Phylo-Epigenetics in Phylogeny Analyses and Evolution.

Long-standing, continuous blurring and controversies in the field of phylogenetic interspecies relations, associated with insufficient explanations for dynamics and variability of speeds of evolution in mammals, hint at a crucial missing link. It has been suggested that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and the concealed mechanisms behind play a distinct role in mammalian evolution. Here, a comprehensive sequence alignment approach in hominid species, i.

Fighting sepsis-induced liver damage with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles.

Sepsis is a potentially fatal disease that arises from an infection and is characterized by an uncontrolled immune system reaction. Global healthcare systems bear a heavy financial burden from treating sepsis. This study aimed to provide information on the effective properties of silver nanoparticles derived from pomegranate peel extract (P-AgNP) against sepsis-induced hepatic injury.

Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: Their Structure and Mechanistic Role in Tumor Progression and Resistance.

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) function as key molecules in the signaling pathways in addition to their impact as a therapeutic target for the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer. PTKs are characterized by their ability to phosphorylate serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues and can thereby rapidly and reversibly alter the function of their protein substrates in the form of significant changes in protein confirmation and affinity for their interaction with protein partners to drive cellular functions under normal and pathological conditions. PTKs are classified into two groups: one of which represents tyrosine kinases, while the other one includes the members of the serine/threonine kinases.

Epigenetics Provides New Perspectives for Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Guidance of Chemotherapy in Cancer.

Strong epigenetic pan-cancer biomarkers are required to meet several current, urgent clinical needs and to further improve the present chemotherapeutic standard. We have concentrated on the investigation of epigenetic alteration of the gene, which is frequently epigenetically dysregulated in a number of cancers in specific developmental stages. Distinct DNA methylation profiles were identified in our data on early urothelial cancer.

Epigenetics Meets CAR-T-Cell Therapy to Fight Cancer.

Based on the impressive success of Car-T-cell therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies, a broad application for solid tumors also appears promising. However, some important hurdles need to be overcome. One of these is certainly the identification of specific target antigens on cancer cells.

Unraveling the immune response of the spleen in sepsis using green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from pomegranate peel extracts.

Sepsis is a serious disease characterized by an inappropriate host response to infection, resulting in widespread inflammation and systemic organ failure. The aim of this research is to investigate the possibility of pomegranate peel-derived silver nanoparticles (PGNP) as a potential alternative therapy for sepsis. Characterization using transmission electron microscopy revealed 10-30 nm spherical nanoparticles.

CD133-Dependent Activation of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase /AKT/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling in Melanoma Progression and Drug Resistance.

Melanoma frequently harbors genetic alterations in key molecules leading to the aberrant activation of PI3K and its downstream pathways. Although the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR in melanoma progression and drug resistance is well documented, targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway showed less efficiency in clinical trials than might have been expected, since the suppression of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway-induced feedback loops is mostly associated with the activation of compensatory pathways such as MAPK/MEK/ERK. Consequently, the development of intrinsic and acquired resistance can occur.

Mechanisms of Melanoma Progression and Treatment Resistance: Role of Cancer Stem-like Cells.

Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer, characterized by its heterogeneity and propensity to metastasize to distant organs. Melanoma is a heterogeneous tumor, composed of genetically divergent subpopulations, including a small fraction of melanoma-initiating cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and many non-cancer stem cells (non-CSCs). CSCs are characterized by their unique surface proteins associated with aberrant signaling pathways with a causal or consequential relationship with tumor progression, drug resistance, and recurrence.

Nephroprotective Efficacy of against a Glycerol-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Model.

Nephroprotection or renal rescue is to revive and restore kidney function after damage, with no need for further dialysis. During acute kidney injury (AKI), sudden and recent reductions in kidney functions occur. Causes are multiple, and prompt intervention can be critical to diminish or prevent morbidity.

Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Target in Melanoma Treatment.

The role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor growth and therapy has recently attracted more attention in research and drug development. The ability of the microenvironment to trigger tumor maintenance, progression, and resistance is the main cause for treatment failure and tumor relapse. Accumulated evidence indicates that the maintenance and progression of tumor cells is determined by components of the microenvironment, which include stromal cells (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells), extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble molecules (chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles).

Induction of Antimicrobial Protein S100A15 Expression by Oral Microbial Pathogens Is Toll-like Receptors-Dependent Activation of c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase (JNK), p38, and NF-κB Pathways.

The antimicrobial protein S100A15 belongs to the S100 family, which is differentially expressed in a variety of normal and pathological tissues. Although the function of S100A15 protein has been discussed in several studies, its induction and regulation in oral mucosa, so far, are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that S100A15 is induced by the stimulation of oral mucosa with gram or gram bacterial pathogens, as well as with the purified membrane components, namely lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA).

Consistent DNA Hypomethylations in Prostate Cancer.

With approximately 1.4 million men annually diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) worldwide, PCa remains a dreaded threat to life and source of devastating morbidity. In recent decades, a significant decrease in age-specific PCa mortality has been achieved by increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and improving treatments.

Differential DNA Methylation of THOR and in the Regulation of and the Diagnosis of Cancer.

Background: Although DNA methylation in the gene promoters usually represses gene expression, the hypermethylated oncological region (THOR) located 5' of the gene is hypermethylated when is expressed in diverse cancer types, including urothelial cancer (UC).

Methods: Comprehensive MeDIP and DNA methylation array analyses complemented by the technically independent method of bisulfite genomic sequencing were applied on pathologically reviewed and classified urothelial carcinoma specimens and healthy urothelial tissue samples to reveal the methylation status of THOR in detail.

Results: The detailed DNA methylation profiles reveal the exact positions of differentially methylated CpG dinucleotides within THOR in urothelial cancer and provide evidence ofa diverging role of methylation of these CpGs in the regulation of .

Methyl Group Metabolism in Differentiation, Aging, and Cancer.

Methyl group metabolism belongs to a relatively understudied field of research. Its importance lies in the fact that methyl group metabolic pathways are crucial for the successful conversion of dietary nutrients into the basic building blocks to carry out any cellular methylation reaction. Methyl groups play essential roles in numerous cellular functions such as DNA methylation, nucleotide- and protein biosynthesis.

Phyloepigenetics.

Traditionally, phylogenetic interspecies relationships are estimated based on genetic diversity, since it is assumed that the more recently diverged a species, with comparable constancy of development, the more similar their genetic material and proteins should be. However, occasional controversies in the field may reflect limited resolution and accuracy of this approach. Epigenetics has, meanwhile, provided significant evidence that CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) within genetic material are of particular importance for the annotation and function of the genome and the formation of the phenotype, which is continuously shaped by evolutionary interaction with environmental factors.

Epigenetics in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Malignant Melanoma.

Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamentally important for cancer initiation and development. However, a survey of the literature reveals that, to date, they appear less comprehensively investigated in melanoma than in many other cancers, e.g.

Aging-associated distinctive DNA methylation changes of LINE-1 retrotransposons in pure cell-free DNA from human blood.

LINE-1 hypomethylation of cell-free DNA has been described as an epigenetic biomarker of human aging. However, in the past, insufficient differentiation between cellular and cell-free DNA may have confounded analyses of genome-wide methylation levels in aging cells. Here we present a new methodological strategy to properly and unambiguously extract DNA methylation patterns of repetitive, as well as single genetic loci from pure cell-free DNA from peripheral blood.

Melanoma stem cell maintenance and chemo-resistance are mediated by CD133 signal to PI3K-dependent pathways.

Melanoma stem cells (MSCs) are characterized by their unique cell surface proteins and aberrant signaling pathways. These stemness properties are either in a causal or consequential relationship to melanoma progression, treatment resistance and recurrence. The functional analysis of CD133 and CD133 cells in vitro and in vivo revealed that melanoma progression and treatment resistance are the consequences of CD133 signal to PI3K pathway.

Basic Hallmarks of Urothelial Cancer Unleashed in Primary Uroepithelium by Interference with the Epigenetic Master Regulator ODC1.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common disease causing significant morbidity and mortality as well as considerable costs for health systems. Extensive aberrant methylation of DNA is broadly documented in early UC, contributing to genetic instability, altered gene expression and tumor progression. However the triggers initiating aberrant methylation are unknown.

Evaluation of nanoselenium and nanogold activities against murine intestinal schistosomiasis.

Nanomedicine is one of the most important methods used to treat human diseases including parasitic diseases. Schistosomiasis is a major parasitic disease that affects human health in tropical regions. Whilst Praziquantel is the main classic antischistosomal drug, new drugs are required due to the poor effect of the drug on the parasite juveniles and immature worms, and the emergence of drug resistant strains of .

Tumor necrosis factor-α triggers opposing signals in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and induces apoptosis via mitochondrial- and non-mitochondrial-dependent pathways.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Although the treatment outcomes of HNSCC have improved in recent years, the prognosis of patients with advanced-stage disease remains poor. Current treatment strategies for HNSCC include surgery as a primary therapy, while radio-, chemo-, and biotherapeutics can be applied as second-line therapy.

Genome-wide hypomethylation of LINE-1 and Alu retroelements in cell-free DNA of blood is an epigenetic biomarker of human aging.

Aging associated DNA hypomethylation of LINE-1 and Alu retroelements may be a crucial determinant of loss of genomic integrity, deterioration and cancer. In peripheral blood LINE-1 hypomethylation has been reported to increase during aging, but other studies did not observe significant changes. We hypothesized that these apparently inconsistent reports might relate to differences between cellular and cell-free DNA.

Author Correction: Aberrant methylated key genes of methyl group metabolism within the molecular etiology of urothelial carcinogenesis.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Aberrant methylated key genes of methyl group metabolism within the molecular etiology of urothelial carcinogenesis.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common cancer of the urinary bladder causes severe morbidity and mortality, e.g. about 40.