CAFs and TGF-β Signaling Activation by Mast Cells Contribute to Resistance to Gemcitabine/Nabpaclitaxel in Pancreatic Cancer.

Tumor⁻stroma interactions are of key importance for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. Our aim was to investigate whether cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and mast cells (MC) affected the sensitivity of PDAC cells to gemcitabine/nabpaclitaxel (GEM/NAB). For this purpose, the combination cytotoxicity and the effect on tumor invasion and angiogenesis were evaluated with or without a conditioned medium from the mast cell line HMC-1 (human mast cell line-1 cells) and CAFs.

Activation of the kynurenine pathway predicts poor outcome in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the expression of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway components and the prognostic role of the KYN-to-tryptophan ratio (KTR) in a cohort of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Materials And Methods: The expression of KYN pathway components was investigated by tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry, indirect immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy analysis in 100 ccRCC cases and 30 normal renal samples. The role of this pathway in sustaining cancer cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance was evaluated.

Emerging role of Lipopolysaccharide binding protein in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

Sepsis remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, with limited therapeutic options available. Of the several disorders connected with sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the major complications. The pathophysiology of sepsis-induced AKI is characterized by severe inflammation in renal parenchyma with endothelial dysfunction, intra-glomerular thrombosis and tubular injury.

Endothelial dysfunction and renal fibrosis in endotoxemia-induced oliguric kidney injury: possible role of LPS-binding protein.

Introduction: The pathophysiology of endotoxemia-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by an intense activation of the host immune system and renal resident cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and derived proinflammatory products. However, the occurrence of renal fibrosis in this setting has been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between endothelial dysfunction and acute development of tissue fibrosis in a swine model of LPS-induced AKI.