Effects of Au@Ag core-shell nanostructure with alginate coating on male reproductive system in mice

Transition nuclear protein 1 as a novel biomarker in patients with fertilization failure

OBJECTIVE

Although intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a way to deal with in vitro fertilization failure, 3% of couples still experience repeated fertilization failure after attempted ICSI, despite having sperm within normal parameters. These patients are a challenging group whose sperm cannot fertilize the egg during ICSI. Unfortunately, no test can predict the risk of fertilization failure. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and transition nuclear proteins (TNPs) are essential factors for chromatin packaging during sperm maturation. This study aimed to assess PLCζ1 and TNP1 expression in the sperm of patients with fertilization failure and the correlations among the DNA fragmentation index, PLCζ1 and TNP1 gene and protein expression, and the risk of fertilization failure.

METHODS

In this study, 12 infertile couples with low fertilization rates (<25%) and complete failure of fertilization in their prior ICSI cycles despite normal sperm parameters were chosen as the case group. Fifteen individuals who underwent ICSI for the first time served as the control group. After sperm analysis and DNA fragmentation assays, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to compare the gene and protein expression of PLCζ and TNP1 in both groups.

RESULTS

DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in the fertilization failure group. The qRT-PCR and Western blot results demonstrated significantly lower PLCζ and TNP1 gene and protein expression in these patients than in controls.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that fertilization failure in normozoospermic men was probably due to deficient DNA packaging and expression of TNP1.

Does Gold-Silver Core-Shell Nanostructure with Alginate Coating Induce Apoptosis in Human Lymphoblastic Tumoral (Jurkat) Cell Line?

Background

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is known as an aggressive malignant disease resulting from the neoplastic alteration of T precursor cells. Although treatment with stringent chemotherapy regimens has achieved an 80% cure rate in children, it has been associated with lower success rates in adult treatment. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have a toxic effect on human breast cancer cells, human glioblastoma U251 cells, and chronic myeloid leukemia cells in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ag nanostructures (Ag-NSs) on Jurkat cells' viability and apoptosis.

Methods

The Jurkat cell line was acquired. Following the synthesis Ag-NSs and their characterization, they were incubated with Jurkat cells at different doses for 24, 48, and 72 hours to determine the optimal time and dose. Two groups were examined: a control group with Jurkat cells without nanostructure maintained in the same medium as the cells in the treatment group without changing the medium, and a treatment group with cells treated with the Ag nanostructure solution at a dose of 75 µg/ml for 48 hours according to the MTT results. After 48 hours, the cells from the two groups were used for the q RT-PCR of the apoptotic genes (BAX, BCL-2, and CASPASE-3).

Results

According to our results, the rod-shaped silver nanostructures had a size of about 50 nm, increased apoptotic markers, including BAX and CASPASE-3, and induced cell death.

Conclusions

Ag-NSs have anticancer properties and can induce apoptosis of cells; therefore, they may be a potential candidate for the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.