WNT signalling in prostate cancer

Genome sequencing and gene expression analyses of prostate tumours have highlighted the potential importance of genetic and epigenetic changes observed in WNT signalling pathway components in prostate tumours-particularly in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. WNT signalling is also important in the prostate tumour microenvironment, in which WNT proteins secreted by the tumour stroma promote resistance to therapy, and in prostate cancer stem or progenitor cells, in which WNT-β-catenin signals promote self-renewal or expansion. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of inhibitors that target WNT receptor complexes at the cell membrane or that block the interaction of β-catenin with lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 and the androgen receptor, in preventing prostate cancer progression. Some WNT signalling inhibitors are in phase I trials, but they have yet to be tested in patients with prostate cancer

Environmentally induced changes in antioxidant phenolic compounds levels in wild plants

[EN] Different adverse environmental conditions cause oxidative stress in plants by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accordingly, a general response to abiotic stress is the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Many phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are known antioxidants and efficient ROS scavengers in vitro, but their exact role in plant stress responses in nature is still under debate. The aim of our work is to investigate this role by correlating the degree of environmental stress with phenolic and flavonoid levels in stress-tolerant plants. Total phenolic and antioxidant flavonoid contents were determined in 19 wild species. Meteorological data and plant and soil samples were collected in three successive seasons from four Mediterranean ecosystems: salt marsh, dune, semiarid and gypsum habitats. Changes in phenolic and flavonoid levels were correlated with the environmental conditions of the plants and were found to depend on both the taxonomy and ecology of the investigated species. Despite species-specific differences, principal component analyses of the results established a positive correlation between plant phenolics and several environmental parameters, such as altitude, and those related to water stress: temperature, evapotranspiration, and soil water deficit. The correlation with salt stress was, however, very weak. The joint analysis of all the species showed the lowest phenolic and flavonoid levels in the halophytes from the salt marsh. This finding supports previous data indicating that the halophytes analysed here do not undergo oxidative stress in their natural habitat and therefore do not need to activate antioxidant systems as a defence against salinity.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. Thanks to Dr. Rafael Herrera for critical reading of the manuscript.Bautista, I.; Boscaiu, M.; Lidón, A.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Lull, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.... (2016). Environmentally induced changes in antioxidant phenolic compounds levels in wild plants. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 38(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-2025-2S115381Agati G, Biricolti S, Guidi L, Ferrini F, Fini A, Tattini M (2011) The biosynthesis of flavonoids is enhanced similarly by UV radiation and root zone salinity in L. vulgare leaves. 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Liposomal-lipopolysaccharide vaccine extracted from Proteus mirabilis induces moderate TLR4 and CD14 production

Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of recurrent urinary tract infections in individuals with functional or structural abnormalities. It also forms bladder and kidney stones. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potential Proteus virulence factor that plays a key role in pathogenesis, as well as in stimulating innate immune response. Therefore, this study aimed to extract LPS from a highly resistant isolate and incorporate it in a delivery system (liposome) to stimulate an immune response against virulent pathogens. In the work, 50 isolates of P. mirabilis were taken from 200 urine specimens obtained from recurrent-urinary tract infections (UTI) of patients of AL-Sadar Hospital. Specimens were cultured on specific media, and then bacterial isolates were identified via morphological, biochemical and Vitek-2 systems. The results showed that P. mirabilis was expressed in 11 (22%), 30 (60%) and 9 (18%) recurrent UTI, kidney stone and catheter samples, respectively. All isolates were assessed through antibiogram testing, with the results revealing that most isolates were multidrug resistant to more than 3 classes of antibiotics. Herein, P. mirabilis NO 50 revealed particularly high resistance, so it was chosen for LPS extraction. Lethal dose 50 (LD50) observations indicated that a live suspension of P. mirabilis was at 4.5×107 CFU/ml, while LPS was at 270 μg/ml. LPS was used as an immunogenic to stimulate the immune system through injecting Rats intraperitoneally (I.P.) with 1 ml of LD50%. Subsequently, the efficiency of immunogenes in stimulating the immune response was evaluated by determining the Toll-like receptor and CD14 levels. The results indicate that LPS incorporated in the Liposome released moderate levels of Toll-like receptors-4 (TLR4) that enabled the immune system to clear pathogens. The LPS+ complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) and LPS vaccinated groups recorded hyper production for TLR4 (52.2 and 40.9 pg/ml, respectively), this was followed by liposome (LIP) and bacterial suspension (11 and 20.5 pg/ml, respectively) in ranking effectiveness. This study reveals a mean of CD14 that was higher in both LPS and LPS+CFA and moderate in LPS+LIP, in comparison with control and liposome groups

Biomarkers and Bacteria Around Implants and Natural Teeth in the Same Individuals

WOS: 000406497500008PubMed ID: 28440740Background: This cross-sectional study assesses cytokine levels in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF)/gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and a selection of subgingival/submucosal plaque bacteria from clinically healthy or diseased sites in the same individuals. Methods: Samples from 97 implants/teeth (58 implants [19 healthy, 20 mucositis, 19 peri-implantitis] and 39 natural teeth [19 healthy, 12 gingivitis, eight periodontitis] in 15 systemically healthy patients were investigated by immunoassay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Samples were obtained first, with probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, plaque index scores, and keratinized tissue width then recorded. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U, and permutation tests on dependent, independent, and mixed dependent and independent samples and Spearman correlation. Results: Interleukin (IL)-1 beta levels were significantly higher in PICF samples of healthy implants than in GCF samples of healthy teeth (P = 0.003), and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (sRANKL) concentrations were significantly higher in the gingivitis than the mucositis group (P = 0.004). Biomarker levels were similar in peri-implantitis and periodontitis groups (P > 0.05). Actinomyces naeslundi and Streptococcus oralis levels were significantly higher in the healthy implant group than in healthy teeth (P < 0.05). Prevotella intermedia and Treponema denticola (Td) levels were lower in the mucositis group than the gingivitis group (P < 0.05). Prevotella oralis and S. oralis levels were significantly higher in the periodontitis group (P < 0.05), and Td levels were significantly higher in the peri-implantitis group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There were many similarities but, crucially, some differences in biomarker levels (IL-1 beta and sRANKL) and bacterial species between peri-implant and periodontal sites in the same individuals, suggesting similar pathogenic mechanisms.Ege University Research Foundation Izmir, TurkeyEge University [2014 DIS 018]This study was supported by a grant from the Ege University Research Foundation Izmir, Turkey (Project 2014 DIS 018), to Onder Gurlek, Pinar Gumus and Nurcan Buduneli. The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this study

Gingival crevicular fluid, serum levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand, osteoprotegerin, interleukin-17 in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis patients with periodontal disease

Background: This study was performed to evaluate gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F, IL-17A/F and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis (OPR) and systemically healthy (SH) women all with periodontal disease. Methods: Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples were obtained before any periodontal intervention from 17 RA, 19 OPR patients and 13 SH women with periodontitis. Full-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. sRANKL, OPG, IL-17 levels were determined by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Results: Clinical periodontal measurements were similar in the three study groups. Although the total amounts of GCF albumin, OPG, IL-17A and IL-17A/F, were similar in the study groups, there were statistically significant differences in GCF concentrations of sRANKL, OPG, IL-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F and IL-17A/F. The sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the RA group than in the OPR and SH groups (p&#60;0.05). Serum sRANKL, sRANKL/OPG and IL-17A/IL-17E ratios were significantly higher, while OPG concentrations were significantly lower in the RA group compared with other groups (p&#60;0.05). Serum IL-17A concentrations were significantly higher in the RA and OPR groups than in the SH group (p&#60;0.05). Conclusion: Increased inflammatory mediator levels in RA patients despite the long-term usage of various anti-inflammatory drugs suggest that these patients may have a propensity to overproduce these inflammatory mediators