The effect of Fernblock® in preventing blue-light-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells is associated with NRF2 induction.

Blue light exposure of the ocular apparatus is currently rising. This has motivated a growing concern about potential deleterious effects on different eye structures. To address this, ARPE-19 cells were used as a model of the retinal pigment epithelium and subjected to cumulative expositions of blue light. The most relevant cellular events previously associated with blue-light-induced damage were assessed, including alterations in cell morphology, viability, cell proliferation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the induction of DNA repair cellular mechanisms. Consistent with previous reports, our results provide evidence of cellular alterations resulting from repeated exposure to blue light irradiation. In this context, we explored the potential protective properties of the vegetal extract from Polypodium leucotomos, Fernblock® (FB), using the widely known treatment with lutein as a reference for comparison. The only changes observed as a result of the sole treatment with either FB or lutein were a slight but significant increase in γH2AX+ cells and the raise in the nuclear levels of NRF2. Overall, our findings indicate that the treatment with FB (similarly to lutein) prior to blue light irradiation can alleviate blue-light-induced deleterious effects in RPE cells, specifically preventing the drop in both cell viability and percentage of EdU+ cells, as well as the increase in ROS generation, percentage of γH2AX+ nuclei (more efficiently with FB), and TNF-α secretion (the latter restored only by FB to similar levels to those of the control). On the contrary, the induction in the P21 expression upon blue light irradiation was not prevented neither by FB nor by lutein. Notably, the nuclear translocation of NRF2 induced by blue light was similar to that observed in cells pre-treated with FB, while lutein pre-treatment resulted in nuclear NRF2 levels similar to control cells, suggesting key differences in the mechanism of cellular protection exerted by these compounds. These results may represent the foundation ground for the use of FB as a new ingredient in the development of alternative prophylactic strategies for blue-light-associated diseases, a currently rising medical interest.

The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cutaneous Remodeling and Hair Follicle Dynamics.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, are cell-derived membranous structures that were originally catalogued as a way of releasing cellular waste products. Since the discovery of their function in intercellular communication as carriers of proteins, lipids, and DNA and RNA molecules, numerous therapeutic approaches have focused on the use of EVs, in part because of their minimized risk compared to cell-based therapies. The skin is the organ with the largest surface in the body. Besides the importance of its body barrier function, much attention has been paid to the skin in regenerative medicine because of its cosmetic aspect, which is closely related to disorders affecting pigmentation and the presence or absence of hair follicles. The use of exosomes in therapeutic approaches for cutaneous wound healing has been reported and is briefly reviewed here. However, less attention has been paid to emerging interest in the potential capacity of EVs as modulators of hair follicle dynamics. Hair follicles are skin appendices that mainly comprise an epidermal and a mesenchymal component, with the former including a major reservoir of epithelial stem cells but also melanocytes and other cell types. Hair follicles continuously cycle, undergoing consecutive phases of resting, growing, and regression. Many biomolecules carried by EVs have been involved in the control of the hair follicle cycle and stem cell function. Thus, investigating the role of either naturally produced or therapeutically delivered EVs as signaling vehicles potentially involved in skin homeostasis and hair cycling may be an important step in the attempt to design future strategies towards the efficient treatment of several skin disorders.

Mitotic Catastrophe Induced in HeLa Tumor Cells by Photodynamic Therapy with Methyl-aminolevulinate.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) constitutes a cancer treatment modality based on the administration of a photosensitizer, which accumulates in tumor cells. The subsequent irradiation of the tumoral area triggers the formation of reactive oxygen species responsible for cancer cell death. One of the compounds approved in clinical practice is methyl-aminolevulinate (MAL), a protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) precursor intermediate of heme synthesis. We have identified the mitotic catastrophe (MC) process after MAL-PDT in HeLa human carcinoma cells. The fluorescence microscopy revealed that PpIX was located mainly at plasma membrane and lysosomes of HeLa cells, although some fluorescence was also detected at endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Cell blockage at metaphase-anaphase transition was observed 24 h after PDT by phase contrast microscopy and flow cytometry. Mitotic apparatus components evaluation by immunofluorescence and Western blot indicated: multipolar spindles and disorganized chromosomes in the equatorial plate accompanied with dispersion of centromeres and alterations in aurora kinase proteins. The mitotic blockage induced by MAL-PDT resembled that induced by two compounds used in chemotherapy, taxol and nocodazole, both targeting microtubules. The alterations in tumoral cells provided evidence of MC induced by MAL-PDT, resolving mainly by apoptosis, directly or through the formation of multinucleate cells.

Switching on a transient endogenous ROS production in mammalian cells and tissues.

There is a growing interest in the physiological roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as essential components of molecular mechanisms regulating key cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. This interest has fostered the development of new molecular tools to localize and quantify ROS production in cultured cells and in whole living organisms. An equally important but often neglected aspect in the study of ROS biology is the development of accurate procedures to introduce a ROS source in the biological system under study. At present, this experimental requirement is solved in most cases by an external and systemic administration of ROS, usually hydrogen peroxide. We have previously shown that a photodynamic treatment based on the endogenous photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX and further irradiation of the target with adequate light source can be used to transiently switch on an in situ ROS production in human cultured keratinocytes and in mouse skin in vivo. Using this approach we reported that qualitatively low levels of ROS can activate cell proliferation in cultured cells and promote a transient and reversible hyperproliferative response in the skin, particularly, in the hair follicle stem cell niche, promoting physiological responses like acceleration of hair growth and supporting the notion that a local and transient ROS production can regulate stem cell function and tissue homeostasis in a whole organism. Our principal aim here is to provide a detailed description of this experimental methodology as a useful tool to investigate physiological roles for ROS in vivo in different experimental systems.

Neodymium-doped LaF(3) nanoparticles for fluorescence bioimaging in the second biological window.

The future perspective of fluorescence imaging for real in vivo application are based on novel efficient nanoparticles which is able to emit in the second biological window (1000-1400 nm). In this work, the potential application of Nd(3+) -doped LaF(3) (Nd(3+) :LaF(3) ) nanoparticles is reported for fluorescence bioimaging in both the first and second biological windows based on their three main emission channels of Nd(3+) ions: (4) F(3/2) →(4) I(9/2) , (4) F(3/2) →(4) I(11/2) and (4) F(3/2) →(4) I(13/2) that lead to emissions at around 910, 1050, and 1330 nm, respectively. By systematically comparing the relative emission intensities, penetration depths and subtissue optical dispersion of each transition we propose that optimum subtissue images based on Nd(3+) :LaF(3) nanoparticles are obtained by using the (4) F3/2 →(4) I11/2 (1050 nm) emission band (lying in the second biological window) instead of the traditionally used (4) F(3/2) →(4) I(9/2) (910 nm, in the first biological window). After determining the optimum emission channel, it is used to obtain both in vitro and in vivo images by the controlled incorporation of Nd(3+) :LaF(3) nanoparticles in cancer cells and mice. Nd(3+) :LaF(3)nanoparticles thus emerge as very promising fluorescent nanoprobes for bioimaging in the second biological window.

Regulation of SNAIL1 and E-cadherin function by DNMT1 in a DNA methylation-independent context.

Mammalian DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is essential for maintaining DNA methylation patterns after cell division. Disruption of DNMT1 catalytic activity results in whole genome cytosine demethylation of CpG dinucleotides, promoting severe dysfunctions in somatic cells and during embryonic development. While these observations indicate that DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation is required for proper cell function, the possibility that DNMT1 has a role independent of its catalytic activity is a matter of controversy. Here, we provide evidence that DNMT1 can support cell functions that do not require the C-terminal catalytic domain. We report that PCNA and DMAP1 domains in the N-terminal region of DNMT1 are sufficient to modulate E-cadherin expression in the absence of noticeable changes in DNA methylation patterns in the gene promoters involved. Changes in E-cadherin expression are directly associated with regulation of ß-catenin-dependent transcription. Present evidence suggests that the DNMT1 acts on E-cadherin expression through its direct interaction with the E-cadherin transcriptional repressor SNAIL1.

The Distinctive Features behind the Aggressiveness of Oral and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Squamous cell carcinomas arise from stratified squamous epithelia. Here, a comparative analysis based on recent studies defining the genetic alterations and composition of the stroma of oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC and CSCC, respectively) was performed. Both carcinomas share some but not all histological and genetic features. This review was focused on how mutations in tumor suppressor genes and protooncogenes cooperate to determine the differentiation, aggressiveness, and metastatic potential of OSCC and CSCC. In fact, driver mutations in tumor suppressor genes are more frequently observed in OSCC than CSCC. These include mutations in TP53 (encoding pP53 protein), CDKN2A (encoding cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A), FAT1 (encoding FAT atypical cadherin 1), and KMT2D (encoding lysine methyltransferase 2D), with the exception of NOTCH (encoding Notch receptor 1), whose mutation frequency is lower in OSCC compared to CSCC. Finally, we describe the differential composition of the tumor microenvironment and how this influences the aggressiveness of each tumor type. Although both OSCC and CSCC tumors are highly infiltrated by immune cells, high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been more frequently reported as predictors of better outcomes in OSCC than CSCC. In conclusion, OSCC and CSCC partially share genetic alterations and possess different causal factors triggering their development. The tumor microenvironment plays a key role determining the outcome of the disease.

Glycophthalocyanines as photosensitizers for triggering mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis in cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality for different forms of cancer based on the combination of light, molecular oxygen, and a photosensitizer (PS) compound. When activated by light, the PS generates reactive oxygen species leading to tumor destruction. Phthalocyanines are compounds that have already shown to be efficient PSs for PDT. Several examples of carbohydrate substituted phthalocyanines have been reported, assuming that the presence of carbohydrate moieties could improve their tumor selectivity. This work describes the photoeffects of symmetric and asymmetric phthalocyanines with D-galactose (so-called GPh1, GPh2, and GPh3) on HeLa carcinoma cells and their involvement in cell death. Photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activities for the compounds considered revealed that the asymmetric glycophthalocyanine GPh3 is very efficient and selective, producing higher photocytotoxicity on cancer cells than in nonmalignat HaCaT. The cell toxiticy after PDT treatment was dependent upon light exposure level and GPh3 concentration. GPh3 causes cell cycle arrest at the metaphase stage leading to multiple spindle poles, mitotic catastrophe, followed by apoptosis in cancer cells. These effects were partially negated by the pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Together, these results indicate that GPh3 is an excellent candidate drug for PDT, able to induce selective tumor cell death.

The role of T cells in age-related diseases.

Age-related T cell dysfunction can lead to failure of immune tolerance mechanisms, resulting in aberrant T cell-driven cytokine and cytotoxic responses that ultimately cause tissue damage. In this Review, we discuss the role of T cells in the onset and progression of age-associated conditions, focusing on cardiovascular disorders, metabolic dysfunction, neuroinflammation and defective tissue repair and regeneration. We present different mechanisms by which T cells contribute to inflammageing and might act as modulators of age-associated diseases, including through enhanced pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity, defective clearance of senescent cells or regulation of the gut microbiota. Finally, we propose that 'resetting' immune system tolerance or targeting pathogenic T cells could open up new therapeutic opportunities to boost resilience to age-related diseases.

Protective Effect of the Hydrophilic Extract of Polypodium leucotomos, Fernblock®, against the Synergistic Action of UVA Radiation and Benzo[a]pyrene Pollutant.

Oxidative stress is a harmful effect induced on the skin by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) air pollutants. This effect is amplified by the additive damaging effect of the sun, especially through the UVA light component. Besides being one of the main compounds that make up air pollution, BaP can also be found in tar, tobacco smoke, and various foods. In addition to its direct carcinogenic potential, BaP can act as a photosensitizer absorbing sunlight in the UVA range and thus generating ROS and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Fernblock® (FB) is an aqueous extract from the leaves of Polypodium leucotomos that has been proven to exert photoprotective and antioxidant effects on skin cells. In this study, we evaluate the potential of FB to prevent the damage induced by a combination of BaP and UVA light on human keratinocyte and mouse melanocyte cell lines (HaCaT and B16-F10, respectively). In particular, we have analyzed the capacity of FB to counteract the alterations caused on cellular morphology, viability, oxidative stress and melanogenic signaling pathway activation. Our data indicate that FB prevented cell damage and reduced oxidative stress and melanogenic signaling pathway activation caused by a combination of BaP and UVA light irradiation. Altogether, our findings support the fact that FB is able to prevent skin damage caused by the exposure to a combination of UVA and the air pollutant BaP.

Isolation and characterization of squamous carcinoma cells resistant to photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employing methyl δ-aminolevulinic acid (Me-ALA), as a precursor of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), is used for the treatment of non melanoma cutaneous cancer (NMCC). However, one of the problems of PDT is the apparition of resistant cell populations. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize squamous carcinoma cells SCC-13 resistant to PDT with Me-ALA. The SCC-13 parental population was submitted to successive cycles of Me-ALA-PDT and 10 resistant populations were finally obtained. In parental and resistant cells there were analyzed the cell morphology (toluidine blue), the intracellular PpIX content (flow cytometry) and its localization (fluorescence microscopy), the capacity of closing wounds (scratch wound assay), the expression of cell-cell adhesion proteins (E-cadherin and ß-catenin), cell-substrate adhesion proteins (ß1-integrin, vinculin and phospho-FAK), cytoskeleton proteins (α-tubulin and F-actin) and the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin, in the activated form as phospho-survivin (indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot). The results obtained indicate that resistant cells showed a more fibroblastic morphology, few differences in intracellular content of the photosensitizer, higher capacity of closing wounds, higher number of stress fibers, more expression of cell-substrate adhesion proteins and higher expression of phospho-survivin than parental cells. These distinctive features of the resistant cells can provide decisive information to enhance the efficacy of Me-ALA applications in clinic dermatology.

TGFß1 Secreted by Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as an Inductor of Resistance to Photodynamic Therapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

As an important component of tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have lately gained prominence owing to their crucial role in the resistance to therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) stands out as a successful therapeutic strategy to treat cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, we demonstrate that the transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) cytokine secreted by CAFs isolated from patients with SCC can drive resistance to PDT in epithelial SCC cells. To this end, CAFs obtained from patients with in situ cSCC were firstly characterized based on the expression levels of paramount markers as well as the levels of TGFß1 secreted to the extracellular environment. On a step forward, two established human cSCC cell lines (A431 and SCC13) were pre-treated with conditioned medium obtained from the selected CAF cultures. The CAF-derived conditioned medium effectively induced resistance to PDT in A431 cells through a reduction in the cell proliferation rate. This resistance effect was recapitulated by treating with recombinant TGFß1 and abolished by using the SB525334 TGFß1 receptor inhibitor, providing robust evidence of the role of TGFß1 secreted by CAFs in the development of resistance to PDT in this cell line. Conversely, higher levels of recombinant TGFß1 were needed to reduce cell proliferation in SCC13 cells, and no induction of resistance to PDT was observed in this cell line in response to CAF-derived conditioned medium. Interestingly, we probed that the comparatively higher intrinsic resistance to PDT of SCC13 cells was mediated by the elevated levels of TGFß1 secreted by this cell line. Our results point at this feature as a promising biomarker to predict both the suitability of PDT and the chances to optimize the treatment by targeting CAF-derived TGFß1 in the road to a more personalized treatment of particular cSCC tumors.

Plasmonic Hot-Electron Reactive Oxygen Species Generation: Fundamentals for Redox Biology.

For decades, the possibility to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in biological systems through the use of light was mainly restricted to the photodynamic effect: the photoexcitation of molecules which then engage in charge- or energy-transfer to molecular oxygen (O2) to initiate ROS production. However, the classical photodynamic approach presents drawbacks, like per se chemical reactivity of the photosensitizing agent or fast molecular photobleaching due to in situ ROS generation, to name a few. Recently, a new approach, which promises many advantages, has entered the scene: plasmon-driven hot-electron chemistry. The effect takes advantage of the photoexcitation of plasmonic resonances in metal nanoparticles to induce a new cohort of photochemical and redox reactions. These metal photo-transducers are considered chemically inert and can undergo billions of photoexcitation rounds without bleaching or suffering significant oxidative alterations. Also, their optimal absorption band can be shape- and size-tailored in order to match any of the near infrared (NIR) biological windows, where undesired absorption/scattering are minimal. In this mini review, the basic mechanisms and principal benefits of this light-driven approach to generate ROS will be discussed. Additionally, some significant experiments in vitro and in vivo will be presented, and tentative new avenues for further research will be advanced.

Stimulation of Stem Cell Niches and Tissue Regeneration in Mouse Skin by Switchable Protoporphyrin IX-Dependent Photogeneration of Reactive Oxygen Species In Situ.

Here, we describe a protocol to induce switchable in vivo photogeneration of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mouse skin. This transient production of ROS in situ efficiently activates cell proliferation in stem cell niches and stimulates tissue regeneration as strongly manifested through the acceleration of burn healing and hair follicle growth processes. The protocol is based on a regulatable photodynamic treatment that treats the tissue with precursors of the endogenous photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX and further irradiates the tissue with red light under tightly controlled physicochemical parameters. Overall, this protocol constitutes an interesting experimental tool to analyze ROS biology.

T cells with dysfunctional mitochondria induce multimorbidity and premature senescence.

The effect of immunometabolism on age-associated diseases remains uncertain. In this work, we show that T cells with dysfunctional mitochondria owing to mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) deficiency act as accelerators of senescence. In mice, these cells instigate multiple aging-related features, including metabolic, cognitive, physical, and cardiovascular alterations, which together result in premature death. T cell metabolic failure induces the accumulation of circulating cytokines, which resembles the chronic inflammation that is characteristic of aging ("inflammaging"). This cytokine storm itself acts as a systemic inducer of senescence. Blocking tumor necrosis factor-α signaling or preventing senescence with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors partially rescues premature aging in mice with Tfam-deficient T cells. Thus, T cells can regulate organismal fitness and life span, which highlights the importance of tight immunometabolic control in both aging and the onset of age-associated diseases.

A role for the Tgf-ß/Bmp co-receptor Endoglin in the molecular oscillator that regulates the hair follicle cycle.

The hair follicle is a biological oscillator that alternates growth, regression, and rest phases driven by the sequential activation of the proliferation/differentiation programs of resident stem cell populations. The activation of hair follicle stem cell niches and subsequent entry into the growing phase is mainly regulated by Wnt/ß-catenin signalling, while regression and resting phases are mainly regulated by Tgf-ß/Bmp/Smad activity. A major question still unresolved is the nature of the molecular switch that dictates the coordinated transition between both signalling pathways. Here we have focused on the role of Endoglin (Eng), a key co-receptor for members of the Tgf-ß/Bmp family of growth factors. Using an Eng haploinsufficient mouse model, we report that Eng is required to maintain a correct follicle cycling pattern and for an adequate stimulation of hair follicle stem cell niches. We further report that ß-catenin binds to the Eng promoter depending on Bmp signalling. Moreover, we show that ß-catenin interacts with Smad4 in a Bmp/Eng-dependent context and both proteins act synergistically to activate Eng promoter transcription. These observations point to the existence of a growth/rest switching mechanism in the hair follicle that is based on an Eng-dependent feedback cross-talk between Wnt/ß-catenin and Bmp/Smad signals.

Characterisation of resistance mechanisms developed by basal cell carcinoma cells in response to repeated cycles of Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) with methyl-aminolevulinate acid (MAL-PDT) is being used for the treatment of Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), but recurrences have been reported. In this work, we have evaluated resistance mechanisms to MAL-PDT developed by three BCC cell lines (ASZ, BSZ and CSZ), derived from mice on a ptch+/- background and with or without p53 expression, subjected to 10 cycles of PDT (10thG). The resistant populations showed mesenchymal-like structure and diminished proliferative capacity and size compared to the parental (P) cells. The resistance was dependent on the production of the endogenous photosensitiser protoporphyrin IX in the CSZ cell line and on its cellular localisation in ASZ and BSZ cells. Moreover, resistant cells expressing the p53 gene presented lower proliferation rate and increased expression levels of N-cadherin and Gsk3ß (a component of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway) than P cells. In contrast, 10thG cells lacking the p53 gene showed lower levels of expression of Gsk3ß in the cytoplasm and of E-cadherin and ß-catenin in the membrane. In addition, resistant cells presented higher tumorigenic ability in immunosuppressed mice. Altogether, these results shed light on resistance mechanisms of BCC to PDT and may help to improve the use of this therapeutic approach.

Influence of the Elastic Modulus on the Osseointegration of Dental Implants.

The load transfer from metallic prosthesis to tissue plays an important role in the success of a designed device. From a mechanical behavior point of view, the load transfer will be favored when the elastic modulus between the metallic implant and the bone tissue are similar. Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V are the most commonly used metals and alloys in the field of dental implants, although they present high elastic moduli and hence trigger bone resorption. We propose the use of low-modulus ß-type titanium alloys that can improve the growth of new bone surrounding the implant. We designed dental implants with identical morphology and micro-roughness composed of: Ti-15Zr, Ti-19.1Nb-8.8Zr, Ti-41.2Nb-6.1Zr, and Ti-25Hf-25Ta. The commercially pure Ti cp and Ti-6Al-4V were used as control samples. The alloys were initially mechanically characterized with a tensile test using a universal testing machine. The results showed the lowest elastic modulus for the Ti-25Hf-25Ta alloy. We implanted a total of six implants in the mandible (3) and maxilla (3) for each titanium alloy in six minipigs and evaluated their bone index contact (i.e., the percentage of new bone in contact with the metal-BIC%) after 3 and 6 weeks of implantation. The results showed higher BIC% for the dental implants with lowest elastic modulus, showing the importance of decreasing the elastic modulus of alloys for the successful osseointegration of dental implants.

In-vivo monitoring of infectious diseases in living animals using bioluminescence imaging.

Traditional methods of localizing and quantifying the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in living experimental animal models of infections have mostly relied on sacrificing the animals, dissociating the tissue and counting the number of colony forming units. However, the discovery of several varieties of the light producing enzyme, luciferase, and the genetic engineering of bacteria, fungi, parasites and mice to make them emit light, either after administration of the luciferase substrate, or in the case of the bacterial lux operon without any exogenous substrate, has provided a new alternative. Dedicated bioluminescence imaging (BLI) cameras can record the light emitted from living animals in real time allowing non-invasive, longitudinal monitoring of the anatomical location and growth of infectious microorganisms as measured by strength of the BLI signal. BLI technology has been used to follow bacterial infections in traumatic skin wounds and burns, osteomyelitis, infections in intestines, Mycobacterial infections, otitis media, lung infections, biofilm and endodontic infections and meningitis. Fungi that have been engineered to be bioluminescent have been used to study infections caused by yeasts (Candida) and by filamentous fungi. Parasitic infections caused by malaria, Leishmania, trypanosomes and toxoplasma have all been monitored by BLI. Viruses such as vaccinia, herpes simplex, hepatitis B and C and influenza, have been studied using BLI. This rapidly growing technology is expected to continue to provide much useful information, while drastically reducing the numbers of animals needed in experimental studies.