Receptor Specificity Engineering of TNF Superfamily Ligands

Exploring Immune Cell Infiltration and Small Molecule Compounds for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with a relapsing nature and complex etiology. Bioinformatics analysis has been widely applied to investigate various diseases. This study aimed to identify crucial differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore potential therapeutic agents for UC.

METHODS

The GSE47908 and GSE55306 colon tissue transcriptome gene datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus-NCBI (GEO) database. GEO2R and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to screen for DEGs in patients with UC compared to the normal population based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). GO-BP analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting differential genes via the Metascape website, while hub genes were analyzed by STRING11.0 and Cytoscape3.7.1. The expression of hub genes was verified in the dataset GSE38713 colon tissue specimens. Finally, the gene expression profiles of the validation set were analyzed by immuno-infiltration through the ImmuCellAI online tool, and the CMap database was used to screen for negatively correlated small molecule compounds.

RESULTS

A total of 595 and 926 genes were screened by analysis of GSE47908 and GSE55306 datasets, respectively. Combined WGCNA hub module intersection yielded 12 hub genes (CXCL8, IL1β, CXCL1, CCL20, CXCL2, CXCR2, LCN2, SELL, AGT, LILRB3, MMP3, IDO1) associated with the pathogenesis of UC. GSEA analysis yielded intersecting pathways for both datasets (colorectal cancer pathway, base excision repair, cell cycle, apoptosis). GO-BP and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to obtain key biological processes (inflammatory response, response to bacteria, leukocyte activation involved in the immune response, leukocyte-cell adhesion, apoptosis, positive regulation of immune effector processes) and key signaling pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, IBD, NOD-like receptor signaling pathways). The immune cell infiltration analysis suggested that the incidence of UC was mainly related to the increase in CD4+T cells, depletion of T cells, T follicular helper cells, natural killer cells, γδ T cells and the decrease in CD8 naive T cells, helper T cells 17 and effector T cells. The CMap database results showed that small molecule compounds such as vorinostat, roxarsone, and wortmannin may be therapeutic candidates for UC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study not only aids in early prediction and prevention but also provides novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of UC.

Prospects of compounds of herbal plants as anticancer agents: a comprehensive review from molecular pathways

Cancer refers to the proliferation and multiplication of aberrant cells inside the human body, characterized by their capacity to proliferate and infiltrate various anatomical regions. Numerous biochemical pathways and signaling molecules have an impact on the cancer auto biogenesis process. The regulation of crucial cellular processes necessary for cell survival and proliferation, which are triggered by phytochemicals, is significantly influenced by signaling pathways. These pathways or components are regulated by phytochemicals. Medicinal plants are a significant reservoir of diverse anticancer medications employed in chemotherapy. The anticancer effects of phytochemicals are mediated by several methods, including induction of apoptosis, cessation of the cell cycle, inhibition of kinases, and prevention of carcinogenic substances. This paper analyzes the phytochemistry of seven prominent plant constituents, namely, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, and saponins, focusing on the involvement of the MAPK/ERK pathway, TNF signaling, death receptors, p53, p38, and actin dynamics. Hence, this review has examined a range of phytochemicals, encompassing their structural characteristics and potential anticancer mechanisms. It has underscored the significance of plant-derived bioactive compounds in the prevention of cancer, utilizing diverse molecular pathways. In addition, this endeavor also seeks to incentivize scientists to carry out clinical trials on anticancer medications derived from plants.

Combined oncolytic virotherapy gold nanoparticles as synergistic immunotherapy agent in breast cancer control

Combining viruses and nanoparticles may be a way to successfully treat cancer and minimize adverse effects. The current work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific combination of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to enhance the antitumor effect of breast cancer in both in vitro and in vivo models. Two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and AMJ-13) and a normal epithelial cell line (HBL-100) were used and treated with NDV and/or GNPs. The MTT assay was used to study the anticancer potentials of NDV and GNP. The colony formation assay and apoptosis markers were used to confirm the killing mechanisms of NDV and GNP against breast cancer cell lines. p53 and caspase-9 expression tested by the qRT-PCR technique. Our results showed that combination therapy had a significant killing effect against breast cancer cells. The findings demonstrated that NDV and GNPs induced apoptosis in cancer cells by activating caspase-9, the p53 protein, and other proteins related to apoptosis, which holds promise as a combination therapy for breast cancer.

Tailoring vascular phenotype through AAV therapy promotes anti-tumor immunity in glioma

Glioblastomas are aggressive brain tumors that are largely immunotherapy resistant. This is associated with immunosuppression and a dysfunctional tumor vasculature, which hinder T cell infiltration. LIGHT/TNFSF14 can induce high endothelial venules (HEVs) and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), suggesting that its therapeutic expression could promote T cell recruitment. Here, we use a brain endothelial cell-targeted adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to express LIGHT in the glioma vasculature (AAV-LIGHT). We found that systemic AAV-LIGHT treatment induces tumor-associated HEVs and T cell-rich TLS, prolonging survival in αPD-1-resistant murine glioma. AAV-LIGHT treatment reduces T cell exhaustion and promotes TCF1⁺CD8⁺ stem-like T cells, which reside in TLS and intratumoral antigen-presenting niches. Tumor regression upon AAV-LIGHT therapy correlates with tumor-specific cytotoxic/memory T cell responses. Our work reveals that altering vascular phenotype through vessel-targeted expression of LIGHT promotes efficient anti-tumor T cell responses and prolongs survival in glioma. These findings have broader implications for treatment of other immunotherapy-resistant cancers.

Effects of ethanol and deferoxamine on rat primary glial cell cultures, in regard with ischemia induced by traumatic spinal cord injury

Although they have been regarded, in the past, as passive support cells, many experimental data have shown that glial cells play a critical role in the development and functioning of the nervous system. Despite the advances that have been made in understanding astrocytes' role in the nervous system's development and function, our knowledge of their interactions with other cells is still limited, albeit neurons are dependent on the trophic support provided by astrocytes release. Materials and Methods. The use of the McCarthy and de Vellis methods for isolating glial cells has been regarded as an essential tool for studying their function. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ethanol and deferoxamine on primary rat glial cell cultures and try to explain, as far as possible, the relevance of such effects for patients with chronic alcoholism and traumatic spinal cord injuries. Discussion. Because glial cells are very important in the functioning of the central nervous system and experiments cannot be performed on human primary nerve cell cultures, we performed an experiment on glial cells harvested from the newborn rat, analyzing the dynamics of IL-6 and TNF alpha on models of suffering in spinal cord injury (hypoxia and thermally stress). Conclusion. Inhibition of TNF alpha synthesis was more important at 7 days posttraumatic in cells with prolonged ethanolic exposure, even if protein levels of IL-6 were elevated (under similar experimental conditions). Thus, we can say that long-term exposure to ethanol of nerve cells can ensure a favorable evolution of medical recovery (by increasing TNF alpha), even if the inflammatory process remains active (shown by elevated IL-6 values). Keywords: ethyl alcohol, deferoxamine, primary glial cells cultures, traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Artemisinin-Type Drugs in Tumor Cell Death: Mechanisms, Combination Treatment with Biologics and Nanoparticle Delivery

Artemisinin, the most famous anti-malaria drug initially extracted from Artemisia annua L., also exhibits anti-tumor properties in vivo and in vitro. To improve its solubility and bioavailability, multiple derivatives have been synthesized. However, to reveal the anti-tumor mechanism and improve the efficacy of these artemisinin-type drugs, studies have been conducted in recent years. In this review, we first provide an overview of the effect of artemisinin-type drugs on the regulated cell death pathways, which may uncover novel therapeutic approaches. Then, to overcome the shortcomings of artemisinin-type drugs, we summarize the recent advances in two different therapeutic approaches, namely the combination therapy with biologics influencing regulated cell death, and the use of nanocarriers as drug delivery systems. For the former approach, we discuss the superiority of combination treatments compared to monotherapy in tumor cells based on their effects on regulated cell death. For the latter approach, we give a systematic overview of nanocarrier design principles used to deliver artemisinin-type drugs, including inorganic-based nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, polymer-based nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and niosomes. Both approaches have yielded promising findings in vitro and in vivo, providing a strong scientific basis for further study and upcoming clinical trials.