The machinery of programmed cell death

Modulating apoptosis as a novel therapeutic strategy against Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection: insights from Rotenone

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as neonates, infants, young children, and the elderly. Among infants, RSV is the primary cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia, contributing to a notable proportion of child mortality under the age of 5. In this study, we focused on investigating the pathogenicity of a lethal RSV strain, GZ08-18, as a model for understanding mechanisms of hypervirulent RSV. Our findings indicate that the heightened pathogenicity of GZ08-18 stems from compromised activation of intrinsic apoptosis, as evidenced by aberration of mitochondrial membrane depolarization in host cells. We thus hypothesized that enhancing intrinsic apoptosis could potentially attenuate the virulence of RSV strains and explored the effects of Rotenone, a natural compound known to stimulate the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, on inhibiting RSV infection. Our results demonstrate that Rotenone treatment significantly improved mouse survival rates and mitigated lung pathology following GZ08-18 infection. These findings suggest that modulating the suppressed apoptosis induced by RSV infection represents a promising avenue for antiviral intervention strategies.

BomMDH1 regulates malate-mediated oxidative stress in tobacco BY-2 suspension cells

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically regulated process of cell suicide essential for plant development. The 'malate valve' is a mechanism that ensures redox balance across different subcellular compartments. In broccoli, the BomMDH1 gene encodes malate dehydrogenase in mitochondria, a critical enzyme in the 'malate circulation' pathway. This study investigates the functional role of BomMDH1 in malate (MA)-induced apoptosis in bright yellow-2 (BY-2) suspension cells. Findings revealed that transgenic cells overexpressing BomMDH1 showed enhanced viability under MA-induced oxidative stress compared to wild-type (WT) cells. Overexpression of BomMDH1 also reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while increasing the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes such as NtAPX, NtAOX1a, NtSOD, and NtMDHAR. Additionally, treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), a characteristic inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, further improved the anti-apoptotic activity of BY-2 cells. Overall, these results highlighted the function of the BomMDH1 gene and the potential of SHAM treatment in mitigating oxidative stress in BY-2 suspension cells.

Harnessing Therapeutic Potentials of Biochanin A in Neurological Disorders: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Overview

Biochanin A, an isoflavone flavonoid with estrogenic activity, is naturally found in red clover and other legumes. It possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects. In recent years, a growing body of pre-clinical research has focused on exploring the therapeutic potential of biochanin A in various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, ischemic brain injury, gliomas, and neurotoxicity. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to the neuroprotective role of biochanin A based on previous pre-clinical studies. Furthermore, it provides a detailed overview of the protective effects of biochanin A in diverse neurological disorders. The review also addresses the limitations associated with biochanin A administration and discusses different approaches employed to overcome these challenges. Finally, it highlights the future opportunities for translating biochanin A from pre-clinical research to clinical studies while also considering its commercial viability as a dietary supplement or a potential treatment for various diseases.

Quality changes of whitespotted conger (Conger myriaster) based physicochemical changes and label-free proteomics analysis during frozen storage

Whitespotted conger (Conger myriaster) muscle proteins were susceptible to oxidative denaturation during frozen storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the alterations in quality through physicochemical analysis and proteomics after whitespotted conger stored at temperatures of -18 °C and -60 °C. The microstructural observation revealed the noticeable variations such as increased interstitial space and fractured muscle fibre with extension of frozen storage time, and the muscle fibre of whitespotted conger stored at -60 °C were more intact than those stored at -18 °C. The raised TVB-N value indicated that the freshness of whitespotted conger decreased during 120-day frozen storage period. Analysis of myofibrillar protein content and SDS-PAGE demonstrated that compared to -18 °C, lower storage temperature (-60 °C) could better maintain the structure of whitespotted conger muscle by inhibiting protein degradation and oxidation. To reveal the mechanism of protein degradation, label-free quantitative proteomic analysis was performed through LC-MS/MS. The structural proteins including domain-associated proteins and actin-related proteins were up-regulated during frozen storage, but the phosphoglycerate kinase, phosphoglycerate mutase, and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase were down-regulated. Storage at -18 °C accelerated the up- or down-regulation of those differentially abundant proteins. According to KEGG analysis, up- or down-regulated pathways such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, and calcium signalling pathway mainly accounted for the protein degradation and quality reduction of whitespotted conger at low temperature. These results provided a theoretical basis for improving the quality stability of whitespotted conger during frozen storage.

Assessing the hepatotoxicity of phosphogypsum leachate in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The improper disposal of large amounts of phosphogypsum generated during the production process of the phosphorus chemical industry (PCI) still exists. The leachate formed by phosphogypsum stockpiles could pose a threat to the ecological environment and human health. Nevertheless, information regarding the harmful effects of phosphogypsum leachate on organisms is still limited. Herein, the physicochemical characteristics of phosphogypsum leachate were analyzed, and its toxicity effect on zebrafish (Danio rerio), particularly in terms of hepatotoxicity and potential mechanisms, were evaluated. The results indicated that P, NH3-N, TN, F-, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Hg of phosphogypsum leachate exceeded the V class of surface water environmental quality standards (GB 3838-2002) to varying degrees. Acute toxicity test showed that the 96 h LC50 values of phosphogypsum leachate to zebrafish was 2.08 %. Under exposure to phosphogypsum leachate, zebrafish exhibited concentration-dependent liver damage, characterized by vacuolization and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The increased in Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and altered activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver indicated the induction of oxidative stress and oxidative damage. The expression of apoptosis-related genes (P53, PUMA, Caspase3, Bcl-2, and Bax) were up-regulated at low dosage group and down-regulated at medium and high dosage groups, suggesting the occurrence of hepatocyte apoptosis or necrosis. Additionally, phosphogypsum leachate influenced the composition of the zebrafish gut microbiota by reducing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Vibrio, and increasing that of Rhodobacter and Pirellula. Correlation analysis revealed that gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with phosphogypsum leachate-induced hepatotoxicity. Altogether, exposure to phosphogypsum leachate caused liver damage in zebrafish, likely through oxidative stress and apoptosis, with the intestinal flora also playing a significant role. These findings contribute to understanding the ecological toxicity of phosphogypsum leachate and promote the sustainable development of PCI.

Platycodin D Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes-Induced Myocardial Injury by Activating the AMPK Signaling Pathway

The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological intervention with Platycodin D (PD), a critically active compound isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, in mitigating cardiotoxicity in a murine model of type 2 diabetes-induced cardiac injury and in H9c2 cells in vitro. Following oral administration for 4 weeks, PD (2.5 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the elevation of fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, improved dyslipidemia, and effectively inhibited the rise of the cardiac injury markers creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT). PD treatment could ameliorate energy metabolism disorders induced by impaired glucose uptake by activating AMPK protein expression in the DCM mouse model, thereby promoting the GLUT4 transporter and further activating autophagy-related proteins. Furthermore, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PD exerted a concentration-dependent increase in cell viability while also inhibiting palmitic acid and glucose (HG-PA)-stimulated H9c2 cytotoxicity and activating AMPK protein expression. Notably, the AMPK activator AICAR (1 mM) was observed to upregulate the expression of AMPK in H9c2 cells after high-glucose and -fat exposure. Meanwhile, we used AMPK inhibitor Compound C (20 μM) to investigate the effect of PD activation of AMPK on cells. In addition, the molecular docking approach was employed to dock PD with AMPK, revealing a binding energy of -8.2 kcal/mol and indicating a tight interaction between the components and the target. PD could reduce the expression of autophagy-related protein p62, reduce the accumulation of autophagy products, promote the flow of autophagy, and improve myocardial cell injury. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that PD effectively inhibits cardiac injury-induced type 2 diabetes in mice and enhances energy metabolism in HG-PA-stimulated H9c2 cells by activating the AMPK signaling pathway. These findings collectively unveil the potential cardioprotective effects of PD via modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway.

The anti-cancer drug candidate CBL0137 induced necroptosis via forming left-handed Z-DNA and its binding protein ZBP1 in liver cells

CBL0137, a promising small molecular anti-cancer drug candidate, has been found to effectively induce apoptosis via activating p53 and suppressing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). However, it is still not clear whether CBL0137 can induce necroptosis in liver cancer; and if so, what is the underlying molecular mechanism. Here we found that CBL0137 could significantly induce left-handed double helix structure Z-DNA formation in HepG2 cells as shown by Z-DNA specific antibody assay, which was further confirmed by observing the expression of Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). Interestingly, we found that caspase inhibition significantly promoted CBL0137-induced necroptosis, which was further supported with the increase of the late apoptosis and necrosis assessed by the flow cytometry. Furthermore, we found that CBL0137 can also induce the expression of the three necroptosis-related proteins: receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3), and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). Taken together, it was assumed that CBL0137-indued necroptosis in liver cells was due to induction of Z-DNA and ZBP1, which activated RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway. This represents the first report on the induction of the Z-DNA-mediated necroptosis by CBL0137 in the liver cancer cells, which should provide new perspectives for CBL0137 treatment of liver cancer.

Preparation of a new resource food-arabinogalactan and its protective effect against enterotoxicity in IEC-6 cells by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

Plant polysaccharides can be used as bioactive natural polymers that provide health benefits, however high molecular weight neutral polysaccharides have not shown good bioactivity. In this study, high molecular weight neutral arabinogalactan was isolated and structurally characterized to investigate it antioxidant activity against IEC-6 cells. In this study, a neutral polysaccharide (AG-40-I-II) was obtained from the roots of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. and purified using ethanol fractional precipitation and purification on a DEAE-52 cellulose column and a Superose 12 gel filtration column. The structural characteristics of AG-40-I-II was detected by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The results showed that the average molecular weight of AG-40-I-II was 18.6 kDa, the main chain was composed of →4)-β-D-Gal-(1, → 4, 6)-β-D-Gal-(1 and →4)-β- D-Glc-(1, the side chain is composed of T-β-L-Araf(1 → 6). The effect of AG-40-I-II on H2O2-induced IEC-6 cell injury was determined by MTT method. Besides, AG-40-I-II could reduce the level of MDA and increase SOD activity on IEC-6 cells, which could significantly inhibit the production of ROS. Importantly, AG-40-I-II inhibited the splicing of XBP1 by IRE1α through the ERS pathway and reduced the cell apoptosis induced by H2O2. In summary, the results of this study indicate that AG-40-I-II, as a natural source of plant polysaccharides, has good antioxidant activity, and is expected to become a safe plant source of natural antioxidants, which has great potential in biomedicine potential.

Myocardial Protection by Desflurane: From Basic Mechanisms to Clinical Applications

ABSTRACT

Coronary heart disease is an affliction that is common and has an adverse effect on patients' quality of life and survival while also raising the risk of intraoperative anesthesia. Mitochondria are the organelles most closely associated with the pathogenesis, development, and prognosis of coronary heart disease. Ion abnormalities, an acidic environment, the production of reactive oxygen species, and other changes during abnormal myocardial metabolism cause the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores, which disrupts electron transport, impairs mitochondrial function, and even causes cell death. Differences in reliability and cost-effectiveness between desflurane and other volatile anesthetics are minor, but desflurane has shown better myocardial protective benefits in the surgical management of patients with coronary artery disease. The results of myocardial protection by desflurane are briefly summarized in this review, and biological functions of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, mitochondrial electron transport chain, reactive oxygen species, adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels, G protein-coupled receptors, and protein kinase C are discussed in relation to the protective mechanism of desflurane. This article also discusses the effects of desflurane on patient hemodynamics, myocardial function, and postoperative parameters during coronary artery bypass grafting. Although there are limited and insufficient clinical investigations, they do highlight the possible advantages of desflurane and offer additional suggestions for patients.

Anoikis resistance--protagonists of breast cancer cells survive and metastasize after ECM detachment

Breast cancer exhibits the highest global incidence among all tumor types. Regardless of the type of breast cancer, metastasis is a crucial cause of poor prognosis. Anoikis, a form of apoptosis initiated by cell detachment from the native environment, is an outside-in process commencing with the disruption of cytosolic connectors such as integrin-ECM and cadherin-cell. This disruption subsequently leads to intracellular cytoskeletal and signaling pathway alterations, ultimately activating caspases and initiating programmed cell death. Development of an anoikis-resistant phenotype is a critical initial step in tumor metastasis. Breast cancer employs a series of stromal alterations to suppress anoikis in cancer cells. Comprehensive investigation of anoikis resistance mechanisms can inform strategies for preventing and regressing metastatic breast cancer. The present review first outlines the physiological mechanisms of anoikis, elucidating the alterations in signaling pathways, cytoskeleton, and protein targets that transpire from the outside in upon adhesion loss in normal breast cells. The specific anoikis resistance mechanisms induced by pathological changes in various spatial structures during breast cancer development are also discussed. Additionally, the genetic loci of targets altered in the development of anoikis resistance in breast cancer, are summarized. Finally, the micro-RNAs and targeted drugs reported in the literature concerning anoikis are compiled, with keratocin being the most functionally comprehensive. Video Abstract.

Advances in mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related drugs in glioblastoma treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). It is a leading cause of death among patients with intracranial malignant tumors. GBM exhibits intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity, leading to drug resistance and eventual tumor recurrence. Conventional treatments for GBM include maximum surgical resection of glioma tissue, temozolomide administration, and radiotherapy, but these methods do not effectively halt cancer progression. Therefore, development of novel methods for the treatment of GBM and identification of new therapeutic targets are urgently required. In recent years, studies have shown that drugs related to mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways can promote the death of glioblastoma cells by inducing mitochondrial damage, impairing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and depleting large amounts of ATP. Some studies have also shown that modern nano-drug delivery technology targeting mitochondria can achieve better drug release and deeper tissue penetration, suggesting that mitochondria could be a new target for intervention and therapy. The combination of drugs targeting mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy pathways with nanotechnology is a promising novel approach for treating GBM.This article reviews the current status of drug therapy for GBM, drugs targeting mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways, the potential of mitochondria as a new target for GBM treatment, the latest developments pertaining to GBM treatment, and promising directions for future research.

The role of peptides in reversing chemoresistance of breast cancer: current facts and future prospects

Breast cancer is the first malignant tumor in women, and its incidence is also increasing year by year. Chemotherapy is one of the standard therapies for breast cancer, but the resistance of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs is a huge challenge for the effective treatment of breast cancer. At present, in the study of reversing the drug resistance of solid tumors such as breast cancer, peptides have the advantages of high selectivity, high tissue penetration, and good biocompatibility. Some of the peptides that have been studied can overcome the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs in the experiment, and effectively control the growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Here, we describe the mechanism of different peptides in reversing breast cancer resistance, including promoting cancer cell apoptosis; promoting non-apoptotic regulatory cell death of cancer cells; inhibiting the DNA repair mechanism of cancer cells; improving the tumor microenvironment; inhibiting drug efflux mechanism; and enhancing drug uptake. This review focuses on the different mechanisms of peptides in reversing breast cancer drug resistance, and these peptides are also expected to create clinical breakthroughs in promoting the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer patients and improving the survival rate of patients.

A PKM2 inhibitor induces apoptosis and autophagy through JAK2 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

The enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is involved in glycolysis, which plays an important role in the regulation of tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of N-(4-(3-(3-(methylamino)-3-oxopropyl)-5-(4'-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)propiolamide (MTP), a PKM2 inhibitor, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Our results showed that MTP inhibited cell growth with IC50 values of 0.59 μM and 0.78 μM in SCC2095 and HSC3 OSCC cells, respectively. MTP induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was associated with the modulation of PKM2 and oncogenic biomarkers epidermal growth factor receptor and β-catenin. In addition, MTP increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulated the expression of autophagic gene products, including LC3B-II and p62. Western blotting showed that MTP inhibited Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling, and JAK2 overexpression partially reversed MTP-mediated cytotoxicity. Taken together, these data indicate the potential use of MTP as a therapeutic agent for OSCC.

Insights into Canine Infertility: Apoptosis in Chronic Asymptomatic Orchitis

Chronic asymptomatic orchitis (CAO) is a common cause of acquired non-obstructive azoospermia in dogs. To understand the impact and mode of action of apoptosis, we investigated TUNEL, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas/Fas ligand, and caspase 3/8/9 in testicular biopsies of CAO-affected dogs and compared the results to undisturbed spermatogenesis in healthy males (CG). TUNEL⁺ cells were significantly increased in CAO, correlating with the disturbance of spermatogenesis. Bcl-2, Bax (p < 0.01 each), caspase 9 (p < 0.05), Fas, caspase 8 (p < 0.01 each), and caspase 3 (p < 0.05) were significantly increased at the mRNA level, whereas FasL expression was downregulated. Cleaved caspase 3 staining was sporadic in CAO but not in CG. Sertoli cells, some peritubular (CAO/CG) and interstitial immune cells (CAO) stained Bcl-2⁺, with significantly more immunopositive cells in both compartments in CAO compared to CG. Bcl-2 and CD20 co-expressing B lymphocytes were encountered interstitially and in CAO occasionally also found intratubally, underlining their contribution to the maintenance of CAO. Our results support the crucial role of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the pathophysiology of canine CAO. Autoprotective Bcl-2 expression in Sertoli cells and B lymphocytes seems to be functional, however, thereby also maintaining and promoting the disease by immune cell activation.

Neuroprotective effect of piracetam-loaded magnetic chitosan nanoparticles against thiacloprid-induced neurotoxicity in albino rats

Thiacloprid (TH) is a neurotoxic agricultural insecticide and potential food contaminant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between TH exposure and memory dysfunction in rats, as well as the potential protective effect of piracetam and piracetam-loaded magnetic chitosan nanoparticles (PMC NPs). Rats were divided into five equal groups (six rats/group). The control group received saline. Group II was treated with PMC NPs at a dose level of 200 mg/kg body weight (Bwt); Group III was treated with 1/10 LD₅₀ of TH (65 mg/kg Bwt); Group IV was treated with TH (65 mg/kg Bwt) and piracetam (200 mg/kg Bwt); Group V was co-treated with TH (65 mg/kg Bwt) and PMC NPs (200 mg/kg Bwt). All animal groups were dosed daily for 6 weeks by oral gavage. Footprint analysis, hanging wire test, open field test, and Y-maze test were employed to assess behavioral deficits. Animals were euthanized, and brain tissues were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers, proinflammatory cytokines, and gene expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caspase-3. Brain and sciatic nerve tissues were used for the evaluation of histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expression of tau protein and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), respectively. The results revealed that TH-treated rats suffered from oxidative damage and inflammatory effect on the central and peripheral nerves. The administration of PMC NPs considerably protected against TH-induced neuronal damage, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased inflammatory markers, and improved behavioral performance than the group treated with piracetam. The neuroprotective effect of PMC NPs was mediated through the inhibition of GFAP, APP, caspase-3, Tau, and NF-κB gene expression with induction of Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, TH could induce oxidative stress, inflammatory and neurobehavior impairment in rats. However, PMC NPs administration markedly mitigated TH-induced brain toxicity, possibly via oxidative and inflammatory modulation rather than using piracetam alone.

Polarity-Ultrasensitive and Lipophilicity-Enhanced Structurally Modified Hemicyanine for Two-Color Staining to Reveal Cell Apoptosis during Chemotherapy

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a precisely controlled physiological process to sustain tissue homeostasis. Even though the PCD pathways have been explicitly subdivided, the individual cell death process seems to synergistically operate to eliminate cells rather than separately execute signal transduction. Apoptosis is the dominant intracellular PCD subtype, which is intimately regulated and controlled by mitochondria, thus tracing mitochondrial actions could reveal the dynamic changes of apoptosis, which may provide important tools for screening preclinical therapeutic agents. Herein, we exploited an innovative fluorophore Cy496 based on the light-initiated cleavage reaction. Cy496 bears the typical D-π-A structure and serves as a versatile building block for chemosensor construction through flexible side chains. By regulating lipophilicity and basicity through bis-site substitution, we synthesized a series of fluorescence probes and screened a novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric probe Cy1321, which can real-time evaluate the dynamic changes of mitochondrial micropolarity mediated by bis-cholesterol anchoring. Cy1321 has realized two-color quantification and real-time visualization of polarity fluctuations on chemotherapy agent (cisplatin)-induced apoptosis through flow cytometry and confocal imaging and also achieved the purpose of detecting mitochondria-related apoptosis at the level of tissues. It is envisioned that Cy1321 has sufficient capability as a promising and facile tool for the evaluation of apoptosis and contributing to therapeutic drug screening.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Signaling and Neuronal Cell Death

Besides protein processing, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has several other functions such as lipid synthesis, the transfer of molecules to other cellular compartments, and the regulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Before leaving the organelle, proteins must be folded and post-translationally modified. Protein folding and revision require molecular chaperones and a favorable ER environment. When in stressful situations, ER luminal conditions or chaperone capacity are altered, and the cell activates signaling cascades to restore a favorable folding environment triggering the so-called unfolded protein response (UPR) that can lead to autophagy to preserve cell integrity. However, when the UPR is disrupted or insufficient, cell death occurs. This review examines the links between UPR signaling, cell-protective responses, and death following ER stress with a particular focus on those mechanisms that operate in neurons.

Seaweed-associated heterotrophic Bacillus altitudinis MTCC13046: a promising marine bacterium for use against human hepatocellular adenocarcinoma

Since the report of the antibiotic with anticancer properties, scientists have been focusing to isolate and characterize novel anti-microbial natural products possessing anticancer activities. The current study describes the production of seaweed-associated heterotrophic Bacillus altitudinis MTCC13046 with potential anticancer properties. The bacterium was screened for its capacity to diminish the cell proliferation of the human hepatocellular adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line, without upsetting the normal cells. The bacterial extract showed anticancer properties in a dose-reactive form against HepG2 (IC₅₀, half maximal inhibitory concentration ~ 29.5 µg/ml) on tetrazolium bromide analysis with less significant cytotoxicity on common fibroblast (HDF) cells (IC₅₀ ~ 77 µg/ml). The potential antioxidant ability of the organic extract of B. altitudinis MTCC13046 (IC₉₀ 133 µg/ml) could corroborate its capacity to attenuate the pathophysiology leading to carcinogenesis. The results of the apoptosis assay showed that the crude extracts of B. altitudinis maintained 68% viability in normal cells compared to 11% in the cancer cells (IC₅₀ 76.9 µg/ml). According to the findings, B. altitudinis MTCC13046 could be used to develop prospective anticancer agents.

Ellagic acid as a potent anticancer drug: A comprehensive review on in vitro, in vivo, in silico, and drug delivery studies

Ellagic acid as a polyphenol or micronutrient, which can be naturally found in different vegetables and fruits, has gained considerable attention for cancer therapy due to considerable biological activities and different molecular targets. Ellagic acid with low hydrolysis and lipophilic and hydrophobic nature is not able to be absorbed in circulation. So, accumulation inside the intestinal epithelial cells or metabolization to other urolithins leads to the limitation of direct evaluation of EA effects in clinical studies. This review focuses on the studies which supported anticancer activity of pure or fruit-extracted ellagic acid through in vitro, in vivo, in silico, and drug delivery methods. The results demonstrate ellagic acid modulates the expression of various genes incorporated in the cancer-related process of apoptosis and proliferation, inflammation related-gens, and oxidative-related genes. Moreover, the ellagic acid formulation in carriers composed of lipid, silica, chitosan, iron- bovine serum albumin nanoparticles obviously enhanced the stable release and confident delivery with minimum loss. Also, in silico analysis proved that ellagic acid was able to be placed at a position of cocrystal ADP, in the deep cavity of the protein target, and tightly interact with binding pocket residues leading to suppression of substrate availability of protein and its activation inhibition.

Combined Effect of Neutron Radiation and Curcumin on Breast Cancer Cells Cytotoxicity in 3D Culture Medium

Introduction

Introduction: Chemotherapy, biotherapy, and radiotherapy play a limited but important role in treating breast cancer. For more efficient treatment, combination therapy could be an appropriate option. In this study, radiotherapy using neutron radiation emitted from a 241Am-Be neutron source, as well as biotherapy using curcumin (80 μM) was combined to investigate the efficiency of treatment towards MCF-7 breast cancer in a three dimensional (3D) culture medium.

Methods

Methods: MTT, neutral red uptake assay, nitric oxide, glutathione assay, catalase, cytochrome c, comet assay, and caspase-3 were used to determine the effect of neutron radiation and also neutron and curcumin combination on the viability of cancer cells.

Results

Results: The results of cytotoxicity test showed that neutron irradiation with or without curcumin at 5, 10, 15, and 20 h reduced the survival of tumor cells. Moreover, the rate of apoptosis due to the neutron effect at different irradiation times enhanced with the increasing time.

Conclusion

Conclusion: Due to the significant anticancer effect of curcumin in 3D culture, using this molecule before or after neutron therapy is recommended.

The effect of <em>Lactobacillus casei</em> and <em>Bacillus coagulans</em> probiotics on liver damage induced by silver nanoparticles and expression of Bax, Bcl2 and Caspase 3 genes in male rats

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus casei probiotics on liver damage induced by silver nanoparticles and expression of Bax, Bcl2 and Caspase 3 genes in rats. 32 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four healthy groups (control), the group receiving silver nanoparticles treated with L. casei, the group receiving silver nanoparticles treated with B. coagulans and the group receiving only silver nanoparticles. The effect of nanoparticles was induced by intraperitoneal injection of silver nanoparticles prepared from nettle at a dose of 50 mg/kg and entered the liver tissue through the bloodstream. Two days after injection, probiotic treatment with 109 CFU was performed by gavage for 30 days. One day after the last gavage, rat liver tissue weight was assessed. Also, the total amount of RNA was extracted from treated, and healthy tissues, as well as induced silver nanoparticles tissues, then evaluated by Real Time PCR. Data were evaluated using one-way Anova, Tukey test. Based on the biochemical results of this study, exposure of rats to different concentrations of silver nanoparticles compared with the control group caused a significant increase in the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), especially at high concentrations. Evaluation of damage and histopathological lesions showed that silver nanoparticles in different concentrations caused different damage to liver tissue, so that, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and vascular degeneration were observed at different concentrations by silver nanoparticles. In the present study, the effects of L. casei cell extract on increasing the expression of Bax proapoptotic gene and decreasing Bcl2 gene expression in cancer cells and inducing programmed cell death were shown. In this study, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 genes in the group receiving silver nanoparticles and in the groups treated with probiotics showed significant changes compared to the control group. It can be concluded that the function of silver nanoparticles and the effects of relative improvement of probiotics are from the internal route of apoptosis and factors such as dose, nanoparticle size and nanoparticle coating have an important role in the toxicity of silver nanoparticles, thus the destructive effects on liver tissue could be increased by increasing the concentration of silver nanoparticles.

Effect of methylmercury on fetal neurobehavioral development: an overview of the possible mechanisms of toxicity and the neuroprotective effect of phytochemicals

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a global environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects. Exposure to MeHg via consumption of seafood and fish can severely impact fetal neurobehavioral development even when MeHg levels in maternal blood are as low as about 5 μg/L, which the mother tolerates well. Persistent motor dysfunctions and cognitive deficits may result from trans-placental exposure. The present review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of MeHg toxicity during the period of nervous system development. Although cerebellar Purkinje cells are MeHg targets, the actions of MeHg on thiol components in the neuronal cytoskeleton as well as on mitochondrial enzymes and induction of disturbances of glutamate signaling can impair extra-cerebellar functions, also at levels well tolerated by adult individuals. Numerous herbal substances possess neuroprotective effects, predominantly represented by natural polyphenolic molecules that might be utilized to develop natural drugs to alleviate neurotoxicity symptoms caused by MeHg or other Hg compounds.

Arsenic compounds activate MAPK and inhibit Akt pathways to induce apoptosis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells

Arsenic compounds have been applied treating acute promyelocytic 1eukemia and solid tumors with brief mechanism investigations. In fact, we have demonstrated that sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid could activate apoptosis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells by inducing caspase pathways. However, detail underlying mechanisms how caspase cascade is regulated remains elusive. Therefore, the apoptotic mechanism of sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid were examined in MA-10 cells in this study. Our results reveal that Fas/FasL protein expressions were stimulated by sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid in MA-10 cells. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cytochrome C release, Bid truncation, and Bax translocation were induced in MA-10 cells by arsenic compounds. Moreover, activation of p38, JNK and ERK1/2, MAPK pathways was stimulated while Akt phosphorylated levels and Akt expression were decreased by sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic in MA-10 cells. In conclusion, sodium arsenite and dimethylarsenic acid did activate MAPK pathway plus ROS generation, but suppress Akt pathway, to modulate caspase pathway and then induce MA-10 cell apoptosis.

Gill Junction Injury and Microbial Disorders Induced by Microcystin-Leucine Arginine in Lithobates catesbeianus Tadpoles

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is widely present in waters around the world, but its potential toxic effects and mechanisms on amphibian gills remain unknown. In the present study, tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) were exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of 0.5, 2 μg/L MC-LR, and 0 μg/L MC-LR (Control) for 30 days with the objective to unveil the impairment of gill health. The lysozyme was downregulated, while pattern recognition receptors and complement and adaptive immune processes were upregulated and the ability of gill supernatant to inhibit pathogenic bacteria decreased in the 0.5 and 2 μg/L MC-LR groups. The transcriptions of epithelial barrier components (e.g., CLDN1) were significantly decreased in MC-LR-exposed gills, while the gill content of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins and the transcriptions of downstream responsive genes (e.g., TLR4 and NF-κB) were concurrently increased. In addition, the number of eosinophils and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β and TNF-α) were increased. These results imply that exposure of tadpoles to low environmentally concentrations of MC-LR leads to inflammation, increased permeability, and a reduced ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria. The epithelial cells of inner gill filaments increased and transcriptions of hypoxic stress genes (e.g., HIF-1α, FLT1, and SERPINE1) were upregulated within the exposed group. As a consequence, exposure to MC-LR may lead to hypoxic stress. MC-LR exposure also drove gill microbiota to a dysbiosis. The relative abundance of Elizabethkingia was positively correlated with content of LPS and transcriptions of NF-κB and TNF-α. Overall, this study presents the first evidence about the pronounced impacts of MC-LR exposure on gills of amphibians, highlighting the susceptibility of early developing tadpoles to the environmental risks of MC-LR.

A mitochondria-targeting lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticle for imaging and therapy in an orthotopic glioma model

Hybrid lipid‒nanoparticle complexes have shown attractive characteristics as drug carriers due to their integrated advantages from liposomes and nanoparticles. Here we developed a kind of lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for imaging and treatment in an orthotopic glioma model. LPHNPs were prepared by engineering the co-assembly of lipids and an amphiphilic pheophorbide a‒quinolinium conjugate (PQC), a mitochondria-targeting small molecule. Compared with the pure nanofiber self-assembled by PQC, LPHNPs not only preserve the comparable antiproliferative potency, but also possess a spherical nanostructure that allows the PQC molecules to be administrated through intravenous injection. Also, this co-assembly remarkably improved the drug-loading capacity and formulation stability against the physical encapsulation using conventional liposomes. By integrating the advantages from liposome and PQC molecule, LPHNPs have minimal system toxicity, enhanced potency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and visualization capacities of drug biodistribution and tumor imaging. The hybrid nanoparticle demonstrates excellent curative effects to significantly prolong the survival of mice with the orthotopic glioma. The unique co-assembly of lipid and small molecule provides new potential for constructing new liposome-derived nanoformulations and improving cancer treatment.

CD3+CD4-CD8- (Double-Negative) T Cells in Inflammation, Immune Disorders and Cancer

The crucial role of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in shaping and controlling immune responses during immune disease and cancer development has been well established and used to achieve marked clinical benefits. CD3⁺CD4^-CD8^- double-negative (DN) T cells, although constituting a rare subset of peripheral T cells, are gaining interest for their roles in inflammation, immune disease and cancer. Herein, we comprehensively review the origin, distribution and functions of this unique T cell subgroup. First, we focused on characterizing multifunctional DN T cells in various immune responses. DN regulatory T cells have the capacity to prevent graft-versus-host disease and have therapeutic value for autoimmune disease. T helper-like DN T cells protect against or promote inflammation and virus infection depending on the specific settings and promote certain autoimmune disease. Notably, we clarified the role of DN tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and outlined the potential for malignant proliferation of DN T cells. Finally, we reviewed the recent advances in the applications of DN T cell-based therapy for cancer. In conclusion, a better understanding of the heterogeneity and functions of DN T cells may help to develop DN T cells as a potential therapeutic tool for inflammation, immune disorders and cancer.

Bioaccumulation and toxicity effects of flubendiamide in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Flubendiamide is a widely used diamide insecticide with many adverse effects on environmental organisms. This study assessed its bioaccumulation and toxicity effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using LC-MS/MS. The concentrations of flubendiamide in the whole zebrafish increased in the early stages and achieved steady levels at 14 days. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of flubendiamide was 1.125-2.011. Although flubendiamide did not significantly affect the growth phenotypes of zebrafish, it significantly changed the hepatic somatic index (HSI) of zebrafish. Histopathological analysis showed that flubendiamide could cause structural damage to the liver tissue of zebrafish. Further physiological and biochemical analysis showed that flubendiamide significantly changed the activity of catalase (CAT) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in liver of zebrafish. Moreover, flubendiamide significantly changed the mRNA expression levels of cell apoptosis-related genes, including p53, puma, caspase-3, caspase-9, apaf-1, and bax in liver of zebrafish. In summary, these results indicate that flubendiamide can cause liver damage by inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver of zebrafish. This study provides a background for further safety evaluation of flubendiamide to aquatic organisms.

TBBPA and its alternative TCBPA induced ROS-dependent mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the liver of Rana nigromaculata

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), which is the most widely employed brominated flame retardant, and its alternative tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) are widely distributed in aquatic environments. In the present study, the hepatotoxicity induced by TBBPA and TCBPA was investigated in Rana nigromaculata, and the potential mechanisms were investigated with a particular focus on ROS (reactive oxygen species) -dependent mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Healthy adult frogs were exposed to 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L waterborne TBBPA and TCBPA for 14 days. The results showed that liver weight was significantly increased by 51.52%-98.99% in the 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L TBBPA and TCBPA groups relative to the control. Histological examination revealed that the structure of the liver, to some extent, was influenced by TBBPA and TCBPA with nuclear shrinkage and mitochondrial swelling. Meanwhile, TBBPA and TCBPA have significantly increased the alanine transaminase level in serum and the content of ROS, while inhibiting the activity of superoxide dismutase in the liver. In addition, DNA fragments were observed in the TBBPA and TCBPA groups relative to the control. Expression of Cytochrome C was significantly increased by 1.13-, 1.38-, 1.60-, and 2.46-fold in 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L TBBPA, and by 1.26-, 1.51-, 2.14-, and 2.98- fold in 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L TCBPA, respectively, which indicated that TCBPA may be more toxic than TBBPA. Similarly, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that apoptosis in the ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway mediates hepatotoxicity caused by TBBPA and TCBPA. The present study will facilitate an understanding of the toxicity mechanism of flame retardants.

In Vitro Neurotoxicity of Flumethrin Pyrethroid on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells: Apoptosis Associated with Oxidative Stress

Pyrethroids are neurotoxicants for animals, showing a pattern of toxic action on the nervous system. Flumethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is used against ectoparasites in domestic animals, plants, and for public health. This compound has been shown to be highly toxic to bees, while its effects on other animals have been less investigated. However, in vitro studies to evaluate cytotoxicity are scarce, and the mechanisms associated with this effect at the molecular level are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress and cell death induction in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in response to flumethrin exposure (1–1000 µM). Flumethrin induced a significant cytotoxic effect, as evaluated by MTT and LDH leakage assays, and produced an increase in the biomarkers of oxidative stress as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (ROS and NO) generation, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and caspase-3 activity. In addition, flumethrin significantly increased apoptosis-related gene expressions (Bax, Casp-3, BNIP3, APAF1, and AKT1) and oxidative stress and antioxidative (NFκB and SOD2) mediators. The results demonstrated, by biochemical and gene expression assays, that flumethrin induces oxidative stress and apoptosis, which could cause DNA damage. Detailed knowledge obtained about these molecular changes could provide the basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of flumethrin-induced neurotoxicity.

The concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic apoptosis

Regulated cell death is a vital and dynamic process in multicellular organisms that maintains tissue homeostasis and eliminates potentially dangerous cells. Apoptosis, one of the better-known forms of regulated cell death, is activated when cell-surface death receptors like Fas are engaged by their ligands (the extrinsic pathway) or when BCL-2-family pro-apoptotic proteins cause the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane (the intrinsic pathway). Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis lead to the activation of a family of proteases, the caspases, which are responsible for the final cell demise in the so-called execution phase of apoptosis. In this review, I will first discuss the most common types of regulated cell death on a morphological basis. I will then consider in detail the molecular pathways of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, discussing how they are activated in response to specific stimuli and are sometimes overlapping. In-depth knowledge of the cellular mechanisms of apoptosis is becoming more and more important not only in the field of cellular and molecular biology but also for its translational potential in several pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer.

Melatonin Hormone Acts on Cells of Maternal Blood and Placenta From Diabetic Mothers

Changes in glucose metabolism of diabetic mothers affect immunological components, proinflammatory factors, and placental hypervascularization that can induce cell death. The hormone melatonin has been identified as a potential modulating agent. The aim of this study was to analyze the oxidative process and the apoptosis in maternal blood and placental cells modulated by melatonin from diabetic mothers. The groups were 40 pregnant women divided into non-diabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) groups. Blood and placental cells were obtained by density gradient and maintained in culture treated or not with melatonin (100 ng/mL) for 24 h (37°C, 5% CO2). Oxidative stress was evaluated by superoxide release and CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD). Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Maternal hyperglycemia increased superoxide release and apoptosis in MN cells from maternal blood and reduced SOD level and SOD/O2- ratio. Melatonin reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis rates in MN cells in the blood of diabetic mothers. There was a reduction in SOD and SOD/O2- ratio in the placental extravillous layer, and melatonin restored the concentrations of this enzyme. There was greater superoxide release, reduced SOD/O2- ratio, and apoptosis in MN cells placental villous layer. Melatonin increased apoptosis rates in the placental villous layer from hyperglycemic mothers. These data suggest that hyperglycemia altered the processes oxidative in blood and placenta from hyperglycemic mothers. These changes reflected in the mechanisms of induction of apoptosis, especially in the vascularized layers of the placenta, and were modulated by melatonin.

The mechanism of apoptosis of Chlamys farreri hemocytes under benzopyrene stress in vitro

Hemocytes are critical to the immune defense system of bivalves, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can mediate the immunity of bivalves by affecting the apoptosis of hemocytes. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Chlamys farreri, as an important economic bivalve, was selected as the research subject for this experimentation. The hemocytes were exposed to typical PAHs-benzopyrene (B[a]P) in vitro to explore the apoptosis mechanism through detecting oxidative stress and oxidative damage-related indicators, apoptosis pathway factors, and apoptosis rate within 24 h. The results showed that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) content in hemocytes increased significantly under B[a]P exposure, while antioxidant genes, glutathione peroxidase content and total antioxidant capacity all showed a trend of first rising and subsequent falling. B[a]P also caused serious damage to DNA and lysosomal membrane stability. The proapoptotic factors genes in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway were significantly up-regulated, and the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated. Besides, mitochondrial membrane potential stability was significantly reduced and caspase 9 enzyme activity was significantly improved with the B[a]P stimulation. The factors of death receptor pathway were also significantly up-regulated by B[a]P. Moreover, the expression levels of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases were also induced. The gene expression and enzyme activity of the caspase 3 and the apoptosis rate were significantly increased under B[a]P exposure. In conclusion, these results indicated that ROS was induced by B[a]P, and further triggered the oxidative stress and oxidative damage in hemocytes. B[a]P induced hemocyte apoptosis was mediated by both mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and death receptor apoptosis, and the activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was affected by ROS. In addition, BPDE and MAPKs may play important roles in the B[a]P-mediated apoptosis pathway. This study deepens understanding of the apoptosis pathway and the immunotoxicity mechanism in bivalves hemocytes stimulated by persistent organic pollutants.

OLFML2A Downregulation Inhibits Glioma Proliferation Through Suppression of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Glioma is a highly heterogeneous and lethal tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. Through analysis of TCGA data, we identified that OLFML2A is a key promotor of gliomagenesis. However, the molecular function of OLFML2A and its underlying mechanism of action in glioma remain unclear. In this study, we found that OLFML2A expression was significantly upregulated in glioma specimens and positively correlated with pathological grades in glioma patients. Moreover, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of TCGA data revealed that glioma patients with higher OLFML2A expression had shorter overall survival. Importantly, OLFML2A knockdown in glioma cells inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, OLFML2A downregulation inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling by upregulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression and reducing stabilized β-catenin levels, leading to the repression of MYC, CD44, and CSKN2A2 expression. Furthermore, OLFML2A downregulation suppressed the growth of transplanted glioma subcutaneously and intracranially by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway-dependent cell proliferation. By uncovering the oncogenic effects in human and rodent gliomas, our data support OLFML2A as a potential therapeutic target for glioma.

Revealing Sulfur Dioxide Regulation to Nucleophagy in Embryo Development by an Adaptive Coloration Probe

Understanding signaling molecules in regulating organelles dynamics and programmed cell death is critical for embryo development but is also challenging because current imaging probes are incapable of simultaneously imaging the signaling molecules and the intracellular organelles they interact with. Here, we report a chemically and environmentally dual-responsive imaging probe that can react with gasotransmitters and label cell nuclei in distinctive fluorescent colors, similar to the adaptive coloration of chameleons. Using this intracellular chameleon-like probe in three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution dynamic imaging of live cells, we discovered SO₂ as a critical upstream signaling molecule that activates nucleophagy in programmed cell death. An elevated level of SO₂ prompts kiss fusion between the lysosomal and nuclear membranes and nucleus shrinkage and rupture. Significantly, we revealed that the gasotransmitter SO₂ is majorly generated in the yolk, induces autophagy there at the initial stage of embryo development, and is highly related to the development of the auditory nervous system.

Chrysophanol Induced Glioma Cells Apoptosis via Activation of Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway

Glioma is a common intracranial tumor originated from neuroglia cell. Chrysophanol is an anthraquinone derivative proved to exert anticancer effects in various cancers. This paper investigated the effect and mechanism of chrysophanol in glioma. Glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44 were adopted in the experiments. The cells were treated with chrysophanol at different concentrations (0, 10, 20 50, 100 and 200 μM) for 48 h in the study, and then processed with MitoTempo. Mitochondria and cytosol were isolated to investigate the role of mitochondria during chrysophanol functioning on glioma cells. Cell viability was detected through 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-Thiazolyl)-2,5-Diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, and cell apoptosis, cell cycle as well as relative reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry. Expressions of Cytosol Cyt C, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E were evaluated by western blot. In U251 and SHG-44 cells, with chrysophanol concentration rising, cell viability, expressions of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E were decreased while cell apoptosis, levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and Cytosol Cyt C as well as ROS accumulation were increased with cell cycle arrested in G1 phase. Besides, chrysophanol promoted ROS accumulation, cell apoptosis and transfer of Cyt C from mitochondria to cytosol in cells while MitoTempo partly reversed the effect of chrysophanol. Chrysophanol promoted cell apoptosis via activating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in glioma.

Cysteamine mitigates torsion/detorsion-induced reperfusion injury via inhibition of apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in experimental rat model

Oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis are major pathways in pathophysiology of testicular torsion/detorsion (TTDT) reperfusion injury. This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic role of cysteamine in TTDT-induced injury. Male Wistar rats (n = 32) were grouped into four (n = 8): sham, ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), cysteamine (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) for in vivo study. Samples were taken for biomolecular and histological evaluation 48 hr after detorsion. Tissue SOD, GPx, GSH, GST activity, total thiol, H₂ O₂ and MDA were assessed. Serum levels of NO, MPO, TNF-alpha and IL-6 and sperm motility, count and viability were assessed. Caspase-3 and bax were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Significant difference was set as p < .05. Significant increase in H₂ O_2, MDA and nitrite but reduction in SOD, GPx, GSH, GST and total thiol in the testicular tissue of IRI rats was reversed by cysteamine. Serum MPO and TNF-α were significantly elevated in RI, while treated-RI rats showed decrease (p < .05) in tissue level of the inflammation markers. Reduced sperm motility in RI was significantly reversed by cysteamine. Increased tissue expression of bax and caspase-3 was reversed by cysteamine. Cysteamine protected the testis against reperfusion injury through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects and inhibition of apoptosis in rats.

Dieckol exerts anticancer activity in human osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone cancer with more metastasis and increased occurrence in children and teen-agers and being responsible for more number of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Objective

The current exploration was planned study the in vitro anticancer actions of dieckol against human OS MG-63 cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling inhibition.

Methodology

The cytotoxicity of dieckol was scrutinized by MTT assay. Effects of dieckol on the ROS accumulation, apoptotic cell death, and MMP level in the MG-63 cells were studied by respective fluorescence staining assays. The levels of proliferative, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers in the dieckol treated MG-63 cells were scrutinized by marker specific kits. The expressions of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was assayed by RT-PCR.

Results

The MTT assay revealed that the dieckol dose dependently prevented MG-63 cells viability and the IC50 was found at 15 µM. Dieckol treatment effectively reduced the MMP level and improved the ROS generation and apoptosis in MG-63 cells. Dieckol also regulated the proliferative (cyclin D1), inflammatory (COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB), and apoptotic (caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2) markers in the MG-63 cells. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the MG-63 cells were effectively inhibited by the dieckol treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our findings from this study recommends that the dieckol could be a talented anticancer candidate for the OS management in the future.

Crosstalk of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in the Induction of Apoptosis on Cancer Cells

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a major role in cell survival and proliferation, as well as in angiogenesis, migration, invasion, metastasis, and stem cell renewal in various cancer types. However, the modulation (either up- or downregulation) of this pathway can inhibit cell proliferation and apoptosis both through β-catenin-dependent and independent mechanisms, and by crosstalk with other signaling pathways in a wide range of malignant tumors. Existing studies have reported conflicting results, indicating that the Wnt signaling can have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressing roles, depending on the cellular context. This review summarizes the available information on the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and its crosstalk with other signaling pathways in apoptosis induction in cancer cells and presents a modified dual-signal model for the function of β-catenin. Understanding the proapoptotic mechanisms induced by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway could open new therapeutic opportunities.

Toxicity evaluation of Eleutherine plicata Herb. extracts and possible cell death mechanism

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Ethanol extract of Eleutherine plicata showed low in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic potential.

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The dichloromethane fraction was cytotoxic to HepG2 and caused DNA. However, no toxicity was observed in vivo.

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Isoeleutherin caused DNA damage by the comet method and activated caspase-8 in the in silico study.

Eleutherine plicata has been shown to be a promising medicinal plant, and its activity has been associated with naphthoquinones. The present study aimed at evaluating the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and oral toxicity of the ethanol extract (EEEp), dichloromethane fraction (FDMEp) of E. plicata, and isoeleutherin. For the cytotoxicity evaluation, the viability test (MTT) was used. Genotoxicity was accessed through the Comet assay (alkaline version), acute and subacute oral toxicities were also evaluated. The antioxidant capacity of the samples in the wells where the cells were treated with E. plicata was evaluated. Furthermore, the participation of caspase-8 in the possible mechanism of action of isoeleutherin, eleutherin, and eleutherol was also investigated through a docking study. FDMEp and isoeleutherin were cytotoxic, with higher rates of DNA fragmentation observed for FDMEp and isoeleutherin, and all samples displayed higher antioxidant potential than the control. In the acute oral toxicity test, EEEp, FDMEp, and isoeleutherin did not cause significant clinical changes. In the subacute toxicity assay, EEEp and FDMEp also did not cause clinical, hematological, or biochemical changes. The three compounds bound similarly to caspase-8. Despite the results of cytotoxicity, in vitro studies demonstrated that the use of EEEp appears to be safe and cell death may involve its binding to caspase-8.

Diarylpentanoid (1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one) (MS13) Exhibits Anti-proliferative, Apoptosis Induction and Anti-migration Properties on Androgen-independent Human Prostate Cancer by Targeting Cell Cycle-Apoptosis and PI3K Signalling Pathways

Diarylpentanoids exhibit a high degree of anti-cancer activity and stability in vitro over curcumin in prostate cancer cells. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of a diarylpentanoid, 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (MS13) on cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative, apoptosis-inducing, anti-migration properties, and the underlying molecular mechanisms on treated androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, DU 145 and PC-3. A cell viability assay has shown greater cytotoxicity effects of MS13-treated DU 145 cells (EC₅₀ 7.57 ± 0.2 µM) and PC-3 cells (EC₅₀ 7.80 ± 0.7 µM) compared to curcumin (EC₅₀: DU 145; 34.25 ± 2.7 µM and PC-3; 27.77 ± 6.4 µM). In addition, MS13 exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity against AIPC cells compared to curcumin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Morphological observation, increased caspase-3 activity, and reduced Bcl-2 protein levels in these cells indicated that MS13 induces apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent. Moreover, MS13 effectively inhibited the migration of DU 145 and PC-3 cells. Our results suggest that cell cycle-apoptosis and PI3K pathways were the topmost significant pathways impacted by MS13 activity. Our findings suggest that MS13 may demonstrate the anti-cancer activity by modulating DEGs associated with the cell cycle-apoptosis and PI3K pathways, thus inhibiting cell proliferation and cell migration as well as inducing apoptosis in AIPC cells.

Role of Cell Death in Cellular Processes During Odontogenesis

The development of a tooth germ in a precise size, shape, and position in the jaw, involves meticulous regulation of cell proliferation and cell death. Apoptosis, as the most common type of programmed cell death during embryonic development, plays a number of key roles during odontogenesis, ranging from the budding of the oral epithelium during tooth initiation, to later tooth germ morphogenesis and removal of enamel knot signaling center. Here, we summarize recent knowledge about the distribution and function of apoptotic cells during odontogenesis in several vertebrate lineages, with a special focus on amniotes (mammals and reptiles). We discuss the regulatory roles that apoptosis plays on various cellular processes during odontogenesis. We also review apoptosis-associated molecular signaling during tooth development, including its relationship with the autophagic pathway. Lastly, we cover apoptotic pathway disruption, and alterations in apoptotic cell distribution in transgenic mouse models. These studies foster a deeper understanding how apoptotic cells affect cellular processes during normal odontogenesis, and how they contribute to dental disorders, which could lead to new avenues of treatment in the future.

Predictive Study of the Active Ingredients and Potential Targets of Codonopsis pilosula for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma via Network Pharmacology

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of primary bone tumor in children and adults. Dangshen (Codonopsis pilosula) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in the treatment of OS worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms of Dangshen in OS remain unclear. Hence, in this study, we aimed to systematically explore the underlying mechanisms of Dangshen in the treatment of OS. Our study adopted a network pharmacology approach, focusing on the identification of active ingredients, drug target prediction, gene collection, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and other network tools. The network analysis identified 15 active compounds in Dangshen that were linked to 48 possible therapeutic targets related to OS. The results of the gene enrichment analysis show that Dangshen produces a therapeutic effect in OS likely by regulating multiple pathways associated with DNA damage, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Based on the network pharmacology approach, we successfully predicted the active compounds and their respective targets. In addition, we illustrated the molecular mechanisms that mediate the therapeutic effect of Dangshen in OS. These findings may aid in the development of novel targeted therapies for OS in the future.

Nano-Sized Hydroxyapatite Induces Apoptosis and Osteogenic Differentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via JNK/c-JUN Pathway

Purpose

The deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystals plays an important role in the development of vascular calcification (VC). This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of nanosized HAp (nHAp) on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and VC progression.

Methods

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine cellular uptake of nHAp. Cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay kit. Mitochondrial impairment and reactive oxygen species were detected by TEM and fluorescence dye staining, respectively. Cell apoptosis was detected by Western blot analysis and Annexin V staining. Mouse model of VC was built via applying nHAp on the surface of abdominal aorta. Calcification was visualized by Alizarin red and von Kossa staining.

Results

We found that nHAp could promote osteogenic transformation of VSMCs by elevating expression of runt-related factor 2 (Runx2), osteopontin (OPN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), impairing function and morphology of mitochondria and inducing apoptosis of VSMCs. More phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase/c-JUN (JNK/c-JUN) in VSMCs was detected after mixing nHAp with VSMCs. HAp-induced osteogenic transformation of VSMCs was blocked by JNK inhibitor SP600125, resulted in decreased ALP activity, less Runx2 and OPN expressions. SP600125 also inhibited apoptosis of VSMCs. Application of nHAp to outside of aorta induced osteogenic transformation and apoptosis of VSMCs, and significant deposition of calcium on the vessel walls of mice, which can be effectively attenuated by SP600125.

Conclusion

JNK/c-JUN signaling pathway is critical for nHAp-induced calcification, which could be a potential therapeutic target for controlling the progression of VC.

Trichosanthin cooperates with Granzyme B to restrain tumor formation in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a common type of oral cancer, with a relatively poor prognosis and low post-treatment survival rate. Various strategies and novel drugs to treat TSCC are emerging and under investigation. Trichosanthin (TCS), extracted from the root tubers of Tian-Hua-Fen, has been found to have multiple biological and pharmacological functions, including inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Granzyme B (GrzB) is a common toxic protein secreted by natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells. Our group has reported that TCS combined with GrzB might be a superior approach to inhibit liver tumor progression, but data relating to the use of this combination to treat TSCC remain limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of TCS on TSCC processes and underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

First, we screened the potential antitumor activity of TCS using two types of SCC cell lines. Subsequently, a subcutaneous squamous cell carcinoma xenograft model in nude mice was established. These model mice were randomly divided into four groups and treated as follows: control group, TCS treatment group, GrzB treatment group, and TCS/GrzB combination treatment group. Various tumorigenesis parameters, such as Ki67, PCNA, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and VEGFA, et al., were performed to determine the effects of these treatments on tumor development.

RESULTS

Screening confirmed that the SCC25 line exhibited greater sensitivity than the SCC15 line to TCS in vitro studies. TCS or GrzB treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with the inhibition seen in the control group. The TCS/GrzB combination inhibited tumor growth more than either drug alone. TCS treatment inhibited tumor proliferation by downregulating Ki67 and Bcl2 protein expression while accelerating tumor apoptosis. In the TCS/GrzB-treated group, expression of Ki67 was further downregulated, while the level of activated caspase-3 was increased, compared with their expression in either of the single drug treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the TCS/GrzB combination could represent an effective immunotherapy for TSCC.

Liberibacter, A Preemptive Bacterium: Apoptotic Response Repression in the Host Gut at the Early Infection to Facilitate Its Acquisition and Transmission

“Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso) is a phloem-limited Gram-negative bacterium that infects crops worldwide. In North America, two haplotypes of Lso (LsoA and LsoB) are transmitted by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), in a circulative and persistent manner. Both haplotypes cause damaging plant diseases (e.g., zebra chip in potatoes). The psyllid gut is the first organ Lso encounters and could be a barrier for its transmission. However, little is known about the psyllid gut immune responses triggered upon Lso infection. In this study, we focused on the apoptotic response in the gut of adult potato psyllids at the early stage of Lso infection. We found that there was no evidence of apoptosis induced in the gut of the adult potato psyllids upon infection with either Lso haplotype based on microscopic observations. However, the expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis IAPP5.2 gene (survivin-like) was significantly upregulated during the period that Lso translocated into the gut cells. Interestingly, silencing of IAPP5.2 gene significantly upregulated the expression of two effector caspases and induced apoptosis in the psyllid gut cells. Moreover, RNA interference (RNAi) of IAPP5.2 significantly decreased the Lso titer in the gut of adult psyllids and reduced their transmission efficiency. Taken together, these observations suggest that Lso might repress the apoptotic response in the psyllid guts by inducing the anti-apoptotic gene IAPP5.2 at an early stage of the infection, which may favor Lso acquisition in the gut cells and facilitate its transmission by potato psyllid.

Novel 3-(3, 5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-(naphthalen-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-one as a potent inhibitor of MAP-kinase in HeLa cell lines and anti-angiogenic activity is mediated by HIF-1α in EAC animal model

In the present investigation, we synthesized chalcone bearing naphthalene compound d1, and on the basis of ¹H-NMR, ¹³C NMR, and LC-MS data we had specified the structure of the synthesized compound. The resultant compound d1 was assessed for their antiproliferative action against human cancer cell lines (HeLa, HCT116, HT29, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and SKBR3). The IC₅₀ range was estimated at 5.58 to 11.13 μM shows that compound d1 had remarkable anticancer activity on HeLa cell lines. Besides, it was discovered that d1 incited the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by controlling Bax and Bcl-2 transcripts by expanding the Caspase 3 activation. We depicted the in-vivo effects of tumor advancement and the antiangiogenic activity of d1 in the EAC animal model. Tumor growth had inhibited and without symptoms the longevity of EAC containing mice expanded by the treatment of d1. Inhibition of nuclear transcriptional factor HIF-1α in EAC cells and finally it also inhibited phosphorylation of downstream signaling proteins such as ERK_1/2, p38, and JNK in HeLa cells. The present investigation uncovered that d1 indicated noteworthy tumor-repressing abilities much less concentration in in-vitro and in-vivo recommended that compound d1 as the potent anticancer medication.

Seaweed-associated heterotrophic bacteria: new paradigm of prospective anti-infective and anticancer agents

Ever since the development of the first antibiotic compound with anticancer potential, researchers focused on isolation and characterization of prospective microbial natural products with potential anti-infective and anticancer activities. The present work describes the production of bioactive metabolites by heterotrophic bacteria associated with intertidal seaweeds with potential anti-infective and anticancer activities. The bacteria were isolated in a culture-dependent method and were identified as Shewanella algae MTCC 12715 (KX272635) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 (KX272634) based on combined phenotypic and genotypic methods. Further, the bacteria were screened for their ability to inhibit drug-resistant infectious pathogens and prevent cell proliferation of human liver carcinoma (HepG2) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines, without affecting the normal cells. Significant anti-infective activity was observed with bacterial cells and their organic extracts against broad-spectrum multidrug-resistant pathogens, such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration ≤ 3.0 µg mL^-1 as compared to the antibiotic agents' chloramphenicol and ampicillin, which were active at ≥ 6.25 mg mL^-1. The extracts also exhibited anticancer activity in a dose-responsive pattern against HepG2 (with IC₅₀, half maximal inhibitory concentration ~ 78-83 µg mL^-1) and MCF7 (IC₅₀ ~ 45-48 µg mL^-1) on tetrazolium bromide screening assay with lesser cytotoxic effects on normal fibroblast (L929) cell lines (IC₅₀ > 100 µg mL^-1). The results revealed that seaweed-associated heterotrophic bacteria could occupy a predominant role for a paradigm shift towards the development of prospective anti-infective and anticancer agents.

Antitumor Activity of the Cardiac Glycoside αlDiginoside by Modulating Mcl-1 in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

We recently isolated a cardiac glycoside (CG), αldiginoside, from an indigenous plant in Taiwan, which exhibits potent tumor-suppressive efficacy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines (SCC2095 and SCC4, IC₅₀ < 0.2 µM; 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays). Here, we report that αldiginoside caused Sphase arrest and apoptosis, through the inhibition of a series of signaling pathways, including those mediated by cyclin E, phospho-CDC25C (p-CDC25C), and janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT)3. αldiginoside induced apoptosis, as indicated by caspase activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Equally important, αldiginoside reduced Mcl-1 expression through protein degradation, and overexpression of Mcl-1 partially protected SCC2095 cells from αldiginoside’s cytotoxicity. Taken together, these data suggest the translational potential of αldiginoside to foster new therapeutic strategies for OSCC treatment.

In-vitro Study of Hottentotta Schach Crude Venom Anticancer Effects on MCF-7 and Vero Cell Lines

Scorpion venoms contain potentially useful pharmacological agents. Several studies demonstrate that the venoms of some scorpions induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of cancer cells; therefore, they have been investigated for isolating anticancer components. In this study, antitumor effects of Hottentotta schach crude venom on MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) as test group and Vero (African green monkey kidney normal cell line) as control group were analyzed. Cell toxicity was analyzed using MTT and neutral red (NR) uptake assays and apoptosis induction was analyzed using comet assay and caspase-3 activity. Oxidative stress following Hottentotta schach crude venom treatment was analyzed using nitrite oxide (NO) determination assay, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase enzyme activity assays. Results showed that crude venom (25-200 μg/mL) induced apoptosis and inhibited the growth of MCF-7 and to a lesser extent in Vero cell lines. Nitrite oxide concentration increased while glutathione concentration and catalase enzyme activity were decreased in MCF-7 cells; however, results in Vero cells were reversed completely. It can be concluded that Hottentotta schach crude venom disturbs the oxidation and reduction potential in cancer cells and ultimately induce apoptosis. So this venom can be used as a good source for isolation and designing new anticancer drugs.