Endophytic bacteria isolated from Urtica dioica L.- preliminary screening for enzyme and polyphenols production

Endophytes, especially those isolated from herbal plants, may act as a reservoir of a variety of secondary metabolites exhibiting biological activity. Some endophytes express the ability to produce the same bioactive compounds as their plant hosts, making them a more sustainable industrial supply of these substances. Urtica dioica L. (common stinging nettle) is a synanthropic plant that is widely used in herbal medicine due to the diversity of bioactive chemicals it contains, e.g., polyphenols, which demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancerous capabilities. This study aimed at isolating endophytic bacteria from stinging nettles for their bioactive compounds. The endophytic isolates were identified by both biochemical and molecular methods (16S rRNA) and investigated for enzymes, biosurfactants, and polyphenols production. Each of the isolated bacterial strains was capable of producing biosurfactants and polyphenols. However, three of the isolated endophytes, identified as two strains of Bacillus cereus and one strain of Bacillus mycoides, possessed the greatest capacity to produce biosurfactants and polyphenols. The derivatized extracts from culture liquid showed the 1.633 mol l-1 (9.691 mg l-1) concentration of polyphenol compounds. Therefore, the present study signifies that endophytic B. cereus and B. mycoides isolated from Urtica dioica L. could be a potential source of biosurfactants and polyphenols. However, further study is required to understand the mechanism of the process and achieve efficient polyphenol production by endophytic bacteria.

Predictive Biomarkers of Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas

BACKGROUND

Marginally resectable and unresectable soft tissue sarcomas (STS) remain a therapy challenge due to the lack of highly active treatment. The aim of the study was to identify a biomarker to predict the pathological response (PR) to preplanned treatment of these STSs.

METHODS

In the phase II clinical trial (NCT03651375), locally advanced STS patients received preoperative treatment with a combination of doxorubicin-ifosfamide chemotherapy and 5 × 5 Gy radiotherapy. PR to the treatment was classified using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group recommendations. We have chosen HIF-1α, CD163, CD68, CD34, CD105, and γH2AFX proteins, rendering different biological phenomena, for biomarker study.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were enrolled and in four cases a good PR was reported. The high expression of HIF-1α before surgery showed a negative correlation with PR, which means a poor response to therapy. Furthermore, the samples after surgery had decreased expression of HIF-1α, which confirmed the correlation with PR. However, high expression of γH2AFX positively correlated with PR, which provides better PR. The high number of positive-staining TAMs and the high IMVD did not correlate with PR.

CONCLUSIONS

HIF1α and γH2AFX could be potential biomarkers for PR prediction after neoadjuvant treatment in STS.

EZH2 Expression in Follicular Lymphoma Is Variable and Independent from the Progression of Disease Within 24 Months of First Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM

Follicular lymphoma (FL) relapse within 24 months of the first immunochemotherapy (POD24) indicates more precisely poor overall survival and high risk of death. The aim of the study was to assess the potential value of POD24 in FL and describe the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression profile, in correlation with clinical/histopathological/immunophenotypical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective single-center study included 75 patients with FL treated under watch and wait (W&W) and immunochemotherapy regimens. All cases were immunohistochemically assessed: assays were performed for EZH2, CD10, BCL6, BCL2, MUM1, MYC and p53.

RESULTS

POD24 was independent of clinical/histopathological/immunohistochemical features and separated patients with inferior outcomes. EZH2 high expression was observed in high/low grade and follicular/diffuse FL patterns. BCL2-negative (p=0.042) and MUM1 (p=0.039), MYC (p<0.001), p53 (p<0.001) - positive cases had significantly higher EZH2 expression.

CONCLUSION

POD24 is currently the most useful tool for the identification of poor outlook patients. EZH2 is crucial in FL biology, but the value of its protein expression is limited as a prognostic factor.

PD1 distribution pattern, regardless of the cell origin, is an independent microenvironmental prognostic factor for progression-free survival in follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a well-studied microenvironment-dependent hematological malignancy, but the crosstalk between various involved cell subtypes is still not fully understood. Recent promising results of immunotherapy in recurrent FL warrant the need for an in-depth analysis of the expression and role of immune system-related proteins in the FL microenvironment. Seventy-one patients with FL and available diagnostic paraffin blocks were enrolled in the retrospective analysis. Histopathological diagnoses were revised according to the World Health Organization recommendations. Patients were either observed (watch and wait/W&W group) or immediately treated with chemo(immuno)therapy regimens according to their clinical status. Immunohistochemical assessment of PD1, PDL1, CD4, CD8, CD163, CD68-KP1, CD68-PGM1 was performed. The scoring methods included both semi-quantitative estimation of positive cells and architectural pattern distribution. The differences between PD1 staining distribution and intensity were classified as intra/perifollicular vs. interfollicular/diffuse cells and presented bright vs. dim immunoreactivity, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the density distribution of the immunohistochemical stainings were found between W&W and chemo(immuno)therapy groups. Interfollicular/diffuse pattern of PD1 expression had significantly decreased progression-free survival when analyzing the whole cohort and patients on chemo(immuno)therapy (p = 0.014 and p = 0.07, respectively). The high dependence was not significant in the W&W group. PD1 positivity of cells did not correlate with CD4 or CD8 immunophenotype. Morphologically FL neoplastic cells were entirely PDL1 negative, but granular and membranous staining was detected in the FL microenvironment. In line with previous studies, PD1/PDL1 expression was predominantly localized in the FL microenvironment, indicating that FL cells might not be the direct target for anti-PDL1 therapy. However, we show that the localization of PD1 expression could be a viable progression-free survival biomarker for FL.