Recently, we have shown the molecular basis for lactate sensing by cervical epithelial cells resulting in enhanced DNA repair processes through DNA-PKcs regulation. Interestingly, DNA-PKcs is indispensable for proper retroviral DNA integration in the cell host genome. According to recent findings, the mucosal epithelium can be efficiently transduced by retroviruses and play a pivotal role in regulating viral release by cervical epithelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic inflammation promotes endothelial plasticity, leading to the development of several diseases, including fibrosis and cancer in numerous organs. The basis of those processes is a phenomenon called the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which results in the delamination of tightly connected endothelial cells that acquire a mesenchymal phenotype. EndMT-derived cells, known as the myofibroblasts or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), are characterized by the loss of cell-cell junctions, loss of endothelial markers, and gain in mesenchymal ones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiogenesis is a critical process required for tumor progression. Newly formed blood vessels provide nutrition and oxygen to the tumor contributing to its growth and development. However, endothelium also plays other functions that promote tumor metastasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVincristine is used in the clinical treatment of colon cancer, especially in patients diagnosed in the advanced phase of cancer development. Unfortunately, similar to other agents used during antitumor therapy, vincristine might induce chemoresistance. Studies of this process focus mainly on the analysis of the molecular mechanisms within cancer, usually ignoring the role of stromal cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent studies have demonstrated that the accumulation of senescent endothelial cells may be the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases. Because of their multifunctional properties, endothelial cells actively take part in stimulating the immune system and inflammation. In addition, ageing is characterized by the progressive deterioration of immune cells and a decline in the activation of the immune response.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Interferon Cytokine Res
September 2014
Eukaryotic cells possess several DNA repair mechanisms, including homologous recombination and the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) system. There are two known NHEJ systems. The major mechanism depends on the catalytic unit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) and DNA ligase IV, and an alternative mechanism (B-NHEJ) depends on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP).
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