do Nascimento-Neto, LG, Cabral MG, Carneiro RF, Silva Z, Arruda FVS, Nagano CS, Fernandes AR, Sampaio AH, and Videira* EHT* PA.
2017.
Halilectin-3, a Lectin from the Marine Sponge Haliclona caerulea, Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Breast Cancer MCF7 Cells Through Caspase-9 Pathway and LC3-II Protein Expression, 2017. (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents). 17:1-8.
AbstractBackground: An ideal strategy for cancer treatment is the specific induction of tumor cell death, sparing normal cells. Marine sponges are rich biological reservoirs of biomolecules, especially lectins, which have attracted considerable attention due to potential biological effect on human cells. Lectins are proteins that bind specific carbohydrate signatures and some gained further interest for their capacity to bind tumor associated carbohydrates antigens and induce tumor cell apoptosis. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumor potential of H3, a lectin, recently reported from marine sponge Haliclona caerulea on the human breast cancer cell line MCF7. Results: H3 reduced MCF7 cell viability with an IC50 of 100 μg/ml, without a significant effect on normal cells. At 24h, H3 induced a significant arrest in the G1 cell cycle phase. Consistently, almost 50% of the cells were in early apoptosis and showed remarkable increased expression of caspase-9 (CASP 9). H3 impaired dramatically the adhesiveness of MCF7 cells in culture. Assays conducted with Lysotracker Red probe showed increased organelle acidity, suggesting autophagic cell death, which was further supported by increased expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and observable conversion of LC3-I in LC3-II by western blot. Conclusion: The apoptotic effect of H3 may be related to a balance between apoptotic and autophagic cell death, mediated by increased expression of CASP 9 and LC3-II. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report about a sponge lectin triggering both apoptosis and autophagy in MCF7 cell.
Abdulmawjood, B, Roma-Rodrigues C, Fernandes AR, Baptista PV.
2019.
Liquid biopsies in myeloid malignancies, 2019. Cancer Drug Resistance. 2(4):1044-1061.
AbstractHematologic malignancies are the most common type of cancer affecting children and young adults, and encompass diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, all of which impact blood associated tissues such as the bone marrow, lymphatic system, and blood cells. Clinical diagnostics of these malignancies relies heavily on the use of bone marrow samples, which is painful, debilitating, and not free from risks for leukemia patients. Liquid biopsies are based on minimally invasive assessment of markers in the blood (and other fluids) and have the potential to improve the efficacy of diagnostic/therapeutic strategies in leukemia patients, providing a useful tool for the real time molecular profiling of patients. The most promising noninvasive biomarkers are circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, and exosomes. Herein, we discuss the role of assessing these circulating biomarkers for the understanding of tumor progression and metastasis, tumor progression dynamics through treatment and for follow-up.
Alves, PU, Vinhas R, Fernandes AR, Birol SZ, Trabzon L, Bernacka-Wojcik I, Igreja R, Lopes P, Baptista PV, Águas H, Fortunato E, Martins R.
2018.
Multifunctional microfluidic chip for optical nanoprobe based RNA detection - application to Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, 2018. Scientific reports. 8(1):381.
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