Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) play significant roles in various cancer cells such as functional heterogeneity, microenvironmental differences, and reversible changes in cell properties (e.g., chemotherapy). There is a lack of targets for processes involved in tumor cellular heterogeneity, such as metabolic clampdown, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity, which hinders microenvironmental biology. Proteogenomics and chemical metabolomics are important tools that can be used to study proteins/genes and metabolites in cells, respectively. Chemical metabolomics have many advantages over genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics in anticancer therapy. However, recent studies with AgNPs have revealed considerable genomic and proteomic changes, particularly in genes involved in tumor suppression, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Metabolites interact biochemically with energy storage, neurotransmitters, and antioxidant defense systems. Mechanobiological studies of AgNPs in cancer metabolomics suggest that AgNPs may be promising tools that can be exploited to develop more robust and effective adaptive anticancer therapies. Herein, we present a proof-of-concept review for AgNPs-based proteogenomics and chemical metabolomics from various tumor cells with the help of several technologies, suggesting their promising use as drug carriers for cancer therapy.
Human vision is mediated by the retina, one of the most critical tissues in the central nervous system. Glaucoma is a complex retinal disease attributed to environmental, genetic, and stochastic factors, all of which contribute to its pathogenesis. Historically, glaucoma had been thought of primarily as a disease of the elderly; however, it is now becoming more problematic as the incidence rate increases among young individuals. In recent years, excessive light exposure has been suggested as contributing to the rise in glaucoma among the younger generation. Blue light induces mitochondrial apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells, causing optic damage; red light increases cytochrome c oxidase activity in the electron transport system, reducing inflammation and increasing antioxidant reactions to promote cell regeneration. In conclusion, the minimization of blue light exposure and the general application of red light treatment strategies are anticipated to show synergistic effects with existing treatments for retinal disease and glaucoma and should be considered a necessary prospect for the future. This review introduces the recent studies that support the relationship between light exposure and the onset of glaucoma and discusses new treatments, such as photobiomodulation therapy.
Rhynchosia volubilis, a small black bean, has been used as a traditional remedy to treat diseases and maintain health in East Asia, but its cellular effects and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract from Rhynchosia volubilis (EERV) on cell survival and to elucidate the biochemical signaling pathways. Our results showed that EERV stimulated the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signal revealed by a fluorescent protein (FP)-based intensiometric sensor. Using a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based sensor, we further revealed that EERV could activate PKA and ERK signals, which are downstream effectors of cAMP. In addition, we reported that EERV could induce the phosphorylation of CREB, a key signal for cell survival. Thus, our results suggested that EERV protects against apoptosis by activating the cell survival pathway through the cAMP-PKA/ERK-CREB pathway.