Cell Journal最新文献

Objective: Nanocomplexes, as targeted contrast agents, have been developing for diagnostic imaging, especially in computed tomography (CT). The present study aimed to investigate a novel approach using Triptorelin-conjugated Alginate-coated Gold Nanoparticles (TAuNPs) for early prostate cancer diagnosis through molecular CT imaging.

Materials and methods: In the current experimental study, AuNPs and TAuNPs were synthesized and then characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the AuNPs cytotoxicity and the cell viability were also assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The intensity of X-ray attenuation and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) for nontargeted and targeted nanoparticles were measured for tube voltages of 90.0, 120.0, and 140.0 kVp at different mAs, and the four different concentrations, including 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, and 100.0 μg/ml.

Results: The synthesized TAuNPs are non-toxic within the concentration range of 25-100 μg/ml, at tube potentials of 90.0, 120.0, and 140.0 kVp, and 145.0 as well as 266.0 mA. Also, the X-ray attenuation of targeted cells was 1.74, 2.23, and 2 times higher, respectively, than that of non-targeted cells for a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Furthermore, the CNR values for TAuNPs compared to AuNPs at tube potentials of 90.0, 120.0, and 140.0 kVp, and 266.0 mA, were 1.65, 3.35, and 2.57 c/ϭ, respectively.

Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that synthesized TAuNPs are emerged as a contrast agent, which is targeted for molecular CT imaging of prostate cancer cells, expressing the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor.

The potential application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in regenerative and personalized medicine has attracted substantial interest in recent years, highlighting the need for standardized protocols for their administration in preclinical and clinical settings. EVs, which play critical roles in intercellular communication and have significant therapeutic potential, have prompted extensive research and advancements in their clinical applications. However, the rapid evolution of this field has also revealed variability in how EVs are isolated, characterized, and used across different studies. Over the past decade, organizations such as the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) and the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) have actively worked to address these challenges by proposing frameworks for standardizing EV-related research. As the clinical evaluation of therapeutic EVs becomes increasingly commonplace, there is a need for practical guidelines and assessment tools that can aid in evaluating their efficacy and safety. In this context, we propose a comprehensive checklist designed to guide researchers and clinicians in considering critical aspects when designing and conducting biomedical and clinical studies involving EVs. This checklist aims to enhance the standardization of trials and therapeutic procedures, ensuring that clinical reports are prepared with adequate detail. By controlling reproducibility and transparency in research, we believe that our proposed guidelines will contribute significantly to advancing the application of EVs in clinical practice.

Objective: Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT) could be a helpful strategy for fertility restoration in patients with childhood cancer. Additionally, using metformin as an antioxidant may help mitigate damage caused by chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of metformin against oxidative stress caused by busulfan and cadmiuminduced damage while examining its role in enhancing spermatogenesis restoration following SSCT.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, a long-term infertility mouse model was created using cadmium and busulfan treatment (BC, n=10). Cryopreserved SSCs were transplanted either alone (cryo+SSCT, n=10) or in combination with metformin (cryo+MET+SSCT, n=10). These experimental groups were compared to a control group (n=10). Flow cytometry was used to assess the protective effect of metformin against reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and immunofluorescence evaluated proliferation and differentiation markers.

Results: The results of our study showed that ROS production decreased significantly in the cryopreservation group with metformin (P<0.05). The expression of proliferation and differentiation markers after transplantation was significantly increased in the cryopreservation group with metformin compared to the cryopreservation group containing a basic freezing medium (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Transplantation of SSCs combined with metformin significantly enhances spermatogenesis and improves the homing efficiency of transplanted SSCs. This approach holds great potential for restoring fertility in clinical settings, particularly in childhood cancer survivors.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of sodium hydrogen sulphide (NaHS) supplementation, a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) donor, on oxidant and antioxidant markers, as well as sperm function in rats with experimentally induced varicocele.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 55 male Wistar rats were assigned to varicocele (n=25), control (n=20), and sham (n=10) groups. In the varicocele group, five rats received NaHS treatment immediately after surgery for four months and ten rats were treated two to four months after surgery. The remaining ten rats in the varicocele group received no treatment. Similar protocols were followed for the control groups. At the end of four months, all rats were sacrificed, and assessments were made for sperm parameters that included function tests, and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

Results: Varicocele induction significantly impaired sperm parameters and sperm function tests. NaHS treatment for two months increased sperm concentrations, while treatment for two and four months improved motility, chromatin status, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to untreated varicocele rats. After four months, NaHS treatment reduced testicular MDA levels. Testicular TAC significantly increased after two months but decreased after four months of treatment in the varicocele group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: NaHS treatment improved sperm parameters and reduced oxidative stress in varicocele rats. The observed effects depended on the treatment duration.

Objective: High glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress is a metabolic stimulus for hepatic impairment in diabetes. Natural phytochemicals may alleviate HG-induced complications. We aimed to examine the impact of citronellol (CT) on oxidative stress and inflammation in the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell line under HG conditions.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the HepG2 cells were exposed to HG concentrations of 50 mM and co-treated with or without CT at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml for 48 hours. The impact of treatments on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and the enzyme's activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was explored. We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) to evaluate the gene expression of nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4).

Results: Co-treatment with CT (20 and 40 μg/ml) significantly reduced (P<0.05) HG-induced cell death (9.73 and 10.56%, respectively) and MDA production (16 and 26.78%, respectively) compared to untreated HG control group. Meanwhile, CT (10, 20, and 40 μg/ml) substantially increased (P<0.05) GSH content (35.61, 55.24, and 69.75%, respectively), GPx (48.32, 61.75, and 75.10%, respectively), and CAT activity (20.25, 25.09, 30.16%, respectively) dose-dependently comparison to untreated ones. TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression were also modulated significantly (P<0.05) by 40 μg/ml CT (47.75 and 32.44%, respectively) as compared to the HG control group. Moreover, CT at 20 and 40 μg/ml attenuated (P<0.05) NF-κB gene expression (30.41 and 39.93%, respectively), and at all doses, made a considerable reduction (P<0.05) in DPP-4 gene expression (18.77, 18.78, and 44.61%, respectively) dose-dependently comparison to untreated ones.

Conclusion: Our research suggested that CT with greater effectiveness at 40 μg/ml might shield hepatocytes exposed to HG by lowering oxidative stress and inhibiting inflammatory reactions; however, more research is needed.

Endometriosis, a benign gynecological disorder affecting 10-15% of women during their reproductive years, is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Despite its prevalence, the exact pathophysiology of this disease remains poorly understood. Current treatments, including surgery and hormonal therapies, often have limited efficacy and may be associated with significant side effects. In recent years, drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy for managing endometriosis. This approach capitalizes on the molecular similarities between endometriosis and certain cancers, particularly the role of proteins such as fibronectin. By targeting these shared molecular pathways, researchers are exploring the potential of repurposing existing drugs, especially anticancer agents, to treat endometriosis. This strategy promises to provide more effective and less invasive treatment options for patients with endometriosis. Preliminary studies have shown the potential of anticancer drugs in inhibiting disease progression and alleviating symptoms. However, further clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings and establish the precise role of anticancer drugs in the management of endometriosis.

Chronic wounds, a major clinical challenge, still need to develop new methods based on efficient technologies to improve treatment results. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), as an advanced approach in skin regenerative medicine, brought new hopes. The multifaceted effects of MSCs, including paracrine signaling, trophic factor secretion, and modulation of the wound microenvironment, orchestrate a cascade of regenerative, plays a critical role in tissue repair. Preclinical investigations have revealed the regenerative capacity of MSCs in accelerating wound closure, promoting angiogenesis, and fostering a pro-healing environment in chronic wound models. Clinical trials have also confirmed these findings and show the efficacy of MSC treatment in accelerating wound healing and improving the quality of healed tissue in patients with chronic wounds. Despite the therapeutic progress, key issues, such as optimal cell sourcing, cell dosage, delivery modalities, and long-term safety profiles, there are a number of unresolved issues which need to be dealt with. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current state of stem cell research in wound healing, and offers a new new hope for effective and innovative treatments in regenerative medicine.

In the article published in Cell J, Vol 15, No 4, 2015, pages 364-371, the reference for Table 1 and Figures 1B-D, 2, and 5A, B was inadvertently omitted. The missing reference (24), originally written in Persian by the authors, has now been added to the relevant Table and Figures' legends with the permission of the original publisher, Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. The authors would like to apologies for any inconvenience caused.

This study aimed to comprehensively review the global biobanks to visualize their geographical distribution. The protocol for this review consisted of the following steps: i. Developing a search strategy to identify biobanks from each continent, ii. Defining variables (such as tissue-based, cell-based, and gene-based biobanks) and organizing them in Excel sheets for data collection, iii. Collecting data, iv. Removing duplicate and invalid entries, v. Structuring the database, and vi. Analyzing the data. MATLAB software was utilized for data analysis and chart plotting. Data on global biobanks aimed to collected through targeted searches of databases, publications, and registries using predefined variables such as biobank type, location, and accessibility. The data were organized, cleaned to remove duplicates, and analyzed using MATLAB to visualize geographical distribution and prevalence patterns. Tissue and cell-based, tissue-based, and cellbased biobanks were the most common type of global biobanks with a prevalence of 30.4, 27.93, and 25.15%. United Kingdom (n=78, P=43.09%), Canada (n=43, P=23.75%), and the United States (n=33, P=18.23%) were the countries with a higher frequency of tissue-based biobanks (domain frequency: 1-78; 0.55-43.09%). However, tissue and genebased biobanks had the most minor frequency and were only in two countries of Spain (n=1, P=25%) and the United Kingdom (n=3, P=75%). The results of this study indicate that the feasibility of designing and conducting biobanks varies by type. Tissue and cell-based biobanks were found to be more prevalent, followed by tissue-based, cell-based, cell and gene-based, tissue, cell, and gene-based, gene-based, and finally, tissue and gene-based biobanks. This study represents the initial step in creating a global database by identifying all types of biobanks worldwide.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the interactions between tumor-associated mesenchymal stem cells (TA-MSCs) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, which appear to be necessary for developing effective therapies.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 TNBC cells were co-cultured with bone marrow-derived MSCs, and TA-MSCs conditioned media (CM) were collected. TA-MSC CM-treated TNBC cells were subjected to migration and invasion assays. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell proliferation was measured using trypan blue exclusion technique, while cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. The effects of TA-MSCs on tumor volume, survival rate, and lung metastasis were evaluated by subcutaneous co-injection of MSCs with 4T1 cells in the right flanks of BALB/c mice (n=5 per group). Intratumoral interleukin-12 (IL-12) immunotherapy was performed using lentiviral particles as a rescue experiment. The TA-MSCs RNA-seq dataset (PRJEB27694) was analyzed to detect elevated metastasis-associated oncogenes, downloaded from the European Nucleotide Archive database. For validation of the RNA-seq data analysis, the expression levels of candidate oncogenes were evaluated in TA-MSCs, TNBC cells, and tumor tissue using RT-PCR.

Results: TA-MSCs enhanced migration, invasion, and EMT of TNBC cells in vitro without affecting cell proliferation or apoptosis. In vivo, TA-MSCs increased tumor growth and lung metastasis, while decreasing survival rates. IL-12 therapy elevated serum IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) expression, suppressed tumor volume and lung metastasis, and improved overall survival in the TA-MSC group. RNA-seq data analysis identified upregulated oncogenes in TA-MSCs, among which MMP3, CXCL2, CXCL5, and ICAM1 were selected as the most relevant to metastasis. These genes showed increased expression in TA-MSCs, TNBC cells, and tumor tissues.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed a complex interplay between TA-MSCs and TNBC cells that affects tumor growth and metastasis. Preclinical results indicate that intratumoral IL-12 immunotherapy shows promise in overcoming TA-MSC-promoted tumor growth and metastasis.