Functions of the endothelium and its role in hematopoietic cell transplantation

The endothelium is a single-layered structure that responds to physical and chemical signals with various factors it synthesizes. In the early days of its discovery, as the inner wall of the vessels, the endothelium was thought to be a simple barrier that lays on the surface. Over time it is discovered that endothelium maintains body homeostasis with the molecules it synthesizes, despite its simple single-layer structure. It has been accepted as an important organ that contributes to the maintenance of vascular tone, cell adhesion, inflammation, vascular permeability and coagulation. Any imbalance in these physiological and pathological events causes endothelial dysfunction. This can cause many diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, or it can occur because of these. Endothelial related disorders may also complicate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is used to treat various hematologic and neoplastic diseases. These life-threatening complications include graft-versus-host disease, hepatic veno-occlussive disease, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. They share a similar pathophysiology involving endothelial cells with different clinical presentations. Therefore, current researche on the issue is putting the endothelium under the spotlight for novel markers and treatment options that should be used to monitor or treat at least some of these complications following HSCT.     

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.     

Mesothelial cell-derived antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts induce expansion of regulatory T cells in pancreatic cancer

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Pan-cancer proteomic map of 949 human cell lines

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脂质体辅助递送CTLA-4 siRNA通过激活系统性抗肿瘤免疫反应抑制肾细胞癌生长

目的:探索携带CTLA-4 siRNA的适配子偶联脂质体颗粒是否可以激活肿瘤部位的抗肿瘤免疫反应，抑制肾细胞癌的生长。方法:采用薄膜水化法制备脂质体；使用透射电子显微镜观察脂质体的形态和结构；用Zetasizer测量Zeta电位；共孵育实验观察靶细胞对Lipo-siRNA的摄取；qPCR检测Lipo-siRNA对CTLA-4基因的沉默；小鼠移植瘤模型检测Lipo-siRNA的体内抑瘤能力；流式细胞术检测肿瘤浸润T细胞的激活状态；免疫荧光法检测肿瘤浸润T细胞的数目。结果:成功制备Lipo-siRNA，电镜结果显示其具有双层球状结构；Zetasizer测得其Zeta电位为(+20.53±2.66)mV；荧光显微镜观察结果表明Lipo-siRNA可以被靶细胞有效摄取，qPCR检测Lipo-siRNA可以显著降低CTLA-4基因的表达（P＜0.001）；小鼠移植瘤模型显示Lipo-siRNA较对照组而言可以显著抑制肿瘤生长（P＜0.001），降低肿瘤细胞中CTLA-4的表达（P＜0.001），提升肿瘤浸润T细胞的数量（P＜0.000 1），并且提高了肿瘤浸润T细胞中IL-2（P＜0.000 1）和IFN-γ（P＜0.000 1）的表达水平。结论:适配子偶联脂质体可以携带CTLA-4 siRNA靶向肿瘤细胞，激活肿瘤部位的抗肿瘤免疫反应，抑制肿瘤的生长，对肾细胞癌的治疗具有潜在的临床应用价值。