Cardiac Development Long Non-Coding RNA (CARDEL) Is Activated during Human Heart Development and Contributes to Cardiac Specification and Homeostasis.

Successful heart development depends on the careful orchestration of a network of transcription factors and signaling pathways. In recent years, in vitro cardiac differentiation using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has been used to uncover the intricate gene-network regulation involved in the proper formation and function of the human heart. Here, we searched for uncharacterized cardiac-development genes by combining a temporal evaluation of human cardiac specification in vitro with an analysis of gene expression in fetal and adult heart tissue. We discovered that CARDEL (CARdiac DEvelopment Long non-coding RNA; LINC00890; SERTM2) expression coincides with the commitment to the cardiac lineage. CARDEL knockout hPSCs differentiated poorly into cardiac cells, and hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes showed faster beating rates after controlled overexpression of CARDEL during differentiation. Altogether, we provide physiological and molecular evidence that CARDEL expression contributes to sculpting the cardiac program during cell-fate commitment.

Cardiomyogenesis Modeling Using Pluripotent Stem Cells: The Role of Microenvironmental Signaling.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSC) can be used as a model to study cardiomyogenic differentiation. In vitro modeling can reproduce cardiac development through modulation of some key signaling pathways. Therefore, many studies make use of this strategy to better understand cardiomyogenesis complexity and to determine possible ways to modulate cell fate. However, challenges remain regarding efficiency of differentiation protocols, cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation and therapeutic applications. Considering that the extracellular milieu is crucial for cellular behavior control, cardiac niche studies, such as those identifying secreted molecules from adult or neonatal tissues, allow the identification of extracellular factors that may contribute to CM differentiation and maturation. This review will focus on cardiomyogenesis modeling using PSC and the elements involved in cardiac microenvironmental signaling (the secretome - extracellular vesicles, extracellular matrix and soluble factors) that may contribute to CM specification and maturation.

Down regulation of ADAM33 as a Predictive Biomarker of Aggressive Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with differences in its clinical, molecular and biological features. Traditionally, immunohistochemical markers together with clinicopathologic parameters are used to classify breast cancer and to predict disease outcome. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particular type of breast cancer that is defined by a lack of expression of hormonal receptors and the HER2 gene. Most cases of TNBC also have a basal-like phenotype (BLBC) with expression of cytokeratin 5/6 and/or EGFR. A basal marker alone is insufficient for a better understanding of the tumor biology of TNBC. In that regard, the ADAM33 gene is silenced by DNA hypermethylation in breast cancer, which suggests that ADAM33 might be useful as a molecular marker. In the present study, we have produced monoclonal antibodies against the ADAM33 protein and have investigated the role of ADAM33 protein in breast cancer. We used 212 breast tumor samples and lower levels of ADAM33 were correlated with TNBC and basal-like markers. A lower level of ADAM33 was also correlated with shorter overall survival and metastasis-free survival and was considered an independent prognostic factor suggesting that ADAM33 is a novel molecular biomarker of TNBC and BLBC that might be useful as a prognostic factor.

lncRNAs are associated with polysomes during adipose-derived stem cell differentiation.

Over the past few years, an increasing number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in mammalian genomes. Most of these lncRNAs are expressed at low levels in different human cell types. lncRNAs are found not only in the nucleus but are also enriched in the cytosolic fraction and are associated with translating polysomes. Expression of lncRNAs that have putative roles in cell differentiation has been identified in embryonic and adult stem cells. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which lncRNAs operate in the cell are still poorly understood.Here, we studied the expression of the subpopulation of lncRNAs that are associated with polysomes in adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) during their commitment to adipocytes. We established that lncRNAs and protein coding genes have similar expression levels. The relatively comparable expression of these transcripts could be a particular feature of hASCs. We then show that lncRNAs are associated with polysomes in undifferentiated and early differentiating cells, which was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. The association of lncRNAs with polysomes was also comparable to that of mRNAs. Our results suggest that the presence of lncRNAs in the polysomal RNA fraction is not the result of random association. We observed that a high percentage of lncRNAs are actively mobilized to or from polysomes during early stages of adipogenesis. Moreover, we found several lncRNAs that can potentially target miRNAs relevant to adipogenesis.

Worse prognosis in breast cancer patients can be predicted by immunohistochemical analysis of positive MMP-2 and negative estrogen and progesterone receptors.

INTRODUCTION:: Breast cancer is the most cause of death, and approximately 90% of these deaths are due to metastases. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gelatinase activity is able to degrade a major constituent of the tumor microenvironment, type IV collagen. Two well-established proteins used as markers in clinical practice for breast cancer are the receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR). Although the presence of these receptors has been associated with a better prognosis, loss of these proteins can occur during tumor progression, with subsequent resistance to hormone therapy. OBJECTIVE:: To study the correlation among MMP-2, ER, and PR, as well as the establishment of the metastatic process in primary breast tumors. METHOD:: Breast cancer samples (n=44) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for MMP-2, ER, and PR. RESULTS:: We observed that 90% of patients who had metastases and died showed positive staining for MMP-2 (p=0.0082 for both). Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, we found that negative ER patients who were also positive for MMP-2 had even worse disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p= 0.012 and p=0.005, respectively). Similar results were found in PR-negative patients for DFS (a trend p=0.077) and OS (p=0.038). CONCLUSION:: Regardless of our small sample size (n=44), the data obtained strongly suggest that MMP-2 in combination with already well-established markers could help to predict the emergence of metastases and death in patients with breast cancer.

Worse prognosis in breast cancer patients can be predicted by immunohistochemical analysis of positive MMP-2 and negative estrogen and progesterone receptors / Pacientes com câncer de mama de pior prognóstico podem ser estimadas por análise imuno-histoquímica de MMP-2 positiva e receptores de estrógeno e progesterona negativos

Summary Introduction: Breast cancer is the most cause of death, and approximately 90% of these deaths are due to metastases. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gelatinase activity is able to degrade a major constituent of the tumor microenvironment, type IV collagen. Two well-established proteins used as markers in clinical practice for breast cancer are the receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR). Although the presence of these receptors has been associated with a better prognosis, loss of these proteins can occur during tumor progression, with subsequent resistance to hormone therapy. Objective: To study the correlation among MMP-2, ER, and PR, as well as the establishment of the metastatic process in primary breast tumors. Method: Breast cancer samples (n=44) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for MMP-2, ER, and PR. Results: We observed that 90% of patients who had metastases and died showed positive staining for MMP-2 (p=0.0082 for both). Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, we found that negative ER patients who were also positive for MMP-2 had even worse disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p= 0.012 and p=0.005, respectively). Similar results were found in PR-negative patients for DFS (a trend p=0.077) and OS (p=0.038). Conclusion: Regardless of our small sample size (n=44), the data obtained strongly suggest that MMP-2 in combination with already well-established markers could help to predict the emergence of metastases and death in patients with breast cancer.

Resumo Introdução: o câncer de mama é a segunda causa de morte no mundo, sendo 90% dessas mortes decorrentes de metástases. A metaloprotease de matriz 2 (MMP-2) possui atividade de gelatinase capaz de degradar o principal constituinte do microambiente tumoral, o colágeno do tipo IV. Há duas proteínas bem estabelecidas utilizadas como marcadores na prática clínica para o câncer de mama, os receptores de estrógeno (RE) e de progesterona (RP). Embora a presença desses receptores tenha sido associada a um melhor prognóstico, a perda delas pode ocorrer durante a progressão do tumor, com subsequente resistência à terapia hormonal. Objetivo: analisar a correlação entre as proteínas MMP-2, RE e RP por imuno-histoquímica e estabelecer o processo metastático em tumores de mama primários. Método: amostras de tumor de mama (n=44) foram analisadas por imuno-histoquímica para MMP-2, receptor de estrógeno e progesterona. Resultados: observou-se que 90% das pacientes que tinham metástases e morreram apresentaram coloração positiva para a MMP-2 (p=0,0082 para ambos). Usando a análise de Kaplan-Meier, verificou-se que as pacientes RE negativas, também positivas para MMP-2, apresentaram sobrevida livre de doença (SLD) e sobrevida global (SG) (p=0,012 e p=0,005, respectivamente) piores quando comparadas às pacientes MMP-2 negativas. Resultados semelhantes foram encontrados em pacientes RP negativas para SLD (p=0,077) e SG (p=0,038). Conclusão: embora o número de amostras avaliadas tenha sido baixo (n=44), esses dados iniciais permitem inferir que a MMP-2 em combinação com os marcadores já bem estabelecidos poderia ajudar na previsão do surgimento de metástase e morte em pacientes com câncer de mama.

Fibronectin affects transient MMP2 gene expression through DNA demethylation changes in non-invasive breast cancer cell lines.

Metastasis accounts for more than 90% of cancer deaths. Cells from primary solid tumors may invade adjacent tissues and migrate to distant sites where they establish new colonies. The tumor microenvironment is now recognized as an important participant in the signaling that induces cancer cell migration. An essential process for metastasis is extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by metalloproteases (MMPs), which allows tumor cells to invade local tissues and to reach blood vessels. The members of this protein family include gelatinase A, or MMP-2, which is responsible for the degradation of type IV collagen, the most abundant component of the basal membrane, that separates epithelial cells in the stroma. It is known that fibronectin is capable of promoting the expression of MMP-2 in MCF7 breast cancer cells in culture. In addition, it was already shown that the MMP2 gene expression is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. In this work, we showed that fibronectin was able to induce MMP2 expression by 30% decrease in its promoter methylation. In addition, a histone marker for an open chromatin conformation was significantly increased. These results indicate a new role for fibronectin in the communication between cancer cells and the ECM, promoting epigenetic modifications.

Isolation of a gastroprotective arabinoxylan from sugarcane bagasse.

After industrial processing, one-third of sugarcane culms is converted into residual bagasse. The xylan-rich hemicellulose components of the bagasse were extracted with hot aqueous alkali (AX-CRUDE). Approximately 82% of the extracted hemicelluloses was precipitated with ethanol (AX-PET). Both AX-CRUDE and AX-PET contained an arabinoxylan as confirmed by 13C NMR and methylation analysis. Fraction AX-PET was fed to female Wistar rats with ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Oral administrations of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg reduced the gastric lesion area by over 50%, and replenished ethanol-induced depletion of glutathione. The polysaccharide also increased mucus production by over 70%, indicating its cytoprotective action on experimentally induced gastric ulcers. These findings are significant, since a biologically active compound can be extracted in high yields from an abundant, readily available residue.