4-fold induction after 24 h. Angiotensin II-mediated miRNA-21 expression resulted

in biologically active miRNA-21, determined using a fusion mRNA reporter system carrying miRNA-21 C59 wnt target sequences in its 3′ untranslated region. Up-regulation of miRNA-21 intracellular levels increased aldosterone secretion but not cortisol. Elevation of miRNA-21 levels also increased cell proliferation in H295R cells. In summary, miRNA-21 is an endogenously expressed miRNA in human adrenal cells. miRNA-21 expression is up-regulated by angiotensin II, and its overexpression caused an increase in aldosterone secretion and cell proliferation. Alterations in miRNA-21 expression levels or function may be involved in dysregulation of angiotensin II signaling and abnormal aldosterone secretion by adrenal glands in humans.”
“BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to test a novel, dual tumour vascular endothelial cell (VEC)- and tumour cell-targeting factor VII-targeted Sn(IV) chlorin e6 photodynamic therapy (fVII-tPDT) by targeting a receptor tissue factor (TF) as an alternative treatment for chemoresistant Cell Cycle inhibitor breast cancer using a multidrug resistant (MDR) breast cancer line MCF-7/MDR.\n\nMETHODS: The

TF expression by the MCF-7/MDR breast cancer cells and tumour VECs in MCF-7/MDR tumours from mice was determined separately by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry using anti-human or anti-murine TF antibodies. The efficacy of fVII-tPDT was tested in vitro and in vivo and was compared with non-targeted PDT for treatment of chemoresistant breast cancer. The in vitro efficacy was determined by a non-clonogenic assay using crystal violet staining for monolayers, and apoptosis and necrosis were assayed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The in vivo efficacy of fVII-tPDT was determined in

a nude mouse model of subcutaneous MCF-7/MDR tumour xenograft by measuring tumour volume.\n\nRESULTS: To our knowledge, this is the first presentation showing that TF was expressed on tumour VECs in chemoresistant breast tumours from mice. The in vitro efficacy of fVII-tPDT was 12-fold stronger than that of ntPDT for MCF-7/MDR cancer cells, and the mechanism of action involved induction of apoptosis and necrosis. www.selleckchem.com/Proteasome.html Moreover, fVII-tPDT was effective and safe for the treatment of chemoresistant breast tumours in the nude mouse model.\n\nCONCLUSIONS: We conclude that fVII-tPDT is effective and safe for the treatment of chemoresistant breast cancer, presumably by simultaneously targeting both the tumour neovasculature and chemoresistant cancer cells. Thus, this dual-targeting fVII-tPDT could also have therapeutic potential for the treatment of other chemoresistant cancers. British Journal of Cancer (2011) 104, 1401-1409. doi:10.1038/bjc.2011.88 www.bjcancer.com Published online 22 March 2011 (C) 2011 Cancer Research UK”
“BACKGROUND: Early postoperative bowel obstruction is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality after colorectal surgery.