Effect of the phytoestrogen, genistein-8-C-glucoside, on Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro

Genistein-8-C-glucoside (G8CG) belongs to isoflavones, which are a subclass of flavonoids, a large group of polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants. A number of studies on flavonoids show their cardioprotective and antiosteoporosis properties in in vitro and in vivo models. As a phytoestrogen, genistein has recently generated interest as a potential anticancer and antiatherogenic agent. Several flavonoids are known as antioxidants and scavengers of free oxygen radicals. In the current investigation we used glycosylated genistein (genistein-8-C-glucoside) from flowers of lupine (Lupinus luteus L.). Many authors have found that the action of genistein is not so simple, although many reports conducted in vitro have demonstrated that it is cytotoxic and genotoxic. Therefore, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of this compound in Chinese hamster ovary cells (line CHO) were studied. A colorimetric MTT assay to assess cytotoxicity and a Comet assay for the detection of DNA damage were used. Apoptosis was determined by the Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide staining technique. We have also demonstrated antioxidant properties of G8CG. The level of reactive oxygen species generated by G8CG alone and/or H2O2 was evaluated with fluorescence probes: dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFDA) by flow cytometry. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of genistein-8-C-glucoside (1-290 microM) and hydrogen peroxide (10-130 microM) and the effect of G8CG alone or in combination with H2O2 was determined. The results reveal that G8CG at concentrations higher than 10 microM significantly reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis and DNA damage. However at lower concentrations (5 and 7.5 microM), G8CG showed antioxidant properties, but had no cytotoxic or genotoxic activity.     

Maastrichtian island in the central European Basin—new data inferred from palynofacies analysis and inoceramid stratigraphy

The palynological study and palynofacies analysis supported by size analysis of opaque phytoclasts and diversity indexes for particulate organic matter in stratigraphically well-constrained (inoceramid biostratigraphy) sections is applied in monotonous Upper Cretaceous carbonate-siliciclastic sediments of southern Poland. Integrated data allow for the estimation of the proximity of an uplifted area from the studied sections. For the first time in palynofacies analysis, both Simpson’s Index of Diversity (1 ? D) and Shannon’s index are used for organic matter distribution providing a comprehensive understanding of a proximal–distal trend in a sedimentary basin. Cluster analysis allowed grouping the samples within proximal to distal shelf zones. The size analysis of opaque woody phytoclasts is used to extrapolate the distance from the source area. Palynofacies analysis indicates the existence of an uplifted area (probably connected with “Kukernitz Island”) in the Holy Cross part of the Danish-Polish Trough during the Maastrichtian. The presented results improve contemporary paleogeographical interpretations for this part of the Late Cretaceous central European Basin. The youngest Maastrichtian deposits of the Miechów Synclinorium are described, based on inoceramids which are of early Late Maastrichtian age.     

PACAP and VIP increase the expression of myelin-related proteins in rat schwannoma cells: Involvement of PAC1/VPAC2 receptor-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

PACAP and its cognate peptide VIP participate in various biological functions, including myelin maturation and synthesis. However, defining whether these peptides affect peripheral expression of myelin proteins still remains unanswered. To address this issue, we assessed whether PACAP or VIP contribute to regulate the expression of three myelin proteins (MAG, MBP and MPZ, respectively) using the rat schwannoma cell line (RT4-P6D2T), a well-established model to study myelin gene expression. In addition, we endeavored to partly unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. Expression of myelin-specific proteins was assessed in cells grown either in normal serum (10% FBS) or serum starved and treated with or without 100 nM PACAP or VIP. Furthermore, through pharmacological approach using the PACAP/VIP receptor antagonist (PACAP6-38) or specific pathway (MAPK or PI3K) inhibitors we defined the relative contribution of receptors and/or signaling pathways on the expression of myelin proteins. Our data show that serum starvation (24 h) significantly increased both MAG, MBP and MPZ expression. Concurrently, we observed increased expression of endogenous PACAP and related receptors. Treatment with PACAP or VIP further exacerbated starvation-induced expression of myelin markers, suggesting that serum withdrawal might sensitize cells to peptide activity. Stimulation with either peptides increased phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 residue but had no effect on phosphorylated Erk-1/2. PACAP6-38 (10 μM) impeded starvation- or peptide-induced expression of myelin markers. Similar effects were obtained after pretreatment with the PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin, 10 μM) but not the MAPKK inhibitor (PD98059, 50 μM). Together, the present finding corroborate the hypothesis that PACAP and VIP might contribute to the myelinating process preferentially via the canonical PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, providing the basis for future studies on the role of these peptides in demyelinating diseases.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-benzoyl-1-dichlorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides as potent Gram-positive antibacterial agents

Twelve 4-benzoyl-1-dichlorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides have been tested as potential antibacterials. All the compounds had MICs between 0.49 and 15.63?µg/ml toward Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis indicating, in most cases, equipotent or even more effective action than cefuroxime. In order to clarify if the observed antibacterial effects are universal, further research were undertaken to test inhibitory potency of two most potent compounds 3 and 11 on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 11 inhibited the growth of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) at MICs of 1.95–7.81?µg/ml, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) at MICs of 0.49–1.95?µg/ml and MDR–MRSA at MIC of 0.98 and 3.90?µg/ml, respectively. Finally, inhibitory efficacy of 3 and 11 on planktonic cells and biofilms formation in clinical isolates of S. aureus and Haemophilus parainfluenzae was tested. The majority of cells in biofilm populations of MSSA and MRSA were eradicated at low level of 3, with MBICs in the range of 7.82–15.63?µg/ml.     

Evolutionary embryology resurrected in Japan with a new molecular basis: Nori Satoh and the history of ascidian studies originating in Kyoto during the 20th century

This article briefly summarizes the scientific contributions of Nori Satoh, the winner of the 2005 edition of the Kowalevsky Medal, to Developmental Biology and especially to Evo-Devo with his 30 years of research on tunicates - a primitive chordate species. His research began with his pure developmental interest in the clock mechanism of cell differentiation and later expanded into various aspects of evolutionary and developmental phenomena. He is not only known as a founder of molecular biology-based tunicate studies, but also for his world-wide service to education and his prestigious publications in international scientific journals.     

Absence of Intestinal PPARγ Aggravates Acute Infectious Colitis in Mice through a Lipocalin-2–Dependent Pathway

To be able to colonize its host, invading Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium must disrupt and severely affect host-microbiome homeostasis. Here we report that S. Typhimurium induces acute infectious colitis by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Interestingly, this PPARγ down-regulation by S. Typhimurium is independent of TLR-4 signaling but triggers a marked elevation of host innate immune response genes, including that encoding the antimicrobial peptide lipocalin-2 (Lcn2). Accumulation of Lcn2 stabilizes the metalloproteinase MMP-9 via extracellular binding, which further aggravates the colitis. Remarkably, when exposed to S. Typhimurium, Lcn2-null mice exhibited a drastic reduction of the colitis and remained protected even at later stages of infection. Our data suggest a mechanism in which S. Typhimurium hijacks the control of host immune response genes such as those encoding PPARγ and Lcn2 to acquire residence in a host, which by evolution has established a symbiotic relation with its microbiome community to prevent pathogen invasion.     

Diminished transmission of drug resistant HIV-1 variants with reduced replication capacity in a human transmission model

Background

Different patterns of drug resistance are observed in treated and therapy naïve HIV-1 infected populations. Especially the NRTI-related M184I/V variants, which are among the most frequently encountered mutations in treated patients, are underrepresented in the antiretroviral naïve population. M184I/V mutations are known to have a profound effect on viral replication and tend to revert over time in the new host. However it is debated whether a diminished transmission efficacy of HIV variants with a reduced replication capacity can also contribute to the observed discrepancy in genotypic patterns.As dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in HIV-1 transmission, we used a model containing primary human Langerhans cells (LCs) and DCs to compare the transmission efficacy M184 variants (HIV-M184V/I/T) to HIV wild type (HIV-WT). As control, we used HIV harboring the NNRTI mutation K103N (HIV-K103N) which has a minor effect on replication and is found at a similar prevalence in treated and untreated individuals.

Results

In comparison to HIV-WT, the HIV-M184 variants were less efficiently transmitted to CCR5⁺ Jurkat T cells by both LCs and DCs. The transmission rate of HIV-K103N was slightly reduced to HIV-WT in LCs and even higher than HIV-WT in DCs. Replication experiments in CCR5⁺ Jurkat T cells revealed no apparent differences in replication capacity between the mutant viruses and HIV-WT. However, viral replication in LCs and DCs was in concordance with the transmission results; replication by the HIV-M184 variants was lower than replication by HIV-WT, and the level of replication of HIV-K103N was intermediate for LCs and higher than HIV-WT for DCs.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that drug resistant M184-variants display a reduced replication capacity in LCs and DCs which directly impairs their transmission efficacy. As such, diminished transmission efficacy may contribute to the lower prevalence of drug resistant variants in therapy naive individuals.

     

Synthesis and in vitro study of antiviral and virucidal activity of novel 2-[(4-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)sulfanyl]acetamide derivatives

2-[(4-Methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)sulfanyl]acetamide derivatives were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. Cytotoxicity of the compounds towards HEK-293 and GMK cells was evaluated. Moreover, the antiviral and virucidal activities of these compounds against human adenovirus type 5 and ECHO-9 virus were assessed. Some of the newly synthesized derivatives have the potential to reduce the viral replication of both tested viruses.