Image analysis of DNA fragmentation and loss in V79 cells under apoptosis

Renoprotective effect of Capsicum annum against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and renal apoptosis

The present study explored the ameliorative potency of aqueous extract of Capsicum annum (AqCA), against oxidative imbalance and renal toxicity induced by ethanol. Randomly grouped male Wistar rats (n = 6), were marked as ethanol-treated (2 g/kg bw, i.p.), CA₁₂₅ (125 mg/kg bw, i.p.), CA₂₅₀ (250 mg/kg bw, i.p.), ethanol pre-treated with CA (similar doses), and control (0.5 ml normal saline, i.p.), and treated for 30 consecutive days. Biochemical analysis of tissue and serum parameters was performed, along with histopathological and histochemical studies. Also, we performed TUNEL assay and western blotting for our experimental groups. Statistical analysis revealed significant (p ≤ .001) alteration in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, serum urea, creatinine, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cleaved caspases, along with histopathological alterations in the ethanol-treated group. Prior treatment with AqCA prevented ethanol-induced alterations in tissue and serum parameters. These findings indicate that the extract of CA can protect renal cells from ethanol-induced damage by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Chronic alcohol consumption is a major public health concern that leads to various diseases and social problems as well. It affects both the affluent and non-affluent society equally. Alcohol (ethanol) is a renowned hepato-toxicant and a well-documented risk factor for oxidative stress, with less known effect on the kidney. Thus, it is essential to investigate the effect of alcohol metabolism on the kidney to find a remedy to prevent it. The present investigation depicts the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory role of Capsicum annum against ethanol-induced renal damage. The outcome of this study can be utilized in the future for phytotherapeutic herbal drug formulation. Besides, the bioactive components identified in the study can be further explored by researchers or pharmaceutical corporates for potential therapeutic purpose against renal impairment.

A study of digital image analysis on the acrylamide derivative monomers induced apoptosis in rat cerebrum

Nowadays, apoptosis is mostly evaluated visually in histological studies. By using the quantitative digital image analysis, this study aimed to investigate the effect of acrylamide-based monomers (acrylamide [AAm], methacrylamide [MAAm], N-isopropylacrylamide [NIPAm]) on the cerebrum tissues in rats, which are the most common water-soluble monomers in the production of polymeric hydrogels used as biomaterials. The Wistar albino rats weighing ~220-240 g were divided into control and three test groups. The control group received 1 mL of saline, and the test groups received 1 mL of aqueous 50 mg/kg/day intramuscular injection of AAm, MAAm, and NIPAm, respectively. At the end of the experiments, brain tissues of all rats euthanized by intramuscular injection of sodium pentobarbital were removed. Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) method was applied to brain tissue sections. The monomers have been shown to cause apoptosis due to oxidative stress in cerebrum tissue. Based on apoptosis by tunneling method, quantitative digital image analysis of cell fragments was performed with Olympus cellSens Dimension 1.15 software, and the number, total count area, selected area, average area, and ROI% values of the fragments were found. In addition, the total area and ROI% values of the fragments increased linearly with increasing the molar mass of monomers from the digital image analysis data. Quantitative digital image analysis can facilitate the monitoring of apoptosis caused by the oxidative stress of monomers used in the production of the biomaterials.

Cytostatic and Antiproliferative Activities of F5 Fraction of Crinum amabile Leaf Chloroform Extract Showed Its Potential as Cancer Chemotherapeutic Agent

Medicinal plants have been considered as promising sources of drugs in treating various cancers. Crinum amabile (C. amabile), a plant species from the Amaryllidaceae family, is claimed to be a potential source for cancer chemotherapeutic compounds. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential of C. amabile as an anticancer agent. Dried leaves of C. amabile were serially extracted and our findings showed that chloroform extract (CE) was shown to exhibit cytotoxic effect against all cancer cell lines used. This active extract was further fractionated in which F5 fraction was shown to possess the highest cytotoxicity among all fractions. F5 fraction was then tested in-depth through Annexin V/FITC apoptosis and DNA fragmentation assays to determine its apoptotic effect on MCF-7 cells. Results revealed that F5 fraction only showed induction of cell apoptosis starting at 72-hour treatment while DNA fragmentation was not detected at any of the concentrations and treatment periods tested. Meanwhile, cell proliferation assay revealed that F5 fraction was able to inhibit normal cell proliferation as well as VEGF-induced cell proliferation of normal endothelial cell (HUVECs). In conclusion, F5 fraction from C. amabile leaf CE was able to exhibit cytostatic effect through antiproliferation activity rather than induction of cell apoptosis and therefore has the potential to be further investigated as an anticancer agent.

Efficacy of ImageJ in the assessment of apoptosis

Objective

To verify the efficacy of ImageJ 1.43 n in determining the extent of apoptosis which is a complex and multistep process.

Study Design

Cisplatin in different concentrations was used to induce apoptosis in cultured Hep2 cells. Cell viability assay and nuclear image analysis of stained Hep2 cells were used to discriminate apoptotic cells and cells suspected to be undergoing apoptosis from control cells based on parameters such as nuclear area, circularity, perimeter and nuclear area factor (NAF), in association with visual morphology.

Results

Image analysis revealed a progressive and highly significant decrease in nuclear area factor detected in apoptotic cells and in cells suspected of undergoing apoptosis compared to the control cells (P-values < 0.01). Some of the other studied parameters showed also the same trend. This decrease was assumed to indicate DNA loss. Image analysis results correlated positively and significantly with the results obtained by cell viability assay (R = 0.958, P-value = 0.042). NAF was the most reliable parameter in assessment of apoptosis.

Conclusion

Nuclear area factor can be calculated using powerful free and open-source software. Consequently, a quantitative measure of apoptosis can be obtained that is linked to morphological changes. ImageJ 1.43 n may therefore provide a useful tool for the assessment and discrimination of apoptotic cells.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here:

http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/5929043086367338

Properties of cells with increased resistance to some picornaviruses

The resistance to picornaviral infection cells of susceptible lines has similar changes in the phenotype. They have decreased number of nucleoli and increased percentage of euploidy. Also the percentage of euploid cells those were resistant to the picornaviral infection increased in all highly transformed cultures. In resistant cells of all cultures has been found reduction of DNA. RNA amount also decreased both in nucleus and in cytoplasm. All these data correlated with the increased euploidy of the resistant population. The resistant cells had a less transformed phenotype, and decreased proliferative activity. Decreased nucleolar status became apparent by reduction of absolute and relative nucleolar indices. Consequently the reduction of viral titer (viral titters reduction) in resistant cells could be the direct result of diminished activity of the RNA synthesis machinery. It is important to note that the cells lose resistance while another type of virus, even from the same family, infects the culture once.

Chromatin supraorganization, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in snake erythrocytes

In nucleate erythrocytes of several vertebrate groups, the frequency and intensity of DNA fragmentation associated with programed cell death vary considerably. Although hemoglobin efficiency may be related to erythrocyte life span, and hemoglobin types and erythrocyte life spans are assumed to vary in reptiles, no data on DNA fragmentation and chromatin organization as related to cell death exist for snakes. In the present study, chromatin supraorganization, DNA fragmentation, and cell death were investigated in four snake species (Crotalus durissus terrificus, Bothrops jararaca, Bothrops alternatus, and Bothrops neuwiedii), which differ in their geographical distribution and habitats, by using image analysis of Feulgen hydrolysis kinetics, the TUNEL assay, single-cell gel electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy. Relatively few circulating erythrocytes were found to be simultaneously committed to cell death, although there was some variation among the snake species. Conspicuous nuclear and cytoplasmic organelles suggestive of metabolic activity were seen ultrastructurally in most snake erythrocytes. The DNA of the snake erythrocyte chromatin was much more resistant to Feulgen acid hydrolysis (DNA depurination and breakdown) than that of young adult bullfrog erythrocytes, which had a high frequency and intensity of DNA fragmentation. Of the species studied, B. neuwiedii and C. d. terrificus showed the greatest resistance to Feulgen acid hydrolysis and to the DNA fragmentation, revealed by the TUNEL assay. Although B. neuwiedii also showed the lowest frequency of cells with more damaged DNA in the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, C. d. terrificus had the highest frequency of damaged cells, possibly because of the abundance of alkaline-sensitive DNA sites. The results for DNA fragmentation and cell death in erythrocytes of B. jararaca and B. alternatus generally differed from those for C. d. terrificus and B. neuwiedii and may reflect differences in the biology of these species selected under different geographical habitats. The differences in erythrocyte cell biology reported here may be related to hemoglobin variants selected in the mentioned snake species and that would lead the cells to different resistances to unfavorable environmental conditions.Key words: erythrocytes, snakes, DNA fragmentation, chromatin supraorganization, cell death.

Heat shock-induced apoptosis in germ line cells of Triatoma infestans Klug

The survival of Triatoma infestans and of somatic cells from this species is affected by heat shock. In this study, we examined the cell death responses of male germ line cells from 5th instar nymphs 7 and 30 days after heat shock exposure (40ºC, 1 h). The preparations were stained by the Feulgen reaction and the TUNEL immunocytochemical assay. Apoptosis was elicited by heat shock, with positive TUNEL responses in spermatogonial chromatin and chromosomes, spermatids and sperm cells. Spermatogonia were most affected seven days after the shock whereas some spermatids and sperm cells exhibited DNA fragmentation only thirty days after heat shock. The rate of cell death varied among the cells. In some cases, cellular differentiation was unaffected by heat shock, with DNA fragmentation occurring towards the end of spermatogenesis.