Stem cells translational medicine
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Stem Cells Transl Med · Feb 2014
Potential application of temozolomide in mesenchymal stem cell-based TRAIL gene therapy against malignant glioma.
Because the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively kills tumor cells, it is one of the most promising candidates for cancer treatment. TRAIL-secreting human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-TRAIL) provide targeted and prolonged delivery of TRAIL in glioma therapy. However, acquired resistance to TRAIL of glioma cells is a major problem to be overcome. ⋯ Subsequently, this combined treatment resulted in a substantial increase in caspase activation. Furthermore, in vivo survival experiments and bioluminescence imaging analyses showed that treatment using MSC-TRAIL combined with TMZ had greater therapeutic efficacy than did single-agent treatments. These results suggest that the combination of clinically relevant TMZ and MSC-TRAIL is a potential therapeutic strategy for improving the treatment of malignant gliomas.
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Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are oxygen-sensitive transcription factors regulated by oxygen-dependent prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) enzymes and are key to cell adaptation to low oxygen. The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche in the bone marrow is highly heterogeneous in terms of microvasculature and thus oxygen concentration. The importance of hypoxia and HIFs in the hematopoietic environment is becoming increasingly recognized. ⋯ Administration of PHD inhibitors increases quiescence and decreases proliferation of HSCs in the bone marrow in vivo, thereby protecting them from high doses of irradiation and accelerating hematological recovery. Recent findings also show that stabilization of HIF-1α increases mobilization of HSCs in response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and plerixafor, suggesting that PHD inhibitors could be useful agents to increase mobilization success in patients requiring transplantation. These findings highlight the importance of the hypoxia-sensing pathway and HIFs in clinical hematology.