Uroplakins (UPs) are major differentiation products of urothelial umbrella cells and play important roles in forming the permeability barrier and in the expansion/stabiliza - tion of the apical membrane. Further, UPIa serves as a uropathogenic Escherichia coli recep- tor. Although it is understood that UPs are delivered to the apical membrane via fusiform vesicles (FVs), the mechanisms that regulate this exocytic pathway remain poorly understood. Immunomicroscopy of normal and mutant mouse urothelia show that the UP-delivering FVs contained Rab8/11 and Rab27b/Slac2-a, which mediate apical transport along actin fila - ments. Subsequently a Rab27b/Slp2-a complex mediated FV-membrane anchorage before SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated apical fusion. We also show that keratin 20 (K20), which forms a chicken-wire network - 200 nm below the apical membrane and has hole sizes allowing FV passage, defines a subapical compartment containing FVs primed and strategi - cally located for fusion. Finally, we show that Rab8/11 and Rab27b function in the same pathway, Rab27b knockout leads to uroplakin and Slp2-a destabilization, and Rab27b works upstream from MAL. These data support a unifying model in which UP cargoes are targeted for apical insertion via sequential interactions with Rabs and their effectors, SNAREs and MAL, and in which K20 plays a key role in regulating vesicular trafficking
COBISS.SI-ID: 33075417
Background The new modalities for treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for whom BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) has failed or is contraindicated are recently increasing due to the development of new drugs. Although agents like mitomycin C and BCG are routinely used, there is a need for more potent and/or less-toxic agents. In this scenario, a new perspective is represented by P-MAPA (Protein Aggregate Magnesium-Ammonium Phospholinoleate-Palmitoleate Anhydride), developed by Farmabrasilis (non-profit research network). This study detailed and characterized the mechanisms of action of P-MAPA based on activation of mediators of Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 signaling pathways and p53 in regulating angiogenesis and apoptosis in an animal model of NMIBC, as well as, compared these mechanisms with BCG treatment. Results Our results demonstrated the activation of the immune system by BCG (MyD88-dependent pathway) resulted in increased inflammatory cytokines. However, P-MAPA intravesical immunotherapy led to distinct activation of TLRs 2 and 4-mediated innate immune system, resulting in increased interferons signaling pathway (TRIF-dependent pathway), which was more effective in the NMIBC treatment. Interferon signaling pathway activation induced by P-MAPA led to increase of iNOS protein levels, resulting in apoptosis and histopathological recovery. Additionally, P-MAPA immunotherapy increased wild-type p53 protein levels. The increased wild-type p53 protein levels were fundamental to NO-induced apoptosis and the up-regulation of BAX. Furthermore, interferon signaling pathway induction and increased p53 protein levels by P-MAPA led to important antitumor effects, not only suppressing abnormal cell proliferation, but also by preventing continuous expansion of tumor mass through suppression of angiogenesis, which was characterized by decreased VEGF and increased endostatin protein levels. Conclusions Thus, P-MAPA immunotherapy could be considered an important therapeutic strategy for NMIBC, as well as, opens a new perspective for treatment of patients that are refractory or resistant to BCG intravesical therapy.
COBISS.SI-ID: 33075673
Comparative lipidomic studies were performed across the RT4 versus T24 urothelial cancer cell lines, as models for noninvasive urothelial papilloma cells (with a relatively high level of differentiation) and invasive urothelial carcinoma cells (with low level of differentiation), respectively. The aim was to investigate the differences in lipid profile associated with different levels of urothelial cancer cell invasiveness. The cellular lipidomes were characterized using our previously developed joint methodology of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance, which included analysis of the phospholipids and ceramide-based glycosphingolipids. This study shows that the invasive T24 cells have 3-fold lower levels of 1-alkyl (ether)-2-acyl phosphocholine species, which are accompanied by greater length and higher unsaturation of acyl chains of several lipid classes. Moreover, d18:1-based glycosphingolipids show different profiles; in particular, α-hydroxylated glucosylceramides have lower levels in the T24 cells, along with increased lactosyl ceramides. These differences between RT4 and T24 cells suggest significantly different organization of the cellular membranes, which can affect the membrane fluidity and membrane-dependent functions, and contribute to the lower stiffness of plasma membrane and reduced cell-cell adhesion required for movement and invasiveness of these T24 urothelial carcinoma cells with a high metastatic potential.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3968591
Despite great efforts in tissue engineering of the ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra, further research is needed in order to improve the patient's quality of life and minimize the economic burden of different lower urinary tract disorders. The nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) scaffolds have a wide range of clinical applications and are already widely used in orthopedic or dental medicine. The current study was conducted to synthesize TiO2 nanotubes by the anodization method and TiO2 nanowires and nanospheres by the chemical vapor deposition method. These scaffolds were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. In order to test the urologic applicability of generated TiO2 scaffolds, we seeded the normal porcine urothelial (NPU) cells on TiO2 nanotubes, TiO2 nanowires, TiO2 nanospheres, and on the standard porous membrane. The viability and growth of the cells were monitored everyday, and after 3 weeks of culturing, the analysis with scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed. Our results showed that the NPU cells were attached on all scaffolds; they were viable and formed a multilayered epithelium, i.e., urothelium. The apical plasma membrane of the majority of superficial NPU cells, grown on all three different TiO2 scaffolds and on the porous membrane, exhibited microvilli; thus, indicating that they were at a similar differentiation stage. The maximal caliper diameter measurements of superficial NPU cells revealed significant alterations, with the largest cells being observed on nanowires and the smallest ones on the porous membrane. Our findings indicate that different nanostructured TiO2 scaffolds, especially nanowires, have a great potential for tissue engineering and should be further investigated for various urologic applications.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32274393
Aim: We explored the distribution and cellular uptake of intratumorally injected SPIONs-PAA-PEI-pDNA (magnetofection complexes), and antitumor effectiveness of magnetofection with plasmid DNA encoding short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against Mcam (pDNA anti-MCAM ). Materials & methods: Analyses were made based on the histology, ultrastructure and quantitative measurements of magnetofection complexes, and quantification of the antitumor effectiveness in B16F10 melanoma in vivo . Results: Injected magnetofection complexes were distributed around the injection site. Exposure of tumors to external magnetic field contributed to the uptake of magnetofection complexes from extracellular matrix into melanoma cells. Three consecutive magnetofections of tumors with pDNA anti-MCAM resulted in significant reduction of tumor volume. Conclusion: Magnetofection is effective for gene delivery to melanoma tumors, but requires a magnetic field for cellular uptake and antitumor effect.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32548569