SGLT2 inhibitors and AMPK: The road to cellular housekeeping?

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, known as Gliflozins, are a class of Glucose-lowering drugs in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) that induce glucosuria by blocking SGLT2 co-transporters in the proximal tubules. Several lines of evidence suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors regulate multiple mechanisms associated with the regulation of varying cellular pathways. The 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis by influencing cellular processes. Recently, it has been shown that SGLT2 inhibitors can affect the AMPK pathway in differing physiological and pathological ways, resulting in kidney, intestinal, cardiovascular, and liver protective effects. Additionally, they have therapeutic effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes mellitus-associated complications. In this review, we summarize the results of studies of AMPK-associated therapeutic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in different organelle functions.

Nanobiosensors for procalcitonin (PCT) analysis.

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a critical biomarker that is released in response to bacterial infections and can be used to differentiate the pathogenesis of the infectious process. OBJECTIVE: In this article, we provide an overview of recent advances in PCT biosensors, highlighting different approaches for biosensor construction, different immobilization methods, advantages and roles of different matrices used, analytical performance, and PCT biosensor construction. Also, we will explain PCT biosensors sensible limits of detection (LOD), linearity, and other analytical characteristics. Future prospects for the development of better PCT biosensor systems are also discussed. METHODS: Traditional methods such as capillary electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry are effective in analyzing PCT in the medical field, but they are complicated, time-consuming sample preparation, and require expensive equipment and skilled personnel. RESULTS: In the past decades, PCT biosensors have emerged as simple, fast, and sensitive tools for PCT analysis in various fields, especially medical fields. CONCLUSION: These biosensors have the potential to accompany or replace traditional analytical methods by simplifying or reducing sample preparation and making field testing easier and faster, while significantly reducing the cost per analysis.

A State-of-the-Art Review on the Recent Advances of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapeutic Application in Systematic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology that has widespread clinical and immunological manifestations. Despite the increase in knowledge about the pathogenesis process and the increase in treatment options, however, the treatments fail in half of the cases. Therefore, there is still a need for research on new therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are powerful regulators of the immune system and can reduce the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. This study aimed to review the mechanisms of immune system modulation by MSCs and the role of these cells in the treatment of SLE. MSCs suppress T lymphocytes through various mechanisms, including the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), and indolamine 2 and 3-oxygenase (IDO). In addition, MSCs inhibit the production of their autoantibodies by inhibiting the differentiation of lymphocytes. The production of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens is an important feature of SLE. On the other hand, MSCs inhibit antigen delivery by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to T lymphocytes. Studies in animal models have shown the effectiveness of these cells in treating SLE. However, few studies have been performed on the effectiveness of this treatment in humans. It can be expected that new treatment strategies for SLE will be introduced in the future, given the promising results of MSCs application.

Potential roles of the exosome/microRNA axis in breast cancer.

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world, and various genetic and environmental factors play a key role in its development. Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in women. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) with an average size of about 100 nm that contain lipids, proteins, microRNAs (miRNAs), and genetic factors and play a significant role in cell signaling, communication, tumorigenesis, and drug resistance. miRNAs are RNAs with about 22 nucleotides, which are synthesized by RNA polymerase and are involved in regulating gene expression, as well as the prevention or progression of cancer. Many studies have indicated the connection between miRNAs and exosomes. According to their findings, it seems that circulating exosomal miRNAs have not been well evaluated as biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis or monitoring. Therefore, given the importance of miRNAs in exosomes, the goal of the present study was to clarify the relationship between miRNAs in exosomes and the role they play as biomarkers in breast cancer.

Recent advances in the detection of glioblastoma, from imaging-based methods to proteomics and biosensors: A narrative review.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive type of cancer that originates in the cells called astrocytes, which support the functioning of nerve cells. It can develop in either the brain or the spinal cord and is also known as glioblastoma multiform. GBM is a highly aggressive cancer that can occur in either the brain or spinal cord. The detection of GBM in biofluids offers potential advantages over current methods for diagnosing and treatment monitoring of glial tumors. Biofluid-based detection of GBM focuses on identifying tumor-specific biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. To date, different methods have been used to detect biomarkers of GBM, ranging from various imaging techniques to molecular approaches. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses. The present review aims to scrutinize multiple diagnostic methods for GBM, with a focus on proteomics methods and biosensors. In other words, this study aims to provide an overview of the most significant research findings based on proteomics and biosensors for the diagnosis of GBM.

NFR2/ABC transporter axis in drug resistance of breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is one of the most serious malignancies among women, accounting for about 12% of all cancers. The inherent complexity and heterogeneity of breast cancer results in failure to respond to treatment in the advanced stages of the disease. Breast cancer is caused by several genetic and environmental factors. One of the significant factors involved in the development of breast cancer is oxidative stress, which is generally regulated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). The level of NRF2 expression is low in healthy cells, which maintains the balance of the antioxidant system; however, its expression is higher in cancer cells, which have correlation characteristics such as angiogenesis, stem cell formation, drug resistance, and metastasis. Drug resistance increases with the upregulation of NRF2 expression, which contributes to cell protection. NRF2 controls this mechanism by increasing the expression of ATP-binding cassettes (ABCs). Considering the growing number of studies in this field, we aimed to investigate the relationship between NRF2 and ABCs, as well as their role in the development of drug resistance in breast cancer.