Browsing by Author "Soares, Raquel"
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- Cell-adhesion Molecules as Key Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion:The Case of Breast CancerPublication . Botelho, Mónica; Luís, Carla; Soares, Raquel; Fernandes, RúbenCancer is a major health problem worldwide and the second leading cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. Breast cancer is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women and one of the most common malignant neoplasms prompt to metastatic disease. In the present review, the mechanisms of the major cell adhesion molecules involved in tumor invasion are discussed, focusing on the case of breast cancer. A non-systematic updated revision of the literature was performed in order to assemble information regarding the expression of the adhesion cell molecules associated with metastasis.
- Conditioned medium from MCF-7 breast cancer cells induces phenotypic carcinogenesis in HCV29 normal bladder cellsPublication . Luís, Carla; Fernandes, Rúben; Soares, Raquel; Botelho, Monica C.Main goal: since MCF-7 cells release CEQ, the aim is to investigate the role of breast cancer conditioned medium as tumor initiator of normal bladder urothelial cells.
- In vivo systemic toxicity assessment of an oxidized dextrin‐based hydrogel and its effectiveness as a carrier and stabilizer of granular synthetic bone substitutesPublication . Pereira, Isabel; Fraga, Sónia; Maltez, Luís; Requicha, João; Guardão, Luísa; Oliveira, Joana; Prada, Justina; Alves, Helena; Santos, José Domingos; Teixeira, João Paulo; Pereira, José Eduardo; Soares, Raquel; Gama, Francisco MiguelThe worldwide incidence of bone disorders is raising, mainly due to aging population. The lack of effective treatments is pushing the development of synthetic bone substitutes (SBSs). Most ceramic-based SBSs commercially available display limited handling properties. Attempting to solve these issues and achieve wider acceptance by the clinicians, granular ceramics have been associated with hydrogels (HGs) to produce injectable/moldable SBSs. Dextrin, a low-molecular-weight carbohydrate, was used to develop a fully resorbable and injectable HG. It was first oxidized with sodium periodate and then cross-linked with adipic acid dihydrazide. The in vivo biocompatibility and safety of the dextrin-based HG was assessed by subacute systemic toxicity and skin sensitization tests, using rodent models. The results showed that the HG did not induce any systemic toxic effect, skin reaction, or genotoxicity, neither impaired the bone repair/regeneration process. Then, the HG was successfully combined with granular bone substitute, registered as Bonelike (250-500 μm) to obtain a moldable/injectable SBS, which was implanted in tibial fractures in goats for 3 and 6 weeks. The obtained results showed that HG allowed the stabilization of the granules into the defect, ensuring effective handling, and molding properties of the formulation, as well as an efficient cohesion of the granules.
- Pathways of estrogen metabolism underlying the association between Schistosoma haematobium and bladder cancerPublication . Gonçalves, Ana Rita; Luis, Carla; Soares, Raquel; Fernandes, Ruben; Botelho, Monica C.Communication on pathways of estrogen metabolism underlying the association between Schistosoma haematobium and bladder cancer.
- Schistosoma haematobium: identification of new estrogenic molecules with estradiol antagonistic activity and ability to inactivate estrogen receptor in mammalian cellsPublication . Botelho, Mónica Catarina; Soares, Raquel; Vale, Nuno; Ribeiro, Ricardo; Camilo, Vânia; Almeida, Raquel; Medeiros, Rui; Gomes, Paula; Machado, José Carlos; Costa, José Manuel Correia daWe have previously identified the expression of an estradiol (E2)-related molecule by Schistosoma haematobium total antigen (Sh). We now show that this molecule has an antagonistic effect of estradiol in vitro. Our results are consistent with the existence of an estrogenic molecule that antagonizes the activity of estradiol. We found evidence for this molecule as we identified and characterized by mass spectrometry new estrogenic molecules previously unknown, present in schistosome worm extracts and sera of Schistosoma-infected individuals. We also show that Sh is able to interact in vitro with estrogen receptor (ER), explaining how host endocrine system can favor the establishment of schistosomes. These findings highlight the exploitation of the host endocrine system by schistosomes and represent an additional regulatory component of schistosome development that defines a novel paradigm enabling host–parasite interactions. The identification of these molecules opens new ways for the development of alternative drugs to treat schistosomiasis.