ALBERT

Description: Here, we aimed to further characterize the mechanisms involved in protoxin (p) Cry1Ac-induced macrophage activation. We demonstrated that pCry1Ac induces MAPK ERK1/2, p38 and JNK phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Because MAPK activation is mainly triggered via ligand-receptor interactions, we focused on the identification of potential pCry1Ac-receptor proteins. Flow cytometry and confocal analysis showed specific saturable pCry1Ac-binding to the macrophage surface and evidenced its internalization via the clathrin-pathway. We performed immunoprecipitation assays and identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF several possible pCry1Ac-binding proteins, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), vimentin, α-enolase and actin; whose interaction and presence was confirmed respectively by ligand blot and Western blot assays. We also detected cell-surface (cs) pCry1Ac-HSP70 colocalization, so HSP70 was chosen for further characterization. Co-immunoprecipitation with HSP70 antibodies followed by Western blot confirmed the pCry1Ac-HSP70 interaction. Furthermore, pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with HSP70 antibodies reduced pCry1Ac-induced ERK1 phosphorylation and MCP-1 production; thus suggest the functional participation of csHSP70 in pCry1Ac-induced macrophage activation. csHSP70 also was evaluated in peritoneal-cavity (PerC) macrophages of untreated BALB/c mice, interestingly it was found that the predominant population namely large-peritoneal-macrophages (LPM) displayed csHSP70 + hi. Furthermore, the dynamics of PerC macrophage subsets, LPM and small-peritoneal macrophages (SPM) were evaluated in response to in vivo pCry1Ac stimuli in presence or not of Phenylethynesulfonamide (PES) a functional HSP70 inhibitor. It was found that pCry1Ac increased the proportion of SPM CD11b + F4/80 + lowMHCII + csHSP70 + low and markedly reduced the amount of LPM CD11b + F4/80 + hiMHCII-csHSP70 + hi; while PES, partially suppressed this pCry1Ac-induced effect, further suggesting the participation of HSP70 in macrophage activation process. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Description: ABSTRACT Anemia is associated with chemotherapy treatment in cancer patients. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been used to treat anemia of cancer patients, because it stimulates erythropoiesis. However, treatment of breast cancer patients with EPO has been associated with poor prognosis and decrease of survival. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial cells are transdifferentiated to a mesenchymal state. It has been implicated in tumor progression, because epithelial cells acquire the capacity to execute the multiple steps of invasion/metastasis process. However, the role of EPO on EMT process in human mammary epithelial cells has not been studied. In the present study, we demonstrate that EPO promotes a decrease of E-cadherin expression, an increase of N-cadherin, vimentin and Snail2 expression, activation of FAK and Src kinases and an increase of MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretions. Moreover, EPO induces an increase of NFκB DNA binding activity, an increase of binding of p50 and p65 NFκB subunits to Snail1 promoter, migration and invasion in mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells MCF10A. In summary, these findings demonstrate, for the first time, that EPO induces an EMT-like process in mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Description: ABSTRACT Skin cancer represents a serious public health problem and melanoma is considered the most significant due to its high metastasis capacity. Evasion mechanisms are the main characteristic of these tumor cells to escape of immune response. Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides play an important role in inflammatory and immune responses. In this study, we analyzed the expression and activity of purinergic system enzymes in platelets and lymphocytes, ATP levels quantification, as well the level of pro and anti-inflammatory interleukins in the serum of 23 patients with surgical melanoma removal (CM group) and 23 control subjects (CT group). Results showed a decrease in ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis and an increase in ATP levels quantification in CM group. The pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated in CM group when compared to CT group. These results suggest an inflammatory process, even after surgical removal, due to elevated extracellular ATP levels. Besides, CM group displayed an increase in IL-10 levels and an increased in ADA activity in platelets and lymphocytes. Once adenosine and IL-10 are anti-inflammatory molecules, these results indicate a down-regulation of immune system front to malignant process. The alteration in nucleotide and nucleoside hydrolysis reinforces the purinergic systems role in this cancer. Therefore, even after surgical removal, the purinergic system can develop a chronic inflammatory microenvironment that can influence directly on relapse or metastasis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved