CircRNA-associated ceRNA networks (circCeNETs) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic airway disorder, which is mostly brought on by cigarette smoke extract (CSE), is a leading cause of death which has a high frequency. In COPD patients, smoking cigarette could also trigger the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of airway remodeling. One of the most significant elements of environmental contaminants that is linked to pulmonary damage is fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, the basic processes of lung injury brought on by environmental contaminants and cigarette smoke are poorly understood, particularly the molecular pathways involved in inflammation. For the clinical management of COPD, investigating the molecular process and identifying workable biomarkers will be important. According to newly available research, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are aberrantly produced and serve as important regulators in the pathological processes of COPD. This class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) functions as microRNA (miRNA) sponges to control the levels of gene expression, changing cellular phenotypes and advancing disease. These findings led us to concentrate our attention in this review on new studies about the regulatory mechanism and potential roles of circRNA-associated ceRNA networks (circCeNETs) in COPD.

The potential roles of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic autoimmune disease, whose pathogenesis and etiology are not entirely understood. OLP is characterized by subepithelial lymphocyte infiltration and elevated intra-epithelial lymphocytes. The majority of lamina propria lymphocytes are CD4+ T cells. CD4+ helper T (Th) cells play a crucial role in activating CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) through interactions and cytokine production. Th1 and Th2 cells are well-accepted to be associated with OLP pathogenesis. However, OLP treatment is challenging yet, the more information we have about the pathology of OLP, the easier it will be treated. With the discovery of Th17 cells in recent years and the demonstration of their role in autoimmune disease, many researchers started to investigate the role of Th17 in the pathogenesis of OLP. METHODS: To make up this review, studies covering the role of TH17 in different types of lichen planus were selected from major databases. RESULTS: As we review in this article, Th17 cells and their signature cytokines play an important role in OLP pathogenesis. As well, utilizing some anti-IL-17 antibodies showed promising results in improving the disease; however, more studies are still needed to better understand and treat OLP.

Purinergic receptors are a key bottleneck in tumor metabolic reprogramming: The prime suspect in cancer therapeutic resistance.

ATP and other nucleoside phosphates have specific receptors named purinergic receptors. Purinergic receptors and ectonucleotidases regulate various signaling pathways that play a role in physiological and pathological processes. Extracellular ATP in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has a higher level than in normal tissues and plays a role in cancer cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. In this review, we investigated the role of purinergic receptors in the development of resistance to therapy through changes in tumor cell metabolism. When a cell transforms to neoplasia, its metabolic processes change. The metabolic reprogramming modified metabolic feature of the TME, that can cause impeding immune surveillance and promote cancer growth. The purinergic receptors contribute to therapy resistance by modifying cancer cells' glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. Limiting the energy supply of cancer cells is one approach to overcoming resistance. Glycolysis inhibitors which reduce intracellular ATP levels may make cancer cells more susceptible to anti-cancer therapies. The loss of the P2X7R through glucose intolerance and decreased fatty acid metabolism reduces therapeutic resistance. Potential metabolic blockers that can be employed in combination with other therapies will aid in the discovery of new anti-cancer immunotherapy to overcome therapy resistance. Therefore, therapeutic interventions that are considered to inhibit cancer cell metabolism and purinergic receptors simultaneously can potentially reduce resistance to treatment.

Opportunities and obstacles for the melanoma immunotherapy using T cell and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) applications: a literature review.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy procedure includes taking personal T cells and processing or genetic engineering using specific antigens and in vitro expanding and eventually infusing into the patient's body to unleash immune responses. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) includes lymphocytes taking, in vitro selection and expansion and processing for stimulation or activation and infusion into the patient's body. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), ACT and CAR-T cell therapies have demonstrated acceptable results. However, rare CAR-T cells tissue infiltration, off-target toxicity and resistance development include main disadvantages of CAR-T cell based therapy. Selection of suitable target antigens and novel engineered immune cells are warranted in future studies using "surfaceome" analysis. Employment of cytokines (IL-2, IL-7) for T cells activation has been also associated with specific anti-melanoma function which overcome telomeres shortening and further T cells differentiation. In resistant cases, rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma B-type and mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitors have been mostly applied. The aim of this study was evaluation of CAR-T cell and adoptive cell therapies efficiency for the treatment of melanoma.

A New Mutation Causing Severe Infantile-Onset Pompe Disease Responsive to Enzyme Replacement Therapy.

Pompe disease (PD), also known as "glycogen storage disease type II (OMIM # 232300)" is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive glycogen accumulation in cellular lysosomes. It ultimately leads to cellular damage. Infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) is the most severe type of this disease and is characterized by severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and generalized hypotonia. Mutations in the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) gene, located at locus 17q25.3, are responsible for the disease leading to reduced activity of the acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme. To date, approximately 400 pathogenic mutations have been reported in the GAA gene. The aim of this study is to report a novel nonsense mutation in exon 4 of the GAA gene in an Iranian child suffering from IOPD. The patient was a female neonate with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a positive family history of IOPD. After definite diagnosis, enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) was started for the patient, who was 2 months old. Now at the age of 20 months, she has had good growth and development and her echocardiographic parameters are within the normal range. This report shows that IOPD patients with this mutation can be treated with ERT successfully.