Browsing by Author "Simsone, Zane"

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    Cancer microcell initiation and determination
    (2021-12) Simsone, Zane; Freivalds, Tālivaldis; Bēma, Dina; Miķelsone, Indra; Patetko, Liene; Bērziņš, Juris; Harju, Līga; Buiķis, Indulis; Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry
    Background: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, despite the possibilities to detect early onset of the most common cancer types. The search for the optimal therapy is complicated by the cancer diversity within tumors and the unsynchronized development of cancerous cells. Therefore, it is necessary to characterize cancer cell populations after treatment has been applied, because cancer recurrence is not rare. In our research, we concentrated on small cancer cell subpopulation (microcells) that has a potential to be cancer resistance source. Previously made experiments has shown that these cells in small numbers form in specific circumstances after anticancer treatment. Methods: In experiments described in this research, the anticancer agents’ paclitaxel and doxorubicin were used to stimulate the induction of microcells in fibroblast, cervix adenocarcinoma, and melanoma cell lines. Mainly for the formation of microcells in melanoma cells. The drug-stimulated cells were then characterized in terms of their formation efficiency, morphology, and metabolic activity. Results: We observed the development of cancer microcells and green fluorescent protein (GFP) transfection efficiency after stress. In the time-lapse experiment, we observed microcell formation through a renewal process and GFP expression in the microcells. Additionally, the microcells were viable after anticancer treatment, as indicated by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate (NADPH) enzyme activity assay results. Taken together, these findings indicate that cancer microcells are viable and capable of resisting the stress induced by anticancer drugs, and these cells are prone to chemical substance uptake from the environment. Conclusion: Microcells are not only common to a specific cancer type, but can be found in any tumor type. This study could help to understand cancer emergence and recurrence. The appearance of microcells in the studied cancer cell population could be an indicator of the individual anticancer therapy effectiveness and patient survival.
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    The effect of chronic cigarette smoking on microvascular function, insulin resistance and inflammatory state
    (2011) Miķelsone, Indra; Bormane, Inga; Simsone, Zane; Jurka, Antra; Tretjakovs, Pēteris; Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry
    Cigarette smoking, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can induce proinflammatory state and endothelial injury - the earliest manifestations of atherosclerotic changes. The aim of the study was to assess cutaneous vascular reactivity, insulin resistance and circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines in 20 healthy habitual smokers and 24 healthy non-smokers. The groups were matched for age. We used laser Doppler imaging with iontophoretic application of 1% acethylcholine solution and local heating 44 °C on the dorsum of the palm. Serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were measured by xMAP technology. Insulin resdistance was assessed by HOMA-IR method. Local heating-induced neurally-mediated and endotheliumdependent vasodilatation was significantly decreased in elderly smokers vs. elderly non-smokers (p < 0.05). Young smokers showed significantly reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilatation vs. young non-smokers (p < 0.05). Ach-induced vasodilatation was significantly decreased in the elderly smokers and elderly non-smokers groups vs. young smokers and young non-smokers groups (p < 0.05). The level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha was significantly higher in both groups of smokers vs. non-smokers (p < 0.05). The level of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was slightly higher in smokers. Only the elderly smokers group exhibited a tendency to higher values of HOMA-IR. Data showed that long-lasting cigarette smoking significantly impairs peripheral microvascular function due to increased inflammatory response.
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    Morphological and Immunocytochemical Characterization of Paclitaxel-Induced Microcells in Sk-Mel-28 Melanoma Cells
    (2024-07) Simsone, Zane; Freivalds, Talivaldis; Harju, Līga; Miķelsone, Indra; Blāķe, Ilze; Bērziņš, Juris; Buiķis, Indulis; Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry
    Biomarkers, including proteins, nucleic acids, antibodies, and peptides, are essential for identifying diseases such as cancer and differentiating between healthy and abnormal cells in patients. To date, studies have shown that cancer stem cells have DNA repair mechanisms that deter the effects of medicinal treatment. Experiments with cell cultures and chemotherapy treatments of these cultures have revealed the presence of small cells, with a small amount of cytoplasm that can be intensively stained with azure eosin, called microcells. Microcells develop during sporosis from a damaged tumor macrocell. After anticancer therapy in tumor cells, a defective macrocell may produce one or more microcells. This study aims to characterize microcell morphology in melanoma cell lines. In this investigation, we characterized the population of cancer cell microcells after applying paclitaxel treatment to a Sk-Mel-28 melanoma cell line using immunocytochemical cell marker detection and fluorescent microscopy. Paclitaxel-treated cancer cells show stronger expression of stem-associated ALDH2, SOX2, and Nanog markers than untreated cells. The proliferation of nuclear antigens in cells and the synthesis of RNA in microcells indicate cell self-defense, promoting resistance to applied therapy. These findings improve our understanding of microcell behavior in melanoma, potentially informing future strategies to counteract drug resistance in cancer treatment.