International Journal of Molecular Sciences最新文献

Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in breast cancer (BC) progression by actively modulating the tumor microenvironment. We investigated how tumor proximity modifies adipose tissue by analyzing selected adipose-related and prognosis-associated markers in explants from BC patients and healthy donors. Explants were categorized by proximity to the tumor as adjacent (less than 2 cm), distant (over 2 cm), alongside normal explants (controls). FABP4 and vimentin expression was increased in proximity to the tumor, while caveolin-1, CD44, MMP9, and adiponectin showed minimal or no changes. Conditioned media (CM) from adjacent and normal explants were then assessed for their effects on tumorigenic traits in hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+ BC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. Adjacent-CM enhanced migration, induced cytoskeletal remodeling, reduced adhesion, and promoted an elongated, motile phenotype in T47D cells. Poor-prognosis markers (caveolin-1, vimentin, CD44) were upregulated in at least one HR+ BC model, whereas Nanog and KLF4 showed modest variation. In TNBC cells, both normal- and adjacent-CM partially shifted MDA-MB-231 morphology toward a more epithelial-like state, decreasing caveolin-1 levels, while adjacent-CM increased MMP9 expression. Overall, these results reveal that adipose tissue-derived soluble factors exert significant and subtype-dependent effects on BC tumorigenicity.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic complication of pregnancy associated with significant short- and long-term risks for both mother and offspring. Increasing evidence indicates that genetic susceptibility plays a central role in GDM pathogenesis, particularly through variants affecting insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function. This narrative review integrates molecular, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives, highlighting population-specific effects and gene-environment interactions. Improved understanding of the genetic risk architecture may support earlier risk stratification and enable the future development of personalized strategies for GDM prevention and management, with particular emphasis on genetic polymorphisms in SLC30A8, CDKAL1, and HHEX genes consistently implicated in glucose homeostasis and β-cell integrity. These genes contribute to distinct but complementary molecular pathways underlying GDM, including impaired insulin biosynthesis, defective zinc transport within insulin granules, and altered paracrine regulation within pancreatic islets. While associations between these variants and GDM have been repeatedly demonstrated, their clinical relevance and mechanistic impact remain incompletely understood. Available evidence suggests that CDKAL1 represents the strongest genetic determinant, followed by SLC30A8, while HHEX appears to play a modulatory role. This review summarizes current findings on the molecular functions and clinical significance of these polymorphisms, highlighting population-specific effects and gene-environment interactions. Improved understanding of genetic risk architecture may support earlier risk stratification and enable future development of personalized strategies for GDM prevention and management.

Folate receptor alpha is expressed at low levels in normal tissues, but is elevated in aggressive breast cancer types and can be utilized for targeted nanoparticle delivery. Hence, we prepared a hybrid nanocarrier based on in-house synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) which were further lipid-coated and reinforced with folic acid (FA). Thorough physicochemical evaluation was performed including dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nitrogen physisorption. In vitro dissolution of the model drug doxorubicin was carried out in release media with pH 7.4 and pH 5.5. The cytotoxic potential and cellular uptake were investigated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via the MTT assay, doxorubicin fluorescence measurement, and microscopy. The potential amelioration of doxorubicin's cardiotoxicity was evaluated in vitro on the H9c2 cell line. The results showed MSNs with significant pore volume (1.38 cm³/g) and relatively small sizes (98.05 ± 1.34 nm). The lipid coat and FA attachment improved the physicochemical stability and sustained release pattern over 24 h. MSNs were non-toxic, while when doxorubicin-loaded, they caused moderate cytotoxicity. The highest cytotoxic activity was observed with folate-functionalized, doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles (NPs). Even though non-loaded folate-functionalized NPs exhibited significant cytotoxicity, their physical mixture with doxorubicin was inferior in MCF-7 cytotoxicity as opposed to the corresponding loaded nanocarrier. Fluorescence-based quantification showed a higher intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin when delivered via NPs. These results demonstrate the potential to use folate-functionalized NPs as carriers for doxorubicin delivery in breast cancer cells. Its cardiotoxicity was significantly reduced in the case of loading onto the folic acid-functionalized lipid-coated MSNs. All these findings provide a promising proof-of-concept, although further experimental validation, particularly regarding targeting selectivity and safety, is required.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are membrane-bound proteins that mediate fast synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system. A functional nAChR subtype is formed by the combination of multiple subunits arranged as homomeric or heteromeric pentamers, each with a distinct pharmacological profile. Disruption of their neurotransmission contributes to various neuropathologies, emphasizing the need for detailed knowledge of receptor structure, function, subunit composition, dynamics, and potential ligand-binding sites. However, their structural complexity as integral membrane proteins has hindered expression in mammalian cell lines and proven even more challenging to crystallize, limiting insights into ligand interactions. Understanding the molecular determinants governing nAChRs function is essential for the rational design of selective therapeutics targeting neurological disorders. The emergence of a chimeric receptor approach has dramatically improved the ability to study these important proteins and opened new avenues for high-throughput screening in drug discovery efforts. This review explains how the design of chimera constructs using soluble homologs, such as AChBP, provides researchers with an immense opportunity to investigate receptor structure-function relationships and subtype-specific properties, thereby facilitating the development of more effective treatments.

Defective HIV-1 proviruses harboring mutations and/or large internal deletions represent the majority of HIV-1 sequences found in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells of people living with HIV with viremia suppressed by combination antiretroviral therapy; indirect evidence suggests that such sequences are transcriptionally active and may contribute to immune activation. In this study, we present a new approach allowing for high-efficiency screening, immortalization, and targeted enrichment of HIV-positive CD4⁺ T-cells isolated from people living with HIV. Using this method, we were able to isolate and expand patient-derived cells, identify mutations and deletions via sequencing, and confirm that those proviruses were transcriptionally and translationally active in vitro. Moreover, our findings indicate that the majority of proviral sequences circulating in suppressed HIV-infected patients may undergo 3'-LTR deletions, suggesting that sequence diversity reported using LTR-to-LTR amplification and sequencing approaches may indeed be underscored.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) occasionally coexist with antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity, cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), creating one of the most challenging therapeutic overlap scenarios in immunodermatology. Divergent immune pathways-IL-23/Th17-driven psoriatic inflammation versus type I interferon-mediated autoimmunity-generate unique vulnerabilities when systemic treatments are used. To synthesize treatment outcomes, lupus-related safety signals, and mechanistic insights across systemic therapies in patients with psoriasis or PsA who also exhibit ANA positivity, CLE, or SLE. A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov from database inception through 31 October 2025. Thirty-three eligible reports (29 unique clinical studies; 1429 patients) were included and organized into six prespecified overlap subgroups. Mechanistic and translational studies-including ustekinumab and deucravacitinib SLE trial data and reports of IL-17 inhibitor-associated CLE-were reviewed separately to provide contextual interpretation. IL-23 inhibitors were consistently associated with a favorable cross-disease safety profile, with no clear signal for CLE worsening, SLE flares, or drug-induced autoimmunity. IL-17 inhibitors maintained strong psoriatic efficacy but were associated with an increased frequency of de novo or exacerbated CLE. TNF-α inhibitors showed the strongest association with ANA seroconversion, anti-dsDNA induction, drug-induced lupus, and lupus flares. Ustekinumab demonstrated a stable safety profile across lupus-spectrum disease despite variable efficacy in formal SLE trials. TYK2 inhibition provided dual modulation of IL-23 and type I interferon pathways and showed emerging utility in psoriasis or PsA coexisting with CLE or SLE. Apremilast, methotrexate, and mycophenolate mofetil remained reliable non-biologic systemic options. Phototherapy was associated with potential risk in ANA-positive or lupus-susceptible populations and therefore requires careful consideration. Interpretation is limited by the predominantly observational nature and heterogeneity of the available evidence. IL-23 inhibition and TYK2 inhibition appear to offer a balanced profile of efficacy and lupus-related safety in psoriatic disease complicated by lupus-spectrum autoimmunity. IL-17 inhibitors and TNF-α inhibitors may be associated with higher risk in CLE- or SLE-prone patients and therefore warrant particular caution. Personalized treatment strategies should integrate the relative dominance of psoriatic versus lupus disease, ANA/ENA profile, CLE subtype, and underlying mechanistic considerations. Prospective, biomarker-driven studies are needed to guide therapy in this increasingly recognized overlap population (PROSPERO registration: CRD420251241279).

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a central mediator of inflammatory pathology; thus, the selective suppression of TNF-α without causing broad immunosuppression remains a critical therapeutic goal. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential and underlying mechanisms of Dahlia pinnata (D. pinnata) extract in human monocytes and epithelial cells. We demonstrate that D. pinnata extract selectively suppresses basal TNF-α expression in THP-1 monocytes and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells, with minimal impact on IL-1β, IL-6, or IL-10 and without inducing cytotoxicity. The extract also potently attenuated TNF-α induction triggered by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Notably, D. pinnata extract exhibited stronger and broader TNF-α-suppressive effects than dexamethasone, particularly in monocytes where dexamethasone was ineffective under the tested conditions. Mechanistic analyses revealed that the extract suppresses TNF-α expression primarily through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling, accompanied by enhanced p38 MAPK activation. Fractionation of the extract identified two active fractions (06 and 07) that robustly suppressed TNF-α expression under both basal and stimulated conditions while maintaining low cytotoxicity. These fractions recapitulated the signaling profile of the crude extract by inhibiting NF-κB activation and promoting p38 signaling. Collectively, our findings identify D. pinnata as a rich source of bioactive compounds that selectively suppresses TNF-α through the coordinated modulation of NF-κB and p38 pathways, highlighting its potential as a scaffold for developing targeted anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

In the original publication [...].

Juvenile scleroderma (JS), comprising localized (JLSd) and systemic (JSSc) forms, is a rare autoimmune disorder. This study investigated associations of polymorphisms in extracellular matrix (MMP1, MMP9) and vascular homeostasis (NOS3) genes with JS risk and immunological phenotypes. A case-control study involved 215JS patients (194 JLSd, 21 JSSc) and 72 controls. SNPs (MMP1 rs1799750, MMP9 rs3918242, NOS3 rs1799983) were genotyped using real-time PCR followed by minisequencing and mass spectrometric analysis of reaction products. Associations with disease risk, subtypes, and immunological markers were analyzed statistically. The MMP9 (rs3918242) CT genotype was significantly associated with JLSd (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.14-4.37, p = 0.022), showing a trend in linear facial forms. The NOS3 (rs1799983) GG genotype demonstrated a trend toward association with JSSc (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 0.92-7.37, p = 0.065). No significant associations were found for rs1799750 MMP1 and risk of disease development. The MMP9 risk genotype did not correlate with scleroderma-specific autoantibodies, while the NOS3 GG genotype was associated with lower serum levels of anti-collagen IV antibodies (p = 0.039). Genetic associations differ for JS subtypes: MMP9 with JLSd and NOS3 with JSSc. Children with CT polymorphism MMP9 (rs3918242) and with NOS3 (rs1799983) GG genotype were found to be genetically predisposed for the development of JS.

The development of efficient C-C bond-forming reactions remains an important objective in organic chemistry. These reactions are fundamental tools for building complex molecules for diverse applications. Among the various strategies available, radical processes promoted by group IV metals-particularly Ti and its titanocene-type complexes-have shown remarkable versatility and utility in organic synthesis. However, closely related zirconium analogues have historically received less attention and have shown a more limited reactivity profile. Thus, zirconium and its zirconocene-type derivatives have often been regarded as the "ugly duckling" of group IV metal-promoted radical chemistry. Yet recent advances indicate that this "ugly duckling" is beginning to reveal its synthetic potential. In this review, we highlight the main synthetic applications of zirconocene(III) complexes and compare them with those of titanocene(III). Special attention is placed on the generation of reactive zirconocene(III) species and their impact on reactivity. Overall, these developments show how zirconocene(III) chemistry is emerging as a valuable complement to titanocene(III)-based radical transformations, turning our ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.