The gut microbiota is important in regulating host metabolism, maintaining physiology, and protecting immune homeostasis. Gut microbiota dysbiosis affects the development of the gut microenvironment, as well as the onset of various external systemic diseases and metabolic syndromes. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug that suppresses the host immune system, intestinal mucosa inflammation, and dysbiosis of the intestinal flora. Immunomodulators are necessary to enhance the immune system and prevent homeostasis disbalance and cytotoxicity caused by CTX. In this study, shrimp peptide hydrolysate (SPH) was evaluated for immunomodulation, intestinal integration, and microbiota in CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. It was observed that SPH would significantly restore goblet cells and intestinal mucosa integrity, modulate the immune system, and increase relative expression of mRNA and tight-junction associated proteins (Occludin, Zo-1, Claudin-1, and Mucin-2). It also improved gut flora and restored the intestinal microbiota ecological balance by removing harmful microbes of various taxonomic groups. This would also increase the immune organs index, serum levels of cytokines (IFN-ϒ, IL1β, TNF-α, IL-6), and immunoglobin levels (IgA, IgM). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes proportion was decreased in CTX-induced mice. Finally, SPH would be recommended as a functional food source with a modulatory effect not only on intestinal microbiota, but also as a potential health-promoting immune function regulator.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a micro vessel-like structure formed by the cancer cells, plays a pivotal role in cancer malignancy and progression. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is an active pro-inflammatory cytokine and elevated in many tumor types, including breast cancer. However, the effect of IL-1β on the VM of breast cancer has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were used to study the effect of IL-1β on the changes that can promote VM. The evidence for VM stimulated by IL-1β was acquired by analyzing the expression of VM-associated biomarkers (VE-cadherin, VEGFR-1, MMP-9, MMP-2, c-Fos, and c-Jun) via western blot, immunofluorescent staining, and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, morphological evidence was collected via Matrigel-based cord formation assay under normoxic/hypoxic conditions and microvessel examination through Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E). Furthermore, the STRING and Gene Ontology database was also used to analyze the VM-associated interacting molecules stimulated by IL-β. The results showed that the expression of VM biomarkers was increased in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells after IL-1β treatment. The increase in VM response was observed in IL-1β treated cells under both normoxia and hypoxia. IL-1β also increased the activation of transcription factor AP-1 complex (c-Fos/c-Jun). The bioinformatics data indicated that p38/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were involved in the IL-1β stimulation. It was further confirmed by the downregulated expression of VM biomarkers and reduced formation of the intersections upon the addition of the signaling pathway inhibitors. The study suggests that IL-1β stimulates the VM and its associated events in breast cancer cells via p38/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Aiming the VM-associated molecular targets promoted by IL-1β may offer a novel anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategy to control the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells.

Objective: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that levobupivacaine has anti-tumour effects on breast cancer cells. Results: Colony formation and transwell assay were used to determine breast cancer cells proliferation. Flow Cytometry (annexin V and PI staining) was used to investigate breast cancer cells apoptosis. The effects of levobupivacaine on cellular signalling and molecular response were studied with Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and western blot. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by cell viability, morphological changes showed cell shrinkage, rounding, and detachments from plates. The results of the western blot and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction indicated activation of active caspase-3 and inhibition of FOXO1. The results of the flow Cytometry confirmed that levobupivacaine inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot analysis showed increased p21 and decreased cyclin D. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and western blot analysis showed that levobupivacaine significantly increased Bax expression, accompanied by a significant decreased Bcl-2 expression and inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway. These findings suggested that levobupivacaine inhibits proliferation and promotes breast cancer cells apoptosis in vitro.