Enhanced anti-hyperproliferative activity of human thymidylate synthase inhibitor peptide by solid lipid nanoparticle delivery.

Recently, octapeptide LSCQLYQR (LRp), reducing growth of cis-platinum (cDDP) resistant ovarian carcinoma cells by inhibiting the monomer-monomer interface of the human enzyme thymidylate synthase, has been identified. As the peptide is not able to cross the cell membrane it requires an appropriate delivery system. In this work the application of SLNs, biocompatible and efficient tools for the intracellular drug transport, applied especially for lipophilic drugs, was exploited for the delivery of the hydrophilic peptide LRp.

Inhibiting interactions of lysine demethylase LSD1 with snail/slug blocks cancer cell invasion.

The process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which is required for cancer cell invasion is regulated by a family of E-box-binding transcription repressors, which include Snail (SNAIL1) and Slug (SNAI2). Snail appears to repress the expression of the EMT marker E-cadherin by epigenetic mechanisms dependent on the interaction of its N-terminal SNAG domain with chromatin-modifying proteins including lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A). We assessed whether blocking Snail/Slug-LSD1 interaction by treatment with Parnate, an enzymatic inhibitor of LSD1, or TAT-SNAG, a cell-permeable peptide corresponding to the SNAG domain of Slug, suppresses the motility and invasiveness of cancer cells of different origin and genetic background.

Cytokines and invertebrates: TGF-beta and PDGF.

The review outlines the presence and function of TGF-beta and PDGF family members in invertebrates. TGF-beta and PDGF play an important role in development, in immune and neuroendocrine responses and in the wound repair by activating the classical transduction pathways. Generally speaking, these cytokines appear very early in evolution and conserve their functions.