Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 187 in total

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  1. Lew MH, Norazmi MN, Tye GJ
    Mol Immunol, 2020 Jan;117:54-64.
    PMID: 31739193 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.10.023
    Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest human diseases worldwide caused by mycobacterial infection in the lung. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine protects against disseminated TB in children, but its effectiveness is still questionable due to highly variable protections in adolescence and elderly individuals. Targeting the latency M.tb antigen is a recent therapeutic approach to eradicate dormant pathogen that could possibly lead to disease activation. In this study, we aimed to potentiate immune responses elicited against 16 kDa α-crystalline (HspX) tuberculosis latency antigen by incorporation of Combined Adjuvant for Synergistic Activation of Cellular immunity (CASAC). Histidine-tagged recombinant HspX protein was initially produced in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni-NTA chromatography. To evaluate its adjuvanticity, C57BL/6 mice (n = 5) were initially primed and intradermally immunised in 2-weeks interval for 4 rounds with recombinant HspX, formulated with and without CASAC. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses elicited against HspX antigen were evaluated using ELISA and Flow Cytometry. Our findings showed that CASAC improved humoral immunity with increased antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody response. Stronger CD8+ and Th1-driven immunity was induced by CASAC formulation as supported by elevated level of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-17A; and with low IL-10 secretion. Interestingly, adjuvanted HspX vaccine triggered a higher percentage of effector memory T-cell population than those immunised with unadjuvanted vaccine. In conclusion, CASAC adjuvant has great potential to enhance immunogenicity elicited against HspX antigen, which could be an alternative regimen to improve the efficacy of future therapeutic vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  2. Yasmin AR, Yeap SK, Tan SW, Hair-Bejo M, Fakurazi S, Kaiser P, et al.
    Avian Pathol, 2015;44(6):452-62.
    PMID: 26305169 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2015.1084997
    Infectious bursal disease is caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), an immunosuppressive virus that targets immune cells such as B cells and macrophages. However, the involvement of dendritic cells (DCs) during IBDV infection is not well understood. In this study the in vitro effects of live and inactivated very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) UPM0081 on bone marrow-derived DCs (BM-DC) were characterized and compared with BM-DC treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Morphologically, BM-DC treated with LPS and vvIBDV showed stellate shape when compared to immature BM-DC. In addition, LPS-treated and both live and inactivated vvIBDV-infected BM-DC expressed high levels of double positive CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class II antigens (>20%). vvIBDV-infected BM-DC showed significantly higher numbers of apoptotic cells compared to LPS. Replication of vvIBDV was detected in the infected BM-DC as evidenced by the increased expression of VP3 and VP4 IBDV antigens based on flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence tests. Levels of different immune-related genes such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), CXCLi2 (IL-8), IL-18, interferon gamma (IFN-γ, IL-12α, CCR7 and Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) were measured after LPS and vvIBDV treatments. However, marked differences were noticed in the onset and intensity of the gene expression between these two treatment groups. LPS was far more potent than live and inactivated vvIBDV in inducing the expression of IL-1β, IL-18 and CCR7 while expression of Th1-like cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-12α were significantly increased in the live vvIBDV treatment group. Meanwhile, the expression of TLR3 was increased in live vvIBDV-infected BM-DC as compared to control. Inactivated vvIBDV-treated BM-DC failed to stimulate IFN-γ, IL-12α and TLR3 expressions. This study suggested that BM-DC may serve as another target cells during IBDV infection which require further confirmation via in vivo studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  3. Leong CF, Raudhawati O, Cheong SK, Sivagengei K, Noor Hamidah H
    Pathology, 2003 Oct;35(5):422-7.
    PMID: 14555387
    AIMS: Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) or MUC1 belongs to a heterogeneous group of heavily glycosylated proteins and is expressed in most normal and epithelial neoplastic cells. EMA is also expressed in plasma cells, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Ki-1 antigen), malignant histiocytosis and erythroleukaemia. In 1996, Cheong et al. (Hematology 1996; 1: 223) demonstrated the positive expression of EMA in monoblasts. Since there were very few useful markers for differentiating subtypes of acute myeloid leukaemia with a monocytic component from the those without, a study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of EMA expression and its relationship with known markers for monocytic-macrophage lineage (CD11c, CD14 and intracellular CD68) in monocytes and monoblasts.

    METHODS: EMA detection was performed by flow cytometry in monocytes and monoblasts. EMA expression was compared with other known markers of monocytic-macrophage lineage (CD11c, CD14 and intracellular CD68). Samples of purified monocytes were obtained from 20 healthy volunteers. Twenty-two cases of monocytic AML (M4 and M5) were studied and controls were selected from 20 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 18 cases of non-monocytic AML (M0, M1, M2, M3, and M7).

    RESULTS: EMA was shown to be expressed strongly on the surface of all purified monocytes. EMA expression was observed on blast cells in 18/22 (81.8%) cases of AML M4 and M5, but not in that of non-monocytic AML or ALL. In this study EMA monoclonal antibody has demonstrated a strong association (P<0.001) with all the other known markers of monocytic-macrophage lineage in acute leukaemia subtypes. EMA had also shown 100% specificity and 81.8% sensitivity in the diagnosis of AML M4 and M5.

    CONCLUSIONS: The monoclonal antibody EMA (clone E29) is a useful marker in the classification of acute myeloid leukaemia and can be used as a supplementary analysis for the diagnosis of acute leukemia with monocytic involvement.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  4. Gazali AM, Schroderus AM, Näntö-Salonen K, Rintamäki R, Pihlajamäki J, Knip M, et al.
    Diabetologia, 2020 11;63(11):2396-2409.
    PMID: 32880687 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-020-05257-7
    AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T cells that recognise derivatives of bacterial riboflavin metabolites presented by MHC-Ib-related protein 1 (MR1) molecules and are important effector cells for mucosal immunity. Their development can be influenced by the intestinal microbiome. Since the development of type 1 diabetes has been associated with changes in the gut microbiome, this can be hypothesised to lead to alterations in circulating MAIT cells. Accordingly, peripheral blood MAIT cell alterations have been reported previously in patients with type 1 diabetes. However, a comprehensive analysis of the frequency and phenotype of circulating MAIT cells at different stages of type 1 diabetes progression is currently lacking.

    METHODS: We analysed the frequency, phenotype and functionality of peripheral blood MAIT cells, as well as γδ T cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and natural killer (NK) cells with flow cytometry in a cross-sectional paediatric cohort (aged 2-15) consisting of 51 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, 27 autoantibody-positive (AAb+) at-risk children, and 113 healthy control children of similar age and HLA class II background. The frequency of MAIT cells was also assessed in a separate cross-sectional adult cohort (aged 19-39) of 33 adults with established type 1 diabetes and 37 healthy individuals of similar age.

    RESULTS: Children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes displayed a proportional increase of CD8-CD27- MAIT cells compared with healthy control children (median 4.6% vs 3.1% of MAIT cells, respectively, p = 0.004), which was associated with reduced expression of C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 (median 90.0% vs 94.3% of MAIT cells, p = 0.02) and β7 integrin (median 73.5% vs 81.7% of MAIT cells, p = 0.004), as well as decreased production of IFN-γ (median 57.1% vs 69.3% of MAIT cells, p = 0.04) by the MAIT cells. The frequency of MAIT cells was also decreased in AAb+ children who later progressed to type 1 diabetes compared with healthy control children (median 0.44% vs 0.96% of CD3+ T cells, p = 0.04), as well as in adult patients with a short duration of type 1 diabetes (less than 6 years after diagnosis) compared with control individuals (median 0.87% vs 2.19% of CD3+ T cells, p = 0.007). No alterations in γδ T cell, iNKT cell or NK cell frequencies were observed in children with type 1 diabetes or in AAb+ children, with the exception of an increased frequency of IL-17A+ γδ T cells in children with newly diagnosed diabetes compared with healthy control children (median 1.58% vs 1.09% of γδ T cells, p = 0.002).

    CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Changes in the frequency and phenotype of circulating MAIT cells were detectable before, at the onset and after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in cross-sectional cohorts. Our results suggest a possible temporal association between peripheral blood MAIT cell alterations and the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes. Graphical abstract.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  5. Balakrishnan KN, Abdullah AA, Bala JA, Jesse FFA, Abdullah CAC, Noordin MM, et al.
    Virol J, 2020 Oct 27;17(1):164.
    PMID: 33109247 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01436-5
    BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe complications in congenitally infected newborns and non-immunocompetent individuals. Developing an effective vaccine is a major public health priority and current drugs are fronting resistance and side effects on recipients. In the present study, with the aim of exploring new strategies to counteract CMV replication, several anti-CMV siRNAs targeting IE2 and DNA polymerase gene regions were characterized and used as in combinations for antiviral therapy.

    METHODS: The rat embryo fibroblast (REF) cells were transfected with multi siRNA before infecting with CMV strain ALL-03. Viral growth inhibition was measured by tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50), cytopathic effect (CPE) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) while IE2 and DNA polymerase gene knockdown was determined by real-time PCR. Ganciclovir was deployed as a control to benchmark the efficacy of antiviral activities of respective individual siRNAs.

    RESULTS: There was no significant cytotoxicity encountered for all the combinations of siRNAs on REF cells analyzed by MTT colorimetric assay (P > 0.05). Cytopathic effects (CPE) in cells infected by RCMV ALL-03 had developed significantly less and at much slower rate compared to control group. The expression of targeted genes was downregulated successfully resulted in significant reduction (P Flow cytometry analysis showed a greater percentage of viable and early apoptosis of combined siRNAs-treated cells compared to control group. Notably, the siRNAs targeting gene regions were sequenced and mutations were not encountered, thereby avoiding the formation of mutant with potential resistant viruses.

    CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion. The study demonstrated a tremendous promise of innovative approach with the deployment of combined siRNAs targeting at several genes simultaneously with the aim to control CMV replication in host cells.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  6. Sadeghi A, Tahmasebi S, Mahmood A, Kuznetsova M, Valizadeh H, Taghizadieh A, et al.
    J Cell Physiol, 2021 04;236(4):2829-2839.
    PMID: 32926425 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30047
    In the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising and reducing the function of Th17 and Treg cells, respectively, elicit hyperinflammation and disease progression. The current study aimed to evaluate the responses of Th17 and Treg cells in COVID-19 patients compared with the control group. Forty COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients were compared with 40 healthy controls. The frequency of cells, gene expression of related factors, as well as the secretion levels of cytokines, were measured by flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, respectively. The findings revealed a significant increase in the number of Th17 cells, the expression levels of related factors (RAR-related orphan receptor gamma [RORγt], IL-17, and IL-23), and the secretion levels of IL-17 and IL-23 cytokines in COVID-19 patients compared with controls. In contrast, patients had a remarkable reduction in the frequency of Treg cells, the expression levels of correlated factors (Forkhead box protein P3 [FoxP3], transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β], and IL-10), and cytokine secretion levels (TGF-β and IL-10). The ratio of Th17/Treg cells, RORγt/FoxP3, and IL-17/IL-10 had a considerable enhancement in patients compared with the controls and also in dead patients compared with the improved cases. The findings showed that enhanced responses of Th17 cells and decreased responses of Treg cells in 2019-n-CoV patients compared with controls had a strong relationship with hyperinflammation, lung damage, and disease pathogenesis. Also, the high ratio of Th17/Treg cells and their associated factors in COVID-19-dead patients compared with improved cases indicates the critical role of inflammation in the mortality of patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  7. Ismail R, Allaudin ZN, Abdullah R, Mohd Lila MA, Nik Abd Rahman NM, Abdul Rahman SO
    BMC Cancer, 2016 07 13;16:461.
    PMID: 27411985 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2530-8
    BACKGROUND: Cancer therapies that kill cancer cells without affecting normal cells is the ultimate mode of treating cancers. The VP3, an avian virus-derived protein, can specifically initiate cell death through several signal transduction pathways leading to apoptosis. In cancer, chemoresistance and cell survivability implicate the cell surface protein, CD147.

    METHODS: In this study, transfection of VP3 and silencing of CD147 genes was achieved through the treatment of tumors with pVIVO1-GFP/VP3 (VP3), psiRNA-CD147/2 (shCD147/2), and their combination of CT26 colon cancer cell-induced in mice. The effectiveness of tumor-treatment was ascertained by electrophoresis, TUNEL assay, and flow cytometry analysis. While histopathological and biochemical analysis were used as toxic side effect identification.

    RESULTS: The tumor growth delay index (TGDI) after treatment with VP3, shCD147/2, and their combination treatments increased by 1.3-, 1.2-, 2.0- and 2.3-fold respectively, over untreated control. The VP3-shCD147/2 combination treatment was more efficacious then either VP3 or shCD147/2 alone in the retardation of mouse CT26 colorectal cell tumor allograft.

    CONCLUSION: The antitumor effect of the combination treatment is the result of synergistic effects of VP3 and shCD147/2 on the tumor cells resulting in apoptosis. Thus, the study shows that combination of VP3 and shCD147/2 treatment can be developed into a potential approach for anticolorectal cancer treatment regimen.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  8. Al-Obeed O, Vaali-Mohammed MA, Eldehna WM, Al-Khayal K, Mahmood A, Abdel-Aziz HA, et al.
    Onco Targets Ther, 2018;11:3313-3322.
    PMID: 29892198 DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S148108
    Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major worldwide health problem owing to its high prevalence and mortality rate. Developments in screening, prevention, biomarker, personalized therapies and chemotherapy have improved detection and treatment. However, despite these advances, many patients with advanced metastatic tumors still succumb to the disease. New anticancer agents are needed for treating advanced stage CRC as most of the deaths occur due to cancer metastasis. A recently developed novel sulfonamide derivative 4-((2-(4-(dimethylamino) phenyl)quinazolin-4-yl)amino)benzenesulfonamide (3D) has shown potent antitumor effect; however, the mechanism underlying the antitumor effect remains unknown.

    Materials and methods: 3D-mediated inhibition on cell viability was evaluated by MTT and real-time cell proliferation was measured by xCelligence RTDP instrument. Western blotting was used to measure pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic proteins and JAK2-STAT3 phosphorylation. Flow cytometry was used to measure ROS production and apoptosis.

    Results: Our study revealed that 3D treatment significantly reduced the viability of human CRC cells HT-29 and SW620. Furthermore, 3D treatment induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human CRC cells. Confirming our observation, N-acetylcysteine significantly inhibited apoptosis. This is further evidenced by the induction of p53 and Bax; release of cytochrome c; activation of caspase-9, caspase-7 and caspase-3; and cleavage of PARP in 3D-treated cells. This compound was found to have a significant effect on the inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl2 and BclxL. The results further demonstrate that 3D inhibits JAK2-STAT3 pathway by decreasing the constitutive and IL-6-induced phosphorylation of STAT3. 3D also decreases STAT3 target genes such as cyclin D1 and survivin. Furthermore, a combination study of 3D with doxorubicin (Dox) also showed more potent effects than single treatment of Dox in the inhibition of cell viability.

    Conclusion: Taken together, these findings indicate that 3D induces ROS-mediated apoptosis and inhibits JAK2-STAT3 signaling in CRC.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  9. Ang Pei-Shen, Rajesh Ramasamy, Noor Hamidah Hussin, Cheong Soon-Keng, Seow Heng-Fong, Maha Abdullah
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The phenotype and genotype of cancer cells portray hallmarks of cancer which may
    have clinical value. Cancer cell lines are ideal models to study and confirm these characteristics. We
    previously established two subtracted cDNA libraries with differentially expressed genes from an
    acute myeloid leukaemia patient with poor prognosis (PP) and good prognosis (GP). Objective: To
    compare gene expression of the leukaemia associated genes with selected biological characteristics
    in leukaemia cell lines and normal controls. Methodology: Expression of 28 PP genes associated
    with early fetal/embryonic development, HOX-related genes, hematopoiesis and aerobic glycolysis/
    hypoxia genes and 36 GP genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, protein synthesis, chromatin
    remodelling and cell motility were examined in B-lymphoid (BV173, Reh and RS4;11) and myeloid
    (HL-60, K562) leukaemia cell lines after 72h in culture as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells
    from healthy controls (N=5) using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Cell
    cycle profiles were analysed on flow cytometry while MTT cytotoxicity assay was used to determine
    drug resistance to epirubicin. Results: Genes expressed significantly higher in B-lymphoid leukaemia
    cell lines compared to healthy controls were mostly of the GP library i.e. oxidative phosphorylation
    (3/10), protein synthesis (4/11), chromatin remodelling (3/3) and actin cytoskeleton genes (1/5). Only
    two genes with significant difference were from the PP library. Cancer associated genes, HSPA9 and
    PSPH (GP library) and BCAP31 (PP library) were significantly higher in the B-lymphoid leukemia cell
    lines. No significant difference was observed between myeloid cell lines and healthy controls. This
    may also be due heterogeneity of cell lines studied. PBMC from healthy controls were not in cell cycle.
    G2/M profiles and growth curves showed B-lymphoid cells just reaching plateau after 72 hour culture
    while myeloid cells were declining. IC50 values from cytotoxicity assay revealed myeloid cell lines had
    an average 13-fold higher drug resistance to epirubicin compared to B-lymphoid cell lines. Only CCL1,
    was expressed at least two-fold higher in myeloid compared to B-lymphoid cell lines. In contrast,
    MTRNR2, EEF1A1, PTMA, HLA-DR, C6orf115, PBX3, ENPP4, SELL, and IL3Ra were expressed
    more than 2-fold higher in B-lymphoid compared to myeloid cell lines studied here. Conclusion: Thus,
    B-lymphoid leukaemia cell lines here exhibited active, proliferating characteristics closer to GP genes.
    Higher expression of several genes in B-lymphoid compared to myeloid leukaemia cell lines may be
    useful markers to study biological differences including drug resistance between lineages.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  10. Mohd Shukri ND, Farah Izati A, Wan Ghazali WS, Che Hussin CM, Wong KK
    Front Immunol, 2021;12:675250.
    PMID: 34149710 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.675250
    The receptors for IL-35, IL-12Rβ2 and gp130, have been implicated in the inflammatory pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we set out to investigate the serum IL-35 levels and the surface levels of IL-12Rβ2 and gp130 in CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4─ and CD3─CD4─ lymphocyte subpopulations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n=50) versus healthy controls (n=50). The potential T cell subsets associated with gp130 transcript (i.e. IL6ST) expression in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients was also examined in publicly-available gene expression profiling (GEP) datasets. Here, we report that serum IL-35 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than healthy controls (p=0.038) but it was not associated with SLEDAI-2K scores. The proportions of IL-12Rβ2+ and gp130+ cells in SLE patients did not differ significantly with those of healthy controls in all lymphocyte subpopulations investigated. Essentially, higher SLEDAI-2K scores were positively correlated with increased proportion of gp130+ cells, but not IL-12Rβ2+ cells, on CD3+CD4+ T cells (r=0.425, p=0.002, q=0.016). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of a GEP dataset of CD4+ T cells isolated from SLE patients (n=8; GSE4588) showed that IL6ST expression was positively associated with genes upregulated in CD4+ T cells vs myeloid or B cells (q<0.001). In an independent GEP dataset of CD4+ T cells isolated from SLE patients (n=9; GSE1057), IL6ST expression was induced upon anti-CD3 stimulation, and that Treg, TCM and CCR7+ T cells gene sets were significantly enriched (q<0.05) by genes highly correlated with IL6ST expression (n=92 genes; r>0.75 with IL6ST expression) upon anti-CD3 stimulation in these SLE patients. In conclusion, gp130 signaling in CD3+CD4+ T cell subsets may contribute to increased disease activity in SLE patients, and it represents a promising therapeutic target for inhibition in the disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  11. Mohd Idrus FN, Ahmad NS, Hoe CH, Azlan M, Norfuad FA, Yusof Z, et al.
    BMC Immunol, 2021 03 24;22(1):21.
    PMID: 33761885 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00410-2
    BACKGROUND: Differential polarization of macrophage into M1 and M2 mediates atherosclerotic plaque clearance through efferocytosis. Higher expression of Mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MerTK) on M2 macrophage helps in maintaining macrophage efferocytic efficiency. In healthy individuals, macrophage polarization into M1 and M2 occurs in tissues in concomitance with the acquisition of functional phenotypes depending on specific microenvironment stimuli. However, whether the macrophage differential polarization and MerTK expression vary in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients remain unknown.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the polarization of M1 and M2 macrophage from CAD patients as well as to investigate the expression of MerTK in these macrophage phenotypes.

    METHODS: A total of 14 (n) CAD patients were recruited and subsequently grouped into "no apparent CAD", "non-obstructive CAD" and "obstructive CAD" according to the degree of stenosis. Thirty ml of venous blood was withdrawn to obtain monocyte from the patients. The M1 macrophage was generated by treating the monocyte with GMCSF, LPS and IFN-γ while MCSF, IL-4 and IL-13 were employed to differentiate monocyte into M2 macrophage. After 7 days of polarization, analysis of cell surface differentiation markers (CD86+/CD80+ for M1 and CD206+/CD200R+ for M2) and measurement of MerTK expression were performed using flow cytometry.

    RESULTS: Both M1 and M2 macrophage expressed similar level of CD86, CD80 and CD206 in all groups of CAD patients. MerTK expression in no apparent CAD patients was significantly higher in M2 macrophage compared to M1 macrophage [12.58 ± 4.40 vs. 6.58 ± 1.37, p = 0.040].

    CONCLUSION: Differential polarization of macrophage into M1 and M2 was highly dynamic and can be varied due to the microenvironment stimuli in atherosclerotic plaque. Besides, higher expression of MerTK in patients with the least coronary obstructive suggest its vital involvement in efferocytosis.

    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  12. Rajik M, Omar AR, Ideris A, Hassan SS, Yusoff K
    Int J Biol Sci, 2009 Aug 08;5(6):543-8.
    PMID: 19680476
    Avian influenza viruses (AIV), the causative agent of avian flu or bird flu, cause widespread morbidity and mortality in poultry. The symptoms of the disease range from mild flu like symptoms to death. These viruses possess two important surface glycoproteins, namely hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) against which neutralizing antibodies are produced. Due to the highly mutative nature of the genes which encode these proteins, the viruses often confer resistance to the current anti-viral drugs making the prevention and treatment of infection challenging. In our laboratory, we have recently identified a novel anti-viral peptide (P1) against the AIV H9N2 from a phage displayed peptide library. This peptide inhibits the replication of the virus in ovo and in vitro by its binding to the HA glycoprotein. In the current study, we demonstrate that the peptide inhibits the virus replication by preventing the attachment to the host cell but it does not have any effect on the viral fusion. The reduction in the viral nucleoprotein (NP) expression inside the host cell has also been observed during the peptide (P1) treatment. This novel peptide may have the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and control of avian influenza virus H9N2 infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  13. Norazmi MN, Suarn S
    Immunol Lett, 1994 Dec;43(3):177-82.
    PMID: 7721330
    The CD4+ T-lymphocyte absolute count (CD4ac), CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentage (CD4%) and total lymphocyte count (Løac) were assessed in HIV-seropositive intravenous drug users (IVDU) with reference to their correlation with the clinical categories A, B, and C as stipulated by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, USA (CDC) and with each other. It was found that while the CD4ac and Løac correlated with the clinical categories, CD4% did not. This may suggest that in our local setting, the CD4% may not necessarily be a suitable alternative marker to CD4ac as proposed by CDC. Furthermore, the CD4% of the normal subjects in this study was found to be relatively lower than the reported Caucasian levels. This may indicate that the use of the cut-off level of less than 14% as an AIDS-defining criteria may not be applicable for our HIV-seropositive IVDU. In addition, unlike the CD4ac which correlated directly with CD4% and Løac, the CD4% did not correlate with Løac. Therefore, due to the observed disparity with clinical status of patients and its possibly lower levels in our normal population, CD4% as a marker for staging HIV disease should be used with caution in our setting. Such findings may also have an impact on the use of established markers for the monitoring and classification of HIV-infected individuals in this region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  14. Abdullah S, Wendy-Yeo WY, Hosseinkhani H, Hosseinkhani M, Masrawa E, Ramasamy R, et al.
    J Biomed Biotechnol, 2010;2010:284840.
    PMID: 20617146 DOI: 10.1155/2010/284840
    A novel cationic polymer, dextran-spermine (D-SPM), has been found to mediate gene expression in a wide variety of cell lines and in vivo through systemic delivery. Here, we extended the observations by determining the optimal conditions for gene expression of D-SPM/plasmid DNA (D-SPM/pDNA) in cell lines and in the lungs of BALB/c mice via instillation delivery. In vitro studies showed that D-SPM could partially protect pDNA from degradation by nuclease and exhibited optimal gene transfer efficiency at D-SPM to pDNA weight-mixing ratio of 12. In the lungs of mice, the levels of gene expression generated by D-SPM/pDNA are highly dependent on the weight-mixing ratio of D-SPM to pDNA, amount of pDNA in the complex, and the assay time postdelivery. Readministration of the complex at day 1 following the first dosing showed no significant effect on the retention and duration of gene expression. The study also showed that there was a clear trend of increasing size of the complexes as the amount of pDNA was increased, where the sizes of the D-SPM/pDNA complexes were within the nanometer range.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  15. Chow PW, Abdul Hamid Z, Chan KM, Inayat-Hussain SH, Rajab NF
    Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 2015 Apr 1;284(1):8-15.
    PMID: 25645895 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2015.01.016
    Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are sensitive targets for benzene-induced hematotoxicity and leukemogenesis. The impact of benzene exposure on the complex microenvironment of HSCs and HPCs remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the mechanism linking benzene exposure to targeting HSCs and HPCs using phenotypic and clonogenic analyses. Mouse bone marrow (BM) cells were exposed ex vivo to the benzene metabolite, 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ), for 24h. Expression of cellular surface antigens for HSC (Sca-1), myeloid (Gr-1, CD11b), and lymphoid (CD45, CD3e) populations were confirmed by flow cytometry. The clonogenicity of cells was studied using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assay for multilineage (CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM) and single-lineage (CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-G, and CFU-M) progenitors. 1,4-BQ demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in mouse BM cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells increased (p < 0.05) following 1,4-BQ exposure. Exposure to 1,4-BQ showed no significant effect on CD3e(+) cells but reduced the total counts of Sca-1(+), CD11b(+), Gr-1(+), and CD45(+) cells at 7 and 12 μM (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the CFU assay showed reduced (p < 0.05) clonogenicity in 1,4-BQ-treated cells. 1,4-BQ induced CFU-dependent cytotoxicity by significantly inhibiting colony growth for CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-G, and CFU-M starting at a low concentration of exposure (5μM); whereas for the CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM, the inhibition of colony growth was remarkable only at 7 and 12μM of 1,4-BQ, respectively. Taken together, 1,4-BQ caused lineage-related cytotoxicity in mouse HPCs, demonstrating greater toxicity in single-lineage progenitors than in those of multi-lineage.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  16. Yaacob NS, Nasir R, Norazmi MN
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(11):6761-7.
    PMID: 24377602
    The nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), is expressed in various cancer cells including breast, prostate, colorectal and cervical examples. An endogenous ligand of PPARγ, 15-deoxy-Δ12,14 prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2), is emerging as a potent anticancer agent but the exact mechanism has not been fully elucidated, especially in breast cancer. The present study compared the anticancer effects of PGJ2 on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive (MCF-7) and ERα-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells. Based on the reported signalling cross-talk between PPARγ and ERα, the effect of the ERα ligand, 17β-estradiol (E2) on the anticancer activities of PGJ2 in both types of cells was also explored. Here we report that PGJ2 inhibited proliferation of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells by inducing apoptotic cell death with active involvement of mitochondria. The presence of E2 potentiated PGJ2-induced apoptosis in MCF-7, but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. The PPARγ antagonist, GW9662, failed to block PGJ2-induced activities but potentiated its effects in MCF-7 cells, instead. Interestingly, GW9662 also proved capable of inducing apoptotic cell death. It can be concluded that E2 enhances PPARγ-independent anticancer effects of PGJ2 in the presence of its receptor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  17. Farea M, Halim AS, Abdullah NA, Lim CK, Mokhtar KI, Berahim Z, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2013;14(6):11157-70.
    PMID: 23712356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611157
    Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) cells play a pivotal role during root formation of the tooth and are able to form cementum-like tissue. The aim of the present study was to establish a HERS cell line for molecular and biochemical studies using a selective digestion method. Selective digestion was performed by the application of trypsin-EDTA for 2 min, which led to the detachment of fibroblast-like-cells, with the rounded cells attached to the culture plate. The HERS cells displayed a typical cuboidal/squamous-shaped appearance. Characterization of the HERS cells using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis showed that these cells expressed pan-cytokeratin, E-cadherin, and p63 as epithelial markers. Moreover, RT-PCR confirmed that these cells expressed epithelial-related genes, such as cytokeratin 14, E-cadherin, and ΔNp63. Additionally, HERS cells showed low expression of CD44 and CD105 with absence of CD34 and amelogenin expressions. In conclusion, HERS cells have been successfully isolated using a selective digestion method, thus enabling future studies on the roles of these cells in the formation of cementum-like tissue in vitro.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  18. Ismail N, Ismail M, Fathy SF, Musa SN, Imam MU, Foo JB, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2012;13(8):9692-708.
    PMID: 22949825 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13089692
    The neuroprotective and antioxidative effects of germinated brown rice (GBR), brown rice (BR) and commercially available γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) against cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells have been investigated. Results show that GBR suppressed H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity and induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, GBR reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and prevented phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation in SH-SY5Y cells, key features of apoptosis, and subsequent cell death. GBR exhibited better neuroprotective and antioxidative activities as compared to BR and GABA. These results indicate that GBR possesses high antioxidative activities and suppressed cell death in SH-SY5Y cells by blocking the cell cycle re-entry and apoptotic mechanisms. Therefore, GBR could be developed as a value added functional food to prevent neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress and apoptosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  19. Ruszymah BH, Izham BA, Heikal MY, Khor SF, Fauzi MB, Aminuddin BS
    Med J Malaysia, 2011 Dec;66(5):440-2.
    PMID: 22390097 MyJurnal
    Current development in the field of tissue engineering led to the idea of repairing and regenerating the respiratory airway through in vitro reconstruction using autologous respiratory epithelial (RE). To ensure the capability of proliferation, the stem cell property of RE cells from the nasal turbinate should be evaluated. Respiratory epithelial cells from six human nasal turbinates were harvested and cultured in vitro. The gene expression of FZD-9 and BST-1 were expressed in passage 2 (P2) and passage 4 (P4). The levels of expression were not significant between both passages. The RE cells exhibit the stem cell properties, which remains even after serial passaging.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
  20. Ramasamy S, Abdul Wahab N, Zainal Abidin N, Manickam S
    Exp. Toxicol. Pathol., 2013 Mar;65(3):341-9.
    PMID: 22217449 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2011.11.005
    Species of Phyllanthus have traditionally been used for hundreds of years for treating many ailments including diabetes, anemia, bronchitis and hepatitis. The present study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of methanol (PWM), hexane (PWH) and ethyl acetate (PWE) extracts from the leaves of the endemic plant Phyllanthus watsonii Airy Shaw (Phyllanthaceae) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We observed that the PWM, PWH and PWE extracts were cytotoxic and selectively inhibited the growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells compared to untreated control in a dose dependent manner with an IC(50) of 12.7 ± 4.65, 7.9 ± 0.60 and 7.7 ± 0.29 μg/ml, respectively. However, the extracts were not toxic at these concentrations to normal human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells. Cell death induced by PWM, PWH and PWE extracts were mainly due to apoptosis which was characterized by apoptotic morphological changes and a nuclear DNA fragmentation. Caspase-3 activation following P. watsonii extracts treatment was also evident for apoptotic cell death which was preceded by an S phase cell cycle perturbation. The results suggested that the cytotoxic activity of P. watsonii extracts was related to an early event of cell cycle perturbation and a later event of apoptosis. Hence, P. watsonii displays potential to be further exploited in the discovery and development of new anticancer agents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Flow Cytometry
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