Suppression of NSAID-induced small intestinal inflammation by orally administered redox nanoparticles

Patients regularly taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin (IND) have a risk of small intestinal injuries. In this study, we have developed an oral nanotherapeutics by using a redox nanoparticle (RNPO), which is prepared by self-assembly of an amphiphilic block copolymer that possesses nitroxide radicals as side chains of hydrophobic segment via ether linkage, to reduce inflammation in mice with IND-induced small intestinal injury. The localization and accumulation of RNPO in the small intestine were determined using fluorescent-labeled RNPO and electron spin resonance. After oral administration, the accumulation of RNPO in both the jejunum and ileum tissues was about 40 times higher than those of low-molecular-weight nitroxide radical compounds, and RNPO was not absorbed into the bloodstream via the mesentery, thereby avoiding the adverse effects of nitroxide radicals in the entire body. RNPO remarkably suppressed inflammatory mediators such as myeloperoxidase, superoxide anion, and malondialdehyde in the small intestines of IND-treated mice. Compared to low-molecular-weight nitroxide radical compounds, RNPO also significantly increased the survival rate of mice treated daily with IND. On the basis of these results, RNPO is promising as a nanotherapeutics for treatment of inflammation in the small intestine of patients receiving NSAIDs

Apoptotic effect of astaxanthin from white shrimp shells on lung cancer A549 cells

Purpose: To investigate the anti-cancer potential of astaxanthin from Litopenaeus vannamei encapsulated in liposomes (ASX) to treat lung cancer A549 cells.Methods: Lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were cultured and treated with ASX, following which cell viability and nuclear staining were performed. Generation of ROS was identified by the DCFH-DA assay while tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate caspase-3/7 activity and cell cycle distribution.Results: ASX inhibited growth of A549 in a concentration- and time- dependent manner. The IC50 values at 24, 48 and 72 h were 53.73, 22.85, 17.46 μg/mL, respectively (p < 0.05). After incubation with ASX, the morphological changes were observed in A549 cells following Hoechst 33342/PI fluorescent staining. ASX increased ROS generation and was associated with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, which subsequently triggered the activation of caspase-3/7 activity leading to apoptosis (p < 0.05). In addition, A549 cells accumulated in the G0/G1 phase.Conclusion: The results suggest that ASX is a valuable nutraceutical agent to target A549 lung cancer cells via ROS-dependent pathway as well as blockage of cell cycle progression. Keywords: Astaxanthin, Litopenaeus vannamei, Lung cancer, A549, Apoptosi

Pseuderanthemum palatiferum (Nees) Radlk extract induces apoptosis via reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondria-dependent pathway in A549 human lung cancer cells

Purpose: To investigate the capacity of aqueous Pseuderanthemum paltiferum leaf extracts (PPA) to induce apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells and the possible mechanisms of action.Methods: Human lung cancer A549 cells were cultured in the presence of PPA (0 - 1000 μg/mL). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay while morphological alterations in the cells were observed by Hoechst 33342/PI double staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and subsequent changes of mitochondrial membrane potential were also investigated. Involvement of caspase-3 activation in the apoptotic pathway was determined.Results: PPA inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Major phenotypic apoptotic cell death was evidenced in microscopic images. Furthermore, treatment of A549 cells with PPA resulted in a significant increase in the production of ROS accompanied by attenuation of mitochondrial membrane potential, thus inducing the activation of caspase-3 activity (p < 0.05).Conclusion: PPA exerts anti-cancer activity by suppression of cell viability and induction of ROSmediated mitochondrial dependent apoptosis in A549 cells, and may be a potential candidate for the development of a therapeutic agent for lung cancer.Keywords: Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, Apoptosis, Reactive oxygen species, Mitochondria, Lung cance

Protective effect of valproic acid on MPP+ -induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells through Cdk5/p35/Erk signaling cascade

Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of valproic acid (VPA) on 1-methyl-4- phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced dopaminergic cell loss in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells was investigated by DCFH-DA. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by Hoechst 33342 staining. The protective effect of VPA via Cdk5 and p35 cascade was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) analysis. In addition, further investigation on cell survival was performed using Western blot analysis through Erk signaling pathway. Results: Cell viability was dramatically decreased in cells treated with MPP+ in a concentrationdependent manner (p < 0.05). Pre-treatment with VPA ameliorated MPP+-induced death of dopaminergic cell via inhibition of ROS generation (p < 0.05). VPA restored Cdk5 and p35 expression and significantly increased cell survival mediated by Erk activity (pErk/Erk). Conclusion: The results from this study confirmed that VPA attenuated MPP+-induced dopaminergic cell death by the inhibition of ROS production via Cdk5/p35 cascade and Erk signaling pathway. VPA is thus a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of dopaminergic cell death via Cdk5/p35 cascade

Redox Nanoparticle Therapeutics for Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of an antioxidative nanoparticle (RNPN) recently developed against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The effects of oral administration of RNPN to APAP-treated mice were assessed for various biochemical liver function parameters: alanine transaminase (ALT) activity, aspartate transaminase (AST) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, prothrombin time, and serum albumin (ALB) level. The treatment effects were assessed in terms of free radical parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, % inhibition of superoxide anion (O2−∙), and histopathological examination. The N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-treated group exhibited an enhanced prothrombin time relative to the control group, while RNPN did not prolong prothrombin time. The RNPN-treated animals exhibited lower levels of ALT, AST, and ALP, while increased ALB levels were measured in these animals compared to those in the other groups. The RNPN-treated animals furthermore exhibited improved MDA levels, GPx activity, and % inhibition of O2−∙, which relate to oxidative damage. Histological staining of liver tissues from RNPN-treated animals did not reveal any microscopic changes relative to the other groups. The findings of this study suggest that RNPN possesses effective hepatoprotective properties and does not exhibit the notable adverse effects associated with NAC treatment

Chronic treatment with a smart antioxidative nanoparticle for inhibition of amyloid plaque propagation in Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

The present study aimed to assess whether our newly developed redox nanoparticle (RNPN) that has antioxidant potential decreases Aβ levels or prevents Aβ aggregation associated with oxidative stress. The transgenic Tg2576 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mice were used to investigate the effect of chronic ad libitum drinking of RNPN solution for 6 months, including memory and learning functions, antioxidant activity, and amyloid plaque aggregation. The results showed that RNPN-treated mice had significantly attenuated cognitive deficits of both spatial and non-spatial memories, reduced oxidative stress of lipid peroxide, and DNA oxidation. RNPN treatment increased the percent inhibition of superoxide anion and glutathione peroxidase activity, neuronal densities in the cortex and hippocampus, decreased Aβ(1-40), Aβ(1-42) and gamma (γ)-secretase levels, and reduced Aβ plaque observed using immunohistochemistry analysis and thioflavin S staining. Our results suggest that RNPN may be a promising candidate for AD therapy because of its antioxidant properties and reduction in Aβ aggregation, thereby suppressing its adverse side effect

Apoptotic effect of astaxanthin from white shrimp shells on lung cancer A549 cells

Purpose: To investigate the anti-cancer potential of astaxanthin from Litopenaeus vannamei encapsulated in liposomes (ASX) to treat lung cancer A549 cells.Methods: Lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were cultured and treated with ASX, following which cell viability and nuclear staining were performed. Generation of ROS was identified by the DCFH-DA assay while tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate caspase-3/7 activity and cell cycle distribution.Results: ASX inhibited growth of A549 in a concentration- and time- dependent manner. The IC50 values at 24, 48 and 72 h were 53.73, 22.85, 17.46 μg/mL, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). After incubation with ASX, the morphological changes were observed in A549 cells following Hoechst 33342/PI fluorescent staining. ASX increased ROS generation and was associated with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, which subsequently triggered the activation of caspase-3/7 activity leading to apoptosis (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, A549 cells accumulated in the G0/G1 phase.Conclusion: The results suggest that ASX is a valuable nutraceutical agent to target A549 lung cancer cells via ROS-dependent pathway as well as blockage of cell cycle progression.&#x0D; Keywords: Astaxanthin, Litopenaeus vannamei, Lung cancer, A549, Apoptosis</jats:p