Cancer is a noncommunicable disease of rising worldwide concern. Marine food products such as Octopus vulgaris ink (OI) could be sources of compounds addressing these concerns. This study aimed to ...evaluate the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antioxidant capacity of OI extracts on human cancer cell lines (22Rv1, HeLa, A549). The ARPE‐19 cell line was used as a reference human cell line to evaluate the ink's cytotoxicity. The water extract exhibited the highest antimutagenic and cytoprotective effect, but the dichloromethane extract (DM) showed the lowest half lethal concentration against 22Rv1 cells. Structural elucidation of purified DM fractions (F1, F2, F3) identified an unreported compound, N‐(2‐ozoazepan‐3‐yl)‐pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxamide (OPC). DM‐F2 showed high antiproliferative effect (LC50 = 27.6 µg/mL), reactive species modulation, early‐apoptosis induction (42.9%), and nuclei disruption in 22Rv1 cells. In silico analysis predicted high OPC affinity with Cyclin D1 (−6.70 kcal/mol), suggesting its potential impact on cell cycle arrest. These results highlight the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, and antiproliferative potential health benefits derived from underutilized marine food products such as OI. Further investigations at in vitro or in vivo levels are required to elucidate mechanisms and health benefits from OI.
Practical Application
O. vulgaris ink is an underutilized marine natural product that could be a source of biological compounds with potential health benefits such as antioxidant activity and cancer prevention.
Acute monocytic leukemia is a type of myeloid leukemia that develops in monocytes. The current clinical therapies for leukemia are unsatisfactory due to their side effects and nonspecificity toward ...target cells. Some lectins display antitumor activity and may specifically recognize cancer cells by binding to carbohydrate structures on their surface. Therefore, this study evaluated the response of the human monocytic leukemia cell lines THP‐1 to the Olneya tesota PF2 lectin. The induction of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production in PF2‐treated cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, and the lectin‐THP‐1 cell interaction and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated by confocal fluorescence microscopy. PF2 genotoxicity was evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis via gel electrophoresis. The results showed that PF2 binds to THP‐1 cells, triggers apoptosis and DNA degradation, changes the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increases reactive oxygen species levels in PF2‐treated THP‐1 cells. These results suggest the potential use of PF2 for developing alternative anticancer treatments with enhanced specificity.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic ailment marked by a global high prevalence and significant attention in primary healthcare settings due to its elevated morbidity and mortality rates. The ...pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of this disease remain subjects of ongoing investigation. Recent evidence underscores the pivotal role of the intricate intercellular communication network, wherein cell-derived vesicles, commonly referred to as extracellular vesicles (EVs), emerge as dynamic regulators of diabetes-related complications. Given that the protein cargo carried by EVs is contingent upon the metabolic conditions of the originating cells, particular proteins may serve as informative indicators for the risk of activating or inhibiting signaling pathways crucial to the progression of T2D complications.
In this study, we conducted a systematic review to analyze the published evidence on the proteome of EVs from the plasma or serum of patients with T2D, both with and without complications (PROSPERO: CRD42023431464).
Nine eligible articles were systematically identified from the databases, and the proteins featured in these articles underwent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. We identified changes in the level of 426 proteins, with CST6, CD55, HBA1, S100A8, and S100A9 reported to have high levels, while FGL1 exhibited low levels.
These proteins are implicated in pathophysiological mechanisms such as inflammation, complement, and platelet activation, suggesting their potential as risk markers for T2D development and progression. Further studies are required to explore this topic in greater detail.
This pilot study aimed to determine if increased serum ferritin (SF) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with prediabetes.
Eighteen patients with prediabetes and 36 subjects ...without prediabetes (control), non-white Hispanic, non-indigenous origin, Mexican mestizo descent were included. Participants had no inflammation, or vascular complications. SF and metabolic markers were evaluated in both groups.
SF and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were increased in prediabetes subjects. Moreover, in prediabetes and control groups as a whole, natural logarithm (ln)-SF correlated with oxLDL and ln-oxLDL/LDL after adjustment for sex, ln-age, ln-fasting plasma glucose (FPG), ln-body mass index, ln-triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoproteins. Finally, ln-SF was an independent contributor to ln-oxLDL/LDL ratio in control and prediabetes subjects (β = 0.2915) after the introduction of potential confounders such as FPG, TC, TG, and hypertension.
The results of this study indicate that hyperferritinemia is associated with oxLDL, considered one of the main cardiovascular risk factors, which allows us to suggest that an increase in SF could contribute to the progression of prediabetes, prior to the appearance of diabetes. Further research is required to establish a causal relationship of iron disruption metabolism in oxLDL generation under prediabetes conditions.
Serum ferritin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, prediabetes, impaired fasting glucose, atherosclerosis
Although the research about educational video games is abundant, the examples are scarce if the attention is focused on those studies that assess the effects of educational video games in the ...teaching-learning process. It is also difficult to find studies that deals with the opinion of the own students/gamers about the influence of a video game in their learning. But students are the key in the teaching and learning process and without them, we lost a key aspect in the assessment of such recource, their own perception. This paper presents the results of an evaluative research about a VR game. This game is based on a historical topic and setting, and it is played with Oculus Rift. To assess the perception of the students about this specific game it was designed ad hoc an instrument with 28 items about its content and pedagogical value. The answers of the 34 Secondary Students (average age 15.4 years) that participate in this study were analysed with a mixed methodology. The results show a positive reception and perception of the students about the use of VR games in the classroom, not only because of the historical contents of the plot and setting but also because of the motivation they provide.
A pesar de que la investigación sobre videojuegos educativos ya es numerosa, la realidad es que son escasos los trabajos que evalúan la repercusión que dichos recursos poseen en el ámbito educativo. También son reducidas las veces en las que los propios estudiantes/jugadores son los que valoran y opinan al respecto, perdiendo un aspecto clave del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje como es su propia percepción del mismo. Este artículo recoge los resultados de una investigación de tipo evaluativo sobre un videojuego de realidad virtual de temática histórica a la que se juega con gafas Oculus Rift. Se analizan mediante metodología mixta las respuestas a los instrumentos de 34 participantes, todos ellos estudiantes de 4º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (edad media de 15.4 años). Para ello se diseñó un instrumento ad hoc de 28 ítems, con el que se analizaron sus opiniones y valoraciones acerca del contenido histórico que dicho videojuego posee y el valor pedagógico que ellos le atribuyen. Los resultados indican una recepción general positiva por parte de los participantes hacia los contenidos del videojuego así como su valor como elemento de motivación. La receptividad en relación a que se trate de realidad virtual también es elevada, destacando el hecho de que el aprendizaje se realice en primera persona y que exista un propósito y una funcionalidad clara.
Both increased serum ferritin levels and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation
show independent association with the inflammatory processes. During
inflammation, cell activation and apoptosis are ...accompanied by the release of
membrane-derived microparticles (MPs), which are considered to be mediators
of intercellular communication as they induce specific responses in target
cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether glycated and
glycoxidated ferritin induce in vitro release TLR microparticles from CD14+
peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were
stimulated with glycated, glycoxidated and native ferritin. The release of
microparticles from CD14+ cells, the presence of TLR2+ and TLR4+ on the
microparticles surface and the presence of interleukins-6 and -8 (IL-6 and
IL-8) inside the microparticles after stimulation were determined by flow
cytometry. The role of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) was evaluated by
pretreatment of the cells with the Bay 11-7085 inhibitor. Glycated and
glycoxidated ferritin induced the release of microparticles from CD14+ cells,
the majority of which expressed TLR2+ and TLR4+ on their surface and
contained IL-6 and IL-8. These effects were dependent on NF-?B activation.
Our findings show that glycated and glycoxidated ferritin might be involved
in the release of microparticles and stimulation of inflammatory responses.
nema
In this work we use Mimosa tenuiflora (MtE) extracts as reducing agents to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgMt NPs) which were characterized by DPPH and Total Polyphenols Assays, UV-visible, X-ray ...diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AgMt NPs possess average sizes of 21 nm and fcc crystalline structure, it was also confirmed that the MtE is present in the AgMt NPs even after the cleaning protocol applied. Subsequently, carbopol hydrogels were made and the MtE and the synthesized AgMt NPs were dispersed in different gels (MtE-G and AgMt NPs-G, respectively) at 100 µg/g concentration. The gels were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, and rheology. Antimicrobial tests were performed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Burn wound healing was evaluated in a second-degree burn injury on a Wistar rats model for 14 days and additional skin biopsies were examined with histopathological analysis. Gel with commercial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared and employed as a control on the biological assays. Hydrogel system containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (AgMt NPs-G) is a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound healing, this due to bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, which promotes a more effective recovery (in percentage terms) by damaged area.
This research aimed to chemically synthesize and evaluate the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory potential of ozopromide (OPC), a novel compound recently isolated from O. vulgaris ink. After ...chemical synthesis, OPC structural characterization was confirmed by COSY2D, FTIR, and C-/H-NMR. OPC inhibited the growth of human breast (MDA-MB-231), prostate (22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), and lung (A549) cancerous cells, being the highest effect on the latter (IC50: 53.70 μM). As confirmed by flow cytometry, OPC induced typical apoptosis-derived morphological features on A549 cells, mostly at early and late apoptosis stages. OPC generated a dose-dependent effect inhibiting IL-6 and IL-8 on LPS-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A major affinity of OPC to Akt-1 and Bcl-2 proteins in silico agreed with the observed pro-apoptotic mechanisms. Results suggested that OPC has the potential to alleviate inflammation and be further studied for anticancer activity. Marine-derived food products such as ink contains bioactive metabolites exhibiting potential health benefits.
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•Ozopromide (OPC) was synthesized and structurally characterized.•OPC showed cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231, HeLa, A549, and HCT-116 cells.•Pro-apoptotic effects on A549 by OPC were confirmed by flow cytometry analysis.•OPC (200 μM) decreased IL-6 and IL-8 on LPS-stimulated PBMCs cells.•OPC reduced ROS production on LPS-challenged PBMCs cells.
A green method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles is proposed using hydroethanolic extract of Vitex mollis fruit (Vm extract) as a reducer and stabilizer. The formation of gold nanoparticles ...synthesized with Vm extract (AuVmNPs) was monitored by measuring the ultraviolet–visible spectra. The morphology and crystalline phase were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Synthesized nanoparticles were generally spherical, and the size distribution obtained by transmission electron microscopy shows two populations with mean sizes of 12.5 and 22.5 nm. Cell viability assay using MTT and cellular apoptosis studies using annexin V on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF10A) indicate that AuVmNPs have low toxicity. Cell migration tests indicate that AuVmNPs significantly inhibit HUVEC cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The evaluation of the localization of AuVmNPs in HUVECs using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicates that nanoparticles penetrate cells and are found in the cytosol without preferential distribution and without entering the nucleus. The inhibitory effect on cellular migration and low toxicity suggest AuVmNPs as appropriate candidates in future studies of antiangiogenic activity.
Chromatin in the eukaryotic nucleus is highly organized in the form of nucleosomes where histones wrap DNA. This structure may be altered by some chemical modifications of histones, one of them, ...acetylation by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that originates relaxation of the nucleosome structure, providing access to different transcription factors and other effectors. In this way, HATs regulate cellular processes including DNA replication, and gene transcription. Previously, we isolated Ustilago maydis mutants deficient in the GCN5 HAT that are avirulent, and grow constitutively as mycelium. In this work, we proceeded to identify the genes differentially regulated by GCN5, comparing the transcriptomes of the mutant and the wild type using microarrays, to analyse the epigenetic control of virulence and morphogenesis. We identified 1203 genes, 574 positively and 629 negatively regulated in the wild type. We found that genes belonging to different categories involved in pathogenesis were downregulated in the mutant, and that genes involved in mycelial growth were negatively regulated in the wild type, offering a working hypothesis on the epigenetic control of virulence and morphogenesis of U. maydis. Interestingly, several differentially regulated genes appeared in clusters, suggesting a common regulation. Some of these belonged to pathogenesis or secondary metabolism.
Ustilago maydis virulence and yeast growth are epigenetically regulated by the histone acetyltransferase (Hat) Gcn5.
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