Red Raspberry Phenols Inhibit Angiogenesis: A Morphological and Subcellular Analysis Upon Human Endothelial Cells

Polyphenols are a class of natural compounds whose potential as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenesis has been reported in many pathological conditions. Red raspberry extract, rich in polyphenols, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects and prevent cell proliferation in distinct animal models. However, the signaling pathways involved remain unknown. Herein, we used human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) to determine the influence of red raspberry phenolic compound extract concentrations, ranging from 10 to 250 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL, on endothelium viability (MTS assay), proliferation (BrdU incorporation), migration (injury assay), and capillary-like structures formation (Matrigel assay). Protein expression in cell lysates was determined by Western blot analysis. We showed that red raspberry extracts reduced cell viability (GI50  = 87,64 ± 6,59 μg GAE/mL) and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. A significant abrogation of cells ability to migrate to injured areas, even at low concentrations, was observed by injury assay. Cell assembly into capillary-like structures on Matrigel also decreased in a dose dependent-manner for higher extract concentrations, as well as the number of branching points per unit of area. Protein expression analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in Phospho-VEGFR2 expression, implying abrogation of VEGF signaling activity. We also showed for the first time that red raspberry phenolic compounds induce the rearrangement of filamentous actin cytoskeleton, with an isotropy increase found for higher testing concentrations. Taken together, our findings corroborate the anti-angiogenic potential of red raspberry phenolic compounds and provide new insights into their mode of action upon endothelium. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1604-1612, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Surgical treatment of high-risk prostate cancer

High-risk prostate cancer (HRPC) currently comprises 17-35% of newly diagnosed cases and has the highest rate of metastasis and cancer-related death, making its management a top priority for improving prostate cancer outcomes. The definition of HRPC is not consensual and several risk stratification criteria have been used, which hinders the interpretation of data and the comparison of different studies. All classifications include prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, biopsy Gleason score and clinical stage as criteria, but others have been added in an attempt to make stratification more accurate and clinically useful, to enable identification of the patients that can be cured by local treatment of the disease. HRPC was traditionally treated with radiotherapy (RT) and/or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), but radical prostatectomy (RP) has slowly gained more importance in this context. This article aims to discuss the role of surgery in HRPC, highlighting the advantages of RP as primary treatment option: the ability to provide a definitive stage and grade of the cancer; allowing an early detection of treatment failure by having an undetectable PSA as treatment target; providing excellent local control of the disease; reducing the risk of metastatic progression to a greater extent than does RT. We will try to show the benefits and risks of a "surgery first" approach, keeping in mind that, despite the curative intent, a significant number of patients will still need adjuvant or salvage RT and/or ADT.

Cellular strategies to promote vascularisation in tissue engineering applications

Vascularisation is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in tissue engineering. Different strategies exist but cell-based approaches have emerged as a promising therapy to achieve successful vascularisation. The use of endothelial cells to engineer vascularised tissues has been extensively investigated. This field of research has evolved with the discovery of endothelial progenitor cells, a subpopulation with a high regenerative potential. However, the survival of endothelial cell populations alone seems to be impaired. To overcome this problem, co-culture systems, involving supporting cells, like mural cells, fibroblasts, or more tissue-specific cells have been developed. Endothelial cells benefit from the extracellular matrix components and growth factors produced by the supporting cells, which results in neovessel stabilisation and maturation. The use of endothelial progenitor cells in co-culture systems appears to be a promising strategy to promote vascularisation in approaches of increasing complexity. Herein, the authors provide an overview of the cellular strategies that can be used for increasing vascularisation in tissue engineering and regeneration.

Increased circulating platelet microparticles as a potential biomarker in asthma

BACKGROUND

Endothelial (EMPs) and platelet microparticles (PMPs) have been studied as biomarkers in several inflammatory diseases and as central players in intercellular communication.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess microparticle levels in asthma. Circulating microparticles and inflammatory and angiogenic markers were assessed by clinical and laboratorial evaluation, flow cytometry, and immunoassays, in a group of 20 asthmatic and 15 nonasthmatic subjects.

RESULTS

Circulating levels of PMPs (either CD31+/42b+ or CD31+/42b+/AnV+) were significantly increased in asthmatics (P = 0.021) even after adjustment for confounders. Apoptotic EMPs (CD31+/42b--/AnV+) were significantly increased before (P = 0.005) but not after adjustments (P = 0.117).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that PMPs may be putative asthma biomarkers, playing a role in asthma pathophysiology.

Osteoblast, fibroblast and in vivo biological response to poly(vinylidene fluoride) based composite materials

Electroactive materials can be taken to advantage for the development of sensors and actuators as well as for novel tissue engineering strategies. Composites based on poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, have been evaluated with respect to their biological response. Cell viability and proliferation were performed in vitro both with Mesenchymal Stem Cells differentiated to osteoblasts and Human Fibroblast Foreskin 1. In vivo tests were also performed using 6-week-old C57Bl/6 mice. It was concluded that zeolite and clay composites are biocompatible materials promoting cell response and not showing in vivo pro-inflammatory effects which renders both of them attractive for biological applications and tissue engineering, opening interesting perspectives to development of scaffolds from these composites. Ferrite and silver nanoparticle composites decrease osteoblast cell viability and carbon nanotubes decrease fibroblast viability. Further, carbon nanotube composites result in a significant increase in local vascularization accompanied an increase of inflammatory markers after implantation.

Substance P antagonist improves both obesity and asthma in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests a causal relationship between obesity and asthma; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Substance P (SP), involved in neurogenic inflammation by acting through its receptor NK1-R, seems to participate in obese-asthma phenotype in mice.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of a selective substance P receptor antagonist on a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and asthma.

METHODS

Diet-induced obese Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and treated with a selective NK1-R antagonist or placebo. Serum glucose, insulin, IL-6, resistin, and OVA-specific IgE levels were quantified. A score for peribronchial inflammation in lung histology was used. Cells were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Adipocyte sizes were measured.

RESULTS

Ovalbumin-obese mice treated with NK1-R antagonist had lower weight (P = 0.0002), reduced daily food intake (P = 0.0021), reduced daily energy intake (P = 0.0021), reduced surface adipocyte areas (P < 0.0001), lower serum glucose (P = 0.04), lower serum insulin (P = 0.03), lower serum IL-(P = 0.0022), lower serum resistin (P = 0.0043), lower serum OVA-specific IgE (P = 0.035), and lower peribronchial inflammation score (P < 0.0001) than nontreated OVA-obese mice. We observed an interaction between obesity, allergen sensitization, and treatment with NK1-R antagonist for metabolic and systemic biomarkers, and for allergen sensitization and bronchial inflammation, showing a synergy between these variables.

CONCLUSION & CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In an experimental model of obesity and asthma in mice, NK1-R blockade improved metabolic and systemic biomarkers, as well as allergen sensitization and bronchial inflammation. These positive effects support a common pathway in the obese-asthma phenotype and highlight SP as a target with potential clinical interest in the obese-asthma epidemics.