Immunological hallmarks of cis-DDP-resistant Lewis lung carcinoma cells

Cancer Stem Cell markers: Symphonic masters of chemoresistance and immune evasion

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are highly tumorigenic, chemoresistant, and immune evasive. They emerge as a central driver that gives rise to the bulk of tumoral mass, modifies the tumor microenvironment (TME), and exploits it, leading to poor clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. The existence of CSCs thus accounts for the failure of conventional therapies and immune surveillance. Identifying CSCs in solid tumors remains a significant challenge in modern oncology, with the use of cell surface markers being the primary strategy for studying, isolating, and enriching these cells. In this review, we explore CSC markers, focusing on the underlying signaling pathways that drive CSC self-renewal, which simultaneously makes them intrinsically chemoresistant and immune system evaders. We comprehensively discuss the autonomous and non-autonomous functions of CSCs, with particular emphasis on their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, especially immune cells. This reciprocal network enhances CSCs malignancy while compromising the surrounding niche, ultimately defining therapeutic vulnerabilities associated with each CSC marker. The most common CSCs surface markers addressed in this review-CD44, CD133, ICAM1/CD54, and LGR5-provide insights into the interplay between chemoresistance and immune evasion, two critically important phenomena in disease eradication. This new perspective on the state-of-the-art of CSCs will undoubtedly open new avenues for therapy.

Anti-inflammatory effect of polyherbal composition with hepatoprotective and choleretic properties on LPS-stimulated murine macrophages

OBJECTIVES

A polyherbal formulation with hepatoprotective and choleretic properties combining pharmacological potential of eight medicinal plants was developed in Nargiz Medical center (Republic of Azerbaijan) for the use as herbal tea. To explore the effect of polyherbal composition on the metabolism of LPS-stimulated macrophages in vitro.

METHODS

The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis was conducted using specific color reactions and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Nitric oxide (NO) assay was determined using the Griess reaction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using ROS-sensitive fluorescence indicator, H2DCFDA, by flow cytometry. Arginase activity was examined by colorimetric method.

RESULTS

The studied polyherbal formulation exerted anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages which was evidenced by dose-dependent decrease of ROS generation and by shift of arginine metabolism to the increase of arginase activity and decrease of NO release.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the herbal tea reduces macrophage inflammatory activity, that provide an important rationale to utilize it for the attenuation of chronic inflammation typical of hepatobiliary disorders.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SHAM SURGERY ON PHAGOCYTE FUNCTIONS IN RATS

Animal models of inflammatory disorders, including those of the nervous system are commonly used to explore the pathophysiological role of immune cell response in disease triggering and course and to develop biotechnology products for therapeutic use. Modeling some of these disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, implies surgical manipulations for the intracerebral introduction of disease-initiating substances (toxins, amyloids etc.). Design of these experiments involves the use of sham-operated animals as a control of non-specific intrinsic side-effects elicited by surgical manipulations per se, including local and systemic inflammation, where phagocytic cells are key participants. Short-term post-surgical immunomodulatory effects are widely reported. However, no study thus far has examined the long term effects of sham-surgery on phagocyte functions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sham-surgery, commonly used for modeling neurodegenerative diseases, on phagocyte functions in the far terms after the surgical manipulations. Materials and Methods. Adult male Wistar rats were used in the study. Sham surgery consisted of stereotactic unilateral injection of saline solution into the median forebrain bundle (sham-operated 1, SO1) or directly into the substantia nigra (sham-operated 2, SO2). Before the placebo surgery, animals were anaesthetized using nembutal and ketamine/xylazine correspondingly. Functional characteristics (phagocytic activity, oxidative metabolism, CD80/86 and CD206 expression) of phagocytes (microglia, peritoneal macrophages, circulating monocytes and granulocytes) were examined by flow cytometry. Differential leukocyte count was conducted using hematological analyzer. Results. Phagocytes from animals underwent of different protocols of placebo surgery, demonstrated various patterns of functional changes on day 29 after the manipulations. In animals from SO1 group, we observed signs of residual neuroinflammation (pro-inflammatory shift of microglia functional profile) along with ongoing resolution of systemic inflammation (anti-inflammatory metabolic shift of circulating phagocytes and peritoneal macrophages). In rats from SO2 group, pro-inflammatory polarized activation of peritoneal phagocytes was registered along with anti-inflammatory shift in microglia and circulating phagocytes. Conclusions. Sham surgery influences functions of phagocytic cells of different locations even in the far terms after the manipulations. These effects can be considered as combined long-term consequences of surgical brain injury and the use of anesthetics. Our observations evidences, that sham associated non-specific immunomodulatory effects should always be taken into consideration in animal models of inflammatory central nervous system diseases.