MAML1 promotes ESCC aggressiveness through upregulation of EMT marker TWIST1.

BackgroundMastermind-like 1 (MAML1) is the main transcriptional co-activator of Notch signaling pathway. It plays essential roles in several pathways including MEF2C, p53, Nf-кB and Wnt/β-catenin. TWIST1 is known as a regulator of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is considered as a primary step in promotion of tumor cell metastasis. Since concomitant expression of these genes was observed in tumors, our aim in this study was to elucidate the linkage between MAML1 and TWIST1 co-overexpression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).ResultsWhile MAML1 silencing significantly down-regulated TWIST1, its ectopic expression up-regulated TWIST1 expression in both mRNA and protein levels in KYSE-30 cells. Expression of mesenchymal markers was increased significantly after MAML1 and TWIST1 ectopic expression, while epithelial markers expression was significantly decreased after silencing of both genes. Concomitant protein expression of MAML1 and TWIST1 was significantly observed in ESCC patients. Enforced expression of TWIST1 had no impact on MAML1 gene expression in KYSE-30 cells.ConclusionThe results clearly suggest transcriptional regulation of TWIST1 by MAML1 transcription factor in ESCC cells KYSE-30. Since TWIST1 is known as an EMT inducing marker, our results may revealed the mastermind behind TWIST1 function and introduced MAML1 as an upstream master regulator of TWIST1 and EMT in KYSE-30 cells

Improved antibacterial activity of sulfasalazine loaded fullerene derivative: computational and experimental studies

Recently, nanomaterials have found application in the biomedical field by providing new and efficient techniques in imaging, drug delivery, diagnosis and many other areas. The present study is a significant contribution in which a well-known zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, fullerene, has been explored as an efficient drug carrier. Specifically, water insoluble fullerene has been made water soluble through chemical functionalization using hydrogen peroxide to form polyhydroxylated fullerene, which is referred to as fullerenol. A well-known antibacterial drug, sulfasalazine (SSZ), has been loaded on to the surface of this fullerenol. The success of functionalization and drug loading has been confirmed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman analysis. Moreover, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) imaging and elemental analysis have also been performed to evaluate the particle size and composition before and after drug loading. In addition, the effect of incorporating the nanomaterial has also been studied by comparing the antibacterial activity of drug loaded fullerenol with pure SSZ towards a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The remarkable performance of SSZ loaded fullerenol show them as an efficient and promising nano drug-carrier. © 2021 Elsevier B.V