Ruxolitinib-loaded poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles inhibit JAK2/STAT5 signaling in BT474 breast cancer cells by downregulating Bcl-2 and Mcl-1.

BACKGROUND: JAK/STAT signaling plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation. Reducing proliferation and inducing cell death with gene-specific inhibitors such as ruxolitinib, Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) inhibitor targeting JAK1/2, are therapeutic approaches. The use of nanoparticles can reduce the toxicity and side effects of drugs, as they act directly on cancer cells and can selectively increase drug accumulation in tumor cells. Poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) is a polymer that is frequently used in drug development. In this study, Rux-PCL-NPs were synthesized to increase the effectiveness of ruxolitinib. In addition, this study aimed to determine the effect of Rux-PCL-NPs on JAK/STAT signaling and apoptotic cell death. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rux-PCL-NPs were synthesized by nanoprecipitation. The Rux-PCL-NPs had a spherical and mean particle size of 219 ± 88.66 nm and a zeta potential of 0.471 ± 0.453 mV. In vitro cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects were determined by MTT and soft agar colony formation assays, respectively. The effects of ruxolitinib, PCL-NPs, and Rux-PCL-NPs on apoptosis and the JAK/STAT pathway in cells were examined by western blot analysis. PCL-NPs did not have a toxic effect on the cells. The IC50 value of Rux-PCL-NPs was decreased 50-fold compared to that of ruxolitinib. Rux-PCL-NPs promoted cell death by downregulating JAK2 and STAT5, thereby inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that Rux-PCL-NPs, which increased the efficacy of ruxolitinib, regulated apoptosis and the JAK2/STAT5 pathway.

Research of the unrecognised functions of miR-375 in prostate cancer cells.

Many cancers, including prostate cancer, have miRNAs with altered expression levels. These miRNAs play a pivotal role in regulating cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis. miRNAs are an important component in cancer diagnosis and therapy and can play a key role as biomarkers or chemotherapeutic agents.  This investigation aimed to show the effects of miR-375 on PCa. In this project, target prediction tools and the KEGG pathway were performed to determine the potential targets of miR-375. Transfection was performed using miR-375 mimic and inhibitor. The actions of miRNAs on cell viability and migration were examined in PCa cells. In addition, qRT-PCR was executed to evaluate changes in gene expression in the PI3K-mTOR pathway. The analyses exposed that the upregulation of miR-375 repressed the viability at 48 h. While stimulation of miR-375 did not repress the migration, suppression of miR-375 reduced the migration at 24 and 48 hours. The predicted target TSC1 gene is not directly targeted by miR-375. Interestingly, in response to PIK3CA increase, mTOR expression was suppressed in all cells except LNCAP cells. In conclusion, miR-375 has anti-proliferative and cell migration inhibitory effects in prostate cancer. However, studies demonstrate that miR-375 may have tumor suppressor and oncogenic effects when considering cell molecular differences.

Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) and Coenzyme Q10 on Mitochondrial Genes, MitomiRs and Cellular Properties in HepG2 Cell Line.

Our study aimed to reveal the effects and changes, antioxidant metabolism (Oxidative Stress), inflammatory response, mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dysfunction characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2; that occur in genes (NRF-1, NRF-2, NFκB and PGC-1α) and miRNAs (miR15-a, miR16-1, miR181-c) that can control related features. To investigate the effects of Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in HepG2, and their effects on cell viability, lateral cell migration, gene expression and miRNA expression levels were investigated. If the data we have obtained are evaluated in terms of anti-cancer effectiveness, the most effective use of CoQ10 can be defined as the use alone rather than the combined use. According to the results of the wound healing experiment, we determined that Pyrroloquinoline quinone and combined drug application increased the wound closure area and cell proliferation compared to the control group, while CoQ10 application decreased it. We found that Pyrroloquinoline quinone and Coenzyme Q10 exposure in the HepG2 cell line increased Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) expression but not NRF-1 gene expression. We reported only a small increase in expression of the NRF-2 gene in the Pyrroloquinoline quinone application compared to the control group. We found that only Pyrroloquinoline quinone and CoQ10 application caused more expression increase in the Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFκB) gene compared to combined application. Pyrroloquinoline quinone and CoQ10 administration down-regulated the expression levels of miR16-1, miR15a and miR181c. The use of Pyrroloquinoline quinone and CoQ10 is effective on epigenetic factors, miR-15a, miR-16-1 and miR181c are important candidate biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma and diseases accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Combined treatment with ruxolitinib and MK-2206 inhibits the JAK2/STAT5 and PI3K/AKT pathways via apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: Due to deficiencies in the expression of hormone receptors, such as PR, ER and HER2, it is challenging to treat triple-negative breast cancer, which does not respond to single targeted therapy. Ruxolitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor. MK-2206 is an allosteric AKT inhibitor. Due to the limited activities of ruxolitinib and MK-2206 for monotherapy, the need for cotreatment with other drugs has emerged. This study is the first to examine the effects of ruxolitinib and MK-2206 cotreatment on apoptosis and JAK2/STAT5 and PI3K/AKT signaling in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Additionally, this work aimed to decrease the side effects of ruxolitinib and increase its anticancer effects with MK-2206 cotreatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cell viability was reduced in a dose- and time-dependent manner after exposure to ruxolitinib, MK-2206 or both for 48 h, as shown by MTT assay. Ruxolitinib had a synergistic antiproliferative effect, as demonstrated by colony formation and wound healing assays. The effects of ruxolitinib, MK-2206 and their combination on apoptosis, as well as PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signaling, were examined by western blot analyses. Cotreatment with ruxolitinib and MK-2206 reduced proliferation with the dual inhibition of JAK2/STAT5 and PI3K/AKT signaling by decreasing PI3K, AKT, JAK2, STAT5, Caspase-9, Caspase-7, PARP, c-Myc, and Bcl-2 and increasing P53 and PTEN protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed the roles of P53 and PTEN in the regulation of apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT and JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathways. The dual inhibition of JAK2/STAT5 and PI3K/AKT may reduce metastasis by decreasing tumor cell survival.

In vitro anti-proliferative effect of capecitabine (Xeloda) combined with mocetinostat (MGCD0103) in 4T1 breast cancer cell line by immunoblotting.

Objectives: Mouse breast cancer cell line 4T1 can accurately mimic the response to immune receptors and targeting therapeutic agents. Combined therapy has emerged as an important strategy with reduced side effects and maximum therapeutic effect. Mocetinostat (MGCD0103) is one of the members of Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) and its mechanism of action has not been defined, yet. Capecitabine (Xeloda) is an antimetabolite and currently is widely utilized to treat a wide range of solid tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the capecitabine, mocetinostat and their combined application on the 4T1 cell line. Materials and Methods: The effects of combined administration of mocetinostat and capecitabine on 4T1 cells were investigated by cell viability and migration assays, apoptosis analysis, and Western blotting technique. Results: The concentrations of drugs that give a half-maximal response (IC50) were detected for capecitabine (1700 µM), mocetinostat (3,125 µM), and 50 µM Capecitabine+1,5 µM Mocetinostat for 48 hr. In capecitabine+mocetinostat combine group, we observed that cell migration decreased, DNA fragmentation increased compared to the control group. capecitabine + mocetinostat group induced apoptosis by decreasing Bcl-2, PI3K, Akt, c-myc protein levels, while increasing Bax, Caspase-3, PTEN, cleaved-PARP, Caspase-7, Caspase-9, p53, cleaved-Cas-9 protein levels in 4T1 cells. Conclusion: Capecitabine and mocetinostat played a toxic role through inducing apoptosis on 4T1 cancer cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These results showed that combined therapy with low concentrations were detected to be more effective than that with high-concentration alone drug treatment.

Serum Levels of miR-223-3p and miR-223-5p in Prostate Diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in males and the fifth in cancer-associated mortality. Although the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is widely used in PCa screenings, it has significant limitations in the differential diagnosis of PCa. Therefore, studies on developing new biomarkers for PCa diagnosis are ongoing. MiRNAs are good candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancers, including prostate cancer, as they can be easily detected from circulation. OBJECTIVE: In this study, it is aimed to determine the diagnostic value of serum levels of miR-223-3p and -223-5p in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), Chronic Prostatitis (CP) and Prostate Cancer (PCa). METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 68 patients in total (25 BPH, 10 CP, 33 PCa). MiR-223- 3p and -223-5p levels were measured in serum with qRT-PCR. The Ct values of miRNAs were normalized according to the Ct value of ce-miR-39 and calculated -ΔCt values were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The serum levels of miR-223-3p and -223-5p were downregulated in the PCa and CP groups, compared to the BPH group. There was no statistically significant difference between PCa and CP groups. The sensitivity and specificity of miR-223-3p, -223-5p and their combination were calculated as 88% and 88%; 86% and 79%; 93% and 92% in discriminating BPH and PCa groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was shown that miR-223-3p and -223-5p were both detectable in circulation. miR-223-3p, -223-5p, and their combination may be good candidate biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis. Also, observation of similar serum levels of miR-223-3p and -223-5p between CP and PCa groups suggests that miR-223 may play a role in prostate cancer development originated from chronic inflammation.

The evaluation of RS1805086 and RS1805065 polymorphisms in Mstn gene and anthropometric properties of national and amateur arm wrestlers / Evaluación de los polimorfismos RS1805086 y RS1805065 en el gen Mstn y las propiedades antropométricas de los luchadores de brazo nacionales y amateurs

The aim of this study is to investigate rs1805086 and rs1805065 polymorphisms of MSTN gene of national and amateur Turkish arm wrestlers and people leading a sedentary lifestyle, and the anthropometric properties such as hand, wrist, and forearm circumferences of national and amateur Turkish arm wrestlers are aimed to be explored. In this study, a total of 79 volunteers who were 24 national (7 females, 17 males) Turkish arm wrestlers, 21 amateur (7 females, 14 males) Turkish arm wrestlers and 34 sedentary people (12 females, 22 males) participated. To analyse the data, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used. As a result of the study, when data on rs1805086 and rs1805065 polymorphisms of MSTN gene were examined respectively, it was found out that MSTN 153KK genotype was 100.0% dominant in both national (n=24) and amateur (n=21) arm wrestlers, and it was 94.12 % dominant in sedentary people. KR genotype was observed in 5.88 % of the sedentary people. The data from the other rs1805065 polymorphism of MSTN gene showed that all participants (n = 45, 100.0 %) were carriers of normal homozygous genotype. Furthermore, for both female group and male group, there found to be statistically significant difference in terms of anthropometric properties. It can be concluded that though there was no significant difference between national and amateur Turkish arm wrestlers in terms of their MSTN gene characteristics; in terms of anthropometric properties, significant differences were discovered. It was found out that on these athletes, not MSTN gene polymorphisms but anthropometric properties were effective.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los polimorfismos rs1805086 y rs1805065 del gen MSTN de luchadores de brazos turcos, nacionales y aficionados, y personas que llevan un estilo de vida sedentario, y las propiedades antropométricas además de las circunferencias de manos, muñecas y antebrazos de los luchadores de brazos turcos nacionales y aficionados. En este estudio, participaron un total de 79 voluntarios: 24 luchadores de brazos turcos nacionales (7 mujeres, 17 hombres), 21 luchadores de brazos turcos aficionados (7 mujeres, 14 hombres) y 34 personas sedentarias (12 mujeres, 22 hombres). Para analizar los datos, se utilizó el Paquete Estadístico para las Ciencias Sociales, SPSS 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, EE. UU.). Como resultado del estudio, cuando se examinaron los datos sobre los polimorfismos rs1805086 y rs1805065 del gen MSTN respectivamente, se descubrió que el genotipo MSTN 153KK era 100,0 % dominante en luchadores de brazos nacionales (n = 24) y aficionados (n = 21) , y era 94,12 % dominante en personas sedentarias. El genotipo KR se observó en el 5,88 % de las personas sedentarias. Los datos del otro polimorfismo rs1805065 del gen MSTN mostraron que todos los participantes (n = 45; 100,0 %) eran portadores del genotipo homocigoto normal. Además, tanto para el grupo femenino como para el masculino, se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en términos de propiedades antropométricas. Se puede concluir que, aunque no hubo una diferencia significativa entre los luchadores de brazos turcos nacionales y aficionados en términos de sus características genéticas MSTN; en términos de propiedades antropométricas, se descubrieron diferencias significativas. Se descubrió que, en estos atletas, no fueron los polimorfismos del gen MSTN sino las propiedades antropométricas las efectivas.