Cytolytic Effects and Apoptosis Induction of Newcastle Disease Virus Strain AF2240 on Anaplastic Astrocytoma Brain Tumor Cell Line

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a member of genus Avulavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Interest of using NDV as an anticancer agent has arisen from its ability to kill tumor cells with limited toxicity to normal cells. In this investigation, the cytotolytic properties of NDV strain AF2240 were evaluated on brain tumor cell line, anaplastic astrocytoma (U-87MG), by using MTT assay. Cytological observations were studied using fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to show the apoptogenic features of NDV on U-87MG. DNA laddering in agarose gel electrophoresis and terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP-X nick end-labeling staining assay confirmed that the mode of cell death was by apoptosis. However, analysis of the cellular DNA content by flowcytometery showed that there was a loss of treated U-87MG cells in all cell cycle phases (G1, S and G2/M) accompanied with increasing in sub-G1 region (apoptosis peak). Early apoptosis was observed 6 h post-inoculation by annexin-V flow-cytometry method. It could be concluded that NDV strain AF2240 is a potent antitumor agent that induce apoptosis and its cytotoxicity increasing while increasing of time and virus titer.     

Decreased E‐Cadherin in MCF7 Human Breast Cancer Cells Forming Multicellular Spheroids Exposed to Simulated Microgravity

MCF7 human breast cancer cells were cultured under normal gravity (1 g) and on a random positioning machine (RPM) preventing sedimentation. After 2 weeks, adherent 1 g‐control and adherent RPM cells (AD) as well as multicellular spheroids (MCS) were harvested. AD and MCS had been exposed to the RPM in the same culture flask. In a subsequent proteome analysis, the majority of the proteins detected showed similar label‐free quantification (LFQ) scores in each of the respective subpopulations, but in both AD or MCS cultures, proteins were also found whose LFQs deviated at least twofold from their counterparts in the 1 g‐control cells. They included the cell junction protein E‐cadherin, which was diminished in MCS cells, where proteins of the E‐cadherin autodegradation pathway were enhanced and c‐Src (proto‐oncogene tyrosine‐protein kinase c‐Src) was detected. Spheroid formation was prevented by inhibition of c‐Src but promoted by antibodies blocking E‐cadherin activity. An interaction analysis of the detected proteins that are involved in forming and regulating junctions or adhesion complexes and in E‐cadherin autodegradation indicated connections between the two protein groups. This suggests that the balance of proteins that up‐ or downregulate E‐cadherin mediates the tendency of MCF7 cells to form MCS during RPM exposure.     

The Effect of Early Application of a Combined Therapy of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Blood and Bone Parameters in Ovariectomized Rats

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - Osteoporosis is a common bone disorder with marked morbidity and mortality that occurs frequently in women after menopause. Inadequacy of...     

Performance of diagnostic biomarkers in predicting liver fibrosis among hepatitis C virus-infected Egyptian children

The aim of the present study was to identify specific markers that mirror liver fibrosis progression as an alternative to biopsy when biopsy is contraindicated, especially in children. After liver biopsies were performed, serum samples from 30 hepatitis C virus (HCV) paediatric patients (8-14 years) were analysed and compared with samples from 30 healthy subjects. All subjects were tested for the presence of serum anti-HCV antibodies. Direct biomarkers for liver fibrosis, including transforming growth factor-β1, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III amino-terminal peptide (PIIINP) and osteopontin (OPN), were measured. The indirect biomarkers aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin and bilirubin were also tested. The results revealed a significant increase in the serum marker levels in HCV-infected children compared with the healthy group, whereas albumin levels exhibited a significant decrease. Significantly higher levels of PIIINP, TIMP-1, OPN and HA were detected in HCV-infected children with moderate to severe fibrosis compared with children with mild fibrosis (p < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of these direct biomarkers, represented by sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value, emphasises the utility of PIIINP, TIMP-1, OPN and HA as indicators of liver fibrosis among HCV-infected children.     

Purification and characterization of tributyltin-binding protein of tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes

We successfully purified Trub.TBT-bpα, a tributyltin (TBT) binding protein (bp) of the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes. Tiger puffer was injected intraperitoneally with TBT (1.0 mg/kg body weight) and Trub.TBT-bpα was purified from serum by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis revealed that the Trub.TBT-bpα has a molecular mass of approximately 48.5 kDa and contains at least 40% N-glycan. The deduced 212 amino acid sequence of the protein showed the highest identity (41%, 212 amino acid overlap and E-value: 9e−42) with TBT-binding protein type 1 (TBT-bp1) of Paralichthys olivaceus (Japanese flounder). Analysis of the gene structure of Trub.TBT-bpα suggests that this protein belongs to the lipocalin superfamily, which may be important in the accumulation and elimination of TBT. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that functionalization of TBT-bps has occurred during evolution, and that the functions of this group of proteins might be important for fish survival.     

Spectrochemical Analytical Follow up of Phytoremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soil

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) are one of the most common groups of persistent environmental toxic organic contaminants to many organisms as well as to humans. In the present work, oil-polluted soil samples were phyto-remediated and analyzed. The investigated soil samples were collected from a location close to the oil petroleum production site in Ras-Gharib, Red Sea, Egypt. The phytoremediation process through TPH reduction and/or removal was carried out using Helianthus annuus (sunflower plant) based on its efficiency as a phytoremediator for organic pollutants. A preliminary four-week scheme of Helianthus annuus remediation, supported by twice quantized fertilization, provided a result of ～56% clean soil. Contaminated and phyto-remediated samples were diagnosed and analyzed through particle size distribution, Carbon-Hydrogen-Sulfur-Nitrogen elemental analysis (CHSN), Organic Matter content (OM%), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons determination (%) and spectroscopically through Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). Promising results have been achieved indicating the feasibility of planting sunflower for effective TPH remediation of the polluted soil and also the possibility of in situ monitoring of the remediation with easy, cost effective and fast spectrochemical analytical techniques, namely LIBS and LIF.     

Inheritance of faba bean resistance to Broomrape,genetic diversity and QTL mapping analysis

Molecular Biology Reports - Six faba bean parents and their F1 and F2 generations were used in this investigation to study the genetic system controlling resistance of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to...