BNCT research activities at the Granada group and the project NeMeSis: Neutrons for medicine and sciences, towards an accelerator-based facility for new BNCT therapies, medical isotope production and other scientific neutron applications.

The Granada group in BNCT research is currently performing studies on: nuclear and radiobiological data for BNCT, new boron compounds and a new design for a neutron source for BNCT and other applications, including the production of medical radioisotopes. All these activities are described in this report.

Human decidual stromal cells secrete soluble pro-apoptotic factors during decidualization in a cAMP-dependent manner.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there a relationship between decidualization and apoptosis of decidual stromal cells (DSC)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Decidualization triggers the secretion of soluble factors that induce apoptosis in DSC. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The differentiation and apoptosis of DSC during decidualization of the receptive decidua are crucial processes for the controlled invasion of trophoblasts in normal pregnancy. Most DSC regress in a time-dependent manner, and their removal is important to provide space for the embryo to grow. However, the mechanism that controls DSC death is poorly understood. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The apoptotic response of DSC was analyzed after exposure to different exogenous agents and during decidualization. The apoptotic potential of decidualized DSC supernatants and prolactin (PRL) was also evaluated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: DSC lines were established from samples of decidua from first trimester pregnancies. Apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry. PRL production, as a marker of decidualization, was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: DSCs were resistant to a variety of apoptosis-inducing substances. Nevertheless, DSC underwent apoptosis during decidualization in culture, with cAMP being essential for both apoptosis and differentiation. In addition, culture supernatants from decidualized DSC induced apoptosis in undifferentiated DSC, although paradoxically these supernatants decreased the spontaneous apoptosis of decidual lymphocytes. Exogenously added PRL did not induce apoptosis in DSC and an antibody that neutralized the PRL receptor did not decrease the apoptosis induced by supernatants. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONS: Further studies are needed to examine the involvement of other soluble factors secreted by decidualized DSC in the induction of apoptosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The present results indicate that apoptosis of DSC occurs in parallel to differentiation, in response to decidualization signals, with soluble factors secreted by decidualized DSC being responsible for triggering cell death. These studies are relevant in the understanding of how the regression of decidua, a crucial process for successful pregnancy, takes place. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by the Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia, Junta de Andalucía (Grant CTS-6183, Proyectos de Investigación de Excelencia 2010 to C.R.-R.) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (Grants PS09/00339 and PI12/01085 to E.G.O.). E.L.-D. was supported by fellowships from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain and the University of Granada. The authors have no conflict of interest.

HDAC inhibitors with different gene regulation activities depend on the mitochondrial pathway for the sensitization of leukemic T cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Epigenetic modifications commonly associated with tumor development, such as histone deacetylation, may influence the resistance of some tumor cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) by regulating gene transcription of components of the TRAIL signalling pathway. In the present study we have analyzed the effect of six different histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), belonging to the four classic structural families, on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in leukemic T cell lines. Non-toxic and functional doses of all HDACi but apicidin, similarly sensitized different leukemic T cell lines to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, while they showed no effect on the resistance of normal T lymphocytes. Sensitizing doses of vorinostat, valproic acid, sodium butyrate and MS-275 regulated the expression of TRAIL-R2, c-FLIP and Apaf-1 in leukemic cells while TSA modulated only the expression of Apaf-1. The synergistic effect of all HDACi and TRAIL was inhibited in Bcl-2-overexpressing leukemic T cells. Thus, different HDACi may affect the expression of different TRAIL-related genes, but regulation of the mitochondrial pathway seems to be essential for the TRAIL sensitizing effect of HDACi in leukemic T cells. Overall, HDACi represent a promising and safe strategy in combination with TRAIL for treatment of T-cell leukaemia.