MicroRNA-195-5p mediates arsenic-induced cytotoxicity in human lung epithelial cells: Beneficial role of plant-derived tannic acid.

Arsenic (As), a highly toxic metalloid, which causes environmental lung diseases and affects millions of people worldwide. Respiratory epithelial cells are essential for maintaining lung homeostasis, aberrant epithelial damage and death due to exposure to a wide range of environmental pollutants, which are considered to be the initial trigger for many pulmonary diseases. Accumulating evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) appear to be important players in various normal physiological and pathological processes.

Human Behavior-Inspired Linchpin-Directed Catalysis for Traceless Precision Labeling of Lysine in Native Proteins.

The complex social ecosystem regulates the spectrum of human behavior. However, it becomes relatively easier to understand if we disintegrate the contributing factors, such as locality and interacting partners. Interestingly, it draws remarkable similarity with the behavior of a residue placed in a social setup of functional groups in a protein.

Traceless cysteine-linchpin enables precision engineering of lysine in native proteins.

The maintenance of machinery requires its operational understanding and a toolbox for repair. The methods for the precision engineering of native proteins meet a similar requirement in biosystems. Its success hinges on the principles regulating chemical reactions with a protein.

ERK1/2-EGR1-SRSF10 Axis Mediated Alternative Splicing Plays a Critical Role in Head and Neck Cancer.

Aberrant alternative splicing is recognized to promote cancer pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanism is yet to be clear. Here, in this study, we report the frequent upregulation of SRSF10 (serine and arginine-rich splicing factor 10), a member of an expanded family of SR splicing factors, in the head and neck cancer (HNC) patients sample in comparison to paired normal tissues. We observed that SRSF10 plays a crucial role in HNC tumorigenesis by affecting the pro-death, pro-survical splice variants of BCL2L1 (BCL2 Like 1: BCLx: Apoptosis Regulator) and the two splice variants of PKM (Pyruvate kinase M), PKM1 normal isoform to PKM2 cancer-specific isoform.

Chemoselective and Site-Selective Lysine-Directed Lysine Modification Enables Single-Site Labeling of Native Proteins.

The necessity for precision labeling of proteins emerged during the efforts to understand and regulate their structure and function. It demands selective attachment of tags such as affinity probes, fluorophores, and potent cytotoxins. Here, we report a method that enables single-site labeling of a high-frequency Lys residue in the native proteins.

Single-Site Labeling of Native Proteins Enabled by a Chemoselective and Site-Selective Chemical Technology.

Chemical biology research often requires precise covalent attachment of labels to the native proteins. Such methods are sought after to probe, design, and regulate the properties of proteins. At present, this demand is largely unmet due to the lack of empowering chemical technology.

Single-site labeling of lysine in proteins through a metal-free multicomponent approach.

We report a chemoselective and site-selective approach that distinguishes one Lys from its multiple copies, N-terminus, and other competitors. The phospha-Mannich protocol works with multiple proteins and installs probes without structural and functional perturbations. It delivers an antibody-drug conjugate with selective anti-proliferative activity towards HER2 expressing SKBR3 breast cancer cells.

RETRACTED: Erratum to "Resveratrol induces apoptosis involving mitochondrial pathways in mouse skin tumorigenesis" [Life Sciences (2008) 348-358].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).

Mesothelioma patient derived tumor xenografts with defined BAP1 mutations that mimic the molecular characteristics of human malignant mesothelioma.

Background: The development and evaluation of new therapeutic approaches for malignant mesothelioma has been sparse due, in part, to lack of suitable tumor models.

Methods: We established primary mesothelioma cultures from pleural and ascitic fluids of five patients with advanced mesothelioma. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmed their mesothelial origin.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma lack epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase mutations that would make them sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a promising target for cancer therapy. The presence of certain somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain of the EGFR gene is associated with clinical response to TK inhibitors (TKI) in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In this study we evaluated the status of somatic mutations in the entire TK domain of the EGFR gene by direct sequencing using early passage peritoneal mesothelioma cells, established cell lines as well as 33 peritoneal mesothelioma tumor samples.

Efficacy of anti-insulin-like growth factor I receptor monoclonal antibody cixutumumab in mesothelioma is highly correlated with insulin growth factor-I receptor sites/cell.

Insulin growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) is expressed in mesothelioma and therefore an attractive target for therapy. The antitumor activity of cixutumumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to IGF-IR, in mesothelioma and relationship to IGF-IR expression was investigated using eight early passage tumor cells obtained from patients, nine established cell lines and an in vivo human mesothelioma tumor xenograft model. Although IGF-IR expression at the mRNA and protein level was present in all mesothelioma cells, using a quantitative ELISA immunoassay, there was considerable variability of IGF-IR expression ranging from 1 to 14 ng/mg of lysate.

Resveratrol enhances ultraviolet B-induced cell death through nuclear factor-kappaB pathway in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells.

Resveratrol has been reported to suppress cancer progression in several in vivo and in vitro models, whereas ultraviolet B (UVB), a major risk for skin cancer, is known to induce cell death in cancerous cells. Here, we investigated whether resveratrol can sensitize A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells to UVB-induced cell death. We examined the combined effect of UVB (30 mJ/cm(2)) and resveratrol (60 microM) on A431 cells.

Chemopreventive potential of resveratrol in mouse skin tumors through regulation of mitochondrial and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Purpose: To investigate the chemopreventive potential of resveratrol, a phytoalexin found in seeds and skin of grapes, berries and peanuts in 7,12 dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mouse skin tumorigenesis.

Methods: Topical treatment of resveratrol was given to the animals 1 h prior to DMBA for 28 weeks. At the end of the study period, the skin tumors were dissected out and western blotting was carried out to examine the regulation of proteins involved in anti-tumorigenesis in response to resveratrol.

Induction of apoptosis by lupeol and mango extract in mouse prostate and LNCaP cells.

Prostate cancer (PCA) is one of the most invasive malignancy and second leading cause of cancer related deaths in United States and some other countries. Long latency period makes PCA an ideal disease for pharmacologic or nutritional chemoprevention. Lupeol, a triterpene present in mango and other fruits, has shown to possess anticancer properties in in vivo and in vitro assays.

Regulation of signaling pathways involved in lupeol induced inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed noncutaneous cancer and the leading cause of cancer related deaths in men in the United States and many other Asian countries. Dietary factors are considered as a strategic agent to control the risk of PCa. Lupeol, a triterpene, present in fruits and medicinal plants, has been shown to possess many pharmacological properties including anticancer effects.

RETRACTED: Resveratrol induces apoptosis involving mitochondrial pathways in mouse skin tumorigenesis.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).

Protective effects of lupeol and mango extract against androgen induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice.

Aim: To investigate antioxidant potential of lupeol/mango pulp extract (MPE) in testosterone induced oxidative stress in prostate of male Swiss albino mice.

Methods: Oral treatment of lupeol (1 mg/animal) and MPE (1 mL [20% w/v]/animal) was given separately to animals along with subcutaneous injection of testosterone (5 mg/kg body weight) consecutively for 15 days. At the end of the study period, the prostate was dissected out for the determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes status (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase).

In vitro and in vivo modulation of testosterone mediated alterations in apoptosis related proteins by [6]-gingerol.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) has been widely used as a dietary spice, and as a traditional oriental medicine. The rhizome of ginger contains pungent vanillyl ketones, including [6]-gingerol and [6]-paradol, and have been credited with therapeutic and preventive health benefits, including anti-cancer activity. Prostate cancer is an attractive target for chemoprevention because of its ubiquity, treatment-related morbidity, long latency between premalignant lesions and clinically evident cancer, and defined molecular pathogenesis.

Theaflavins induce G2/M arrest by modulating expression of p21waf1/cip1, cdc25C and cyclin B in human prostate carcinoma PC-3 cells.

Cancer of the prostate gland (PCA) is the most common invasive malignancy and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in males. The polyphenolic constituents of black tea have gained considerable attention as chemopreventive agents. Many studies have shown that black tea reduces the risk of several cancer types.

Regulation of p53, nuclear factor kappaB and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by bromelain through targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in mouse skin.

Bromelain is a pharmacologically active compound, present in stems and immature fruits of pineapples (Ananas cosmosus), which has been shown to have anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and anti-metastatic properties. In the present study, antitumorigenic activity of bromelain was recorded in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-initiated and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promoted 2-stage mouse skin model. Results showed that bromelain application delayed the onset of tumorigenesis and reduced the cumulative number of tumors, tumor volume and the average number of tumors/mouse.

Silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in normal and dysplastic cervical lesions: correlation with DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction by flow cytometry.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), their relation to the cytological grades of cervical dysplasia and correlation of cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle and DNA ploidy with AgNOR count.

Methods: Multiparametric DNA flow-cytometric analysis and AgNOR count were performed on cervical smear samples, cytologically diagnosed as normal (n = 196), atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS, n = 98) and various grades of cervical dysplasia (n = 127).

Results: Among the cytological grade, aneuploid cases from low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (mild) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (moderate and severe) groups were showing high AgNOR counts (ranges 4.