Inulin-based hydrogel for oral delivery of flutamide: preparation, characterization, and in vivo release studies

The ability of a hydrogel obtained by crosslinking INUDV and PEGBa to facilitate sustained release of flutamide is examined. The hydrogel is prepared in pH?=?7.4 PBS and no toxic solvents or catalysts are used. It is recovered in microparticulate form and its size distribution is determined. Mucoadhesive properties are evaluated in vitro by reproducing gastrointestinal conditions. Flutamide is loaded into the hydrogel using a post-fabrication encapsulation procedure that allows a drug loading comparable to that of market tablets. Drug-loaded microparticles are orally administered to cross-bred dogs and the in vivo study demonstrates their ability to prolong the half-life of the principal active metabolite approximately threefold and to significantly increase its bioavailability.     

Compromised base excision repair pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis imparts superior adaptability in the host

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a significant public health concern, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant TB. To combat the host’s dynamic environment, Mtb encodes multiple DNA repair enzymes that play a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity. Mtb possesses a GC-rich genome, rendering it highly susceptible to cytosine deaminations, resulting in the occurrence of uracils in the DNA. UDGs encoded by ung and udgB initiate the repair; hence we investigated the biological impact of deleting UDGs in the adaptation of pathogen. We generated gene replacement mutants of uracil DNA glycosylases, individually (RvΔung, RvΔudgB) or together (RvΔdKO). The double KO mutant, RvΔdKO exhibited remarkably higher spontaneous mutation rate, in the presence of antibiotics. Interestingly, RvΔdKO showed higher survival rates in guinea pigs and accumulated large number of SNPs as revealed by whole-genome sequence analysis. Competition assays revealed the superior fitness of RvΔdKO over Rv, both in ex vivo and in vivo conditions. We propose that compromised DNA repair results in the accumulation of mutations, and a subset of these drives adaptation in the host. Importantly, this property allowed us to utilize RvΔdKO for the facile identification of drug targets.     

Microtubule defects in mesenchymal stromal cells distinguish patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease whose etiopathogenesis remains elusive. The intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau, a pivotal protein in regulating microtubules (MT), leads to include PSP into tauopathies. Pathological hallmarks are well known in neural cells but no word yet if PSP‐linked dysfunctions occur also in other cell types. We focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that have recently gained attention for therapeutic interventions due to their anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic and trophic properties. Here, we aimed to investigate MSCs biology and to disclose if any disease‐linked defect occurs in this non‐neuronal compartment. First, we found that cells obtained from patients showed altered morphology and growth. Next, Western blotting analysis unravelled the imbalance in α‐tubulin post‐translational modifications and in MT stability. Interestingly, MT mass is significantly decreased in patient cells at baseline and differently changes overtime compared to controls, suggesting their inability to efficiently remodel MT cytoskeleton during ageing in culture. Thus, our results provide the first evidence that defects in MT regulation and stability occur and are detectable in a non‐neuronal compartment in patients with PSP. We suggest that MSCs could be a novel model system for unravelling cellular processes implicated in this neurodegenerative disorder.     

Association of immunoglobulin GM allotypes with longevity in long-living individuals from Southern Italy

Background

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of GM allotypes, i.e. the hereditary antigenic determinants expressed on immunoglobulin polypeptide chains, in the attainment of longevity. The role played by immunoglobulin allotypes in the control of immune responses is well known as well as the role of an efficient immune response in longevity achievement. So, it is conceivable that particular GM allotypes may contribute to the generation of an efficient immune response that supports successful ageing, hence longevity.

Methods

In order to show if GM allotypes play a role in the achievement of longevity, we typed the DNA of 95 Long-living individuals (LLIs) and 96 young control individuals (YCs) from South Italy for GM3/17 and GM23+/? alleles.

Results

To demonstrate the role of GM allotypes in the attainment of longevity we compared genotype and allele frequencies of GM allotypes between LLIs and YCs. A global chi-square test (3?×?2) shows that the distribution of genotypes at the GM 3/17 locus is highly significantly different in LLIs from that observed in YCs (p?<?0.0001). The 2?×?2 chi-square test shows that the carriers of the GM3 allele contribute to this highly significant difference. Accordingly, GM3 allele is significantly overrepresented in LLIs. No significant differences were instead observed regarding GM23 allele.

Conclusion

These preliminary results show that GM3 allotype is significantly overrepresented in LLIs. To best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed to assess the role of GM allotypes in longevity. So, it should be necessary to verify the data in a larger sample of individuals to confirm GM role in the attainment of longevity.

     

Five-coordinated metal complexes of bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylideneimine-3-propyl)amine and their reactivity towards dioxygen. Part I. An electrochemical investigation on manganese(II), iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes

The electrochemical behaviour in aprotic solvent of the complexes {M[bis-(2-hydroxy-l-naphthylideneimine-3-propyl)amine]}, where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Fe(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) is reported. The complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and visible spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. In addition the reactivity towards dioxygen of the Mn(II), Fe(II) and Co(II) derivatives was investigated, mainly by cyclic voltammetry and gas-volumetric uptake measurements. The results indicate that the Co(II) complexes are able to add dioxygen reversibly, while Mn(II) and Fe(II) compounds undergo an irreversible oxygenation process. The pathway of the dioxygenation processes is tentatively interpreted on the basis of the electrochemical responses. The results confirm that the location of the oxidation potential allows one to predict whether a compound is able to react with dioxygen, but it is not sufficient to predict whether the dioxygenation reaction proceeds reversibly.     

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione complexes of middle transition elements: Mono- and dinuclear derivatives

The synthesis and the characterization of several mono- and dinuclear middle transition metal derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 1, are presented. The reaction of 1 with CrCl₂(THF)₂ gives CrCl₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)(THF)₂, 2, while the halides of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) afford adducts of general formula MX₂(N,N′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂), M = Fe, 4, Co, 5, X = Cl; M = Ni, 6, X = Br. DFT calculations on CrCl₂(L)(THF)₂ with L = O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂ or O,O′-C₁₄H₈O₂ allowed a direct comparison of the coordination properties of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione to be made. Dinuclear compounds of general formula CrCl₂(THF)₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂-N,N′)MX_nL_m, M = Zr, 7, X = Cl, n = 4, m = 0; M = Cr, 8, X = Cl, n = 2, L = THF, m = 2; M = Fe, 9, Co, 10, X = Cl, n = 2, m = 0; M = Ni, 11, X = Br, n = 2, m = 0, are prepared from 2 and the corresponding metal halide, while VCp₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂-N,N′)FeCl₂, 12, is synthesized by reacting 4 with VCp₂. The electronic properties of the different complexes are investigated by magnetic moment measurements and EPR spectroscopy.     

Cloning and molecular modelling of pectin degrading glycosyl hydrolase of family 28 from soil metagenomic library

Western Ghats of India is recognized as one of the 12 mega diversity regions of the world and is the hot spot for unrevealed microbial diversity. To explore the diversity of polysaccharide degrading enzymes in that region, metagenomic library was constructed from forest soil of Southern Western Ghats region. Nine pectinolytic clones with the ability to degrade citrus pectin were isolated based on function based screening of the library. Sequence analysis of pg_4 clone containing revealed that it contained GH family 28 domain (pfam00295) belonging to polygalacturonase superfamily (PLN03003). Its amino acid sequence analysis showed 25–55 % identity to the other well-characterized polygalacturonases. Molecular modeling of pg_4 revealed that it comprised of three right handed-parallel β sheets, one anti-parallel β sheet and one α helix with three conserved catalytic residue D 2263, D 284-85 and H 312 at the C terminal end. The enzyme characterized was able to hydrolyze both apple and citrus pectin with K _m values of 1.685 and 1.542 mg ml^?1 and retained more that 80 % of activity at pH 5–9 and temperature 20–60 °C.     

Growth in excess copper induces changes in the lipid composition and fluidity of PSII-enriched membranes in wheat

Changes in the lipid composition and fluidity of PSII-enriched thylakoids were studied in seedlings of wheat ( Triticum durum Desf. cv. Adamello) grown in nutrient solution supplemented with CuSO₄ to achieve a final concentration of 10 and 50 μ M Cu. Metal content increased in the chloroplasts of the 50 μ M Cu-grown plants. PSII isolated from wheat supplied with 10 μ M Cu did not show any alteration in the lipid composition or in the lipid and protein levels of the membranes, nor was any change in the ultrastructure of the membranes detected. The 50 μ M Cu-grown plants showed thylakoid swelling, particularly in the stroma and terminal grana thylakoids. Furthermore, an alteration in the lipid composition of PSII preparations was observed together with a decrease in the lipid content, which resulted in a reduction in the lipid to protein ratio. The monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) to digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) molar ratio decreased, whereas the degradation of the polar lipids caused an accumulation of free fatty acids (FFA). The total amount of unsaturated lipids associated with the PSII-enriched membranes of wheat was not affected by excess copper supplies, even though changes in the individual fatty acids occurred. The effect of copper on the fluidity of PSII membranes was evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, using spin-probed fatty acids as probes. The PSII membranes, spin probed by means of 5- and 16-doxylstearic acids, showed that only the fluidity of the surface region of the bilayer close to the polar head group was reduced following the 50 μ M Cu supply. In contrast, the fluidity of the inner membrane region of the bilayer did not show any change. The implications of changes in the lipid composition and lipid-protein interactions on the fluidity of specific transversal membrane regions are discussed.