STAT3 is required for Smo-dependent signaling and mediates Smo-targeted treatment resistance and tumorigenesis in Shh medulloblastoma.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-driven medulloblastoma (Shh MB) cells are dependent on constitutive Shh signaling, but targeted treatment of Shh MB has been ineffective due to drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to address the critical role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in Shh signaling and drug resistance in Shh MB cells. Herein, we show that STAT3 is required for Smoothened (Smo)-dependent Shh signaling and, in turn, is reciprocally regulated by Shh signaling, and demonstrate that STAT3 activity is critical for expression of HCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase (Hck) in Shh MB.

Characterization of exosome release and extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs for human bronchial epithelial cells irradiated with high charge and energy ions.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that mediate transport of nucleic acids, proteins, and other molecules. Prior work has implicated exosomes in the transmission of radiation nontargeted effects. Here we investigate the ability of energetic heavy ions, representative of species found in galactic cosmic rays, to stimulate exosome release from human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.

SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology and assessment of coronaviruses in CNS diseases with a focus on therapeutic targets.

The novel Coronavirus disease of 2019 (nCOV-19) is a viral outbreak noted first in Wuhan, China. This disease is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus (CoV)-2. In the past, other members of the coronavirus family, such as SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), have made an impact in China and the Arabian peninsula respectively.

Exosome-Containing Preparations From Postirradiated Mouse Melanoma Cells Delay Melanoma Growth In Vivo by a Natural Killer Cell-Dependent Mechanism.

Purpose: To investigate the ability of radiation to stimulate exosome release from melanoma cells and to characterize the resulting exosome-containing vesicle preparations for their ability to promote a host antitumor immune response.

Materials And Methods: Cultured B16F10 murine melanoma cells or tumors were irradiated, and secreted extracellular vesicles were isolated and characterized. The exosome-containing vesicle preparations were injected into fresh tumors in syngeneic mice, and tumor growth and infiltrating T cells and natural killer (NK) cells were characterized.

Exosomes, Their Biogenesis and Role in Inter-Cellular Communication, Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Immunotherapy.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles ranging from 30 to 150 nm in diameter that contain molecular constituents of their host cells. They are released from different types of cells ranging from immune to tumor cells and play an important role in intercellular communication. Exosomes can be manipulated by altering their host cells and can be loaded with products of interest such as specific drugs, proteins, DNA and RNA species.

Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide signaling in bystander cells.

It is now well accepted that radiation induced bystander effects can occur in cells exposed to media from irradiated cells. The aim of this study was to follow the bystander cells in real time following addition of media from irradiated cells and to determine the effect of inhibiting these signals. A human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT cells, was irradiated (0.

Lipidomic and proteomic analysis of exosomes from mouse cortical collecting duct cells.

Exosomes are endosome-derived nanovesicles that are involved in cellular communication and signaling. Exosomes are produced by epithelial cells and are found in biologic fluids including blood and urine. The packaged material within exosomes includes proteins and lipids, but the molecular comparison within exosome subtypes is largely unknown.

Matrix metalloproteinases: their functional role in lung cancer.

Lung malignancy is the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths globally and is frequently related to long-term tobacco smoking. Recent studies reveal that the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is extremely high in lung tumors compared with non-malignant lung tissue. MMPs are zinc-dependent proteases and are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM).

Exosomal GAPDH from Proximal Tubule Cells Regulate ENaC Activity.

Exosomes are nanometer-scale, cell-derived vesicles that contain various molecules including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. These vesicles can release their cargo into adjacent or distant cells and mediate intercellular communication and cellular function. Here we examined the regulation of epithelial sodium channels in mpkCCD cells and distal tubule Xenopus 2F3 cells by exosomes isolated from proximal tubule LLC-PK1 cells.

Co-culturing with High-Charge and Energy Particle Irradiated Cells Increases Mutagenic Joining of Enzymatically Induced DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Nonirradiated Cells.

Cell populations that have been exposed to high-charge and energy (HZE) particle radiation, and then challenged by expression of a rare-cutting nuclease, show an increased frequency of deletions and translocations originating at the enzyme cut sites. Here, we examine whether this effect also occurs in nonirradiated cells that have been co-cultured with irradiated cells. Human cells were irradiated with 0.

Cell death pathways in directly irradiated cells and cells exposed to medium from irradiated cells.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare levels of apoptosis, necrosis, mitotic cell death and senescence after treatment with both direct radiation and irradiated cell conditioned medium.

Materials And Methods: Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) were irradiated (0.005, 0.

The importance of serum serotonin levels in the measurement of radiation-induced bystander cell death in HaCaT cells.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of serum serotonin levels in the measurement of bystander cell death. The study was undertaken as part of an intercomparison exercise involving seven European laboratories funded under the European Union Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Non-Targeted Effects (NOTE) integrated project.

Materials And Methods: Three batches of foetal bovine serum were tested; serum with high and low serotonin content from the intercomparison exercise as well as serum from the home laboratory.