Introduction: Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with a higher tumor grade and metastasis. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to associate future metastasis with FAP-α expression in cancer.
Methods: In our meta-analysis, relevant studies published before 20 February 2024 were systematically searched through online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the interaction of the common lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network involved in signaling pathways in different stages of prostate cancer (PCa) by using bioinformatics and experimental methods.
Methods: Seventy subjects included sixty PCa patients in Local, Locally Advanced, Biochemical Relapse, Metastatic, and Benign stages, and ten healthy subjects were entered into the current study. The mRNAs with significant expression differences were first found using the GEO database.
Cellular senescence is implicated in a great number of diseases including cancer. Although alterations in mitochondrial metabolism were reported as senescence drivers, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We report the mechanism altering mitochondrial function and OXPHOS in stress-induced senescent fibroblasts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrinary incontinence of idiopathic nature is a common complication of bladder cancer, yet, the mechanisms underlying changes in bladder contractility associated with cancer are not known. Here by using tensiometry on detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) strips from normal rats and rats with bladder cancer induced by known urothelial carcinogen, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN), we show that bladder cancer is associated with considerable changes in DSM contractility. These changes include: (1) decrease in the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions, consistent with the decline of luminal pressures during filling, and detrusor underactivity; (2) diminution of parasympathetic DSM stimulation mainly at the expense of m-cholinergic excitatory transmission, suggestive of difficulty in bladder emptying and weakening of urine stream; (3) strengthening of TRPV1-dependent afferent limb of micturition reflex and TRPV1-mediated local contractility, promoting urge incontinence; (4) attenuation of stretch-dependent, TRPV4-mediated spontaneous contractility leading to overflow incontinence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMitochondria are important cell death checkpoints, and mitochondrial Ca overload is considered as a potent apoptotic intrinsic pathway inducer. Here, we report that this Ca apoptosis link is largely ineffective in inducing cell-death just by itself and required a concomitant inhibition of autophagy to counteract its pro-survival action. In such condition, an acute mitochondrial stress revealed by a DRP1-mediated mitochondrial dynamic remodeling is observed concomitantly with mitochondrial depolarization, release of cytochrome c, and efficient apoptosis induction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenes showing versatile functions or subjected to fast expansion and contraction during the adaptation of species to specific ecological conditions, like sensory receptors for odors, pheromones and tastes, are characterized by a great plasticity through evolution. One of the most fascinating sensory receptors in the family of TRP channels, the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8, has received significant attention in the literature. Recent studies have reported the existence of TRPM8 channel isoforms encoded by alternative mRNAs transcribed from alternative promoters and processed by alternative splicing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious studies showed the effects of resveratrol (RES) on several cancer cells, including prostate cancer (PCa) cell apoptosis without taking into consideration the impact of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is composed of cancer cells, endothelial cells, blood cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), the main source of growth factors. The latter cells might modify in the TME the impact of RES on tumor cells via secreted factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAccruing evidence indicates that exposure to environmental compounds may adversely affect human health and promote carcinogenesis. Triclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial agent widely used as a preservative in personal care products, has been shown to act as an endocrine disruptor in hormone-dependent tissues. Here, we demonstrate a new molecular mechanism by which TCS stimulates the secretion by human prostate cancer stromal cells of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a factor known to promote tumor growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, we have assessed whether a putative calcium channel α2δ2 auxiliary subunit (CACNA2D2 gene) could be involved in prostate cancer (PCA) progression. We therefore carried out experiments to determine whether this protein is expressed in PCA LNCaP cells and in PCA tissues, and whether its expression may be altered during cancer development. In addition, we evaluated the influence on cell proliferation of overexpressing or downregulating this subunit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is strongly suspected that potassium (K(+)) channels are involved in various aspects of prostate cancer development, such as cell growth. However, the molecular nature of those K(+) channels implicated in prostate cancer cell proliferation and the mechanisms through which they control proliferation are still unknown. This study uses pharmacological, biophysical and molecular approaches to show that the main voltage-dependent K(+) current in prostate cancer LNCaP cells is carried by large-conductance BK channels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBisphenol A (BPA), the principal constituent of reusable water bottles, metal cans, and plastic food containers, has been shown to be involved in human prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of BPA on PCa cell migration and the pathways involved in these processes. Using the transwell technique, we clearly show for the first time that the pre-treatment of the cells with BPA (1-10 nM) induces human PCa cell migration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in many cellular functions, including protein folding and Ca(2+) homeostasis. The ability of cells to respond to the ER stress is critical for cell survival, and disruption in such regulation can lead to apoptosis. ER stress is accompanied by alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis, and the ER Ca(2+) store depletion by itself can induce ER stress and apoptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne important mechanism of the regulation of membrane ion channels involves their nonfunctional isoforms generated by alternative splicing. However, knowledge of such isoforms for the members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels remains quite limited. This study focuses on the TRPM8, which functions as a cold receptor in sensory neurons but is also expressed in tissues not exposed to ambient temperatures, as well as in cancer tissues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe large amount of data generated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI) poses a challenge for data analysis. In fact, generally about 1.10(8)-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe molecular nature of calcium (Ca(2+))-dependent mechanisms and the ion channels having a major role in the apoptosis of cancer cells remain a subject of debate. Here, we show that the recently identified Orai1 protein represents the major molecular component of endogenous store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) in human prostate cancer (PCa) cells, and constitutes the principal source of Ca(2+) influx used by the cell to trigger apoptosis. The downregulation of Orai1, and consequently SOCE, protects the cells from diverse apoptosis-inducing pathways, such as those induced by thapsigargin (Tg), tumor necrosis factor α, and cisplatin/oxaliplatin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCastration resistance in prostate cancer (PCa) constitutes an advanced, aggressive disease with poor prognosis, associated with uncontrolled cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and enhanced invasive potential. The molecular mechanisms involved in the transition of PCa to castration resistance are obscure. Here, we report that the nonselective cationic channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) is a distinctive feature of castration-resistant PCa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAccumulating data point to K(+) channels as relevant players in controlling cell cycle progression and proliferation of human cancer cells, including prostate cancer (PCa) cells. However, the mechanism(s) by which K(+) channels control PCa cell proliferation remain illusive. In this study, using the techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, electrophysiology and calcium imaging, we studied the expression and functionality of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (IK(Ca1)) in human PCa as well as their involvement in cell proliferation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFourteen-day-old rat pituitary tissue represents an attractive model for studying cell population dynamics, particularly of gonadotrophs. Prolonged three-dimensional culture in serum- and hormone-free medium causes a striking decline in somatotroph abundance but a several-fold rise in monohormonal LH beta-positive cell number, whereas bihormonal gonadotrophs almost disappear. In the present study, we investigated whether these changes are inter-related by examining the effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and glucocorticoids, two protagonist regulators of somatotrophs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAberrant keratinocyte differentiation is considered to be a key mechanism in the onset of hyperproliferative dermatological diseases, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC). It is, therefore, vital to understand what drives keratinocytes to develop such pathological phenotypes. The role of calcium in keratinocyte differentiation is uncontested but the mechanisms controlling calcium-induced differentiation have yet to be completely elucidated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious work from our laboratory has shown that human ether à go-go (hEAG) K(+) channels are crucial for breast cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. In this study, we investigated the regulation of hEAG channels by an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is known to stimulate cell proliferation. Acute applications of IGF-1 increased K(+) current-density and hyperpolarized MCF-7 cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, the transient receptor potential melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) channel has emerged as a promising prognostic marker and putative therapeutic target in prostate cancer (PCa). However, the mechanisms of prostate-specific regulation and functional evolution of TRPM8 during PCa progression remain unclear. Here we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that only secretory mature differentiated human prostate primary epithelial (PrPE) luminal cells expressed functional plasma membrane TRPM8 ((PM)TRPM8) channels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is expressed in epithelial ducts of both normal human breast and breast cancer tissue, as well as in the MCF-7 cell line as assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. However, to date, there are no data regarding the transduction pathways of CaR in breast cancer cells. In this study, we show that a CaR agonist, spermine, and increased extracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](o)) sequentially activate two inward currents at -80 mV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMuscarinic and purinergic receptors expressed in keratinocytes are an important part of a functional system for cell growth. While several aspects of this process are clearly dependent on Ca(2+) homeostasis, less is known about the mechanisms controlling Ca(2+) entry during epidermal receptor stimulation. We used patch-clamp technique to study responses to carbachol (CCh) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in HaCaT human keratinocytes.
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