Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Regulates TNF-α-Mediated Injury Response in Human Colonic Epithelial Cells and Colonoids.

Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) and TNF-α are now recognized as key regulators of intestinal homeostasis, inflammation, and wound healing. In colonic epithelial cells, both molecules have been shown to influence a variety of biological processes, but the specific interactions between intracellular signaling pathways regulated by CSE and TNF-α are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated these interactions in normal colonocytes and an organoid model of the healthy human colon using CSE-specific pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA-mediated transient gene silencing in analytical and functional assays in vitro.

Hydrogen Sulfide Ameliorates SARS-CoV-2-Associated Lung Endothelial Barrier Disruption.

Recent studies have confirmed that lung microvascular endothelial injury plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Our group and others have demonstrated the beneficial effects of HS in several pathological processes and provided a rationale for considering the therapeutic implications of HS in COVID-19 therapy. Here, we evaluated the effect of the slow-releasing HS donor, GYY4137, on the barrier function of a lung endothelial cell monolayer in vitro, after challenging the cells with plasma samples from COVID-19 patients or inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus.

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase supports endothelial cell angiogenesis and bioenergetics.

Background And Purpose: During angiogenesis, quiescent endothelial cells (ECs) are activated by various stimuli to form new blood vessels from pre-existing ones in physiological and pathological conditions. Many research groups have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H S), the newest member of the gasotransmitter family, acts as a proangiogenic factor. To date, very little is known about the regulatory role of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), an important H S-producing enzyme in ECs.

Differences in the viral genome between HPV-positive cervical and oropharyngeal cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven oropharyngeal cancer incidence in the United States has steadily increased in the past decades and has now become the most frequently diagnosed HPV-associated cancer type, surpassing cervical cancer. Variations in the HPV genome correlate with tumorigenic risk, and the distribution of genetic variants is extensively studied in cervical cancer, but very little is known about new mutations or the distribution of HPV types and variants in oropharyngeal cancer. Here we present an archival tissue cohort study that compares genomic characteristics of HPV associated with cervical versus oropharyngeal tumors using DNA sequence analysis.

PDGF-AA mediates mesenchymal stromal cell chemotaxis to the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment.

Background: The robust desmoplasia associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) suggests that the tumor microenvironment may be an important component in the pathophysiology of this cancer. Moreover, the high recurrence rate and poor clinical response to chemotherapy and radiation treatment further underscores that the non-cancerous cells of the microenvironment, such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and pericytes, may be important in the pathophysiology of HNSCC.

Methods: Confocal microscopy and immunohistomchemistry approaches were used to identify MSCs tumor microenvironment from patients with oral cavity and oral pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).