Nanotherapy Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment.

Cancer is characterized by high mortality and low curability. Recent studies have shown that the mechanism of tumor resistance involves not only endogenous changes to tumor cells, but also to the tumor microenvironment (TME), which provides the necessary conditions for the growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells, akin to Stephen Paget's hypothesis of "seed and soil." Hence, the TME is a significant target for cancer therapy via nanoparticles, which can carry different kinds of drugs targeting different types or stages of tumors.

Low ketolytic enzyme levels in tumors predict ketogenic diet responses in cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, very-low-carbohydrate diet that triggers a fasting state by decreasing glucose and increasing ketone bodies, such as β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB). In experimental models and clinical trials, the KD has shown anti-tumor effects, possibly by reducing energy supplies to cells, which damage the tumor microenvironment and inhibit tumor growth. Here, we determined expression levels of genes encoding the ketolytic enzymes 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1 (BDH1) and succinyl-CoA: 3-oxoacid CoA transferase 1 (OXCT1) in 33 human cancer cell lines.

Mitochondrial ultrastructure & release of proteins during liver regeneration.

Background & Objectives: It has been reported that some proteins are released from mitochondria during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH), but the relationship between proteins release and mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) remains unclear. We undertook this study to demonstrate the changes of mitochondrial ultrastructure and proteins release during liver regeneration and to determine the relationship between proteins release and MPT in liver regeneration in rats.

Methods: After PH and administration of cyclosporin-A (CsA, a specific inhibitor of MPT), ultrastructural morphology of mitochondria in the remnant liver were determined by electron microscopy.

[Effect of opening of neuronal mitochondrial permeability transition pore on respiratory function after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of opening of neuronal mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) on respiratory function after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in rats and its possible mechanism.

Methods: Cardiac arrest (CA)/CPR rat model was reproduced by asphyxiation and ice-cold KCl followed resuscitation and restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The rats were sacrificed by decapitation at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

[Effects of A3243G point mutation on aminoacylation of human mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR)].

The wild-type and mutant-type human mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) genes were synthesized and transcribed in vitro with T7 RNA polymerase. The kinetic parameters of human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase(mtLeuRS) were determined with wild-type and mutant-type human mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) respectively. The results show that the value of Km/Kcat of mtLeuRS for the mutant-type tRNALeu(UUR) is 63.

Search for difference in aminoacylation of mitochondrial DNA-encoded wild-type and mutant human tRNALeu (UUR).

The pathogenetic mechanism of the most extensively investigated A3243G mutated tRNALeu(UUR) gene, which causes the MELAS encephalomyopathy, maternally inherited diabetes, or chronic progressive external ophlthalmoplegia, is still unresolved, despite the numerous investigations on the topic. Previous evidences presented in published work suggested that the mitochondrial DNA harboring A3243G mutation result decreases in the rates of mitochondrial protein synthesis. To search for differences in aminoacylation of mitochondrial DNA-encoded wild-type and mutant human tRNALeu(UUR), we have expressed and purified the two kinds of tRNAsLeu(UUR), and have expressed human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase for in vitro assays of aminoacylation of wild-type and mutant human tRNALeu(UUR).

Detection of mitochondrial DNA deletion by a modified PCR method in a 60Co radiation-exposed patient.

A new PCR based method was developed to detect deleted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Peripheral blood cell DNA was obtained from a victim who was accidently exposed to a 60Co radiation source in 1990. Using the DNA as template, first PCR was performed to generate multiple products including true deletions and artifacts.