Establishment of triple-negative breast cancer cells based on BMI: A novel model in the correlation between obesity and breast cancer

IntroductionObesity has been associated with an increased risk of biologically aggressive variants in breast cancer. Women with obesity often have tumors diagnosed at later stages of the disease, associated with a poorer prognosis and a different response to treatment. Human cell lines have been derived from specific subtypes of breast cancer and have served to define the cell physiology of corresponding breast cancer subtypes. However, there are no current cell lines for breast cancer specifically derived from patients with different BMIs. The availability of those breast cancer cell lines should allow to describe and unravel functional alterations linked to these comorbidities. MethodsCell cultures were established from tumor explants. Once generated, the triple negative subtype in a patient with obesity and a patient with a normal BMI were chosen for comparison. For cellular characterization, the following assays were conducted: proliferation assays, chemo – sensitivity assays for doxorubicin and paclitaxel, wound healing motility assays, matrix invasion assays, breast cancer cell growth to estradiol by chronic exposure to leptin, induction of endothelial permeability and tumorigenic potential in athymic mice with normo - versus hypercaloric diets with an evaluation of the epithelium – mesenchymal transformation proteins.ResultsTwo different cell lines, were established from patients with breast cancer: DSG-BC1, with a BMI of 21.9 kg/m2 and DSG-BC2, with a BMI of 31.5 kg/m2. In vitro, these two cell lines show differential growth rates, motility, chemosensitivity, vascular permeability, response to leptin with an activation of the JAK2/STAT3/AKT signaling pathway. In vivo, they displayed distinct tumorigenic potential. In particular, DSG-BC2, presented higher tumorigenicity when implanted in mice fed with a hypercaloric diet.DiscussionTo our knowledge, these primary cultures are the first in vitro representation of both breast cancer and obesity. DSG – BC2 presented a more aggressive in vivo and in vitro phenotype. These results support the hypothesis that breast cancer generated in an obese metabolic state may represent a contrasting variant within the same disease. This new model will allow both further comprehension, functional studies and the analysis of altered molecular mechanisms under the comorbidity of obesity and breast cancer

¿Cómo se discute la violencia contra las mujeres en el espacio público digital?: divulgación de resultados investigación-docencia

Este documento presenta los resultados más relevantes de un proceso de investigación y docencia desarrollado en el marco de los cursos C-1103 Comunicación y Poder y C-1002 Comunicación Inclusiva de la Concentración en Comunicación Social de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva durante el ciclo II-2020, en articulación con el Programa de Narrativas, Género y Comunicación del Centro de Investigación en Comunicación – CICOM-, de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). El proyecto se planteó objetivos en tres ámbitos: el de la investigación, el de la enseñanza-aprendizaje y el de la política pública. En primer lugar, esta investigación responde al esfuerzo de articulación entre el CICOM y el Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres, INAMU, institución que coordina a las 22 instituciones que conforman el Sistema Nacional de prevención y atención de la violencia contra las mujeres e intrafamiliar (Ley 8688), encargado de implementar la Política Nacional para la atención y prevención de la violencia contra las mujeres de todas las edades, PLANOVI 2017-2032 y del cual la UCR es parte. Esta política, particularmente los ejes 1 y 2, centran su interés en la comunicación como vehículo fundamental para conseguir el cambio cultural y propiciar la erradicación de la violencia contra las mujeres y la promoción de las masculinidades no violentas. Para ello, se requiere diseñar e implementar una estrategia integrada de comunicación que exige, como punto de partida, determinar cuáles son los discursos sobre la violencia contra las mujeres que circulan en el espacio público costarricense en la actualidad. Con este documento, aspiramos a generar insumos que impacten en el diseño de dicha estrategia.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro de Investigación en Comunicación (CICOM

Genistein stimulates insulin sensitivity through gut microbiota reshaping and skeletal muscle AMPK activation in obese subjects

ObjectiveObesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemias. Previous studies demonstrated that genistein intake modifies the gut microbiota in mice by selectively increasing Akkermansia muciniphila, leading to reduction of metabolic endotoxemia and insulin sensitivity. However, it is not known whether the consumption of genistein in humans with obesity could modify the gut microbiota reducing the metabolic endotoxemia and insulin sensitivity.Research design and methods45 participants with a Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) index greater than 2.5 and body mass indices of ≥30 and≤40 kg/m2 were studied. Patients were randomly distributed to consume (1) placebo treatment or (2) genistein capsules (50 mg/day) for 2 months. Blood samples were taken to evaluate glucose concentration, lipid profile and serum insulin. Insulin resistance was determined by means of the HOMA for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and by an oral glucose tolerance test. After 2 months, the same variables were assessed including a serum metabolomic analysis, gut microbiota, and a skeletal muscle biopsy was obtained to study the gene expression of fatty acid oxidation.ResultsIn the present study, we show that the consumption of genistein for 2 months reduced insulin resistance in subjects with obesity, accompanied by a modification of the gut microbiota taxonomy, particularly by an increase in the Verrucomicrobia phylum. In addition, subjects showed a reduction in metabolic endotoxemia and an increase in 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. As a result, there was an increase in circulating metabolites of β-oxidation and ω-oxidation, acyl-carnitines and ketone bodies.ConclusionsChange in the gut microbiota was accompanied by an improvement in insulin resistance and an increase in skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation. Therefore, genistein could be used as a part of dietary strategies to control the abnormalities associated with obesity, particularly insulin resistance; however, long-term studies are needed

¿Cómo se discute la violencia contra las mujeres medios de comunicación y discusión ciudadana en redes sociales?

Trabajo relacionado con los cursos C-1103 Comunicación y Poder y C-1002 Comunicación InclusivaEste documento presenta los resultados de un proceso de investigación desde la docencia desarrollado con estudiantes de los cursos Comunicación y Poder y Comunicación Inclusiva de la ECCC durante el ciclo II-2020, en articulación con el Programa de Narrativas, Género y Comunicación del CICOM de la Universidad de Costa Rica.Universidad de Costa Rica/[835-B8-374]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro de Investigación en Comunicación (CICOM