The role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary fibrosis: lessons from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19.

Despite the tremendous advancements in the knowledge of the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, still many issues remain unanswered, especially in the long-term effects. Mounting evidence suggests that pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the most severe complications associated with COVID-19. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind its development is helpful to develop successful therapeutic strategies.

STAT protein family and cardiovascular diseases: overview of pathological mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the significant causes of death and are considered a major concern of human society. One of the most crucial objectives of scientists is to reveal the mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of CVD, which has attracted the attention of many scientists. Accumulating evidence showed that the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is involved in various physiological and pathological processes.

Vitamin D and potential effects on cancers: a review.

Cancer is characterized by the abnormal and uncontrollable division and growth of cells that can infiltrate tissues and alter normal physiological function, which will become crucial and life-threatening if left untreated. Cancer can be a result of genetics, such as mutations or environmental causes, including smoking, lack of physical activity, as well as nutritional imbalance in the body. Vitamin D is one of the foremost nutrients that play a crucial role in a variety of biochemical pathways, and it is an important key factor in several diseases.

Alantolactone triggers oxeiptosis in human ovarian cancer cells via Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Introduction: A growing body of evidence indicated that Alantolactone (ALT) promotes Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation exclusively in cancer cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ALT on the molecular mechanism of oxeiptosis, as a novel cell death pathway due to the high levels of intracellular ROS in ovarian cancer.

Methods: MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of ALT on SKOV3 cell viability.

The Epigenetic Reader Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) Is an Emerging Oncogene in Cancer Biology.

Epigenetic mechanisms are gene regulatory processes that control gene expression and cellular identity. Epigenetic factors include the "writers", "readers", and "erasers" of epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation. Accordingly, the nuclear protein Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is a reader of DNA methylation with key roles in cellular identity and function.

MicroRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Application in prognosis, diagnosis, and drug delivery.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in various cell biology processes, including cancer formation. These small non-coding RNAs could function as diagnostic and prognostic markers. They may involve esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and distinctive miRNA expression profiles; they are also known as therapeutic targets in human diseases.

The role of exosomes in the molecular mechanisms of metastasis: Focusing on EMT and cancer stem cells.

Exosomes are cell-derived small membrane-encapsulated vesicles that transfer biomolecules to surrounding cells. Exosomes play fundamental roles in cell-cell communications. They can also aggravate cancer progression and metastasis.

Alantolactone and ZnO nanoparticles induce apoptosis activity of cisplatin in an ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3).

Background And Purpose: Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women. Despite the increase in cases of this cancer, the current therapeutic strategy is not effective. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cisplatin (Cis) with alantolactone (ALT) and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in inducing apoptosis in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells line.

Exosomes and COVID-19: challenges and opportunities.

Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, starting from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is a pandemic situation affecting millions worldwide and has exerted a huge burden on healthcare infrastructure. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and design novel effective therapeutic strategies for combating this pandemic. In this regard, special attention has been paid to the exosomes.

Revealed pathophysiological mechanisms of crosslinking interaction of affected vital organs in COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 is one of the main serious challenges of human societies, which emerged in December 2019 from China and quickly extends to all parts of the world. The virus was previously believed to only affect the lungs and respiratory system, but subsequent research has revealed that it affects a variety of organs. For this reason, this disease is known as a multiorgan disease.

Crosslink between p53 and metastasis: focus on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cell, angiogenesis, autophagy, and anoikis.

Introduction: P53, as a tumor suppressor gene, is believed to be one of the most mutated genes in cancer cells. The mutant forms of this protein often play a tumorigenic role in cancer cells. Recent evidence shows that p53 plays a critical role in the migration, metastasis, and invasion of cancer cells.

The emerging role of miR-200 family in metastasis: focus on EMT, CSCs, angiogenesis, and anoikis.

Introduction: Cancer is the second major threat to human society and one of the main challenges facing healthcare systems. One of the main problems of cancer care is the metastases of cancer cells that cause 90% of deaths due to cancer. Multiple molecular mechanisms are involved in cancer cell metastasis.

The role of circadian genes in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer in human beings and is also the major cause of death among the other gastrointestinal cancers. The exact mechanisms of CRC development in most patients remains unclear. So far, several genetically, environmental and epigenetically risk factors have been identified for CRC development.

Alantolactone inhibits stem-like cell phenotype, chemoresistance and metastasis in PC3 cells through STAT3 signaling pathway.

Background And Purpose: Cancer stem cells (CSCs), as the subpopulation of cancer cells, are associated with carcinogenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis in malignancies. Also, CSCs are considered as the major reason for treatment failure in prostate cancer (PCa). Alantolactone (ALT), exerts anticancer activity in different types of cancers.

Critical roles of TLRs on the polarization of mesenchymal stem cells for cell therapy of viral infections: a notice for COVID-19 treatment.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as one of the leading cell-based therapy, have provided a strong link between clinical investigation and basic research. MSCs have been successfully employed in treating graft versus host disease (GvHD), autoimmune disease, and several other diseases, particularly with high immune activity. Recently, MSCs have attracted attention to treating untreatable viral infections such as severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A comprehensive review of anticancer mechanisms of action of Alantolactone.

Cancer is considered as the main challenge of human communities, and it annually imposes a significant economic burden on society. Natural products have been used for treatment of many diseases including inflammation, infections, neurological disorders, atherosclerosis, asthma and cancer for many years. Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) refers to a group of natural products with different biological activities.

EMT, cancer stem cells and autophagy; The three main axes of metastasis.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are major factors contributing to the metastasis of cancer cells. Consequently, the signaling pathways involved in both processes are appropriate therapeutic targets in the treatment of metastasis. Autophagy is another process that has recently attracted the attention of many researchers; depending on the type of cancer and tissue and the stage of cancer, this process can play a dual role in the development of cancer cells.

Hsp70 in cancer: A double agent in the battle between survival and death.

The heat shock protein (Hsps) superfamily, also known as molecular chaperones, are highly conserved and present in all living organisms and play vital roles in protein fate. The HspA1A (Hsp70-1), called Hsp70 in this review, is expressed at low or undetectable levels in most unstressed normal cells, but numerous studies have shown that diverse types of tumor cells express Hsp70 at the plasma membrane that leads to resistance to programmed cell death and tumor progression. Hsp70 is released into the extracellular milieu in three forms including free soluble, complexed with cancer antigenic peptides, and exosome forms.

Combination of quercetin and exercise training attenuates depression in rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer: Possible involvement of inflammation and BDNF signalling.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What are the alleviative effects of the combination of exercise training and quercetin supplementation on colorectal cancer-related depression in rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer and what is the corresponding signalling pathway? What is the main finding and its importance? We showed that the combination of exercise training and quercetin supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in tumour incidence and improvement in depressive-like behaviours through modulation of the BDNF/TrKβ/β-catenin axis in the prefrontal cortex.

Abstract: In addition to physical problems, depression is considered to be one of the most important challenges for patients with various types of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. Inflammation and upregulation of brain neurotrophic factors are two major links between cancer and depression.

The dual role of mir-146a in metastasis and disease progression.

Objective: MicroRNAs are ribonucleic acids that are single-stranded and endogenous non-coding acids that regulate gene expression in later stages of the translation process by binding to genomic regulatory sites. miR146a is mostly involved in the regulation of inflammatory systems and another process that role in the innate immune system. In the present review, we have focused on the recent acquisitions about the main role played by mir146a in the control of the immune system and tumorigenesis.

The protective impact of betaine on the tissue structure and renal function in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rat.

Background: Myocardial infarction is one of the most common life threatening diseases that may lead to renal disorders via oxidative stress and inflammation. Betaine is a safe and well-tolerated compound exhibiting beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have demonstrated protective effects of betaine against myocardial infarction and renal injury.

Application of sesquiterpene lactone: A new promising way for cancer therapy based on anticancer activity.

Cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases that are rapidly increasing globally. After heart disease, it is the second leading cause of death, accounting for seven million deaths each year. Chemotherapy is the use of cytotoxic drugs on cancer cells.