Crosstalk Between Macrophages and Breast Cancer Cells: Networking Within Tumors.

Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the most prominent immune cells in the breast tumor microenvironment (TME). TAMs are categorised into classically activated anti-tumorigenic M1 and alternatively activated pro-tumorigenic M2 macrophages. TAMs are known to promote cancer pathogenesis by facilitating cancer cell and cancer stem cell growth, angiogenesis, immune evasion, invasion, and migration.

Macrophage-conditioned medium enhances tunneling nanotube formation in breast cancer cells via PKC, Src, NF-κB, and p38 MAPK signaling.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) secrete cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to support cancer progression. Higher TAM infiltration in the breast TME is associated with a poor prognosis. Previous studies have demonstrated the role of macrophages in stimulating long-range intercellular bridges referred to as tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in cancer cells.

Thorium Alters Lung Surfactant Protein Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells: In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation.

Thorium-232 (Th), the most abundant naturally occurring nuclear fuel, has been identified as a sustainable source of energy. In view of its large-scale utilization and human evidence of lung disorders and carcinogenicity, it is imperative to understand the effect of Th exposure on lung cells. The present study investigated the effect of Th-dioxide (1-100 μg/mL, 24-48 h) on expression of surfactant proteins (SPs) (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D, which are essential to maintain lung's surface tension and host-defense) in human lung cells (WI26 and A549), representative of alveolar cell type-I and type-II, respectively.

Tunneling nanotubes: The intercellular conduits contributing to cancer pathogenesis and its therapy.

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are intercellular conduits which meet the communication needs of non-adjacent cells situated in the same tissue but at distances up to a few hundred microns. TNTs are unique type of membrane protrusion which contain F-actin and freely hover over substratum in the extracellular space to connect the distant cells. TNTs, known to form through actin remodeling mechanisms, are intercellular bridges that connect cytoplasm of two cells, and facilitate the transfer of organelles, molecules, and pathogens among the cells.

Imaging of bacterial infection: Harnessing positron emission tomography and Cherenkov luminescence imaging with UBI-derived octapeptide.

Noninvasive imaging techniques for the early detection of infections are in high demand. In this study, we present the development of an infection imaging agent consisting of the antimicrobial peptide fragment UBI (31-38) conjugated to the chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane,1-glutaric acid-4,7-acetic acid (NODAGA), which allows for labeling with the positron emitter Ga-68. The preclinical evaluation of [ Ga]Ga-NODAGA-UBI (31-38) was conducted to investigate its potential for imaging bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of microplasts derived from macrophage-conditioned medium-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Microplasts are large extracellular vesicles originating from migratory, invasive, and metastatic cancer cells. Here, to gain insight into the role of microplasts in cancer progression, we performed a proteomic and transcriptomic characterization of microplasts isolated from MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with macrophage-conditioned medium. These cells were found to be viable, highly migratory, and metabolically active, indicating that microplasts derived from these cells are not apoptotic bodies.

Cytoproliferative effect of low dose alpha radiation in human lung cancer cells is associated with connexin 43, caveolin-1, and survivin pathway.

Purpose: High LET including alpha radiation-based approaches have been proved as a promising mode for cancer therapy owing to their biophysical and radiobiological advantages compared to photon beams. Studies pertaining to effect of α-radiation on cancer cells are limited to cytotoxic high doses.

Materials And Methods: In this study, human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were α-irradiated using Am α-irradiator and effects of low dose of alpha radiation on these cells was studied under and conditions.

Low-dose radiation therapy for coronavirus disease-2019 pneumonia: Is it time to look beyond apprehensions?

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health crisis. Mortality associated with COVID-19 is characterized mainly by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of the disease is known to be associated with pro-inflammatory processes after virus infection.

Prognosis of metastasis based on age and serum analytes after follow-up of non-metastatic lung cancer patients.

At the diagnostic stage, metastasis detection is around 75% in the lung cancer patients. Major clinical challenge faced by medical oncologists is the unpredictable metastasis development in non-metastatic patients. The literature regarding the biomarkers/factors prognosticating metastasis in non-metastatic patients during follow-up is very limited.

Mechanism of cytotoxicity by Psoralea corylifolia extract in human breast carcinoma cells.

Psoralea corylifolia has been widely used in herbal medicine, and a few studies show its anticancer activity. However, the detailed mechanism of the anticancer activity of P. corylifolia seed extract (PC extract) was not studied.

Decorporation and therapeutic efficacy of liposomal-DTPA against thorium-induced toxicity in the Wistar rat.

Purpose: This study examined the effect of liposomal encapsulation of (99m)Tc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (metastable technetium labeled DTPA) on its organ distribution and therapeutic effect of optimized neutral liposomal-DTPA against thorium ((232)Th)-induced liver toxicity and its accumulation in rat animal model.

Materials And Methods: (99m)Tc-DTPA was encapsulated in neutral (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol) and positively (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol:stearylamine) charged liposomes using thin film hydration method. Comparative efficacy of liposomal and free DTPA (11.

Protection against radiation-induced oxidative damage by an ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L.

Purpose: An ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. (EE-NS) was investigated for its antioxidant properties and radioprotective effects against gamma-radiation-induced oxidative damage.

Materials And Methods: The radical scavenging activity of the extract was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), deoxyribose degradation and plasmid relaxation assays in a cell-free system.

Correlation of FBX dosimeter and micronucleus assay in radiation dosimetry of gamma chambers.

The aim of the present study is to determine the dose distribution in gamma irradiation chambers by chemical dosimetry and to establish its correlation with biological dosimetry. The dose-distribution studies of these two gamma chambers show that compared to the center point of the chambers, the dose rate was 17%-22% higher at the circumference. Moreover, the dose rate was 12%-18% lower at the bottom and top positions compared to the center point.

Radiation-induced incidence of thymic lymphoma in mice and its prevention by antioxidants.

Previous reports from our laboratory have shown that in Swiss female mice exposed to an acute dose (3 Gy) of whole body irradiation (WBI), induced thymic lymphoma (TL) resulted after three to four weeks of exposure. The present study was aimed to further evaluate dependency on gender and effect of age of mice at the time of irradiation on TL incidence. A significant decrease in body weight gain was observed in female mice exposed to WBI, which was found to be correlated with the increase in weight and size of thymus, compared to their respective controls.

Acute exposure of uranyl nitrate causes lipid peroxidation and histopathological damage in brain and bone of Wistar rat.

Although the kidneys are the main target organs for uranium (U) toxicity, recent studies have shown that U can cross the blood-brain barrier to accumulate in the brain. Uranyl nitrate (U-238)induced oxidative damage was investigated in brain and bone of Wistar rats after intraperitoneal injection of uranyl nitrate at acute doses either nephrotoxic (576 microg of U/kg body weight) or subnephrotoxic (144 microg U/kg body weight). The health effects of U administration at 576 microg of U/kg body weight were seen in terms of decrease in food intake and no gain in body weight compared to respective controls.