Itraconazole Modulates Phospholipid Levels in Tumor-associated Macrophages.

Background/aim: Itraconazole, an antifungal drug, repolarizes pro-tumorigenic M2 tumor-associated macrophages to anti-tumorigenic M1-like phenotypes, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of itraconazole on membrane-associated lipids in tumor-associated macrophages (TAM).

Materials And Methods: M1 and M2 macrophages were derived from the human monocyte leukemia cell line (THP-1) and cultured with or without 10 μM itraconazole.

Itraconazole Repolarizes Tumor-associated Macrophages and Suppresses Cervical Cancer Cell Growth.

Background/aim: Itraconazole (ITZ), an antifungal agent, has been reported to have anti-tumor effects in patients with multiple cancer types. We investigated the involvement of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in its tumor-agnostic mechanism.

Materials And Methods: M1 and M2 macrophages were established from human monocyte leukemia cell line (THP-1) and their phenotypes were determined morphologically.

Heat shock factor HSF1 regulates BDNF gene promoters upon acute stress in the hippocampus, together with pCREB.

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a master stress-responsive transcriptional factor, protecting cells from death. However, its gene regulation in vivo in the brain in response to neuronal stimuli remains elusive. Here, we investigated its direct regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Bdnf) in response to acute neuronal stress stimuli in the brain.

Itraconazole Inhibits Intracellular Cholesterol Trafficking and Decreases Phosphatidylserine Level in Cervical Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Itraconazole shows anticancer activity in various types of cancer but its underlying mechanism is unclear. We investigated the effect of itraconazole on membrane-associated lipids.

Materials And Methods: To investigate the influences of itraconazole on cholesterol trafficking, cervical cancer CaSki cells were cultured with itraconazole and analyzed by Filipin staining followed by confocal microscopy.

Itraconazole Increases Resolvin E3 Concentration and 12/15-lipoxygenase Inhibitor Attenuates Itraconazole Cytotoxicity in Cervical Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: The anticancer mechanism of itraconazole remains unsolved; therefore, we studied itraconazole-induced alterations in specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: The human cervical squamous carcinoma cell line CaSki was cultured with or without 1 μM itraconazole. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to identify SPMs that were influenced by itraconazole.

ER stress associated TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome activation in hippocampus of human Alzheimer's disease.

Although the exact etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is poorly understood, experimental and clinical evidences suggest the contribution of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD. Pathologically, AD brain is characterized by an imbalance in redox status, elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, synaptic dysfunction, inflammation, and progressive neurodegeneration. It has been noted that continuous accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in AD brain trigger ER stress, which contributes to neurodegeneration.

BDNF deficiency and enriched environment treatment affect neurotransmitter gene expression differently across ages.

Deficiency of activity-induced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) disturbs neurotransmitter gene expression. Enriched environment treatment (EET) ameliorates the defects. However, how BDNF deficiency and EET affect the neurotransmitter gene expression differently across ages remains unclear.

Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein (TXNIP) Associated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Human Alzheimer's Disease Brain.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of age-associated dementia characterized by amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Recent studies have demonstrated that thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), an endogenous regulator of redox/glucose induced stress and inflammation, is now known to be upregulated in stroke, traumatic brain injury, diabetes and AD. We hypothesized that TXNIP overexpression sustains neurodegeneration through activation of the nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 in human AD brains.

Itraconazole treatment of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina evaluated using positron emission tomography and tissue cDNA microarray: a case report.

Background: Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is extremely rare, with a poorer prognosis than cutaneous malignant melanoma. Previous studies have explored the repurposing of itraconazole, a common oral anti-fungal agent, for the treatment of various cancers. Here, we describe a patient with metastatic, unresectable vaginal malignant melanoma treated with 200 mg oral itraconazole twice a day in a clinical window-of-opportunity trial.

Repurposing itraconazole as an anticancer agent.

Itraconazole, a common anti-fungal agent, has demonstrated potential anticancer activity, including reversing chemoresistance mediated by P-glycoprotein, modulating the signal transduction pathways of Hedgehog, mechanistic target of rapamycin and Wnt/β-catenin in cancer cells, inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, and possibly interfering with cancer-stromal cell interactions. Clinical trials have suggested the clinical benefits of itraconazole monotherapy for prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma, as well as the survival advantage of combination chemotherapy for relapsed non-small cell lung, ovarian, triple negative breast, pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. As drug repurposing is cost-effective and timesaving, a review was conducted of preclinical and clinical data focusing on the anticancer activity of itraconazole, and discusses the future directions for repurposing itraconazole as an anticancer agent.

Promoter IV-BDNF deficiency disturbs cholinergic gene expression of CHRNA5, CHRM2, and CHRM5: effects of drug and environmental treatments.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes maturation of cholinergic neurons. However, how activity-dependent BDNF expression affects specific cholinergic gene expression remains unclear. This study addressed this question by determining mRNA levels of 22 acetylcholine receptor subunits, the choline transporter (CHT), and the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in mice deficient in activity-dependent BDNF via promoter IV (KIV) and control wild-type mice.

Bidirectional interplay of HSF1 degradation and UPR activation promotes tau hyperphosphorylation.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the cytoplasmic heat stress response are two major stress response systems necessary for maintaining proteostasis for cellular health. Failure of either of these systems, such as in sustained UPR activation or in insufficient heat shock response activation, can lead to the development of neurodegeneration. Alleviation of ER stress and enhancement of heat shock response through heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) activation have previously been considered as attractive potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-a prevalent and devastating tauopathy.

Itraconazole Modulates Hedgehog, WNT/β-catenin, as well as Akt Signalling, and Inhibits Proliferation of Cervical Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Repurposing itraconazole as an anticancer agent has been evaluated in several studies. The present study investigated whether itraconazole exerts an anticancer effect on cervical cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: CaSki and HeLa cells were cultured in itraconazole and vehicle after which colony-forming and cell viability assays were performed.

Itraconazole Inhibits AKT/mTOR Signaling and Proliferation in Endometrial Cancer Cells.

Background: Itraconazole is a common antifungal agent that has demonstrated anticancer activity in preclinical and clinical studies. This study investigated whether itraconazole exerts this effect in endometrial cancer (EC) cells.

Materials And Methods: Cell viability was evaluated with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and gene and protein expression were assessed by microarray analysis and immunoblotting, respectively, in five EC cell lines.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number in cumulus cells is a strong predictor of obtaining good-quality embryos after IVF.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish a simple tool to predict good-quality embryos in in vitro fertilization (IVF) by using cumulus cells (CCs) or peripheral blood cells (PBCs).

Methods: Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from CCs and PBCs in patients undergoing IVF. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, mtDNA copy number in a single cell was calculated.

Gremlin 2 is Repressed in Invasive Endometrial Cancer and Inhibits Cell Growth In Vitro.

Background: There exist limited therapeutic opportunities regarding the treatment of endometrial cancer (EC), and novel therapies based on the molecular profiling of EC cells are required.

Materials And Methods: We used microarray analysis of EC tumour samples in order to identify tumour-specific changes regarding gene expression.

Results: It was found that gremlin 2, an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, was repressed in EC samples, and that gremlin 2 inhibited tumour cell growth.

Expression of Hedgehog Signals and Growth Inhibition by Itraconazole in Endometrial Cancer.

Background: There exist limited therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of endometrial cancer (EC). Itraconazole, a common anti-fungal agent and a potent inhibitor of the Hedgehog pathway, has been shown to be clinically effective for various types of cancers, but its clinical efficacy for EC is unknown. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of itraconazole in treating EC.

Expression of chemokine ligand 18 in stage IA low-grade endometrial cancer.

Background/aim: The identification of novel molecules associated with endometrial cancer (EC) development might offer less invasive surgery, better fertility preservation, and avoidance of unnecessary adjuvant therapy.

Materials And Methods: Microarray analysis was conducted using fresh surgically-obtained specimens from five EC patients and five cases with benign tumours. Additionally, immunohistochemical studies of the most highly expressed molecules were performed on paraffin-embedded tissues from these patients and others with stage IA, grade 1-2 EC (n=3) with or without (n=7) recurrent disease.

Hsp90 chaperone inhibitor 17-AAG attenuates Aβ-induced synaptic toxicity and memory impairment.

The excessive accumulation of soluble amyloid peptides (Aβ) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly in synaptic dysfunction. The role of the two major chaperone proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp90, in clearing misfolded protein aggregates has been established. Despite their abundant presence in synapses, the role of these chaperones in synapses remains elusive.

A large seminoma occurring 20 years after diagnosis of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: A case report.

•A seminoma developed in a patient with androgen insensitivity syndrome.•The patient had a de novo androgen receptor mutation.•Proper management of AIS, including appropriate genetic counseling, is necessary.

Role of activity-dependent BDNF expression in hippocampal-prefrontal cortical regulation of behavioral perseverance.

Activity-dependent gene transcription, including that of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene, has been implicated in various cognitive functions. We previously demonstrated that mutant mice with selective disruption of activity-dependent BDNF expression (BDNF-KIV mice) exhibit deficits in GABA-mediated inhibition in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Here, we show that disruption of activity-dependent BDNF expression impairs BDNF-dependent late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP) in CA1, a site of hippocampal output to the PFC.

Effects of antidepressant treatment on mice lacking brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression through promoter IV.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression; mice lacking BDNF expression through promoter IV (BDNF-KIV) exhibit a depression-like phenotype. We tested our hypothesis that deficits caused by promoter IV deficiency (depression-like behavior, decreased levels of BDNF, and neurogenesis in the hippocampus) could be rescued by a 3-week treatment with different types of antidepressants: fluoxetine, phenelzine, duloxetine, or imipramine. Each antidepressant reduced immobility time in the tail suspension test without affecting locomotor activity in the open field test in both BDNF-KIV and control wild type mice, except that phenelzine increased locomotor activity in wild type mice and anxiety-like behavior in BDNF-KIV mice.

A key mechanism underlying sensory experience-dependent maturation of neocortical GABAergic circuits in vivo.

Mechanisms underlying experience-dependent refinement of cortical connections, especially GABAergic inhibitory circuits, are unknown. By using a line of mutant mice that lack activity-dependent BDNF expression (bdnf-KIV), we show that experience regulation of cortical GABAergic network is mediated by activity-driven BDNF expression. Levels of endogenous BDNF protein in the barrel cortex are strongly regulated by sensory inputs from whiskers.

Critical role of promoter IV-driven BDNF transcription in GABAergic transmission and synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex.

Transcription of Bdnf is controlled by multiple promoters, which drive expression of multiple transcripts encoding for the same protein. Promoter IV contributes significantly to activity-dependent brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcription. We have generated promoter IV mutant mice (BDNF-KIV) by inserting a GFP-STOP cassette within the Bdnf exon IV locus.

The role of androgens in spermatogenesis.

Androgens are important factors in spermatogenesis. However, the biological role of androgen in Sertoli cells is still unclear. In this study, we analysed mutations and CAG repeats of the androgen receptor gene in 19 azoospermic and 117 oligozoospermic men.