| 1. |
- Karamanos, Nikos K., et al.
(författare)
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A guide to the composition and functions of the extracellular matrix
- 2021
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Ingår i: The FEBS Journal. - : Wiley. - 1742-464X .- 1742-4658. ; 288:24, s. 6850-6912
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic 3-dimensional network of macromolecules that provides structural support for the cells and tissues. Accumulated knowledge clearly demonstrated over the last decade that ECM plays key regulatory roles since it orchestrates cell signaling, functions, properties and morphology. Extracellularly secreted as well as cell-bound factors are among the major members of the ECM family. Proteins/glycoproteins, such as collagens, elastin, laminins and tenascins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronan, and their cell receptors such as CD44 and integrins, responsible for cell adhesion, comprise a well-organized functional network with significant roles in health and disease. On the other hand, enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases and specific glycosidases including heparanase and hyaluronidases contribute to matrix remodeling and affect human health. Several cell processes and functions, among them cell proliferation and survival, migration, differentiation, autophagy, angiogenesis, and immunity regulation are affected by certain matrix components. Structural alterations have been also well associated with disease progression. This guide on the composition and functions of the ECM gives a broad overview of the matrisome, the major ECM macromolecules, and their interaction networks within the ECM and with the cell surface, summarizes their main structural features and their roles in tissue organization and cell functions, and emphasizes the importance of specific ECM constituents in disease development and progression as well as the advances in molecular targeting of ECM to design new therapeutic strategies.
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| 2. |
- Karalis, Theodoros T., et al.
(författare)
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Tumor-suppressive functions of 4-MU on breast cancer cells of different ER status : Regulation of hyaluronan/HAS2/CD44 and specific matrix effectors
- 2019
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Ingår i: Matrix Biology. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0945-053X .- 1569-1802. ; 78-79, s. 118-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The malignant phenotype of various cancers is linked to enhanced expression of hyaluronan, a proangiogenic glycosaminoglycan whose expression is suppressed by 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a non-toxic oral agent used as a dietary supplement to improve health and combat prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of 4-MU in mammary carcinoma cells with distinct malignant phenotypes and estrogen receptor (ER) status, a major prognostic factor in the clinical management of breast cancers. We focused on two breast cancer cell lines, the low metastatic and ER alpha+ MCF-7 cells, and the highly-aggressive and ER alpha-MDA-MB-231 cells. Treatment with 4-MU caused a dose-dependent decrease of hyaluronan accumulation in the extracellular matrix as well as within the breast cancer cells, most prevalent in cells lacking ER alpha. This decrease in hyaluronan was accompanied by suppression of Hyaluronan Synthase 2 (HAS2), the major enzyme responsible for the synthesis of hyaluronan, and by induction of hyaluronidases (HYALs) -1 and -2. Moreover, 4-MU induced intense phenotypic changes and substantial loss of CD44, a major hyaluronan receptor, from cell protrusions. Importantly, 4-MU evoked differential effects depending on the absence or presence of ER alpha. Only the ER alpha+ cells showed signs of apoptosis, as determined by cleaved PARP-1, and anoikis as shown by concurrent loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin. Interestingly, 4-MU significantly reduced migration, adhesion and invasion of ER alpha- breast cancer cells, and concurrently reduced the expression and activity of several matrix degrading enzymes and pro-inflammatory molecules with tumor-promoting functions. Collectively, our findings suggest that 4-MU could represent a novel therapeutic for specific breast cancer subtypes with regard to their ER status via suppression of hyaluronan synthesis and regulation of HAS2, CD44, matrix-degrading enzymes and inflammatory mediators.
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| 3. |
- Piperigkou, Zoi, et al.
(författare)
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Emerging aspects of nanotoxicology in health and disease: From agriculture and food sector to cancer therapeutics.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-6351. ; 91:May, s. 42-57
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanotechnology is an evolving scientific field that has allowed the manufacturing of materials with novel physicochemical and biological properties, offering a wide spectrum of potential applications. Properties of nanoparticles that contribute to their usefulness include their markedly increased surface area in relation to mass, surface reactivity and insolubility, ability to agglomerate or change size in different media and enhanced endurance over conventional-scale substance. Here, we review nanoparticle classification and their emerging applications in several fields; from active food packaging to drug delivery and cancer research. Nanotechnology has exciting therapeutic applications, including novel drug delivery for the treatment of cancer. Additionally, we discuss that exposure to nanostructures incorporated to polymer composites, may result in potential human health risks. Therefore, the knowledge of processes, including absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, as well as careful toxicological assessment is critical in order to determine the effects of nanomaterials in humans and other biological systems. Expanding the knowledge of nanoparticle toxicity will facilitate designing of safer nanocomposites and their application in a beneficial manner.
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