Intranasal delivery of extracellular vesicles: A promising new approach for treating neurological and respiratory disorders.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane vesicles secreted by all types of cells, including bacteria, animals, and plants. These vesicles contain proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids from their parent cells and can transfer these components between cells. EVs have attracted attention for their potential use in diagnosis and therapy due to their natural properties, such as low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

SLC7A11 Expression Is Up-Regulated in HPV- and Tobacco-Associated Lung Cancer.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the etiological agents of cervical, anogenital, and a subset of oropharyngeal cancers. In addition, HR-HPVs have been detected in lung carcinomas worldwide, even though the role of these viruses in this type of cancer is not fully understood. This study evaluated the presence of HPV in a cohort of 204 lung cancer cases by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Luminex.

International prevalence patterns of low eGFR in adults aged 18-60 without traditional risk factors from a population-based cross-sectional disadvantaged populations eGFR epidemiology (DEGREE) study.

The disadvantaged populations eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) epidemiology (DEGREE) study was designed to gain insight into the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of undetermined cause (CKDu) using standard protocols to estimate the general-population prevalence of low eGFR internationally. Therefore, we estimated the age-standardized prevalence of eGFR under 60 ml/min per 1.73m in adults aged 18-60, excluding participants with commonly known causes of CKD; an ACR (albumin/creatinine ratio) over 300 mg/g or equivalent, or self-reported or measured (HT) hypertension or (DM) diabetes mellitus, stratified by sex and location.

Mitochondrial protective properties exerted by JM-20 in a dementia model induced by intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin in mice.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction and brain insulin resistance have been related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. Streptozotocin (STZ) is commonly employed to disrupt glucose and insulin metabolism, even causing cognitive impairment in animal models. We aimed at studying the protective effect of JM-20 on STZ-induced memory impairment and brain mitochondrial dysfunction.

Single-Sample Networks Reveal Intra-Cytoband Co-Expression Hotspots in Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising various subtypes with distinct molecular characteristics, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic responses. This heterogeneity evidences significant challenges for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Traditional genomic co-expression network analyses often overlook individual-specific interactions critical for personalized medicine.

The IPR inhibitor desmethylxestospongin B reduces tumor cell migration, invasion and metastasis by impairing lysosome acidification and β1-integrin recycling.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. >90 % of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis, a process that depends on the ability of cancer cells to leave the primary tumor, migrate, and colonize different tissues. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IPR)-mediated Ca signaling plays an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis of cancer cells and the sustained proliferation.

Synthesis of dumbbell-like heteronanostructures encapsulated in ferritin protein: Towards multifunctional protein based opto-magnetic nanomaterials for biomedical theranostic.

Dumbbell-like hetero nanostructures based on gold and iron oxides is a promising material for biomedical applications, useful as versatile theranostic agents due the synergistic effect of their optical and magnetic properties. However, achieving precise control on their morphology, size dispersion, colloidal stability, biocompatibility and cell targeting remains as a current challenge. In this study, we address this challenge by employing biomimetic routes, using ferritin protein nanocages as template for these nanoparticles' synthesis.

The Cervical and Meningeal Lymphatic Network as a Pathway for Retrograde Nanoparticle Transport to the Brain.

Introduction: The meningeal lymphatic vessels have been described as a pathway that transports cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid in a unidirectional manner towards the deep cervical lymph nodes. However, these vessels exhibit anatomical and molecular characteristics typical of initial lymphatic vessels, with the absence of surrounding smooth muscle and few or absent valves. Given its structure, this network could theoretically allow for bidirectional motion.

Use of Guideline-Recommended Heart Failure Drugs in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Optimal use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) can prevent hospitalization and mortality among patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess the prevalence of GDMT use for HF across geographic regions and country-income levels. We systematically reviewed observational studies (published between January 2010 and October 2020) involving patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction.

A Pro-Inflammatory Stimulus versus Extensive Passaging of DITNC1 Astrocyte Cultures as Models to Study Astrogliosis.

Astrogliosis is a process by which astrocytes, when exposed to inflammation, exhibit hypertrophy, motility, and elevated expression of reactivity markers such as Glial Fibrillar Acidic Protein, Vimentin, and Connexin43. Since 1999, our laboratory in Chile has been studying molecular signaling pathways associated with "gliosis" and has reported that reactive astrocytes upregulate Syndecan 4 and αβ Integrin, which are receptors for the neuronal glycoprotein Thy-1. Thy-1 engagement stimulates adhesion and migration of reactive astrocytes and induces neurons to retract neurites, thus hindering neuronal network repair.

Enhancing adipose tissue functionality in obesity: senotherapeutics, autophagy and cellular senescence as a target.

Obesity, a global health crisis, disrupts multiple systemic processes, contributing to a cascade of metabolic dysfunctions by promoting the pathological expansion of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). This expansion is characterized by impaired differentiation of pre-adipocytes and an increase in senescent cells, leading to a pro-inflammatory state and exacerbated oxidative stress. Particularly, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and adipose tissue hypoxia further impair cellular function, promoting chronic disease development.

Targeting the immunoproteasome in hypothalamic neurons as a novel therapeutic strategy for high-fat diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysregulation.

Objective: Obesity represents a significant global health challenge characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. The hypothalamus, a key regulator of energy homeostasis, is particularly susceptible to obesity's deleterious effects. This study investigated the role of the immunoproteasome, a specialized proteasomal complex implicated in inflammation and cellular homeostasis, during metabolic diseases.

Exploring NADPH oxidases 2 and 4 in cardiac and skeletal muscle adaptations - A cross-tissue comparison.

Striated muscle cells, encompassing cardiac myocytes and skeletal muscle fibers, are fundamental to athletic performance, facilitating blood circulation and coordinated movement through contraction. Despite their distinct functional roles, these muscle types exhibit similarities in cytoarchitecture, protein expression, and excitation-contraction coupling. Both muscle types also undergo molecular remodeling in energy metabolism and cell size in response to acute and repeated exercise stimuli to enhance exercise performance.

Iron-Reduced Graphene Oxide Core-Shell Micromotors Designed for Magnetic Guidance and Photothermal Therapy under Second Near-Infrared Light.

Core-shell micro/nanomotors have garnered significant interest in biomedicine owing to their versatile task-performing capabilities. However, their effectiveness for photothermal therapy (PTT) still faces challenges because of their poor tumor accumulation, lower light-to-heat conversion, and due to the limited penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light. In this study, we present a novel core-shell micromotor that combines magnetic and photothermal properties.

Mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) induces extracellular matrix (ECM)-detachment of viable breast cancer cells by a DRP1-independent mechanism.

Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that cancer progression is under mitochondrial control. Mitochondrial fission plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cancer cell homeostasis. The inhibition of DRP1, the main regulator of mitochondrial fission, with the mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) had been associated with cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutics and decrease proliferation.

Pannexin-1 expression in tumor cells correlates with colon cancer progression and survival.

Aims: Pannexin-1 (PANX1) is a hemichannel that releases ATP upon opening, initiating inflammation, cell proliferation, and migration. However, the role of PANX1 channels in colon cancer remains poorly understood, thus constituting the focus of this study.

Main Methods: PANX1 mRNA expression was analyzed using multiple cancer databases.

Tumor-derived hypoxic small extracellular vesicles promote endothelial cell migration and tube formation via ALS2/Rab5/β-catenin signaling.

Tumor hypoxia has been associated with cancer progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis via modifications in the release and cargo composition of extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor cells. Indeed, hypoxic extracellular vesicles are known to trigger a variety of angiogenic responses via different mechanisms. We recently showed that hypoxia promotes endosomal signaling in tumor cells via HIF-1α-dependent induction of the guanine exchange factor ALS2, which activates Rab5, leading to downstream events involved in cell migration and invasion.

Impacts of PI3K/protein kinase B pathway activation in reactive astrocytes: from detrimental effects to protective functions.

Astrocytes are the most abundant type of glial cell in the central nervous system. Upon injury and inflammation, astrocytes become reactive and undergo morphological and functional changes. Depending on their phenotypic classification as A1 or A2, reactive astrocytes contribute to both neurotoxic and neuroprotective responses, respectively.