SAIFEI XIE^1,2,4, HUI XIE^2,*, JINCAI GUO³, JIN TAN⁴, YULIN YU¹, MINYI ZHANG¹, SHANG WEN¹

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.4, pp. 591-599, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.046691

Abstract Background: Puerarin (Pue) has been reported to be a natural active ingredient with multiple antifibrotic properties. This work aimed at exploring the function of Pue in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) treatment. Methods: Human oral mucosa fibroblasts (hOMF) were induced with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and intervened with Pue. Expressions of fibrosis-related markers were analyzed by Western blot and IF staining. Cell viability was characterized by the CCK-8 assay. Expressions of miR-30 family members were quantified by qRT-PCR. The correlation between fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and miR-30 family expression was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase… More > Graphic Abstract

SAMANEH MOSTAFAVI, ZUHAIR MOHAMMAD HASSAN^*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.3, pp. 477-487, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.043926

Abstract Intracellular communications between breast cancer and fibroblast cells were reported to be involved in cancer proliferation, growth, and therapy resistance. The hallmarks of cancer-fibroblast interactions, consisting of caveolin 1 (Cav1) and mono-carboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) (metabolic coupling markers), along with IL-6, TGFβ, and lactate secretion, are considered robust biomarkers predicting recurrence and metastasis. In order to promote a novel phenotype in normal fibroblasts, we predicted that breast cancer cells could be able to cause loss of Cav1 and increase of MCT4, as well as elevate IL-6 and TGFβ in nearby normal fibroblasts. We created a co-culture model using breast cancer… More >

SHUANGSHUANG ZENG^1,2, XI CHEN^1,2, QIAOLI YI^1,2, ABHIMANYU THAKUR³, HUI YANG^4,*, YUANLIANG YAN^1,2, SHAO LIU^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.2, pp. 261-272, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042345

Abstract Finding biomarkers for immunotherapy is an urgent issue in cancer treatment. Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is a controversial factor in the occurrence and development of human tumors. However, there is limited research on the relationship between CRABP2 and immunotherapy response. This study found that negative correlations of CRABP2 and immune checkpoint markers (PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4) were observed in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). In particular, in SKCM patients who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors, high levels of CRABP2 predicted poor prognosis. Additionally, CRABP2 expression was… More >

ELYN AMIELA SALLEH¹, YEONG YEH LEE², ANDEE DZULKARNAEN ZAKARIA³, NUR ASYILLA CHE JALIL⁴, MARAHAINI MUSA^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.10, pp. 2233-2244, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.030541

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern. Accumulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in CRC is associated with poor prognosis and disease recurrence. CAFs are the main cellular component of the tumor microenvironment. CAF-tumor cell interplay, which is facilitated by various secretomes, drives colorectal carcinogenesis. The complexity of CAF populations contributes to the heterogeneity of CRC and influences patient survival and treatment response. Due to their significant roles in colorectal carcinogenesis, different clinical applications utilizing or targeting CAFs have been suggested. Circulating CAFs (cCAFs) which can be detected in blood samples, have been proposed to help in determining patient… More > Graphic Abstract

GUANQIONG HU¹, RISHENG HUANG², LUELUE LU¹, QINSHI PAN³, XIAOXIN CHEN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1243-1251, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027763

Abstract Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While previous studies have revealed a cross-talk between vitamin D and TGF-β1 signaling, it is still unclear how they interact with each other to regulate the progression of IPF. Methods: In this work, we searched for a novel mediator of TGF-β1 activity in lung fibroblasts and examined its regulation by vitamin D. In addition, we investigated the mechanism underlying the interaction between vitamin D and TGF-β1 signaling in lung fibroblast activation. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify TGF-β1… More >

YUNG-FU CHANG^1,2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.2, pp. 283-287, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.025743

Abstract Areca nut is used worldwide as a hallucinogenic addicting drug along the tropical belt. Arecoline, a toxic compound, is the most important alkaloid in areca nuts. The adverse effects of oral uptake and chewing of areca nut are well known. For example, the possibility of cancer caused by chewing areca nuts is widely discussed. Chewing areca nut has other adverse effects on other organs, including abnormal cell differentiation, oral cancer, and several other diseases. The use of areca nut is also associated with low birthweight. Skeletal musculature is the largest organ in the body and is attached to the bones.… More >

Jian-Wei Wang, Xiao-Feng Wu, Xiao-Juan Gu, Xing-Hua Jiang

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 979-986, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15336368805108

Abstract Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a predominant role in regulating tumor progression. Understanding how CAFs communicate with osteosarcoma is crucial for developing novel approaches for osteosarcoma therapy. Exosomes are able to transmit messages between cells. In this study, we demonstrated that CAFs transfer exosomes to osteosarcoma cells, which promotes osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Using a miRNA microarray analysis, we identified 13 miRNAs that are significantly increased in exosomes derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and corresponding paracancer fibroblasts (PAFs). In vitro studies further validated that the levels of microRNA-1228 (miR-1228) were increased in CAFs, its secreted exosomes, and in recipient osteosarcoma… More >

Yosuke Mitsui^*†, Nahoko Tomonobu^*, Masami Watanabe^†, Rie Kinoshita^*, I Wayan Sumardika^*‡, Chen Youyi^*, Hitoshi Murata^*, Ken-ichi Yamamoto^*, Takuya Sadahira^†, Acosta Gonzalez Herik Rodrigo^*†, Hitoshi Takamatsu^*, Kota Araki^*§, Akira Yamauchi^¶, Masahiro Yamamura^#, Hideyo Fujiwara^**, Yusuke Inoue^††, Junichiro Futami^‡‡, Ken Saito^§§, Hidekazu Iioka^§§, Eisaku Kondo^§§, Masahiro Nishibori^¶¶, Shinichi Toyooka^§, Yasuhiko Yamamoto^##, Yasutomo Nasu^†, Masakiyo Sakaguchi^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.8, pp. 945-956, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15555408784978

Abstract S100A11, a member of the S100 family of proteins, is actively secreted from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. However, the role of the extracellular S100A11 in PDAC progression remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the extracellular role of S100A11 in crosstalking between PDAC cells and surrounding fibroblasts in PDAC progression. An abundant S100A11 secreted from pancreatic cancer cells stimulated neighboring fibroblasts through receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) upon S100A11 binding and was followed by not only an enhanced cancer cell motility in vitro but also an increased number of the PDAC-derived circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in… More >

Hitoshi Takamatsu^*1, Ken-ichi Yamamoto^*1, Nahoko Tomonobu^*, Hitoshi Murata^*, Yusuke Inoue^†, Akira Yamauchi^‡, I Wayan Sumardika^*§, Youyi Chen^*, Rie Kinoshita^*, Masahiro Yamamura^¶, Hideyo Fujiwara^#, Yosuke Mitsui^{*, **}, Kota Araki^*††, Junichiro Futami^‡‡, Ken Saito^§§, Hidekazu Iioka^§§, I Made Winarsa Ruma^§, Endy Widya Putranto^¶¶, Masahiro Nishibori^##, Eisaku Kondo^§§, Yasuhiko Yamamoto^***, Shinichi Toyooka^††, Masakiyo Sakaguchi^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.6, pp. 713-727, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15433161908259

Abstract The fertile stroma in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) has been suspected to greatly contribute to PDAC progression. Since the main cell constituents of the stroma are fibroblasts, there is crosstalking(s) between PDAC cells and surrounding fibroblasts in the stroma, which induces a fibroblast proliferation burst. We have reported that several malignant cancer cells including PDAC cells secrete a pronounced level of S100A11, which in turn stimulates proliferation of cancer cells via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in an autocrine manner. Owing to the RAGE⁺ expression in fibroblasts, the extracellular abundant S100A11 will affect adjacent fibroblasts. In this… More >

VITTORIO PICCHIO¹, FRANCESCA PAGANO², ISOTTA CHIMENTI^1,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.8, pp. 1875-1877, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.020181

Abstract Cardiac stromal cells have faced through the years a significant evolution in their definitions concerning their phenotypes, markers, and functions. They are surging to key roles in physiopathology, becoming important targets to be exploited for cardiac repair. In this perspective, we briefly discuss their role in novel therapeutic strategies for enhancing cardiac repair and regeneration. More >