Genetic analysis of the M2/ANXA5 haplotype in Syrian healthy population

Background: Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is an abundantly and ubiquitously expressed protein showing the highest levels of concentration in kidney, liver and placenta. ANXA5 plays a central role in the machinery of membrane repair by enabling of a protective 2D bandage at membrane damaged site, has properties anti-inflammatory, pro-fibrinolytic and anti-thrombotic. Four polymorphisms have been identified in the ANXA5 promoter, which were transmitted as a joint haplotype (M2). M2 haplotype decrease the ANXA5 gene promoter activity and mRNA expression which causes several troubles.Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the frequency of M2/ANXA5 haplotype in healthy Syrian individuals and compare the genotype and allele distribution with other populations. In this study 94 (female, 71 and male, 23) unrelated healthy Syrian nationals were involved. 94 DNA samples have been collected in order to determine the spread the genotype M2 haplotype using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR).Results: Our results indicate that the distribution of the alleles and genotypes of M2 haplotype vary considerably in different populations. In the Syrian population the distribution of M2 and wide type (WT) were M2/M2 9.6%, M2/WT 44.7%, WT/WT 45.7%. The M2 haplotype was found in 45 of women (allele frequency 31%) and in 15 of men (allele frequency 32%). The distribution of the ANXA5 genotypes in Syrian study group conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.92).Conclusions: No significant differences were found at frequency distribution of different genotypes and M2 allele between women and men within this Syrian cohort. In comparison with the results of other studies, the results of this study demonstrate that the frequency and distribution of the M2 haplotype in Syrian population are different from most other populations worldwide

An intronic polymorphism of the gene Plakophilin-3 is associated with IVF failure

Background: Implantation failure is determined when transferred embryos fail to implant following in vitro fertilization (IVF). In recent years, many studies suggest that implantation failure could be related to several genetic factors. In the current study, authors aimed to investigate the association of PKP3 rs10902158 (G>A) polymorphisms with the risk of implantation failure after ICSI treatment.Methods: 97 women, who underwent ICSI treatment owing to male factor infertility, were prospectively recruited in this cross-sectional study. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood samples in order to analyze the polymorphism (rs10902158) at the PKP3 gene by PCR-RFLP. The Results were presented as a genotype (GG, GA, and AA), and their relationship to IVF outcome was analyzed.Results: The patients were divided into two groups according to clinical pregnancy: the pregnant group included 51 patients (53%) and the non-pregnant group included 46 patients (47%). The clinical pregnancy outcome was significantly different between genotypes, which was 0%, 45.8% and 58.8% in the patients having the genotype AA, GA and GG respectively (p-value = 0.03).Conclusions: The presence of the allele A of the PKP3 SNP rs10902158 is associated with a reduced clinical pregnancy outcome in the patients undergoing ICSI treatment and may be helpful predictor for implantation failure

Investigation of Cytotoxicity of Biosynthesized Colloidal Nanosilver against Local Leishmania tropica: In Vitro Study

Leishmaniasis is one of the biggest health problems in the world. Traditional therapeutic methods still depend on a small range of products, mostly chemically. However, the treatment with these drugs is expensive and can cause serious adverse effects, and they have inconsistent effectiveness due to the resistance of parasites to these drugs. The treatment of leishmanial disease has always been a challenge for researchers. The development of nanoscale metals such as silver has attracted significant attention in the field of medicine. The unique characteristic features of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) make them effective antileishmanial agents. In recent years, green nanotechnology has provided the development of green nanoparticle-based treatment methods for Leishmaniasis. Although there are many studies based on green nanoparticles against Leishmania parasites, this is the first study on the antileishmanial effect of biosynthesized AgNPs using an aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves (AEECL) as a reducing agent of silver ions. Different parameters such as AgNO3 concentration, AEECL concentration, and reaction time were studied to investigate the optimum factors for the preparation of stable and small-sized silver nanoparticles. The spherical shape of colloidal nanosilver (CN-Ag) was confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images with sizes of 27 and 12 nm, respectively. A high density of nanoparticles with a small size of 10 nm has been confirmed from dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The zeta potential value of 23 mV indicated that colloidal silver nanoparticles were stable. The nano-tracker analysis (NTA) showed the Brownian motion of silver nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 31 nm. The antioxidant property of CN-Ag was determined using the stable radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In this study, a significant cytotoxic effect of biosynthesized CN-Ag has been shown against Leishmania tropica parasites at low concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 µg/mL). These results could be used as a future alternative drug or could be a supportive treatment for Leishmaniasis

Effects of dioxins on animal spermatogenesis:A state-of-the-art review

The male reproductive system is especially affected by dioxins, a group of persistent environmental pollutants, resulting in irreversible abnormalities including effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and possibly on the development of male offspring. The reproductive toxicity caused by dioxins is mostly mediated by an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In animals, spermatogenesis is a highly sensitive and dynamic process that includes proliferation and maturation of germ cells. Spermatogenesis is subject to multiple endogenous and exogenous regulatory factors, including a wide range of environmental toxicants such as dioxins. This review discusses the toxicological effects of dioxins on spermatogenesis and their relevance to male infertility. After a detailed categorization of the environmental contaminants affecting the spermatogenesis, the exposure pathways and bioavailability of dioxins in animals was briefly reviewed. The effects of dioxins on spermatogenesis are then outlined in detail. The endocrine-disrupting effects of dioxins in animals and humans are discussed with a particular focus on their effects on the expression of spermatogenesis-related genes. Finally, the impacts of dioxins on the ratio of X and Y chromosomes, the status of serum sex hormones, the quality and fertility of sperm, and the transgenerational effects of dioxins on male reproduction are reviewed

Influence of Polyvinylpyrrolidone Concentration on Properties and Anti-Bacterial Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles

Environmentally green synthesis of stable polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-capped silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) was successfully carried out. The present study focused on investigating the influence of adding PVP during the synthesis process on the size, optical properties and antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles produced. An aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves was used as a reducing agent. The effects of different PVP concentrations and reducing time on the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nano tracker analysis (NTA). The addition of PVP was studied. The prepared PVP-AgNPs were spherical with an average size of 13 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed that PVP protects AgNPs by a coordination bond between silver nanoparticles and both N and O of PVP. DLS results indicated the good dispersion of silver nanoparticles. PVP-AgNPs were found to be stable for nearly 5 months. Antibacterial studies through the agar well diffusion method confirmed that silver nanoparticles synthesized using PVP had no inhibitor activity toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as opposed to silver nanoparticles prepared without adding PVP, which showed a significant antibacterial activity towards some of the tested pathogens

Antileishmanial apoptotic activity of Nigella sativa L. essential oil and thymoquinone triggers on Leishmania tropica

Nigella sativa L., commonly called Black cumin, is well-known in folk medicine and numerous studies have shown its various pharmacological activities. In this study, we estimated the cytotoxic effects of N. sativa essential oil (NEO) and its major bioactive component Thymoquinone (TQ) on Leishmania tropica promastigotes that cause cutaneous leishmanias, and also observed the programmed cell death features. The extraction of NEO was done by hydro-distillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antileishmanial activity of NEO and TQ was determined using 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the obtained results are expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). The leishmanicidal activity of NEO and TQ was mediated via apoptosis as evidenced by in situ labelling of DNA fragments using terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and cell cycle arrest at sub G0/G1 phase. The IC50 values were 5 µg/mL and 1.3 µg/mL, respectively. We noted a significant increase in DNA fragmentation in treated parasites with IC50 of both NEO and TQ as well as a cell cycle arrest. These results revealed that NEO and TQ possess potential antileishmanial activity that mediated high possibility by programmed cell death

Contrôle de la différenciation neuronale et gliale dans le nerf optique embryonnaire des vertébrés (rôle du facteur de transcription Pax2)

TOULOUSE3-BU Sciences (315552104) / SudocSudocFranceF

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induces multigenerational testicular toxicity and biosynthetic disorder of testosterone in BALB/C mice: Transcriptional, histopathological and hormonal determinants

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent environmental contaminant, is an endocrine disrupter with a proven reproductive toxicity in mammals. However, its effects on male fertility across generations are still elusive. The current work evaluates the toxicity of dioxin on male reproductive system in two separate groups of BALB/C mice; a group of pubertal males directly exposed to TCDD (referred to as DEmG), and a group of indirectly exposed males (referred to as IDEmG) comprises of F1, F2 and F3 males born from TCDD-exposed pregnant females. Both groups were exposed to 25 μg TCDD/kg body weight for a week. Our data show that males of TCDD-DEmG exhibited significant alterations in the expression of certain genes involved in the detoxification of TCDD and the biosynthesis of testosterone. This was accompanied with testicular pathological symptoms, including a sloughing in the germinal epithelium and a congestion of blood vessels in interstitial tissue with the presence of multinuclear cells into seminiferous tubule, with a 4-fold decline in the level of serum testosterone and reduced sperm count. Otherwise, the male reproductive toxicity across F1, F2 and F3 generations from TCDD-IDEmG was mainly characterized by: i) a reduce in body and testis weight. ii) a decrease in gene expression of steriodogenesis enzyme, e.g., AhR, CYP1A1, CYP11A1, COX1, COX2, LOX5 and LOX12. iii) a remarked and similar testicular histopathology that found for DEmG, iv) a serious decline in serum testosterone. v) a decreased male-to-female ratio. vi) a low sperm count with increasing abnormalities. Thus, pubertal or maternal exposure to TCDD provokes multigenerational male reproductive toxicity in mice, ultimately affecting the spermatogenesis and suggesting that the hormonal alternation and sperm abnormality are the most marked effects of the indirect exposure of mammalian male to TCDD

Investigation of Cytotoxicity of Biosynthesized Colloidal Nanosilver against Local Leishmania tropica: In Vitro Study

Leishmaniasis is one of the biggest health problems in the world. Traditional therapeutic methods still depend on a small range of products, mostly chemically. However, the treatment with these drugs is expensive and can cause serious adverse effects, and they have inconsistent effectiveness due to the resistance of parasites to these drugs. The treatment of leishmanial disease has always been a challenge for researchers. The development of nanoscale metals such as silver has attracted significant attention in the field of medicine. The unique characteristic features of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) make them effective antileishmanial agents. In recent years, green nanotechnology has provided the development of green nanoparticle-based treatment methods for Leishmaniasis. Although there are many studies based on green nanoparticles against Leishmania parasites, this is the first study on the antileishmanial effect of biosynthesized AgNPs using an aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves (AEECL) as a reducing agent of silver ions. Different parameters such as AgNO3 concentration, AEECL concentration, and reaction time were studied to investigate the optimum factors for the preparation of stable and small-sized silver nanoparticles. The spherical shape of colloidal nanosilver (CN-Ag) was confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images with sizes of 27 and 12 nm, respectively. A high density of nanoparticles with a small size of 10 nm has been confirmed from dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The zeta potential value of 23 mV indicated that colloidal silver nanoparticles were stable. The nano-tracker analysis (NTA) showed the Brownian motion of silver nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 31 nm. The antioxidant property of CN-Ag was determined using the stable radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In this study, a significant cytotoxic effect of biosynthesized CN-Ag has been shown against Leishmania tropica parasites at low concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 µg/mL). These results could be used as a future alternative drug or could be a supportive treatment for Leishmaniasis