In Vitro Modulation of Human Foam Cell Formation and Adhesion Molecules Expression by Ginger Extracts Points to Potential Cardiovascular Preventive Agents.

Recent findings from the World Heart Federation (WHF) reported a significant increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies. Atherosclerosis, a key precursor to CVD, involves the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its oxidation within the endothelium, leading to inflammation and foam cell formation. Ginger extracts, known for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, show promise in preventing CVD initiation by inhibiting LDL oxidation and reducing foam cell formation. Our results revealed that the active fractions in ginger extracts had antioxidative effects, particularly fractions D and E. Further research is needed to identify the active compounds in these fractions and understand their mechanisms of action. In this context, microfluidic models could offer insights into the effects of ginger on monocyte recruitment in a more physiologically relevant context. Overall, ginger extracts represent a potential novel treatment for preventing CVD initiation, but additional studies are necessary to identify the active molecules in these fractions.

Bufalin Suppresses Head and Neck Cancer Development by Modulating Immune Responses and Targeting the ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Bufalin, a cardiotonic steroid derived from the Chinese toad (Bufo gargarizans), has demonstrated potent anticancer properties across various cancer types, positioning it as a promising therapeutic candidate. However, comprehensive mechanistic studies specific to head and neck cancers have been lacking. Our study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating bufalin's mechanisms of action in head and neck cancer cells. Using several methods, such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry, we observed bufalin's dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, disruption of cell membrane integrity, and inhibition of colony formation in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative cell lines. Bufalin induces apoptosis through the modulation of apoptosis-related proteins, mitochondrial function, and reactive oxygen species production. It also arrests the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and attenuates cell migration while affecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers and targeting pivotal signaling pathways, including Wnt/ß-catenin, EGFR, and NF-κB. Additionally, bufalin exerted immunomodulatory effects by polarizing macrophages toward the M1 phenotype, bolstering antitumor immune responses. These findings underscore bufalin's potential as a multifaceted therapeutic agent against head and neck cancers, targeting essential pathways involved in proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, metastasis, and immune modulation. Further research is warranted to validate these mechanisms and optimize bufalin's clinical application.

ATP1A1 is a promising new target for melanoma treatment and can be inhibited by its physiological ligand bufalin to restore targeted therapy efficacy.

Despite advancements in treating metastatic melanoma, many patients exhibit resistance to targeted therapies. Our study focuses on ATP1A1, a sodium pump subunit associated with cancer development. We aimed to assess ATP1A1 prognostic value in melanoma patients and examine the impact of its ligand, bufalin, on melanoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. High ATP1A1 expression (IHC) correlated with reduced overall survival in melanoma patients. Resistance to BRAF inhibitor was linked to elevated ATP1A1 levels in patient biopsies (IHC, qPCR) and cell lines (Western blot, qPCR). Additionally, high ATP1A1 mRNA expression positively correlated with differentiation/pigmentation markers based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases and Verfaillie proliferative gene signature analysis. Bufalin specifically targeted ATP1A1 in caveolae, (proximity ligation assay) and influenced Src phosphorylation (Western blot), thereby disrupting multiple signaling pathways (phosphokinase array). In vitro, bufalin induced apoptosis in melanoma cell lines by acting on ATP1A1 (siRNA experiments) and, in vivo, significantly impeded melanoma growth using a nude mouse xenograft model with continuous bufalin delivery via an osmotic pump. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that ATP1A1 could serve as a prognostic marker for patient survival and a predictive marker for response to BRAF inhibitor therapy. By targeting ATP1A1, bufalin inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis in vitro, and effectively suppressed tumor development in mice. Thus, our findings strongly support ATP1A1 as a promising therapeutic target, with bufalin as a potential agent to disrupt its tumor-promoting activity.

Macrophage Profiling in Head and Neck Cancer to Improve Patient Prognosis and Assessment of Cancer Cell-Macrophage Interactions Using Three-Dimensional Coculture Models.

Tumor-associated macrophages are key components of the tumor microenvironment and play important roles in the progression of head and neck cancer, leading to the development of effective strategies targeting immune cells in tumors. Our study demonstrated the prognostic potential of a new scoring system (Macroscore) based on the combination of the ratio and the sum of the high and low densities of M1 (CD80+) and M2 (CD163+) macrophages in a series of head and neck cancer patients, including a training population (n = 54) and a validation population (n = 19). Interestingly, the Macroscore outperformed TNM criteria and p16 status, showing a significant association with poor patient prognosis, and demonstrated significant predictive value for overall survival. Additionally, 3D coculture spheroids were established to analyze the crosstalk between cancer cells and monocytes/macrophages. Our data revealed that cancer cells can induce monocyte differentiation into protumoral M2 macrophages, creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This coculture also induced the production of immunosuppressive cytokines, such as IL10 and IL8, known to promote M2 polarization. Finally, we validated the ability of the macrophage subpopulations to induce apoptosis (M1) or support proliferation (M2) of cancer cells. Overall, our research highlights the potential of the Macroscore as a valuable prognostic biomarker to enhance the clinical management of patients and underscores the relevance of a spheroid model in gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer cell-macrophage interactions.

The Interplay between Atherosclerosis and Cancer: Breast Cancer Cells Increase the Expression of Endothelial Cell Adhesion Markers.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, closely followed by cancer. To investigate the impact of breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231) on endothelial cell adhesion, a blended medium containing 30% breast-cancer-conditioned medium was prepared. This medium was then exposed to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and monocytes (THP-1) for 48 h. Homemade oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) were optionally added to the blended medium. Immunofluorescence was performed to assess the expression of E-selectin, connexin-43, and ICAM-1 on HUVECs, as well as LOX-1, CD36, and CD162 on THP-1. Additionally, unoxidized LDL was exposed to the three breast cancer cell lines for 48 h, and the formation of oxLDL was quantified. Our results revealed an upregulation of all six adhesion markers involved in the initiation of atherosclerosis when HUVECs and THP-1 were exposed to the breast-cancer-conditioned medium. Furthermore, this expression was further increased by exposure to oxLDL. We also observed a significant elevation in oxLDL levels when LDL was exposed to breast cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings successfully demonstrate an increased LDL oxidation in the presence of breast cancer cells, accompanied by an augmented expression of receptors involved in atherosclerosis initiation. These findings shed new light on the clinically observed interplay between atherosclerosis and cancer.

Development of a Method for Producing oxLDL: Characterization of Their Effects on HPV-Positive Head and Neck Cancer Cells.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers are the two main causes of death worldwide. The initiation and progression of atherosclerosis is, in large part, caused by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL); interestingly, oxLDL may also play a role in cancer cell metabolism and migration. As oxLDL are generally obtained by tedious ultracentrifugation procedures, "home-made" oxLDL were obtained by (i) applying a purification kit to isolate LDL and VLDL from human plasma; (ii) isolating LDL from VLDL by gel permeation chromatography (GPC); and (iii) oxidating LDL through CuSO4 incubation. On three HPV-positive head and neck cancer cells (HNCC) (93VU-147T, UM-SCC47, and UPCI-SCC154), cell migration was assessed using Boyden chambers, the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was analyzed by Western Blotting, and the expression of two oxLDL receptors, LOX-1 and CD36, in response to oxLDL exposure, was analysed by immunofluorescence. Our data indicate: (a) a non-significant difference between reference and "home-made" oxLDL; (b) a decreased migration, parallel to an inhibition of the ß-catenin pathway; and (c) an increase of CD36 and LOX-1 expression in all HNCC. In conclusion, we successfully produced oxLDL. Our results demonstrate a decrease in HNCC migration after oxLDL exposure, and an increased expression of LOX-1 and CD36 associated with lipid uptake.

New Treatment Strategy Targeting Galectin-1 against Thyroid Cancer.

Although the overall survival rate of papillary or follicular thyroid cancers is good, anaplastic carcinomas and radio iodine refractory cancers remain a significant therapeutic challenge. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is overexpressed in tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells, and is broadly implicated in angiogenesis, cancer cell motility and invasion, and immune system escape. Our team has previously demonstrated a higher serum level of Gal-1 in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers versus healthy patients, and explored, by a knockdown strategy, the effect of Gal-1 silencing on cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and on tumor and metastasis development in vivo. OTX008 is a calixarene derivative designed to bind the Gal-1 amphipathic ß-sheet conformation and has previously demonstrated anti-proliferative and anti-invasive properties in several cancer cell lines including colon, breast, head and neck, and prostate cancer lines. In the current work, the impacts of OTX008 were evaluated in six thyroid cancer cell lines, and significant inhibitions of proliferation, migration, and invasion were observed in all lines expressing high Gal-1 levels. In addition, the signaling pathways affected by this drug were examined using RPPA (reverse phase protein array) and phosphoprotein expression assays, and opposite regulation of eNos, PYK2, and HSP27 by OTX008 was detected by comparing the two anaplastic lines 8505c and CAL 62. Finally, the sensitive 8505c line was xenografted in nude mice, and 3 weeks of OTX008 treatment (5 mg/kg/day) demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor and lung metastasize sizes without side effects. Overall, OXT008 showed significant anti-cancer effects both in vitro and in vivo in thyroid cancer lines expressing Gal-1, supporting further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of the drug and future clinical trials in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Effect of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are two major causes of death worldwide. The question is, "Could there be a link between these two pathologies in addition to their shared, common risk factors?" To find some answers, we studied the effect of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) on head and neck cancer (HNC) cell lines, since oxLDL is a major contributor to atherosclerosis and the principal cause of CVD. In this study, we exposed three HNC cell lines (Detroit 562, UPCI-SCC-131 and FaDu) to oxLDL. We investigated two oxLDL receptors, CD36 and Lox-1, using immunofluorescence. Cancer cell migration was evaluated using Boyden chambers and the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was investigated using Western blotting. We demonstrated that the expression of CD36 and Lox-1 significantly increases after exposure to oxLDL. Moreover, we found that oxLDL reduces the migration of HNC cell lines, an observation that is in line with an increased degradation of ß-catenin under oxLDL. Finally, the inhibition of CD36 with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (SSO) reverses the inhibition of cell migration. In conclusion, we report that oxLDL seems to induce an increase in CD36 expression on HNC cell lines, enhancing the uptake of these lipids in cells to finally decrease cancer cell migration via the CD36/ß-catenin pathway.

ACE2 Protein Landscape in the Head and Neck Region: The Conundrum of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The coronavirus pandemic raging worldwide since December 2019 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which invades human cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Although it has already been identified in many organs, ACE2 expression remains largely unknown in the head and neck (HN) sphere. Thus, this study aims to investigate its protein expression in several sites of the upper aerodigestive tract in order to highlight potential routes of infection. We compared ACE2 immunohistochemical expression between 70 paraffin-embedded specimens with two different antibodies and reported the quantified expression in each histological location. Surprisingly, we obtained different results depending on the antibody, an absence of labeling having been observed with a monoclonal antibody raised against the extracellular domain, whereas the polyclonal, against the cytoplasmic part of the protein, revealed enriched ACE2 expression, particularly in sinuses, vocal cords, salivary glands and oral cavity epithelial cells. The interpretation of these discordant results has brought several exciting lines of reflection. In conclusion, this study provides possible routes of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 in HN region and, above all, has led us to encourage caution when studying the ACE2 expression which is currently at the center of all attention.

Increased basal and alum-induced interleukin-6 levels in geriatric patients are associated with cardiovascular morbidity.

BACKGROUND/AIM OF THE STUDY: Low-grade systemic inflammation was suggested to participate to the decline of physiological functions and increased vulnerability encountered in older patients. Geriatric syndromes encompass various features such as functional dependence, polymorbidity, depression and malnutrition. There is a strong prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and related risk factors and chronic cytomegalovirus infections in the geriatric population. As these underlying conditions were proposed to influence the inflammatory state, the aim of this study was to assess their potential contribution to the association of geriatric syndromes with inflammatory parameters. METHODOLOGY: We recruited 100 subjects in the general population or hospitalized for chronic medical conditions (age, 23-96 years). We collected information on clinical status (medical history, ongoing comorbidities, treatments and geriatric scales), biological parameters (hematological tests, cytomegalovirus serology) and cytokines production (basal and alum-induced interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 levels). Using stepwise backward multivariate analyses, we defined which set of clinical and biological variables could be predictive for increased inflammatory markers. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We confirmed the age-associated increase of circulating IL-6 levels. In contrast to geriatric scales, we found history of cardiovascular diseases to be strongly associated for this parameter as for high IL-6 production upon ex vivo stimulation with alum. CONCLUSIONS: Association between low-grade inflammation and geriatric conditions could be linked to underlying cardiovascular diseases.

Frailty in old age is associated with decreased interleukin-12/23 production in response to toll-like receptor ligation.

Aging is associated with progressive alterations of immune functions, leading to higher susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections and reduced vaccine responses. Data concerning cytokine production in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are highly variable in old people, reflecting the heterogeneity of the geriatric population. The aim of our study was to define the relative contribution of age and clinical status on TLR-induced interleukin (IL)-12p70 and IL-23 production as these cytokines play an important role in the protection against intracellular and extracellular pathogens, respectively. For this purpose, we recruited 100 subjects (aged 23-96 years) in the general population or hospitalized for chronic diseases. We collected information on clinical status (medical history, ongoing comorbidities, treatments and geriatric scales), biological parameters (biochemical and hematological tests, telomere length determination, cytomegalovirus serology). Whole blood samples were stimulated with a combination of TLR4 and TLR7/8 ligands. We performed univariate and stepwise backward multivariate analyses regression to define which set of clinical variables could be predictive for IL-12p70 and IL-23 production in these conditions. Our results indicated that age was not correlated with TLR-mediated IL-12p70 and IL-23 production. In contrast, poor nutritional status and frailty in subjects >75 years were associated with decreased IL-12p70 and IL-23 production. By intracytoplasmic staining, we confirmed that production of IL-12/23p40 by conventional dendritic cells (DCs) upon TLR ligation was decreased in frail patients. However, proportion of DCs and monocytes subsets, phenotypic maturation and proximal signaling events were found to be comparable in frail and healthy old subjects. These results suggest the importance of age-associated clinical parameters and not age by itself in the alteration of innate immune responses in old individuals and emphasis the importance of innate immune responses in the susceptibility of frail geriatric patients to infections.