Impact of chrysin on the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic complications

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, resulting in high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Neuropathy, ocular diseases, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular disease are common complications of diabetes that threats the patient’s life. Chrysin (CH), a natural flavonoid, has several pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Strong scientific documents indicated that chrysin may be effective for preventing and treating complications of diabetes in experimental models. The present study was designed to review the association between chrysin administration and diabetes complications by focusing on the possible molecular pathway. The findings indicate that chrysin has protective effects against diabetes outcomes by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in animal models. However, more clinical trial study should be done to clear the protective effects of chrysin in diabetic patients.     

Molecular investigation of association between common IL-6 polymorphism with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and recurrent miscarriage in Iranian women

Molecular Biology Reports - Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is described as two or more spontaneous abortions. To date, scientists in various fields of knowledge, such as genetics, endocrinology,...     

Heterologous Prime-Boost Regimens with a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenoviral Vector and Adjuvanted F4 Protein Elicit Polyfunctional HIV-1-Specific T-Cell Responses in Macaques

HIV-1-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes are important for HIV-1 replication control. F4/AS01 consists of F4 recombinant fusion protein (containing clade B Gag/p24, Pol/RT, Nef and Gag/p17) formulated in AS01 Adjuvant System, and was shown to induce F4-specific polyfunctional CD4⁺ T-cell responses in humans. While replication-incompetent recombinant HIV-1/SIV antigen-expressing human adenoviral vectors can elicit high-frequency antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses, their use is hampered by widespread pre-existing immunity to human serotypes. Non-human adenovirus serotypes associated with lower prevalence may offer an alternative strategy. We evaluated the immunogenicity of AdC7-GRN (‘A’), a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus type 7 vector expressing clade B Gag, RT and Nef, and F4/AS01 (‘P’), when delivered intramuscularly in homologous (PP or AA) and heterologous (AAPP or PPAA) prime-boost regimens, in macaques and mice. Vaccine-induced HIV-1-antigen-specific T cells in peripheral blood (macaques), liver, spleen, and intestinal and genital mucosa (mice) were characterized by intracellular cytokine staining. Vaccine-specific IgG antibodies (macaques) were detected using ELISA. In macaques, only the heterologous prime-boost regimens induced polyfunctional, persistent and balanced CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses specific to each HIV-1 vaccine antigen. AdC7-GRN priming increased the polyfunctionality of F4/AS01-induced CD4⁺ T cells. Approximately 50% of AdC7-GRN-induced memory CD8⁺ T cells exhibited an effector-memory phenotype. HIV-1-specific antibodies were detected with each regimen. In mice, antigen-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses were detected in the mucosal and systemic anatomical compartments assessed. When administered in heterologous prime-boost regimens, AdC7-GRN and F4/AS01 candidate vaccines acted complementarily in inducing potent and persistent peripheral blood HIV-1-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses and antibodies in macaques. Besides, adenoviral vector priming modulated the cytokine-expression profile of the protein-induced CD4⁺ T cells. Each regimen induced HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in systemic/local tissues in mice. This suggests that prime-boost regimens combining adjuvanted protein and low-seroprevalent chimpanzee adenoviral vectors represent an attractive vaccination strategy for clinical evaluation.     

Effects of chronic heat stress on testicular structures,serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations in developing lambs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high and moderate summer ambient temperatures on testicular structures and endocrine profile of developing ram lambs. Twenty fall-born ram lambs were randomly divided into two groups: animals were kept outdoor (n = 10) under ambient temperature (31–50 °C) or maintained indoor (26–32 °C) from May to October 2007. Daily maximum ambient temperature was recorded for both environments. Monthly serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations were compared between two groups throughout the experiment. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the study and their testes subjected to histopathology exam. The results showed that maximum outdoor ambient temperature was significantly higher than indoor. There was no difference between two groups on serum testosterone concentration. There was no effect on serum cortisol levels except in August and October. Histolopathological examination revealed a severe testicular degeneration with significant germ line degeneration without any impact on somatic cells. In conclusion, direct exposure of developing lambs during non-breeding season impairs testicular germ cells without significant effect on testicular endocrine function.     

The genomic organization of HeT-A retroposons inDrosophila melanogaster

Members of theDrosophila HeT-A family of transposable elements are LINE-like retroposons that are found at telomeres and in centric heterochromatin. We recently characterized an active HeT-A element that had transposed to a broken chromosome end fewer than mine generations before it was isolated. The sequence arerangement of this element, called 9D4, most likely represents the organization of an actively transposing member of the HeT-A family. Here we assess the degree of divergence among members of the HeT-A family and test a model of telomere length maintenance based on HeT-A transposition. The region containing the single open reading frame of this element appears to be more highly conserved than the non-coding regions. The HeT-A element has been implicated in theDrosophila telomere elongation process, because frequent transpositions to chromosome ends are sufficient to counter-balance nucleotide loss due to incomplete DNA replication. The proposed elongation model and the hypothetical mechanism of HeT-A transposition predict a predominant orientation of HeT-A elements with their oligo (A) tails facing proximally at chromosome ends, as well as the existence of irregular tandem arrays of HeT-A elements at chromosome ends resulting from transposition of new HeT-A elements onto chromosome ends with existing elements. Twenty-nine different HeT-A fragments were isolated from directional libraries that were enriched in terminal DNA fragments. Sequence analyses of these fragments and comparisons with the organization of the HeT-A element, 9D4, fit these two predictions and support the model ofDrosophila telomere elongation by transposition of HeT-A elements.     

Seaweed Liquid Extract as an Alternative Biostimulant for the Amelioration of Salt-stress Effects in Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T

Scientists consider saltwater one of the effective environmental stress that negatively affects the growth and establishment of trees and shrubs worldwide. Utilizing the potential of Bio-stimulant compounds present in the brown seaweed extract is an alternative strategy to improve crop tolerance to salinity. This study focused on the application of seaweed extract as a Bio-stimulant agent to counteract the salt stress on the growth and some physiochemical aspects of milkweed seedlings. In this experiment, the seedlings were treated with seaweed extract (SWE) of Sargassum angustifolium at four concentrations (non-SWE or control, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%) and then exposed to salt stress at four levels (0, 7.5, 15, and 30 dS m^?1 of diluted seawater) in a completely randomized design (four replications per treatment) over a time-span of 3 months. The results indicated that SWE-treated seedlings could tolerate salinity up to 15 dS m^?1 and also increase the survival rate by 69%. The growth parameters like height, specific leaf area, root length and volume, root and shoot dry weight were considerably enhanced by SWE (1%) from 7.5 to 30 dS m^?1. Moreover, gas exchanges and chlorophyll pigments were markedly increased using SWE (0.5%) under salt lower 15 dS m^?1 than control. Also, both SWE and salt stress significantly enhanced antioxidant enzymes over control, but SWE more increased the parameters. SWEs agent at different dosages significantly decreased electrolyte leakage at all salinity levels (except in 7.5 and 15 dS m^?1) compared to control. SWEs (1%) resulted in increasing K⁺ uptake but decreasing Na⁺ uptake and markedly enhancing K^+/Na⁺ ratio in stressed-milkweed versus free-salt stress. Totally, this research illustrates the potential of SWEs (at lower dosages) for elevating milkweed tolerance to moderate salinity stress and highlights the possibility of applying it as Bio-stimulant fertilizer.

     

Design,synthesis and in vitro characterization of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 derivatives for pancreatic beta cell imaging by SPECT

Novel Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) derivatives containing the metal chelator DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) and naturally occurring Indium (^113/115In) were prepared using solid-phase Fmoc methods. All synthesized peptides contained d-Ala-8, a modification known to improve resistance towards degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV. The effect of increased distance between DOTA and the peptide chain was investigated using an (aminoethyl) ethoxy acetyl linker, in order to reduce steric effects imposed by DOTA. Placement of linker and DOTA moieties were also varied within the GLP-1 sequence to test for optimal metal-complex location. The binding affinity of the peptide derivatives was determined in vitro with Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with a human GLP-1 receptor (CHO/GLP-1R) cell line and was shown to be in the nM range. Gamma camera imaging of an insulinoma cell line was carried out using ¹¹¹In-labeled peptides. Our results suggest that the prepared GLP-1 derivatives are suitable imaging probes for studying pancreatic islet function in vivo.     

Effect of leptin gene polymorphism on the breeding value of milk production traits in Iranian Holstein

New molecular techniques focused on genome analysis, open new possibilities for more accurate evaluation of economiclly important traits in farm animals. Milk production traits are typical quantitative characteristics controlled by a number of genes. Mutations in their sequences may alter animal performance as well as their breeding values. In this study, we investigated the effect of Kpn2I restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the leptin gene, on bull breeding values for milk yield, fat, and protein yield, and their percentage. In order to test for an association between the leptin single-nucleotide polymorphism in exon 2 and milk productivity, we genotyped 134 Iranian Holstein bulls. Breeding values for milk-related traits (milk yield, fat, and protein yield and percentage) were estimated using the BLUP based on an animal model. The effect of the genotypes of Kpn2I polymorphism on the breeding values for milk-related traits was examined using least square methods. The T allele frequency was 0.425. Genotypes were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Bulls with TT genotype had higher milk, fat and protein yield compared with TC and CC bulls (P < 0.05). Bulls with CC genotype had higher protein percentage compared with TT and TC bulls (P < 0.05). The association between leptin polymorphism with milk production traits suggests that this marker may be useful for selection based on molecular information.     

Design and synthesis of AX4697, a bisindolylmaleimide exo-affinity probe that labels protein kinase C alpha and beta

The synthesis and biochemical characterization of AX4697, a fluorescent, bisindolylmaleimide-derived probe for PKCalpha and beta, is described. AX4697 was able to quantify changes in PKC expression in drug-treated Jurkat cells and was shown to covalently label PKCalpha on C619, a residue that sits just outside the active site.