Receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) gene polymorphism 2245G/A is associated with pro-inflammatory,oxidative-glycation markers and sRAGE in diabetic retinopathy

Background

Receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) gene polymorphism 2245G/A is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the mechanism on how it affects the disease development is still unclear.

Aim

This study aims to investigate the relationship between 2245G/A RAGE gene polymorphism and selected pro-inflammatory, oxidative-glycation markers in DR patients.

Methods

A total of 371 unrelated type 2 diabetic patients [200 with retinopathy, 171 without retinopathy (DNR)] and 235 healthy subjects were recruited. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method followed by DNA sequencing. The nuclear and cytosolic extracts from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and superoxide dismutase activity measurement respectively. Plasma was used for glutathione peroxidase activity, advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, pentosidine and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) measurements.

Results

DR patients with 2245GA genotype had significantly elevated levels of activated NF-κB p65, plasma MCP-1, AOPP and pentosidine but lower level of sRAGE when compared to DR patients with wild-type 2245GG.

Conclusion

The RAGE gene polymorphism 2245G/A is associated with pro-inflammatory, oxidative-glycation markers and circulating sRAGE in DR patients. Patients with 2245GA RAGE genotype could aggravate DR possibly via NF-κB mediated inflammatory pathway.     

Invasive brown trout Salmo trutta induce differential growth strategies in the native snow trout Schizothorax richardsonii of Himalaya: Are natives in unaltered rivers better at picking the gauntlet of invasion?

Brown trout Salmo trutta is a potent global invader and its establishments have progressively altered physiologies, life-histories and niche-availabilities for native fish species. River impoundments further escalate its invasion potential. The Himalayan rivers however, stay uncharted for the effects of brown trout interactions with the native fish fauna. Snow trout Schizothorax richardsonii a Himalayan cold-water native, concerningly overlaps its range with brown trout. To understand its responses to invasion pressures, we investigated brown trout effects on the age and growth of snow trout populations in three rivers with varying levels of perturbation: (a) a dammed and (b) an undammed river with the invasive brown trout in comparison to (c) an undammed river without invasion pressures. We found sympatric snow trout in the undammed river to respond to brown trout invasion with fast life history responses, showing an early age-at-maturity (A₅₀ = 1.2 years) and fast growth with a higher growth constant (K = 0.40 yr⁻¹) and specific rate of linear growth across life. On the contrary, sympatric snow trout in the dammed river showed an explicitly slow life-history by maturing at a higher age (A₅₀ = 2.9 years) and a slow growth, with a lower growth constant (K = 0.26 yr⁻¹) and specific linear growth rates. Our findings suggest that, the snow trout appear to present stronger response to brown trout invasions when the river is unaltered and free from hydropower operations and damming. Further research is strongly warranted from other high-altitude Himalayan basins to delineate the variation in growth strategies exhibited by snow trout in sympatry with the invasives.     

Mangiferin Antagonizes Rotenone: Induced Apoptosis Through Attenuating Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in SK-N-SH Neuroblastoma Cells

In the present study, using a human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells, we explored antioxidant, mitochondrial protective and antiapoptotic properties of mangiferin against rotenone-mediated cytotoxicity. SK-N-SH cells are divided into four experimental groups based on 3-(4,5-dimethyl2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay—untreated cells, cells incubated with rotenone (100 nM), cells treated with mangiferin (20 μg) (pretreatment 4 h before) + rotenone (100 nM) and mangiferin alone treated. 24 h after treatment with rotenone and 28 h after treatment with mangiferin, levels of ATP thiobarbituricacid reactive substances and reduced glutathione and activities of enzymatic antioxidants including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidise were measured. Finally mitochondrial transmembrane potential and expressions of apoptotic protein were also analysed. Pre-treatment with mangiferin significantly enhanced cell viability, ameliorated decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased rotenone-induced apoptosis in the cellular model of Parkinson’s disease. Moreover oxidative imbalance induced by rotenone was partially rectified by mangiferin. Our results indicated that anti-apoptotic properties of this natural compound due to its antioxidant and mitochondrial protective function protect rotenone induced cytotoxicity.     

Phytochemical analysis and fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Acacia catechu: An efficacious and ecofriendly control tool against selected polyphagous insect pests

Globally, the farmers are struggling with polyphagous insect pest, and it is the number one enemy of agri-products, which made plenty of economic deterioration. Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera are the agronomically important polyphagous pests. Most of the farmers are predominately dependent on synthetic chemical insecticides (SCIs) for battle against polyphagous pets. As a result, the broad spectrum usage of SCIs led a lot of detrimental outcomes only inconsequently the researchers search the former-friendly phyto-pesticidal approach. In the present investigation, leaf ethanol extract (LEE) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of A. catechu (Ac) were subjected to various spectral (TLC, CC, UV, FTIR, XRD and SEM) analyses. Larval and pupal toxicity of A. catechu Ac-LEE and Ac-AgNPs were tested against selected polyphagous insect pests. The significant larval and pupal toxicity were experimentally proven, and the highest toxicity noticed in AgNPs than Ac-LEE. The larval and pupal toxicity of Ac-AgNPs tested against S. litura and H. armigera LC₅₀/LC₉₀ values were 71.04/ 74.78, 85.33/ 88.91 µg/mL and 92.57/ 96.21 and 124.43/ 129.95 µg/mL respectively. Ac-AgNPs could be potential phyto-pesticidal effectiveness against selected polyphagous insect pests. In globally, it is significantly sufficient ratification giving towards the prevention of many unauthorized SCPs.     

Effect of corn-steep liquor on growth and mosquito larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis de Barjac 1978 and B. sphaericus Neide 1904.

Influence of corn steep liquor on the cell yield and toxicity of three strains of B. thuringiensis var israelensis and two strains of B. sphaericus was studied and compared with peptone-yeast extract using a laboratory fermentor. Large increase in the cell yield of all the three strains of B. thuringiensis var israelensis was observed when cornsteep liquor was used as the sole nitrogen source. Significant increase in toxicity was also observed in B. thuringiensis var israelensis strains B17 and B113. Among the two B. sphaericus strains tested, the strain 1593 showed no significant change in cell yield and toxicity, whereas the strain VCRC B42 showed increased cell yield and toxicity in this medium. The results indicate that cornsteep liquor can effectively replace both peptone and yeast extract in the media presently used for large scale multiplication of the two larvicidal bacilli.     

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for monitoring Bacillus sphaericus toxin.

Larvicidal proteins of B. sphaericus H5a5b (strain VCRC B42), purified by ion-exchange chromatography were used to raise antibodies in rabbits. The antibodies were specific in reacting to alkali-solubilized fractions from whole cells of toxic strains only. Ouchterlony immunodiffusion showed homology in toxin structure between strains of different serotype. A sandwich ELISA using avidin-biotin amplification was standardized. The lowest detectable limit was 6.25 ng/ml. Near linear quantitative binding of the antigen was found in the range 25-200 ng/ml. The growth, toxin level and LC50 values during various stages of fermentation of B. sphaericus strains 1593 and B42 were compared. There was significant correlation between LC50 values and toxin levels as measured by ELISA.