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Although traditional immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducers generate vaccines (ISV) to potentiate antiprogrammed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PDL1) antibodies therapy, their efficacy remains limited. This limitation may be attributed to the physical barrier created by extracellular matrix (ECM) and immunosuppressive metabolic barrier mediated by adenosine. Here, we report an oncolytic polymer (OP), a well-designed ε-polylysine derivative with ICD-inducing capacity, which can simultaneously facilitate the release of endogenous ECM-degrading enzyme, Cathepsin B.

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Background: Hyperthermia (HT), while a cancer treatment approach, isn't always effective alone. Therefore, identifying hyperthermia enhancers is crucial. We demonstrated that Mito-TEMPO ([2-[(1-Hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) amino]-2-oxoethyl]-triphenylphosphanium, MT) acts as a potent thermosensitizer, promoting cell death in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.

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Cathepsin K and glycosaminoglycans differentially regulate matrix metalloproteinase activity in dentin under various pH conditions.

Int J Biol Macromol

September 2025

Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key Laboratory of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350000, China; Research Center of Dental Esthetics and B

This study examined the pH-dependent (3, 5, and 7) regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity by cathepsin K (catK) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), fluorescence assays, and human dentin slice experiments. The direct effects of catK were evaluated in the catK-active, catK-deficient, and odanacatib (ODN)-inhibited groups, whereas indirect GAG/ tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-mediated regulation was assessed in the catK-active, ODN-inhibited, and chondroitin sulfate (CS)-treated groups through dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assays, in situ zymography, and immunofluorescence staining. CatK directly activated MMP-2 (62 kDa) and MMP-9 (82 kDa) at all pH values, with no activation observed in the ODN-inhibited or catK-deficient groups.

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Introduction: Odanacatib (ODN), a cathepsin K inhibitor, is a drug that reduces bone resorption while preserving bone formation. ODN was initially developed for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, but further development as a systemic medication has been discontinued. Here, we propose ODN as a topical treatment, the coating of dental implants, to achieve an anabolic shift of early osseointegration.

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PhyCysID: Plant Cystatin Protein Prediction by an Artificial Intelligence Approach.

J Chem Inf Model

September 2025

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, Brazil.

Phytocystatins are proteinaceous inhibitors found in plants that competitively target various classes of cysteine proteinases, including papain-like enzymes, cathepsins, and legumains. Based on structural characteristics and gene organization, phytocystatins can be classified into four subtypes: intronless (I1 and I2), intron-containing (IwI), and multidomain cystatins containing more than one inhibitory region (II). This work presents PhyCysID, a dedicated web server designed for the rapid classification of phytocystatin subtypes.

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