Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by rapid proliferation, invasion, and resistance to therapy. The substance P (SP)/neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK‐1R) pathway contributes to GB progression by promoting angiogenesis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Aprepitant, an FDA‐approved NK‐1R antagonist, has shown potential as a therapeutic agent in glioma treatment. Methods: This study investigates the anti‐metastatic effects of aprepitant on U87‐MG glioblastoma cells. Cell viability, migration, and invasion were evaluated using WST‐1, real‐time cell analysis, and Oris migration assays. Gene and protein expression levels were assessed by RT‐PCR, ELISA, and microarray analysis. Results: Aprepitant significantly reduced glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in a dose‐dependent manner. It downregulated pro‐tumorigenic mediators such as VEGF, NF‐kB, TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐8, CCL3, CXCL3, and TRIM5, indicating suppression of angiogenesis, inflammation, and chemotaxis pathways. Discussion: These findings underscore the potent anti‐metastatic and anti‐angiogenic effects of NK‐1R antagonism in glioblastoma and highlight aprepitant as a promising candidate for future in vivo and in ovo therapeutic investigations targeting extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, chemotaxis, and angiogenesis.

The leading cause of cancer-related death is lung cancer, with metastasis being the most common cause of death. To elucidate the role of macrophages in lung cancer and angiogenesis processes, we established an in vitro co-culture model of A549 or HUVEC with THP-1 cells that polarized to M2c macrophages with hydrocortisone. The proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and ixazomib were investigated for their effects on proliferation, invasion, migration, metastasis, and angiogenesis pathways. The effects of bortezomib and ixazomib on gene expression in gene panels, including crucial genes related to angiogenesis and proteasomes, were investigated after the co-culture model to determine these effects at the molecular level. In conclusion, bortezomib and ixazomib showed antiproliferative effects in both cells, as well as in M2c macrophage co-culture. M2c macrophages also increased invasion in A549 cells and both invasion and migration in HUVEC. mRNA expression upregulation, specifically in the NFKB and VEGF genes, supported the metastatic and angiogenic effects found in A549 and HUVEC with M2c macrophage co-culture. Additionally, bortezomib inhibited the VEGFB pathway in HUVEC and NFKB1 in A549 cells. The significant findings obtained as a result of this study will provide information regarding angiogenesis induced by M2 macrophages.

Objective: Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are enzymes converting the arginine to citrulline. They play a role in embryogenesis and cell signaling activities. But excessive or dysregulated PAD levels were determined to be associated with disorders and to increase in many diseases. It has been shown that Chloramidine (Cl-amidine) used as a PAD inhibitor suppresses increased PAD activity and shows anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties play an important role in wound healing. In this study, the possible efficacy of Cl-amidine on wound healing in the keratinocyte cell line was investigated by considering these parameters. Method: Cell proliferation evaluations of Cl-amidine concentrations (500, 125, 31.25 and 7.81 µM) determined according to the results of MTT method on HaCaT keratinocyte cells were performed using Real-Time Cell Analysis System (RTCA DP). COL1A1 mRNA expression levels were analyzed by RT (Real Time)-PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method at the concentrations where proliferation was achieved (125, 31.25 µM). Migration effects of Cl-amidine on cells were evaluated by performing scratch analysis. MTT results were statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey test, and p<0.05 was accepted as significant. RTCA DP and RT-PCR results were evaluated using device software programs. Results: In the study, it was found that certain concentrations of Cl-amidine had a proliferative effect on HaCaT keratinocyte cells. It was determined that Cl-amidine increased the amount of type 1 collagen, which is an important parameter for wound healing, by RT-PCR method. In addition, according to scratch analysis, it was detected that it positively affected cell migration in relation to wound closure. Conclusion: This research shows that Cl-amidine may have a significant potential for wound healing.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, primarily as a result of metastases. In this metastasis, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential. Interaction with the cancer cell microenvironment is primarily dependent on M1- and M2-polarized macrophage. In this study, we revealed the EMT-associated activity of M1, M2a and M2c macrophages in A549 lung cancer cells. We established a co-culture model of A549 lung cancer cells utilizing THP-1-derived M1/M2 polarised macrophages to explore the involvement of macrophages in the immune response, apoptosis, and EMT in lung cancer. Although multiple polarising agents are routinely used for M1 and M2 conversion, we assessed a new possible polarising agent, hydrocortisone. M1 increased A549 cell sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors and decreased A549 cell viability by inducing apoptosis. EMT was induced in the presence of M2c macrophages in A549 cells by the levels of vimentin, fibronectin, E-cadherin, NF-kB, CCL-17. We also revealed the antiproliferative effects of bortezomib and ixazomib on A549 cells in both 2D and 3D cultures. Our findings could help develop an immunotherapeutic strategy by shedding light on a previously undiscovered part of the EMT pathway. Furthermore, additional investigation may reveal that polarising tumour-associated macrophages to M1 and eliminating the M2a or particularly the M2c subtype are effective anti-cancer strategies.