A protective effect of curcumin on cardiovascular oxidative stress indicators in systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats

ObjectiveInflammation has been considered as an important factor in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Curcumin has been well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. In current research, protective effect of curcumin on cardiovascular oxidative stress indicators in systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated in rats.Material and methodsThe animals were divided into five groups and received the treatments during two weeks [1]: Control in which vehicle was administered instead of curcumin and saline was injected instead of LPS [2], LPS group in which vehicle of curcumin plus LPS (1 mg/kg) was administered [3-5], curcumin groups in them three doses of curcumin (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) before LPS were administered.ResultsAdministration of LPS was followed by an inflammation status presented by an increased level of white blood cells (WBC) (p < 0.001). An oxidative stress status was also occurred after LPS injection which was presented by an increased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) while, a decrease in thiols, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase(CAT) in all heart, aorta and serum (p < 0.001). The results also showed that curcumin decreased WBC (doses: 10 and 15 mg/kg) (p < 0.001) accompanying with a decrease in MDA (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). Curcumin also improved the thiols and the activities of SOD and catalase (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001).ConclusionBased on our findings, curcumin can ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation induced by LPS in rats to protect the cardiovascular system.     

Large-scale purification of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen from Pichia pastoris with non-affinity chromatographic methods as a substitute to immunoaffinity chromatography

Abstract

The costly media, inconsistent ligand density, ligand leakage, and possible destabilization of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) particles are main drawbacks of using immunoaffinity chromatography (IAF) in the large-scale downstream processing. In this study, we aimed to use an efficient large-scale purification system as an alternative purification method for immunoaffinity chromatography. For this purpose, we suggested integrating non-affinity chromatographic methods of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) for cost-effective purification of rHBsAg expressed in P. pastoris. The optimization of such process is not trivial and straightforward since diverse molecular characteristics of expressed rHBsAg in each type of host cell cause different interactions in non-affinity chromatography processes. The working buffer composition and chromatography parameters are the most influential factors in hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The best result for lab-scale HIC was achieved by using ammonium sulfate buffer in 10% of saturation concentration in pH 7.0 with Butyl-S Sepharose 6 Fast Flow medium and with subsequent Tween-100 and urea elution. In this process, the recovery, purity, and total yield were about 84%, 82%, and 69%, respectively. By scaling-up the HIC and integrating it with Sephacryl S-400?SEC, we obtained highly pure, i.e.,?>?90%, rHBsAg virus-like particles (VLP).     

Minocycline attenuates depressive-like behaviors in mice treated with the low dose of intracerebroventricular streptozotocin; the role of mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation

Molecular Biology Reports - Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are suggested as mechanisms which are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to...     

Rational MD simulations for improvement the affinity of nanobody against PlGF (placenta growth factor): mutagenesis based on electrostatic interactions

Abbreviations COM center of mass distance

MD molecular dynamics

MM-PBSA Molecular Mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann Surface Area

Nb nanobody

PlGF placenta growth factor

Rg radius of gyration

RMSD root mean-square deviation

SASA solvent-accessible surface area

VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor

     

Genetic polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor and risk for retinopathy of prematurity in South of Iran

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial disease, that cause visual impairment in premature children. The exact pathogenesis and etiology of ROP is unknown and genetic susceptibility is considered as risk factor. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in retinal neovascularization and subsequently retinal detachment. VEGF polymorphism is associated with proliferative ROP in some studies. We examined the possible association of the VEGF gene polymorphisms with ROP in preterm infants in south of Iran. A total of 111 preterm infants were examined by ophthalmologist and after that were genotyped. Genotyping of the VEGF +405 (rs2010963) and VEGF +936 (rs3025039) was done by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The frequency of VEGF alleles, genotypes and haplotype distribution were compared between groups. The patients were divided in three groups: 66 to the normal group (normal fundoscopy), and 45 to the ROP group; 30 infants were not treated with Lasertherapy (Regressive group) and 15 treated with Lasertherapy. The frequency of VEGF +405 and VEGF +936 G/C genotypes as well as allele frequencies was not different between groups. No significant difference was found between ROP with treatment and ROP without lasertherapy. Our report indicate that there is no association between the carrier states of gene polymorphisms VEGF +405, VEGF +936 and progression or spontaneous regression of ROP in preterm infants in Iranian population. However, it should be considered that angiogenesis is a complex process and genetic factors in addition to environmental factors are contributed in this pathway.     

Different patterns of DNA methylation of the two distinct O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O6-MGMT) promoter regions in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Colorectal cancer incidence differs widely among different geographic regions. In addition to mutational changes, epigenetic mechanisms also play important roles in the pathogenesis of CRCs. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O ⁶ -MGMT) is a DNA repair protein and in the absence of MGMT activity, G-to-A transition may accumulate in the specific genes such as K-ras and p53. To identify which CpG sites are critical for its downregulation, we analyzed the methylation status of the MGMT gene promoter in two sites in CRC patients. Then we compared the frequency of their methylation changes with the results of our previously reported K-ras gene mutation, APC2 and p16 methylation. MGMT methylation was examined in 92 tumor samples. A methylation specific PCR (MSP) method was performed for two loci of MGMT gene which described as MGMT-A and MGMT-B. The prevalence of MGMT-A, and MGMT-B methylation was 49/91 (53.8 %), and 83/92 (90.2 %), respectively. We detected high frequency of MGMT-B but not MGMT-A methylation in tumor tissues with APC2 methylation. Our results showed that MGMT-B methylation is significantly associated with K-ras gene mutation rather than MGMT-A (p = 0.04). Simultaneously, an inverse correlation was found between p16 and MGMT-B methylation simultaneously (p = 0.02). Our study indicated that hypermethylation of the specific locus near the MGMT start codon is critical for cancer progression. MGMT-B assessment that is associated with K-ras mutation can have a prognostic value in patients with CRC.     

Infection Status of Hydatid Cysts in Humans and Sheep in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is endemic of cystic echinococcosis (CE). In order to estimate endemicity of CE, we collected data from emergency surgery due to CE in 2002-2010 and also investigated the prevalence of hydatid cysts in the liver and lungs of sheep at an abattoir in Uzbekistan from July 2009 to June 2010. In 14 emergency hospitals, 8,014 patients received surgical removal or drainage of CE during 2002-2010, and 2,966 patients were found in 2010. A total of 22,959 sheep were grossly examined of their liver and lungs, and 479 (2.1%) and 340 (1.5%) of them were positive for the cyst in the liver and lungs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus is actively transmitted both to humans and sheep, and CE is a zoonotic disease of public health priority in Uzbekistan.     

Bioaccumulation of Trace Mercury in Trophic Levels of Benthic, Benthopelagic, Pelagic Fish Species, and Sea Birds from Arvand River, Iran

In this study, concentration of mercury was determined in the trophic levels of benthic, benthopelagic, pelagic fish species, and river birds from Arvand River, located in the Khuzestan province in the lowlands of southwestern Iran at the head of the Persian Gulf. The order of mercury concentrations in tissues of the fish species was as follows: liver>gill>muscle and in tissues of the kingfisher species was as follows: feather>liver>kidney>muscle. Therefore, liver in fish and feather in kingfisher exhibited higher mercury concentration than the other tissues. There was a positive correlation between mercury concentrations in fish and kingfisher species with size of its food items. We expected to see higher mercury levels in tissues of female species because they are larger and can eat larger food items. The results of this study show that the highest mean mercury level were found in the kingfisher (Anas crecca), followed by benthic (Epinephelus diacanthus), benthopelagic (Chanos chanos), and pelagic fish (Strongylura strongylura). Mean value of mercury in fish species, S. strongylura were (0.61 μg g^?1 dry weight), C. chanos (0.45 μg g^?1 dry weight), E. diacanthus (0.87 μg g^?1 dry weight), and in kingfisher species A. crecca was (2.64 μg g^?1 dry weight). Significant correlation between mercury concentration in fish and kingfisher may be related to high variability of mercury in the fish.