Amphiregulin in infectious diseases: Role, mechanism, and potential therapeutic targets.

Amphiregulin (AREG) serves as a ligand for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is involved in vital biological functions, including inflammatory responses, tissue regeneration, and immune system function. Upon interaction with the EGFR, AREG initiates a series of signaling cascades necessary for several physiological activities, such as metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and cellular proliferation. Recent findings have provided evidence for the substantial role of AREG in maintaining the equilibrium of homeostasis in damaged tissues and preserving epithelial cell structure in the context of viral infections affecting the lungs. The development of resistance to influenza virus infection depends on the presence of type 1 cytokine responses. Following the eradication of the pathogen, the lungs are subsequently colonized by several cell types that are linked with type 2 immune responses. These cells contribute to the process of repairing and resolving the tissue injury and inflammation caused by infections. Following influenza infection, the activation of AREG promotes the regeneration of bronchial epithelial cells, enhancing the tissue's structural integrity and increasing the survival rate of infected mice. In the same manner, mice afflicted with influenza experience rapid mortality due to a subsequent bacterial infection in the pulmonary region when both bacterial and viral infections manifest concurrently inside the same host. The involvement of AREG in bacterial infections has been demonstrated. The gene AREG experiences increased transcriptional activity inside host cells in response to bacterial infections caused by pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhea. In addition, AREG has been extensively studied as a mitogenic stimulus in epithelial cell layers. Consequently, it is regarded as a prospective contender that might potentially contribute to the observed epithelial cell reactions in helminth infection. Consistent with this finding, mice that lack the AREG gene exhibit a delay in the eradication of the intestinal parasite Trichuris muris. The observed delay is associated with a reduction in the proliferation rate of colonic epithelial cells compared to the infected animals in the control group. The aforementioned findings indicate that AREG plays a pivotal role in facilitating the activation of defensive mechanisms inside the epithelial cells of the intestinal tissue. The precise cellular sources of AREG in this specific context have not yet been determined. However, it is evident that the increased proliferation of the epithelial cell layer in infected mice is reliant on CD4+ T cells. The significance of this finding lies in its demonstration of the crucial role played by the interaction between immunological and epithelial cells in regulating the AREG-EGFR pathway. Additional research is necessary to delve into the cellular origins and signaling mechanisms that govern the synthesis of AREG and its tissue-protective properties, independent of infection.

Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biological evaluation of a novel nanocomposite using molybdenum and [2,2'-bipyridine]-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid.

Currently, nanocomposites are synthesized and used in various fields. One of the applications of these nanostructures is in the medical field. Therefore, the synthesis of new composites with biological properties is important. In this study, under microwave conditions, a new nanocomposite containing molybdenum and [2,2'-bipyridine]-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (Mo/BPDA) was synthesized. The synthesized Mo/BPDA composite was subjected to biological evaluations such as antibacterial and antifungal properties by clinical and laboratory standards institute guidelines, and anticancer properties by MTT method. Characterization and structure characteristics of the Mo/BPDA nanocomposite were evaluated using XRD (X-ray diffraction pattern), FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared), EDAX (energy-dispersive X-ray), EA (elemental analysis), TGA/DTG (thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis. The results indicated relatively high thermal stability (300 °C), high specific surface area (35 cm3 g-1) and uniform morphology of the synthesized Mo/BPDA nanocomposite. In antibacterial and antifungal activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (between 2 and 256 µg mL-1), minimum bactericidal concentration (between 4 and 128 µg mL-1), and minimum fungicidal concentration (between 64 and 256 µg mL-1) were tested and reported. The results showed that the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Mo/BPDA nanocomposite is higher than that of antibiotic drugs such as ampicillin, cefazolin, ketoconazole, and nystatin. In the investigation of the anticancer activity that was tested against bone cancer cells and breast cancer cells for 24 and 48 hours, cell proliferation and viability (37.3648-82.0674 tan control) and IC50 (33-43 µg mL-1) were observed. As a final result, it can be stated that the synthesized Mo/BPDA nanocomposite after the additional biological evaluations, such as in vivo study, can be used as an efficient option in treating bone cancer cells and breast cancer cells and a strong antibiotic on a wide range of infectious diseases.

Exosomal non-coding RNAs' role in immune regulation and potential therapeutic applications.

Exosomes are now significant players in both healthy and unhealthy cell-to-cell communication. Exosomes can mediate immune activation or immunosuppression, which can influence the growth of tumors. Exosomes affect the immune responses to malignancies in various ways by interacting with tumor cells and the environment around them. Exosomes made by immune cells can control the growth, metastasis, and even chemosensitivity of tumor cells. In contrast, exosomes produced by cancer cells can encourage immune responses that support the tumor. Exosomes carry circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs), all involved in cell-to-cell communication. In this review, we focus on the most recent findings concerning the role of exosomal miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in immune modulation and the potential therapeutic implications of these discoveries.