Potential role of miR-214 in β-catenin gene expression within hepatocellular carcinoma

Molecular Biology Reports - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulators whose dysregulations can be involved in tumorigenesis. β-catenin, the main agent in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,...     

Exploring the interactions of a Tb(III)–quercetin complex with serum albumins (HSA and BSA): spectroscopic and molecular docking studies

Serum albumins (human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), two main circulatory proteins), are globular and monomeric macromolecules in plasma that transport many drugs and compounds. In the present study, we investigated the interactions of the Tb(III)–quercetin (Tb–QUE) complex with HSA and BSA using common spectroscopic techniques and a molecular docking study. Fluorescence data revealed that the inherent fluorescence emission of HSA and BSA was markedly quenched by the Tb–QUE complex through a static quenching mechanism, confirming stable complex formation (a ground‐state association) between albumins and Tb–QUE. Binding and thermodynamic parameters were obtained from the fluorescence spectra and the related equations at different temperatures under biological conditions. The binding constants (K_b) were calculated to be 0.8547 × 10³ M^?1 for HSA and 0.1363 × 10³ M^?1 for BSA at 298 K. Also, the number of binding sites (n) of the HSA/BSA–Tb–QUE systems was obtained to be approximately 1. Thermodynamic data calculations along with molecular docking results indicated that electrostatic interactions have a main role in the binding process of the Tb–QUE complex with HSA/BSA. Furthermore, molecular docking outputs revealed that the Tb–QUE complex has high affinity to bind to subdomain IIA of HSA and BSA. Binding distances (r) between HSA–Tb–QUE and BSA–Tb–QUE systems were also calculated using the Forster (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) method. It is expected that this study will provide a pathway for designing new compounds with multiple beneficial effects on human health from the phenolic compounds family such as the Tb–QUE complex.     

Use of virus-induced gene silencing to characterize genes involved in modulating hypersensitive cell death in maize

Plant disease resistance proteins (R-proteins) detect specific pathogen-derived molecules, triggering a defence response often including a rapid localized cell death at the point of pathogen penetration called the hypersensitive response (HR). The maize Rp1-D21 gene encodes a protein that triggers a spontaneous HR causing spots on leaves in the absence of any pathogen. Previously, we used fine mapping and functional analysis in a Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression system to identify and characterize a number of genes associated with variation in Rp1-D21-induced HR. Here we describe a system for characterizing genes mediating HR, using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in a maize line carrying Rp1-D21. We assess the roles of 12 candidate genes. Three of these genes, SGT1, RAR1, and HSP90, are required for HR induced by a number of R-proteins across several plant–pathogen systems. We confirmed that maize HSP90 was required for full Rp1-D21-induced HR. However, suppression of SGT1 expression unexpectedly increased the severity of Rp1-D21-induced HR while suppression of RAR1 expression had no measurable effect. We confirmed the effects on HR of two genes we had previously validated in the N. benthamiana system, hydroxycinnamoyltransferase and caffeoyl CoA O-methyltransferase. We further showed the suppression the expression of two previously uncharacterized, candidate genes, IQ calmodulin binding protein (IQM3) and vacuolar protein sorting protein 37, suppressed Rp1-D21-induced HR. This approach is an efficient way to characterize the roles of genes modulating the hypersensitive defence response and other dominant lesion phenotypes in maize.     

S‐allyl cysteine,an active ingredient of garlic,attenuates acute liver dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide/ d‐galactosamine in mouse: Underlying mechanisms

In the present study, beneficial effect of S‐allyl cysteine (SAC) was evaluated in the lipopolysaccharide/d ‐galactosamine (LPS/d ‐Gal) model of acute liver injury (ALI). To mimic ALI, LPS and d ‐Gal (50 μg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively) were intraperitoneally administered and animals received SAC per os (25 or 100 mg/kg/d) for 3 days till 1 hour before LPS/d ‐Gal injection. Pretreatment of LPS/d ‐Gal group with SAC‐lowered activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase and partially reversed inappropriate alterations of hepatic oxidative stress‐ and inflammation‐related biomarkers including liver reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and hepatic activity of the defensive enzyme superoxide dismutase, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR4), cyclooxygenase 2, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase 1, nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and myeloperoxidase activity. Additionally, SAC was capable to ameliorate apoptotic biomarkers including caspase 3 and DNA fragmentation. In summary, SAC can protect liver against LPS/d ‐Gal by attenuation of neutrophil infiltration, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and pyroptosis which is partly linked to its suppression of TLR4/NF‐κB/NLRP3 signaling.     

Human gingival fibroblasts: Isolation,characterization, and evaluation of CD146 expression

Gingival fibroblasts (GFs) that exhibit adult stem cell-like characteristics are known as gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs). Specific mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers have not been identified to distinguish GMSCs from GFs. Recently, the cell surface molecule known as cluster of differentiation (CD) 146 has been identified as a potential MSC surface marker. In the present study, we investigated the differentiation potential of GMSCs based on CD146 expression.GFs were isolated by two techniques: tissue explants or enzymatic digestion. GFs were cultured and expanded then magnetically sorted according to CD146 expression. CD146^low and CD146^high cells were collected, expanded, and then tested for stem cell markers by flow cytometry as well as osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential. The differentiation of these cells was analyzed after 21 days using histology, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) to DNA ratio (GAG/DNA) assays. Positive histological staining indicated osteogenic differentiation of all groups regardless of the isolation techniques utilized. However, none of the groups demonstrated chondrogenic differentiation, confirmed by the lack of collagen type II in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of GF aggregates. Our data suggest that identification of gingival stem cells based solely on CD146 is not sufficient to properly carry out translational research using gingival fibroblasts for novel therapeutic methods of treating oral disease.     

The Footprints of Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Impairment in Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Testosterone Release Suppression in Pubertal and Mature F1-Male Balb/c Mice via the Downregulation of 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD,and CYP11a Expression

Biological Trace Element Research - Exposure to arsenic (AS) causes abnormalities in the reproductive system; however, the precise cellular pathway of AS toxicity on steroidogenesis in developing...     

Contrasted Responses to Root Hypoxia in Tomato Fruit at Two Stages of Development

The biochemical consequences of root hypoxia have been documented in many sink organs, but not extensively in fruit. Therefore, in the present study, the response to root hypoxia in tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was investigated at two developmental stages, during the cell division and the cell expansion phases. Our results showed that in dividing fruit, root hypoxia caused an exhaustion of carbon reserves and proteins. However, ammonium and major amino acids (glutamine, asparagine and γ–aminobutyric acid (GABA)) significantly accumulated. In expanding fruit, root hypoxia had no effect on soluble sugar, protein and glutamine contents, whereas starch content was significantly decreased, and asparagine and GABA contents slightly increased. Metabolite contents were well correlated with activities of the corresponding metabolising enzymes. Contrary to nitrogen metabolising enzymes (glutamine synthetase, asparagine synthetase and glutamate decraboxylase), the activities of enzymes involved in sugar metabolism (invertase, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase) were significantly reduced by root hypoxia, in diving fruit. In expanding fruit, only a slight decrease in ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase and an increase in asparagine synthetase and glutamate decarboxylase activities were observed. Taken together, the present data revealed that the effects of root hypoxia are more pronounced in the youngest fruits as it is probably controlled by the relative sink strength of the fruit and by the global disturbance in plant functioning.     

Transformation of chenodeoxycholic acid by thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus

We performed a series of experiments with Geobacillus stearothermophilus, a thermophile isolated from oil-contaminated soil in the Kuwaiti desert. The organism has a good potential for the transformation of a broad spectrum of organic molecules such as steroids, amino acids, and aromatic hydrocarbons. In the present study, we tested its potential for the transformation of a bile component, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Five transformed products, namely, cholic acid, methylcholate, methylchenodeoxycholate, 3α-hydroxy-7-oxo-5β-cholanic acid, and 7α-hydroxy-3-oxo-5β-cholanic acid, were the major transformation products catalyzed by G. stearothermophilus. Under aerobic conditions, no evidence of side chain degradation, ring cleavage, or dehydrogenation was found among the metabolites of CDCA. CDCA transformation by a thermophile is reported for the first time.     

Regulation of type II transmembrane serine proteinase TMPRSS6 by hypoxia-inducible factors: new link between hypoxia signaling and iron homeostasis

Hepcidin is a liver-derived hormone with a key role in iron homeostasis. In addition to iron, it is regulated by inflammation and hypoxia, although mechanisms of hypoxic regulation remain unclear. In hepatocytes, hepcidin is induced by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) through a receptor complex requiring hemojuvelin (HJV) as a co-receptor. Type II transmembrane serine proteinase (TMPRSS6) antagonizes hepcidin induction by BMPs by cleaving HJV from the cell membrane. Inactivating mutations in TMPRSS6 lead to elevated hepcidin levels and consequent iron deficiency anemia. Here we demonstrate that TMPRSS6 is up-regulated in hepatic cell lines by hypoxia and by other activators of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). We show that TMPRSS6 expression is regulated by both HIF-1α and HIF-2α. This HIF-dependent up-regulation of TMPRSS6 increases membrane HJV shedding and decreases hepcidin promoter responsiveness to BMP signaling in hepatocytes. Our results reveal a potential role for TMPRSS6 in hepcidin regulation by hypoxia and provide a new molecular link between oxygen sensing and iron homeostasis.