Acrylamide-induced apoptotic effects on NIH/3T3 cells

Introduction: Acrylamide (ACR) is used in an extensive industrial applications and scientific studies. ACR can be produced through food processing at high temperatures via the Maillard reaction. ACR as a chemical and its metabolite glycidamide causes cell toxicity and damage to DNA and proteins in the body. This study was designed to investigate the ACR-induced apoptotic effects on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in cell culture. Methods and Results: The NIH/3T3 cells were treated with ACR in different concentrations (1, 2, 5, 10 mM). After 24 hours incubation, early and late apoptosis, necrosis, and viable cells were counted. Type of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis) induced by ACR is characterized by Annexin V-FITC and Propidium Iodide (PI). Moreover, caspase 9 and 3 were measured via colorimetric assay. Flow cytometric result showed, the percentage of live cells in 10 mM of ACR were significantly reduced compared to the control group that was accompanied by an increase in necrotic cell death. ACR compound caused an increased in Caspase 9 activity in a dose-dependent manner, the activities of caspase 3 also showed a significant increase compared to the control group only at concentration of 10 mM. Conclusions: Our findings showed that exposure to ACR could induce apoptosis at high concentrations in embryonic fibroblast cell. Moreover, it was shown that acrylamide induces necrotic cell death at the high concentration of 10 mM ACR

A Comparison of inflammatory markers in two different CLP procedures in murine polymicrobial sepsis model

Introduction: Sepsis, a common and costly cause of inpatient mortality in both sexes and all age groups (particularly in intensive care units), ensues an inflammatory process involving a variety of pathogen-expressed conserved structures called pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) which are considered the main cause of oxidative stress and increase in inflammatory markers. Methods and Results: In this murine model study, male Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: CLP with gauge 18, CLP with gauge 21, and a sham group (a group without CLP). Subsequently, 24 hours following the surgery, all animals were sacrificed and inflammatory markers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in their cardiac tissues. In CLP group with gauge 18, LPO, ROS, and MPO were significantly increased in comparison with the other two groups. Moreover, although lower in comparison with the gauge 18 CLP group, LPO, ROS, and MPO were significantly higher in gauge 21 CLP group compared to the sham group. Conclusions: In murine models of sepsis, the gauge size can be influential in study outcomes and inflammatory changes observed in gauge 18 CLP mice can be considered as the most reliable and clinically-relevant indicators of sepsis-induced inflammation in humans.&nbsp

Regulation of cellular aging in rat embryonic fibroblast cells using gallic acid

Introduction: Aging is a process characterized by an irreversible growth arrest in somatic cells which caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) products, lipid peroxidation, and DNA and proteins damage. The specific objective of this study was to assess a well-known natural antioxidant compound, Gallic acid (GA) for its anti-aging potential, and evaluate the mechanisms involved in attenuating H2O2 induced cellular senescence in rat embryonic fibroblast (REF) cells. Methods and Results: To begin this process, REF cells were pre-incubated with GA for 24 hours, subsequently were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 2 hours. After the incubation time, cell viability, ROS level as well as senescence-associated (beta)-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) activity, mitochondrial complex I, II and IV enzyme activities, and cell cycle distribution via flow cytometry were investigated. GA declined the cytotoxic effects of H2O2 in REF cells. Analysis of cell cycle showed in REF cells treated by GA the percentage of G0/G1 arrest was diminished compared to the H2O2 group. Additionally, GA potently decreased the levels of ROS as well as mitochondrial complex activities. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative investigation of SA-β-GAL activity demonstrated GA can also decrease cellular senescence. Conclusions: The findings of this study offer some important insights into the protective effect of GA on controlling cellular senescence and aging process. The results presented support to these hypotheses that GA diminish the oxidative stress of REF cells in cellular senescence. Moreover, incorporation of GA as a protective antioxidant agent works by attenuating the ROS, subsiding mitochondrial complex activities, and affecting cell division

Determination of Anti-melanogenic Activity of Phlomis kurdica in Human Melanoma SKMEL-3 Cells

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the anti-melanogenic and cytotoxic activities of methanol extract of Phlomis kurdica. The antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity of MeOH extract from P. kurdica (MPk) were examined by DPPH radical scavenging and mushroom tyrosinase activity assays (in vitro), respectively. Furthermore, the effect of MPk on the melanin content, cellular tyrosinase activity and cytotoxicity was studied on human melanoma SKMEL-3 cells (in vivo). The results showed that the MPk inhibited DPPH radicals and mushroom tyrosinase activity in a dose dependent-manner, but these effects were weaker than positive controls. The extract revealed cytotoxic effect in SKMEL-3 cells at high concentrations (> 0.2 mg/mL). Moreover, at concentration of 0.25 mg/mL, it reduced melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity about 7% and 28% of control, respectively. These findings suggest that the MPk can be considered as a cytotoxic extract in melanoma skin cancers and exhibited inhibitory effect on melanogenesis process

Mechanistic assessment of cadmium toxicity in association with the functions of estrogen receptors in the Langerhans islets

Objective(s): Diabetes is a metabolic disease with an increasing prevalence for which finding new and efficient therapeutic approaches has always been a challenge. Preserving integrity and functionality of pancreatic β-cells as the only source of insulin in the body is such a case. To achieve this goal different cellular targets have been proposed among which pancreatic estrogen receptors have gotten much attention. In this work, we evaluated the integrity and function of islets of Langerhans under the influence of factors known to intervene with estrogen receptors. Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, has been recently shown to interact with estrogen receptors but its toxicity in the pancreatic islets regarding this mechanism remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Isolated islets of Langerhans from the pancreas of rats were grouped and treated with cadmium chloride and also cadmium chloride plus β-estradiol. After 24 hr incubation, parameters of cellular viability, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and insulin secretion were measured. Results: The results indicated that cadmium reduced viability of the islets along with an increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis markers, and β-estradiol, in turn, was able to alleviate these disturbances to some extent, implicating the protective role of β-estradiol against pancreatic toxicity of cadmium. Conclusion: It can be concluded that modification of estrogen receptors in the endocrine pancreas and especially β-cells may be a promising target to find a new therapeutic strategy for diabetes and even uncovering mechanisms of environmental toxicants that have been known as risk factors of diabetes

An Evaluation of the Plasma Levels of Frequently Used Pesticides in Dairy Cattle and Its Possible Correlation with the Occurrence of Follicular Cystic Ovarian Disease: A Case-Control Study

Background: Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the common reproductive disorders which affecting the fertility of dairy cattle induces heavy financial burdens on herds owners. Various insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, collectively known as pesticides are frequently used in the agricultural systems of different countries. Given the fact that pesticides are known to have endocrine disrupting properties, exposure to these compounds may play a role in the development of COD.Materials and Methods: The plasma concentrations of a complete profile of common pesticides including organophosphorus, organochlorine, and carbamate and pyrethroid compounds in the plasma of cattle with COD compared to healthy controls was examined. Moreover, plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress parameters were investigated.Results: No significant amounts of any of the pesticides investigated were detectable in the plasma of neither the healthy nor cystic cows. The plasma indices of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiol, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not show any significant differences between the affected and the control groups. Tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-α), progesterone, lymphocyte, neutrophil, fibrinogen and MCHC had significantly higher amounts in the plasma of COD cows.Conclusion: Findings of the present study do not support the notion that exposure to the studied pesticides is a contributing factor in the development of follicular cysts in dairy cattle. In addition, TNF-α might be affected as a factor in the pathogenesis of COD by an independent pathway of pesticides effect

Benefit of magnesium-25 carrying porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a debilitating disorder occurring in most diabetic patients without a viable treatment yet. The present work examined the protective effect of 25Mg-PMC16 nanoparticle (porphyrin adducts of cyclohexil fullerene-C60) in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN. 25Mg-PMC16 (0.5 lethal dose50 [LD50]) was administered intravenously in two consecutive days before intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg). 24Mg-PMC16 and MgCl2 were used as controls. Blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), oxidative stress biomarkers, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were determined as biomarkers of DN. Results indicated that 2,3-DPG and ATP decreased whereas oxidative stress increased by induction of DN which all were improved in 25Mg-PMC16-treated animals. No significant changes were observed by administration of 24Mg-PMC16 or MgCl2 in DN rats. It is concluded that in DN, oxidative stress initiates injuries to DRG neurons that finally results in death of neurons whereas administration of 25Mg-PMC16 by release of Mg and increasing ATP acts protectively

Ovarian Aging-Like Phenotype in the Hyperandrogenism-Induced Murine Model of Polycystic Ovary

There are prominently similar symptoms, effectors, and commonalities in the majority of characteristics between ovarian aging and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Despite the approved role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of PCOS and aging, to our knowledge, the link between the PCO(S) and aging has not been investigated yet. In this study we investigated the possible exhibition of ovarian aging phenotype in murine model of PCO induced by daily oral administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg body weight) for 21 consecutive days in the female Wistar rats. Hyperandrogenization showed irregular cycles and histopathological characteristics of PCO which was associated with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum and ovary. Moreover, serum testosterone, insulin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, and ovarian matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were increased in PCO rats compared with healthy controls, while estradiol and progesterone diminished. Almost all of these findings are interestingly found to be common with the characteristics identified with (ovarian) aging showing that hyperandrogenism-induced PCO in rat is associated with ovarian aging-like phenotypes. To our knowledge, this is the first report that provides evidence regarding the phenomenon of aging in PCO

The effects of prebiotic, probiotic or synbiotic supplementation on overweight/obesity indicators: an umbrella review of the trials’ meta-analyses

BackgroundThere is controversial data on the effects of prebiotic, probiotic, or synbiotic supplementations on overweight/obesity indicators. Thus, we aimed to clarify this role of biotics through an umbrella review of the trials’ meta-analyses.MethodsAll meta-analyses of the clinical trials conducted on the impact of biotics on overweight/obesity indicators in general populations, pregnant women, and infants published until June 2023 in PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library web databases included. The meta-analysis of observational and systematic review studies without meta-analysis were excluded. We reported the results by implementing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flowchart. The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR2) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) systems were used to assess the methodological quality and quality of evidence.ResultsOverall, 97 meta-analysis studies were included. Most studies were conducted on the effect of probiotics in both genders. Consumption of prebiotic: 8-66 g/day, probiotic: 104 -1.35×1015 colony-forming unit (CFU)/day, and synbiotic: 106-1.5×1011 CFU/day and 0.5-300 g/day for 2 to 104 weeks showed a favorable effect on the overweight/obesity indicators. Moreover, an inverse association was observed between biotics consumption and overweight/obesity risk in adults in most of the studies. Biotics did not show any beneficial effect on weight and body mass index (BMI) in pregnant women by 6.6×105-1010 CFU/day of probiotics during 1-25 weeks and 1×109-112.5×109 CFU/capsule of synbiotics during 4-8 weeks. The effect of biotics on weight and BMI in infants is predominantly non-significant. Prebiotics and probiotics used in infancy were from 0.15 to 0.8 g/dL and 2×106-6×109 CFU/day for 2-24 weeks, respectively.ConclusionIt seems biotics consumption can result in favorable impacts on some anthropometric indices of overweight/obesity (body weight, BMI, waist circumference) in the general population, without any significant effects on birth weight or weight gain during pregnancy and infancy. So, it is recommended to intake the biotics as complementary medications for reducing anthropometric indices of overweight/obese adults. However, more well-designed trials are needed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of specific strains of probiotics