A novel PD-1/PD-L1 pathway-related seven-gene signature for the development and validation of the prognosis prediction model for breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer (BC/BRCA) is the most common carcinoma in women. The average 5-year survival rate of BC patients with stage IV disease is 26%. A considerable proportion of patients still do not receive effective therapy.

Blockage of αvβ3 integrin in 3D culture of triple-negative breast cancer and endothelial cells inhibits migration and discourages endothelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity.

Breast cancer is a relevant cause of mortality in women and its triple-negative subtype (TNBC) is usually associated with poor prognosis. During tumor progression to metastasis, angiogenesis is triggered by the sprouting of endothelial cells from pre-existing vessels by a dynamic chain of events including VE-cadherin downregulation, actin protrusion, and integrin-mediated adhesion, allowing for migration and proliferation. The binding of tumoral and tumor-associated stromal cells with the extracellular matrix through integrins mediates angiogenic processes and certain integrin subtypes, such as the αβ integrin, are upregulated in hypoxic TNBC models.

Astragaloside IV enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer stem cells to paclitaxel by inhibiting stemness.

Background: Chemotherapy is one of the common treatments for breast cancer. The induction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is an important reason for chemotherapy failure and breast cancer recurrence. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) is one of the effective components of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) , which can improve the sensitivity of various tumors to chemotherapy drugs.

Comparison of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nano topographic surfaces of titanium alloys on pre-osteoblastic cell interaction.

This work aimed to assess the influence of different structured substrates with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties on micro and nano topographies developed on titanium alloys over pre-osteoblastic cell behavior. Nano topography influences small dimension levels of cell morphology by inducing filopodia formation in cell membranes, irrespectively to the wettability behavior of the surface. Therefore, micro and nanostructured surfaces of titanium-based samples using different techniques of surface modification processing, such as chemical treatments, micro-arc anodic oxidation (MAO), and MAO combined to laser irradiation were developed.

Role of resistance training in bone macro and micro damages in an estrogen absence animal model.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of resistance training (RT) on bone properties, morphology, and bone extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling markers in an ovariectomy (OVX) rat model.

Main Methods: Thirty-six female rats were divided into four groups: sham sedentary, OVX sedentary, sham RT, and OVX RT. Rats performed RT for ten weeks, during which they climbed a ladder with progressive loads attached to the tail.

Integrative perspective of the healthy aging process considering the metabolome, cardiac autonomic modulation and cardiorespiratory fitness evaluated in age groups.

The aging process causes changes at all organic levels. Although metabolism, cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are widely studied as a function of age, they are mainly studied in isolation, thus making it difficult to perceive their concomitant variations. This study aimed to investigate the integrated changes that occur in the metabolome, CAM, and CRF throughout aging in apparently healthy individuals.

Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Induce Oxygen-Dependent Cell Invasion.

Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygenation frequently found in triple-negative breast tumors (TNBC), promotes extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion and favors cell invasion, a complex process in which cell morphology is altered, dynamic focal adhesion spots are created, and ECM is remodeled. Here, we investigated the invasive properties triggered by TNBC-derived hypoxic small EV (SEVh) in vitro in cells cultured under hypoxic (1% O) and normoxic (20% O) conditions, using phenotypical and proteomic approaches. SEVh characterization demonstrated increased protein abundance and diversity over normoxic SEV (SEVn), with enrichment in pro-invasive pathways.

Improving 3-hydroxypropionic acid production in E. coli by in silico prediction of new metabolic targets.

3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) production from renewable feedstocks is of great interest in efforts to develop greener processes for obtaining this chemical platform. Here we report an engineered E. coli strain for 3-HP production through the β-alanine pathway.

Profile of IL-6 and TNF in Foam Cell Formation: An Improved Method Using Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) Probe.

Background: The formation of foam cells occurs due to the increase in low-density plasma lipoprotein (LDL) and dysregulation of inflammation, which is important for the development of atherosclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the profile of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the existing foam cell formation method, optimizing this protocol.

Methods: The LDL was isolated, oxidized, and labeled with a Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) probe.

Comparing extracellular vesicles and cell membranes as biocompatible coatings for gold nanorods: Implications for targeted theranostics.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and cell membrane nanoghosts are excellent coatings for nanomaterials, providing enhanced delivery in the target sites and evasion of the immune system. These cell-derived coatings allow the exploration of the delivery properties of the nanoparticles without stimulation of the immune system. Despite the advances reported on the use of EVs and cell-membrane coatings for nanomedicine applications, there are no standards to compare the benefits and main differences between these technologies.

Effects of Moderate-Intensity Physical Training on Skeletal Muscle Substrate Transporters and Metabolic Parameters of Ovariectomized Rats.

A deficit of estrogen is associated with energy substrate imbalance, raising the risk of metabolic diseases. Physical training (PT) is a potent metabolic regulator through oxidation and storage of substrates transported by GLUT4 and FAT CD36 in skeletal muscle. However, little is known about the effects of PT on these carriers in an estrogen-deficit scenario.

Alternagin-C, an alpha2beta1 integrin ligand, attenuates collagen-based adhesion, stimulating the metastasis suppressor 1 expression in triple-negative breast tumor cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer has an aggressive clinical course and its treatment has been challenging due to high metastatic risk. Molecular targets have been sought to provide better strategies for this type of cancer. Integrins are cell adhesion receptors involved in tumor progression and αβ integrin, a collagen receptor, has a key role in breast metastasis.

Resistance training variable manipulations are less relevant than intrinsic biology in affecting muscle fiber hypertrophy.

We aimed to investigate whether muscle fiber cross-sectional area (fCSA) and associated molecular processes could be differently affected at the group and individual level by manipulating resistance training (RT) variables. Twenty resistance-trained subjects had each leg randomly allocated to either a standard RT (RT-CON: without specific variables manipulations) or a variable RT (RT-VAR: manipulation of load, volume, muscle action, and rest interval at each RT session). Muscle fCSA, satellite cell (SC) pool, myonuclei content, and gene expression were assessed before and after training (chronic effect).

Hormetic-like dose-response induced by alternagin-C, a protein isolated from urutu snake (Rhinocerophis alternatus) venom, in fish (Hoplias malabaricus) cardiac contractility.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of alternagin-C, a disintegrin-like protein from Rhinocerophis alternatus venom, on myocardial contractility of the freshwater fish Hoplias malabaricus, an alternative model to contractile function studies. Alternagin-C treatment exhibited a hormetic-like dose-response curve with a strong positive inotropism and enhanced cardiac pumping capacity at low dose, whereas a modest inotropism and a left shift in the force-frequency relationship was registered at high dose.

Suturable elastomeric tubular grafts with patterned porosity for rapid vascularization of 3D constructs.

Vascularization is considered to be one of the key challenges in engineering functional 3D tissues. Engineering suturable vascular grafts containing pores with diameter of several tens of microns in tissue engineered constructs may provide an instantaneous blood perfusion through the grafts improving cell infiltration and thus, allowing rapid vascularization and vascular branching. The aim of this work was to develop suturable tubular scaffolds to be integrated in biofabricated constructs, enabling the direct connection of the biofabricated construct with the host blood stream, providing an immediate blood flow inside the construct.

Metabolic engineering of E. coli for pyocyanin production.

Pyocyanin is a secondary metabolite from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that belongs to the class of phenazines, which are aromatic nitrogenous compounds with numerous biological functions. Besides its antifungal and antimicrobial activities, pyocyanin is a remarkable redox-active molecule with potential applications ranging from the pharma industry to the development of microbial fuel cells. Nevertheless, pyocyanin production has been restricted to P.

Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs): A structure-function update.

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) represent a diverse group of multi-domain proteins with several biological activities such as the ability to induce hemorrhage, proteolytic degradation of fibrinogen and fibrin, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Due to these activities, SVMPs are responsible for many of the well-known pathological phenotypes in snake envenomations caused particularly by species from the family and the subfamily. These proteins have been classified based on their size and domain structure into P-I, P-II and P-III classes.

Remodeling process in bone of aged rats in response to resistance training.

Aims: We investigate the effects of RT on the mechanical function, gene, and protein expression of key factors involved in bone remodeling during aging.

Main Methods: Male rats of 3 and 21 months of age were randomly allocated into four groups (8 per group): young sedentary (YS), young trained (YT), old sedentary (OS), and old trained (OT). RT was performed three times per week (12 weeks).

Proteomic changes in skeletal muscle of aged rats in response to resistance training.

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial process defined by loss of strength and skeletal muscle mass, which leads to a reduction in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Although resistance training (RT) has been indicated as a tool to counteract sarcopenia, the protein profile associated with skeletal muscle adaptations remains to be determined. We investigated the effects of 12 weeks of RT on the skeletal muscle proteome profile and CSA of young and older rats.

Alphavbeta3 integrin blocking inhibits apoptosis and induces autophagy in murine breast tumor cells.

Integrins are cell receptors that mediate adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulate cell migration, a crucial process in tumor invasion. The αβ integrin recognizes the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif in ECM proteins and it can be antagonized by RGD-peptides, resulting in decreased cell migration and invasion. RGD-based drugs have shown disappointing results in clinical trials; however, the reasons for their lack of activity are still obscure.

Alternagin-C, a disintegrin-like protein from Bothrops alternatus venom, attenuates inflammation and angiogenesis and stimulates collagen deposition of sponge-induced fibrovascular tissue in mice.

Alternagin-C (ALT-C), a disintegrin-like protein obtained from the venom of Bothrops alternatus, is able to modulate cellular behaviors such as adhesion, migration and proliferation, as well as the production of various growth factors via αβ integrin, important processes during inflammation, angiogenesis and fibrogenesis, which although appear as distinct events, act concomitantly in several chronic inflammatory diseases. Our objective was to investigate the effects of ALT-C on components of the sponge-induced inflammatory response in balb/c mice. The polyester-polyurethane sponges were implanted in mice's subcutaneous layer of the dorsal region and daily injected with saline (control group) or ALT-C (10, 100 or 1000 ng).

Metastasis inhibition in breast cancer by targeting cancer cell extravasation.

The spread of cells from primary tumors toward distant tissues and organs, also known as metastasis, is responsible for most cancer-associated deaths. The metastasis cascade comprises a series of events, characterized by the displacement of tumor cells (TCs) from the primary tumor to distant organs by traveling through the bloodstream, and their subsequent colonization. The first step in metastasis involves loss of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, increased invasiveness and migratory abilities, leading to intravasation of TCs into the blood or lymphatic vessels.

Author Correction: Resistance training regulates gene expression of molecules associated with intramyocellular lipids, glucose signaling and fiber size in old rats.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Fabrication and Characterization of Scaffolds of Poly(-caprolactone)/Biosilicate® Biocomposites Prepared by Generative Manufacturing Process.

Scaffolds of poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) and their biocomposites with 0, 1, 3, and 5 wt.% Biosilicate® were fabricated by the generative manufacturing process coupled with a vertical miniscrew extrusion head to application for restoration of bone tissue. Their morphological characterization indicated the designed 0°/90° architecture range of pore sizes and their interconnectivity is feasible for tissue engineering applications.