New insights into the role of metallothioneins in obesity and diabetes.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich intracellular proteins. The best-known biological functions of MTs are sequestration of metal ions and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Despite these protective functions, it has been demonstrated that MTs are involved in tumorigenesis, cellular differentiation, drug resistance, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, in which MTs expression is substantially deregulated in adipose tissue.

Multifaceted role of transgelin isoforms in cancer hallmarks.

Transgelins (TAGLNs) are actin-binding proteins within the calponin family, playing a crucial role in modulating actin-myosin interactions and maintaining actin filament stability. These proteins are expressed in both smooth and non-smooth muscle cells, contributing to the regulation of muscle contractility and cell migration. TAGLNs family has three isoforms that differ in their isoelectric point, namely: TAGLN1, TAGLN2, and TAGLN3.

Metallothionein-3 is a multifunctional driver that modulates the development of sorafenib-resistant phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background & Aims: Metallothionein-3 (hMT3) is a structurally unique member of the metallothioneins family of low-mass cysteine-rich proteins. hMT3 has poorly characterized functions, and its importance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms driven by hMT3 with a special emphasis on susceptibility to sorafenib.

Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay for the evaluation of the antitumor and antimetastatic activity of platinum-based drugs in association with the impact on the amino acid metabolism.

The combination of and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay provides an excellent platform which extends its relevance in studying carcinogenesis to the field of screening of anticancer activity of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and further study of the amino acids' fluctuations in liver and brain. PtNPs are promising candidates for replacing cisplatin (CDDP); however, insufficient data of their antitumor efficiency and activity on the cancer-related amino acid metabolism are available, and the assessment of the performance has barely scratched the surface. Herein, we used CAM assay as model for screening of novel therapeutic modalities, and we conducted a comparative study of the effects of CDDP and polyvinylpyrrolidone coated PtNPs on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenograft.

Correction: The Zinc-Schiff Base-Novicidin Complex as a Potential Prostate Cancer Therapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Extending the Applicability of and Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane Assays to Study Cytostatic Activity in Neuroblastoma Cells.

Purpose: The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay can provide an alternative versatile, cost-effective, and ethically less controversial model for reliable screening of drugs. In the presented work, we demonstrate that CAM assay ( and ) can be simply employed to delineate the effects of cisplatin (CDDP) and ellipticine (Elli) on neuroblastoma (Nbl) cells in terms of their growth and metastatic potential.

Methods: The Nbl UKF-NB-4 cell line was established from recurrent bone marrow metastases of high-risk Nbl (stage IV, amplification, 7q21 gain).

Metallothionein-3 promotes cisplatin chemoresistance remodelling in neuroblastoma.

Metallothionein-3 has poorly characterized functions in neuroblastoma. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a major regimen to treat neuroblastoma, but its clinical efficacy is limited by chemoresistance. We investigated the impact of human metallothionein-3 (hMT3) up-regulation in neuroblastoma cells and the mechanisms underlying the cisplatin-resistance.

Norepinephrine transporter-derived homing peptides enable rapid endocytosis of drug delivery nanovehicles into neuroblastoma cells.

Background: Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastomas-the most frequent solid tumors in children-exploit the norepinephrine transporter (hNET) via radiolabeled norepinephrine analogs. We aim to develop a nanomedicine-based strategy towards precision therapy by targeting hNET cell-surface protein with hNET-derived homing peptides.

Results: The peptides (seq.

Metallothionein isoforms as double agents - Their roles in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and chemoresistance.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich intracellular proteins with four major isoforms identified in mammals, designated MT-1 through MT-4. The best known biological functions of MTs are their ability to bind and sequester metal ions as well as their active role in redox homeostasis. Despite these protective roles, numerous studies have demonstrated that changes in MT expression could be associated with the process of carcinogenesis and participation in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis.

Drug Sequestration in Lysosomes as One of the Mechanisms of Chemoresistance of Cancer Cells and the Possibilities of Its Inhibition.

Resistance to chemotherapeutics and targeted drugs is one of the main problems in successful cancer therapy. Various mechanisms have been identified to contribute to drug resistance. One of those mechanisms is lysosome-mediated drug resistance.

Soil protein as a potential antimicrobial agent against methicillin -resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Recently, the interest is increasing to find alternatives to replace the usage of antibiotics since their massive and improper usage enhance the antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. In this study, for the first time we showed that the soil proteins have very high antibacterial activity (98% of growth inhibition) against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most threatening human pathogens. We found that the protein extract (C3) from the forest with past intensive management showed higher antibacterial activity than that of unmanaged forest.

Prevalent anatase crystalline phase increases the cytotoxicity of biphasic titanium dioxide nanoparticles in mammalian cells.

Nanoparticular form of titanium dioxide (TiO NPs) belongs to important industrial material. Despite being widely used, serious contradictions regarding biosafety of TiO NPs remain. We anticipate that such discrepancies could be due to a lack of understanding of a linkage between TiO NPs phase composition and cytotoxicity.

Transcriptomic Landscape of Cisplatin-Resistant Neuroblastoma Cells.

The efficiency of cisplatin (CDDP) is significantly hindered by the development of resistance during the treatment course. To gain a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of cisplatin resistance, we comparatively analyzed established a CDDP-resistant neuroblastoma cell line (UKF-NB-4) and its susceptible parental cells (UKF-NB-4). We verified increased chemoresistance of UKF-NB-4 cells by analyzing the viability, induction of apoptosis and clonal efficiency.

Proteomic Signature of Neuroblastoma Cells UKF-NB-4 Reveals Key Role of Lysosomal Sequestration and the Proteasome Complex in Acquiring Chemoresistance to Cisplatin.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a widely used agent in the treatment of neuroblastoma. Unfortunately, the development of acquired chemoresistance limits its clinical use. To gain a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of such chemoresistance, we comparatively analyzed established cisplatin-resistant neuroblastoma cell line (UKF-NB-4) and its sensitive counterpart (UKF-NB-4).

Real-Time Visualization of Cell Membrane Damage Using Gadolinium-Schiff Base Complex-Doped Quantum Dots.

Despite the importance of cell membranes for maintenance of integrity of cellular structures, there is still a lack of methods that allow simple real-time visualization of their damage. Herein, we describe gadolinium-Schiff base-doped quantum dots (GdQDs)-based probes for a fast facile spatial labeling of membrane injuries. We found that GdQDs preferentially interact through electron-rich and hydrophobic residues with a specific sequence motif of NHE-RF2 scaffold protein, exposed upon membrane damage.

Correction: The Zinc-Schiff Base-Novicidin Complex as a Potential Prostate Cancer Therapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Comparative gene expression profiling of human metallothionein-3 up-regulation in neuroblastoma cells and its impact on susceptibility to cisplatin.

Human metallothionein-3 (hMT-3), also known as growth inhibitory factor, is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system. hMT-3 is presumed to participate in the processes of heavy metal detoxification, regulation of metabolism and protection against oxidative damage of free radicals in the central nervous system; thus, it could play important neuromodulatory and neuroprotective roles. However, the primary functions of hMT-3 and the mechanism underlying its multiple functions in neuroblastoma have not been elucidated so far.

The Application of Curve Fitting on the Voltammograms of Various Isoforms of Metallothioneins-Metal Complexes.

The translation of metallothioneins (MTs) is one of the defense strategies by which organisms protect themselves from metal-induced toxicity. MTs belong to a family of proteins comprising MT-1, MT-2, MT-3, and MT-4 classes, with multiple isoforms within each class. The main aim of this study was to determine the behavior of MT in dependence on various externally modelled environments, using electrochemistry.

Fully automated two-step assay for detection of metallothionein through magnetic isolation using functionalized γ-FeO particles.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in heavy metal detoxification in a wide range of living organisms. Currently, it is well known that MTs play substantial role in many pathophysiological processes, including carcinogenesis, and they can serve as diagnostic biomarkers. In order to increase the applicability of MT in cancer diagnostics, an easy-to-use and rapid method for its detection is required.

Sarcosine Up-Regulates Expression of Genes Involved in Cell Cycle Progression of Metastatic Models of Prostate Cancer.

The effects of sarcosine on the processes driving prostate cancer (PCa) development remain still unclear. Herein, we show that a supplementation of metastatic PCa cells (androgen independent PC-3 and androgen dependent LNCaP) with sarcosine stimulates cells proliferation in vitro. Similar stimulatory effects were observed also in PCa murine xenografts, in which sarcosine treatment induced a tumor growth and significantly reduced weight of treated mice (p < 0.

Transport phenomena of nanoparticles in plants and animals/humans.

The interaction of a plethora nanoparticles with major biota such as plants and animals/humans has been the subject of various multidisciplinary studies with special emphasis on toxicity aspects. However, reports are meager on the transport phenomena of nanoparticles in the plant-animal/human system. Since plants and animals/humans are closely linked via food chain, discussion is imperative on the main processes and mechanisms underlying the transport phenomena of nanoparticles in the plant-animal/human system, which is the main objective of this paper.

The Zinc-Schiff Base-Novicidin Complex as a Potential Prostate Cancer Therapy.

Prostate cancer cells control energy metabolism by chelating intracellular zinc. Thus, zinc delivery has been a popular therapeutic approach for prostate cancer. Here, we propose the use of the membrane-penetrating peptide Novicidin connected to zinc-Schiff base as a carrier vehicle for the delivery of zinc to prostate cells.

Prostate tumor attenuation in the nu/nu murine model due to anti-sarcosine antibodies in folate-targeted liposomes.

Herein, we describe the preparation of liposomes with folate-targeting properties for the encapsulation of anti-sarcosine antibodies (antisarAbs@LIP) and sarcosine (sar@LIP). The competitive inhibitory effects of exogenously added folic acid supported the role of folate targeting in liposome internalization. We examined the effects of repeated administration on mice PC-3 xenografts.

Fluorescence-tagged metallothionein with CdTe quantum dots analyzed by the chip-CE technique.

Abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescence nanoparticles (NPs) with unique optic properties which allow their use as probes in chemical, biological, immunological, and molecular imaging. QDs linked with target ligands such as peptides or small molecules can be used as tumor biomarkers. These particles are a promising tool for selective, fast, and sensitive tagging and imaging in medicine.