Recent studies show that cancer cells are sometimes able to evade the host immunity in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells can express high levels of immune inhibitory signaling proteins. One of the most critical checkpoint pathways in this system is a tumor-induced immune suppression (immune checkpoint) mediated by the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). PD-1 is highly expressed by activated T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells, whereas PD-L1 is expressed on several types of tumor cells. Many studies have shown that blocking the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 enhances the T-cell response and mediates antitumor activity. In this review, we highlight a brief overview of the molecular and biochemical events that are regulated by the PD-1 and PD-L1 interaction in various cancers.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal and rampant human malignancies in the world. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene isolated from subtropical ginger, has been found to exhibit an antitumor effect in various cancer types. However, the effect of Zerumbone on the biological properties of CRC, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the inhibitory action of Zerumbone on the EMT process, CSC markers, and the β-catenin signaling pathway in the presence or absence of miR-200c. The effect of Zerumbone on HCT-116 and SW-48 cells viability was examined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The effects of Zerumbone on EMT-related genes, CSCs markers, cell migration, invasion, sphere-forming, and β-catenin signaling pathway were explored. To evaluate the role of miR-200c in anticancer effects by Zerumbone, miR-200c was downregulated by LNA-anti-miR-200c. Zerumbone significantly inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and sphere-forming potential in HCT-116 and SW-48 cell lines. Zerumbone significantly suppressed the EMT and CSC properties as well as downregulated the β-catenin. Silencing of miR200c reduced the inhibitory effects of Zerumbone on EMT and CSCs in CRC cells. These data indicated that Zerumbone may be a promising candidate for reducing the risk of CRC progression by suppressing the β-catenin pathway via miR-200c.
1. Efflux proteins at the blood-brain barrier provide a mechanism for export of waste products of normal metabolism from the brain and help to maintain brain homeostasis. They also prevent entry into the brain of a wide range of potentially harmful compounds such as drugs and xenobiotics. 2. Conversely, efflux proteins also hinder delivery of therapeutic drugs to the brain and central nervous system used to treat brain tumours and neurological disorders. For bypassing efflux proteins, a comprehensive understanding of their structures, functions and molecular mechanisms is necessary, along with new strategies and technologies for delivery of drugs across the blood-brain barrier. 3. We review efflux proteins at the blood-brain barrier, classified as either ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (P-gp, BCRP, MRPs) or solute carrier (SLC) transporters (OATP1A2, OATP1A4, OATP1C1, OATP2B1, OAT3, EAATs, PMAT/hENT4 and MATE1). 4. This includes information about substrate and inhibitor specificity, structural organisation and mechanism, membrane localisation, regulation of expression and activity, effects of diseases and conditions and the principal technique used for in vivo analysis of efflux protein activity: positron emission tomography (PET). 5. We also performed analyses of evolutionary relationships, membrane topologies and amino acid compositions of the proteins, and linked these to structure and function.
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) as a chemotherapeutic drug is used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). However, 5-FU is associated with acquired CRC resistance, which decreases the therapeutic potential of 5-FU. Several studies indicated that miR-200c is also involved in chemotherapeutic drug resistance, but the exact mechanism of miR-200c mediated chemoresistance has not yet been fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of inhibition of miR-200c on the sensitivity of HCT-116 cells to 5-FU. HCT-116 cells were transfected with LNA-anti- miR-200c for 48 h. mRNA expression of miR-200c was investigated by qRT-PCR. The protein expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and E-cadherin were evaluated by western blotting. Annexin V/ PI staining and caspase 3 activity were used to detect apoptosis. LNA-anti-miR-200c inhibited the miR-200c expression in the transfected cells compared with that in the control group. LNA-anti-miR-200c suppressed the expression of PTEN and E-cadherin independent of the presence of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU. LNA-anti-miR-200c reduced the 5-FU-induced apoptosis and caspase 3 activity. miR-200c, as a novel prognostic marker in CRC, can be a potential therapeutic approach to overcome chemoresistance during 5-FU chemotherapy.
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