Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 224 in total

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  1. Asif M, Yousaf HM, Saleem M, Hussain L, Mahrukh, Zarzour RA, et al.
    Curr Pharm Biotechnol, 2022;23(5):728-739.
    PMID: 34225619 DOI: 10.2174/1389201022666210702120956
    BACKGROUND: Raphanus sativus is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

    OBJECTIVES: The current study was designed to explore the in vivo anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties of Raphanus sativus seeds oil.

    METHODS: Cold press method was used for the extraction of oil (RsSO) and was characterised by using GC-MS techniques. Three in vitro antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) were performed to explore the antioxidant potential of RsSO. Disc diffusion methods were used to study in vitro antimicrobial properties. In vivo anti-inflammatory properties were studied in both acute and chronic inflammation models. In vivo chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay was performed to study antiangiogenic effects. Molecular mechanisms were identified using TNF-α ELISA kit and docking tools.

    RESULTS: GC-MS analysis of RsSO revealed the presence of hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acid. Findings of DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP models indicated relatively moderate radical scavenging properties of RsSO. Oil showed antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacterial and fungal strains tested. Data of inflammation models showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory effects of RsSO in both acute and chronic models. 500 mg/kg RsSO halted inflammation development significantly better (p < 0.05) as compared with lower doses. Histopathological evaluations of paws showed minimal infiltration of inflammatory cells in RsSO-treated animals. Findings of TNF-α ELSIA and docking studies showed that RsSO has the potential to down-regulate the expression of TNF-α, iNOS, ROS, and NF-κB respectively. Moreover, RsSO showed in vivo antiangiogenic effects.

    CONCLUSION: Data of the current study highlight that Raphanus sativus seeds oil has anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic properties and can be used as an adjunct to standard NSAIDs therapy which may reduce the dose and related side effects.

    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  2. Ayub Khan SM, Few LL, See Too WC
    Mol Med Rep, 2018 May;17(5):7442-7450.
    PMID: 29568919 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8762
    Choline kinase (CK) is the first enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the most abundant phospholipid in the mammalian cell membrane. This enzyme exists as three isozymes (α1, α2 and β) and the CKα isozyme has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis. Inhibition of CK activity has been proposed for cancer therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are non‑coding RNAs that serve important roles in diverse biological pathways and human diseases, including cancer. However, the regulation of CKα gene expression by miRNAs has never been investigated, to the best of the authors' knowledge. In the present study, two miRNA mimics, miR‑876‑5p and miR‑646, were transfected into the HepG2 cell line and the effect of these miRNAs on the levels of CKα mRNA were determined by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cells transfected with 25 nM miR‑876‑5p for 48 h exhibited significantly lower levels of CKα mRNA. Following optimization, miR‑876‑5p caused four times lower levels of CKα mRNA compared to the negative control. Effects of the miRNAs on HepG2 cell viability and cellular morphology were additionally analyzed using an MTT cell viability assay and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. HepG2 cells that were transfected with the optimum concentration of miR‑876‑5p for the optimum duration exhibited 25% lower viability than negative control and signs of apoptosis in electron micrographs. The results suggested miR‑876‑5p as a potential miRNA modulator of CKα expression in the cells, and may be relevant for the design of more effective anticancer strategy targeting CK.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation*
  3. Haris K, Ismail S, Idris Z, Abdullah JM, Yusoff AA
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(11):4499-505.
    PMID: 24969876
    Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and malignant form of glioma, appears to be resistant to various chemotherapeutic agents. Hence, approaches have been intensively investigated to targeti specific molecular pathways involved in glioblastoma development and progression. Aloe emodin is believed to modulate the expression of several genes in cancer cells. We aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Aloe emodin on gene expression profiles in the human U87 glioblastoma cell line utilizing microarray technology. The gene expression analysis revealed that a total of 8,226 gene alterations out of 28,869 genes were detected after treatment with 58.6 μg/ml for 24 hours. Out of this total, 34 genes demonstrated statistically significant change (p<0.05) ranging from 1.07 to 1.87 fold. The results revealed that 22 genes were up-regulated and 12 genes were down-regulated in response to Aloe emodin treatment. These genes were then grouped into several clusters based on their biological functions, revealing induction of expression of genes involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death) and tissue remodelling in U87 cells (p<0.01). Several genes with significant changes of the expression level e.g. SHARPIN, BCAP31, FIS1, RAC1 and TGM2 from the apoptotic cluster were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These results could serve as guidance for further studies in order to discover molecular targets for the cancer therapy based on Aloe emodin treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects; Down-Regulation/genetics
  4. Mohd Khalizan Sabullah, Azlan Jualang Gansau, Mohd Rosni Sulaiman, Fisal Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Observations on the effects of copper on the liver proteome of Puntius javanicus based on the
    one dimensional PAGE was carried out. The liver was dissected from each fish, which was
    separately treated with different concentrations of copper sulfate ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 mg/L.
    The livers were extracted and one dimensional PAGE was performed under nonreducing
    (native) and reducing (SDS)-PAGE. Several bands were resolved in the native PAGE with
    probable candidates for the effect of copper observed showing an increased in the expression
    and downregulation strongly associated with increasing copper concentrations. This study
    showed that high concentrations of copper significantly alters P. javanicus liver at the proteome
    level, and preliminary screening based on one dimensional PAGE is considered rapid and
    simple to assess the toxicity effect of copper before more advanced and extensive assesment
    with a second dimensional PAGE is carried out.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  5. Mariani Mohd Zain, Zary Shariman Yahaya, Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin Nik Him
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2016;27(11):3-8.
    MyJurnal
    To date, the ivermectin resistance in nematode parasites has been reported
    and many studies are carried out to determine the causes of this problem. A free-living
    Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model system for this study to investigate the
    response of C. elegans to ivermectin exposure by using larval development assay. Worms
    were exposed to ivermectin at concentration from 1 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL and dimethyl
    sulphoxide (DMSO) as a control. The developments of the worms were monitored for 24,
    48, 72, and 96 hours until the worms become adults. Results indicated that worms’ growth
    began to be affected by ivermectin at a concentration of 5 ng/mL, while at the
    concentration of 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 ng/mL, the growth of worms were inhibited compared to
    control worms. Further study of the protein expression in C. elegans should be done to
    investigate the up-regulated and down-regulated proteins involve in ivermectin resistance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  6. Li X, Hou Q, Yuan W, Zhan X, Yuan H
    J Orthop Surg Res, 2023 Dec 01;18(1):916.
    PMID: 38041147 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-023-04412-1
    BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main pathogenesis of low back pain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to exert regulatory function in IDD. This study aimed to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of miR-96-5p in IDD.

    METHODS: In vitro cell model of IDD was established by treating human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was examined in the IDD cell model by Western blot and quantification real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression level of miR-96-5p was detected by RT-qPCR. Effects of PPARγ or/and PPARγ agonist on inflammatory factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), apoptosis, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation were examined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, flow cytometry assay, and immunofluorescence staining. The Starbase database and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and validate the targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and PPARγ, and rescue assay was performed to gain insight into the role of miR-96-5p on IDD through PPARγ/NF-κB signaling.

    RESULTS: PPARγ expression reduced with concentration and time under IL-1β stimulation, while miR-96-5p expression showed the reverse trend (P 

    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  7. Yang B, Wang Q, Li Y, Li L, Zhang Y, Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, et al.
    PLoS One, 2023;18(4):e0282488.
    PMID: 37099528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282488
    OBJECTIVE: The present study opted for the adrenal phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cell line to frame a neuronal injury model induced by alcohol exposure in vitro, aiming to probe whether TAp73 and miR-96-5p are involved in the neuronal injury process induced by alcohol and elucidate the regulatory relationship between miR-96-5p and TAp73.

    METHODS: Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the structural features of PC12 cells after culturing in medium with nerve growth factor (NGF). After different doses and different durations of alcohol treatment, CCK-8 assay was performed to detect the viability of PC12 cells, flow cytometry assay was carried out to detect the apoptosis rate of PC12 cells, dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to definitude the regulatory relationship between miR-96-5p and Tp73, and western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TAp73.

    RESULTS: The result of immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that PC12 cells abundantly expressed Map2, CCK-8 assay illustrated alcohol exposure significantly downregulated the cell viability of PC12 cells, Treatment with miR-96-5p inhibitor induced apoptosis and upregulated the expression of TAp73 in PC12 cells. Contrastingly, miR-96-5p mimic reversed the above effects and downregulation of TAp73 inhibited the apoptosis of PC12 cells.

    CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that miR-96-5p participates in alcohol-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells via negatively regulating TAp73.

    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  8. Khalilpourfarshbafi M, Devi Murugan D, Abdul Sattar MZ, Sucedaram Y, Abdullah NA
    PLoS One, 2019;14(6):e0218792.
    PMID: 31226166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218792
    The increased prevalence of obesity and associated insulin resistance calls for effective therapeutic treatment of metabolic diseases. The current PPARγ-targeting antidiabetic drugs have undesirable side effects. The present study investigated the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of withaferin A (WFA) in diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice and also the anti-adipogenic effect of WFA in differentiating 3T3- F442A cells. DIO mice were treated with WFA (6 mg/kg) or rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, metabolic profile, liver function and inflammatory parameters were obtained. Expression of selective genes controlling insulin signaling, inflammation, adipogenesis, energy expenditure and PPARγ phosphorylation-regulated genes in epididymal fats were analyzed. Furthermore, the anti-adipogenic effect of WFA was evaluated in 3T3- F442A cell line. WFA treatment prevented weight gain without affecting food or caloric intake in DIO mice. WFA-treated group also exhibited lower epididymal and mesenteric fat pad mass, an improvement in lipid profile and hepatic steatosis and a reduction in serum inflammatory cytokines. Insulin resistance was reduced as shown by an improvement in glucose and insulin tolerance and serum adiponectin. WFA treatment upregulated selective insulin signaling (insr, irs1, slc2a4 and pi3k) and PPARγ phosphorylation-regulated (car3, selenbp1, aplp2, txnip, and adipoq) genes, downregulated inflammatory (tnf-α and il-6) genes and altered energy expenditure controlling (tph2 and adrb3) genes. In 3T3- F442A cell line, withaferin A inhibited adipogenesis as indicated by a decrease in lipid accumulation in differentiating adipocytes and protein expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα. The effect of rosiglitazone on physiological and lipid profiles, insulin resistance, some genes expression and differentiating adipocytes were markedly different. Our data suggest that WFA is a promising therapeutic agent for both diabetes and obesity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects
  9. Mohd Zain MZ, Ismail NH, Ahmad N, Sulong S, Karsani SA, Abdul Majid N
    Mol Biol Rep, 2020 Oct;47(10):7735-7743.
    PMID: 32959195 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05848-y
    Telomerase is a cancer promoting ribonucleoprotein complex and is a potential therapeutic target for cancer. In this study, the effects of telomerase downregulation on the whole cell proteome were investigated. Understanding how the effect of downregulation on the whole proteome profile will generate a greater understanding of the possible roles played by telomerase in cancer. Downregulation was achieved by RNA interference (RNAi), targeting the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunits of telomerase. Transfection of TERT siRNA downregulates TERT gene expression and induced downregulation of telomerase activity. Investigation of the effect of silencing TERT in telomerase was further validated through proteomic analysis by performing 2-dimension electrophoresis (2DE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF. 12 protein spots in HeLa cells were reported to be significantly differentially expressed with 11 of them were upregulated and 1 downregulated. Through STRING analysis, differentially expressed proteins demonstrated strong associations with endoplasmic reticulum stress marker and mitochondrial energy production marker. In conclusions, the result exhibited novel integrated proteomic response involving endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial energy production in response to the TERT downregulation in cervical cancer cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation*
  10. Arulselvan P, Tan WS, Gothai S, Muniandy K, Fakurazi S, Esa NM, et al.
    Molecules, 2016 Oct 31;21(11).
    PMID: 27809259
    In the present investigation, we prepared four different solvent fractions (chloroform, hexane, butanol, and ethyl acetate) of Moringa oleifera extract to evaluate its anti-inflammatory potential and cellular mechanism of action in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Cell cytotoxicity assay suggested that the solvent fractions were not cytotoxic to macrophages at concentrations up to 200 µg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction suppressed LPS-induced production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner and was more effective than the other fractions. Immunoblot observations revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction effectively inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators including cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 through suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, it upregulated the expression of the inhibitor of κB (IκBα) and blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. These findings indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of M. oleifera exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages via suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects*
  11. Ambrose KK, Ishak T, Lian LH, Goh KJ, Wong KT, Ahmad-Annuar A, et al.
    Neurol India, 2017 5 11;65(3):512-517.
    PMID: 28488611 DOI: 10.4103/neuroindia.NI_237_16
    INTRODUCTION: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides that function as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. They are expressed in a tissue-specific manner and show different expression patterns in development and disease; hence, they can potentially act as disease-specific biomarkers. Several miRNAs have been shown to be deregulated in plasma and skeletal muscles of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients.

    METHODS: We evaluated the expression patterns of 11 candidate miRNAs using quantitative real-time PCR in whole blood (n = 10) and muscle biopsy samples (n = 9) of DM1 patients, and compared them to those of normal control samples (whole blood, n = 10; muscle, n = 9).

    RESULTS: In DM1 whole blood, miRNA-133a, -29b, and -33a were significantly upregulated, whereas miRNA-1, -133a, and -29c were significantly downregulated in the skeletal muscles compared to controls.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings align to those reported in other studies and point towards pathways that potentially contribute toward pathogenesis in DM1. However, the currently available data is not sufficient for these miRNAs to be made DM1-specific biomarkers because they seem to be common to many muscle pathologies. Hence, they lack specificity, but reinforce the need for further exploration of DM1 biomarkers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/physiology*
  12. Aamir K, Khan HU, Hossain CF, Afrin MR, Jusuf PR, Waheed I, et al.
    Life Sci, 2022 Jan 15;289:120232.
    PMID: 34919901 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120232
    BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a worldwide health issue primarily due to failure of pancreatic β-cells to release sufficient insulin.

    PURPOSE: The present work aimed to assess the antidiabetic potential of arjunolic acid (AA) isolated from Terminalia arjuna in type 2 diabetic rats.

    STUDY DESIGN: After extraction, isolation and purification, AA was orally administered to type 2 diabetic Sprague Dawley rats to investigate antidiabetic effect of AA.

    METHOD: T2DM was induced via single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NIC) in adult male rats. After 10 days, fasting and random blood glucose (FBG and RBG), body weight (BW), food and water intake, serum C-peptide, insulin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured to confirm T2DM development. Dose dependent effects of orally administered AA (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks was investigated by measuring BW variation, fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and levels of serum HbA1c, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum and pancreatic C-peptide, insulin, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), serum and pancreatic inflammatory cytokines.

    RESULTS: The oral administration of AA in preclinical model of T2DM significantly normalized FBG and RBG, restored BW, controlled polyphagia, polydipsia and glucose tolerance. In addition, AA notably reduced serum HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL with non-significant increase in HDL. On the other hand, significant increase in serum and pancreatic C-peptide and insulin was observed with AA treatment, while serum and pancreatic GDF-15 were non-significantly altered in AA treated diabetic rats. Moreover, AA showed dose dependent reduction in serum and pancreatic proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.

    CONCLUSION: For the first time our findings highlighted AA as a potential candidate in type 2 diabetic conditions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects*
  13. Soetikno V, Ahmad N, Makhrus MG, Haikal FF, Rashidin MA, Shiddiq AA, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2026 Jun 16;16(1).
    PMID: 42303815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-58386-1
    Renal interstitial fibrosis is the predominant cause of end-stage renal disease. Oxidative stress and an increased PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway play a key role in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis caused by ureteral obstruction. 6-gingerol (6-G) is known to have a natural antioxidant effect; however, the effect of 6-G on progressive renal fibrosis due to ureteral obstruction has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antifibrotic effect of 6-G and characterize the underlying mechanism of its action on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent UUO via double ligation of the left ureter for a duration of 14 days. Sham rats underwent identical treatment, with the exception of the absence of double ligation. The levels of phosphorylated PI3K/Akt/mTOR in the kidney were assessed by semiquantitative immunoblotting, while the gene expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were evaluated through qRT-PCR. Oxidative stress parameters were evaluated with an ELISA kit and spectrophotometer, while histopathological assessment was conducted through Masson's trichrome, hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and immunohistochemical analysis of collagen type III. In comparison to UUO rats, renal fibrosis and collagen type III deposition were diminished, and the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR was reduced in rats treated with 6-G. 6-G also reduced the expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA genes in obstructed kidneys. In comparison to UUO rats, rats administered with 6-G exhibited elevated activities of glutathione peroxidase and decreased levels of malondialdehyde. The findings suggest that 6-G is a potential therapeutic agent for renal interstitial fibrosis, with its antifibrotic actions perhaps facilitated by the enhanced activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways and decreased oxidative stress in UUO rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects
  14. Jiang L, Hindmarch CC, Rogers M, Campbell C, Waterfall C, Coghill J, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2016 10 24;6:35671.
    PMID: 27774996 DOI: 10.1038/srep35671
    Glucocorticoids are steroids that reduce inflammation and are used as immunosuppressive drugs for many diseases. They are also the mainstay for the treatment of minimal change nephropathy (MCN), which is characterised by an absence of inflammation. Their mechanisms of action remain elusive. Evidence suggests that immunomodulatory drugs can directly act on glomerular epithelial cells or 'podocytes', the cell type which is the main target of injury in MCN. To understand the nature of glucocorticoid effects on non-immune cell functions, we generated RNA sequencing data from human podocyte cell lines and identified the genes that are significantly regulated in dexamethasone-treated podocytes compared to vehicle-treated cells. The upregulated genes are of functional relevance to cytoskeleton-related processes, whereas the downregulated genes mostly encode pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. We observed a tendency for dexamethasone-upregulated genes to be downregulated in MCN patients. Integrative analysis revealed gene networks composed of critical signaling pathways that are likely targeted by dexamethasone in podocytes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects; Down-Regulation/genetics
  15. Gholami K, Muniandy S, Salleh N
    J Biomed Biotechnol, 2012;2012:596084.
    PMID: 23226939 DOI: 10.1155/2012/596084
    Under progesterone (P) dominance, fluid loss assists uterine closure which is associated with pH reduction. We hypothesize that P inhibits uterine fluid secretion and HCO3⁻ transport.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation/drug effects; Down-Regulation/genetics*
  16. Kamarudin AN, Lai KS, Lamasudin DU, Idris AS, Balia Yusof ZN
    Front Plant Sci, 2017;8:1799.
    PMID: 29089959 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01799
    Thiamine, or vitamin B1 plays an indispensable role as a cofactor in crucial metabolic reactions including glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in all living organisms. Thiamine has been shown to play a role in plant adaptation toward biotic and abiotic stresses. The modulation of thiamine biosynthetic genes in oil palm seedlings was evaluated in response to root colonization by endophytic Hendersonia toruloidea. Seven-month-old oil palm seedlings were inoculated with H. toruloidea and microscopic analyses were performed to visualize the localization of endophytic H. toruloidea in oil palm roots. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that H. toruloidea colonized cortical cells. The expression of thiamine biosynthetic genes and accumulation of total thiamine in oil palm seedlings were also evaluated. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure transcript abundances of four key thiamine biosynthesis genes (THI4, THIC, TH1, and TPK) on days 1, 7, 15, and 30 in response to H. toruloidea colonization. The results showed an increase of up to 12-fold in the expression of all gene transcripts on day 1 post-inoculation. On days 7, 15, and 30 post-inoculation, the relative expression levels of these genes were shown to be downregulated. Thiamine accumulation was observed on day 7 post-colonization and subsequently decreased until day 30. This work provides the first evidence for the enhancement of thiamine biosynthesis by endophytic colonization in oil palm seedlings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  17. Choo BKM, Kundap UP, Kumari Y, Hue SM, Othman I, Shaikh MF
    Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:139.
    PMID: 29527169 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00139
    Epileptic seizures result from abnormal brain activity and can affect motor, autonomic and sensory function; as well as, memory, cognition, behavior, or emotional state. Effective anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are available but have tolerability issues due to their side effects. The Malaysian herbOrthosiphon stamineus, is a traditional epilepsy remedy and possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities, all of which are known to protect against seizures. This experiment thus aimed to explore if an ethanolic leaf extract ofO. stamineushas the potential to be a novel symptomatic treatment for epileptic seizures in a zebrafish model; and the effects of the extract on the expression levels of several genes in the zebrafish brain which are associated with seizures. The results of this study indicate thatO. stamineushas the potential to be a novel symptomatic treatment for epileptic seizures as it is pharmacologically active against seizures in a zebrafish model. The anti-convulsive effect of this extract is also comparable to that of diazepam at higher doses and can surpass diazepam in certain cases. Treatment with the extract also counteracts the upregulation of NF-κB, NPY and TNF-α as a result of a Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) treated seizure. The anti-convulsive action for this extract could be at least partially due to its downregulation of TNF-α. Future work could include the discovery of the active anti-convulsive compound, as well as determine if the extract does not cause cognitive impairment in zebrafish.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  18. Hanafi MMM, Afzan A, Yaakob H, Aziz R, Sarmidi MR, Wolfender JL, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2017;8:895.
    PMID: 29326585 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00895
    This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects of Ficus deltoidea L. on prostate cancer cells, identify the active compound/s and characterize their mechanism of actions. Two farmed varieties were studied, var. angustifolia (FD1) and var. deltoidea (FD2). Their crude methanolic extracts were partitioned into n-hexane (FD1h, FD2h) chloroform (FD1c, FD2c) and aqueous extracts (FD1a, FD2a). Antiproliferative fractions (IC50 < 30 μg/mL, SRB staining of PC3 cells) were further fractionated. Active compound/s were dereplicated using spectroscopic methods. In vitro mechanistic studies on PC3 and/or LNCaP cells included: annexin V-FITC staining, MMP depolarization measurements, activity of caspases 3 and 7, nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell cycle analysis, modulation of Bax, Bcl-2, Smac/Diablo, and Alox-5 mRNA gene expression by RT-PCR. Effects of cytotoxic fractions on 2D migration and 3D invasion were tested by exclusion assays and modified Boyden chamber, respectively. Their mechanisms of action on these tests were further studied by measuring the expression VEGF-A, CXCR4, and CXCL12 in PC3 cells by RT-PCR. FD1c and FD2c extracts induced cell death (P < 0.05) via apoptosis as evidenced by nuclear DNA fragmentation. This was accompanied by an increase in MMP depolarization (P < 0.05), activation of caspases 3 and 7 (P < 0.05) in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. All active plant extracts up-regulated Bax and Smac/DIABLO, down-regulated Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). Both FD1c and FD2c were not cytotoxic against normal human fibroblast cells (HDFa) at the tested concentrations. Both plant extracts inhibited both migration and invasion of PC3 cells (P < 0.05). These effects were accompanied by down-regulation of both VEGF-A and CXCL-12 gene expressions (P < 0.001). LC-MS dereplication using taxonomy filters and molecular networking databases identified isovitexin in FD1c; and oleanolic acid, moretenol, betulin, lupenone, and lupeol in FD2c. In conclusion, FD1c and FD2c were able to overcome three main hallmarks of cancer in PC3 cells: (1) apoptosis by activating of the intrinsic pathway, (2) inhibition of both migration and invasion by modulating the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and (3) inhibiting angiogenesis by modulating VEGF-A expression. Moreover, isovitexin is here reported for the first time as an antiproliferative principle (IC50 = 43 μg/mL, SRB staining of PC3 cells).
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  19. Khor ES, Wong PF
    Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 2018 Aug;101:64-73.
    PMID: 29857052 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.05.016
    Accumulation of senescent endothelial cells can contribute to endothelium dysfunction. Suppression of MTOR signaling has been shown to delay senescence but the mechanism that underpins this effect, particularly one that involves miRNAs, remains to be further defined. This study sought to identify miRNAs involved in MTORC1-mediated inhibition of replicative senescence in endothelial cells. Pre-senescent HUVECs were prolonged treated with low dose rapamycin (1 nM), an MTOR inhibitor. Rapamycin treatment down-regulated the phosphorylated MTOR, RPS6 and 4EBP1 expressions, which confirmed MTORC1 suppression. Prolonged low dose rapamycin treatment has significantly reduced the percentage of senescence-associated beta galactosidase (SA-β gal) positively stained senescent cells and P16INK4A expression in these cells. On the contrary, the percentage of BrdU-labelled proliferating cells has significantly increased. RPTOR, a positive regulator of MTORC1 was knockdown using RPTOR siRNA to inhibit MTORC1 activation. RPTOR knockdown was evidenced by significant suppressions of RPTOR mRNA and protein expression levels. In these cells, the expression of miR-107 was down-regulated whereas miR-145-5p and miR-217 were up-regulated. Target gene prediction revealed PTEN as the target of miR-107 and this was confirmed by biotin pull-down assay. Over-expression of miR-107 has decreased PTEN expression, increased MTORC1 activity, induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and up-regulated P16INK4A expression but mitigated tube formation. Collectively, our findings revealed that delayed endothelial replicative senescence caused by the inhibition of MTORC1 activation could be modulated by miR-107 via its influence on PTEN.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
  20. Heng BC, Gong T, Xu J, Lim LW, Zhang C
    Biomed Rep, 2018 Aug;9(2):161-168.
    PMID: 29963307 DOI: 10.3892/br.2018.1108
    Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) originate from the embryonic neural crest and have neurogenic potential. The present study investigated the roles of the forward and reverse EphrinB2 signalling pathways during DPSC neurogenesis. Treatment of DPSCs with recombinant EphrinB2-Fc protein over 7 days in a neural induction culture resulted in significant downregulation of the following neural markers: βIII-Tubulin, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), nestin, neurogenin 2 (NGN2), neurofilament medium polypeptide and Musashi1. Immunocytochemistry revealed that EphrinB2-Fc-treated DPSCs exhibited more rounded morphologies with fewer neurite outgrowths as well as reduced protein expression of βIII-tubulin and NGN2. Treatment of DPSCs with a peptide inhibitor specific to the EphB4 receptor significantly upregulated expression of the neural markers microtubule-associated protein 2, Musashi1, NGN2 and neuron-specific enolase, whereas treatment with a peptide inhibitor specific to the EphB2 receptor exerted negligible effects on neurogenesis. Transgenic expression of EphrinB2 in DPSCs resulted in significant upregulation of Musashi1 and NCAM gene expression, while treatment of DPSCs with recombinant EphB4-Fc protein led to significant upregulation of only Musashi1. Thus, it may be concluded that stimulation of forward EphrinB2-EphB4 signalling markedly inhibited neurogenesis in DPSCs, whereas suppression of this forward signalling pathway with peptide inhibitor specific to EphB4 promoted neurogenesis. Meanwhile, stimulation of reverse EphB4-EphrinB2 signalling only marginally enhanced the neural differentiation of DPSCs. The present findings indicate the potential application of peptide or small molecule inhibitors of EphrinB2 forward signalling in neural tissue engineering with DPSCs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Down-Regulation
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