p21 Prevents the Exhaustion of CD4 T Cells Within the Antitumor Immune Response Against Colorectal Cancer.

Background & Aims: T cells are crucial for the antitumor response against colorectal cancer (CRC). T-cell reactivity to CRC is nevertheless limited by T-cell exhaustion. However, molecular mechanisms regulating T-cell exhaustion are only poorly understood.

Low-Molecular-Weight Dextran Sulfate Nanocapsules Inhibit the Adhesion of to Gastric Cells.

The Gram-negative bacterium is the most common bacterial pathogen in humans, infecting 24-79% of the population at any time. Standard eradication protocols involve multi-target therapy including combinations of antibiotics, which has promoted the emergence of resistant strains. To address this challenge, we prepared antibiotic-free colloidal nanoparticles designed to interfere with the adhesion mechanisms of and thus prevent both the onset and recurrence of infection.

Polyol Pathway Links Glucose Metabolism to the Aggressiveness of Cancer Cells.

Cancer cells alter their metabolism to support their malignant properties. In this study, we report that the glucose-transforming polyol pathway (PP) gene aldo-keto-reductase-1-member-B1 () strongly correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This association was confirmed in samples from lung cancer patients and from an EMT-driven colon cancer mouse model with p53 deletion.

Innovative Methods and Applications in Mucoadhesion Research.

The present review is aimed at elucidating relatively new aspects of mucoadhesion/mucus interaction and related phenomena that emerged from a Mucoadhesion workshop held in Munster on 2-3 September 2015 as a satellite event of the ICCC 13th-EUCHIS 12th. After a brief outline of the new issues, the focus is on mucus description, purification, and mucus/mucin characterization, all steps that are pivotal to the understanding of mucus related phenomena and the choice of the correct mucosal model for in vitro and ex vivo experiments, alternative bio/mucomimetic materials are also presented. Then a selection of preparative techniques and testing methods are described (at molecular as well as micro and macroscale) that may support the pharmaceutical development of mucus interactive systems and assist formulators in the scale-up and industrialization steps.

Polysaccharides as Bacterial Antiadhesive Agents and "Smart" Constituents for Improved Drug Delivery Systems Against Helicobacter pylori Infection.

The standard eradication treatment of the hostile Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection is facing increasing alarming antibiotic resistance worldwide and calls for alternative strategies to the use of antibiotics. One new perspective in this direction is cytoprotective compounds for targeted prevention of the adhesion of the bacteria to the stomach host cell and to inhibit the bacterial cell-cell communication via quorum sensing by specific inhibitors.

Effects of polysaccharide isolated from Streptococcus thermophilus CRL1190 on human gastric epithelial cells.

EPS1190 was isolated from skim milk fermented with Stretococcus thermophilus CRL1190. The polysaccharide consisted of 33% glucose and 66% galactose with 1,4- and 1,4,6-galactose residues as main building blocks beside a high amount of 1,4-linked glucose. The polymer was characterized additionally concerning viscosity and zeta potential.