Isolation and characterization of a novel GRP78-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) using ribosome display method

Effects of CD44 siRNA on inhibition, survival, and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and 4T1)

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Despite the many advances that have been made in treating patients, many patients are still resistant to treatment. CD44 is one of the surface glycoproteins of BC cells that plays an important role in the proliferation of these cells and inhibition of their apoptosis. Therefore, targeting it can be a treatment way for BC patients.

METHODS

In this study, the effect of anti-CD44 siRNA on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration rate of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells was investigated. The techniques used in this study were MTT assay, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The apoptosis and proliferation rates in CD44 siRNA-treated cells were higher and lower, respectively, compared to untreated cells. Also, cell migration was less in treated cells compared to untreated cells. CD44 siRNA also decreased the expression of CXCR4, c-myc, Vimentin, ROCK, and MMP-9.

CONCLUSION

Finally, CD44 targeting can be a good treatment option to make BC cells more sensitive to apoptosis.

Outcomes of physical exercises on initiation, progression, and treatment of breast cancer

The emergence of drug resistance is a substantial obstacle to the effective management of breast cancer, which is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. To facilitate the development of targeted therapies that can effectively overcome drug resistance, it is crucial to possess a comprehensive comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that underpin resistance to breast cancer treatment. So far, considerable progress has been made in the field of exercise-oncology research and overcome drug resistance, specifically about breast cancer. Evidence has suggested that participation in physical activity is correlated with a decrease in reappearance and fatality rates of breast cancer patients. It has been reported that participation in physical activity can yield favorable outcomes in the prevention, treatment, and post-treatment of breast cancer. An increasing body of empirical evidence suggests that participation in physical activity can alter diverse biological mechanisms, potentially augmenting breast cancer treatments' efficacy. Comparing increased physical activity versus reduced physical activity in breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery supported the significance of exercise in comprehensive care strategies to enhance overall health and treatment efficacy. Furthermore, previous studies have reported that physical activity can enhance the efficacy of breast cancer treatments. This review provides the current literature regarding the influence of physical activity on the occurrence and progression of breast cancer.

Eukaryotic ribosome display for antibody discovery: A review

Monoclonal antibody biologics have significantly transformed the therapeutic landscape within the biopharmaceutical industry, partly due to the utilisation of discovery technologies such as the hybridoma method and phage display. While these established platforms have streamlined the development process to date, their reliance on cell transformation for antibody identification faces limitations related to library diversification and the constraints of host cell physiology. Cell-free systems like ribosome display offer a complementary approach, enabling antibody selection in a completely in vitro setting while harnessing enriched cellular molecular machinery. This review aims to provide an overview of the fundamental principles underlying the ribosome display method and its potential for advancing antibody discovery and development.

Correlation between LHCGR and NR5A1 genes polymorphism and male infertility risk

INTRODUCTION

Infertility is one of the important phenomena in human reproduction. Genetic factors are the most important cause of male infertility. Here, we aimed to investigate the correlation between idiopathic male infertility and SNPs of the LHCGR (rs2293275) and NR5A1 (rs1057517779) genes in the Iranian-Azeri population.

METHODS

This case-control study consisted of 100 males with infertility and 100 healthy males from the Iranian Azeri population. Genomic DNA isolation from whole blood samples and Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (Tetra-ARMS-PCR) method was used for genotyping. The data analysis was performed by chi-square (χ2) and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Genotyping analysis for LHCGR (rs2293275) polymorphism indicated that the frequency of C in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < .05). Moreover, genotyping analysis for NR5A1 (rs1057517779) polymorphism indicated that the frequencies of the A allele and heterozygote GA genotype in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that the SNPs of LHCGR (rs2293275) and NR5A1 (rs1057517779) genes may play a critical role in male infertility in the Iranian Azeri population. However, further studies on other ethnic origins with larger sample sizes are essential for accessing more accurate results. Moreover, functional experiments might be needed to understand the role of these polymorphisms in the molecular pathways involved in male fertility.

Isolation and characterization of a novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) using phage display method

Lymphocyte function-associated antigene-1 (LFA-1) is a well-described integrin found on lymphocytes and other leukocytes, which is known to be overexpressed in leukemias and lymphomas. This receptor plays a significant role in immune responses such as T-cell activation, leukocyte cell-cell interactions, and trafficking of leukocyte populations. Subsequently, binders of LFA-1 emerge as potential candidates for cancer and autoimmune therapy. This study used the phage display technique to construct and characterize a high-affinity single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody against LFA-1. After expression, purification, dialysis, and concentration of the recombinant LFA-1 protein, four female BALB/c mice were immunized, splenocyte's mRNA was extracted, and cDNA was synthesized. A scFv library was constructed by linking the amplified VH/Vκ fragments through a 72-bp linker using SOEing PCR. Next, the scFv gene fragments were cloned into the pComb-3XSS phagemid vector; thus, the phage library was developed. The selection process involved three rounds of phage-bio-panning, polyclonal, and monoclonal phage ELISA. AF17 was chosen and characterized among the positive clones through SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, indirect ELISA, and in-silico analyses. The results of the study showed the successful construction of a high-affinity scFv library against LFA-1. The accuracy of the AF17 production and its ability to bind to the LFA-1 were confirmed through SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and ELISA. This study highlights the potential application of the high-affinity AF17 against LFA-1 for targeting T lymphocytes for therapeutic purposes.

Apatinib increases anticancer potential of doxorubicin in breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

In recent years, drug resistance has become a most important challenge in chemotherapy of malignancies. Here, we investigated a novel approach to enhance therapeutic potential of doxorubicin (Dox as a common chemotherapeutic drug) by co-administration of apatinib (Apa as a monoclonal antibody) in breast cancer treatment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Effects of Apa, Dox, and their combinations (Apa-Dox) were investigated on proliferation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by MTT assay. Moreover, migration and invasion of the treated and untreated control cancer cells were evaluated by scratch and transwell methods, respectively. Apoptosis percentage of the treated cancer cells was investigated by flow cytometry method. Finally, apoptosis-, metastasis-, and angiogenesis-related gene expression at mRNA and protein levels in the cancer cells were investigated by Real-Time PCR and western blotting methods, respectively. Our results indicated that treatments of cancer cells by Apa, Dox, and Apa-Dox significantly decrease proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Treatments of the breast cancer cells by Apa, Dox, and Apa-Dox significantly increase apoptosis percentage. We observed that anticancer effects of Apa, Dox, and Apa-Dox may due to modification of apoptosis-, metastasis-, and angiogenesis-related gene expression (at mRNA and protein level) in the breast cancer cells. However, anticancer potential of Apa-Dox combination was significantly more than Apa and Dox monotherapy.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that Apa significantly increases anticancer potential of Dox in MDA-MB-231 breast cells. However, further in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical studies are required to confirm this result.

Application of Engineered Dendritic Cell Vaccines in Cancer Immunotherapy: Challenges and Opportunities

OPINION STATEMENT

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer vaccines containing genetically modified dendritic cells (DCs) in inducing transformational immune responses. This paper sheds considerable light on DCs' function in advancing treatment techniques. This objective is achieved by thoroughly analyzing the many facets of DCs and their strategic integration into cancer treatment. Due to their role as immune response regulators, DCs can potentially enhance cancer treatment strategies. DCs have the potential to revolutionize immunotherapy, as shown by a comprehensive analysis of their numerous characteristics. The review deftly transitions from examining the fundamentals of preclinical research to delving into the complexities of clinical implementation while acknowledging the inherent challenges in translating DC vaccine concepts into tangible progress. The analysis also emphasizes the potential synergistic outcomes that can be achieved by combining DC vaccines with established pharmaceuticals, thereby emphasizing the importance of employing a holistic approach to enhance treatment efficacy. Despite the existence of transformative opportunities, advancement is hindered by several obstacles. The exhaustive analysis of technical complexities, regulatory dynamics, and upcoming challenges provides valuable insights for overcoming obstacles requiring strategic navigation to incorporate DC vaccines successfully. This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the developments in DC-based immunotherapy, concentrating on its potential to transform cancer therapy radically.

Advances in siRNA delivery approaches in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities

Advancements in the clinical applications of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in cancer therapy have opened up new possibilities for precision medicine. siRNAs, as powerful genetic tools, have shown potential in targeting and suppressing the expression of specific genes associated with cancer progression. Their effectiveness has been further enhanced by incorporating them into nanoparticles, which protect siRNAs from degradation and enable targeted delivery. However, despite these promising developments, several challenges persist in the clinical translation of siRNA-based cancer therapy. This comprehensive review explores the progress and challenges associated with the clinical applications of siRNA in cancer therapy. This review highlights the use of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles as an effective delivery system for optimizing siRNA efficacy in various types of carcinomas and the potential of siRNA-based therapy as a genetic approach to overcome limitations associated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, including severe drug toxicities and organ damage. Moreover, it emphasizes on the key challenges, including off-target effects, enzymatic degradation of siRNAs in serum, low tumor localization, stability issues, and rapid clearance from circulation that need to be addressed for successful clinical development of siRNA-based cancer therapy. Despite these challenges, the review identifies significant avenues for advancing siRNA technology from the laboratory to clinical settings. The ongoing progress in siRNA-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment demonstrates potential antitumor activities and safety profiles. By understanding the current state of siRNA-based therapy and addressing the existing challenges, we aim to pave the way for translating siRNA technology into effective oncologic clinics as an improved treatment options for cancer patients.

Knockdown of SIX4 inhibits pancreatic cancer cells via apoptosis induction

Sine oculis homeobox 4 (SIX4), a critical transcription factor modulating organ development, potentially participates in tumorigenesis through numerous pathways. Here, we investigated siRNA-mediated knockdown effects of SIX4 on pancreatic cancer cells and underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of SIX4 in pancreatic cancer and adjacent tissues were investigated in clinical tissue samples and bioinformatically approved by gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Appropriate siRNA transfected into PANC1 pancreatic cancer cells in order to SIX4 knockdown. The survival, migration, invasion, colony formation, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle in the cancer cells were investigated after knockdown of SIX4. In addition, expression of genes involved in apoptosis and metastasis were assessed in the transfected cancer cells in mRNA and protein levels. High-throughput analysis using GEO database confirmed the overexpression of SIX4 in pancreatic cancer tissues by six independent pancreatic cancer microarrays. Knockdown of SIX4 by specific siRNA significantly decreased survival, colony formation, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the cancer cells. Further assessments demonstrated that knockdown of SIX4 increases the apoptosis and autophagy rates in the cancer cells through modifying the expression of related genes. Moreover, a significant decrease in migration and invasion rates were observed in SIX4 suppressed group. Furthermore, frequency of the cells transfected with SIX4 siRNA increased slightly in G1 and Sub-G1 phases of cell cycle. Our study suggested that siRNA-mediated knockdown of SIX4 increases the pancreatic cancer cells death and reduces the invasion and migration of the cancer cells through different molecular pathways.

Scratching the Surface—An Overview of the Roles of Cell Surface GRP78 in Cancer

The 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) is considered an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident molecular chaperone that plays a crucial role in protein folding homeostasis by regulating the unfolded protein response (UPR) and inducing numerous proapoptotic and autophagic pathways within the eukaryotic cell. However, in cancer cells, GRP78 has also been shown to migrate from the ER lumen to the cell surface, playing a role in several cellular pathways that promote tumor growth and cancer cell progression. There is another insidious consequence elicited by cell surface GRP78 (csGRP78) on cancer cells: the accumulation of csGRP78 represents a novel neoantigen leading to the production of anti-GRP78 autoantibodies that can bind csGRP78 and further amplify these cellular pathways to enhance cell growth and mitigate apoptotic cell death. This review examines the current body of literature that delineates the mechanisms by which ER-resident GRP78 localizes to the cell surface and its consequences, as well as potential therapeutics that target csGRP78 and block its interaction with anti-GRP78 autoantibodies, thereby inhibiting further amplification of cancer cell progression.