Biotin functionalization of 8-hydroxyquinoline anticancer organometallics: low toxicity but potent activity.

[M(arene)(HQ)Cl] complexes (M = Ru/Os/Rh/Ir; HQ = 8-hydroxyquinoline) have shown promise as anticancer agents. To assess the effect of conjugating biotin (vitamin B7) to such compounds and improve their tumor-targeting ability through interaction with the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT), the chlorido co-ligand was exchanged with biotinylated 6-aminoindazole. The complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and purity was determined by elemental analysis.

Microinjection of β-glucan Into Larval Zebrafish () for the Assessment of a Trained-Like Immunity Phenotype.

The innate immune system can previous inflammatory insults, enabling long-term heightened responsiveness to secondary immune challenges in a process termed "trained immunity." Trained innate immune cells undergo metabolic and epigenetic remodelling and, upon a secondary challenge, provide enhanced protection with therapeutic potential. Trained immunity has largely been studied in innate immune cells in vitro or following ex vivo re-stimulation where the primary insult is typically injected into a mouse, adult zebrafish, or human.

In vitro and in vivo accumulation of the anticancer Ru complexes [Ru(cym)(HQ)Cl] and [Ru(cym)(PCA)Cl]Cl.

The cellular accumulation and the underlying mechanisms for the two ruthenium-based anticancer complexes [Ru(cym)(HQ)Cl] 1 (cym = η-p-cymene, HQ = 8-hydroxyquinoline) and [Ru(cym)(PCA)Cl]Cl 2 (PCA = N-fluorophenyl-2-pyridinecarbothioamide) were investigated in HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cells. The results showed that the cellular accumulation of both complexes increased over time and with higher concentrations, and that 2 accumulates in greater quantities in cells than 1. Inhibition studies of selected cellular accumulation mechanisms indicated that both 1 and 2 may be transported into the cells by both passive diffusion and active transporters, similar to cisplatin.

Infection-experienced HSPCs protect against infections by generating neutrophils with enhanced mitochondrial bactericidal activity.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) respond to infection by proliferating and generating in-demand neutrophils through a process called emergency granulopoiesis (EG). Recently, infection-induced changes in HSPCs have also been shown to underpin the longevity of trained immunity, where they generate innate immune cells with enhanced responses to subsequent microbial threats. Using larval zebrafish to live image neutrophils and HSPCs, we show that infection-experienced HSPCs generate neutrophils with enhanced bactericidal functions.