BackgroundUrothelial carcinoma (UC) is the fifth most common malignancy that accounts for 5% of all cancers. Diagnostic markers that predict UC progressions are inadequate. NF-κB contributes towards disease progression upon constitutive activation in many solid tumors. The nuclear localization of NF-κB indicates increased transcriptional activity while cytoplasmic localization indicates the inactive protein repository that can be utilized readily by a malignant cell. This study delineates the nuclear and cytoplasmic differential expression of NF-κB heterodimers in UC progression.MethodsThe involvement of the NF-κB proteins in UC was analyzed in silico using cytoscape. The expression of NF-κB heterodimers was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsPINA4MS app in cytoscape revealed over expression of RelA and suppression of NF-κB1 (p50 precursor) in UC whereas the expression of NF-κB target proteins remained unhindered. Immunohistochemical localization showed nuclear RelA/p50 in low grade UC whereas in high grade only RelA expression was observed. Conversely, cytoplasmic expression of RelA/p50 remained extensive across high and low grade UC tissues (p < 0.005). RelA nuclear and cytoplasmic expression (p < 0.005) was directly proportional to the disease progression. In our study, some of the high-grade UC tissues with squamous differentiation and muscle invasion had extensive nuclear p50 localization. The phenomenon of RelA/p50 expression seen increased in low-grade UC than high grade UC might be due to their interaction with other members of NF-κB family of proteins. Thus, NF-κB RelA/p50 differential expression may play a unique role in UC pathogenesis and can serve as a biomarker for diagnosis.
Novel immunosuppressants are sought to overcome the side effects of currently used drugs. T cells play a central role in the functioning of the immune system; hence, drugs that specifically inhibit T cell function are expected to be better immunosuppressants with fewer side effects than the ones currently used. Peptides that interfere with crucial protein–protein interactions (PPIs) have been shown to influence cell physiology and have therapeutic potential. In this study, we designed a peptide, GVITAA, which specifically inhibits the function of lymphocyte‐specific protein kinase (LCK), a signaling molecule that is mainly expressed in T cells and is responsible for positively regulating T cell function. Aspartate Histidine ‐Histidine Cysteine (DHHC21) ‐LCK is an important PPI present in T cells; DHHC21 interacts with LCK and targets the kinase to membrane rafts by adding a palmitoyl group. GVITAA is a ten amino acid peptide that interferes with the DHHC21‐LCK interaction, prevents the membrane localization of LCK, and inhibits LCK‐mediated initiation of complex signal transduction pathways required for T cell activation. In this study, we present evidence that the GVITAA peptide when conjugated with a cell‐penetrating peptide—human immunodeficiency virus transactivator of transcription (TAT) and incubated with mouse T cells specifically inhibits LCK‐mediated T cell receptor signaling, cytokine secretion, and T cell proliferation. This peptide does not affect other non‐T cell functions and is non‐toxic. A similar strategy was also tested and demonstrated in human peripheral T cells.
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