Cancer Stem Cells and Circulatory Tumor Cells Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly metastatic, pathological cancer that significantly affects women worldwide. The mortality rate of BC is related to its heterogeneity, aggressive phenotype, and metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the interplay between metastasis mediators in BC. BC stem cells, tumor-derived exosomes, circulatory tumor cells (CTCs), and signaling pathways dynamically remodel the TME and promote metastasis. This review examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitate metastasis. This review also discusses the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor-derived exosomes, and CTs in promoting BC metastasis. Furthermore, the review emphasizes major signaling pathways that mediate metastasis in BC. Finally, the interplay among CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in mediating metastasis have been highlighted. Therefore, understanding the molecular cues that mediate the association of CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in TME helps to optimize systemic therapy to target metastatic BC.     

Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle and Changes in Frequency,Severity, and Localization of Pain in Older Adults

ObjectiveTo assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and changes in pain, and its characteristics over time in older adults.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed data from 864 and 862 community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ years from the Study on Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Frailty in Older Adults in Spain (Seniors-ENRICA) Seniors-ENRICA-1 (2008–2010 to 2012) and Seniors-ENRICA-2 (2015–2017 to 2019) cohorts, with a median follow-up of 2.8 and 2.4 years, respectively. Adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed at baseline with the 27-item Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index. Pain changes over time were calculated with a pain scale that assessed the frequency, severity, and the number of pain locations both at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted relative risk ratios (RRRs) were obtained using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn the pooled cohorts, after a median follow-up of 2.6 years, pain worsened for 697 participants, improved for 734, and did not change for 295. Compared with the lowest category of MEDLIFE adherence, those in the highest category showed an RRR of improvement vs worsening of overall pain of 1.85 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.67; P-trend<.001). MEDLIFE adherence was also linked to improvement in pain frequency (RRR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.01; P-trend=.001), pain severity (RRR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.00; P-trend=.001), and a reduction in the number of pain locations (RRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.50; P-trend=.004). Limitations of this study are the use of self-reported lifestyle data.ConclusionA Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with improvement of pain characteristics in older adults. Experimental studies should assess the efficacy of an integral lifestyle approach for the management of pain in older adults.     

阿克替苷通过激活血红素加氧酶-1抑制H_(2)O_(2)诱导的视网膜神经节细胞氧化损伤北大核心

目的研究阿克替苷对视网膜神经节细胞(RGC-5)的保护作用及其机制。方法将RGC-5细胞分为对照组、H_(2)O_(2)组、阿克替苷+H_(2)O_(2)组(1μmol·L^(-1)、10μmol·L^(-1)、30μmol·L^(-1)阿克替苷分别预处理细胞2 h),MTT法检测各组细胞活力;后续实验阿克替苷+H_(2)O_(2)组选择阿克替苷30μmol·L^(-1)作为治疗浓度,荧光探针H2DCF-DA检测活性氧(ROS)产生和罗丹明123检测线粒体膜电位,Western blot检测各组细胞中Bcl-2、Bcl-2/Bax、半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)蛋白表达。机制研究中首先用不同浓度阿克替苷单独处理RGC-5细胞24 h,Western blot检测血红素加氧酶-1(HO-1)蛋白表达水平,进一步锌原卟啉(ZnPP)预处理RGC-5细胞1 h,而后30μmol·L^(-1)阿克替苷单独预处理后与200μmol·L^(-1)H_(2)O_(2)共孵育24 h,通过MTT法测定细胞活力。结果与对照组相比,H_(2)O_(2)组中细胞活力明显降低(P<0.01)。与H_(2)O_(2)组相比,阿克替苷+H_(2)O_(2)组中10μmol·L^(-1)、30μmol·L^(-1)阿克替苷预处理可显著提高细胞活力(P<0.05、P<0.01)。与对照组相比,H_(2)O_(2)组RGC-5细胞ROS生成明显增加,线料体膜电位显著降低,同时Bcl-2/Bax比值降低和Caspase-3蛋白相对表达量增加(均为P<0.05)。与H_(2)O_(2)组相比,阿克替苷+H_(2)O_(2)组RGC-5细胞ROS生成减少,线粒体膜电位增加,Bcl-2/Bax比值提高,Caspase-3蛋白相对表达量减少(均为P<0.05)。与阿克替苷未处理组相比,阿克替苷剂量依赖性诱导HO-1蛋白的表达,与阿克替苷+H_(2)O_(2)组相比,加入ZnPP后细胞活力降低(P<0.01),说明HO-1抑制剂ZnPP降低了阿克替苷对H_(2)O_(2)损伤的抑制作用。结论阿克替苷能够通过上调HO-1表达抑制H_(2)O_(2)诱导的RGC-5氧化应激损伤。