Antioxidant and Wound Healing Property of Gelsolin in 3T3-L1 Cells

Formulation of Asiatic acid-loaded polymeric chitosan-based hydrogel for effective MRSA infection control and enhanced wound healing in zebrafish models

BACKGROUND

Wound healing relies on a controlled inflammatory process vital for tissue regeneration. Chronic wounds, characterized by persistent inflammation and high infection risk, pose significant challenges in healthcare. Hydrogel dressings offer promise in wound care; however, the understanding of their role in managing inflammation and infection remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate these processes and assess the efficacy of Asiatic acid (AA)-infused hydrogels in reducing inflammation and preventing infection. The unique properties of AA suggest its potential to modulate inflammation, promote tissue regeneration, and inhibit microbial colonization, thereby paving the way for specialized dressings that optimize healing outcomes.

METHODS

The investigation encompassed the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility of AA using a fibroblast cell line. A hydrogel incorporating AA was developed and characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle analysis, tensile testing, swelling capacity, and thermal stability assessments. Biodegradability was evaluated via enzymatic degradation, alongside controlled drug release and antibacterial efficacy against MRSA. In vivo studies using a zebrafish model examined wound healing and immune response.

RESULTS

Results confirmed AA's potent antibacterial activity against MRSA and its effectiveness in disrupting mature biofilms. Additionally, AA exhibited strong antioxidant activity and biocompatibility. Morphological analysis revealed a pore structure conducive to wound healing, and the hydrogel demonstrated enhanced tensile strength, swelling properties, and thermal stability. In vivo, the AA-infused hydrogel accelerated wound closure, re-epithelialization, and immune response, supporting its potential for advanced wound care applications. In conclusion, the AA-infused chitosan hydrogel emerges as a promising candidate for advanced wound care therapies.

miRn-3 inhibits cutaneous wound healing by targeting gelsolin in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The microRNA novel-3 (miRn-3) is a 23-nt small endogenous noncoding RNA of unknown function. To enrich our knowledge of the regulatory function of miRn-3 in the process of wound healing, the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus was used as a target model in this study. Gelsolin (AjGSN), a potential target gene of miRn-3, was cloned and characterized, and the interaction between miRn-3 and AjGSN was verified. The function of the miRn-3/AjGSN axis in regulating cutaneous wound healing was explored in the sea cucumber A. japonicus. The results showed that 1) the full-length cDNA of AjGSN was 2935 bp, with a high level of sequence conservation across the echinoderms; 2) miRn-3 could bind to the 3'UTR of AjGSN and negatively regulate the expression of AjGSN; 3) overexpression of miRn-3 and inhibition of the expression of AjGSN suppressed cutaneous wound healing in A. japonicus. In general, all observations of this study suggest that miRn-3 plays an important role in the early process of cutaneous wound healing by negatively targeting AjGSN, and that it may be a potential biomarker in wound healing.

The Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Potential of Coccoloba alnifolia Leaf Extracts

Oxidative stress has been associated with different diseases, and different medicinal plants have been used to treat or prevent this condition. The leaf ethanolic extract (EE) and aqueous extract (AE) from Coccoloba alnifolia have previously been characterized to have antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we worked with EE and AE and two partition phases, AF (ethyl acetate) and BF (butanol), from AE extract. These extracts and partition phases did not display cytotoxicity. The EE and AE reduced NO production and ROS in all three concentrations tested. Furthermore, it was observed that EE and AE at 500 μg/mL concentration were able to reduce phagocytic activity by 30 and 50%, respectively. A scratch assay using a fibroblast cell line (NHI/3T3) showed that extracts and fractions induced cell migration with 60% wound recovery within 24 h, especially for BF. It was also observed that AF and BF had antioxidant potential in all the assays evaluated. In addition, copper chelation was observed. This activity was previously not detected in AE. The HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of phenolic compounds such as p-cumaric acid and vitexin for extracts, while the GNPS annotated the presence of isoorientin, vitexin, kanakugiol, and tryptamine in the BF partition phase. The data presented here demonstrated that the EE, AE, AF, and BF of C. alnifolia have potential immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant effects, as well as in vitro wound healing characteristics, which are important for dynamic inflammation process control.

Tilapia Fish Skin Treatment of Third-Degree Skin Burns in Murine Model

This study explored the feasibility of using fish skin bandages as a therapeutic option for third-degree skin burns. Following the California wildfires, clinical observations of animals with third-degree skin burns demonstrated increased comfort levels and reduced pain when treated with tilapia fish skin. Despite the promises of this therapy, there are few studies explaining the healing mechanisms behind the application of tilapia fish skin. In this study, mice with third-degree burns were treated with either a hydrocolloid adhesive bandage (control) (n = 16) or fish skin (n = 16) 7 days post-burn. Mice were subjected to histologic, hematologic, molecular, and gross evaluation at days 7, 16, and 28 post-burn. The fish skin offered no benefit to overall wound closure compared to hydrocolloids. Additionally, we detected no difference between fish skin and control treatments in regard to hypermetabolism or hematologic values. However, the fish skin groups exhibited 2 times more vascularization and 2 times higher expression of antimicrobial defensin peptide in comparison to controls. Proteomic analysis of the fish skin revealed the presence of antimicrobial peptides. Collectively, these data suggest that fish skin can serve as an innovative and cost-effective therapeutic alternative for burn victims to facilitate vascularization and reduce bacterial infection.

XB130 inhibits healing of diabetic skin ulcers through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway

BACKGROUND

Diabetic skin ulcers, a significant global healthcare burden, are mainly caused by the inhibition of cell proliferation and impaired angiogenesis. XB130 is an adaptor protein that regulates cell proliferation and migration. However, the role of XB130 in the development of diabetic skin ulcers remains unclear.

AIM

To investigate whether XB130 can regulate the inhibition of proliferation and vascular damage induced by high glucose. Additionally, we aim to determine whether XB130 is involved in the healing process of diabetic skin ulcers, along with its molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

We conducted RNA-sequencing analysis to identify the key genes involved in diabetic skin ulcers. We investigated the effects of XB130 on wound healing using histological analyses. In addition, we used reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining, immunofluorescence, wound healing, and tubule formation experiments to investigate their effects on cellular processes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with high glucose. Finally, we performed functional analysis to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic skin ulcers.

RESULTS

RNA-sequencing analysis showed that the expression of XB130 was up-regulated in the tissues of diabetic skin ulcers. Knockdown of XB130 promoted the healing of skin wounds in mice, leading to an accelerated wound healing process and shortened wound healing time. At the cellular level, knockdown of XB130 alleviated high glucose-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and angiogenic impairment in HUVECs. Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway removed the proliferative effects and endothelial protection mediated by XB130.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study indicated that the expression of XB130 is up-regulated in high glucose-stimulated diabetic skin ulcers and HUVECs. Knockdown of XB130 promotes cell proliferation and angiogenesis via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, which accelerates the healing of diabetic skin ulcers.

Potential of methacrylated acemannan for exerting antioxidant-, cell proliferation-, and cell migration-inducing activities in vitro

BACKGROUND

Acemannan is an acetylated polysaccharide of Aloe vera extract with antimicrobial, antitumor, antiviral, and antioxidant activities. This study aims to optimize the synthesis of acemannan from methacrylate powder using a simple method and characterize it for potential use as a wound-healing agent.

METHODS

Acemannan was purified from methacrylated acemannan and characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of acemannan and its effects on cell proliferation and oxidative stress damage, respectively. Further, a migration assay was conducted to determine the wound healing properties of acemannan.

RESULTS

We successfully optimized the synthesis of acemannan from methacrylate powder using a simple method. Our results demonstrated that methacrylated acemannan was identified as a polysaccharide with an acetylation degree similar to that in A. vera, with the FTIR revealing peaks at 1739.94 cm^-1 (C = O stretching vibration), 1370 cm^-1 (deformation of the H-C-OH bonds), and 1370 cm^-1 (C-O-C asymmetric stretching vibration); ¹H NMR showed an acetylation degree of 1.202. The DPPH results showed the highest antioxidant activity of acemannan with a 45% radical clearance rate, compared to malvidin, CoQ10, and water. Moreover, 2000 µg/mL acemannan showed the most optimal concentration for inducing cell proliferation, while 5 µg/mL acemannan induced the highest cell migration after 3 h. In addition, MTT assay findings showed that after 24 h, acemannan treatment successfully recovered cell damage due to H₂O₂ pre-treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a suitable technique for effective acemannan production and presents acemannan as a potential agent for use in accelerating wound healing through its antioxidant properties, as well as cell proliferation- and migration-inducing activities.

Role and therapeutic potential of gelsolin in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the major pathophysiological basis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases and has been recognized as a lipid-driven chronic inflammatory disease. Gelsolin (GSN) is a member of the GSN family. The main function of GSN is to cut and seal actin filaments to regulate the cytoskeleton and participate in a variety of biological functions, such as cell movement, morphological changes, metabolism, apoptosis and phagocytosis. Recently, more and more evidences have demonstrated that GSN is Closely related to atherosclerosis, involving lipid metabolism, inflammation, cell proliferation, migration and thrombosis. This article reviews the role of GSN in atherosclerosis from inflammation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and thrombosis.

Recombinant human plasma gelsolin reverses increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier induced by the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

BACKGROUND

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) is an important part of the blood actin buffer that prevents negative consequences of possible F-actin deposition in the microcirculation and has various functions during host immune response. Recent reports reveal that severe COVID-19 correlates with reduced levels of pGSN. Therefore, using an in vitro system, we investigated whether pGSN could attenuate increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during its exposure to the portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein containing the receptor binding domain (S1 subunit).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two- and three-dimensional models of the human BBB were constructed using the human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 and exposed to physiologically relevant shear stress to mimic perfusion in the central nervous system (CNS). Trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) as well as immunostaining and Western blotting of tight junction (TJ) proteins assessed barrier integrity in the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and pGSN. The IncuCyte Live Imaging system evaluated the motility of the endothelial cells. Magnetic bead-based ELISA was used to determine cytokine secretion. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed gene expression of proteins from signaling pathways that are associated with the immune response.

RESULTS

pGSN reversed S1-induced BBB permeability in both 2D and 3D BBB models in the presence of shear stress. BBB models exposed to pGSN also exhibited attenuated pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (PI3K, AKT, MAPK, NF-κB), reduced cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α), and increased expression of proteins that form intercellular TJ (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-5).

CONCLUSION

Due to its anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the brain endothelium, pGSN has the potential to be an alternative therapeutic target for patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially those suffering neurological complications of COVID-19.

Bioactive Potential: A Pharmacognostic Definition through the Screening of Four Hypericum Species from the Canary Islands

In this work, we propose a general methodology to assess the bioactive potential (BP) of extracts in the quest of vegetable-based drugs. To exemplify the method, we studied the anticancer potential (AP) of four endemic species of genus Hypericum (Hypericum canariense L, Hypericum glandulosum Aiton, Hypericum grandifolium Choisy and Hypericum reflexum L.f) from the Canary Islands. Microextracts were obtained from the aerial parts of these species and were tested against six human tumor cell lines, A549 (non-small-cell lung), HBL-100 (breast), HeLa (cervix), SW1573 (non-small-cell lung), T-47D (breast) and WiDr (colon). The methanol–water microextracts were evaluated further for cell migration, autophagy and cell death. The most promising bioactive polar microextracts were analyzed by UHPLC–DAD–MS. The extraction yield, the bioactivity evaluation and the chemical profiling by LC–MS suggested that H. grandifolium was the species with the highest AP. Label-free live-cell imaging studies on HeLa cells exposed to the methanol–water microextract of H. grandifolium enabled observing cell death and several apoptotic hallmarks. Overall, this study allows us to select Hypericum grandifolium Choisy as a source of new chemical entities with a potential interest for cancer treatment.

Wound Healing from an Actin Cytoskeletal Perspective

Wound healing requires a complex cascade of highly controlled and conserved cellular and molecular processes. These involve numerous cell types and extracellular matrix molecules regulated by the actin cytoskeleton. This microscopic network of filaments is present within the cytoplasm of all cells and provides the shape and mechanical support required for cell movement and proliferation. Here, an overview of the processes of wound healing are described from the perspective of the cell in relation to the actin cytoskeleton. Key points of discussion include the role of actin, its binding proteins, signaling pathways, and events that play significant roles in the phases of wound healing. The identification of cytoskeletal targets that can be used to manipulate and improve wound healing is included as an emerging area of focus that may inform future therapeutic approaches to improve healing of complex wounds.

Insight Into the Beneficial Role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Supernatant Against Bacterial Infections, Oxidative Stress, and Wound Healing in A549 Cells and BALB/c Mice

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MTCC 2621 is a well-characterized probiotic strain and is reported to possess many health benefits. However, the wound healing potential of this probiotic is yet to be explored. Here, we have assessed the antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing activities of cell-free supernatant of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MTCC 2621 (Lp2621). Lp2621 exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against the indicator bacteria in the agar well diffusion assay. Lp2621 did not show any hemolytic activity. The safety of Lp2621 gel was established using the skin irritation assay in BALB/c mice, and no dermal reactions were observed. The supernatant showed 60–100% protection of A549 cells against H₂O₂-induced stress. In the scratch assay, Lp2621 accelerated wound healing after 24 h of treatment. The percent wound healing was significantly higher in cells treated with Lp2621 at 18–24 h posttreatment. In an excision wound healing in mice, topical application of Lp2621 gel showed faster healing than the vehicle- and betadine-treated groups. Similar wound healing activity was observed in wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Histological examination revealed better wound healing in Lp2621-treated mice. Topical treatment of the wounds with Lp2621 gel resulted in the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the early phase of wound healing and enhanced IL-10 expression in the later phase. These findings unveil a protective role of Lp2621 against bacterial infection, oxidative stress, and wound healing.

In vitro impact preliminary assessment of airborne particulate from metalworking and woodworking industries

Inhalation is the main route of exposure to airborne pollutants. To evaluate the safety and assess the risks of occupational hazards different testing approaches are used. 3D airway epithelial tissues allow to mimic exposure conditions in vitro, generates human-relevant toxicology data, allows to elucidate the mode of action of pollutants. Gillian3500 pumps were used to collect the airborne particulate from woodworking and metalworking environments. EpiAirway tissues were used to model half working day (4 h), full working day (8 h), and 3 working day exposures to occupational pollutants. Tissue viability was assessed using an MTT assay. For preliminary assessment, RT-qPCR analyses were performed to analyze the expression of gelsolin, caspase-3, and IL-6. Tissue morphology was assessed by hematoxylin/eosin staining. An effect on the proliferation of lung epithelial cell line A549 was assessed. Acute exposure to workspace pollutants slightly affected tissue viability and did not change the morphology. No inhibiting effect was observed on the proliferation of A549 cells. Preliminary analysis showed that both types of particles suppressed the expression of gelsolin, with the effect of metalworking samples being more pronounced. A slight reduction in caspase-3 expression was observed. Particles from metalworking suppressed IL-6 expression.

Identification of Abnormal Proteins in Plasma from Gout Patients by LC-MS/MS

A high level of uric acid may cause hyperuricemia, which further develops into gout, eventually leading to chronic kidney disease. However, the pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown. To investigate the cause and block the transformation of hyperuricemia to related diseases, it is important to discover the alterations in protein levels between gout patients and non-gout individuals. To date, human blood plasma is still the predominant matrices for clinical analysis. Due to the high abundance, the proteins of plasma samples have strong shielding effects on low abundance proteins, thus, the information on low abundance protein expression is always masked, while the low abundance proteins of human plasma are often of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Therefore, it is very important to separate and analyze the plasma proteins. High-performance liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has been developed as a powerful tool to investigate changes in the human plasma proteome. Here, we used LC-MS/MS to detect the differential proteins in the plasmas from simple gout patients, gout with kidney damage patients, and non-gout individuals. We identified 32 obviously differential proteins between non-gout and gout subjects and 10 differential proteins between simple gout and gout with kidney damage patients. These differential proteins were further analyzed to characterize their localization and functions. Additionally, the correlation analysis showed multiple relationships between the abnormal plasma proteins and clinical biochemical indexes, particularly for the immune-inflammatory response proteins. Furthermore, inflammation factors gelsolin (GSN) were confirmed. Our results offer a view of plasma proteins for studying biomarkers of gout patients.

Antidiabetic activities of Bolanthus spergulifolius (Caryophyllaceae) extracts on insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder with chronic hyperglycemia featured by metabolic outcomes owing to insufficient insulin secretion and/or insulin effect defect. It is critical to investigate new therapeutic approaches for T2DM and alternative, natural agents that target molecules in potential signal pathways. Medicinal plants are significant resources in the research of alternative new drug active ingredients. Bolanthus spergulifolius (B. spergulifolius) is one of the genera of the family Caryophyllaceae. In this study, it was explored the potential anti-diabetic effects in vitro of B. spergulifolius extracts on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The total phenolic contents (TPC) of methanolic (MeOH), ethyl acettate (EA) and aqueous extracts of B. spergulifolius were evaluated via Folin-Ciocateau. B. spergulifolius extracts showing highly TPC (Aqueous< MeOH< EA) and their different concentrations were carried out on preadipocytes differentiated in to mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes to investigate their half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value by using Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The IC₅₀ of MeOH, EA and Aqueous extracts were observed as 305.7 ± 5.583 μg/mL, 567.4 ± 3.008 μg/mL, and 418.3 ± 4.390 μg/mL and used for further experiments. A live/dead assay further confirmed the cytotoxic effects of MeOH, EA and Aqueous extracts (respectively, 69.75 ± 1.70%, 61.75 ± 1.70%, 70 ± 4.24%, and for all p< 0.05). Also, effects of extracts on lipid accumulation in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated by Oil-Red O staining assay. The extracts effectively decreased lipid-accumulation compared to untreated adipocytes (for all p< 0.05). Moreover, effect of extracts on apoptosis regulated by the Bax and Bcl-2 was investigated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The extracts significantly induced apoptosis by up-regulating pro-apoptotic Bax expression but down-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression compared to untreated adipocytes (for all p< 0.05). The Glut-4 expression linked with insulin resistance was determined by qRT-PCR, Western-blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. In parallel, the expression of Glut-4 in adipocytes treated with extracts was significantly higher compared to untreated adipocytes (for all p< 0.05). Extracts significantly suppressed cell migration after 30 h of wounding in a scratch-assay (for all p< 0.05). Cell morphology and diameter were further evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Immunofluorescence with F-Actin and Giemsa staining. The adipocytes treated with extracts partially lost spherical morphology and showed smaller cell-diameter compared to untreated adipocytes (for all p< 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that extracts of B. spergulifolius cause to an induce apoptosis, decrease lipid-accumulation, wound healing, up-regulating Glut-4 level and might contribute to reducing of insulin-resistance in DM.

Changes in redox plasma proteome of Pon1-/- mice are exacerbated by a hyperhomocysteinemic diet

High-density lipoprotein (HDL), in addition to promoting reverse cholesterol transport, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic activities, which are thought to be promoted by paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an HDL-associated enzyme. Reduced levels of PON1 are associated with increased oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease both in humans and Pon1^-/- mice. However, molecular basis of these associations are not fully understood. We used label-free mass spectrometry and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis bioinformatics resources to examine plasma proteomes in four-month-old Pon1^-/- mice (n = 32) and their Pon1^+/+ siblings (n = 15) fed with a hyper-homocysteinemic (HHcy) diet. We found that inactivation of the Pon1 gene resulted in dysregulation of proteins involved in the maintenance of redox homeostasis in mice. Redox-responsive proteins affected by Pon1^-/- genotype were more numerous in mice fed with HHcy diet (18 out of 89, 20%) than in mice fed with a control diet (4 out of 50, 8%). Most of the redox-related proteins affected by Pon1^-/- genotype in mice fed with a control diet (3 out of 4, 75%) were also affected in HHcy mice, while the majority of Pon1^-/- genotype-dependent redox proteins in HHcy mice (15 out of 18, 83%) were not affected by Pon1^-/- genotype in control diet animals. In addition to redox-related proteins, we identified proteins involved in acute phase response, complement/blood coagulation, lipoprotein/lipid metabolism, immune response, purine metabolism, glucose metabolism, and other proteins that were dysregulated by Pon1^-/- genotype in HHcy mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that Pon1 interacts with proteins involved in antioxidant defenses and other processes linked to cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of these processes provides an explanation for the pro-oxidant and pro-atherogenic phenotypes observed in Pon1^-/- mice and humans with attenuated PON1 levels.