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    Maraviroc/cisplatin combination inhibits gastric cancer tumoroid growth and improves mice survival
    (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-01-18)
    Bárbara Mora-Lagos
    ;
    María Elena Reyes
    ;
    ;
    Matías del Campo
    ;
    Kurt Buchegger
    Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant cancer-related cause of death worldwide. GC’s most used chemotherapeutic regimen is based on platinum drugs such as cisplatin (CDDP). However, CDDP chemoresistance reduces the survival rate of advanced GC. The immune C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) have been proposed as a pivotal factor in cancer progression since its blockade has been linked with antineoplastic effects on tumor cell proliferation; nevertheless, its role in the chemoresistance of GC has not been elucidated. This study aimed to determine the effects induced by the CCR5 using Maraviroc (MVC), a highly selective CCR5 antagonist, on CDDP-resistant AGS cells (AGS R-CDDP), tumoroids (<jats:italic>3D</jats:italic> tumor spheroids), and animal models.</jats:p>
      3Scopus© Citations 6
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    Kinin Receptors B1 and B2 Mediate Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion by Activating the FAK-Src Axis
    (2024)
    Felipe González-Turén
    ;
    Lorena Lobos-González
    ;
    Alexander Riquelme-Herrera
    ;
    Andrés Ibacache
    ;
    Luis Meza Ulloa
    Kinin receptors B1 and B2 are involved in migration and invasion in gastric, glioma, and cervical cancer cells, among others. However, the role of kinin receptors in breast cancer cells has been poorly studied. We aimed to reveal the impact of B1 and B2 receptors on migration and invasion in breast cancer cells and demonstrate their capacity to modulate in vivo tumor growth. MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and T47D cells treated with Lys-des[Arg9]bradykinin (LDBK) or bradykinin (BK) were used to evaluate migration and invasion. Des-[Arg9]-Leu8-BK and HOE-140 were used as antagonists for the B1 and B2 receptors. MDA-MB-231 cells incubated or not with antagonists were subcutaneously inoculated in BALBc NOD/SCID mice to evaluate tumor growth. LDBK and BK treatment significantly increased migration and invasion in breast cancer cells, effects that were negated when antagonists were used. The use of antagonists in vivo inhibited tumor growth. Moreover, the migration and invasion induced by kinins in breast cancer cells were inhibited when focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src inhibitors were used. The novelty revealed in our work is that B1 and B2 receptors activated by LDBK and BK induce migration and invasion in breast cancer cells via a mechanism that involves the FAK–Src signaling pathway, and the antagonism of both receptors in vivo impairs breast tumor growth.
      3Scopus© Citations 4
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    Caveolin-1-dependent tenascin C inclusion in extracellular vesicles is required to promote breast cancer cell malignancy
    (2023)
    America Campos
    ;
    Renato Burgos-Ravanal
    ;
    Lorena Lobos-González
    ;
    Ricardo Huilcamán
    ;
    María Fernanda González
    <jats:p> Background: Elevated expression of CAV1 in breast cancer increases tumor progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from CAV1-expressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells contain Tenascin C (TNC), but the relevance of TNC remained to be defined. Methods: EVs were characterized by nanotracking analysis, microscopy and western blotting. The uptake of EVs by cells was studied using flow cytometry. The effects of EVs on breast cancer cells were tested in migration, invasion, colony formation and in vivo assays. Results: EVs were taken up by cells; however, only those containing TNC promoted invasiveness. In vivo, EVs lacking TNC ceased to promote tumor growth. Conclusion: CAV1 and TNC contained in breast cancer cell-derived EVs were identified as proteins that favor progression of breast cancer. </jats:p>
      1Scopus© Citations 13
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    Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators of Cancer Disease and as Nanosystems in Theranostic Applications
    (2021)
    Renato Burgos-Ravanal
    ;
    América Campos
    ;
    Magda C. Díaz-Vesga
    ;
    María Fernanda González
    ;
    Daniela León
    <jats:p>Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide despite decades of intense efforts to understand the molecular underpinnings of the disease. To date, much of the focus in research has been on the cancer cells themselves and how they acquire specific traits during disease development and progression. However, these cells are known to secrete large numbers of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are now becoming recognized as key players in cancer. EVs contain a large number of different molecules, including but not limited to proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs, and they are actively secreted by many different cell types. In the last two decades, a considerable body of evidence has become available indicating that EVs play a very active role in cell communication. Cancer cells are heterogeneous, and recent evidence reveals that cancer cell-derived EV cargos can change the behavior of target cells. For instance, more aggressive cancer cells can transfer their “traits” to less aggressive cancer cells and convert them into more malignant tumor cells or, alternatively, eliminate those cells in a process referred to as “cell competition”. This review discusses how EVs participate in the multistep acquisition of specific traits developed by tumor cells, which are referred to as “the hallmarks of cancer” defined by Hanahan and Weinberg. Moreover, as will be discussed, EVs play an important role in drug resistance, and these more recent advances may explain, at least in part, why pharmacological therapies are often ineffective. Finally, we discuss literature proposing the use of EVs for therapeutic and prognostic purposes in cancer.</jats:p>
      1Scopus© Citations 24
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    Lactadherin: From a Well-Known Breast Tumor Marker to a Possible Player in Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Cancer Progression
    (2022)
    Eduardo Durán-Jara
    ;
    Tamara Vera-Tobar
    ;
    Lorena De Lourdes Lobos-González
    <jats:p>Lactadherin is a secreted glycoprotein associated with the milk fat globule membrane, which is highly present in the blood and in the mammary tissue of lactating women. Several biological functions have been associated with this protein, mainly attributable to its immunomodulatory role promoting phagocyte-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells. It has been shown that lactadherin also plays important roles in cell adhesion, the promotion of angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. On the other hand, this protein has been used as a marker of breast cancer and tumor progression. Recently, high levels of lactadherin has been associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival, not only in breast cancer, but also in melanoma, ovarian, colorectal, and other types of cancer. Although the mechanisms responsible for the tumor-promoting effects attributed to lactadherin have not been fully elucidated, a growing body of literature indicates that lactadherin could be a promising therapeutic target and/or biomarker for breast and other tumors. Moreover, recent studies have shown its presence in extracellular vesicles derived from cancer cell lines and cancer patients, which was associated with cancer aggressiveness and worse prognosis. Thus, this review will focus on the link between lactadherin and cancer development and progression, its possible use as a cancer biomarker and/or therapeutic target, concluding with a possible role of this protein in cellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles</jats:p>
      4Scopus© Citations 14
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    Helicobacter pylori outer membrane vesicles induce astrocyte reactivity through nuclear factor-κappa B activation and cause neuronal damage in vivo in a murine model
    (2023)
    Esteban Palacios
    ;
    Lorena Lobos-González
    ;
    Simón Guerrero
    ;
    Marcelo J. Kogan
    ;
    Baohai Shao
    <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:italic>Helicobacter pylori (Hp)</jats:italic> infects the stomach of 50% of the world’s population. Importantly, chronic infection by this bacterium correlates with the appearance of several extra-gastric pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases. In such conditions, brain astrocytes become reactive and neurotoxic. However, it is still unclear whether this highly prevalent bacterium or the nanosized outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) they produce, can reach the brain, thus affecting neurons/astrocytes. Here, we evaluated the effects of <jats:italic>Hp</jats:italic> OMVs on astrocytes and neurons in vivo and in vitro.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Purified OMVs were characterized by mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Labeled OMVs were administered orally or injected into the mouse tail vein to study OMV-brain distribution. By immunofluorescence of tissue samples, we evaluated: GFAP (astrocytes), βIII tubulin (neurons), and urease (OMVs). The in vitro effect of OMVs in astrocytes was assessed by monitoring NF-κB activation, expression of reactivity markers, cytokines in astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM), and neuronal cell viability.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Urease and GroEL were prominent proteins in OMVs. Urease (OMVs) was present in the mouse brain and its detection coincided with astrocyte reactivity and neuronal damage. In vitro, OMVs induced astrocyte reactivity by increasing the intermediate filament proteins GFAP and vimentin, the plasma membrane α<jats:sub>V</jats:sub>β<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> integrin, and the hemichannel connexin 43. OMVs also produced neurotoxic factors and promoted the release of IFNγ in a manner dependent on the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Surface antigens on reactive astrocytes, as well as secreted factors in response to OMVs, were shown to inhibit neurite outgrowth and damage neurons.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>OMVs administered orally or injected into the mouse bloodstream reach the brain, altering astrocyte function and promoting neuronal damage in vivo. The effects of OMVs on astrocytes were confirmed in vitro and shown to be NF-κB-dependent. These findings suggest that <jats:italic>Hp</jats:italic> could trigger systemic effects by releasing nanosized vesicles that cross epithelial barriers and access the CNS, thus altering brain cells.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
      2Scopus© Citations 70
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    EV-miRNA-Mediated Intercellular Communication in the Breast Tumor Microenvironment
    (2023)
    Francisca Sepúlveda
    ;
    Cristina Mayorga-Lobos
    ;
    Kevin Guzmán
    ;
    Eduardo Durán-Jara
    ;
    Lorena Lobos-González
    <jats:p>Cancer research has prioritized the study of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a crucial area of investigation. Understanding the communication between tumor cells and the various cell types within the TME has become a focal point. Bidirectional communication processes between these cells support cellular transformation, as well as the survival, invasion, and metastatic dissemination of tumor cells. Extracellular vesicles are lipid bilayer structures secreted by cells that emerge as important mediators of this cell-to-cell communication. EVs transfer their molecular cargo, including proteins and nucleic acids, and particularly microRNAs, which play critical roles in intercellular communication. Tumor-derived EVs, for example, can promote angiogenesis and enhance endothelial permeability by delivering specific miRNAs. Moreover, adipocytes, a significant component of the breast stroma, exhibit high EV secretory activity, which can then modulate metabolic processes, promoting the growth, proliferation, and migration of tumor cells. Comprehensive studies investigating the involvement of EVs and their miRNA cargo in the TME, as well as their underlying mechanisms driving tumoral capacities, are necessary for a deeper understanding of these complex interactions. Such knowledge holds promise for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment.</jats:p>
      1Scopus© Citations 26
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    Iron-Reduced Graphene Oxide Core–Shell Micromotors Designed for Magnetic Guidance and Photothermal Therapy under Second Near-Infrared Light
    (2024)
    Orlando Donoso-González
    ;
    Ana L. Riveros
    ;
    José F. Marco
    ;
    Diego Venegas-Yazigi
    ;
    Verónica Paredes-García
    <jats:p>Core–shell micro/nanomotors have garnered significant interest in biomedicine owing to their versatile task-performing capabilities. However, their effectiveness for photothermal therapy (PTT) still faces challenges because of their poor tumor accumulation, lower light-to-heat conversion, and due to the limited penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light. In this study, we present a novel core–shell micromotor that combines magnetic and photothermal properties. It is synthesized via the template-assisted electrodeposition of iron (Fe) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a microtubular pore-shaped membrane. The resulting Fe-rGO micromotor consists of a core of oval-shaped zero-valent iron nanoparticles with large magnetization. At the same time, the outer layer has a uniform reduced graphene oxide (rGO) topography. Combined, these Fe-rGO core–shell micromotors respond to magnetic forces and near-infrared (NIR) light (1064 nm), achieving a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 78% at a concentration of 434 µg mL−1. They can also carry doxorubicin (DOX) and rapidly release it upon NIR irradiation. Additionally, preliminary results regarding the biocompatibility of these micromotors through in vitro tests on a 3D breast cancer model demonstrate low cytotoxicity and strong accumulation. These promising results suggest that such Fe-rGO core–shell micromotors could hold great potential for combined photothermal therapy.</jats:p>
      5Scopus© Citations 8
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    Lactadherin immunoblockade in small extracellular vesicles inhibits sEV-mediated increase of pro-metastatic capacities
    (2024)
    Eduardo Durán-Jara
    ;
    Matías del Campo
    ;
    Valentina Gutiérrez
    ;
    Ignacio Wichmann
    ;
    Background: Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can promote tumorigenic and metastatic capacities in less aggressive recipient cells mainly through the biomolecules in their cargo. However, despite recent advances, the specific molecules orchestrating these changes are not completely defined. Lactadherin is a secreted glycoprotein typically found in the milk fat globule membrane. Its overexpression has been associated with increased tumorigenesis and metastasis in breast cancer (BC) and other tumors. However, neither its presence in sEVs secreted by BC cells, nor its role in sEV-mediated intercellular communication have been described. The present study focused on the role of lactadherin-containing sEVs from metastatic MDA-MB-231 triple-negative BC (TNBC) cells (sEV-MDA231) in the promotion of pro-metastatic capacities in non-tumorigenic and non-metastatic recipient cells in vitro, as well as their pro-metastatic role in a murine model of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Results: We show that lactadherin is present in sEVs secreted by BC cells and it is higher in sEV-MDA231 compared with the other BC cell-secreted sEVs measured through ELISA. Incubation of non-metastatic recipient cells with sEV-MDA231 increases their migration and, to some extent, their tumoroid formation capacity but not their anchorage-independent growth. Remarkably, lactadherin blockade in sEV-MDA231 results in a significant decrease of those sEV-mediated changes in vitro. Similarly, intraperitoneally treatment of mice with MDA-MB-231 BC cells and sEV-MDA231 greatly increase the formation of malignant ascites and tumor micronodules, effects that were significantly inhibited when lactadherin was previously blocked in those sEV-MDA231. Conclusions: As to our knowledge, our study provides the first evidence on the role of lactadherin in metastatic BC cell-secreted sEVs as promoter of: (i) metastatic capacities in less aggressive recipient cells, and ii) the formation of malignant ascites and metastatic tumor nodules. These results increase our understanding on the role of lactadherin in sEVs as promoter of metastatic capacities which can be used as a therapeutic option for BC and other malignancies
      6Scopus© Citations 8