Comparative Angiogenic Activities of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Young and Old Mice

Advanced age is associated with decreased stem cell activity. However, the effect of aging on the differentiation capacity of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into cardiovascular cells has not been fully clarified. We investigated whether iPS cells derived from young and old mice are equally capable of differentiating into vascular progenitor cells, and whether these cells regulate vascular responses in vivo. iPS cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (young) or 21 month-old mouse bone marrow (old) were used. Fetal liver kinase-1 positive (Flk-1+) cells, as a vascular progenitor marker, were induced after 3 to 4 days of culture from iPS cells derived from young and old mice. These Flk-1+ cells were sorted and shown to differentiate into VE-cadherin+ endothelial cells and α-SMA+ smooth muscle cells. Tube-like formation was also successfully induced in both young and old murine Flk-1+ cells. Next, hindlimb ischemia was surgically induced, and purified Flk-1+ cells were directly injected into ischemic hindlimbs of nude mice. Revascularization of the ischemic hindlimb was significantly accelerated in mice transplanted with Flk-1+ cells derived from iPS cells from either young or old mice, as compared to control mice as evaluated by laser Doppler blood flowmetry. The degree of revascularization was similar in the two groups of ischemic mice injected with iPS cell-derived Flk-1+ cells from young or old mice. Transplantation of Flk-1+ cells from both young and old murine iPS cells also increased the expression of VEGF, HGF and IGF mRNA in ischemic tissue as compared to controls. iPS cell-derived Flk-1+ cells differentiated into vascular progenitor cells, and regulated angiogenic vascular responses both in vitro and in vivo. These properties of iPS cells derived from old mice are essentially the same as those of iPS cells from young mice, suggesting the functionality of generated iPS cells themselves to be unaffected by aging

Structure, conformations, and repair of DNA adducts from dibenzo [a,l]pyrene: postlabeling and fluorscense studies

The nature of stable DNA adducts derived from the very potent carcinogen dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) in the presence of rat liver microsomes in vitro and in mouse skin in vivo has been studied usin

Heavy metal and potential ecological risk assessment in sedimentscollected from Poombuhar to Karaikal Coast of Tamilnadu using Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique

Heavy metal concentrations in coastal sediments from Poombuhar to Karaikal of South East Coast of Tamilnadu were conducted to evaluate the level of contamination. The metal concentrations were analyzed in sediment samples using Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. The determined mean metal concentration is in the order of Ca > Ti > K > Al > Fe > Mg > Zn > Ni > Cr > V > Mn > Co The heavy metals contamination in sediments is assessed using pollution indices like Contamination factor (Cf), Contamination Degree (Cd), Modified Degree of Contamination (mCd) and potential contamination index (Cp). The environmental risks of the heavy metals in sediments assessed by the potential ecological risk factor. From the analysis, sediments are polluted by Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ca and Pb due to anthropogenic activites (fishermen boat activites) in the study area. The results of this study would provide a useful aid for sustainable marine management in the region

Optimization of Karanja oil transesterification

505-509Production of biodiesel through transesterification of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) oil was studied. The Karanja oil was treated with a lower alcohol (methanol) in the presence of a base catalyst (KOH) to yield methyl esters of fatty acids (biodiesel) and glycerin. The influences of reaction temperature, molar ratio of alcohol to oil, amount of catalyst and reaction time on the product yield were studied. The optimal combination of operating parameters for maximum yield was found out using Taguchi’s method. The performance and emission tests were carried out in a four stroke single cylinder, Kirloskar Av1 D.I.Engine. Different blends of biodiesel with conventional diesel were tested. The results show an appreciable reduction in emission level and marginal increase in performance when compared with sole fuel. The results concluded that the biodiesel from Karanja oil can be used as an effective alternate in existing diesel engines without any engine hardware modifications

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Pimpinella anisum seeds: antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human neonatal skin stromal cells and colon cancer cells

Mohamad S AlSalhi,1,2 Sandhanasamy Devanesan,1,2 Akram A Alfuraydi,3 Radhakrishnan Vishnubalaji,4 Murugan A Munusamy,3 Kadarkarai Murugan,5 Marcello Nicoletti,6 Giovanni Benelli7 1Research Chair in Laser Diagnosis of Cancers, 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, 3Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, 4Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India; 6Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 7Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Background: The present study focused on a simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with multipurpose anticancer and antimicrobial activities. Materials and methods: We studied a green synthesis route to produce AgNPs by using an aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum seeds (3 mM). Their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human neonatal skin stromal cells (hSSCs) and colon cancer cells (HT115) were assessed. Results: A biophysical characterization of the synthesized AgNPs was realized: the morphology of AgNPs was determined by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and ultraviolet-vis absorption spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shapes of AgNPs of P. anisum seed extracts with a 3.2 nm minimum diameter and average diameter ranging from 3.2 to 16 nm. X-ray powder diffraction highlighted the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles, ultraviolet-vis absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor their synthesis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the main reducing groups from the seed extract. Energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of elemental silver. We evaluated the antimicrobial potential of green-synthesized AgNPs against five infectious bacteria: Staphylococcus pyogenes (29213), Acinetobacter baumannii (4436), Klebsiella pneumoniae (G455), Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, we focused on the toxicological effects of AgNPs against hSSC cells and HT115 cells by using in vitro proliferation tests and cell viability assays. Among the different tested concentrations of nanoparticles, doses <10 µg showed few adverse effects on cell proliferation without variations in viability, whereas doses >10 µg led to increased cytotoxicity. Conclusion: Overall, our results highlighted the capacity of P. anisum-synthesized AgNPs as novel and cheap bioreducing agents for eco-friendly nanosynthetical routes. The data confirm the multipurpose potential of plant-borne reducing and stabilizing agents in nanotechnology. Keywords: antibacterial, biosafety, green nanotechnology, metal nanoparticles, Pimpinella anisum seeds, cance