c-FLIP regulates autophagy by interacting with Beclin-1 and influencing its stability.

c-FLIP (cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein) protein is mostly known as an apoptosis modulator. However, increasing data underline that c-FLIP plays multiple roles in cellular homoeostasis, influencing differently the same pathways depending on its expression level and isoform predominance. Few and controversial data are available regarding c-FLIP function in autophagy.

Anti-tumor Effect of Oleic Acid in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines Autophagy Reduction.

Oleic acid (OA) is a component of the olive oil. Beneficial health effects of olive oil are well-known, such as protection against liver steatosis and against some cancer types. In the present study, we focused on OA effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), investigating responses to OA treatment (50-300 μM) in HCC cell lines (Hep3B and Huh7.

Toll-Iike Receptor-3 Activation Enhances Malignant Traits in Human Breast Cancer Cells Through Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α.

Background/aim: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) inhibitors have been proposed as therapeutic agents for several tumor types. HIF1α is induced by hypoxia and by pathogens in normoxia through toll-like receptors (TLRs). The TLR3 activator polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] induces apoptosis in various types of cancer but not in the most aggressive breast cancer cell lines.

The Role of Autophagy in Liver Epithelial Cells and Its Impact on Systemic Homeostasis.

Autophagy plays a role in several physiological and pathological processes as it controls the turnover rate of cellular components and influences cellular homeostasis. The liver plays a central role in controlling organisms' metabolism, regulating glucose storage, plasma proteins and bile synthesis and the removal of toxic substances. Liver functions are particularly sensitive to autophagy modulation.

Stem-like and highly invasive prostate cancer cells expressing CD44v8-10 marker originate from CD44-negative cells.

In human prostate cancer (PCa), the neuroendocrine cells, expressing the prostate cancer stem cell (CSC) marker CD44, may be resistant to androgen ablation and promote tumor recurrence. During the study of heterogeneity of the highly aggressive neuroendocrine PCa cell lines PC3 and DU-145, we isolated and expanded a minor subpopulation of very small cells lacking CD44 (CD44). Unexpectedly, these sorted CD44 cells rapidly and spontaneously converted to a stable CD44 phenotype specifically expressing the CD44v8-10 isoform which the sorted CD44 subpopulation failed to express.