Functional role of inorganic trace elements in angiogenesis—Part I: N, Fe, Se, P, Au, and Ca

Calcium silicate-based cements and functional impacts of various constituents

Calcium silicate-based cements have superior sealing ability, bioactivity, and marginal adaptation, which make them suitable for different dental treatment applications. However, they exhibit some drawbacks such as long setting time and poor handling characteristics. To overcome these limitations calcium silicates are engineered with various constituents to improve specific characteristics of the base material, and are the focus of this review. An electronic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE via OVID databases using appropriate terms and keywords related to the use, application, and properties of calcium silicate-based cements was conducted. Two independent reviewers obtained and analyzed the full texts of the selected articles. Although the effects of various constituents and additives to the base Portland cement-like materials have been investigated, there is no one particular ingredient that stands out as being most important. Applying nanotechnology and new synthesis methods for powders most positively affected the cement properties.

Current Challenges toward In Vitro Cellular Validation of Inorganic Nanoparticles

An impressive development has been achieved toward the production of well-defined "smart" inorganic nanoparticles, in which the physicochemical properties can be controlled and predicted to a high degree of accuracy. Nanoparticle design is indeed highly advanced, multimodal and multitargeting being the norm, yet we do not fully understand the obstacles that nanoparticles face when used in vivo. Increased cooperation between chemists and biochemists, immunologists and physicists, has allowed us to think outside the box, and we are slowly starting to understand the interactions that nanoparticles undergo under more realistic situations. Importantly, such an understanding involves awareness about the limitations when assessing the influence of such inorganic nanoparticles on biological entities and vice versa, as well as the development of new validation strategies.

Is cancer a severe delayed hypersensitivity reaction and histamine a blueprint?

Longevity and accumulation of multiple context-dependent signaling pathways of long-standing inflammation (antigen-load or oxidative stress) are the results of decreased/altered regulation of immunity and loss of control switch mechanisms that we defined as Yin and Yang of acute inflammation or immune surveillance. Chronic inflammation is initiated by immune disruptors-induced progressive changes in physiology and function of susceptible host tissues that lead to increased immune suppression and multistep disease processes including carcinogenesis. The interrelated multiple hypotheses that are presented for the first time in this article are extension of author's earlier series of 'accidental' discoveries on the role of inflammation in developmental stages of immune dysfunction toward tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Detailed analyses of data on chronic diseases suggest that nearly all age-associated illnesses, generally categorized as 'mild' (e.g., increased allergies), 'moderate' (e.g., hypertension, colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, emphysema) or 'severe' (e.g., accelerated neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases or site-specific cancers and metastasis) are variations of hypersensitivity responses of tissues that are manifested as different diseases in immune-responsive or immune-privileged tissues. Continuous release/presence of low level histamine (subclinical) in circulation could contribute to sustained oxidative stress and induction of 'mild' or 'moderate' or 'severe' (immune tsunami) immune disorders in susceptible tissues. Site-specific cancers are proposed to be 'severe' (irreversible) forms of cumulative delayed hypersensitivity responses that would induce immunological chaos in favor of tissue growth in target tissues. Shared or special features of growth from fetus development into adulthood and aging processes and carcinogenesis are briefly compared with regard to energy requirements of highly complex function of Yin and Yang. Features of Yang (growth-promoting) arm of acute inflammation during fetus and cancer growth will be compared for consuming low energy from glycolysis (Warburg effect). Growth of fetus and cancer cells under hypoxic conditions and impaired mitochondrial energy requirements of tissues including metabolism of essential branched amino acids (e.g., val, leu, isoleu) will be compared for proposing a working model for future systematic research on cancer biology, prevention and therapy. Presentation of a working model provides insightful clues into bioenergetics that are required for fetus growth (absence of external threat and lack of high energy-demands of Yin events and parasite-like survival in host), normal growth in adulthood (balance in Yin and Yang processes) or disease processes and carcinogenesis (loss of balance in Yin-Yang). Future studies require focusing on dynamics and promotion of natural/inherent balance between Yin (tumoricidal) and Yang (tumorigenic) of effective immunity that develop after birth. Lawless growth of cancerous cells and loss of cell contact inhibition could partially be due to impaired mitochondria (mitophagy) that influence metabolism of branched chain amino acids for biosynthesis of structural proteins. The author invites interested scientists with diverse expertise to provide comments, confirm, dispute and question and/or expand and collaborate on many components of the proposed working model with the goal to better understand cancer biology for future designs of cost-effective research and clinical trials and prevention of cancer. Initial events during oxidative stress-induced damages to DNA/RNA repair mechanisms and inappropriate expression of inflammatory mediators are potentially correctable, preventable or druggable, if future studies were to focus on systematic understanding of early altered immune response dynamics toward multistep chronic diseases and carcinogenesis.

Effect of biomaterials on angiogenesis during vital pulp therapy

This review intended to provide an overview of the effects of dental materials, used in dentin-pulp complex and dental pulp regeneration, on angiogenesis processes during regenerative endodontic procedures. An electronic search was performed in PubMed and MEDLINE databases via OVID using the keywords mentioned in the PubMed and MeSH headings for English language published articles from January 2005-April 2014 that evaluated the angiogenic properties of different dental materials used in regenerative endodontic procedures. Of the articles identified in an initial search, only 40 articles met the inclusion criteria set for this review. Vital pulp therapy materials might have positive effects on angiogenesis events, while most of the canal irrigating solutions and antibiotic pastes have anti-angiogenic activity except for EDTA. Future clinical studies will be helpful in defining the mechanisms of action for dental materials that promote or inhibit angiogenesis events at applied areas.

The role of angiogenesis in implant dentistry part II: The effect of bone-grafting and barrier membrane materials on angiogenesis

BACKGROUND

In implant dentistry, bone substitute materials and barrier membranes are used in different treatments including guided bone regeneration (GBR), socket preservation, alveolar ridge augmentation, maxillary sinus elevation, and filling bony defects around the inserted dental implant. One of the most important factors in prognosis of treatments using these materials is the growth of new blood vessels in applied areas. Present review was performed to evaluate the effect of the bone-grafting and barrier membrane materials on angiogenesis events.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An electronic search was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases via OVID using the keywords mentioned in the PubMed and MeSH headings regarding the role of angiogenesis in implant dentistry from January 2000-April 2014.

RESULTS

Of the 5,622 articles identified in our initial search results, only 33 met the inclusion criteria set for this review. Among bone substitute materials the autogenous bone-grafts, and among the barrier membranes the collagenous membranes, had the highest angiogenic potentials. Other bone-grafting materials or membranes were mostly used with pro-angiogenic factors to enhance their angiogenic properties.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiogenesis is one of the key factors, which plays a critical role in success rate of GBR technique and is seriously considered in manufacturing bone-grafting and barrier membrane materials. However, there is still lack of clinical and in-vivo studies addressing the effect of angiogenesis in treatments using bone-grafting and barrier membrane materials.

RGD peptide-conjugated selenium nanoparticles: antiangiogenesis by suppressing VEGF-VEGFR2-ERK/AKT pathway

Angiogenesis is essential for tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis. Herein we described the synthesis of RGD peptide-decorated and doxorubicin-loaded selenium nanoparticles (RGD-NPs) targeting tumor vasculature to enhance the cellular uptake and antiangiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. After internalization by receptor-mediated endocytosis, this nanosystem disassembled under acidic condition with the presence of lysozymes and cell lysate, leading to bioresponsive triggered drug release. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RGD-NPs inhibited angiogenesis through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via suppression of VEGF-VEGFR2-ERK/AKT signaling axis by triggering ROS-mediated DNA damage. Additionally, RGD-NPs can inhibit MCF-7 tumor growth and angiogenesis in nude mice via down-regulation of VEGF-VEGFR2, effectively reduce the toxicity and prolong the blood circulation in vivo. Our results suggest that the strategy to use RGD-peptide functionalized SeNPs as carriers of anticancer drugs is an efficient way to achieve cancer-targeted antiangiogenesis synergism.

Functional role of inorganic trace elements in angiogenesis part III: (Ti, Li, Ce, As, Hg, Va, Nb and Pb)

Many essential elements exist in nature with significant influence on human health. Angiogenesis is vital in developmental, repair, and regenerative processes, and its aberrant regulation contributes to pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer. Thus, it is of great importance to explore the role of these elements in such a vital process. This is third in a series of reviews that serve as an overview of the role of inorganic elements in regulation of angiogenesis and vascular function. Here we will review the roles of titanium, lithium, cerium, arsenic, mercury, vanadium, niobium, and lead in these processes. The roles of other inorganic elements in angiogenesis were discussed in part I (N, Fe, Se, P, Au, and Ca) and part II (Cr, Si, Zn, Cu, and S) of these series. The methods of exposure, structure, mechanisms, and potential activities of these elements are briefly discussed. An electronic search was performed on the role of these elements in angiogenesis from January 2005 to April 2014. These elements can promote and/or inhibit angiogenesis through different mechanisms. The anti-angiogenic effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles comes from the inhibition of angiogenic processes, and not from its toxicity. Lithium affects vasculogenesis but not angiogenesis. Nanoceria treatment inhibited tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis. Vanadium treatment inhibited cell proliferation and induced cytotoxic effects through interactions with DNA. The negative impact of mercury on endothelial cell migration and tube formation activities was dose and time dependent. Lead induced IL-8 production, which is known to promote tumor angiogenesis. Thus, understanding the impact of these elements on angiogenesis will help in development of new modalities to modulate angiogenesis under various conditions.

Functional role of inorganic trace elements in angiogenesis-Part II: Cr, Si, Zn, Cu, and S

Trace elements play critical roles in angiogenesis events. The effects of nitrogen, iron, selenium, phosphorus, gold, and calcium were discussed in part I. In part II, we evaluated the effect of chromium, silicon, zinc, copper, and sulfur on different aspects of angiogenesis, with critical roles in healing and regeneration processes, and undeniable roles in tumor growth and cancer therapy. This review is the second of series that serves as an overview of the role of inorganic elements in regulation of angiogenesis and vascular function. The methods of exposure, structure, mechanism, and potential activity of these trace elements are briefly discussed. An electronic search was performed on the role of these trace elements in angiogenesis from January 2005 to April 2014. The recent aspects of the relationship between five different trace elements and their role in regulation of angiogenesis, and homeostasis of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors were assessed. Many studies have investigated the effects and importance of these elements in angiogenesis events. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on angiogenesis are observed for the evaluated elements. Chromium can promote angiogenesis in pathological manners. Silicon as silica nanoparticles is anti-angiogenic, while in calcium silicate extracts and bioactive silicate glasses promote angiogenesis. Zinc is an anti-angiogenic agent acting on important genes and growth factors. Copper and sulfur compositions have pro-angiogenic functions by activating pro-angiogenic growth factors and promoting endothelial cells migration, growth, and tube formation. Thus, utilization of these elements may provide a unique opportunity to modulate angiogenesis under various setting.