SHH Pathway Inhibition and Astrocyte Co-culture Induce Distinct Responses in Glioblastoma and Cancer Stem Cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents an extremely aggressive brain malignancy with limited treatment options, difficult prognosis and a highly heterogeneous cellular architecture, including a subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). These CSCs frequently rely on developmental signaling pathways such as Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), which are typically dormant in adult tissue but reactivated in tumors. This study aimed to investigate how SHH pathway inhibition affects both bulk GBM cells (GBMCs) and CD133 + GBM cells (GBM CSCs), with particular emphasis on the influence of astrocyte co-culture, which more closely mimics the brain tumor microenvironment.

Integrated spectroscopic and morphological analyses reveal cellular shifts in gene-silenced melanoma CSCs.

Intratumoral heterogeneity remains a major barrier to durable cancer therapies, largely driven by the persistence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we employed an integrated, multi-scale approach to investigate how melanoma CSCs respond to siRNA-mediated silencing of three key regulatory genes: KLF4, SHH, and HIF1α. Using a combination of morphological, molecular, spectroscopic, and elemental analyses, we explored structural and biochemical consequences of gene knockdown.

Vibrational spectroscopy unveils distinct cell cycle features of cancer stem cells in melanoma.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a central role in melanoma growth, resistance to treatment, and relapse, however, their dynamic regulatory behavior remains poorly understood. Vibrational spectroscopy offers a unique, label-free approach to investigate cellular heterogeneity at the molecular level. Here, we explored the biochemical and regulatory dynamics of CSCs identified by using a time-course design, integrating infrared and Raman spectroscopies with cell cycle analysis and immunocytochemistry targeting the checkpoint proteins p16 and p21.

Time-Dependent Effects of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Apoptosis and Autophagy in Malignant Melanoma Stem Cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in malignant melanoma contribute to therapeutic resistance and tumour recurrence. While low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been proposed as a non-invasive strategy to induce cell death, its effects on CSC-specific apoptotic and autophagic responses remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the time-dependent effects of LIPUS on apoptosis and autophagy in CD133+ melanoma CSCs and CD133- non-stem melanoma cells.

Modulating Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics in CD133+ Melanoma Cells through Hif1α, KLF4, and SHH Silencing.

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, partly driven by a subset of cancer stem cells (CSCs) with remarkable capacities for self-renewal, differentiation, and resistance to therapy. In this study, we examined how silencing three key genes-Hif1α, KLF4, and SHH-affects CSC characteristics. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based approaches, we observed significant changes at both the gene and protein levels, shedding light on how these pathways influence melanoma progression.

HDAC9/p300/F-actin immunoexpression and migration analysis for malignant melanoma stem cell.

Melanoma is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis that worsens in the metastatic phase. Distruptions of epigenetic mechanisms is known to effect cancer stem cells (CSCs) activity. Malignant melanoma (MM) progression may be promoted by changes in the genetic structure of CSC.

Differences and similarities in biophysical and biological characteristics between U87 MG glioblastoma and astrocyte cells.

Current cancer studies focus on molecular-targeting diagnostics and interactions with surroundings; however, there are still gaps in characterization based on topological differences and elemental composition. Glioblastoma (GBM cells; GBMCs) is an astrocytic aggressive brain tumor. At the molecular level, GBMCs and astrocytes may differ, and cell elemental/topological analysis is critical for identifying potential new cancer targets.

Differences and Similarities between Colorectal Cancer Cells and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells: Molecular Insights and Implications.

Malignant tumors are formed by diverse groups of cancer cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of heterogeneous cells identified in tumors that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate. Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most frequent malignant tumor, is progressively being supported by evidence suggesting that CSCs are crucial in cancer development.

JNK Inhibition Modulates the Cytoskeleton, Hypoxia, and Neurogenesis on the Protein Level in Glioblastoma Cells and Astrocytes: An Immunofluorescence Study.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibition and signal blocking on hypoxia (hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)), differentiation and neurogenesis (bone morphogenetic protein (BMP4)), and the cytoskeleton (F-actin) in glioblastoma multiforme cells (GBMCs).

Material And Methods: We evaluated the differences between GBMCs and astrocytes in terms of the abovementioned parameters and assessed them with the aim of studying human GBMCs (U-87 MG) and astrocytes (SVG p12). The cells were exposed to different doses of the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, for 24, 48, and 72 hours.

The expression of HDAC9 and P300 in papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line.

Purpose: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer and accounts for 85-90% of all thyroid cancers. Metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer, radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer still lack effective therapeutic options. Here, we aimed to assess HDAC9 and P300 expression in the papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line and compare them with normal thyroid cells.

Stemness potency and structural characteristics of thyroid cancer cell lines.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most frequent type of endocrine malignancy. Thyroid carcinomas are derived from the follicular epithelium and classified as papillary (PTC) (85%), follicular (FTC) (12%), and anaplastic (ATC) (<3%). Thyroid cancer could arise from thyroid cancer stem-like cells (CSCs).

Voxtalisib and low intensity pulsed ultrasound combinatorial effect on glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor contributed to tumor growth by cancer stem cells (CSCs). Targeting CSCs is vital to preventing differentiation into cancer cells, their proliferation, and treatment resistance. According to research, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling is active in GBM and GBMCSCs.

Effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress on human trophoblast cells: Survival triggering or catastrophe resulting in death.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of intrauterine growth retardation and preeclampsia, especially implantation failure. Although in vitro ER stress studies in human trophoblast cell line have been conducted in recent years, the influence of Thapsigargin on intracellular dynamics on calcium homeostasis has not been proven. Here, the effects of ER stress and impaired calcium homeostasis on apoptosis, autophagy, cytoskeleton, hypoxia, and adhesion molecules in 2D and spheroid cultures of human trophectoderm cells were investigated at gene expression and protein levels.

Spectroscopic and microscopic comparisons of cell topology and chemistry analysis of mouse embryonic stem cell, somatic cell and cancer cell.

While embryonic stem cells and cancer cells are known to have many similarities in signalling pathways, healthy somatic cells are known to be different in many ways. Characterization of embryonic stem cell is crucial for cancer development and cancer recurrence due to the shared signalling pathways and life course with cancer initiator and cancer stem cells. Since embryonic stem cells are the sources of the somatic and cancer cells, it is necessary to reveal the relevance between them.

CD133+/CD44+ prostate cancer stem cells exhibit embryo-like behavior patterns.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which act as an important bridge between cancer formation and embryonic development, represent a small population associated with tumor initiation, drug resistance, metastasis and recurrence. CSCs have the ability to form spheroids in three-dimensional culture systems. Tumor spheroids derived from CSCs with symmetric and asymmetric division patterns were found to contain highly heterogeneous cell groups.

The effects of PIKfyve inhibitor YM201636 on claudins and malignancy potential of nonsmall cell cancer cells.

PIKfyve is an evolutionarily conserved lipid and protein kinase enzyme that has pleiotropic cellular functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase (PIKfyve) inhibitor, YM201636, on nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells growth, tumorigenicity, and claudin (CLDN) expressions. Three NSCLC cell lines (Calu-1, H1299 and HCC827) were used to compare the effects of YM201636.

Holistic Approach to Cell Characteristics and Behavioral Analysis.

Cancer is a group of diseases of our era that affects not only medical status but also lowers the tone of social and emotional well-being. It also has severe impacts on economies. Cancer cells are linked to the somatic cells and stem cells, with their characteristic similarities and differences.

The effect of extracellular matrix on the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are promising research materials to investigate cell fate determination since they have the capability to differentiate. Stem cell differentiation has been extensively studied with various microenvironment mimicking structures to modify cellular dynamics associated with the cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and cell-cell communications. In the current study, our aim was to determine the effect of microenvironmental proteins with different concentrations on the capacity and differentiation capability of mouse ESCs (mESCs), combining the biochemical assays, imaging techniques, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and unsupervised multivariate analysis.

Autophagy and mTOR pathways in mouse embryonic stem cell, lung cancer and somatic fibroblast cell lines.

Embryonic developmental stages and regulations have always been one of the most intriguing aspects of science. Since the cancer stem cell discovery, striking for cancer development and recurrence, embryonic stem cells and control mechanisms, as well as cancer cells and cancer stem cell control mechanisms become important research materials. It is necessary to reveal the similarities and differences between somatic and cancer cells which are formed of embryonic stem cells divisions and determinations.

Differentiation of Normal and Cancer Cell Adhesion on Custom Designed Protein Nanopatterns.

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix is deregulated in metastasis. However, traditional surfaces used to study cell adhesion do not faithfully mimic the in vivo microenvironment. Electron beam lithography (EBL) is able to generate customized protein nanopatterns.

Fabrication of 3D Controlled in vitro Microenvironments.

Microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chips have many advantages, one of which is to provide physiologically relevant settings for cell biology experiments. Thus there is an ever increasing interest in their fabrication. Our goal is to construct three dimensional (3D) Controlled in vitro Microenvironments (CivMs) that mimic the in vivo microenvironments.

Step-by-step quantitative analysis of focal adhesions.

Focal adhesions (FAs) are specialized adhesive structures which serve as cellular communication units between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. FAs are involved in signal transduction and actin cytoskeleton organization. FAs mediate cell adhesion, which is a critical phenomenon in cancer research.