Understanding the Role of the SMN Complex Component GEMIN5 and Its Functional Relationship with Demethylase KDM6B in the Flunarizine-Mediated Neuroprotection of Motor Neuron Disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Dysregulated RNA metabolism caused by SMN deficiency leads to motor neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Current therapies improve patient outcomes but achieve no definite cure, prompting renewed efforts to better understand disease mechanisms. The calcium channel blocker flunarizine improves motor function in -deficient mice and can help uncover neuroprotective pathways.

Rock inhibition promotes Na1.5 sodium channel-dependent SW620 colon cancer cell invasiveness.

The acquisition of invasive capacities by carcinoma cells, i.e. their ability to migrate through and to remodel extracellular matrices, is a determinant process leading to their dissemination and to the development of metastases.

Phosphorylation of NHERF1 S279 and S301 differentially regulates breast cancer cell phenotype and metastatic organotropism.

Metastatic cancer cells are highly plastic for the expression of different tumor phenotype hallmarks and organotropism. This plasticity is highly regulated but the dynamics of the signaling processes orchestrating the shift from one cell phenotype and metastatic organ pattern to another are still largely unknown. The scaffolding protein NHERF1 has been shown to regulate the expression of different neoplastic phenotypes through its PDZ domains, which forms the mechanistic basis for metastatic organotropism.

SCN4B acts as a metastasis-suppressor gene preventing hyperactivation of cell migration in breast cancer.

The development of metastases largely relies on the capacity of cancer cells to invade extracellular matrices (ECM) using two invasion modes termed 'mesenchymal' and 'amoeboid', with possible transitions between these modes. Here we show that the SCN4B gene, encoding for the β4 protein, initially characterized as an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated sodium channels (Na) in excitable tissues, is expressed in normal epithelial cells and that reduced β4 protein levels in breast cancer biopsies correlate with high-grade primary and metastatic tumours. In cancer cells, reducing β4 expression increases RhoA activity, potentiates cell migration and invasiveness, primary tumour growth and metastatic spreading, by promoting the acquisition of an amoeboid-mesenchymal hybrid phenotype.

How do voltage-gated sodium channels enhance migration and invasiveness in cancer cells?

Voltage-gated sodium channels are abnormally expressed in tumors, often as neonatal isoforms, while they are not expressed, or only at a low level, in the matching normal tissue. The level of their expression and their activity is related to the aggressiveness of the disease and to the formation of metastases. A vast knowledge on the regulation of their expression and functioning has been accumulated in normal excitable cells.

Ranolazine inhibits NaV1.5-mediated breast cancer cell invasiveness and lung colonization.

Background: Na(V)1.5 voltage-gated sodium channels are abnormally expressed in breast tumours and their expression level is associated with metastatic occurrence and patients' death. In breast cancer cells, Na(V)1.

PPARβ mRNA expression, reduced by n-3 PUFA diet in mammary tumor, controls breast cancer cell growth.

The effect of numerous anticancer drugs on breast cancer cell lines and rodent mammary tumors can be enhanced by a treatment with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) which is a natural ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR). In order to identify the PPAR regulating breast cancer cell growth, we tested the impact of siRNA, selected to suppress PPARα, PPARβ or PPARγ mRNA in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The siPPARβ was the most effective to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in both cell lines.