This work has been supported by the Knights of Columbus Chapter 9671 (Windsor, Ontario), and a CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded to Dennis Ma. Thank you to Robert Hodge and Elizabeth Fidalgo da Silva for their assistance with the time-lapse microscopy. Thank you to Katie Facecchia for editing the time-lapse microscopy videos. We would also like to thank Sudipa June Chatterjee and Phillip Tremblay for the critical review of this manuscript. This work is dedicated in memory of Kevin Couvillon who lost his battle against cancer in 2010.

<ol>
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N., Tekedereli, I., Lopez-Berestein, G., Ozpolat, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+the+prodeath+and+prosurvival+functions+of+autophagy+as+novel+therapeutic+strategies+in+cancer.">Targeting the prodeath and prosurvival functions of autophagy as novel therapeutic strategies in cancer.</a> Autophagy. 6, 322-329 (2010).</li><li>Hanahan, D., Weinberg, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hallmarks+of+cancer:+the+next+generation.">Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation.</a> Cell. 144, 646-674 (2011).</li><li>Fearon, E. 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Pharmacol. 56, 29-38 (2005).</li><li>McLachlan, A., Kekre, N., McNulty, J., Pandey, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pancratistatin:+a+natural+anti-cancer+compound+that+targets+mitochondria+specifically+in+cancer+cells+to+induce+apoptosis.">Pancratistatin: a natural anti-cancer compound that targets mitochondria specifically in cancer cells to induce apoptosis.</a> Apoptosis. 10, 619-630 (2005).</li><li>Griffin, C., Hamm, C., McNulty, J., Pandey, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pancratistatin+induces+apoptosis+in+clinical+leukemia+samples+with+minimal+effect+on+noncancerous+peripheral+blood+mononuclear+cells.">Pancratistatin induces apoptosis in clinical leukemia samples with minimal effect on noncancerous peripheral blood mononuclear cells.</a> Cancer Cell Int. 10, 6 (2010).</li><li>Griffin, C., Karnik, A., McNulty, J., Pandey, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pancratistatin+selectively+targets+cancer+cell+mitochondria+and+reduces+growth+of+human+colon+tumor+xenografts.">Pancratistatin selectively targets cancer cell mitochondria and reduces growth of human colon tumor xenografts.</a> Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 10, 57-68 (2011).</li><li>Griffin, C., McNulty, J., Pandey, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pancratistatin+induces+apoptosis+and+autophagy+in+metastatic+prostate+cancer+cells.">Pancratistatin induces apoptosis and autophagy in metastatic prostate cancer cells.</a> Int. 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U., Haj-Yehia, A., Levi-Schaffer, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+reactive+oxygen+species+(ROS)+in+apoptosis+induction.">Role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in apoptosis induction.</a> Apoptosis. 5, 415-418 (2000).</li><li>Batandier, C., Leverve, X., Fontaine, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Opening+of+the+mitochondrial+permeability+transition+pore+induces+reactive+oxygen+species+production+at+the+level+of+the+respiratory+chain+complex+I.">Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore induces reactive oxygen species production at the level of the respiratory chain complex I.</a> J Biol Chem. 279, 17197-17204 (2004).</li><li>Lefranc, F., Sauvage, S., Goietsenoven, G. V. a. n., Mégalizzi, V., Lamoral-Theys, D., Debeir, O., Spiegl-Kreinecker, S., Berger, W., Mathieu, V., Decaestecker, C., Kiss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Narciclasine,+a+plant+growth+modulator,+activates+Rho+and+stress+fibers+in+glioblastoma+cells.">Narciclasine, a plant growth modulator, activates Rho and stress fibers in glioblastoma cells.</a> Mol. Cancer Ther. 8, 1739-1750 (2009).</li><li>Warburg, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On+the+origin+of+cancer+cells.">On the origin of cancer cells.</a> Science. 123, 309-314 (1956).</li><li>Heerdt, B. G., Houston, M. A., Augenlicht, L. 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No conflicts of interest declared.

PST and similar compounds have been shown to have anti-cancer properties11-15,21. We have previously reported natural PST to destabilize the mitochondria selectively in cancer cells, which thereby induces apoptosis by the release of apoptogenic factors12,14. It is most likely that JCTH-4 acts through the same mechanism; JCTH-4 caused MMP collapse in MCF7 cells as seen with TMRM staining (Fig. 5a), and increased generation of ROS in isolated mitochondria from SH-SY5Y cells (F...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Material Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalogue number</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SH-SY5Y cell line</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CRL-2266</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium F-12 HAM</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>51448C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Gibco BRL</td>
			<td>16000-044</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MCF7 cell line</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>HTB-22</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI-1640 medium</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>R 0883</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Apparently normal human fetal fibroblast cell line (NFF)</td>
			<td>Coriell Institute for Medical Research</td>
			<td>AG04431B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium, High Glucose medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>SH30022.01</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tamoxifen citrate salt</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T9262</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>35 mm glass bottom culture dishes</td>
			<td>MatTek</td>
			<td>P35G-014-C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica DMI6000 B inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hoechst 33342 dye</td>
			<td>Molecular Probes</td>
			<td>H3570</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica DM IRB inverted fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Annexin V AlexaFluor-488</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A13201</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan Blue solution</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8154-20ML</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Haemocytometer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>267110</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>WST-1 reagent</td>
			<td>Roche Applied Science</td>
			<td>11644807001</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wallac Victor3 1420 Multilabel Counter</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer</td>
			<td>1420-011</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM)</td>
			<td>Gibco BRL</td>
			<td>T-668</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass tissue grinder</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>K8885300-0002</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioRad protein assay</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Laboratories</td>
			<td>500-0001Bottom of Form</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amplex Red</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A12222</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P8125</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SpectraMax Gemini XPS</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>3126666</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-LC3 antibody raised in rabbit</td>
			<td>Novus Biologicals</td>
			<td>NB100-2220</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-mouse HRP-conjugated secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab6728</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-rabbit HRP-conjugated secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab6802</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chemiluminescence peroxidase substrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>CPS160</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Monodansylcadaverine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>30432</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

enhancement of apoptotic and autophagic induction by a novel synthetic c-1 analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in human breast adenocarcinoma and neuroblastoma cells with tamoxifen

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers amongst women in North America. Many current anti-cancer treatments, including ionizing radiation, induce apoptosis via DNA damage. Unfortunately, such treatments are non-selective to cancer cells and produce similar toxicity in normal cells. We have reported selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by the natural compound pancratistatin (PST). Recently, a novel PST analogue, a C-1 acetoxymethyl derivative of 7-deoxypancratistatin (JCTH-4), was produced by de novo synthesis and it exhibits comparable selective apoptosis inducing activity in several cancer cell lines. Recently, autophagy has been implicated in malignancies as both pro-survival and pro-death mechanisms in response to chemotherapy. Tamoxifen (TAM) has invariably demonstrated induction of pro-survival autophagy in numerous cancers. In this study, the efficacy of JCTH-4 alone and in combination with TAM to induce cell death in human breast cancer (MCF7) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells was evaluated. TAM alone induced autophagy, but insignificant cell death whereas JCTH-4 alone caused significant induction of apoptosis with some induction of autophagy. Interestingly, the combinatory treatment yielded a drastic increase in apoptotic and autophagic induction. We monitored time-dependent morphological changes in MCF7 cells undergoing TAM-induced autophagy, JCTH-4-induced apoptosis and autophagy, and accelerated cell death with combinatorial treatment using time-lapse microscopy. We have demonstrated these compounds to induce apoptosis/autophagy by mitochondrial targeting in these cancer cells. Importantly, these treatments did not affect the survival of noncancerous human fibroblasts. Thus, these results indicate that JCTH-4 in combination with TAM could be used as a safe and very potent anti-cancer therapy against breast cancer and neuroblastoma cells.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma 

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

We have synthesized a novel analogue of pancratistatin with comparable anti-cancer activity as native pancratistatin; interestingly, combinatory treatment with tamoxifen yielded a drastic enhancement in apoptotic and autophagic induction by mitochondrial targeting with minimal effect on noncancerous fibroblasts. Thus, JCTH-4 in combination with tamoxifen could provide a safe anti-cancer therapy.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers amongst women in North America. Many current anti-cancer treatments, including ionizing radiation, induce ...

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18.6K Views.  University of Windsor. We have synthesized a novel analogue of pancratistatin with comparable anti-cancer activity as native pancratistatin; interestingly, combinatory treatment with tamoxifen yielded a drastic enhancement in apoptotic and autophagic induction by mitochondrial targeting with minimal effect on noncancerous fibroblasts. Thus, JCTH-4 in combination with tamoxifen could provide a safe anti-cancer therapy.

Video: Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Isolation, Characterization and Comparative Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Derived from Permanent Teeth by Using Two Different Methods

Developing wisdom teeth are easy-accessible source of stem cells during the adulthood which could be obtained by routine orthodontic treatments. Human pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs) possess high proliferation potential with multi-lineage differentiation capacity compare to the ordinary source of adult stem cells1-8; therefore, hDPSCs could be the good candidates for autologous transplantation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Along with these benefits, possessing the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) features, such as immunolodulatory effect, make hDPSCs more valuable, even in the case of allograft transplantation6,9,10. Therefore, the primary step for using this source of stem cells is to select the best protocol for isolating hDPSCs from pulp tissue. In order to achieve this goal, it is crucial to investigate the effect of various isolation conditions on different cellular behaviors, such as their common surface markers &amp; also their differentiation capacity.
Thus, here we separate human pulp tissue from impacted third molar teeth, and then used both existing protocols based on literature, for isolating hDPSCs,11-13 i.e. enzymatic dissociation of pulp tissue (DPSC-ED) or outgrowth from tissue explants (DPSC-OG). In this regards, we tried to facilitate the isolation methods by using dental diamond disk. Then, these cells characterized in terms of stromal-associated Markers (CD73, CD90, CD105 &amp; CD44), hematopoietic/endothelial Markers (CD34, CD45 &amp; CD11b), perivascular marker, like CD146 and also STRO-1. Afterwards, these two protocols were compared based on the differentiation potency into odontoblasts by both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) &amp; Alizarin Red Staining. QPCR were used for the assessment of the expression of the mineralization-related genes (alkaline phosphatase; ALP, matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein; MEPE &amp; dentin sialophosphoprotein; DSPP).14

The method described isolation and characterization of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) by using either enzymatic dissociation of pulp (DPSC-ED) or direct outgrowth of stem cells from pulp tissue explants (DPSC-OG). Then followed by in vitro comparative differentiation of both types of hDPSCs into odontoblasts.

Developing wisdom teeth are easy-accessible source of stem cells during the adulthood which could be obtained by routine orthodontic treatments. Human ...

Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells

Phenanthrene derivatives acting as potent PARP1 inhibitors prevented the bi-focal clustering of supernumerary centrosomes in multi-centrosomal human cancer cells in mitosis. The phenanthridine PJ-34 was the most potent molecule. Declustering of extra-centrosomes causes mitotic failure and cell death in multi-centrosomal cells. Most solid human cancers have high occurrence of extra-centrosomes. The activity of PJ-34 was documented in real-time by confocal imaging of live human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with vectors encoding for fluorescent &gamma;-tubulin, which is highly abundant in the centrosomes and for fluorescent histone H2b present in the chromosomes. Aberrant chromosomes arrangements and de-clustered &gamma;-tubulin foci representing declustered centrosomes were detected in the transfected MDA-MB-231 cells after treatment with PJ-34. Un-clustered extra-centrosomes in the two spindle poles preceded their cell death. These results linked for the first time the recently detected exclusive cytotoxic activity of PJ-34 in human cancer cells with extra-centrosomes de-clustering in mitosis, and mitotic failure leading to cell death. According to previous findings observed by confocal imaging of fixed cells, PJ-34 exclusively eradicated cancer cells with multi-centrosomes without impairing normal cells undergoing mitosis with two centrosomes and bi-focal spindles. This cytotoxic activity of PJ-34 was not shared by other potent PARP1 inhibitors, and was observed in PARP1 deficient MEF harboring extracentrosomes, suggesting its independency of PARP1 inhibition. Live confocal imaging offered a useful tool for identifying new molecules eradicating cells during mitosis.

The cytotoxic activity of the phenanthridine PJ-34 in cancer cells undergoing mitosis was documented in real time by live confocal imaging. PJ-34 eradicated human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells harboring extra-centrosomes in mitosis. Unlike normal bi-focal mitosis, the extra-centrosomes were not clustered in the two spindle poles in the presence of PJ-34.

Phenanthrene derivatives acting as potent PARP1 inhibitors prevented the bi-focal clustering of supernumerary centrosomes in multi-centrosomal human ...

Initiation of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Targeting of the Ductal Epithelium with Adenovirus-Cre: A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex cellular interactions between the developing tumor and immune system, eventually resulting in exponential tumor growth and metastasis to distal tissues and the collapse of anti-tumor immunity. Many useful animal models exist to study breast cancer, but none completely recapitulate the disease progression that occurs in humans. In order to gain a better understanding of the cellular interactions that result in the formation of latent metastasis and decreased survival, we have generated an inducible transgenic mouse model of YFP-expressing ductal carcinoma that develops after sexual maturity in immune-competent mice and is driven by consistent, endocrine-independent oncogene expression. Activation of YFP, ablation of p53, and expression of an oncogenic form of K-ras was achieved by the delivery of an adenovirus expressing Cre-recombinase into the mammary duct of sexually mature, virgin female mice. Tumors begin to appear 6 weeks after the initiation of oncogenic events. After tumors become apparent, they progress slowly for approximately two weeks before they begin to grow exponentially. After 7-8 weeks post-adenovirus injection, vasculature is observed connecting the tumor mass to distal lymph nodes, with eventual lymphovascular invasion of YFP+ tumor cells to the distal axillary lymph nodes. Infiltrating leukocyte populations are similar to those found in human breast carcinomas, including the presence of &#945;&#946; and &#947;&#948; T cells, macrophages and MDSCs. This unique model will facilitate the study of cellular and immunological mechanisms involved in latent metastasis and dormancy in addition to being useful for designing novel immunotherapeutic interventions to treat invasive breast cancer.

Activation of latent mutations with adenovirus-Cre into the mammary ductal system results in a clinically relevant metastatic breast cancer. Incorporation of a YFP promoter allows tracking of distal metastatic tumor cells. This model is useful to study latent metastasis, anti-tumor immunity, and for designing novel immunotherapies to treat breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex cellular interactions between the developing tumor and immune system, eventually resulting in ...

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells

Estrogen plays vital roles in mammary gland development and breast cancer progression. It mediates its function by binding to and activating the estrogen receptors (ERs), ER&#945;, and ER&#946;. ER&#945; is frequently upregulated in breast cancer and drives the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The ERs function as transcription factors and regulate gene expression. Whereas ER&#945;&#39;s regulation of protein-coding genes is well established, its regulation of noncoding microRNA (miRNA) is less explored. miRNAs play a major role in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes, inhibiting their translation or degrading their mRNA. miRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors&#160;and are also promising biomarkers. Among the miRNA assays available, microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) have been extensively used to detect and quantify miRNA levels. To identify miRNAs regulated by estrogen signaling in breast cancer, their expression in ER&#945;-positive breast cancer cell lines were compared before and after estrogen-activation using both the &#181;Paraflo-microfluidic microarrays and Dual Labeled Probes-low density arrays. Results were validated using specific qPCR assays, applying both Cyanine dye-based and Dual Labeled Probes-based chemistry. Furthermore, a time-point assay was used to identify regulations over time. Advantages of the miRNA assay approach used in this study is that it enables a fast screening of mature miRNA regulations in numerous samples, even with limited sample amounts. The layout, including the specific conditions for cell culture and estrogen treatment, biological and technical replicates, and large-scale screening followed by in-depth confirmations using separate techniques, ensures a robust detection of miRNA regulations,&#160;and eliminates false positives and other artifacts. However, mutated or unknown miRNAs, or regulations at the primary and precursor transcript level, will not be detected. The method presented here represents a thorough investigation of estrogen-mediated miRNA regulation.

Molecular signaling through both estrogen and microRNAs are critical in breast cancer development and growth. Estrogen activates the estrogen receptors, which are transcription factors. Many transcription factors can regulate the expression of microRNAs, and estrogen-regulated microRNAs can be profiled using different large-scale techniques.

Estrogen plays vital roles in mammary gland development and breast cancer progression. It mediates its function by binding to and activating the estrogen ...

Utilization of the Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay to Identify Inhibitors of Tumorigenicity in Breast Cancer Cells

Given the inherent difficulties in investigating the mechanisms of tumor progression in vivo, cell-based assays such as the soft agar colony formation assay (hereafter called soft agar assay), which measures the ability of cells to proliferate in semi-solid matrices, remain a hallmark of cancer research. A key advantage of this technique over conventional 2D monolayer or 3D spheroid cell culture assays is the close mimicry of the 3D cellular environment to that seen in vivo. Importantly, the soft agar assay also provides an ideal tool to rigorously test the effects of novel compounds or treatment conditions on cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, this assay enables the quantitative assessment of cell transformation potential within the context of genetic perturbations. We recently identified peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PADI2) as a potential breast cancer biomarker and therapeutic target. Here we highlight the utility of the soft agar assay for preclinical anti-cancer studies by testing the effects of the PADI inhibitor, BB-Cl-amidine (BB-CLA), on the tumorigenicity of human ductal carcinoma in situ (MCF10DCIS) cells.

Here, we document the use of the soft agar colony formation assay to test the effects of a peptidylarginine deiminase (PADI) enzyme inhibitor, BB-Cl-amidine, on breast cancer tumorigenicity in vitro.

Given the inherent difficulties in investigating the mechanisms of tumor progression in vivo, cell-based assays such as the soft agar colony formation ...

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor initiation, metastasis and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Here we describe a specific methodology for culturing primary human pancreatic CSCs as tumor spheres in anchorage-independent conditions. Cells are grown in serum-free, non-adherent conditions in order to enrich for CSCs while their more differentiated progenies do not survive and proliferate during the initial phase following seeding of single cells. This assay can be used to estimate the percentage of CSCs present in a population of tumor cells. Both size (which can range from 35 to 250 micrometers) and number of tumor spheres formed represents CSC activity harbored in either bulk populations of cultured cancer cells or freshly harvested and digested tumors 1,2. Using this assay, we recently found that metformin selectively ablates pancreatic CSCs; a finding that was subsequently further corroborated by demonstrating diminished expression of pluripotency-associated genes/surface markers and reduced in vivo tumorigenicity of metformin-treated cells. As the final step for preclinical development we treated mice bearing established tumors with metformin and found significantly prolonged survival. Clinical studies testing the use of metformin in patients with PDAC are currently underway (e.g., NCT01210911, NCT01167738, and NCT01488552). Mechanistically, we found that metformin induces a fatal energy crisis in CSCs by enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reducing mitochondrial transmembrane potential. In contrast, non-CSCs were not eliminated by metformin treatment, but rather underwent reversible cell cycle arrest. Therefore, our study serves as a successful example for the potential of in vitro sphere formation as a screening tool to identify compounds that potentially target CSCs, but this technique will require further in vitro and in vivo validation to eliminate false discoveries.

Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) can be expanded in vitro using the anchorage-independent sphere culture technique, which represents a powerful tool to study CSC biology and can serve as the first step to develop novel CSC-targeting therapies. Here the methodology for expanding, analyzing and targeting of pancreatic CSCs is provided.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor ...

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

With the advent of the -omics approaches our understanding of the chronic diseases like cancer and metabolic syndrome has improved. However, effective mining of the information in the large-scale datasets that are obtained from gene expression microarrays, deep sequencing experiments or metabolic profiling is essential to uncover and then effectively target the critical regulators of diseased cell phenotypes. Estrogen Receptor &#945; (ER&#945;) is one of the master transcription factors regulating the gene programs that are important for estrogen responsive breast cancers. In order to understand to role of ER&#945; signaling in breast cancer metabolism we utilized transcriptomic, cistromic and metabolomic data from MCF-7 cells treated with estradiol. In this report we described generation of samples for RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq and metabolomics experiments and the integrative computational analysis of the obtained data. This approach is useful in delineating novel molecular mechanisms and gene regulatory circuits that are regulated by a particular transcription factor which impacts metabolism of normal or diseased cells.

Integration of data from genome-wide sequencing experiments and metabolomics experiments is a challenge. In this paper we report, for the first time, generation, analysis and integration of transcriptome, cistrome and metabolome data from breast cancer cells treated with estradiol.

With the advent of the -omics approaches our understanding of the chronic diseases like cancer and metabolic syndrome has improved. However, effective ...

Induction of Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Mice: The "Wire-Injury" Model

Atherosclerosis is a proliferative fibro-inflammatory disease developing in the arterial wall, inducing a deficient blood flow or a lack of blood flow. Moreover, by rupture of the defective vascular wall, atherosclerosis induces occlusive thrombus formation, which represents the main cause of myocardial infarction or stroke and the most frequent cause of death. Despite the advances in the cardiovascular field, many questions remain unanswered, and additional basic research is essential to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms during atherosclerosis and its effects. Due to limited clinical studies, there is a need for representative animal models recreating atherosclerotic conditions such as neointima formation after stent implantation, balloon angioplasty, or endarterectomy. Since the mouse presents many advantages and is the most frequently used model for studying molecular processes, the current study proposes an invasive procedure of endothelial denudation, also known as the wire-injury model, which is representative of the human condition of neointima formation in arteries after revascularization procedures.

Induction of Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Mice: The &quot;Wire-Injury&quot; Model

This study describes an invasive procedure for the induction of accelerated atherosclerosis in mice. In comparison to other methods using electric- or cryo-induced injury, mechanical-induced injury mimics the human condition of restenosis after revascularization therapies and is ideal for the study of the molecular mechanisms involved.

Atherosclerosis is a proliferative fibro-inflammatory disease developing in the arterial wall, inducing a deficient blood flow or a lack of blood flow. ...

A Novel Clinical Grade Isolation Method for Human Kidney Perivascular Stromal Cells

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are tissue homeostatic and immune modulatory cells that have shown beneficial effects in kidney diseases and transplantation. Perivascular Stromal Cells (PSCs) share characteristics with bone marrow MSCs (bmMSCs). However, they also possess, most likely due to local imprinting, tissue-specific properties and play a role in local tissue homeostasis. This tissue specificity may result in tissue specific repair, also within the human kidney. We previously showed that human kidney PSCs (kPSCs) have enhanced kidney epithelial wound healing whereas bmMSCs did not have this potential. Moreover, kPSCs can ameliorate kidney injury in vivo. Therefore, kPSCs constitute an interesting source for cell therapy, particularly for kidney diseases and renal transplantation. Here we show the detailed isolation and culture method for kPSCs from transplant-grade human kidneys based on whole-organ perfusion of digestive enzymes via the renal artery and enrichment for the perivascular marker NG2. In this way, large cell quantities can be obtained that are suitable for cellular therapy.

Here we present a novel clinical grade isolation and culture method for kidney Perivascular Stromal Cells (kPSCs) based on whole organ perfusion with digestive enzymes and NG2-cell enrichment. With this method, it is possible to acquire sufficient cell numbers for cellular therapy.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are tissue homeostatic and immune modulatory cells that have shown beneficial effects in kidney diseases and ...

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells and produce cellular energy in the form of ATP. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to biological aging and a wide variety of disorders including metabolic diseases, premature aging syndromes, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Maintenance of mitochondrial health depends on mitochondrial biogenesis and the efficient clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria through mitophagy. Experimental methods to accurately detect autophagy/mitophagy, especially in animal models, have been challenging to develop. Recent progress towards the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy has enabled the development of novel mitophagy detection techniques. Here, we introduce several versatile techniques to monitor mitophagy in human cells, Caenorhabditis elegans (e.g., Rosella and DCT-1/ LGG-1 strains), and mice (mt-Keima). A combination of these mitophagy detection techniques, including cross-species evaluation, will improve the accuracy of mitophagy measurements and lead to a better understanding of the role of mitophagy in health and disease.

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Mitophagy, the process of clearing damaged mitochondria, is necessary for mitochondrial homeostasis and health maintenance. This article presents some of the latest mitophagy detection methods in human cells, Caenorhabditis elegans, and mice.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells and produce cellular energy in the form of ATP. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to biological aging and a ...