Differential Expression Patterns of SLCO Solute Carriers in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines and Tumour Samples.

The cellular uptake of nutrients essential for cell growth and survival is facilitated by solute carrier (SLC) transporters. Members of the SLCO subfamily of SLCs mediate the uptake of substrates relevant to breast cancer (BC), including steroid hormones and anticancer drugs. Accumulating evidence suggests that altered expression of these transporters may affect BC pathogenesis by influencing cell proliferation and anticancer drug resistance.

Single Cell RNA Sequencing of Papillary Cancer Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Reveals a Transcriptional Profile That Supports a Role for These Cells in Cancer Progression.

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) contains mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), but their contribution to PTC progression is not clear. In this study, we compared the transcriptional signatures of normal thyroid (NT) and PTC-derived MSCs with the aim of determining if these have distinct transcriptomes that might influence PTC progression. We used flow cytometry in combination with a panel of MSC clusters of differentiation (CD) markers and showed that both thyroid MSC populations expressed MSC markers and lacked expression of markers not normally expressed by MSCs.

Extracellular vesicles from human cardiac stromal cells up-regulate cardiomyocyte protective responses to hypoxia.

Background: Cell therapy can protect cardiomyocytes from hypoxia, primarily via paracrine secretions, including extracellular vesicles (EVs). Since EVs fulfil specific biological functions based on their cellular origin, we hypothesised that EVs from human cardiac stromal cells (CMSCLCs) obtained from coronary artery bypass surgery may have cardioprotective properties.

Objectives: This study characterises CMSCLC EVs (C_EVs), miRNA cargo, cardioprotective efficacy and transcriptomic modulation of hypoxic human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs).

Role of Cancer Side Population Stem Cells in Ovarian Cancer Angiogenesis.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. Recurrence and metastasis often occur after treatment, and it has the highest mortality rate of all gynecological tumors. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of cells with the ability of self-renewal, multidirectional differentiation, and infinite proliferation.

Differentiation, Metabolism, and Cardioprotective Secretory Functions of Human Cardiac Stromal Cells from Ischemic and Endocarditis Patients.

This study investigates the characteristics of cardiac mesenchymal stem cell-like cells (CMSCLCs) isolated from the right atrial appendage of human donors with ischemia and a young patient with endocarditis (NE-CMSCLCs). Typical CMSCLCs from ischemic heart patients were derived from coronary artery bypass grafting procedures and compared against bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs). NE-CMSCLCs had a normal immunophenotype, but exhibited enhanced osteogenic differentiation potential, rapid proliferation, reduced senescence, reduced glycolysis, and lower reactive oxygen species generation after oxidative stress compared with typical ischemic CMSCLCs.

Correction: del Molino del Barrio et al. Breast Cancer: An Examination of the Potential of ACKR3 to Modify the Response of CXCR4 to CXCL12. 2018, , 3592.

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Hypoxia-Driven TGFβ Modulation of Side Population Cells in Breast Cancer: The Potential Role of ERα.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be important in regulating the behaviour of cancer cells enabling them to acquire stem cell characteristics or by enhancing the stem cell characteristics of cancer stem cells, resulting in these cells becoming more migratory and invasive. EMT can be driven by a number of mechanisms, including the TGF-β1 signalling pathway and/or by hypoxia. However, these drivers of EMT differ in their actions in regulating side population (SP) cell behaviour, even within SPs isolated from the same tissue.

Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cell-like Cells Derived from a Young Patient with Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease Have a Prematurely Aged Phenotype.

There is significant interest in the role of stem cells in cardiac regeneration, and yet little is known about how cardiac disease progression affects native cardiac stem cells in the human heart. In this brief report, cardiac mesenchymal stem cell-like cells (CMSCLC) from the right atria of a 21-year-old female patient with a bicuspid aortic valve and aortic stenosis (referred to as biscuspid aortic valve disease BAVD-CMSCLC), were compared with those of a 78-year-old female patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (referred to as coronary artery disease CAD-CMSCLC). Cells were analyzed for expression of MSC markers, ability to form CFU-Fs, metabolic activity, cell cycle kinetics, expression of NANOG and p16, and telomere length.

Porous scaffold for mesenchymal cell encapsulation and exosome-based therapy of ischemic diseases.

Ischemic diseases including myocardial infarction (MI) and limb ischemia are some of the greatest causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cell therapy is a potential treatment but is usually limited by poor survival and retention of donor cells injected at the target site. Since much of the therapeutic effects occur via cell-secreted paracrine factors, including extracellular vesicles (EVs), we developed a porous material for cell encapsulation which would improve donor cell retention and survival, while allowing EV secretion.

TGF-β, to target or not to target; to prevent thyroid cancer progression?

Thyroid cancer (TC) is a common endocrine cancer with a rising incidence. Current treatment fails to eliminate aggressive thyroid tumours, prompting an investigation into the processes that cause disease progression. In this review, we provide insight into TGF-β driven epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), summarizing the current literature surrounding thyroid carcinogenesis, and discuss the potential for therapeutic strategies targeting the TGF-β signalling pathway.

Nanocarrier-Based Targeted Therapies for Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to poor inherent regeneration of the adult mammalian myocardium and challenges with effective drug delivery, there has been little progress in regenerative therapies. Nanocarriers, including liposomes, nanoparticles, and exosomes, offer many potential advantages for the therapy of myocardial infarction, including improved delivery, retention, and prolonged activity of therapeutics.

Impact of transforming growth factor beta 1 on normal and thyroid cancer side population cells.

Purpose: To determine the impact of exogenous transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) on side population (SP) cells isolated from normal, papillary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines and from human thyroid tissues.

Methods: All cell populations were stained with Hoechst 33342 and analysed using dual wavelength flow cytometry to identify SP cells. This SP assay was used to assess the impact of TGF-β1 treatment and withdrawal of treatment on SP percentages.

Contribution of Heparan Sulphate Binding in CCL21-Mediated Migration of Breast Cancer Cells.

Chemokine receptor CCR7 is implicated in the metastasis of breast cancer to the lymph nodes. Chemokine function is dependent upon their binding to both cell-surface heparan sulphate (HS) and to their specific receptors; thus, the role of HS in CCR7-mediated lymph node metastasis was investigated by creating a non-HS binding chemokine CCL21 (mut-CCL21). Mut-CCL21 (Δ103-134) induced leukocyte chemotaxis in diffusion gradients but did not stimulate trans-endothelial migration of PBMCs ( < 0.

Solute transporters and malignancy: establishing the role of uptake transporters in breast cancer and breast cancer metastasis.

The solute carrier (SLC) superfamily encompasses a large variety of membrane-bound transporters required to transport a diverse array of substrates over biological membranes. Physiologically, they are essential for nutrient uptake, ion transport and waste removal. However, accumulating evidence suggest that up- and/or downregulation of SLCs may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of human malignancy.

Human Cardiac-Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Cells, a Novel Cell Population with Therapeutic Potential.

Cardiac stem/progenitors are being used in the clinic to treat patients with a range of cardiac pathologies. However, improvements in heart function following treatment have been reported to be variable, with some showing no response. This discrepancy in response remains unresolved.

Side population cells in anaplastic thyroid cancer and normal thyroid.

Comparison of studies of cells derived from normal and pathological tissues of the same organ can be fraught with difficulties, particular with cancer where a number of different diseases are considered cancer within the same tissue. In the thyroid, there are 4 main types of cancer, three of which arise from follicular epithelial cells; papillary and follicular which are classified as differentiated, and anaplastic which is classified as undifferentiated. One assay that can be utilised for isolation of cancer stem cells is the side population (SP) assay.

Breast Cancer: An Examination of the Potential of ACKR3 to Modify the Response of CXCR4 to CXCL12.

Upon binding with the chemokine CXCL12, the chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been shown to promote breast cancer progression. This process, however, can be affected by the expression of the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR3. Given ACKR3's ability to form heterodimers with CXCR4, we investigated how dual expression of both receptors differed from their lone expression in terms of their signalling pathways.

A Human Corneal Epithelial Cell Line Model for Limbal Stem Cell Biology and Limbal Immunobiology.

Limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency is a visually debilitating condition caused by abnormal maintenance of LSCs. It is treated by transplantation of donor-derived limbal epithelial cells (LECs), the success of which depends on the presence and quality of LSCs within the transplant. Understanding the immunobiological responses of these cells within the transplants could improve cell engraftment and survival.

Human limbal mesenchymal stem cells express ABCB5 and can grow on amniotic membrane.

Aim: To isolate and characterize limbal mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) from human corneoscleral rings.

Materials & Methods: Cells were isolated from corneoscleral rings and cultured in a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-selective media and examined for differentiation, phenotyping and characterization.

Results: LMSCs were capable of trilineage differentiation, adhered to tissue culture plastic, expressed HLA class I and cell surface antigens associated with human MSC while having no/low expression of HLA class II and negative hematopoietic lineage markers.

Reversing paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells via inhibition of the ABCB1 expressing side population.

The majority of deaths in ovarian cancer are caused by recurrent metastatic disease which is usually multidrug resistant. This progression has been hypothesised to be due in part to the presence of cancer stem cells, a subset of cells which are capable of self-renewal and are able to survive chemotherapy and migrate to distant sites. Side population (SP) cells, identified by the efflux of the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 through ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, are a known adult stem cell group and have been suggested as a cancer stem cell in various cancers.

Breast cancer metastasis: demonstration that FOXP3 regulates CXCR4 expression and the response to CXCL12.

The X-linked transcription factor FOXP3 is expressed by epithelial cells of organs including the breast, where it is considered a tumour suppressor. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 also regulates the development of breast cancer by stimulating cell migration towards CXCL12-expressing sites of metastatic spread. During activation, human T cells show reciprocal regulation of FOXP3 and CXCR4.

Characterisation of human limbal side population cells isolated using an optimised protocol from an immortalised epithelial cell line and primary limbal cultures.

The challenges in limbal stem cell biology largely remain in the process of identification, isolation and expansion of these adult corneal epithelial stem cells of the eye. Due to the absence of specific limbal stem cell markers, identification and isolation of putative limbal stem cells is a complicated task. The side population assay is an isolation method that utilises the ability of stem cells to efflux the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 (or other vital dyes) combined with dual wavelength flow cytometry and is a valuable strategy to enrich for limbal stem cells.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: what is the impact on breast cancer stem cells and drug resistance.

There is increasing interest in cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their role in cancer progression. Recently, CSCs have been identified in brain, skin, and intestinal tumors and it has been suggested that these CSCs are responsible for tumor growth and metastasis. In breast cancer fatality is often due to the development of metastatic disease (MBC).

Concise review: immunological properties of ocular surface and importance of limbal stem cells for transplantation.

Cornea transplantation has been considered to be different from other solid organ transplantation because of the assumed immune-privileged state of the anterior chamber of the eye. Three major lines of thought regarding the molecular mechanisms of immune privilege in the eye are as follows: (a) anatomical, cellular, and molecular barriers in the eye; (b) anterior chamber-associated immune deviation; and (c) immunosuppressive microenvironment in the eye. However, cornea transplants suffer allograft rejection when breached by vascularization.

Low oxygen tension is critical for the culture of human mesenchymal stem cells with strong osteogenic potential from haemarthrosis fluid.

Satisfactory osseous tissue integration of the soft tissue graft with bone is the mainstay of healing following surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). However, tissue remodelling is slow and significantly impacts on quality of life by delaying return to work and sport and accelerating the onset of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Delivery of multipotent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) at surgery could enhance osseous tissue integration.