Trospium Chloride Transport by Mouse Drug Carriers of the Slc22 and Slc47 Families

TRPA1 Ion Channel Mediates the Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture at the ST36 Acupoint in Mice Suffering from Arthritis

Purpose

Acupuncture (ACU) has been demonstrated to alleviate inflammatory pain. Mechanoreceptors are present in acupuncture points. When acupuncture exerts mechanical force, these ion channels open and convert the mechanical signals into biochemical signals. TRPA1 (T ransient receptor potential ankyrin 1) is capable of sensing various physical and chemical stimuli and serves as a sensor for inflammation and pain. This protein is expressed in immune cells and contributes to local defense mechanisms during early tissue damage and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the role of TRPA1 in acupuncture analgesia.

Patients and Methods

We injected complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the mouse plantars to establish a hyperalgesia model. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to determine the effect of acupuncture on the TRPA1 expression in the Zusanli (ST36). We used TRPA1-/- mouse and pharmacological methods to antagonize TRPA1 to observe the effect on acupuncture analgesia. On this basis, collagenase was used to destroy collagen fibers at ST36 to observe the effect on TRPA1.

Results

We found that the ACU group vs the CFA group, the number of TRPA1-positive mast cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts at the ST36 increased significantly. In CFA- inflammatory pain models, the TRPA1-/- ACU vs TRPA1+/+ ACU groups, the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) downregulated significantly. In the ACU + high-, ACU + medium-, ACU + low-dose HC-030031 vs ACU groups, the PWL and PWT were downregulated, and in carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain models were consistent with these results. We further found the ACU + collagenase vs ACU groups, the numbers of TRPA1-positive mast cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts at the ST36 were downregulated.

Conclusion

These findings together imply that TRPA1 plays a significant role in the analgesic effects produced via acupuncture at the ST36. This provides new evidence for acupuncture treatment of painful diseases.

Pan-Cancer Analysis and Validation of Opioid-Related Receptors Reveals the Immunotherapeutic Value of Toll-Like Receptor 4

Introduction

The relationship between the expression of opioid-associated receptors and cancer outcomes is complex and varies among studies.

Methods

This study focused on six opioid-related receptors (OPRM1, OPRD1, OPRK1, OPRL1, OGFR, and TLR4) and their impact on cancer patient survival. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted on 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to examine their expression, clinical correlations, mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment, and potential for immunotherapy. Due to significantly lower expression of OPRM1, OPRD1, and OPRK1 compared to OGFR and TLR4, the analysis concentrated on the latter two genes.

Results

OGFR was highly expressed in 16 tumor types, while TLR4 showed low expression in 13. Validation from external samples, the Gene Expression Omnibus, and the Human Protein Atlas supported these findings. The diagnostic value of these two genes was demonstrated using the Genotype-Tissue Expression database. Univariate Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves confirmed OGFR's impact on prognosis in a cancer type-specific manner, while high TLR4 expression was associated with a favorable prognosis. Analysis of the tumor microenvironment using a deconvolution algorithm linked OGFR to CD8+ T cells and TLR4 to macrophages. Single-cell datasets further validated this correlation. In 25 immune checkpoint blockade treatment cohorts, TLR4 expression showed promise as an immunotherapy efficacy predictor in non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial carcinoma, and melanoma.

Conclusion

In a pan-cancer analysis of 33 tissues, OGFR was consistently highly expressed, while TLR4 had low expression. Both genes have diagnostic and prognostic significance and are linked to immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. TLR4 has potential as an immunotherapeutic response marker.

Regulation of Transporters for Organic Cations by High Glucose

Endogenous positively charged organic substances, including neurotransmitters and cationic uremic toxins, as well as exogenous organic cations such as the anti-diabetic medication metformin, serve as substrates for organic cation transporters (OCTs) and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATEs). These proteins facilitate their transport across cell membranes. Vectorial transport through the OCT/MATE axis mediates the hepatic and renal excretion of organic cations, regulating their systemic and local concentrations. Organic cation transporters are part of the remote sensing and signaling system, whose activity can be regulated to cope with changes in the composition of extra- and intracellular fluids. Glucose, as a source of energy, can also function as a crucial signaling molecule, regulating gene expression in various organs and tissues. Its concentration in the blood may fluctuate in specific physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In this work, the regulation of the activity of organic cation transporters was measured by incubating human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing human OCT1 (hOCT1), hOCT2, or hMATE1 with high glucose concentrations (16.7 mM). Incubation with this high glucose concentration for 48 h significantly stimulated the activity of hOCT1, hOCT2, and hMATE1 by increasing their maximal velocity (Vmax), but without significantly changing their affinity for the substrates. These effects were independent of changes in osmolarity, as the addition of equimolar concentrations of mannitol did not alter transporter activity. The stimulation of transporter activity was associated with a significant increase in transporter mRNA expression. Inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase with Torin-1 suppressed the transporter stimulation induced by incubation with 16.7 mM glucose. Focusing on hOCT2, it was shown that incubation with 16.7 mM glucose increased hOCT2 protein expression in the plasma membrane. Interestingly, an apparent trend towards higher hOCT2 mRNA expression was observed in kidneys from diabetic patients, a pathology characterized by high serum glucose levels. Due to the small number of samples from diabetic patients (three), this observation must be interpreted with caution. In conclusion, incubation for 48 h with a high glucose concentration of 16.7 mM stimulated the activity and expression of organic cation transporters compared to those measured in the presence of 5.6 mM glucose. This stimulation by a diabetic environment could increase cellular uptake of the anti-diabetic drug metformin and increase renal tubular secretion of organic cations in an early stage of diabetes.

Evaluation of miR-330-3p and BMI1 Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients, Healthy Adjacent Tissues, and Polypoid Adenomatous Lesions

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as essential gene expression regulators associated with human diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of miR-330-3p and its target gene BMI1 in tissue samples of patients with CRC, polyp, and healthy adjacent tissue samples and their association with clinicopathological and demographic factors such as age, tumor stage, grade, and lymph node invasion of the tumor. Following the extraction of total RNA from approximately 50 mg of colon and rectum tissue of 82 patients with CRC, 13 polypoid lesions, and 26 marginal healthy tissues using RiboEx reagent, cDNA synthesis was performed, and then quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-330-3p and BMI1. Alterations in the gene expression were assessed using the 2(-∆∆ CT) method. The expression of miR-330-3p in all of the CRC samples was significantly lower than in adjacent healthy tissues and polyp (P<0.001). BMI1 was up-regulated in 97.9% of CRC tissue compared to healthy adjacent tissues and polyps (P<0.001). A negative reverse correlation between the miR-330-3p and BMI1 gene was observed in the CRC samples (r= -0.882, P<0.001). Down-regulation of miR-330-3p and BMI1 overexpression strongly correlates with higher tumor stage and lymph node invasion. The AUC for miR-330-3p and BMI1expression was 0.982 (sensitivity, 98.5%; specificity, 78.8%), and 0.971 (sensitivity, 97.6%; specificity, 84.6%) (P<0.001), respectively. Our results indicated that miR-330-3p and BMI1 expression probably could be considered potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for CRC patient.

Perspectives on Challenges in Cannabis Drug Delivery Systems: Where Are We?

Cannabis and its natural derivatives have emerged as promising therapeutics for multiple pathological and nonpathological medical conditions. For example, cannabinoids, the most popular and biologically active chemicals in cannabis, aid in many clinical ailments, including pain, inflammation, epilepsy, sleep disturbances or insomnia, multiple sclerosis, anorexia, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative diseases, anti-nausea, and most importantly, cancer. Despite the comprehensive benefits, certain aspects of cannabis present unique challenges in the medical cannabis landscape. Recent studies have highlighted the inherent challenges associated with cannabinoids' formulation like low solubility, rapid metabolism, poor bioavailability, and erratic pharmacokinetics - all of which contribute to the limited efficacy of cannabinoids. Several efforts are underway to address the bottlenecks and modify the formulations along with the delivery systems to achieve greater solubility/bioavailability, potency, and efficacy in treatment settings while minding the necessary standards for purity associated with the pharmaceutical industry. The current article presents a perspective on (1) a working knowledge of cannabinoids and their mechanisms of action, (2) the landscape of using medicinal cannabis for cancer-related medical conditions along with adversities, (3) current approaches, formulations, and challenges in medicinal cannabis delivery systems (oral, transdermal, pulmonary, and transmucosal), and lastly, (4) emerging approaches to improve delivery systems.