Serum depletion induces changes in protein expression in the trophoblast-derived cell line HTR-8/SVneo

Glyphosate modifies the gene expression and migration of trophoblastic cells without altering the process of angiogenesis or the implantation of blastocysts in vitro

Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the presence of glyphosate (G) in umbilical cord, serum, and urine samples from pregnant women. Our aim was to study the effect of G on blastocyst implantation using an in vitro mouse model, and the migration and acquisition of endothelial phenotype of the human trophoblastic HTR8/SVneo (H8) cells. In mouse blastocysts, no differences in attachment time and implantation outgrowth area were observed after G exposure. H8 cell migration was stimulated by 0.625 μM G without cytotoxicity. After 6 h, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was upregulated in H8 cells exposed to 1.25 μM G when compared vehicle-treated cells (p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed in interleukin 11, VEGF receptor 1, and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor in H8 cells exposed to different concentrations of G for 6 h compared to the vehicle. Interestingly, exposure to G did not alter angiogenesis as measured by a tube formation assay. Taken all together, these results suggest that G exposure may contribute as a risk factor during pregnancy, due to its ability to alter trophoblast migration and gene expression.

Identification and characterization of a novel peptide from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus iniae

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial species which remain a challenge to treat therapeutically. Novel and efficacious drugs are desperately needed to combat pathogens. One method to facilitate these discoveries is the use of in silico methods. Computational biology has the power to scan large data sets and screen for potential molecules with antibacterial function. In the current study, an in silico approach was used to identify an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from rainbow trout von Willebrand Factor. The AMP was tested against a panel of aquatic bacterial pathogens and was found to possess antibacterial activity against Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae). Since S. iniae is a zoonotic pathogen, this may be useful in other species as well. The peptide was non-hemolytic and non-cytotoxic at the concentrations tested in rainbow trout cells. Pre-treatment of rainbow trout cells with the peptide did not result in an upregulation of immune genes but stimulating the rainbow trout macrophage/monocyte-like cell line, RTS11, with heat-killed S. iniae, did result in a significant upregulation of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnfa) gene. In this study, a new AMP has been identified but its expression, synthesis and role in vivo remains unknown. Nevertheless, the findings presented improve our understanding of fish gill and macrophage responses towards this important zoonotic pathogen.

Energetic metabolic reprogramming in Jurkat DFF40-deficient cancer cells

DNA fragmentation factor 40 (DFF40), or the caspase-activated DNase (CAD), is an endonuclease specific for double-stranded DNA. Alterations in its function and expression have been linked to apoptosis resistance, a mechanism likely used by cancer cells. However, how the DFF40-related apoptosis resistance pathway occurs remains unclear. Here, we sought to determine if DFF40 expression could be linked to cell metabolism through the regulation of mitochondrial integrity and function. We demonstrated that DFF40-deficient cells are more resistant to staurosporine and tributyltin (TBT)-induced apoptosis, and express higher levels of Mcl-1 at basal state. Treatment with TBT induces higher Bcl-2 and caspase-9 mRNA transcripts in DFF40 KO Jurkat cells, as well as enhanced Bcl-2 phosphorylation. A loss of DFF40 expression induces a higher mitochondrial mass, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential, and glycolysis rates in resting T cells. DFF40-deficient cells exhibit the Warburg effect phenotype, where they rely significantly more on glycolysis than oxidative phosphorylation and have a higher proliferative state, demonstrated by a higher Ki-67 transcription factor expression and AKT phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrated with cell fractioning that DFF40 can translocate to the mitochondria following apoptosis induction. Our study reveals that DFF40 may act as a regulator of mitochondria during cell death and its loss could compromise mitochondrial integrity and cause an energetic reprogramming in pathologies such as cancer.

The MTT Assay: Utility, Limitations, Pitfalls, and Interpretation in Bulk and Single-Cell Analysis

The MTT assay for cellular metabolic activity is almost ubiquitous to studies of cell toxicity; however, it is commonly applied and interpreted erroneously. We investigated the applicability and limitations of the MTT assay in representing treatment toxicity, cell viability, and metabolic activity. We evaluated the effect of potential confounding variables on the MTT assay measurements on a prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) including cell seeding number, MTT concentration, MTT incubation time, serum starvation, cell culture media composition, released intracellular contents (cell lysate and secretome), and extrusion of formazan to the extracellular space. We also assessed the confounding effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as a tested treatment in PC-3 cells on the assay measurements. We additionally evaluated the applicability of microscopic image cytometry as a tool for measuring intracellular MTT reduction at the single-cell level. Our findings show that the assay measurements are a result of a complicated process dependant on many of the above-mentioned factors, and therefore, optimization of the assay and rational interpretation of the data is necessary to prevent misleading conclusions on variables such as cell viability, treatment toxicity, and/or cell metabolism. We conclude, with recommendations on how to apply the assay and a perspective on where the utility of the assay is a powerful tool, but likewise where it has limitations.

Differential Expression of ADP/ATP Carriers as a Biomarker of Metabolic Remodeling and Survival in Kidney Cancers

ADP/ATP carriers (AACs) are mitochondrial transport proteins playing a strategic role in maintaining the respiratory chain activity, fueling the cell with ATP, and also regulating mitochondrial apoptosis. To understand if AACs might represent a new molecular target for cancer treatment, we evaluated AAC expression levels in cancer/normal tissue pairs available on the Tissue Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA), observing that AACs are dysregulated in most of the available samples. It was observed that at least two AACs showed a significant differential expression in all the available kidney cancer/normal tissue pairs. Thus, we investigated AAC expression in the corresponding kidney non-cancer (HK2)/cancer (RCC-Shaw and CaKi-1) cell lines, grown in complete medium or serum starvation, for investigating how metabolic alteration induced by different growth conditions might influence AAC expression and resistance to mitochondrial apoptosis initiators, such as "staurosporine" or the AAC highly selective inhibitor "carboxyatractyloside". Our analyses showed that AAC2 and AAC3 transcripts are more expressed than AAC1 in all the investigated kidney cell lines grown in complete medium, whereas serum starvation causes an increase of at least two AAC transcripts in kidney cancer cell lines compared to non-cancer cells. However, the total AAC protein content is decreased in the investigated cancer cell lines, above all in the serum-free medium. The observed decrease in AAC protein content might be responsible for the decrease of OXPHOS activity and for the observed lowered sensitivity to mitochondrial apoptosis induced by staurosporine or carboxyatractyloside. Notably, the cumulative probability of the survival of kidney cancer patients seriously decreases with the decrease of AAC1 expression in KIRC and KIRP tissues making AAC1 a possible new biomarker of metabolic remodeling and survival in kidney cancers.

Differential migration-related gene expression and altered cytokine secretion in response to serum starvation in cultured MDA-MB-231 cells

Background

Serum starvation is mostly considered as a standard preparatory method in many cellular and molecular experiments. However, recent studies give some evidence that serum starvation is a major event that triggers various cell responses and has therefore great potential to change and interfere with the experimental results. In this study, the behavior of breast cancer cells in serum-starved condition was examined.

Objective

To focus on the role of serum starvation on cell migration and also the possible changes in the expression and secretion of genes and cytokines mostly involved in migration and chemotaxis of breast cancer cells.

Methods

MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured under serum-starved condition. Transwell migration assay was performed to evaluate the effect of serum starvation on cell migration after 24, 48, and 72 h. The transcriptional expression of migration-related genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The cytokine secretion was also analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Serum starvation suppressed cell migration in breast cancer cells. Additionally, the gene expression of markers involved in migration including β-catenin, twist, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1, vimentin, fibronectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor were downregulated. Moreover, cytokines of transforming growth factor, beta 1, matrix metallopeptidase 9, interleukin 8, and nitric oxide were differentially secreted.

Conclusions

Serum deprivation causes significant changes in cancer cell migration and also the expression of migration-related genes and cytokines, special care needs to be taken when this practice is used as preparatory method especially in migration and chemotaxis experiments on cancer cells.

Ozone Exposure During Implantation Increases Serum Bioactivity in HTR-8/SVneo Trophoblasts

Implantation is a sensitive window in reproductive development during which disruptions may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including intrauterine growth restriction. Ozone exposure during implantation in rats reduces fetal weight near the end of gestation, potentially though impaired trophoblast migration and invasion and altered implantation. The current study characterized changes in ventilation, pulmonary injury, and circulating factors including hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic markers related to exposure to ozone (0.4-1.2 ppm) for 4-h on gestation days 5 and 6 (window of implantation) in Long-Evans dams. To determine the effects of this exposure on trophoblast function, placental-derived, first trimester, HTR-8/SVneo cells were exposed to serum from air- or ozone (0.8 ppm×4 h)-exposed dams and examined for impacts on metabolic capacity, wound-closure, and invasion. Peri-implantation exposure to ozone induced ventilatory dysfunction and lung vascular leakage in pregnant rats, with little effect on most of the circulating markers measured. However, ozone inhalation induced a significant reduction in several serum cytokines (interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and interleukin-13). Treatment of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblasts with serum from ozone-exposed dams for 16-h downregulated metabolic capacity, wound-closure, and invasion through a Matrigel membrane compared with both air-serum and fetal bovine serum-treated cells. Ozone-serum treated cells increased the release of a critical inhibitor of invasion and angiogenesis (soluble fms-like receptor 1; sFlt1) compared with air-serum treatment. Together, our data suggest that circulating factors in the serum of pregnant rats exposed to ozone during implantation receptivity can hinder critical processes of implantation (eg, invasion and migration) and impair trophoblast metabolic capacity.

Transforming Growth Factor Beta has Dual Effects on MMP9 and uPA Expression in HTR-8/SVneo Human Trophoblastic Cell Line

Invasion of trophoblast into endometrium is vital for successful pregnancy development. MMP9 and uPA are key proteases in this process, but it is still not clear the regulation of its expression by Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β), known negative regulator of trophoblast invasion. We evaluated the effect of TGF-β on the transcriptional expression of uPA and MMP9 over time, in HTR- /SVneo trophoblast cells cultured with or without 0.5 % fetal bovine serum, via RT qPCR. The involved transcription factors and signaling pathways were analyzed in silico, using Proscan, Enrich, PCViz and WikiPathway. Results showed that that TGF-β regulates the expression of uPA and MMP9. Serum modified the nature of TGF-β’s effects on uPA expression, from negative without serum to positive with it, showing opposite effects on MMP9 expression. In silico analysis evidenced different transcription factors for each protease, some belonging to TGF-β ssignaling pathway, and crosstalk with MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. The TGF-β ddual role is discussed proposing that serum affects the cellular context. Transcriptional regulation of MMP9 and uPA by TGF-β is differential and depends on serum presence and evaluation time.

Neuroprotective effects of midazolam on focal cerebral ischemia in rats through anti‑apoptotic mechanisms

Stroke is a cerebrovascular circulatory disorder and its high mortality rate represents a prominent threat to human health. Subsequent apoptosis and cytotoxicity are the main causes underlying the poor prognosis. Midazolam (MDZ) is a benzodiazepine drug that is clinically used during surgical procedures and for the treatment of insomnia, with a potential ability to treat stroke. The protective effect of MDZ was investigated on glutamate‑induced cortical neuronal injuries in vitro and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rat models in vivo. Western blot analysis and semi quantitative RT‑PCR were used to evaluate the potential underlying mechanisms. In vitro studies revealed that MDZ regulated apoptosis‑associated gene expression and inhibited lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, protecting against neuronal damage. In vivo studies revealed that MDZ reduced LDH‑induced neuronal damage by reducing LDH release from the peripheral blood, and brain tissue staining revealed that MDZ protected neurons during tMCAO. MDZ protected neurons under an ischemic environment by inhibiting LDH release and regulating apoptosis‑associated gene expression to reduce cytotoxicity and apoptosis. These results provide a reliable basis for further studies on the effect of MDZ, to improve the prognosis of cerebral infarction.