Initial stages of tumor cell metastasis involve an epithelialmesenchyme transition that involves activation of amoeboid migration and loss of cell-cell adhesion. The actomyosin cytoskeleton has fundamental but poorly understood roles in these events. Myosin II, an abundant force-producing protein, has roles in cell body translocation and retraction of the posterior of the cell during migration. Recent studies have suggested that this protein may also have roles in leading edge protrusive events. The metastasis-promoting protein metastasin-1, a regulator of myosin II assembly, colocalizes with myosin IIA at the leading edge of cancer cells, suggesting direct roles for myosin II in metastatic behavior. We have assessed the roles of specific myosin II isoforms during lamellar spreading of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells on extracellular matrix. We find that the two major myosin II isoforms IIA and IIB are both expressed in these cells, and both are recruited dramatically to the lamellar margin during active spreading on fibronectin. There is also a transient increase in regulatory light chain phosphorylation that correlates the recruitment of myosin IIA and myosin IIB into this spreading margin. Pharmacologic inhibition of myosin II or myosin light chain kinase dramatically reduced spreading. Depletion of myosin IIA via small interfering RNA impaired migration but enhanced lamellar spreading, whereas depletion of myosin IIB impaired not only migration but also impaired initial rates of lamellar spreading. These results indicate that both isoforms are critical for the mechanics of cell migration, with myosin IIB seeming to have a preferential role in the mechanics of lamellar protrusion. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(9): 4725-33)

The human genetic code encrypted in thousands of genes holds the secret for synthesis of proteins that drive all biological processes necessary for normal life and death. Though the genetic ciphering remains unchanged through generations, some genes get disrupted, deleted and or mutated, manifesting diseases, and or disorders. Current treatment options—chemotherapy, protein therapy, radiotherapy, and surgery available for no more than 500 diseases—neither cure nor prevent genetic errors but often cause many side effects. However, gene therapy, colloquially called “living drug,” provides a one-time treatment option by rewriting or fixing errors in the natural genetic ciphering. Since gene therapy is predominantly a viral vector-based medicine, it has met with a fair bit of skepticism from both the science fraternity and patients. Now, thanks to advancements in gene editing and recombinant viral vector development, the interest of clinicians and pharmaceutical industries has been rekindled. With the advent of more than 12 different gene therapy drugs for curing cancer, blindness, immune, and neuronal disorders, this emerging experimental medicine has yet again come in the limelight. The present review article delves into the popular viral vectors used in gene therapy, advances, challenges, and perspectives.

In mammalian nonmuscle cells, the mechanisms controlling the localized formation of myosin-II filaments are not well defined. To investigate the mechanisms mediating filament assembly and disassembly during generalized motility and chemotaxis, we examined the EGF-dependent phosphorylation of the myosin-IIA heavy chain in human breast cancer cells. EGF stimulation of MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in transient increases in both the assembly and phosphorylation of the myosin-IIA heavy chains. In EGF-stimulated cells, the myosin-IIA heavy chain is phosphorylated on the casein kinase 2 site (S1943). Cells expressing green fluorescent protein-myosin-IIA heavy-chain S1943E and S1943D mutants displayed increased migration into a wound and enhanced EGF-stimulated lamellipod extension compared with cells expressing wild-type myosin-IIA. In contrast, cells expressing the S1943A mutant exhibited reduced migration and lamellipod extension. These observations support a direct role for myosin-IIA heavy-chain phosphorylation in mediating motility and chemotaxis.

Antiphospholipid Abs (APLAs) are associated with thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss. These Abs are primarily directed against phospholipid-binding proteins, particularly ␤ 2 GPI, and activate endothelial cells (ECs) in a ␤ 2 GPI-dependent manner after binding of ␤ 2 GPI to EC annexin A2. Because annexin A2 is not a transmembrane protein, the mechanisms of APLA/anti-␤ 2 GPI Ab-mediated EC activation are uncertain, although a role for a TLR4/myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent pathway leading to activation of NF-B has been proposed. In the present study, we confirm a critical role for TLR4 in anti-␤ 2 GPI Ab-mediated EC activation and demonstrate that signaling through TLR4 is mediated through the assembly of a multiprotein signaling complex on the EC surface that includes annexin A2, TLR4, calreticulin, and nucleolin. An essential role for each of these proteins in cell activation is suggested by the fact that inhibiting the expression of each using specific siRNAs blocked EC activation mediated by APLAs/anti-␤ 2 GPI Abs. These results provide new evidence for novel proteinprotein interactions on ECs that may contribute to EC activation and the pathogenesis of APLA/anti-␤ 2 GPI-associated thrombosis and suggest potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in antiphospholipid syndrome. (Blood. 2012; 119(3):884-893) IntroductionAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss in patients with circulating antiphospholipid Abs (APLAs) and is the most important cause of acquired thrombophilia. [1][2][3] Prospective studies have demonstrated that patients with APS experience significant morbidity and mortality despite recommendations for indefinite anticoagulation. 4 The term "antiphospholipid" is actually a misnomer, because the majority of APLAs are directed against phospholipid-binding proteins, of which ␤ 2 -glycoprotein I (␤ 2 GPI) is the most common. 5,6 The clinical importance of anti-␤ 2 GPI Abs has been demonstrated in several previous reports, 7 and recent studies have shown that affinity-purified human anti-␤ 2 GPI Abs induce thrombosis in mice. 8 Despite the clinical importance of APS, however, its pathogenesis has not been well defined. 1,3,9 One mechanism by which APLAs/anti-␤ 2 GPI Abs may promote thrombosis is through ␤ 2 GPI-dependent activation of endothelial cells (ECs). [10][11][12] ECs play a critical role in the maintenance of blood fluidity through expression of anticoagulant proteins on their luminal surface and the elaboration of antithrombotic substances. 13 However, EC activation leads to loss of these anticoagulant properties and transformation to a pro-adhesive, procoagulant phenotype. 13 APLAs/anti-␤ 2 GPI Abs induce EC activation in vitro and in vivo, as determined by their ability to increase the expression of adhesion molecules (E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1), and tissue factor (TF) and to enhance the expression, synthesis, and/or secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. 3,[10][11][12] These effects may account for the ab...