Assessment of Sertoli Cell Proliferation by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide and Sulforhodamine B Assays

Propofol suppresses adipose-derived stem cell progression via PI3K/AKT-Wnt signaling pathway

Adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation has become a prospective way to treat cardiovascular diseases and skin traumas. Propofol, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent, plays an important role in the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. In this study, we investigated the effects of propofol on ADSCs. The flow cytometry results showed that ADSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, and CD90 and negative for CD31, CD34, and CD45. The results of MTT and BrdU assays demonstrated that propofol impeded the proliferation of ADSCs. The cell scratch test showed that propofol had an inhibitory effect on the migration of ADSCs. Transwell assay showed that invasive ASDC counts decreased significantly after propofol treatment. Propofol also promoted ADSC apoptosis and arrested ADSCs in the G0/G1 phase. All these effects showed in a dose-dependent manner that the higher the concentration, the stronger the effect. Western blot analysis revealed decreased levels of FAK, PI3K, AKT, and GSK3β phosphorylation, while the phosphorylation of β-catenin increased after 48 h of treatment with propofol. The findings above indicated that the PI3K/AKT-Wnt pathways mediated propofol-inhibited ADSC proliferation, providing new insights into the propofol application in ADSCs.

Biochanin-A ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β mediated EMT, myofibroblasts differentiation and collagen deposition in in vitro and in vivo systems

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive inflammatory disorder driven by a fibrotic cascade of events such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix production and collagen formation in the lungs in a sequential manner. IPF incidences were raising rapidly across the world. FDA approved pirfenidone and nintedanib (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) are being used as a first-line treatment drugs for IPF, however, neither the quality of life nor survival rates have been improved because of patient noncompliance due to multiple side effects. Thus, the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting TGF-β mediated cascade of fibrotic events is urgently needed to improve the survival of the patients suffering from devastating disease.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate and validate the anti-fibrotic properties of Biochanin-A (isoflavone) against TGF-β mediated fibrosis in in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo models and to determine the molecular mechanisms that mediate these anti-fibrotic effects.

METHODS

The therapeutic activity of BCA was determined in in vitro/ex vivo models. Cells were pre-treated with BCA and incubated in presence or absence of recombinant-TGF-β to stimulate the fibrotic cascade of events. Pulmonary fibrosis was developed by intratracheal administration of bleomycin in rats. BCA treatment was given for 14 days from post bleomycin instillation and then various investigations (collagen content, fibrosis gene/protein expression and histopathological changes) were performed to assess the anti-fibrotic activity of BCA.

RESULTS

In vitro/ex vivo (Primary normal, IPF cell line and primary IPF cells/ Precision cut mouse lung slices) experiments revealed that, BCA treatment significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the expression of TGF-β modulated fibrotic genes/protein expressions (including their functions) which are involved in the cascade of fibrotic events. BCA treatment significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the bleomycin-induced inflammatory cell-infiltration, inflammatory markers expression, collagen deposition and expression of fibrotic markers in lung tissues equivalent or better than pirfenidone treatment. In addition, BCA treatment significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated the TGF-β1/BLM-mediated increase of TGF-β/Smad2/3 phosphorylation and resulted in the reduction of pathological abnormalities in lung tissues determined by histopathology observations.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, BCA treatment demonstrated the remarkable therapeutic effects on TGF-β/BLM mediated pulmonary fibrosis using IPF cells and rodent models. This current study may offer a novel treatment approach to halt and may be even rescue the devastating lung scarring of IPF.