CIT tumor lines: A novel series of immunogenic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines derived from chemical carcinogenesis.

Immunotherapy is now widely used to treat advanced-stage skin cancer, but it is effective for only approximately half of skin cancer patients, including both patients with melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). To overcome current barriers, preclinical mouse models that faithfully recapitulate the tumor genetics, mutation burdens, and neoantigen patterns of specific human tumor types are essential. However, while many models exist for melanoma, there are currently relatively few transplantable murine models of cSCC, which is responsible for nearly as many deaths as melanoma each year.

Tumor cell heterogeneity drives spatial organization of the intratumoral immune response.

Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH)-defined as genetic and cellular diversity within a tumor-is linked to failure of immunotherapy and an inferior anti-tumor immune response. We modeled heterogeneous tumors comprised of "hot" and "cold" tumor populations (giving rise to T cell-rich and T cell-poor tumors, respectively) and introduced fluorescent labels to enable precise spatial tracking. We found the cold tumor cell population exerted a "dominant cold" effect in mixed tumors.

Human CSPG4-targeting CAR-macrophages inhibit melanoma growth.

Approximately half of melanoma patients relapse or fail to respond to current standards of care, highlighting the need for new treatment options. Engineering T-cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies but has been clinically less effective in solid tumors. We therefore sought to engineer alternative immune cell types to inhibit melanoma progression.

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Management of Uterine Arteriovenous Malformations: A Single Center Experience and Case Series.

Uterine arteriovenous malformations (UAVMs) are rare and abnormal entanglements of uterine arteries and veins that are potentially fatal, requiring blood transfusions in about a third of cases. Although the optimal management of the condition is not well established in the literature, surgical hysterectomy is believed to be the only definitive treatment for arteriovenous malformations. We present three cases of UAVMs treated by a minimally invasive endovascular approach.

Layered Sheath-Assisted Dissection and Retrieval of Stuck Port Catheters: A Single-Center Experience.

Chemoports are often required for oncological patients requiring repeated blood draws and long-term drug therapy. However, complications such as dislodgement, fracture, thrombosis, and venous occlusion may occur if the ports remain unremoved when not in use. Nonetheless, existing techniques require multiple accesses or release of the stuck catheter tip to retrieve the catheter, making the procedure inconvenient.

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) After ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Immunization: An Investigative Case Report.

BACKGROUND Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), including vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), is an extremely rare adverse effect, mostly seen after initial vaccination with the viral vector-based AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine. It is characterized by mild to severe thrombocytopenia and venous or arterial thrombosis. CASE REPORT Herein, we present a case of an 18-year-old male patient who developed Level 1 TTS (probable VITT) eight days after immunization with the ChADOx1 nCOV-19 vaccine (Covishield; AZ-Oxford).

Contraceptive efficacy of recombinant porcine zona proteins and fusion protein encompassing canine ZP3 fragment and GnRH in female beagle dogs.

Problem: To manage population of dogs (Canis familiaris), the efficacy of recombinant proteins-based contraceptive vaccines to inhibit fertility has been evaluated in female beagle dogs.

Method Of Study: Female beagle dogs (n = 4) were immunized with physical mixture of Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant porcine ZP3 with promiscuous T cell epitope of tetanus toxoid (TT-KK-pZP3) and porcine ZP4 with promiscuous T cell epitope of bovine RNase (bRNase-KK-pZP4), or with a fusion protein encompassing dog ZP3 fragment and two copies of GnRH with appropriate promiscuous T cell epitopes (dZP3-GnRH ); control animals received only alum, the adjuvant. The immunized animals were followed-up for antibody titres by ELISA as well as for fertility status subsequent to mating with male dogs.

miR-27b-5p inhibits BeWo cells fusion by regulating WNT2B and enzyme involved in progesterone synthesis.

Problem: The miRNAs show placenta-specific expression patterns, which alter during pregnancy-related complications. In present study, the role of miR-27b-5p during forskolin-mediated BeWo cells fusion has been investigated.

Method Of Study: The fusion of BeWo cells in response to forskolin treatment (25 µM) was studied by desmoplakin I+II staining.

HGF regulate HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells migration/invasion under hypoxic conditions through increased HIF-1α expression via MAPK and PI3K pathways.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is reported to be down-regulated in pregnancy complications like intrauterine growth retardation and preeclampsia, which are associated with abnormal trophoblast migration/invasion. In this study, role of HGF and associated signaling pathways has been investigated in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells migration/invasion under normoxia (20% O) and hypoxia (2% O). HTR-8/SVneo cells exposed to hypoxia showed increase in migration and invasion as compared to cells incubated under normoxic conditions.

HGF promotes HTR-8/SVneo cell migration through activation of MAPK/PKA signaling leading to up-regulation of WNT ligands and integrins that target β-catenin.

Inadequate migration and invasion of the trophoblast cells during embryo implantation is one of the reasons for pregnancy-related complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. In the present study, relevance of WNT ligands and integrins associated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mediated migration of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells has been investigated. Treatment of HTR-8/SVneo cells with HGF led to a dose-dependent increase in their migration.

Relevance of Wnt10b and activation of β-catenin/GCMa/syncytin-1 pathway in BeWo cell fusion.

Problem: To study the involvement of specific Wnt(s) ligand during trophoblastic BeWo cell differentiation.

Method Of Study: BeWo cells on treatment with forskolin/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were studied for cell fusion by desmoplakin I+II staining and/or hCG secretion by ELISA. Levels of Wnt10b/β-catenin/glial cell missing a (GCMa)/syncytin-1 were studied by qPCR/Western blotting in forskolin-/hCG-treated control siRNA and Wnt10b silenced BeWo cells.

Cell Signaling Pathways Involved During Invasion and Syncytialization of Trophoblast Cells.

Implantation involves an extensive cross talk between the trophoblast cells and the receptive endometrium through embryonic as well as endometrial-derived factors that regulate the invasion and migration of trophoblast cells and also syncytia formation. Any aberration in this highly regulated process may lead to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, or even pregnancy failure. How various cytokines and growth factors act by activating various cell signaling pathways leading to the expression of the effector molecules have been reviewed, which control invasion and migration of trophoblast cells and syncytialization.

Humanized antibody neutralizing 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus.

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 S-OIV (swine origin influenza A virus) caused noticeable morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to vaccine and antiviral drug therapy, the use of influenza virus neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for treatment purposes is a viable alternative. We previously reported the isolation of a high affinity, potently neutralizing murine MAb MA2077 against 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus.