Varendra University

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy, achieving remarkable success in hematological malignancies. However, its clinical application to solid tumors is hindered by significant challenges, including tumor antigen heterogeneity, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), and physical barriers that limit effective T-cell infiltration. This review examines the intricate mechanisms of CAR-T therapy, with a focus on T-cell engineering, activation, and tumor targeting, highlighting the interplay between therapeutic design and tumor-specific complexities. The barriers unique to solid tumors, such as immune evasion mediated by suppressive cytokines and regulatory cells, tumor antigen escape, and the resilience of the extracellular matrix, are critically analyzed. Innovative strategies, including multi-antigen targeting constructs, logic-gated CARs for tumor-selective activation, and armored CAR-T cells equipped to counteract immunosuppressive signals, are evaluated for their potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the incorporation of matrix-degrading enzymes and immune checkpoint inhibitors is discussed as a means to overcome physical and immune-mediated resistance. Emerging targets such as B7-H3, Claudin 18.2, and MUC1, along with advancements in companion diagnostics, are reshaping the landscape of CAR-T therapy by enabling more precise patient selection and real-time therapeutic monitoring. This review synthesizes recent progress and persisting challenges, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for advancing CAR-T therapy into a transformative modality for the treatment of solid tumors.

Depression is a complex psychiatric disorder that arises from various underlying biological mechanisms. In this review, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating gut microbiotacytokine communication and their potential to unravel the pathophysiology of depression and develop novel therapeutic strategies are discussed. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that have emerged as key regulators in the bidirectional signaling of the gut-brain axis by modulating gene expression and fine-tuning an intricate dialogue between the microbiota, immune system, and central nervous system. Results show how gut microbiota can shape miRNA expression in brain regions involved in mood regulation; conversely, evidence is accumulating, elucidating how miRNA perturbations can shape microbial ecology. Gut bacteria-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) fuel this nexus by exerting effects on neurogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, neuroinflammation, affective behavior alterations, and depressive-like phenotypes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β are also known to be associated with depressive symptoms related to altered expression patterns of specific miRNAs across these disorders. This review exposes the novel potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets/strategies to develop innovative methods in the diagnosis and treatment of depression by exploring bidirectional relations among miRNAs, gut microbiota, and cytokines. The knowledge of these molecular networks and pathways has provided the opportunity for designing new-generation therapeutics such as phytobiotics, probiotics, psychobiotics, diet therapies, and nanomedicine based on miRNAs from a future perspective, which will revolutionize the management of mental disorders.

Plants and their compounds are extensively utilized in various industries, including pharmacy, medicine, food, and cosmetics, making the papaya (Carica papaya) fruit tree economically vital in tropical and subtropical regions. This review provides detailed information on the traditional uses, nutritional content, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of C. papaya. The authors conducted a comprehensive search using databases like Scopus, PubMed, Scilit, and Google Scholar to gather relevant articles on this title. Papaya extract is commonly used to treat various health issues, including inflammation and pain, hypertension, diabetes, dermatitis, asthma, and stomach problems due to its rich chemical compositions of flavonoids, steroids, sterol, and β-sitosterol. C. papaya extracts exhibit numerous properties anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-arthritic, analgesic, anti-fertility, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, antiviral, wound-healing, etc. in both laboratory and animal studies. C. papaya may contain new active compounds for treating various ailments, but toxicity, efficacy, and clinical trials are needed before its therapeutic use.