Effects of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on expression of apoptosis associated proteins in androgen independent human prostate cancer cells (PC-3)

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death among the aging men. Surgical or radiotherapy is effective when the cancer is confined to the prostate gland but once the cancer spreads beyond the pelvis even chemotherapy and hormonal ablation therapy fails in curing this disease. Our previous studies have shown that diallyl disulfide (DADS) induces cell cycle arrest and also induces apoptosis in PC-3 cells. And now the present study is focused to see whether there is an activation of caspase cascade pathway. Hence, in the present study the apoptotic effect of DADS is studied by Western blot analysis of caspase-3, -9, -10 and Bcl-2, Bad, and Bax protein. The Apoptotic cells were assessed by Hoechst 33342 staining with 25 and 40 microM concentrations of DADS for 24 h. The results have shown that DADS at 25 and 40 microM concentrations has induced the activation of caspases. There is a significant increase in the expression of caspases (3, 9, and 10). The proapoptotic protein Bax has significantly increased at 40 microM of DADS treatment and there is significant increase of Bad protein at both the concentration. Bcl-2 protein has significantly decreased in DADS treated cells. Therefore, the present investigation serves as evidence that DADS may be a therapeutic drug in the treatment of prostate cancer.     

Quercetin inhibits invasion, migration and signalling molecules involved in cell survival and proliferation of prostate cancer cell line (PC-3)

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease that is involved in cancer progression, especially invasion and metastasis including prostate cancer. uPA activation is mediated by transactivation of uPAR and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in prostate cancer progression. Prostate cancer (PC-3) cells have highly invasive capacity and they express uPA and uPAR gene. PC-3 cells are treated with quercetin, which inhibits invasion and migration of PC-3 cells. Quercetin downregulates uPA, uPAR and EGF, EGF-R mRNA expressions. Quercetin inhibits cell survival factor β-catenin, NF-κB and also proliferative signalling molecules such as p-EGF-R, N-Ras, Raf-1, c.Fos c.Jun and p-c.Jun protein expressions. But quercetin increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression. Our results suggest that quercetin inhibit migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells. It shows the value for treatment of invasive and metastasis type of prostate cancer.     

Tannic acid protects against experimental acute lung injury through downregulation of TLR4 and MAPK

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, and no specific therapies are still available to control the mortality rate. Thus, we explored the preventive and therapeutic effects of tannic acid (TA), a natural polyphenol in the context of ALI. We used in vivo and in vitro models, respectively, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce ALI in mice and exposing J774 and BEAS-2B cells to LPS. In both preventive and therapeutic approaches, TA attenuated LPS-induced histopathological alterations, lipid peroxidation, lung permeability, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the expression of proinflammatory mediators. In addition, in-vitro study showed that TA treatment could reduce the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Further studies revealed that TA-dampened inflammatory responses by downregulating the LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and inhibiting extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Furthermore, cells treated with the inhibitors of ERK1/2 (PD98059) and p38 (SB203580) mitigated the expression of cytokines induced by LPS, thus suggesting that ERK1/2 and p38 activity are required for the inflammatory response. In conclusion, TA could attenuate LPS-induced inflammation and may be a potential therapeutic agent for ALI-associated inflammation in clinical settings.     

A Stable Graphitic,Nanocarbon‐Encapsulated,Cobalt‐Rich Core–Shell Electrocatalyst as an Oxygen Electrode in a Water Electrolyzer

The oxygen electrode plays a vital role in the successful commercialization of renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and water electrolyzers. In this study, the Prussian blue analogue‐derived nitrogen‐doped nanocarbon (NC) layer‐trapped, cobalt‐rich, core–shell nanostructured electrocatalysts (core–shell Co@NC) are reported. The electrode exhibits an improved oxygen evolution activity and stability compared to that of the commercial noble electrodes. The core–shell Co@NC‐loaded nickel foam exhibits a lower overpotential of 330 mV than that of IrO₂ on nickel foam at 10 mA cm^?2 and has a durability of over 400 h. The commercial Pt/C cathode‐assisted, core–shell Co@NC–anode water electrolyzer delivers 10 mA cm^?2 at a cell voltage of 1.59 V, which is 70 mV lower than that of the IrO₂–anode water electrolyzer. Over the long‐term chronopotentiometry durability testing, the IrO₂–anode water electrolyzer shows a cell voltage loss of 230 mV (14%) at 95 h, but the loss of the core–shell Co@NC–anode electrolyzer is only 60 mV (4%) even after 350 h cell‐operation. The findings indicate that the Prussian blue analogue is a class of inorganic nanoporous materials that can be used to derive metal‐rich, core–shell electrocatalysts with enriched active centers.     

Quercetin regulates insulin like growth factor signaling and induces intrinsic and extrinsic pathway mediated apoptosis in androgen independent prostate cancer cells (PC-3)

Progression of prostate cancer is facilitated by growth factors that activate critical signaling cascades thereby promote prostate cancer cell growth, survival, and migration. To investigate the effect of quercetin on insulin-like growth factor signaling and apoptosis in androgen independent prostate cancer cells (PC-3), IGF-IR, PI-3K, p-Akt, Akt, cyclin D1, Bad, cytochrome c, PARP, caspases-9 and 10 protein levels were assessed by western blot analysis. Mitochondrial membrane potency was detected by rhodamine-123 staining. Quercetin induced caspase-3 activity assay was performed for activation of apoptosis. Further, RT-PCR was also performed for Bad, IGF-I, II, IR, and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression. Quercetin significantly increases the proapoptotic mRNA levels of Bad, IGFBP-3 and protein levels of Bad, cytochrome C, cleaved caspase-9, caspase-10, cleaved PARP and caspase-3 activity in PC-3 cells. IGF-IRβ, PI3K, p-Akt, and cyclin D1 protein expression and mRNA levels of IGF-I, II and IGF-IR were decreased significantly. Further, treatment with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and quercetin showed decreased p-Akt levels. Apoptosis is confirmed by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in quercetin treated PC-3 cells. This study suggests that quercetin decreases the survival of androgen independent prostate cancer cells by modulating the expression of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) system components, signaling molecules and induces apoptosis, which could be very useful for the androgen independent prostate cancer treatment.     

Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers Encapsulated with NiCoP: A Multifunctional Electrode for Supercapattery and Oxygen Reduction,Oxygen Evolution,and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Functionalizing nanostructured carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with bimetallic phosphides enables the material to become an active electrode for multifunctional applications. A facile electrospinning technique is utilized for the first time to develop NiCoP nanoparticles encapsulated CNFs that are used as an energy storage system of supercapattery, and as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reaction in KOH electrolyte. Evolving from the inclusion of bimetallic phosphide nanoparticles, the NiCoP/CNF electrode unveils superior‐specific capacitance (333 Fg^?1 at 2 Ag^?1) and rate capability (87%). The fabricated supercapattery device offers a voltage of 1.6 V that supplies a remarkable energy density (36 Wh kg^?1) along with an improved power density (4000 W kg^?1) and unwavering cyclic stability (25 000 cycles). Meanwhile, the NiCoP/CNF electrode has simultaneously performed well as a multifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction at a half‐wave potential of 0.82 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and can attain a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at a very low overpotential of 268 and 130 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, respectively. Thus, the NiCoP/CNF with all its inimitable electrode properties has profoundly proved its proficiency at handling multifunctional challenges in terms of both storage and conversion.