Evaluation of ovarian cancer risk in granulosa cells treated with steroid‐depleted endometriosis serum: Role of NF‐κB/RelA and AKT

Investigating the Role of Quercetin in Increasing the Rate of Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis Via the NF-κB Pathway in MG-63 Cancer Cells

INTRODUCTION

Numerous studies suggest that the co-treatment of chemotherapeutic agents with flavonoids such as Quercetin (Que) may enhance tumor cells' susceptibility to these agents. Hence, in the current study, we investigated Que's role in combination with Cisplatin to promote cell apoptosis by focusing on the NF-κB signaling pathway in the osteosarcoma cell lines.

METHODS

The Que, Cisplatin, and their combination's general cytotoxicity effects were evaluated using an MTT assay for 72 hrs. The protein expression levels of NF-κB were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

Que considerably elevated the cytotoxicity of Cisplatin (P<0.05). Que also dramatically down-regulated the expression levels of NF-κB in MG-63 cells compared to mono-treatment (P<0.05). Besides, Que promotes cisplatin-induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells.

CONCLUSION

Our study's findings provide an exact point in the field of adjuvant therapy in osteosarcoma. In other words, this study could provide new insights into a better understanding of the role of Que in elevating cisplatin-induced apoptosis with NF-κB down-regulation.

Steroid-depleted endometriosis serum improves oocyte maturation in IVM systems

In vitro maturation (IVM) is a novel approach to overcome the adverse effects of human in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of total and steroid-depleted serum obtained from patients with endometriosis on IVM outcome as supplementation for this system. To this purpose, patients with endometriosis were selected according to in/excluding criteria. Germinal vesicles (GVs) and cumulus cells were treated with 10% of each serum. The expression levels of stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD 1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR. Gas-liquid chromatography and flow cytometry were performed to analyze fatty acids composition and apoptosis. The mRNA expression levels of SCD1 (2.47 fold) and COX-2 (6.4 fold), and also the synthesis of oleate, linoleate, and arachidonate were increased (1.19, 1.06, and 2.37 folds, respectively) in cumulus cells treated with steroid-depleted serum (p < .05). The synthesis of palmitate, palmitoleate, and stearate (0.995, 0.67, and 0.7 folds, respectively) and also the rate of apoptosis were significantly decreased in these cells (p < .05). Moreover, GVs cultured in steroid-depleted group showed a significantly higher rate of maturation (p < .001). Overall, our findings imply a new insight into the expansion of IVM system in oocytes development.