Displaying publications 781 - 800 of 3311 in total

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  1. Teah YF, Abduraman MA, Amanah A, Adenan MI, Fariza Sulaiman S, Tan ML
    Data Brief, 2017 Oct;14:584-591.
    PMID: 28879216 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.08.008
    The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "The effects of deoxyelephantopin on the cardiac delayed rectifier potassium channel current (IKr) and human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) expression" (Y.F. Teah, M.A. Abduraman, A. Amanah, M.I. Adenan, S.F. Sulaiman, M.L. Tan) [1], which the possible hERG blocking properties of deoxyelephantopin were investigated. This article describes the construction of human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells overexpressing HERG potassium channel and verification of the presence of hERG mRNA and protein expression in this recombinant cell line.
    Matched MeSH terms: HEK293 Cells
  2. Yong KW, Choi JR, Wan Safwani WK
    Adv Exp Med Biol, 2016;951:99-110.
    PMID: 27837557
    Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), a type of adult stem cells that hold great potential in clinical applications (e.g., regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy) due to their ability to differentiate into multiple types of specialized cells and secrete soluble factors which can initiate tissue repair and regulate immune response. hMSCs need to be expanded in vitro or cryopreserved to obtain sufficient cell numbers required for clinical applications. However, long-term in vitro culture-expanded hMSCs may raise some biosafety concerns (e.g., chromosomal abnormality and malignant transformation) and compromised functional properties, limiting their use in clinical applications. To avoid those adverse effects, it is essential to cryopreserve hMSCs at early passage and pool them for off-the-shelf use in clinical applications. However, the existing cryopreservation methods for hMSCs have some notable limitations. To address these limitations, several approaches have to be taken in order to produce healthy and efficacious cryopreserved hMSCs for clinical trials, which remains challenging to date. Therefore, a noteworthy amount of resources has been utilized in research in optimization of the cryopreservation methods, development of freezing devices, and formulation of cryopreservation media to ensure that hMSCs maintain their therapeutic characteristics without raising biosafety concerns following cryopreservation. Biobanking of hMSCs would be a crucial strategy to facilitate clinical applications in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology*; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/drug effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/immunology
  3. Choy KW, Lau YS, Murugan D, Vanhoutte PM, Mustafa MR
    J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 2018 03;364(3):420-432.
    PMID: 29259041 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.245217
    Inflammatory injury of the endothelium leads to apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction. The current study explored the effect and mechanisms of paeonol in inflammation-induced apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). The effects of paeonol on LPS-induced inflammatory injury were assessed by Western blotting, flow cytometry and reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and C57BL/6J mice. Vascular reactivity of isolated mouse aortae was examined using wire myographs. The exposure of HUVECs to LPS increased the protein presence of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), BMP receptor type 1A, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit 2, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cleaved caspase 3, as well as decreased it in phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase; these effects were prevented by treatment with paeonol. Similarly, cotreatment with paeonol reversed BMP4-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. Relaxation in response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine were impaired in mouse aortae after exposure to LPSs; this endothelial dysfunction was reversed by cotreatment with paeonol, noggin (a BMP4 inhibitor), TAK242 (TLR4 antagonist), apocynin (an ROS scavenger), MAPK inhibitors, and AG (an iNOS inhibitor). BMP4 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) abolished LPS-induced upregulation of BMP4 and cleaved caspase 3 protein, but not in cells treated with TLR4 siRNA and vice versa. The silencing of TLR4 and BMP4 abolished the inhibitory effects of paeonol on LPS-induced activation of cleaved caspase 3. The present results demonstrate that paeonol reduces LPS-induced endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis by inhibiting TLR4 and BMP4 signaling independently.
    Matched MeSH terms: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects*; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/pathology
  4. Jamil NAM, Rashid NMN, Hamid MHA, Rahmad N, Al-Obaidi JR
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2017 Dec 04;34(1):1.
    PMID: 29204733 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-017-2385-4
    Tiger's milk mushroom is known for its valuable medicinal properties, especially the tuber part. However, wild tuber is very hard to obtain as it grows underground. This study first aimed to cultivate tiger's milk mushroom tuber through a cultivation technique, and second to compare nutritional and mycochemical contents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities and compound screening of the cultivated tuber with the wild tuber. Results showed an increase in carbohydrate content by 45.81% and protein content by 123.68% in the cultivated tuber while fat content reduced by 13.04%. Cultivated tuber also showed an increase of up to 64.21% for total flavonoid-like compounds and 62.51% of total β-D-glucan compared to the wild tuber. The antioxidant activity of cultivated tuber and wild tuber was 760 and 840 µg mL-1, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of boiled water extract of cultivated tuber against a human lung cancer cell line (A549) was 65.50 ± 2.12 µg mL-1 and against a human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) was 19.35 ± 0.11 µg mL-1. β-D-glucan extract from the purification of boiled water extract of cultivated tuber showed cytotoxic activity at 57.78 ± 2.29 µg mL-1 against A549 and 33.50 ± 1.41 µg mL-1 against MCF7. However, the β-glucan extract from wild tuber did not show a cytotoxic effect against either the A549 or MCF7 cell lines. Also, neither of the extracts from cultivated tuber and wild tuber showed an effect against a normal cell line (MRC5). Compound profiling through by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) showed the appearance of new compounds in the cultivated tuber. In conclusion, our cultivated tuber of tiger's milk mushroom using a new recipe cultivation technique showed improved nutrient and bioactive compound contents, and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities compared to the wild tuber. Further investigations are required to obtain a better quality of cultivated tuber.
    Matched MeSH terms: MCF-7 Cells/drug effects; A549 Cells/drug effects
  5. Nasiri R, Hamzehalipour Almaki J, Idris AB, Abdul Majid FA, Nasiri M, Salouti M, et al.
    Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2016 Dec 01;69:1147-58.
    PMID: 27612812 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2016.07.076
    Engineering of a physiologically compatible, stable and targetable SPIONs-CA-FA formulation was reported. Initially fabricated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were coated with citric acid (CA) to hamper agglomeration as well as to ameliorate biocompatibility. Folic acid (FA) as a targeting agent was then conjugated to the citric acid coated SPIONs (SPIONs-CA) for targeting the specific receptors expressed on the FAR+ cancer cells. Physiochemical characterizations were then performed to assure required properties like stability, size, phase purity, surface morphology, chemical integrity and magnetic properties. In vitro evaluations (MTT assay) were performed on HeLa, HSF 1184, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231cell lines to ensure the biocompatibility of SPIONs-CA-FA. There were no morphological changes and lysis in contact with erythrocytes recorded for SPIONs-CA-FA and SPIONs-CA. High level of SPIONs-CA-FA binding to FAR+ cell lines was assured via qualitative and quantitative in vitro binding studies. Hence, SPIONs-CA-FA was introduced as a promising tool for biomedical applications like magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery. The in vitro findings presented in this study need to be compared with those of in vivo studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood Cells/drug effects; Blood Cells/metabolism; HeLa Cells
  6. Amin, Z.M., Koh, S.P., Tan, C.P., Yeap, S.K., Hamid, N.S.A., Long, K.
    MyJurnal
    To study the wound healing efficacy of breadfruit starch hydrolysate, an in vitro wound scratch assay was conducted, in which the migration rate of wounded NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was determined. Wounds treated with lower dextrose equivalent (DE), (DE 10-14) starch hydrolysate were found capable to improve the wound healing of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell with the percentage of wound closure improvement of 77%, respectively when compared with higher DE range (DE 15-19 and DE 20-24). The findings obtained in the BrdU uptake and MTT viability assays confirmed the wound healing properties of breadfruit starch hydrolysate as the starch hydrolysate-treated wounded NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were able to proliferate well and no cytotoxicity was observed. Together, these findings indicated that the newly developed breadfruit starch hydrolysate performed better than commercial (COM) starch hydrolysate of the same DE ranges. In conclusion, breadfruit starch hydrolysate had better functional properties than did starch hydrolysates derived from other sources and that they could play a beneficial role in wound healing applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: NIH 3T3 Cells
  7. Tan JW, Israf DA, Harith HH, Md Hashim NF, Ng CH, Shaari K, et al.
    Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 2017 03 15;319:47-58.
    PMID: 28167223 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.02.002
    tHGA, a geranyl acetophenone compound originally isolated from a local shrub called Melicope ptelefolia, has been previously reported to prevent ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma by targeting cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis. Mast cells are immune effector cells involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases including asthma by releasing cysteinyl leukotrienes. The anti-asthmatic properties of tHGA could be attributed to its inhibitory effect on mast cell degranulation. As mast cell degranulation is an important event in allergic responses, this study aimed to investigate the anti-allergic effects of tHGA in cellular and animal models of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. For in vitro model of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, DNP-IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells were pre-treated with tHGA before challenged with DNP-BSA to induce degranulation. For IgE-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis, Sprague Dawley rats were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of DNP-IgE before challenged with DNP-BSA. Both in vitro and in vivo models showed that tHGA significantly inhibited the release of preformed mediators (β-hexosaminidase and histamine) as well as de novo mediators (interleukin-4, tumour necrosis factor-α, prostaglandin D2 and leukotriene C4). Pre-treatment of tHGA also prevented IgE-challenged RBL-2H3 cells and peritoneal mast cells from undergoing morphological changes associated with mast cell degranulation. These findings indicate that tHGA possesses potent anti-allergic activity via attenuation of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and inhibition of IgE-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis. Thus, tHGA may have the potential to be developed as a mast cell stabilizer for the treatment of allergic diseases in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mast Cells/drug effects*; Mast Cells/immunology; Mast Cells/metabolism
  8. Yusof MFH, Zahari W, Hashim SNM, Osman ZF, Chandra H, Kannan TP, et al.
    J Oral Biol Craniofac Res, 2017 10 19;8(1):48-53.
    PMID: 29556464 DOI: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2017.10.003
    Manipulation of dental stem cells (DSCs) using current technologies in tissue engineering unveil promising prospect in regenerative medicine. DSCs have shown to possess angiogenic and osteogenic potential in both in vivo and in vitro. Neural crest derived DSCs can successfully be isolated from various dental tissues, exploiting their intrinsic great differentiation potential. In this article, researcher team intent to review the characteristics of DSCs, with focus on their angiogenic and osteogenic differentiation lineage. Clinical data on DSCs are still lacking to prove their restorative abilities despite extensive contemporary literature, warranting research to further validate their application for bone tissue engineering.
    Matched MeSH terms: Stem Cells
  9. Nur Husna SM, Md Shukri N, Mohd Ashari NS, Wong KK
    PeerJ, 2022;10:e13444.
    PMID: 35663523 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13444
    Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder of the upper airway, while asthma is a disease affecting the lower airway and both diseases are usually comorbid. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are critical cytokines in the induction of the pathogenic Th2 responses in AR and asthma. Targeting the IL-4/IL-13 axis at various levels of its signaling pathway has emerged as promising targeted therapy in both AR and asthma patient populations. In this review, we discuss the biological characteristics of IL-4 and IL-13, their signaling pathways, and therapeutic antibodies against each cytokine as well as their receptors. In particular, the pleiotropic roles of IL-4 and IL-13 in orchestrating Th2 responses in AR and asthma patients indicate that dual IL-4/IL-13 blockade is a promising therapeutic strategy for both diseases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Th2 Cells
  10. Chuprom J, Sangkanu S, Mitsuwan W, Boonhok R, Mahabusarakam W, Singh LR, et al.
    PeerJ, 2022;10:e14468.
    PMID: 36523474 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14468
    Garcinia mangostana L., also known as the mangosteen tree, is a native medicinal plant in Southeast Asia having a wide variety of pharmacologically active compounds, including xanthonoid mangostin. In this study, we examined the pharmacological activities of the selected semi-synthetic mangostin derivative, namely, amoebicidal activity, encystation inhibition, excystation activity, and removal capacity of adhesive Acanthamoeba from the surface of contact lens (CL). Among the three derivatives, C1 exhibited promising anti-Acanthamoeba activity against Acanthamoeba triangularis WU19001 trophozoites and cysts. SEM images displayed morphological changes in Acanthamoeba trophozoites, including the loss of acanthopodia, pore formation in the cell membrane, and membrane damage. In addition, the treated cyst was shrunken and adopted an irregular flat cyst shape. Under a fluorescence microscope, acridine orange and propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining revealed C1 induced condensation of cytoplasm and chromatin with the loss of cell volume in the treated trophozoites, while calcofluor white staining demonstrated the leakage of cell wall in treated cysts, leading to cell death. Interestingly, at the concentration ranges in which C1 showed the anti-Acanthamoeba effects (IC50 values ranging from 0.035-0.056 mg/mL), they were not toxic to Vero cells. C1 displayed the highest inhibitory effect on A. triangularis encystation at 1/16×MIC value (0.004 mg/mL). While C1 demonstrated the excystation activity at 1/128×MIC value with a high rate of 89.47%. Furthermore, C1 exhibited the removal capacity of adhesive Acanthamoeba from the surface of CL comparable with commercial multipurpose solutions (MPSs). Based on the results obtained, C1 may be a promising lead agent to develop a therapeutic for the treatment of Acanthamoeba infections and disinfectant solutions for CL.
    Matched MeSH terms: Vero Cells
  11. De Rubis G, Paudel KR, Manandhar B, Singh SK, Gupta G, Malik R, et al.
    Nutrients, 2023 Feb 17;15(4).
    PMID: 36839377 DOI: 10.3390/nu15041019
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible inflammatory respiratory disease characterized by frequent exacerbations and symptoms such as cough and wheezing that lead to irreversible airway damage and hyperresponsiveness. The primary risk factor for COPD is chronic cigarette smoke exposure, which promotes oxidative stress and a general pro-inflammatory condition by stimulating pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory pathways and, simultaneously, inactivating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant detoxification pathways. These events cause progressive damage resulting in impaired cell function and disease progression. Treatments available for COPD are generally aimed at reducing the symptoms of exacerbation. Failure to regulate oxidative stress and inflammation results in lung damage. In the quest for innovative treatment strategies, phytochemicals, and complex plant extracts such as agarwood essential oil are promising sources of molecules with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, their clinical use is limited by issues such as low solubility and poor pharmacokinetic properties. These can be overcome by encapsulating the therapeutic molecules using advanced drug delivery systems such as polymeric nanosystems and nanoemulsions. In this study, agarwood oil nanoemulsion (agarwood-NE) was formulated and tested for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated BCi-NS1.1 airway basal epithelial cells. The findings suggest successful counteractivity of agarwood-NE against CSE-mediated pro-inflammatory effects by reducing the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, and GDF-15. In addition, agarwood-NE induced the expression of the anti-inflammatory mediators IL-10, IL-18BP, TFF3, GH, VDBP, relaxin-2, IFN-γ, and PDGF. Furthermore, agarwood-NE also induced the expression of antioxidant genes such as GCLC and GSTP1, simultaneously activating the PI3K pro-survival signalling pathway. This study provides proof of the dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of agarwood-NE, highlighting its enormous potential for COPD treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Epithelial Cells
  12. Bnfaga AA, Lee KW, Than LTL, Amin-Nordin S
    J Biomed Sci, 2023 Mar 23;30(1):19.
    PMID: 36959635 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00913-7
    BACKGROUND: Lactobacilli are essential microbiota that maintain a healthy, balanced vaginal environment. Vaginitis is a common infection in women during their reproductive years. Many factors are associated with vaginitis; one of them is the imbalance of microbiota in the vaginal environment. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of Lactobacillus delbrueckii 45E (Ld45E) against several species of bacteria, namely, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Candida parapsilosis, as well as to determine the concentration of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the presence of Ld45E.

    METHODS: The probiotic characteristics of Ld45E were evaluated by examining its morphology, pH tolerance, adhesive ability onto HeLa cells, hemolytic activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and autoaggregation ability. Then, the antimicrobial activity of Ld45E was determined using Ld45E culture, cell-free supernatant, and crude bacteriocin solution. Co-aggregation and competition ability assays against various pathogens were conducted. The immunoregulatory effects of Ld45E were analyzed by measuring the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistical significance.

    RESULTS: Ld45E is 3-5 mm in diameter and round with a flat-shaped colony. pH 4 and 4.5 were the most favorable range for Ld45E growth within 12 h of incubation. Ld45E showed a strong adhesion ability onto HeLa cells (86%) and negative hemolytic activities. Ld45E was also sensitive to ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline. We found that it had a good autoaggregation ability of 80%. Regarding antagonistic properties, Ld45E culture showed strong antimicrobial activity against GBS, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. but only a moderate effect on C. parapsilosis. Cell-free supernatant of Ld45E exerted the most potent inhibitory effects at 40 °C against all genital pathogens, whereas bacteriocin showed a robust inhibition at 37 °C and 40 °C. The highest co-aggregation affinity was observed with GBS (81%) and E. coli (40%). Competition ability against the adhesion of GBS (80%), E. coli (76%), Klebsiella (72%), and C. parapsilosis (58%) was found. Ld45E was able to reduce the induction of the proinflammatory protein IL-17.

    CONCLUSIONS: Ld45E possessed antimicrobial and immunoregulatory properties, with better cell-on-cell activity than supernatant activity. Thus, Ld45E is a potential probiotic candidate for adjunct therapy to address vaginal infections.

    Matched MeSH terms: HeLa Cells
  13. Banka S, Bennington A, Baker MJ, Rijckmans E, Clemente GD, Ansor NM, et al.
    Brain, 2022 Dec 19;145(12):4232-4245.
    PMID: 35139179 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac049
    RAC1 is a highly conserved Rho GTPase critical for many cellular and developmental processes. De novo missense RAC1 variants cause a highly variable neurodevelopmental disorder. Some of these variants have previously been shown to have a dominant negative effect. Most previously reported patients with this disorder have either severe microcephaly or severe macrocephaly. Here, we describe eight patients with pathogenic missense RAC1 variants affecting residues between Q61 and R68 within the switch II region of RAC1. These patients display variable combinations of developmental delay, intellectual disability, brain anomalies such as polymicrogyria and cardiovascular defects with normocephaly or relatively milder micro- or macrocephaly. Pulldown assays, NIH3T3 fibroblast spreading assays and staining for activated PAK1/2/3 and WAVE2 suggest that these variants increase RAC1 activity and over-activate downstream signalling targets. Axons of neurons isolated from Drosophila embryos expressing the most common of the activating variants are significantly shorter, with an increased density of filopodial protrusions. In vivo, these embryos exhibit frequent defects in axonal organization. Class IV dendritic arborization neurons expressing this variant exhibit a significant reduction in the total area of the dendritic arbour, increased branching and failure of self-avoidance. RNAi knock down of the WAVE regulatory complex component Cyfip significantly rescues these morphological defects. These results establish that activating substitutions affecting residues Q61-R68 within the switch II region of RAC1 cause a developmental syndrome. Our findings reveal that these variants cause altered downstream signalling, resulting in abnormal neuronal morphology and reveal the WAVE regulatory complex/Arp2/3 pathway as a possible therapeutic target for activating RAC1 variants. These insights also have the potential to inform the mechanism and therapy for other disorders caused by variants in genes encoding other Rho GTPases, their regulators and downstream effectors.
    Matched MeSH terms: NIH 3T3 Cells
  14. Xiang X, Wang Y, Huang G, Huang J, Gao M, Sun M, et al.
    J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2023 Mar;227:106244.
    PMID: 36584773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106244
    OBJECTIVE: 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) has been implicated in activating autophagy by upregulating SIRT3 (Sirtuin 3) expression, thereby inhibiting the senescence of vascular endothelial cells. Herein, we further examined the molecular mechanisms that regulate SIRT3 expression in 17β-E2-induced autophagy.

    METHODS: Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to measure the expression of plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1), microRNAs (miRNAs), and SIRT3, and the dual-luciferase assay was used to determine their interaction. Electron microscopy observes autophagosomes, green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (GFP-LC3) staining, and immunoblot analysis with antibodies against LC3,beclin-1, and P62 were conducted to measure autophagy. Cellular senescence was determined using immunoblot analysis with anti-phosphorylated retinoblastoma and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining.

    RESULTS: Women with higher estrogen levels (during the 10-13th day of the menstrual cycle or premenopausal) exhibit markedly higher serum levels of PVT1 than women with lower estrogen levels (during the menstrual period or postmenopausal). The dual-luciferase assay showed that PVT1 acts as a sponge for miR-31, and miR-31 binds to its target gene, SIRT3. The 17β-E2 treatment increased the expression of PVT1 and SIRT3 and downregulated miR-31 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Consistently, PVT1 overexpression suppresses miR-31 expression, promotes 17β-E2-induced autophagy, and inhibits H2O2-induced senescence. miR-31 inhibitor increases SIRT3 expression and leads to activation of 17β-E2-induced autophagy and suppression of H2O2-induced senescence.

    CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that 17β-E2 upregulates PVT1 gene expression and PVT1 functions as a sponge to inhibit miR-31, resulting in the upregulation of SIRT3 expression and activation of autophagy and subsequent inhibition of H2O2-induced senescence in HUVECs.

    Matched MeSH terms: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  15. Mamidi MK, Nathan KG, Singh G, Thrichelvam ST, Mohd Yusof NA, Fakharuzi NA, et al.
    J Cell Biochem, 2012 Oct;113(10):3153-64.
    PMID: 22615164 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24193
    The clinical application of human bone marrow derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) requires expansion, cryopreservation, and transportation from the laboratory to the site of cell implantation. The cryopreservation and thawing process of MSCs may have important effects on the viability, growth characteristics and functionality of these cells both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, MSCs after two rounds of cryopreservation have not been as well characterized as fresh MSCs from the transplantation perspective. The objective of this study was to determine if the effect of successive cryopreservation of pooled MSCs during the exponential growth phase could impair their morphology, phenotype, gene expression, and differentiation capabilities. MSCs cryopreserved at passage 3 (cell bank) were thawed and expanded up to passage 4 and cryopreserved for the second time. These cells (passive) were then thawed and cultured up to passage 6, and, at each passage MSCs were characterized. As control, pooled passage 3 cells (active) after one round of cryopreservation were taken all the way to passage 6 without cryopreservation. We determined the growth rate of MSCs for both culture conditions in terms of population doubling number (PDN) and population doubling time (PDT). Gene expression profiles for pluripotency markers and tissue specific markers corresponding to neuroectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm lineages were also analyzed for active and passive cultures of MSC. The results show that in both culture conditions, MSCs exhibited similar growth properties, phenotypes and gene expression patterns as well as similar differentiation potential to osteo-, chondro-, and adipo-lineages in vitro. To conclude, it appears that successive or multiple rounds of cryopreservation of MSCs did not alter the fundamental characteristics of these cells and may be used for clinical therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology*; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/metabolism; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/physiology
  16. Zainal Ariffin SH, Lim KW, Megat Abdul Wahab R, Zainal Ariffin Z, Rus Din RD, Shahidan MA, et al.
    PeerJ, 2022;10:e14174.
    PMID: 36275474 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14174
    BACKGROUND: There have been promising results published regarding the potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine. However, the vast variety of choices of techniques and the lack of a standard approach to analyse human osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation may reduce the utility of stem cells as a tool in medical applications. Therefore, this review aims to systematically evaluate the findings based on stem cell differentiation to define a standard gene expression profile approach.

    METHODS: This review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the study was conducted by retrieving articles from the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science to identify articles focussed on gene expression and approaches for osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.

    RESULTS: Six articles were included in this review; there were original articles of in vitro human stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and osteoclasts that involved gene expression profiling. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was the most used technique for gene expression to detect differentiated human osteoblasts and osteoclasts. A total of 16 genes were found to be related to differentiating osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.

    CONCLUSION: Qualitative information of gene expression provided by qPCR could become a standard technique to analyse the differentiation of human stem cells into osteoblasts and osteoclasts rather than evaluating relative gene expression. RUNX2 and CTSK could be applied to detect osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively, while RANKL could be applied to detect both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This review provides future researchers with a central source of relevant information on the vast variety of gene expression approaches in analysing the differentiation of human osteoblast and osteoclast cells. In addition, these findings should enable researchers to conduct accurately and efficiently studies involving isolated human stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

    Matched MeSH terms: Stem Cells
  17. Ng CT, Fong LY, Sulaiman MR, Moklas MA, Yong YK, Hakim MN, et al.
    J Interferon Cytokine Res, 2015 Jul;35(7):513-22.
    PMID: 25830506 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2014.0188
    Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is known to potentiate the progression of inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis. IFN-γ has been found to disrupt the barrier integrity of epithelial and endothelial cell both in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms of IFN-γ underlying increased endothelial cell permeability have not been extensively elucidated. We reported that IFN-γ exhibits a biphasic nature in increasing endothelial permeability. The changes observed in the first phase (4-8 h) involve cell retraction and rounding in addition to condensed peripheral F-actin without a significant change in the F-/G-actin ratio. However, cell elongation, stress fiber formation, and an increased F-/G-actin ratio were noticed in the second phase (16-24 h). Consistent with our finding from the permeability assay, IFN-γ induced the formation of intercellular gaps in both phases. A delayed phase of increased permeability was observed at 12 h, which paralleled the onset of cell elongation, stress fiber formation, and increased F-/G-actin ratio. In addition, IFN-γ stimulated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation over a 24 h period. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase by SB203580 prevented increases in paracellular permeability, actin rearrangement, and increases in the F-/G-actin ratio caused by IFN-γ. Our results suggest that p38 MAP kinase is activated in response to IFN-γ and causes actin rearrangement and altered cell morphology, which in turn mediates endothelial cell hyperpermeability. The F-/G-actin ratio might be involved in the regulation of actin distribution and cell morphology rather than the increased permeability induced by IFN-γ.
    Matched MeSH terms: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/cytology*; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/enzymology*
  18. Abdel-Sattar OE, Allam RM, Al-Abd AM, Avula B, Katragunta K, Khan IA, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2023 Feb 15;13(1):2683.
    PMID: 36792619 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29566-0
    The members of the genus Phyllanthus have long been used in the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. They exhibited antiproliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer death among women. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer agent used to treat breast cancer despite its significant cardiotoxicity along with resistance development. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the potential cytotoxicity of P. niruri extracts (and fractions) alone and in combination with DOX against naïve (MCF-7) and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7ADR). The methylene chloride fraction (CH2Cl2) showed the most cytotoxic activity among all tested fractions. Interestingly, the CH2Cl2-fraction was more cytotoxic against MCF-7ADR than MCF-7 at 100 µg/mL. At sub-cytotoxic concentrations, this fraction enhanced the cytotoxic effect of DOX against the both cell lines under investigation (IC50 values of 0.054 µg/mL and 0.14 µg/mL vs. 0.2 µg/mL for DOX alone against MCF-7) and (1.2 µg/mL and 0.23 µg/mL vs. 9.9 µg/mL for DOX alone against MCF-7ADR), respectively. Further, TLC fractionation showed that B2 subfraction in equitoxic combination with DOX exerted a powerful synergism (IC50 values of 0.03 µg/mL vs. 9.9 µg/mL for DOX alone) within MCF-7ADR. Untargeted metabolite profiling of the crude methanolic extract (MeOH) and CH2Cl2 fraction exhibiting potential cytotoxicity was conducted using liquid chromatography diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-QTOF). Further studies are needed to separate the active compounds from the CH2Cl2 fraction and elucidate their mechanism(s) of action.
    Matched MeSH terms: MCF-7 Cells
  19. Toh TH, Qi YY, Yong SM, Lee JS, Liyana NF, See RY, et al.
    Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2023 Dec 31;19(1):2167438.
    PMID: 36705277 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2167438
    The effectiveness of the vero cell inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac®) against severe acute respiratory infection (‎SARI)‎ caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the real world was assessed. A matched test-negative case-control design was employed using the web-based national information system, as well as the hospitalization dataset in Sibu Hospital. Vaccine effectiveness was measured by conditional logistic regression with adjustment for gender, underlying comorbidity, smoking status, and education level. Between 15 March and 30 September 2021, 838 eligible SARI patients were identified from the hospitalization records. Vaccine effectiveness was 42.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -28.3 to 74.1) for partial vaccination (after receiving the first dose to 14 days after receiving the second dose), and 76.5% (95% CI: 45.6 to 89.8) for complete vaccination (at 15 days or more after receiving the second dose). This analysis indicated that two doses of CoronaVac® vaccine provided efficacious protection against SARI caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the short term. However, the duration of protection, and performance against new variants need to be studied continuously.
    Matched MeSH terms: Vero Cells
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