OBJECTIVE: This hypothesis-driven narrative review aims to explore the evidence for the fundamental process of cell fusion between normal, but different, cell types in the genesis of a cancer cell.
BACKGROUND: Finding out how a cancer is born must remain a top priority as this will allow us the opportunity to understand the disease before it acquires its largely \'untameable\' heterogeneous form. The search for the cell of origin in solid organ cancers has remained elusive despite concerted attempts over many decades. There is always more than one cell type implicated in the causation of solid organ cancers.
METHODS: Based on preliminary data from our laboratory and a review of the evidence in literature, we present a novel hypothesis to explain the origin of solid organ cancers using pancreatic cancer as an example.
CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that, \"Cancer is born from fusion and hybridization of normal cells from two different lineages located within the vicinity of each other that perceive a signal reminiscent of a threat to their extinction that leads to epigenetically-mediated transformations permitting them to achieve cell fusion.\" Addressing this hypothesis to prove, or disprove it, presents an opportunity to unravel the basis of carcinogenesis and potential re-think our strategies for treatment in terms of choice of chemotherapeutic agents, dosage of chemo- and radiation-therapy, and timing of interventions (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy).

Cell‑cell fusion is a dynamic biological phenomenon, which plays an important role in various physiological processes, such as tissue regeneration. Similarly, normal cells, particularly bone marrow‑derived cells (BMDCs), may attempt to fuse with cancer cells to rescue them. The rescue may fail, but the fused cells end up gaining the motility traits of BMDCs and become metastatic due to the resulting genomic instability. In fact, cell‑cell fusion was demonstrated to occur in vivo in cancer and was revealed to promote tumor metastasis. However, its existence and role may be underestimated, and has not been widely acknowledged. In the present review, the milestones in cell fusion research were highlighted, the evidence for cell‑cell fusion in vitro and in vivo in cancer was evaluated, and the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which cell‑cell fusion occurs was summarized, to emphasize their important role in tumor metastasis. The summary provided in the present review may promote further study into this process and result in novel discoveries of strategies for future treatment of tumor metastasis.

Even after one year of its first outbreak reported in China, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still sweeping the World, causing serious infections and claiming more fatalities. COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus (β-CoVs), which is of greatest clinical importance since it contains many other viruses that cause respiratory disease in humans, including OC43, HKU1, SARS-CoV, and MERS. The spike (S) glycoprotein of β-CoVs is a key virulence factor in determining disease pathogenesis and host tropism, and it also mediates virus binding to the host\'s receptors to allow viral entry into host cells, i.e., the first step in virus lifecycle. Viral entry inhibitors are considered promising putative drugs for COVID-19. Herein, we mined the biomedical literature for viral entry inhibitors of other coronaviruses, with special emphasis on β-CoVs entry inhibitors. We also outlined the structural features of SARS-CoV-2 S protein and how it differs from other β-CoVs to better understand the structural determinants of S protein binding to its human receptor (ACE2). This review highlighted several promising viral entry inhibitors as potential treatments for COVID-19.

During human placentation, mononuclear cytotrophoblasts fuse to form a multinucleated syncytia ensuring hormonal production and nutrient exchanges between the maternal and fetal circulation. Syncytia formation is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy and for fetal growth. The trophoblast cell fusion process first requires the acquisition of cell fusion properties, then cells set up plasma membrane protein macrocomplexes and fusogen machinery that trigger cell-cell fusion. Numerous proteins have been shown to be directly involved in the initiation of trophoblast cell fusion. These proteins must expressed at the right time and in the right place to trigger cell-cell fusion. In this review, we describe the role of certain fusogenic protein macrocomplexes that form the scaffold for the fusogen machinery underlying human trophoblastic-lipid mixing and merging of cell contents that lead to cell fusion in physiological conditions.

The syncytiotrophoblast layer plays a major role throughout pregnancy, since it is the site of numerous placental functions, including ion and nutrient exchange and the synthesis of steroid and peptide hormones required for fetal growth and development. Inadequate formation and regeneration of this tissue contributes to several pathologies of pregnancy such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia, which may lead to iatrogenic preterm delivery in order to prevent fetal death and maternal complications. Syncytiotrophoblast formation can be reproduced in vitro using different models. For the last ten years we have routinely purified villous cytotrophoblastic cells (CT) from normal first, second and third trimester placentas and from gestational age-matched Trisomy 21 placentas. We cultured villous CT on plastic dishes to follow the molecular and biochemical aspects of their morphological and functional differentiation. Taking advantage of this unique collection of samples, we here discuss the concept that trophoblast fusion and functional differentiation may be two differentially regulated processes, which are linked but quite distinct. We highlight the major role of mesenchymal-trophoblast cross talk in regulating trophoblast cell fusion. We suggest that the oxidative status of the trophoblast may regulate glycosylation of proteins, including hCG, and thereby modulate major trophoblast cell functions.

Evolving young genomes of archaea, prokaryota and unicellular eukaryota were wide open for the acceptance of alien genomic sequences, which they often preserved and vertically transferred to their descendants throughout three billion years of evolution. Established complex large genomes, although seeded with ancestral retroelements, have come to regulate strictly their integrity. However, intruding retroelements, especially the descendents of Ty3/Gypsy, the chromoviruses, continue to find their ways into even the most established genomes. The simian and hominoid-Homo genomes preserved and accommodated a large number of endogenous retroviral genomic segments. These retroelements may mature into exogenous retroviruses, or into functional new genes. Phages and viruses have been instrumental in incorporating and transferring host cell genes. These events profoundly influenced and altered the course of evolution. Horizontal (lateral) gene transfers (HGT) overwhelmed the genomes of the ancient protocells and the evolving unicellular microorganisms, actually leading to their Cambrian explosion. While the rigidly organized genomes of multicellular organisms increasingly resist H/LGT, de-differentiated cells assuming the metabolism of their onto- or phylogenetic ancestors, open up widely to the practice of H/LGT by direct transfer, or to transfers mediated by viruses, or by cell fusions. This activity is intensified in malignantly transformed cells, thus rendering these subjects receptive to therapy with oncolytic viruses and with viral vectors of tumor-suppressive or immunogenic genetic materials. Naturally formed hybrids of dendritic and tumor cells are often tolerogenic, whereas laboratory products of these unisons may be immunogenic in the hosts of origin. As human breast cancer stem cells are induced by a treacherous class of CD8+ T cells to undergo epithelial to mesenchymal (ETM) transition and to yield to malignant transformation by the omnipresent proto-ocogenes (for example, the ras oncogenes), they become defenseless toward oncolytic viruses. Cell fusions and horizontal exchanges of genes are fundamental attributes and inherent characteristics of the living matter.

Syncytial fusion of trophoblast is a key process in placental morphogenesis and physiology. Disturbed syncytial fusion may lead to a number of pregnancy-associated pathologies. The mechanisms regulating syncytial fusion are only partly understood. This review tries to summarize the available knowledge on trophoblast fusion, originating from different scientific disciplines. Among the themes addressed in this paper are: morphogenesis and functions of syncytiotrophoblast; early apoptotic events and changes in plasmalemmal phospholipid orientation; proteins involved in membrane fusion: ADAMs and retrovirally-derived proteins and short-lived proteolipid intermediates in membrane fusion. Deeper understanding of syncytiotrophoblast fusion in future studies is only to be anticipated from collaborative studies focusing in parallel on physicochemical events in the participating plasmalemmas, early apoptotic/differentiation events preceding the fusion and role of the fusogenic membrane proteins.

Signal transfer between neurons and between neurons and muscle cells is mediated by the secretion of neurotransmitters. The axon of the presynaptic cell contains synaptic vesicles, the storage organelles for neurotransmitters. Arrival of an action potential causes calcium-influx into the axon and leads to fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane. Recently, the events between calcium-influx and membrane fusion were elucidated on a molecular level. The family of SNARE-proteins was identified as the key players in neurosecretion. They are located on synaptic vesicles (VAMP) or on the presynaptic plasma membrane (syntaxin, SNAP-25). Intimate protein-protein interactions between the SNARE-proteins are responsible for the attachment and merger of vesicle and the plasma membrane. Fusion is triggered by calcium-binding to synaptotagmin, another protein recently identified on synaptic vesicles. The molecular mechanism of the action of clostridial neurotoxins was also elucidated. Botulinum-as well as Tetanus toxins are proteases which cleave neuronal SNARE-proteins. This explains the long known inhibition of neurosecretion caused by these toxins. The proteolytic action of Tetanus- and Botulinum toxin occurs in different types of neurons, resulting in a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on muscle cells. This selective degradation of SNAREs explains the opposing clinical signs of tetanus (cramps) and botulismus (paralysis).

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