5q-associated spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motoneuron disease caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Adaptive immunity may contribute to SMA as described in other motoneuron diseases, yet mechanisms remain elusive. Nusinersen, an antisense treatment, enhances SMN2 expression, benefiting SMA patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Meteorin-like protein (METRNL)/Interleukin-41 (IL-41) is a novel immune-secreted cytokine/myokine involved in several inflammatory diseases. However, how METRNL exerts its regulatory properties on skin inflammation remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the functionality and regulatory mechanism of METRNL in atopic dermatitis (AD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters mediate multidrug resistance and cancer stem cell properties in various model systems. Yet, their biological significance in cancers, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the function of ABCF1 in HCC and explored its potential as a therapeutic target.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe sodium iodide symporter () as theranostic gene would allow for non-invasive imaging of functional NIS expression and therapeutic radioiodine application. Genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), based on their tumor-homing abilities, show great promise as tumor-selective gene delivery vehicles for non-thyroidal tumors. As a next step towards clinical application, tumor specificity and efficacy of MSCs were investigated in an advanced genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous disease. HCC cell lines established from different patients would be useful in elucidating the molecular pathogenesis. However, success of HCC primary culture establishment remains at low rate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique EBV-associated epithelial malignancy, showing highly invasive and metastatic phenotype. Despite increasing evidence demonstrating the critical role of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in the maintenance and progression of tumors in a variety of malignancies, the existence and properties of CSC in EBV-associated NPC are largely unknown. Our study aims to elucidate the presence and role of CSCs in the pathogenesis of this malignant disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Increasing evidence has suggested that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) might originate from a distinct subpopulation called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for the limited efficacy of conventional therapies. We have previously demonstrated that granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP), a pluripotent growth factor, is upregulated in HCC but not in the adjacent non-tumor, and that GEP is a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Here, we characterized its expression pattern and stem cell properties in fetal and cancerous livers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIL-31 is a novel T(h) type 2 cytokine that can induce pruritus and dermatitis in mice resembling human atopic dermatitis (AD). Eosinophil infiltration in skin lesions is a predominant pathological feature of AD. In the present study, we investigated the effects of IL-31 on the activation of human eosinophils and epidermal keratinocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial and viral infections often induce the exacerbation of allergic diseases. In this study, we investigated the activation of human eosinophils by different microbial products via Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The underlying intracellular mechanism involving activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an integrin-associated focal adhesion molecule, was also examined.
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