Дія свинцю (П) в сублетальній концентрації на вміст білкових і кислоторозчинних тіолів та білку в печінці полівки сірої

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have become crucial in medicine and biology. Several studies indicate their phenotypic similarities with cancer stem cells (CSCs) and a propensity to form tumors. Thus it is desirable to identify a trait which differentiates iPS populations and CSCs. Searching for such a feature, in this work we compare the restriction (R) point-governed regulation of cell cycle progression in different cell types (iPS, cancer, CSC and normal cells) based on the expression profile of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase3 (PFKFB3) and phosphofructokinase (PFK1). Our study reveals that PFKFB3 and PFK1 expression allows discrimination between iPS and CSCs. Moreover, cancer and iPS cells, when cultured under hypoxic conditions, alter their expression level of PFKFB3 and PFK1 to resemble those in CSCs. We also observed cell type-related differences in response to inhibition of PFKFB3. This possibility to distinguish CSC from iPS cells or non-stem cancer cells by PFKB3 and PFK1 expression improves the outlook for clinical application of stem cell-based therapies and for more precise detection of CSCs

Role of ion channels in regulating Ca2+ homeostasis during the interplay between immune and cancer cells.

Ion channels are abundantly expressed in both excitable and non-excitable cells, thereby regulating the Ca2+ influx and downstream signaling pathways of physiological processes. The immune system is specialized in the process of cancer cell recognition and elimination, and is regulated by different ion channels. In comparison with the immune cells, ion channels behave differently in cancer cells by making the tumor cells more hyperpolarized and influence cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Therefore, ion channels comprise an important therapeutic target in anti-cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the implication of ion channels in regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis during the crosstalk between immune and cancer cell as well as their role in cancer progression

Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity affects its subcellular localization and DNA strand break rejoining

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) plays a crucial role in DNA repair. Modulation of its activity by stimulation or inhibition is considered as a potentially important strategy in clinical practice, especially to sensitize tumor cells to chemo- and radiotherapy through inhibition of DNA repair. Here we studied the effect of the three PARP inhibitors, 5-iodo-6-amino-benzopyrone (INH2BP), 1,5-isoquinolinediol (1,5-dihydroxyisoquinolinediol (1,5-IQD) and 8-hydroxy-2-methylquinazolin-4-[3H]one (NU1025), and for two of them the efficiency in slowing the rejoining of DNA strand breaks induced by H2O2 was compared. Inhibition of PARP changed its intranuclear localization markedly; cells exposed to the inhibitor NU1025 showed a significant tendency to accumulate PARP in large foci, whereas in untreated cells its distribution was more uniform. The speed and efficiency of rejoining of H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks were lower in cells incubated with a PARP inhibitor, and the kinetics of rejoining were modulated in a different manner by each inhibitor. At a concentration of 100 µM the efficiency of the inhibitors could be ranked in the order NU1025 > IQD > INH2BP. The two first compounds were able to decrease the overall PARP activity below the level detected in control cells, while INH2BP showed up to 40% PARP activity after exposure to H2O2

The expression pattern of PFKFB3 enzyme distinguishes between induced-pluripotent stem cells and cancer stem cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have become crucial in medicine and biology. Several studies indicate their phenotypic similarities with cancer stem cells (CSCs) and a propensity to form tumors. Thus it is desirable to identify a trait which differentiates iPS populations and CSCs. Searching for such a feature, in this work we compare the restriction (R) point-governed regulation of cell cycle progression in different cell types (iPS, cancer, CSC and normal cells) based on the expression profile of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase3 (PFKFB3) and phosphofructokinase (PFK1). Our study reveals that PFKFB3 and PFK1 expression allows discrimination between iPS and CSCs. Moreover, cancer and iPS cells, when cultured under hypoxic conditions, alter their expression level of PFKFB3 and PFK1 to resemble those in CSCs. We also observed cell type-related differences in response to inhibition of PFKFB3. This possibility to distinguish CSC from iPS cells or non-stem cancer cells by PFKB3 and PFK1 expression improves the outlook for clinical application of stem cell-based therapies and for more precise detection of CSCs

Socioeconomic effects on employee well-being : preference identification in response to non-standard labor market conditions

This thesis investigates the effects of ‘atypical’ forms of employment, induced by labour market flexibility, on <i>employee well-being</i>. The empirical analysis uses subjective job satisfaction information included in large household panel surveys (BHPS, ECHP) and in an original cross-section sample of low-skilled workers in Europe (EPICURUS). Apart from assisting in the establishment of consensus regarding the impact of various determinants of job satisfaction, it also extends the conventional specification by incorporating several “new” explanatory variables in the model, such as part-time work, measures of working conditions, as well as incentive pay. In this manner it proves that the ultimate effect of unstable working arrangements on job satisfaction depends on the extent to which individuals who work in these do so by choice rather than compulsion. Furthermore, it empirically verifies that one of the most significant non-pecuniary ‘costs’ of inferior working conditions is reduced employee motivation and job satisfaction. The thesis also casts doubt on non-economic arguments claiming that the provision of incentive pay is detrimental to job security and to the intrinsic satisfaction that workers derive from their jobs. An important asymmetry is moreover uncovered in the manner in which individual and gain-sharing incentives affect the overall utility of employees, as only the latter are found to have a positive effect. A major novelty of this thesis is that it utilizes a new technique for measuring employee preferences, namely the so-called <i>conjoint analysis method</i>. This approach enables the detection of the <i>ex ante </i>preferences of workers over a given number of attributes that are typical of most jobs, prior any psychological adaptation phenomena coming into play. Insights for policymakers are derived that are expected to inform the design of a more socially cohesive welfare policy.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Salinomycin induces activation of autophagy, mitophagy and affects mitochondrial polarity : Differences between primary and cancer cells

The molecular mechanism of Salinomycin's toxicity is not fully understood. Various studies reported that Ca2 +, cytochrome c, and caspase activation play a role in Salinomycin-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, Salinomycin may target Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote differentiation and thus elimination of cancer stem cells. In this study, we show a massive autophagic response to Salinomycin (substantially stronger than to commonly used autophagic inducer Rapamycin) in prostrate-, breast cancer cells, and to lesser degree in human normal dermal fibroblasts. Interestingly, autophagy induced by Salinomycin is a cell protective mechanism in all tested cancer cell lines. Furthermore, Salinomycin induces mitophagy, mitoptosis and increased mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψ) in a subpopulation of cells. Salinomycin strongly, and in time-dependent manner decreases cellular ATP level. Contrastingly, human normal dermal fibroblasts treated with Salinomycin show some initial decrease in mitochondrial mass, however they are largely resistant to Salinomycin-triggered ATP-depletion. Our data provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of preferential toxicity of Salinomycin towards cancer cells, and suggest possible clinical application of Salinomycin in combination with autophagy inhibitors (i.e. clinically-used Chloroquine). Furthermore, we discuss preferential Salinomycins toxicity in the context of Warburg effect

Salinomycin induces activation of autophagy, mitophagy and affects mitochondrial polarity : Differences between primary and cancer cells

The molecular mechanism of Salinomycin's toxicity is not fully understood. Various studies reported that Ca2 +, cytochrome c, and caspase activation play a role in Salinomycin-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, Salinomycin may target Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote differentiation and thus elimination of cancer stem cells. In this study, we show a massive autophagic response to Salinomycin (substantially stronger than to commonly used autophagic inducer Rapamycin) in prostrate-, breast cancer cells, and to lesser degree in human normal dermal fibroblasts. Interestingly, autophagy induced by Salinomycin is a cell protective mechanism in all tested cancer cell lines. Furthermore, Salinomycin induces mitophagy, mitoptosis and increased mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψ) in a subpopulation of cells. Salinomycin strongly, and in time-dependent manner decreases cellular ATP level. Contrastingly, human normal dermal fibroblasts treated with Salinomycin show some initial decrease in mitochondrial mass, however they are largely resistant to Salinomycin-triggered ATP-depletion. Our data provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of preferential toxicity of Salinomycin towards cancer cells, and suggest possible clinical application of Salinomycin in combination with autophagy inhibitors (i.e. clinically-used Chloroquine). Furthermore, we discuss preferential Salinomycins toxicity in the context of Warburg effect