Human mesenchymal stem cells expressing erythropoietin enhance survivability of retinal neurons against oxidative stress : an in-vitro study

Retinal degeneration is a prominent feature in ocular disorders. In exploring possible treatments, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have been recognized to yield therapeutic role for retinal degenerative diseases. Studies have also displayed that erythropoietin (EPO) administration into degenerative retina models confers significant neuroprotective actions in limiting pathological cell death. In this study, we aimed to use MSCs to deliver EPO and to evaluate the ability of EPO to rescue retinal neurons from dying upon reactive oxidative stress induction. We derived human MSCs from Wharton's jelly (hWJMSCs) of the umbilical cord and cells were transduced with lentivirus particles encoding EPO and a reporter gene of green fluorescent protein (GFP). The supernatants of both transduced and non-transduced cells were collected and used as a pre-conditioning medium for Y79 retinoblastoma cells (retinal neuron cell line) following exposure to glutamate induction. Retinal cells exposed to glutamate showed reduced mitochondrial depolarization and enhanced improvement in cell viability when incubated with pre-conditioned media of transduced cells. Our results established a proof-of-concept that MSCs could be used as a candidate for the delivery of EPO therapeutic gene in the treatment of retinal degenerations

Role of Immunosuppressive and Immunomodulatory Agents in Cancer

Immunosuppressants offer some benefits and disadvantages. Like a blade with two edges, immunosuppressants are categorized as drugs but also cause decreased immunity, which eventually cause cancer. Immunosuppressants are widely used in organ transplantation patients and autoimmune illnesses to suppress the immune response and provide a significant risk of cancer. According to epidemiological and cancer research, malignancies are higher among transplant patients. However, the risk varies significantly between studies due to methods and patient selection variations. A more accurate illustration of the effects of mild-to-moderate immunosuppression concerning the risk of cancer can be seen in the rising use of immunosuppressant medications in non-transplant patients. Generally, cancer cells have an approach to avoid immune surveillance and create a complex balance in which many immune subtypes may be responsible for controlling tumor development, metastasis, and resistance. Therefore, the main objective of most cancer immunotherapies is to reestablish effective immune control. Immunomodulators help to maintain immune system function and promote the immune system’s capacity to fight and defeat cancer. One of them is immune checkpoint inhibitors

Photoreceptor therapy: generation of neurosphere-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells expressing erythropoietin

The loss of photoreceptors is a major concern implicated in age-macular degeneration (AMD), a type of neurodegenerative disorder. Failure to prescribe a suitable treatment due to the lack of understanding of the molecular pathogenesis, and limited capacity to compensate irreparably damaged photoreceptors in the retina have greatly contributed to the progression of visual dysfunction. Our previous study has shown that Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) expressing erythropoietin (EPO) could commit into photoreceptor cell lineage. However, the efficiency of cell differentiation is limited. The present study aims to explore the capacity of these MSCs to form neurospheres. The cells were transduced with lentiviral particles encoding for human EPO and green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes, culture-expanded and sorted before subjected for differentiation induction into neural precursor cells. Our results showed that MSC-EPO developed into larger neurosphere and expressed relatively higher expression of nestin compared with MSCs alone when cultured under neural induction medium. These preliminary findings suggested that MSC-EPO have greater neurogenic potential than MSCs alone. Further study is needed to evaluate the possibilities of neurosphere to delete differentiate into functional photoreceptor cells. We believe that the success of neurosphere expansion may potentially be useful in scaling up the manufacturing of photoreceptors in a shorter time and at an efficient cost for retinal cell replacement therapy

Anti-ulcer activity of Ficus religiosa stem bark ethanolic extract in rats.

Ficus religiosa is being used in Ayurvedic and Malay traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including gastric ulcer. Considering the above claims, the present work was undertaken to validate the anti-ulcer potential of the ethanol extract of stem bark of F. religiosa against in vivo indomethacin- and cold restrained stress-induced gastric ulcer, and pylorus ligation assays. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ulcer index in all assays used. The extract also significantly (P<0.05) and increased the pH of gastric acid while at the same time reduced the volume of gastric juice and, free and total acidities. In conclusion, the present study provide preliminary data on the antiulcer potential of F. religiosa stem bark and support the traditional uses of the plant for the treatment of gastric ulcer

To explore the pharmacological mechanism of action using digital twin

With the advent of medical technology and science, the number of animals used in research has increased. For decades, the use of animals in research and product testing has been a point of conflict. Experts and pharmaceutical manufacturers are harming animals worldwide during laboratory research. Animals have also played a significant role in the advancement of science; animal testing has enabled the discovery of various novel drugs. The misery, suffering, and deaths of animals are not worth the potential human benefits. As a result, animals must not be exploited in research to assess the drug mechanism of action (MOA). Apart from the ethical concern, animal testing has a few more downsides, including the requirement for skilled labor, lengthy processes, and cost. Because it is critical to investigate adverse effects and toxicities in the development of potentially viable drugs. Assessment of each target will consume the range of resources as well as disturb living nature. As the digital twin works in an autonomous virtual world without influencing the physical structure and biological system. Our proposed framework suggests that the digital twin is a great reliable model of the physical system that will be beneficial in assessing the possible MOA prior to time without harming animals. The study describes the creation of a digital twin to combine the information and knowledge obtained by studying the different drug targets and diseases. Mechanism of Action using Digital twin (MOA-DT) will enable the experts to use an innovative approach without physical testing to save animals, time, and resources. DT reflects and simulates the actual drug and its relationships with its target, however presenting a more accurate depiction of the drug, which leads to maximize efficacy and decrease the toxicity of a drug. In conclusion, it has been shown that drug discovery and development can be safe, effective, and economical in no time through the combination of the digital and physical models of a pharmaceutical as compared to experimental animals

Synthesis and in vitro antiproliferative activity of new 1-phenyl-3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)urea scaffold-based compounds

A new series of 1-phenyl-3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)urea derivatives were synthesized and subjected to in vitro antiproliferative screening against National Cancer Institute (NCI)-60 human cancer cell lines of nine different cancer types. Fourteen compounds 5a-n were synthesized with three different solvent exposure moieties (4-hydroxylmethylpiperidinyl and trimethoxyphenyloxy and 4-hydroxyethylpiperazine) attached to the core structure. Substituents with different π and σ values were added on the terminal phenyl group. Compounds 5a-e with a 4-hydroxymethylpiperidine moiety showed broad-spectrum antiproliferative activity with higher mean percentage inhibition values over the 60-cell line panel at 10 µM concentration. Compound 5a elicited lethal rather than inhibition effects on SK-MEL-5 melanoma cell line, 786-0, A498, RXF 393 renal cancer cell lines, and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line. Two compounds, 5a and 5d showed promising mean growth inhibitions and thus were further tested at five-dose mode to determine median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. The data revealed that urea compounds 5a and 5d are the most active derivatives, with significant efficacies and superior potencies than paclitaxel in 21 different cancer cell lines belonging particularly to renal cancer and melanoma cell lines. Moreover, 5a and 5d had superior potencies than gefitinib in 38 and 34 cancer cell lines, respectively, particularly colon cancer, breast cancer and melanoma cell lines

Retinal degeneration rat model: a study on the structural and functional changes in the retina following injection of sodium iodate

Retinal disorders account for a large proportion of ocular disorders that can lead to visual impairment or blindness, and yet our limited knowledge in the pathogenesis and choice of appropriate animal models for new treatment modalities may contribute to ineffective therapies. Although genetic in vivo models are favored, the variable expressivity and penetrance of these heterogeneous disorders can cause difficulties in assessing potential treatments against retinal degeneration. Hence, an attractive alternative is to develop a chemically-induced model that is both cost-friendly and standardizable. Sodium iodate is an oxidative chemical that is used to simulate late stage retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. In this study, retinal degeneration was induced through systemic administration of sodium iodate (NaIO3) at varying doses up to 80 mg/kg in Sprague-Dawley rats. An analysis on the visual response of the rats by electroretinography (ERG) showed a decrease in photoreceptor function with NaIO3 administration at a dose of 40 mg/kg or greater. The results correlated with the TUNEL assay, which revealed signs of DNA damage throughout the retina. Histomorphological analysis also revealed extensive structural lesions throughout the outer retina and parts of the inner retina. Our results provided a detailed view of NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration, and showed that the administration of 40 mg/kg NaIO3 was sufficient to generate disturbances in retinal function. The pathological findings in this model reveal a degenerating retina, and can be further utilized to develop effective therapies for RPE, photoreceptor, and bipolar cell regeneration