Selenium Nanoparticle Protection of Fibroblast Stress: Activation of ATF4 and Bcl-xL Expression

Dual effects of zearalenone on aflatoxin B1-induced liver and mammary gland toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats

Food and feed are frequently co-contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN). This study investigated the effects of ZEN on the AFB1-induced liver and mammary gland toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats. AFB1 and ZEN co-exposure inhibited the growth of rats and caused oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the liver and mammary gland. Compared with the AFB1-only group, damage was aggravated in the AFB1 + 10 mg/kg ZEN group, and the AFB1 + 1 mg/kg ZEN group showed a reduction in some metrics. The metabolomic results of the mammary gland showed that metabolite changes were mainly in lipid, amino acid, and glucose metabolism. Compared with the AFB1 + 0 mg/kg ZEN group, the AFB1 + 1 mg/kg ZEN group had the most metabolite changes. Moreover, AFB1 and ZEN co-exposure reduced the levels of sex hormones and RNA m⁶A methylation in the mammary gland. We speculate that ZEN affects the toxicity of AFB1 to the liver and mammary gland by interfering with the function of sex hormones, regulating cell proliferation and metabolic processes.

Apoptosis and Cell Proliferation Markers in Inflammatory-Fibroproliferative Diseases of the Vessel Wall (Review)

Apoptosis is the main feature of inflammatory-fibroproliferative disorders of the vessel wall. Studies in animal models have shown that smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured from endarterectomy specimens from the affected area proliferate more slowly and display higher apoptotic indices than SMCs derived from the normal vessel wall. Apoptotic cells were found in the destabilized atherosclerotic plaques, as well as in the samples with restenosis of the reconstruction area.

Injury to the vessel wall causes two waves of apoptosis. The first wave is the rapid apoptosis in the media that occurs within a few hours after injury and leads to a marked reduction in the number of vascular wall cells. The second wave of apoptosis occurs much later (from several days to weeks) and is limited by the SMCs within the developing neointima. Up to 14% of the neointimal SMCs undergo apoptosis 20 days after balloon angioplasty. Ligation of the external carotid artery in a rabbit model led to a marked decrease in blood flow in the common carotid artery, which correlated with the increased apoptosis of endothelial cells and SMCs.

Angioplasty-induced death of SMCs is regulated by a redox-sensitive signaling pathway, and topical administration of antioxidants can minimize vascular cell loss. On the whole, studies show that apoptosis is prevalent in vascular lesions, controlling the viability of both inflammatory and vascular cells, determining the cellular composition of the vessel wall. The main markers of apoptosis (Fas, Fas ligand, p53, Bcl-2, Bax) and cell proliferation (toll receptor) have been considered in the current review.

Synthesis of functionalised organochalcogenides and in vitro evaluation of their antioxidant activity

Differently substituted β-hydroxy- and β-amino dialkyl and alkyl-aryl tellurides and selenides have been prepared through ring-opening reactions of epoxides and aziridines with selenium- or tellurium-centered nucleophiles. The antioxidant properties and the cytotoxicity of such compounds have been investigated on normal human dermal fibroblasts. Most of the studied compounds exhibited a low cytotoxicity and a number of them proved to be non-toxic, not showing any effect on cell viability even at the highest concentration used (100 μM). The obtained results showed a significant antioxidant potential of the selected organotellurium compounds, particularly evident under conditions of exogenously induced oxidative stress. The antioxidant activity of selenium-containing analogues of active tellurides has also been evaluated on cells, highlighting that the replacement of Se with Te brought about a significant increase in the peroxidase activity.

Evaluating the cytotoxicity of Ge–Sb–Se chalcogenide glass optical fibres on 3T3 mouse fibroblasts

In vivo cancer detection based on the mid-infrared molecular fingerprint of tissue is promising for the fast diagnosis and treatment of suspected cancer patients. Few materials are mid-infrared transmissive, even fewer, which can be converted into functional, low-loss optical fibres for in vivo non-invasive testing. Chalcogenide-based glass optical fibres are, however, one of the few. These glasses are transmissive in the mid-infrared and are currently under development for use in molecular sensing devices. The cytotoxicity of these materials is however unknown. The cytotoxicity of Ge–Sb–Se chalcogenide optical glass fibres on 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells is here investigated. Fibres exposed to four different pre-treatment conditions are used: as-drawn (AD), propylamine-etched (PE), oxidised-and-washed (OW) and oxidised (Ox). To achieve the latter two conditions, fibres are treated with H₂O₂(aqueous (aq.)) and dried to produce a surface oxide layer; this is either washed off (OW) or left on the glass surface (Ox). Cellular response is investigated via 3 day elution and 14 day direct contact trials. The concentration of the metalloids (Ge, Sb and Se) in each leachate was measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cell viability is assessed using the neutral red assay and scanning electron microscopy. The concentration of Ge, Sb and Se ions after a 3 day dissolution was as follows. In AD leachates, Ge: 0.40 mg L⁻¹, Sb: 0.17 mg L⁻¹, and Se: 0.06 mg L⁻¹. In PE leachates, Ge: 0.22 mg L⁻¹, Sb: 0.15 mg L⁻¹, and Se: 0.02 mg L⁻¹. In Ox leachates, Ge: 823.8 mg L⁻¹, Sb: 2586.6 mg L⁻¹, and Se: 3750 mg L⁻¹. Direct contact trials show confluent cell layers on AD, PE and OW fibres after 14 days, while no cells are observed on the Ox surfaces. A >50% cell viability is observed in AD, PE and OW eluates after 3 days, when compared with Ox eluates (<10% cell viability). Toxicity in Ox is attributed to the notable pH change, from neutral pH 7.49 to acidic pH 2.44, that takes place on dissolution of the surface oxide layer in the growth media. We conclude, as-prepared Ge–Sb–Se glasses are cytocompatible and toxicity arises when an oxide layer is forced to develop on the glass surface.

We present a study that aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Ge₂₀Sb10Se₇₀ at% glass optical fibres on 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. To observe the toxicity of these optical fibres, 3T3 fibroblast proliferation was investigated.