Silencing of tubulin binding cofactor C modifies microtubule dynamics and cell cycle distribution and enhances sensitivity to gemcitabine in breast cancer cells.

Tubulin binding cofactor C (TBCC) is essential for the proper folding of α- and β-tubulins into microtubule polymerizable heterodimers. Because microtubules are considered major targets in the treatment of breast cancer, we investigated the influence of TBCC silencing on tubulin pools, microtubule dynamics, and cell cycle distribution of breast cancer cells by developing a variant MCF7 cells with reduced content of TBCC (MC-). MC- cells displayed decreased content in nonpolymerizable tubulins and increased content of polymerizable/microtubule tubulins when compared with control MP6 cells.

Tubulin binding cofactor C (TBCC) suppresses tumor growth and enhances chemosensitivity in human breast cancer cells.

Background: Microtubules are considered major therapeutic targets in patients with breast cancer. In spite of their essential role in biological functions including cell motility, cell division and intracellular transport, microtubules have not yet been considered as critical actors influencing tumor cell aggressivity. To evaluate the impact of microtubule mass and dynamics on the phenotype and sensitivity of breast cancer cells, we have targeted tubulin binding cofactor C (TBCC), a crucial protein for the proper folding of alpha and beta tubulins into polymerization-competent tubulin heterodimers.

3D flow study in a mildly stenotic coronary artery phantom using a whole volume PIV method.

Blood flow dynamics has an important role in atherosclerosis initiation, progression, plaque rupture and thrombosis eventually causing myocardial infarction. In particular, shear stress is involved in platelet activation, endothelium function and secondary flows have been proposed as possible variables in plaque erosion. In order to investigate these three-dimensional flow characteristics in the context of a mild stenotic coronary artery, a whole volume PIV method has been developed and applied to a scaled-up transparent phantom.

Modelling of cell proliferation: nuclear versus membrane labelling.

Cell proliferation is a fundamental process involved in growth, development and oncogenesis. Monitoring and quantification of proliferation are essential to analyse the behaviour of cells drug-treated or not. Flow cytometry assessment of cell proliferation requires mathematical models to extract information of interest from fluorescence distributions.

Geometric features of coronary artery lesions favoring acute occlusion and myocardial infarction: a quantitative angiographic study.

Objectives: We sought to identify the angiographic predictors of a future infarction, to study their interaction with time to infarction, patient risk factors and medications, and to evaluate their clinical utility for risk stratification.

Background: Identification of coronary lesions at risk of acute occlusion remains challenging. Stenosis severity is poorly predictive but other stenosis descriptors might be better predictors.