Apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells of cattle: morphological features and clearance by homologous phagocytosis

HAND2-AS1 plays a tumor-suppressive role in hepatoblastoma through the negative regulation of CDK1

Objective

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most commonly seen pediatric liver malignancy. The preliminary experiment of our research group found that cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) was upregulated in HB. By in silico analysis, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HAND2 antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1) was determined as the research object. Herein, HAND2-AS1 expression in HB and its effect and mechanism on HB were extensively investigated.

Methods

CDK1-related lncRNAs were searched using the microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) online database. qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the mRNA expression and protein levels of target genes. MTT, flow cytometry and DAPI staining assays were conducted to measure proliferation activity, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis of HB cells. The interaction between lncRNA and protein was determined by RNA pull-down and FISH assays. Luciferase assay was applied to identify whether HAND2-AS1 stimulates the transcription of CDK1. CDK1 mRNA stability was detected through actinomycin D assay. Aycloheximide assay was used to detect the CDK1 protein stability.

Results

HAND2-AS1 was downregulated in HB tissues and cells. HAND2-AS1 overexpression impeded HB cells proliferation activity and cycle progression while inducing cell apoptosis of HB cells, while knockdown of HAND2-AS1 emerged the opposite effect. HAND2-AS1 negatively correlated with CDK1. HAND2-AS1 downregulated CDK1 expression by affecting the transcriptional activity, mRNA and protein stability of CDK1. Furthermore, HAND2-AS1 impeded HB cell proliferation and cycle progression while inducing cell apoptosis by downregulating CDK1.

Conclusion

Our research highlights that HAND2-AS1 can exert a tumor-suppressive effect on HB through the negative regulation of CDK1, and the HAND2-AS1/CDK1 is expected to be a diagnostic molecular marker and therapeutic target for HB in clinical practice.

Preliminary Structural Characterization of Selenium Nanoparticle Composites Modified by Astragalus Polysaccharide and the Cytotoxicity Mechanism on Liver Cancer Cells

Astragalus alcohol soluble polysaccharide (AASP) could present superior water solubility and antitumor activity with high concentration. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have received growing attention in various fields, but their unstable property increases the application difficulties. In the present study, functionalized nano-composites (AASP-SeNPs) were synthesized through SeNPs using AASP (average molecular weight of 2.1 × 10³ Da) as a surface modifier, and the preliminary structural characteristics and inhibitory mechanism on liver cancer (HepG2) cells were investigated. Results showed that AASP-SeNPs prepared under a sodium selenite/AASP mass ratio of 1/20 (w/w) were uniformly spherical with a mean grain size of 49.80 nm and exhibited superior dispersivity and stability in water solution. Moreover, the composites could dose-dependently inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis through effectively regulating mitochondria-relevant indicators including ΔΨm depletion stimulation, intracellular ROS accumulation, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio improvement, and Cytochrome c liberation promotion. These results provide scientific references for future applications in functional food and drug industries.

Fluorescent redox-dependent labeling of lipid droplets in cultured cells by reduced phenazine methosulfate

Natural and synthetic phenazines are widely used in biomedical sciences. In dehydrogenase histochemistry, phenazine methosulfate (PMS) is applied as a redox reagent for coupling reduced coenzymes to the reduction of tetrazolium salts into colored formazans. PMS is also currently used for cytotoxicity and viability assays of cell cultures using sulfonated tetrazoliums. Under UV (340 nm) excitation, aqueous solutions of the cationic PMS show green fluorescence (λem: 526 nm), whereas the reduced hydrophobic derivative (methyl-phenazine, MPH) shows blue fluorescence (λem: 465 nm). Under UV (365 nm) excitation, cultured cells (LM2, IGROV-1, BGC-1, and 3T3-L1 adipocytes) treated with PMS (5 μg/mL, 30 min) showed cytoplasmic granules with bright blue fluorescence, which correspond to lipid droplets labeled by the lipophilic methyl-phenazine. After formaldehyde fixation blue-fluorescing droplets could be stained with oil red O. Interestingly, PMS-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes observed under UV excitation 24 h after labeling showed large lipid droplets with a weak green emission within a diffuse pale blue-fluorescing cytoplasm, whereas a strong green emission was observed in small lipid droplets. This fluorescence change from blue to green indicates that reoxidation of methyl-phenazine to PMS can occur. Regarding cell uptake and labeling mechanisms, QSAR models predict that the hydrophilic PMS is not significantly membrane-permeant, so most PMS reduction is expected to be extracellular and associated with a plasma membrane NAD(P)H reductase. Once formed, the lipophilic and blue-fluorescing methyl-phenazine enters live cells and mainly accumulates in lipid droplets. Overall, the results reported here indicate that PMS is an excellent fluorescent probe to investigate labeling and redox dynamics of lipid droplets in cultured cells.

Clinical and structural changes in reproductive organs and endocrine glands of sterile cows

Aim

The study aimed to determine both macroscopic and microscopic changes in the reproductive organs of sterile cows.

Materials and Methods

Careful clinical and gynecological examinations (using histological and histochemical methods) of organs of culled sterile cows, such as ovaries, oviducts, the uterus, pars anterior adenohypophysis, thyroid body, and adrenals, were performed.

Results

It was found that 20% of the examined cows in the farms of the Republic of Bashkortostan had pathology of reproductive organs. Ovarian dysfunction was diagnosed in 31% of sterile cows. Histological and histochemical studies revealed that high atresia of all types of ovarian follicles is associated with hypofunction of the ovaries. This was related to stromal vascular dystrophy and was accompanied by atrophy of thecal endocrine elements, resulting in decrease of endocrine and generative function of ovaries.

Conclusion

Essential elements of the ovarian dysfunction pathogenesis are disorders of the functional system "ovary-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid gland" and the abnormality of utero-ovarian relationships, which differ significantly during hypofunction, in case of follicular cysts, and in case of persistent corpora lutea. This difference in abnormalities of utero-ovarian relationships should be considered when developing diagnostic and treatment methods and determining preventive measures.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced ovulation occurs later but with equal occurrence in lactating dairy cows: comparing hCG and gonadotropin-releasing hormone protocols

This study assessed the effects of two hormones, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), on ovulatory responses during different diestrous stages in lactating dairy cows. Estrous cycles of 21 cows were synchronized and were enrolled in stage 1 of the experiment. The cows were treated with a prostaglandin (PG) F2α analog either 9 to 10 days [mid-diestrus (MD) group] or 5.5 to 6.5 days [early-diestrus (ED) group] after synchronized ovulation (day 0 = first PGF2α administration). On day 2, the cows were administrated 250 μg GnRH or 3000 IU hCG. Ovulation was determined every 2 h from 24 to 36 h after GnRH or hCG administration, and then every 4 h up to 72 h until ovulation. Cows in stage 2 were administered these treatments in the reverse order. The results indicated that average ovulation times in cows treated with GnRH in the MD group (GnRH-MD group) and cows treated with GnRH in the ED group (GnRH-ED group) were 30.0 ± 1.0 h and 28.8 ± 0.4 h, respectively. However, ovulation times for cows treated with hCG in the MD group (hCG-MD group) and cows treated with hCG in the ED group (hCG-ED group) were 35.8 ± 4.6 h and 32.8 ± 2.2 h, respectively, and ovulation occurred significantly later in the hCG-treated groups than in the GnRH-treated groups. In summary, we found that hCG-induced ovulation occurred later than GnRH-induced ovulation regardless of different diestrous peroids; however, the two treatments did not differ in terms of percentage of ovulation.

The molecular mechanism of the anticancer effect of Artonin E in MDA-MB 231 triple negative breast cancer cells

Nature has provided us with a wide spectrum of disease healing phytochemicals like Artonin E, obtained from the root bark of Artocarpus elasticus. This molecule had been predicted to be drug-like, possessing unique medicinal properties. Despite strides made in chemotherapy, prognosis of the heterogenous aggressive triple negative breast cancer is still poor. This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of inhibition of Artonin E, a prenylated flavonoid on MDA-MB 231 triple negative breast cancer cell, with a view of mitigating the hallmarks displayed by these tumors. The anti-proliferative effect, mode of cell death and the mechanism of apoptosis induction were investigated. Artonin E, was seen to effectively relinquish MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells of their apoptosis evading capacity, causing a half-maximal growth inhibition at low concentrations (14.3, 13.9 and 9.8 μM) after the tested time points (24, 48 and 72 hours), respectively. The mode of cell death was observed to be apoptosis with defined characteristics. Artonin E was seen to induce the activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic caspases initiators of apoptosis. It also enhanced the release of total reactive oxygen species which polarized the mitochondrial membrane, compounding the release of cytochrome c. Gene expression studies revealed the upregulation of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand and proapoptotic genes with down regulation of anti-apoptotic genes and proteins. A G2/M cell cycle arrest was also observed and was attributed to the observed upregulation of p21 independent of the p53 status. Interestingly, livin, a new member of the inhibitors of apoptosis was confirmed to be significantly repressed. In all, Artonin E showed the potential as a promising candidate to combat the aggressive triple negative breast cancer.

Apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells: Intracellular pathways and differentiation

Follicular atresia in granulosa and theca cells occurs by apoptosis through weak hormonal stimulation. We have previously proposed an in vitro model to study this process by inducing apoptosis in BGC-1, a bovine granulosa cell line, and in primary cultures from ovaries with or without corpus luteum (CPGB+ and CPGB-, respectively), with different doses of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs (leuprolide acetate (LA) as agonist and antide as antagonist). BGC-1 represent immature granulosa cells, whereas CPGB represent different degrees of luteinization. Our aim was to evaluate the intracellular pathways involved in the GnRH regulation of apoptosis in BGC-1. Treatment with LA 100nM but not with antide led to an increase in BAX over BCL-2 expression, showing antagonism of antide. All treatments inhibited phospholipase-D (PLD) activity compared to control, implying agonist behavior of antide. Progesterone in vitro production and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) expression revealed different degrees of luteinization: BGC-1 were immature, whereas CPGB+ were less differentiated than CPGB-. We concluded that LA-induced apoptosis in BGC-1 occurs by activation of the mitochondrial pathway and by inhibition of PLD activity and that antide might work both as an antagonist of the intrinsic pathway and as an agonist of the extrinsic protection pathway by inhibiting PLD activity.

Artonin E induces p53-independent G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway and livin suppression in MCF-7 cells

Artonin E is a prenylated flavonoid compound isolated from the stem bark of Artocarpus elasticus. This phytochemical has been previously reported to be drug-like with full compliance to Lipinski's rule of five and good physicochemical properties when compared with 95% of orally available drugs. It has also been shown to possess unique medicinal properties that can be utilized in view of alleviating most human disease conditions. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic mechanism of Artonin E in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which has so far not been reported. In this context, Artonin E significantly suppressed the breast cancer cell's viability while inducing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. This apoptosis induction was caspase dependent, and it is mediated mainly through the intrinsic pathway with the elevation of total reactive oxygen species. Gene and protein expression studies revealed significant upregulation of cytochrome c, Bax, caspases 7 and 9, and p21 in Artonin E-treated MCF-7 cells, while MAPK and cyclin D were downregulated. Livin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis, whose upregulation has been noted to precede chemotherapeutic resistance and apoptosis evasion was remarkably repressed. In all, Artonin E stood high as a potential agent in the treatment of breast cancer.

Human microvascular endothelial cells displaying reduced angiogenesis and increased uptake of lipids during in vitro culture

Human microvascular ECs from the neonatal foreskin of two donors purchased from one distributor were used in an angiogenesis assay under the same culture conditions. Different angiogenic potency was apparent in these two batches (ECang and ECnon-ang). During the cultivation period of three weeks, ECang ran through all stages of angiogenesis starting from proliferation to migration up to the formation of three-dimensional capillary-like structures. Despite of expression of endothelial markers, ECnon-ang showed excessive intracellular storage of lipids in form of multilamellar bodies and decreased angiogenic potency in contrast to its counterpart, ECang. Results indicate that lipid metabolism differs in ECang versus ECnon-ang. This study points up that these differences are based on the different donors and presents a novel and valuable model for the study of mechanisms of atherosclerosis in endothelial cells in vitro.