Age-Related Oxidative Changes in Primary Porcine Fibroblasts Expressing Mutated Huntingtin

A Preliminary Study on Quantitative Analysis of Collagen and Apoptosis Related Protein on 1064 nm Laser-Induced Skin Injury

To investigate the associated factors concerning collagen and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in porcine skin injuries induced by laser exposure, live pig skin was irradiated at multiple spots one time, using a grid-array method with a 1064 nm laser at different power outputs. The healing process of the laser-treated areas, alterations in collagen structure, and changes in apoptosis were continuously observed and analyzed from 6 h to 28 days post-irradiation. On the 28th day following exposure, wound contraction and recovery were notably sluggish in the medium-high dose group, displaying more premature and delicate type III collagen within the newly regenerated tissues. The collagen density in these groups was roughly 37-58% of that in the normal group. Between days 14 and 28 after irradiation, there was a substantial rise in apoptotic cell count in the forming epidermis and granulation tissue of the medium-high dose group, in contrast to the normal group. Notably, the expression of proapoptotic proteins Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 surged significantly 14 days after irradiation in the medium-high dose group and persisted at elevated levels on the 28th day. During the later stage of wound healing, augmented apoptotic cell population and insufficient collagen generation in the newly generated skin tissue of the medium-high dose group were closely associated with delayed wound recovery.

Evaluating the Effects of Cryopreservation on the Viability and Gene Expression of Porcine-Ear-Skin Fibroblasts

Owing to the inherent heterogeneity and plasticity of fibroblasts, they are considered as the conventional biological resources for basic and clinical medical research. Thus, it is essential to generate knowledge about the establishment of fibroblast cultures and the effects of cryopreservation processes on their biological characteristics. Since the pig (Sus scrofa) possesses numerous genetic, physiological, and anatomical similarities with humans, porcine fibroblasts are naturally regarded as useful analogues of human fibroblasts. Nonetheless, less attention has been given to the alterations in viability and gene expression of cryopreserved porcine fibroblasts. In this study, we aimed to obtain fibroblasts from porcine ear skin and evaluate the effects of cryopreservation on the cell survival, proliferation, and gene expression profiles of the fibroblasts by trypan-blue-staining assay, Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and RNA-sequencing analysis, respectively. Our results suggested that morphologically stable fibroblast cultures can be constructed from pig-ear skin. The post-thaw survival rate of the cryopreserved fibroblasts at 0 h and 24 h was over 90%. The proliferative activity of the cryopreserved fibroblasts was similar to that of the non-cryopreserved fibroblasts after 7 days of in vitro culture, which suggested that cryopreservation did not influence the viability. The RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that this should be attributed to the 867 differentially expressed genes (DGEs) identified, which are involved in molecular process related to cell recovery and survival after cryo-stimulation. In addition, eight important DEGs BMP2, GDF15, EREG, AREG, HBEGF, LIF, IL-6, and HOX-7 could potentially be applied to improve the efficiency of fibroblast cryopreservation, but comprehensive and systematic studies on understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for their modulatory roles are urgently needed.

Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview of Recent Tools and Findings

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been described to induce a broad range of redox-dependent signaling reactions in physiological conditions. Nevertheless, an excessive accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which was traditionally considered as detrimental for cells and organisms, due to the oxidative damage they cause to biomolecules. During ageing, elevated ROS levels result in the accumulation of damaged proteins, which may exhibit altered enzymatic function or physical properties (e.g., aggregation propensity). Emerging evidence also highlights the relationship between oxidative stress and age-related pathologies, such as protein misfolding-based neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's (PD), Alzheimer's (AD) and Huntington's (HD) diseases). In this review we aim to introduce the role of oxidative stress in physiology and pathology and then focus on the state-of-the-art techniques available to detect and quantify ROS and oxidized proteins in live cells and in vivo, providing a guide to those aiming to characterize the role of oxidative stress in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Lastly, we discuss recently published data on the role of oxidative stress in neurological disorders.

Insights into Manganese Superoxide Dismutase and Human Diseases

Redox equilibria and the modulation of redox signalling play crucial roles in physiological processes. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupts the body's antioxidant defence, compromising redox homeostasis and increasing oxidative stress, leading to the development of several diseases. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a principal antioxidant enzyme that protects cells from oxidative damage by converting superoxide anion radicals to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen in mitochondria. Systematic studies have demonstrated that MnSOD plays an indispensable role in multiple diseases. This review focuses on preclinical evidence that describes the mechanisms of MnSOD in diseases accompanied with an imbalanced redox status, including fibrotic diseases, inflammation, diabetes, vascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. The potential therapeutic effects of MnSOD activators and MnSOD mimetics are also discussed. Targeting this specific superoxide anion radical scavenger may be a clinically beneficial strategy, and understanding the therapeutic role of MnSOD may provide a positive insight into preventing and treating related diseases.

NEIL3 contributes toward the carcinogenesis of liver cancer and regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling

Liver cancer is one of the top three fatal types of cancer and it causes several thousands of mortalities each year. The main treatment is surgical resection which shows little benefit for patients with recurrence or metastasis. NEIL3 promotes progression and predicts survival in cancer. However, its role in liver cancer remains unclear. Based on data in the TCGA database, NEIL3 exhibited much higher expression in liver cancer tissues and was clinically correlated with tumor grade in patients with liver cancer. Furthermore, high NEIL3 expression caused shorter survival times. In liver cancer cell lines, NEIL3 showed abundant expression. When NEIL3 was knocked down in HepG2 and Huh-7 cells, cell abilities including proliferation, growth, migration and invasion, exhibited deficiency to different extents. Cell cycle transition was blocked at the G2 phase and the cell apoptotic rate increased notably. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of Akt, PI3K and mTOR were increased following NEIL3-overexpression but decreased following NEIL3-knockdown. In conclusion, NEIL3 contributes toward development and/or progression in liver cancer and regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.