez-Montero, Carmen Navarrete-Sirvent, Teresa Morales-Ruiz, Aurora Rivas-Crespo, Marta Toledano-Fonseca, Maria Victoria Garcia-Ortiz, Gema Garcia-Jurado, Maria Auxiliadora Gomez-Espana, Rafael Gonzalez-Fernandez, Carlos Villar, Francisco Javier Medina-Fernandez, Jose Manuel Villalba, Enrique Aranda, Antonio Rodriguez-Ariza
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that the deficiency of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) in tumors is associated with poor prognostic features and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. GSNOR-low tumors exhibit an immunosuppressive microenvironment and altered energy metabolism characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation and reliance on glycolysis. The results suggest that GSNOR deficiency promotes tumor progression through immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming in CRC.
JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Tong Liu, Meng Feng, Zexin Wen, Yijie He, Wei Lin, Min Zhang
Summary: Cytokine storm is a major cause of death in patients with severe coronavirus pneumonia, characterized by excessive immune-inflammatory reaction. By comparing the cytokine storms caused by different coronaviruses, potential mechanisms for guiding future clinical treatment can be identified.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Chen Chen, Zehua Wang, Yi Ding, Yanru Qin
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and has a significant impact on tumor-related mortality. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), particularly the combination of atezolizumab (anti-PD1) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF), has revolutionized the treatment of advanced HCC. However, drug resistance and frequent recurrence remain challenges in HCC treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in immune evasion of HCC, with various factors including immunosuppressive cells, co-inhibitory signals, soluble cytokines, hostile metabolism, and gut microbiota affecting the immunosuppressive milieu.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Changhao Wu, Chenglong Zheng, Shiyu Chen, Zhiwei He, Hao Hua, Chengyi Sun, Chao Yu
Summary: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a gastrointestinal tract malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. FOXQ1 has been found to be overexpressed in PC tissues and associated with poor prognosis. FOXQ1 overexpression promotes PC cell proliferation, tumor stemness, invasion, and metastasis, while FOXQ1 silencing shows the reverse effect. Mechanistic studies reveal that FOXQ1 promotes LDHA transcription to enhance aerobic glycolysis, contributing to the progression of PC.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Lu Yang, Peixin Tan, Hengwen Sun, Zijun Zeng, Yi Pan
Summary: Lactate metabolism is closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer. Breast cancer patients with high Lactate Metabolism Index (LMI) have lower survival rates and more severe clinical features. A prognostic nomogram combining LMI, age, and AJCC stage can effectively predict the overall survival of breast cancer patients. Lactate metabolism plays an important role in immune escape and immunotherapy in breast cancer.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Mannelli, Tania Gamberi, Francesca Magherini, Tania Fiaschi
Summary: This study demonstrates that cachexia induction in myotubes is associated with a metabolic shift towards fermentation, and inhibiting lactate formation can prevent cachexia. The findings suggest lactate dehydrogenase as a possible new tool for counteracting the onset of this pathology.
Review
Oncology
Ming Cai, Jian Wan, Keren Cai, Haihan Song, Yujiao Wang, Wanju Sun, Jingyun Hu
Summary: This review examines the role of lactate isomer metabolism in cancer progression and introduces the related enzymes and proteins as prognostic biomarkers for cancer. It also provides a new strategy for anticancer therapy targeting lactate metabolism.
Review
Microbiology
Yonathan Arfi, Carole Lartigue, Pascal Sirand-Pugnet, Alain Blanchard
Summary: Mycoplasmas are small, genome-reduced bacteria with the ability to colonize a wide range of host species. They can exist as commensal microbiota or cause pathogenic inflammatory diseases. These bacteria have evolved strategies to evade the host's immune response, including the expression of immunoglobulin-binding proteins to prevent antibody-antigen interaction. Understanding these immune evasion mechanisms is crucial for studying mycoplasma diseases and improving vaccine efficacy.
Article
Oncology
Thais Oliveira, Douglas Lemos, Louise Jean, Jessica M. Kawashima, Vitoria R. de Azevedo, Eduardo J. Salustiano, Vivian M. Rumjanek, Robson Q. Monteiro
Summary: This study found that disrupting the hexokinase II in multidrug resistant cells of chronic myeloid leukemia can impair bioenergetic parameters, increase drug accumulation, and induce cell death. This could be a promising strategy for the management of chemotherapy-refractory patients.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Raphael do Carmo Valente, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca-Previato
Summary: Human trypanosomiasis has a significant impact on the global population, affecting around 8 million people, particularly in endemic areas. Resistance to chemotherapy has been observed in protozoan parasites, including the T. cruzi and T. brucei species. ABC transporters, which reduce drug accumulation and mitigate toxic effects, have been identified as important factors in multidrug resistance. This review provides an overview of the history and function of ABC transporters in Trypanosoma species, highlighting their significance in parasite physiology and chemotherapy resistance.
Article
Microbiology
Elias Barbosa Da Silva-Junior, Israel Diniz-Lima, Amanda Couto Silva, Joyce Cristina Guimaraes-de-Oliveira, Alexandre Morrot, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Lycia De Brito-Gitirana, Debora Decote-Ricardo, Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: This study demonstrates that TLR9-deficient mice are more susceptible to C. gattii infection and exhibit more severe pathological changes, confirming the importance of TLR9 in countering C. gattii infection.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paulo Pitasse-Santos, Eduardo Salustiano, Raynna Bittencourt Pena, Otavio Augusto Chaves, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Carlos Antonio do Nascimento Santos, Jhenifer Santos Dos Reis, Marcos Andre Rodrigues da Costa Santos, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca Previato, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Nelilma Correia Romeiro, Lucia Helena Pinto-da-Silva, Celio G. Freire-de-Lima, Debora Decote-Ricardo, Marco Edilson Freire-de-Lima
Summary: Cancer and parasitic diseases share similarities, and a new strategy of developing antiproliferative agents is proposed. A series of 1,2,4-oxadiazole compounds were designed and a fast and efficient synthesis strategy was developed. Compound 23 exhibited antiproliferative activity against cancer and parasites, and interacted with tubulin. In silico predictions showed that these compounds have high druggability potential, and compound 23 can bind with human serum albumin.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Israel Diniz-Lima, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Jhenifer Santos Dos Reis, Debora Decote-Ricardo, Alexandre Morrot, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca Previato, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a major cause of death, particularly in immunocompromised patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The interferences that IFI may have on cancer progression and the induction of new cancer cells have been increasingly recognized. Fungal virulence factors, particularly the polysaccharide capsule in cryptococcosis, play a significant role in modulating the immune system and potentially affecting cancer development and progression. This article discusses the relationship between cryptococcosis and cancer progression, as well as the implications of fungal glycan structures in cancer.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca-Previato, Raphael do Carmo Valente
Summary: Multidrug resistance (MDR) and induction of metastasis are challenges in cancer chemotherapy. The ABC transporters play a role in MDR, while metastasis is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The study showed increased expression of ABCB1 and ABCC1 during EMT, with ABCC1 inhibitors partially inhibiting EMT-marker snail.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Takeo Tatsuta, Seung-Yeol Park, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Debora Decote-Ricardo, Danielle de Oliveira Nascimento, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Alexandre Morrot, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Article
Biology
Jorgete Logullo, Israel Diniz-Lima, Juliana Dutra B. Rocha, Suzana Corte-Real, Elias Barbosa da Silva-Junior, Joyce Cristina Guimaraes-de-Oliveira, Alexandre Morrot, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima, Debora Decote-Ricardo, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: The interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix affects the plasticity and migratory capacity of cells. Macrophages play a crucial role in immunity by migrating and adhering to tissues through their adhesion receptors. In vitro models using synthetic matrices have been used to study the dynamics of cell-matrix interactions, particularly in infectious diseases such as Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This study demonstrates that the macrophage-matrix interaction promotes T. cruzi replication, alters macrophage morphology, and induces migratory macrophages.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jhenifer Santos dos Reis, Marcos Andre Rodrigues da Costa Santos, Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima, Alexandre Morrot, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca Previato, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: Changes in protein glycosylation are a characteristic feature of transformed cells and play a role in cancer progression, including the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-6 (pp-GalNAc-T6) is a glycosyltransferase involved in various events associated with cancer progression. This study demonstrates the role of pp-GalNAc-T6 in the acquisition of MDR phenotype in breast cancer cells, showing that its expression is upregulated along with the O-glycosylation of oncofetal fibronectin (onf-FN) during MDR development. Silencing pp-GalNAc-T6 not only decreases onf-FN expression but also makes MDR cells more sensitive to anticancer drugs, partially reversing the MDR phenotype.
