Inhibition of triple negative breast cancer-associated inflammation and progression by N- acylethanolamine acid amide hydrolase (NAAA).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with high mortality due to the high expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lack of targeted therapies. N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) is an N-terminal cysteine hydrolase that promotes inflammatory responses through the deactivation of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous bioactive lipid mediator. Here, we examined NAAA expression in TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-BrM2 cells) and the effects of NAAA inhibition on TNBC tumor growth, using a selective NAAA inhibitor AM11095 (IC50 = 20 nM). TNBC cells expressed elevated levels of full-length and splice mRNAs naaa variants. TNBC cells also express the N-acyl ethanol amides and elevated levels of the two fatty acid cores arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA). PEA or AM11095 inhibited the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8, reduced the activation of the NF-kB pathway, decreased the expression of VEGF and Placental growth factor (PLGF) in TNBCs, and inhibited tumor cell migration in vitro. Using cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), body images of mice administered with human MDA-MB-BrM2 cells treated with AM11095 showed a significant decrease in tumor numbers with a lower volume of tumors and increased mice survival. Mice untreated or treated with vehicle control showed a high number of tumors with high volumes in multiple organs. Thus, NAAA inhibition may constitute a potential therapeutic approach in the management of TNBC-associated inflammation and tumor growth.

Inhibition of triple negative breast cancer-associated inflammation, tumor growth and brain colonization by targeting monoacylglycerol lipase.

While the prevalence of breast cancer metastasis in the brain is significantly higher in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs), there is a lack of novel and/or improved therapies for these patients. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a hydrolase involved in lipid metabolism that catalyzes the degradation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) linked to generation of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules. Here, we targeted MAGL in TNBCs, using a potent carbamate-based inhibitor AM9928 (hMAGL IC50 = 9 nM) with prolonged pharmacodynamic effects (46 h of target residence time). AM9928 blocked TNBC cell adhesion and transmigration across human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) in 3D co-cultures. In addition, AM9928 inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF-A from TNBC cells. TNBC-derived exosomes activated HBMECs resulting in secretion of elevated levels of IL-8 and VEGF, which were inhibited by AM9928. Using in vivo studies of syngeneic GFP-4T1-BrM5 mammary tumor cells, AM9928 inhibited tumor growth in the mammary fat pads and attenuated blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability changes, resulting in reduced TNBC colonization in brain. Together, these results support the potential clinical application of MAGL inhibitors as novel treatments for TNBC.

Use of behavioural contracting to increase adherence with rehabilitation treatments on an inpatient brain injury unit: a case report.

BACKGROUND: This systematic, single-subject case study presents a 37-year old male with a severe traumatic brain injury who exhibited agitation and poor adherence with rehabilitation treatment on an inpatient traumatic brain injury unit. Attempts to address presumed awareness issues were unsuccessful. Medication trials also failed to produce an observable response in the patient's behaviour. CASE STUDY: A behavioural contract was presented by staff that specified positive behaviours the patient needed to demonstrate in order to reach his goal of being discharged from the hospital. Immediately, patient agitation ratings decreased and soon normalized. Statistical analysis of single subject times series data using the method of Nonoverlap of all Pairs results in a ratio of 0.875, indicating a moderate effect size for the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The patient was able to comply with all requests and, with supports, was able to be safely discharged from the hospital ahead of schedule. Factors that could have contributed to this outcome and potential limitations are discussed.

Comparison of two T-state structures of regulatory-chain mutants of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase suggests that His20 and Asp19 modulate the response to heterotropic effectors.

Asp19 and His20 of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2) function in the binding of the triphosphate and ribose moieties of ATP and CTP and thereby may mediate important heterotropic regulation. The roles of these residues were investigated by individually mutating each of them to alanine and determining both the kinetic parameters and the structures of the mutant enzymes. The structures were determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.15 and 2.75 A resolution for His20Ar and Asp19Ar, respectively. Analysis was carried out on the unliganded T-state form. The structures of the mutants did not show gross structural divergence from the canonical T-state, but showed small and systematic differences that were analyzed by global conformational analysis. Structural analysis and comparison with other regulatory-chain mutants confirmed that the Asp19Ar mutant represents the stabilized T-state, while structural analysis of the His20Ar form indicated that it represents an equilibrium shifted towards the R-state. Global analysis of the Asp19Ar and His20Ar enzymes suggested a possible role as molecular modulators of the heterotropic effects caused by the binding of nucleotides at the regulatory site. These studies highlighted the structural determinants of T- or R-state stabilization. Additionally, application of the ;consensus modeling' methodology combined with high-resolution data allowed the determination of unclear structural features contributing to nucleotide specificity and the role of the N-termini of the regulatory chains.