Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 260 in total

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  1. Fulltext S1PR1 drives a feedforward signalling loop to regulate BATF3 and the transcriptional programme of Hodgkin lymphoma cells
    Vrzalikova K, Ibrahim M, Vockerodt M, Perry T, Margielewska S, Lupino L, et al.
    Leukemia, 2018 01;32(1):214-223.
    PMID: 28878352 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.275
    The Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are characterised by the aberrant activation of multiple signalling pathways. Here we show that a subset of HL displays altered expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors (S1PR)s. S1P activates phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) in these cells that is mediated by the increased expression of S1PR1 and the decreased expression of S1PR2. We also showed that genes regulated by the PI3-K signalling pathway in HL cell lines significantly overlap with the transcriptional programme of primary HRS cells. Genes upregulated by the PI3-K pathway included the basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like 3 (BATF3), which is normally associated with the development of dendritic cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that BATF3 was expressed in HRS cells of most HL cases. In contrast, in normal lymphoid tissues, BATF3 expression was confined to a small fraction of CD30-positive immunoblasts. Knockdown of BATF3 in HL cell lines revealed that BATF3 contributed to the transcriptional programme of primary HRS cells, including the upregulation of S1PR1. Our data suggest that disruption of this potentially oncogenic feedforward S1P signalling loop could provide novel therapeutic opportunities for patients with HL.
    Matched MeSH terms: Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics*
  2. The RUNX complex: reaching beyond haematopoiesis into immunity
    Voon DC, Hor YT, Ito Y
    Immunology, 2015 Dec;146(4):523-36.
    PMID: 26399680 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12535
    Among their diverse roles as transcriptional regulators during development and cell fate specification, the RUNX transcription factors are best known for the parts they play in haematopoiesis. RUNX proteins are expressed throughout all haematopoietic lineages, being necessary for the emergence of the first haematopoietic stem cells to their terminal differentiation. Although much progress has been made since their discoveries almost two decades ago, current appreciation of RUNX in haematopoiesis is largely grounded in their lineage-specifying roles. In contrast, the importance of RUNX to immunity has been mostly obscured for historic, technical and conceptual reasons. However, this paradigm is likely to shift over time, as a primary purpose of haematopoiesis is to resource the immune system. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests a role for RUNX in the innate immunity of non-haematopoietic cells. This review takes a haematopoiesis-centric approach to collate what is known of RUNX's contribution to the overall mammalian immune system and discuss their growing prominence in areas such as autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases and mucosal immunity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors
  3. Fulltext Susceptibility of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) H103 and H376 cell lines to Retroviral OSKM mediated reprogramming
    Verusingam ND, Yeap SK, Ky H, Paterson IC, Khoo SP, Cheong SK, et al.
    PeerJ, 2017;5:e3174.
    PMID: 28417059 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3174
    Although numbers of cancer cell lines have been shown to be successfully reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), reprogramming Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) to pluripotency in relation to its cancer cell type and the expression pattern of pluripotent genes under later passage remain unexplored. In our study, we reprogrammed and characterised H103 and H376 oral squamous carcinoma cells using retroviral OSKM mediated method. Reprogrammed cells were characterized for their embryonic stem cells (ESCs) like morphology, pluripotent gene expression via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence staining, embryoid bodies (EB) formation and directed differentiation capacity. Reprogrammed H103 (Rep-H103) exhibited similar ESCs morphologies with flatten cells and clear borders on feeder layer. Reprogrammed H376 (Rep-H376) did not show ESCs morphologies but grow with a disorganized morphology. Critical pluripotency genes Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog were expressed higher in Rep-H103 against the parental counterpart from passage 5 to passage 10. As for Rep-H376, Nanog expression against its parental counterpart showed a significant decrease at passage 5 and although increased in passage 10, the level of expression was similar to the parental cells. Rep-H103 exhibited pluripotent signals (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and Tra-1-60) and could form EB with the presence of three germ layers markers. Rep-H103 displayed differentiation capacity into adipocytes and osteocytes. The OSCC cell line H103 which was able to be reprogrammed into an iPSC like state showed high expression of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog at late passage and may provide a potential iPSC model to study multi-stage oncogenesis in OSCC.
    Matched MeSH terms: SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  4. Fulltext Age-dependent atrial arrhythmic phenotype secondary to mitochondrial dysfunction in Pgc-1β deficient murine hearts
    Valli H, Ahmad S, Chadda KR, Al-Hadithi ABAK, Grace AA, Jeevaratnam K, et al.
    Mech Ageing Dev, 2017 Oct;167:30-45.
    PMID: 28919427 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2017.09.002
    INTRODUCTION: Ageing and several age-related chronic conditions including obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and represent independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Atrial arrhythmogenesis was investigated in Langendorff-perfused young (3-4 month) and aged (>12 month), wild type (WT) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β deficient (Pgc-1β-/-) murine hearts modeling age-dependent chronic mitochondrial dysfunction during regular pacing and programmed electrical stimulation (PES).

    RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The Pgc-1β-/- genotype was associated with a pro-arrhythmic phenotype progressing with age. Young and aged Pgc-1β-/- hearts showed compromised maximum action potential (AP) depolarization rates, (dV/dt)max, prolonged AP latencies reflecting slowed action potential (AP) conduction, similar effective refractory periods and baseline action potential durations (APD90) but shortened APD90 in APs in response to extrasystolic stimuli at short stimulation intervals. Electrical properties of APs triggering arrhythmia were similar in WT and Pgc-1β-/- hearts. Pgc-1β-/- hearts showed accelerated age-dependent fibrotic change relative to WT, with young Pgc-1β-/- hearts displaying similar fibrotic change as aged WT, and aged Pgc-1β-/- hearts the greatest fibrotic change. Mitochondrial deficits thus result in an arrhythmic substrate, through slowed AP conduction and altered repolarisation characteristics, arising from alterations in electrophysiological properties and accelerated structural change.

    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/genetics*
  5. FOXP3 regulatory T cells on prognosis of breast cancer
    Usman AN, Ahmad M, Sinrang AW, Natsir S, Takko AB, Ariyandy A, et al.
    Breast Dis, 2023;42(1):213-218.
    PMID: 37458005 DOI: 10.3233/BD-239002
    BACKGROUND: FOXP3 Tregs have been found in breast cancer patients, both humoral and tumor. Survival or prognosis of breast cancer patients seems to correlate with the increase and decrease in FOXP3 Treg.

    OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide insights regarding the FOXP3 Tregs involved and their mechanisms in breast cancer prognosis.

    METHODS: The literature study method is used from primary and secondary libraries. The library search used online-based search instruments such as NCBI-PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. The data obtained were then arranged according to the framework, data on the relationship between FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells and breast cancer, and writing a journal review was carried out according to the given format. Regulators (Tregs) can inhibit anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor growth. Tregs also play a role in inhibiting cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells by inhibiting the release of granules from CD8+, where CD8+ is important in killing tumor cells. FOXP3 is a Treg-specific biomarker and plays an important role in the development and function of Tregs.

    RESULTS: Studies on the presence of FOXP3+ Tregs in tumors have shown controversial results. Studies in some tumors reported the presence of FOXP3+, indicating a poor prognosis, whereas studies in other tumors found that FOXP3+ correlated with a good prognosis.

    CONCLUSION: Regulatory T lymphocytes and TILs in invasive breast carcinoma are still not established. Therefore, further research on the Effect of FOXP3 expression of regulatory T lymphocytes on breast cancer is still important.

    Matched MeSH terms: Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics; Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
  6. Generation of mesenchymal stem cell from human umbilical cord tissue using a combination enzymatic and mechanical disassociation method
    Tong CK, Vellasamy S, Tan BC, Abdullah M, Vidyadaran S, Seow HF, et al.
    Cell Biol Int, 2011 Mar;35(3):221-6.
    PMID: 20946106 DOI: 10.1042/CBI20100326
    MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) promise a great potential for regenerative medicine due to their unique properties of self-renewal, high plasticity, modulation of immune response and the flexibility for genetic modification. Therefore, the increasing demand for cellular therapy necessitates a larger-scale production of MSC; however, the technical and ethical issues had put a halt on it. To date, studies have shown that MSC could be derived from human UC (umbilical cord), which is once considered as clinical waste. We have compared the two conventional methods which are classic enzymatic digestion and explant method with our newly tailored enzymatic-mechanical disassociation method to generate UC-MSC. The generated UC-MSCs from the methods above were characterized based on their immunophenotyping, early embryonic transcription factors expression and mesodermal differentiation ability. Our results show that enzymatic-mechanical disassociation method increase the initial nucleated cell yield greatly (approximately 160-fold) and maximized the successful rate of UC-MSC generation. Enzymatic-mechanical disassociation-derived UC-MSC exhibited fibroblastic morphology and surface markers expression of CD105, CD73, CD29, CD90 and MHC class I. Furthermore, these cells constitutively express early embryonic transcription factors (Nanog, Oct-4, Sox-2 and Rex-1), as confirmed by RT-PCR, indicating their multipotency and high self-renewal capacity. They are also capable of differentiating into osteoblasts and adipocytes when given an appropriate induction. The present study demonstrates a new and efficient approach in generating MSC from UC, hence serving as ideal alternative source of mesenchymal stem cell for clinical and research use.
    Matched MeSH terms: Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism; SOXB1 Transcription Factors/genetics; SOXB1 Transcription Factors/metabolism
  7. Fulltext A multiplexable TALE-based binary expression system for in vivo cellular interaction studies
    Toegel M, Azzam G, Lee EY, Knapp DJHF, Tan Y, Fa M, et al.
    Nat Commun, 2017 11 21;8(1):1663.
    PMID: 29162808 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01592-3
    Binary expression systems have revolutionised genetic research by enabling delivery of loss-of-function and gain-of-function transgenes with precise spatial-temporal resolution in vivo. However, at present, each existing platform relies on a defined exogenous transcription activator capable of binding a unique recognition sequence. Consequently, none of these technologies alone can be used to simultaneously target different tissues or cell types in the same organism. Here, we report a modular system based on programmable transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins, which enables parallel expression of multiple transgenes in spatially distinct tissues in vivo. Using endogenous enhancers coupled to TALE drivers, we demonstrate multiplexed orthogonal activation of several transgenes carrying cognate variable activating sequences (VAS) in distinct neighbouring cell types of the Drosophila central nervous system. Since the number of combinatorial TALE-VAS pairs is virtually unlimited, this platform provides an experimental framework for highly complex genetic manipulation studies in vivo.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/genetics*; Transcription Factors/metabolism
  8. Fulltext Melatonin promotes Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation through the Ras/Raf/ERK and MAPK pathways, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor expression
    Tiong YL, Ng KY, Koh RY, Ponnudurai G, Chye SM
    Exp Ther Med, 2020 Nov;20(5):16.
    PMID: 32934681 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9143
    Upon peripheral nerve injury (PNI), continuous proliferation of Schwann cells is critical for axon regeneration and tubular reconstruction for nerve regeneration. Melatonin is a hormone that is able to induce proliferation in various cell types. In the present study, the effects of melatonin on promoting Schwann cell proliferation and the molecular mechanism involved were investigated. The present results showed that melatonin enhanced the melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) expression in Schwann cells. Melatonin induced Schwann cell dedifferentiation into progenitor-like Schwann cells, as observed by immunofluorescence staining, which showed Sox2 marker expression. In addition, melatonin enhanced Schwann cell proliferation, mediated by the upregulation of glial cell-derived neurotropic factor (GNDF) and protein kinase C (PKC). Furthermore, the Ras/Raf/ERK and MAPK signaling pathways were also involved in Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation. In conclusion, melatonin induced Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation via the Ras/Raf/ERK, MAPK and GDNF/PKC pathways. The present results suggested that melatonin could be used to enhance the recovery of PNI.
    Matched MeSH terms: SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  9. Fulltext Transcriptome Profiling of Haloxylon persicum (Bunge ex Boiss and Buhse) an Endangered Plant Species under PEG-Induced Drought Stress
    Thayale Purayil F, Rajashekar B, S Kurup S, Cheruth AJ, Subramaniam S, Hassan Tawfik N, et al.
    Genes (Basel), 2020 06 10;11(6).
    PMID: 32531994 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060640
    Haloxylon persicum is an endangered western Asiatic desert plant species, which survives under extreme environmental conditions. In this study, we focused on transcriptome analysis of H. persicum to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with drought tolerance. Two different periods of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress (48 h and 72 h) were imposed on H. persicum under in vitro conditions, which resulted in 18 million reads, subsequently assembled by de novo method with more than 8000 transcripts in each treatment. The N50 values were 1437, 1467, and 1524 for the control sample, 48 h samples, and 72 h samples, respectively. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis resulted in enrichment of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and plant hormone signal transduction pathways under PEG-induced drought conditions. The differential gene expression analysis (DGEs) revealed significant changes in the expression pattern between the control and the treated samples. The KEGG analysis resulted in mapping transcripts with 138 different pathways reported in plants. The differential expression of drought-responsive transcription factors depicts the possible signaling cascades involved in drought tolerance. The present study provides greater insight into the fundamental transcriptome reprogramming of desert plants under drought.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/genetics
  10. Lauric acid alleviates insulin resistance by improving mitochondrial biogenesis in THP-1 macrophages
    Tham YY, Choo QC, Muhammad TST, Chew CH
    Mol Biol Rep, 2020 Dec;47(12):9595-9607.
    PMID: 33259010 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-06019-9
    Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the central pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Macrophages play important roles in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Lauric acid is a 12-carbon medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) found abundantly in coconut oil or palm kernel oil and it comes with multiple beneficial effects. This research objective was to uncover the effects of the lauric acid on glucose uptake, mitochondrial function and mitochondrial biogenesis in insulin-resistant macrophages. THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophages and induce insulin resistance, before they were treated with increasing doses of lauric acid (5 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, and 50 μM). Glucose uptake assay, cellular ROS and ATP production assays, mitochondrial content and membrane potential assay were carried out to analyse the effects of lauric acid on insulin resistance and mitochondrial biogenesis in the macrophages. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were also performed to determine the expression of the key regulators. Insulin-resistant macrophages showed lower glucose uptake, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expression, and increased hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly, lauric acid treatment upregulated glucose uptake, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expressions. The treatment also restored the mitochondrial biogenesis in the insulin-resistant macrophages by improving ATP production, oxygen consumption, mitochondrial content and potential, while it promoted the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis regulator genes such as TFAM, PGC-1α and PPAR-γ. We show here that lauric acid has the potential to improve insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial dysregulation in insulin-resistant macrophages.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/genetics; Transcription Factors/metabolism
  11. The Emerging Role of the Hippo Pathway in Lung Cancers: Clinical Implications
    Teoh SL, Das S
    Curr Drug Targets, 2017 Nov 30;18(16):1880-1892.
    PMID: 27628948 DOI: 10.2174/1389450117666160907153338
    BACKGROUND: The incidence of lung cancers has increased globally. Increased exposure to tobacco, passive smoking, less consumption of vegetables and fruits and occupational exposure to asbestos, arsenic and chromium are the main risk factors. The pathophysiology of lung cancer is complex and not well understood. Various microRNAs, genes and pathways are associated with lung cancers. The genes involved in lung cancers produce proteins involved in cell growth, differentiation, different cell cycles, apoptosis, immune modulation, tumor spread and progression. The Hippo pathway (also known as the Salvador-Warts-Hippo pathway) is the latest emerging concept in cancers. The Hippo pathway plays an important role in controlling the size of the tissue and organ by virtue of its action on cell proliferation and apoptosis.

    OBJECTIVE: In the present review, we highlight the mammalian Hippo pathway, role of its core members, its upstream regulators, downstream effectors and the resistance cases in lung cancers.

    RESULTS: Specific interaction of Mer with cell surface hyaluronan receptor CD44 is vital in cell contact inhibition, thereby activating Hippo pathway. Both transcription co-activators YAP and TAZ (also known as WWTR1, being homologs of Drosophila Yki) are important regulators of proliferation and apoptosis, and serve as major downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway. Mutation of NF2, the upstream regulator of Hippo pathway is linked to the cancers.

    CONCLUSION: Targeting YAP and TAZ may be important for future drug delivery and treatment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors
  12. Fulltext WDR5, ASH2L, and RBBP5 control the efficiency of FOS transcript processing
    Teoh PL, Sharrocks AD
    Cell Mol Biol Lett, 2014 Jun;19(2):215-32.
    PMID: 24715476 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-014-0190-8
    H3K4 trimethylation is strongly associated with active transcription. The deposition of this mark is catalyzed by SET-domain methyltransferases, which consist of a subcomplex containing WDR5, ASH2L, and RBBP5 (the WAR subcomplex); a catalytic SET-domain protein; and additional complexspecific subunits. The ERK MAPK pathway also plays an important role in gene regulation via phosphorylation of transcription factors, co-regulators, or histone modifier complexes. However, the potential interactions between these two pathways remain largely unexplored. We investigated their potential interplay in terms of the regulation of the immediate early gene (IEG) regulatory network. We found that depletion of components of the WAR subcomplex led to increased levels of unspliced transcripts of IEGs that did not necessarily reflect changes in their mature transcripts. This occurs in a manner independent from changes in the H3K4me3 levels at the promoter region. We focused on FOS and found that the depletion of WAR subcomplex components affected the efficiency of FOS transcript processing. Our findings show a new aspect of WAR subcomplex function in coordinating active transcription with efficient pre-mRNA processing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/antagonists & inhibitors; Transcription Factors/genetics; Transcription Factors/metabolism*
  13. Fulltext Pbx1 is essential for growth of zebrafish swim bladder
    Teoh PH, Shu-Chien AC, Chan WK
    Dev. Dyn., 2010 Mar;239(3):865-74.
    PMID: 20108353 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22221
    pbx1, a TALE (three-amino acid loop extension) homeodomain transcription factor, is involved in a diverse range of developmental processes. We examined the expression of pbx1 during zebrafish development by in situ hybridization. pbx1 transcripts could be detected in the central nervous system and pharyngeal arches from 24 hpf onwards. In the swim bladder anlage, pbx1 was detected as early as 28 hpf, making it the earliest known marker for this organ. Morpholino-mediated gene knockdown of pbx1 revealed that the swim bladder failed to inflate, with eventual lethality occurring by 8 dpf. The knockdown of pbx1 did not perturb the expression of prdc and foxA3, with both early swim bladder markers appearing normally at 36 and 48 hpf, respectively. However, the expression of anxa5 was completely abolished by pbx1 knockdown at 60 hpf suggesting that pbx1 may be required during the late stage of swim bladder development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/metabolism*
  14. Fulltext Social Isolation Modulates CLOCK Protein and Beta-Catenin Expression Pattern in Gonadotropin-Inhibitory Hormone Neurons in Male Rats
    Teo CH, Soga T, Parhar IS
    Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2017;8:225.
    PMID: 28936198 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00225
    Postweaning social isolation reduces the amplitude of the daily variation of CLOCK protein in the brain and induces lower reproductive activity. Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) acts as an inhibitor in the reproductive system and has been linked to stress. Social isolation has been shown to lower neuronal activity of GnIH-expressing neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). The exact mechanism by which social isolation may affect GnIH is still unclear. We investigated the impact of social isolation on regulatory cellular mechanisms in GnIH neurons. We examined via immunohistochemistry the expression of CLOCK protein at four different times throughout the day in GnIH cells tagged with enhanced fluorescent green protein (EGFP-GnIH) in 9-week-old adult male rats that have been raised for 6 weeks under postweaning social isolation and compared them with group-raised control rats of the same age. We also studied the expression of β-catenin-which has been shown to be affected by circadian proteins such as Bmal1-in EGFP-GnIH neurons to determine whether it could play a role in linking CLOCK in GnIH neurons. We found that social isolation modifies the pattern of CLOCK expression in GnIH neurons in the DMH. Socially isolated rats displayed greater CLOCK expression in the dark phase, while control rats displayed increased CLOCK expression in the light phase. Furthermore, β-catenin expression pattern in GnIH cells was disrupted by social isolation. This suggests that social isolation triggers changes in CLOCK and GnIH expression, which may be associated with an increase in nuclear β-catenin during the dark phase.
    Matched MeSH terms: ARNTL Transcription Factors
  15. Fulltext Creating vessel elements in vitro: Towards a comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of xylem vessel element differentiation
    Tan TT, Demura T, Ohtani M
    Plant Biotechnol (Tokyo), 2019;36(1):1-6.
    PMID: 31275042 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.18.1119b
    Xylem is an essential conductive tissue in vascular plants, and secondary cell wall polymers found in xylem vessel elements, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, are promising sustainable bioresources. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying xylem vessel element differentiation is an important step towards increasing woody biomass and crop yields. Establishing in vitro induction systems, in which vessel element differentiation is induced by phytohormonal stimuli or by overexpression of specific transcription factors, has been vital to this research. In this review, we present an overview of these in vitro induction systems, and describe two recently developed in vitro induction systems, VISUAL (Vascular cell Induction culture System Using Arabidopsis Leaves) and the KDB system. Furthermore, we discuss the potentials and limitations of each of these new in vitro induction systems for advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving xylem vessel element differentiation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors
  16. Chemopreventive effects of standardized papaya leaf fraction on oxidatively stressed human liver cells
    Tan SA, Goya L, Ramanathan S, Sulaiman SF, Alam M, Navaratnam V
    Food Res Int, 2014 Oct;64:387-395.
    PMID: 30011665 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2014.06.040
    Extract from papaya leaves, a waste material from fruit farms in Malaysia was previously reported to possess remarkable antioxidative activities. In this study, papaya leaf extract was separated into fractions of different polarities [petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol (NB) and water (W) fractions]. The aim of this research was to determine the most active fraction in terms of its chemopreventive effects towards oxidative stress and the chemical constituents involved. The cytoprotective nature of the papaya fractions was observed against t-BOOH-induced oxidative stress on HepG2 liver cell line. ROS assay indicated that only PE and EA effectively reduced the increment of radical due to the pro-oxidant, t-BOOH. Nevertheless, PE was a stronger ROS scavenger by demonstrating ROS reducing activity in a dose-dependent manner to the basal level. This fraction was also found to inhibit cell death caused by t-BOOH toxicity, attenuating lactate dehydrogenase enzyme leakage by more than 90% (p<0.05). In addition, gene expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes (hmox-1 and nqo-1) and their transcription factor (nrf-2) were shown to be upregulated upon PE treatment during a time-course study. A GC-MS fingerprint of the active fraction was subsequently obtained with standardization using the marker compound; α-tocopherol, a well known antioxidant. However, this pure compound was not as effective as its corresponding PE concentrations in ROS reduction. Hence, PE of papaya leaf extract was a strong antioxidant and cytoprotectant with tremendous potential to be harnessed into the next therapeutic remedy against oxidative stress of the liver.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors
  17. Benchtop Isolation and Characterisation of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
    Tan KL, Chia WC, How CW, Tor YS, Show PL, Looi QHD, et al.
    Mol Biotechnol, 2021 Sep;63(9):780-791.
    PMID: 34061307 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00339-2
    The objective of this study is to develop a simple protocol to isolate and characterise small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs). hUC-MSCs were characterised through analysis of morphology, immunophenotyping and multidifferentiation ability. SEVs were successfully isolated by ultrafiltration from the conditioned medium of hUC-MSCs. The sEVs' size distribution, intensity within a specific surface marker population were measured with zetasizer or nanoparticle tracking analysis. The expression of surface and internal markers of sEVs was also assessed by western blotting. Morphology of hUC-MSCs displayed as spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like adherent cells. Phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry revealed that hUC-MSCs expressed MSC surface marker, including CD90, CD73, CD105, CD44 and exhibited the capacity for osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Populations of sEVs with CD9, CD63 and CD81 positive were detected with size distribution in the diameter of 63.2 to 162.5 nm. Typical sEVs biomarkers such as CD9, CD63, CD81, HSP70 and TSG101 were also detected with western blotting. Our study showed that sEVs from hUC-MSCs conditioned medium were successfully isolated and characterised. Downstream application of hUC-MSCs-sEVs will be further explored.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transcription Factors/genetics; Transcription Factors/metabolism
  18. Fulltext Human iPS-derived pre-epicardial cells direct cardiomyocyte aggregation expansion and organization in vitro
    Tan JJ, Guyette JP, Miki K, Xiao L, Kaur G, Wu T, et al.
    Nat Commun, 2021 08 17;12(1):4997.
    PMID: 34404774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24921-z
    Epicardial formation is necessary for normal myocardial morphogenesis. Here, we show that differentiating hiPSC-derived lateral plate mesoderm with BMP4, RA and VEGF (BVR) can generate a premature form of epicardial cells (termed pre-epicardial cells, PECs) expressing WT1, TBX18, SEMA3D, and SCX within 7 days. BVR stimulation after Wnt inhibition of LPM demonstrates co-differentiation and spatial organization of PECs and cardiomyocytes (CMs) in a single 2D culture. Co-culture consolidates CMs into dense aggregates, which then form a connected beating syncytium with enhanced contractility and calcium handling; while PECs become more mature with significant upregulation of UPK1B, ITGA4, and ALDH1A2 expressions. Our study also demonstrates that PECs secrete IGF2 and stimulate CM proliferation in co-culture. Three-dimensional PEC-CM spheroid co-cultures form outer smooth muscle cell layers on cardiac micro-tissues with organized internal luminal structures. These characteristics suggest PECs could play a key role in enhancing tissue organization within engineered cardiac constructs in vitro.
    Matched MeSH terms: Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  19. Fulltext Augmentation of Autoantibodies by Helicobacter pylori in Parkinson's Disease Patients May Be Linked to Greater Severity
    Suwarnalata G, Tan AH, Isa H, Gudimella R, Anwar A, Loke MF, et al.
    PLoS One, 2016;11(4):e0153725.
    PMID: 27100827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153725
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Its etiology remains elusive and at present only symptomatic treatments exists. Helicobacter pylori chronically colonizes the gastric mucosa of more than half of the global human population. Interestingly, H. pylori positivity has been found to be associated with greater of PD motor severity. In order to investigate the underlying cause of this association, the Sengenics Immunome protein array, which enables simultaneous screening for autoantibodies against 1636 human proteins, was used to screen the serum of 30 H. pylori-seropositive PD patients (case) and 30 age- and gender-matched H. pylori-seronegative PD patients (control) in this study. In total, 13 significant autoantibodies were identified and ranked, with 8 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated in the case group. Among autoantibodies found to be elevated in H. pylori-seropositive PD were included antibodies that recognize Nuclear factor I subtype A (NFIA), Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) and Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (eIFA3). The presence of elevated autoantibodies against proteins essential for normal neurological functions suggest that immunomodulatory properties of H. pylori may explain the association between H. pylori positivity and greater PD motor severity.
    Matched MeSH terms: NFI Transcription Factors/immunology
  20. Discovery of plant-based phytochemical as effective antivirals that target the non-structural protein C of the Nipah virus through computational methods
    Sureshan M, Prabhu D, Joshua SN, Sasikumar SV, Rajamanikandan S, Govindhapriya M, et al.
    J Biomol Struct Dyn, 2024 Apr;42(7):3568-3578.
    PMID: 37222609 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2214236
    Nipah Virus (NiV) belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia. Some initial symptoms include mild fever, headache and sore throat, which could escalate to respiratory illness and brain inflammation. The mortality rate of NiV infection can range from 40% to 75%, which is quite high. This is mainly due to the lack of efficient drugs and vaccines. In most instances, NiV is transmitted from animals to humans. Non-Structural Proteins (C, V and W) of the Nipah virus impede the host immune response by obstructive the JAK/STAT pathway. However, Non-Structural Proteins - C (NSP-C) plays a vital role in NiV pathogenesis, which includes IFN antagonist activity and viral RNA production. In the present study, the full-length structure of NiV-NSP-C was predicted using computational modelling, and the stability of the structure was analysed using 200 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. Further, the structure-based virtual screening identified five potent phytochemicals (PubChem CID: 9896047, 5885, 117678, 14887603 and 5461026) with better binding affinity against NiV-NSP-C. DFT studies clearly showed that the phytochemicals had higher chemical reactivity, and the complex MD simulation depicted that the identified inhibitors exhibited stable binding with NiV-NSP-C. Furthermore, experimental validation of these identified phytochemicals would likely control the infection of NiV.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
    Matched MeSH terms: STAT Transcription Factors/metabolism
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