Folia histochemica et cytobiologica最新文献

Introduction: Fenofibrate (FN) is a hypolipemic drug used for the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia. Since in our previous study FN administration to young and old rats adversely affected the serum activity of liver marker enzymes, we decided to examine the effects of FN on liver ultrastructure of young and old animals.

Material and methods: Young and old rats were fed standard rodent chow supplemented with 0.1% FN for 30 days. Liver samples obtained from animals under full anesthesia were processed by routine methods to obtain ultrathin and histological sections for the examination by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, liver lysates were analyzed by Western blotting for the expression of the autophagy-related proteins LC3A/B and beclin 1.

Results: The ultrastructure of hepatocytes in both age groups was well-preserved, with the presence of abundant mitochondria, numerous peroxisomes and lysosomes, glycogen stored in the form of rosettes, and occasionally autolysosomes. However, hepatocytes of old control rats contained less mitochondria and peroxisomes, and more lipid droplets than cells of young animals. The effects of FN on liver ultrastructure were age-depended. FN increased the relative number of mitochondria and peroxisomes in the hepatocytes of old, and did not affect their number in young rats. Moreover, FN decreased and increased the relative number of lipid droplets in the hepatocytes of old and young rats, respectively. At the LM level, Oil Red O staining revealed smaller and larger lipid droplets within hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells. In the livers of young and old rats lipid droplets were distributed mainly in the periportal zones of hepatic lobules. Morphometric analysis confirmed that livers of control old rats contained more lipid-stainable areas than those of young ones; however, no effect of FN was observed either in young or old rats. Despite larger size of autolysosomes and autophagic vacuoles in hepatocytes of old rats, the expression of autophagy-related proteins did not differ in the livers of control and fenofibrate-treated young and old animals.

Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that fenofibrate, apart from its hypolipemic action, may have beneficial effect on the energy metabolism in the liver of old individuals by increasing the number of mitochondria and peroxisomes in hepatocytes.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical significance of Ly-1 antibody reactive clone (LYAR) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Material and methods: The expressions of LYAR at the protein level in representative paired NSCLC tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival curve of patients with NSCLC. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to estimate the cell proliferation and cell cycle, respectively. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to detect cell apoptosis.

Results: LYAR was dramatically overexpressed in NSCLC tissues which were closely related to the survival of patients with NSCLC. In clinical studies, the expression of LYAR was related to the clinical stage, histological differentiation, and Ki-67 expression. A positive correlation was found between LYAR and Ki-67 expression by Spearman's correlation test. After serum starvation for 72 h, serum re-addition significantly increased the expression of LYAR, PCNA, and Cyclin A and promoted the cell cycle progression. LYAR knockdown inhibited the proliferation and induced the G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of A549 cells.

Conclusions: The present study revealed the clinical significance of LYAR in NSCLC. LYAR might serve as a tumor promoter in NSCLC progression by promoting the proliferation and inhibiting the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Inhibiting the expression of LYAR was considered as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.

Introduction: The occurrence of aortic dissection is related to the proliferation and metastasis of vascular smooth muscle cells. In our present study, we found that the expression of miR-140-5p was inhibited in the wall of abdominal aorta of aortic dissection patients. However, the mechanism of miR-140-5p in the development of aortic dissection is unclear.

Material and methods: We detected the expression of miR-140-5p and NCK Associated Protein 1 (NCKAP1) in blood vessel of aortic dissection patients and normal people by PCR. Next, we established the miR-140-5p overexpression and miR-140-5p inhibition vascular smooth muscle cells (CRL-1999 cells). The BrdU assays, wound healing assays and transwell assays were performed to detect the proliferation and invasion ability of these cells. Finally, luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the relationship between miR-140-5p and NCKAP1.

Results: The expression of miR-140-5p was suppressed in blood vessel of aortic dissection patients, and the levels of NCKAP1 in those tissues were upregulated. Overexpression of miR-140-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells. miR-140-5p targeted and suppressed the expression of NCKAP1.

Conclusions: miR-140-5p repressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells by targeting and inhibiting the expression of NCKAP1. Furthermore, the results of our study suggest new strategies and targets for the clinical treatment of arterial dissection.

Introduction: Actinidia chinensis Planch. root extract (acRoots), known as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has shown antitumor efficacy in various types of human cancers. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in breast cancer (BCa) have not been elucidated.

Material and methods: In the present study, the effects of acRoots on cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were analyzed by MTT assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assay in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell lines. The expression levels of relevant proteins were determined by Western blot assay.

Results: The results revealed that acRoots inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis of BCa cells. Moreover, acRoots decreased the expression of cyclin D1, survivin, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, and Snail and increased the expression of Bax and E-cadherin in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. AcRoots inhibited the AKT/GSK-3b pathway by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated GSK-3b and b-catenin.

Conclusions: The described effects of acRoots on the cultured BCa cells suggest that they may be mediated by the inhibition of the AKT/GSK-3b signaling pathway. Thus, further studies are warranted to test the possibility that AcRoots may be used as a promising anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a very common neurodegenerative disorder, is mainly characterized by the deposition of b-amyloid protein (Ab) and extensive neuronal cell death. Currently, there are no satisfactory therapeutic approaches for AD. Although neuroprotective effects of genistein against Ab-induced toxicity have been reported, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway is associated with AD. The aim of the study was to investigate whether genistein can modulate Nrf2/HO-1/PI3K signaling to treat AD.

Materials and methods: Cell viability assay, the measurement of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot were performed on the SH-SY5Y cells induced by Ab25-35 in response to the treatment with genistein. Moreover, PI3K p85 phosphorylation was measured.

Results: Genistein enhanced the HO-1expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, as well as the PI3K p85 phosphorylation level. In addition, genistein increased the survival of SH-SY5Y cells treated with Ab25-35via HO-1 signaling. However, following transfection with Nrf2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and treatment with LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K p85, genistein could not upregulate HO-1 to exert neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5Y cells treated with Ab25-35.

Conclusions: These results suggest that genistein exerts a neuroprotective effect on SH-SY5Y cells in vitro via Nrf2/ HO-1/PI3K signaling, providing a foundation for the application of genistein in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to Nrf2/HO-1/PI3K signaling.

Introduction: The occurrence of osteoporosis (OP) has drawn considerable attention from scholars around the world due to the significant impacts thereof on the social economy and the quality of human life. OP research has been rapidly expanding since the inclusion of microRNAs (miRNAs) as critical regulators of gene-expression. However, despite the ability to evaluate miRNA gene therapy in OP being enhanced, there has been a scarcity of updated citation analyses that reflect such developments. In the present study, through bibliometric analysis, the global research activity and trends in regard to the relationship between OP and miRNAs were reviewed.

Methods: Publications related to miRNA and OP from 2000 to 2021 were retrieved via Web of Science (WoS). The data included publication years, countries, journals, institutions, authors and keywords, and were sorted and summarized by bibliometrics, before being visually analyzed through VOS Viewer.

Results: In the past five years, 599 articles have been published, with said studies accounting for 79.11% of all relevant documents, indicating the increased interest in the present research topic. The country with the highest contribution rate was China, and the publication rate of Journal of Bone and Mineral Research was the highest, followed by Bone. The institutions with the highest contribution rate were Nanjing Medical University. The most frequently occurring keywords were clustered into five groups. The research area of the first group described that circulating miRNA would be a potential biomarker for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). The remaining four groups involved the influences of miRNAs and exosomes on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the interactions of lncRNA and miRNA with OP.

Conclusions: The results of the present study will expand the research on miRNAs and OP. The research direction with the highest frequency was the miRNAs acting on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The influence of miRNAs carried by exosomes on the differentiation of MSCs might become an effective method for OP cell-free treatment.

Introduction: Herpetic keratitis caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common form of ocular herpes that causes corneal blindness. Although treatments for herpes keratitis have improved in recent years. there is still considerable room for new treatments against viral infection that shows great promise. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of RNA interference on HSV Type 1 (HSV1) infection in vitro, first prophylactically then therapeutically.

Material and methods: The highly conserved glycoproteins D (gD) and E (gE) were chosen as targets for this study. Different small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes that target gD and gE were designed and chemically synthesized. The recombinant adenovirus type 5 was developed and used as the vehicle with which we delivered the siRNA into the Vero cells infected with the HSV1 KOS strain. Evaluation of the efficacy of siRNA-mediated inhibition was performed either before virus inoculation (prophylactically) or after virus inoculation at the first appearance of lesions (therapeutically). The expression of messenger RNA encoding gD and gE was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We analyzed HSV replication in Vero cells, cytotoxicity of HSV, and cell viability.

Results: When used prophylactically, the siRNA-targeting gD and gE created a more marked decrease in viral titer than when used therapeutically. The transfection of cells with recombinant adenovirus containing the siRNA expression cassette was associated with very low cytotoxicity.

Conclusions: Adenovirus-mediated siRNA-targeting gD and gE genes effectively inhibit the replication of the HSV in Vero cells. In addition, these findings indicate that the prophylactic use of siRNA is far more effective at inhibiting HSV replication than the therapeutic use.

Background: An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is initially marketed as an assistant product to quit smoking or limit its use. However, recent studies suggest the opposite, describing it as a product that lacks adequate quality and user safety. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of e-cigarette flavoring agent (cinnamon flavor) on the neural retina development of chick embryos and apoptosis induction after the early and late apoptosis stages by quantitative detection of gene expression CASP-3 at both embryonic days E9 and E17.

Methods: Fertilized chicken eggs were divided into two groups: control and treatment, and each group included two embryonic days; E9 and E17. For each treatment stage, two dosages of the treatment were applied, 2% and 5%. The neural retinas were dissected from the sclera and retinal pigment epithelium for subsequent RNA extraction and histological examination.

Results: This study indicated that aerosol of the subtle cinnamon flavor e-liquid causes downregulated expression of CASP3 in neural retina development. In addition, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed multiple structural changes in the retinal layers and evidence of apoptotic cell death.

Conclusion: Cell death was visible and abundant in E9, and E17 concludes that flavor vapor condensate treatment caused neuronal cell death. CASP-3 was downregulated, which indicates that cell death occurred independently of CASP-3.

Introduction: Worldwide, nanoparticles especially gold-nanoparticles (Au-NPs) are widely used in medicine, cancer treatment and cosmetic industry. They are easily conjugated with different biomedical and biological agents and effortlessly absorbed with few side effects. The pars distalis of the pituitary gland is considered as the maestro of the endocrine peripheral glands since it secrets trophic hormones that controls their functions. 5-10% of the non-granular pars distalis cells are folliculo-stellate cells (FSCs) that support the granular cells' functions. The aim of the study was to explore the histological and the biochemical effects of repeated exposure to Au-NPs on the pars distalis in adult male albino rats with highlighting the impact on FSCs.

Material and methods: Thirty-six adult male albino rats were divided equally into control group and Au-NPs group (received 40 μg/kg/day of 11 ± 2 nm spherical Au-NPs orally for 2 weeks). Then, rats were euthanized and deposition of Au-NPs in pars distalis was investigated. Biochemical investigations and histological studies including hematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid Schiff's reaction, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for S-100, connexin 43 (Cx43) and Cytochrome-C (Cyt-C) as well as electron-microscopic and morphometric studies were carried out.

Results: The Au-NPs group demonstrated structural disorganization in the pars distalis, inflammation, congestion and increased extracellular PAS-positive colloid deposition due to the accumulation of Au-NPs. A significant increase in the immunoreactivity of S-100, Cx43 and Cyt-c, along with a significant increase in TNF-a, MDA, and bFGF content in the pituitary homogenates, was noted as compared to the control group. Ultrastructurally, degenerative changes were observed in the secretory cells. FSCs showed proliferation and increased phagocytic activity.

Conclusions: Repetitive exposure of adult male albino rats to Au-NPs prompted the accumulation of these nanoparticles in the pars distalis that was accompanied by cellular degeneration and dysfunction of the secretory cell and proliferation of FSCs. Thus, monitoring of the pars distalis hormonal levels might be useful for early detection of some hazardous effects possibly associated with the use of gold-nanoparticles.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and activation of its receptor, chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and the key signaling mechanisms involved in these effects.

Material and methods: BMSCs were treated with 100 μg/L SDF-1 and cultured in osteogenic medium for 7 days. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and osteocalcin (OCN). Alizarin-red staining was used to detect the mineralization-inducing ability of the cells.

Results: After BMSCs were treated with SDF-1, the levels of JAK2 mRNA, STAT3 mRNA, and protein phosphorylation increased, the number of mineralized nodules of BMSCs increased, and the osteogenic-differentiation ability was enhanced. In addition, after BMSCs were treated with an inhibitor of JAK2 phosphorylation, the levels of JAK2, STAT3, Runx2, and OCN decreased significantly, the number of mineralized nodules of BMSCs also decreased, and the osteogenic-differentiation ability decreased. The inhibition of CXCR4-treated BMSCs further confirmed that SDF-1/CXCR4 activated JAK2/STAT3 to regulate the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Conclusions: SDF-1/CXCR4 promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through JAK2/STAT3 activation.