Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has poor survival and treatment options. PDAC cells shift their metabolism towards glycolysis, which fuels the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA), thereby ...preventing Ca
-dependent cell death. The ATP-generating pyruvate kinase-M2 (PKM2) is oncogenic and overexpressed in PDAC. This study investigated the PKM2-derived ATP supply to the PMCA as a potential therapeutic locus.
PDAC cell growth, migration and death were assessed by using sulforhodamine-B/tetrazolium-based assays, gap closure assay and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP1) cleavage, respectively. Cellular ATP and metabolism were assessed using luciferase/fluorescent-based assays and the Seahorse XFe96 analyzer, respectively. Cell surface biotinylation identified membrane-associated proteins. Fura-2 imaging was used to assess cytosolic Ca
overload and in situ Ca
clearance. PKM2 knockdown was achieved using siRNA.
The PKM2 inhibitor (shikonin) reduced PDAC cell proliferation, cell migration and induced cell death. This was due to inhibition of glycolysis, ATP depletion, inhibition of PMCA and cytotoxic Ca
overload. PKM2 associates with plasma membrane proteins providing a privileged ATP supply to the PMCA. PKM2 knockdown reduced PMCA activity and reduced the sensitivity of shikonin-induced cell death.
Cutting off the PKM2-derived ATP supply to the PMCA represents a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PDAC.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes inflammation and neuronal degeneration, resulting in functional movement loss. Since the availability of SCI treatments is still limited, stem cell therapy is an ...alternative clinical treatment for SCI and neurodegenerative disorders. Human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) are an excellent option for cell therapy. This study aimed to induce hWJ-MSCs into neural stem/progenitor cells in sphere formation (neurospheres) by using neurogenesis-enhancing small molecules (P7C3 and Isx9) and transplant to recover an SCI in a rat model. Inducted neurospheres were characterized by immunocytochemistry (ICC) and gene expression analysis. The best condition group was selected for transplantation. The results showed that the neurospheres induced by 10 µM Isx9 for 7 days produced neural stem/progenitor cell markers such as Nestin and β-tubulin 3 through the Wnt3A signaling pathway regulation markers (
and
gene expression). The neurospheres from the 7-day Isx9 group were selected to be transplanted into 9-day-old SCI rats. Eight weeks after transplantation, rats transplanted with the neurospheres could move normally, as shown by behavioral tests. MSCs and neurosphere cells were detected in the injured spinal cord tissue and produced neurotransmitter activity. Neurosphere-transplanted rats showed the lowest cavity size of the SCI tissue resulting from the injury recovery mechanism. In conclusion, hWJ-MSCs could differentiate into neurospheres using 10 µM Isx9 media through the Wnt3A signaling pathway. The locomotion and tissue recovery of the SCI rats with neurosphere transplantation were better than those without transplantation.
Corneal epithelium, the outmost layer of the cornea, comprises corneal epithelial cells (CECs) that are continuously renewed by limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs). Loss or dysfunction of LESCs ...causes limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) which results in corneal epithelial integrity loss and visual impairment. To regenerate the ocular surface, transplantation of stem cell-derived CECs is necessary. Human Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are a good candidate for cellular therapies in allogeneic transplantation. This study aimed to test the effects of treatments on three signaling pathways involved in CEC differentiation as well as examine the optimal protocol for inducing corneal epithelial differentiation of human WJ-MSCs. All-trans retinoic acid (RA, 5 or 10 µM) inhibited the Wnt signaling pathway via suppressing the translocation of β-catenin from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. SB505124 downregulated the TGF-β signaling pathway via reducing phosphorylation of Smad2. BMP4 did not increase phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 that is involved in BMP signaling. The combination of RA, SB505124, BMP4, and EGF for the first 3 days of differentiation followed by supplementing hormonal epidermal medium for an additional 6 days could generate corneal epithelial-like cells that expressed a CEC specific marker CK12. This study reveals that WJ-MSCs have the potential to transdifferentiate into CECs which would be beneficial for further applications in LSCD treatment therapy.
Display omitted
•Standardized A. paniculata extract contains high 14-deoxyandrographolide.•The LD50 of standardized A. paniculata extract is more than 5000 mg/kg body weight.•Standardized A. ...paniculata extract shows no acute adverse effects.
Andrographis paniculata is widely used in traditional herbal medicines for the treatment of common cold, fever and diarrhea, in many regions of Scandinavia and Asia, including Thailand. The pharmacological activities of A. paniculata are mainly attributed to active diterpenoids including 14-deoxyandrographolide, which is uniquely high in first true leaf ethanolic extract (FTLEE) of A. paniculata. In this study, the acute toxicity of the standardized FTLEE of A. paniculata was examined according to the OECD test guideline No. 420. Mice were divided into four groups of each sex and orally received the standardized FTLEE of A. paniculata (0, 300, 2000, or 5000 mg/kg BW). Post-treatment, body weight, signs of toxicity, and/or mortality were observed for 14 days. At Day 15, animals were euthanized, internal organs were observed grossly, and blood samples collected were subjected to hematology and clinical biochemistry analyses. The results showed that all treated animals survived and no apparent adverse effects were observed during the duration of the study. Gross necropsy observation revealed no lesion in any organ of all the standardized FTLEE-treated mice. Although significant alterations in BUN, lymphocytes, neutrophils, hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed, these alterations were not treatment-related toxic effects. Therefore, we concluded that a single oral administration of the standardized FTLEE of A. paniculata with an upper fixed dose of 5000 mg/kg BW has no significant acute toxicological effects.
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive cancer that occurs in the brain and spinal cord. In the present study, we investigated the effect of allicin, an organosulfur compound obtained from garlic (Allium ...sativum), on glioblastoma cell growth. When human glioblastoma DBTRG-05MG cells were incubated with different concentrations of allicin for 24 h, cell growth was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. The results from image-based cytometer assays suggested that allicin caused S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis. Autophagy detection studies showed that allicin also promoted this mechanism. Because cell migration is a key process during tumor formation, the effect of allicin on glioblastoma cell migration was also examined. After allicin treatment, the migration ability of cells decreased when compared with the control after 24 h. Taken together, the present results suggested that allicin inhibited human glioblastoma cell growth by inducing S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy. Our findings suggest that allicin suppressed glioblastoma cell growth through multiple target pathways. Therefore, allicin potentially serves as an alternative therapeutic candidate or could be synergistically used in combination with the standard drug for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
nema
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer in humans. This study aimed to demonstrate anticancer properties of an aqueous extract from Chrysophyllum cainito stem bark ...(CE) and its underlying mechanisms. Our MTT assay results showed that CE significantly reduced human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell viability with the IC.sub.50 of 100 microg/mL, while human dermal primary fibroblast (HDFa) cells showed less susceptibility in every concentration tested. Determined by Annexin V staining, the proportion of apoptotic HepG2 cells increased in a dose-dependent fashion after 24 hour-exposure of CE. The results from Western blot analysis confirmed that CE reduced procaspase-3, suggesting apoptosis by activating caspase-3 cleavage. Using the DCFH-DA and DiOC6 fluorescent probes, it was found that CE significantly stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (DELTApsi .sub.m ), respectively. According to cell cycle analysis, CE (100 microg/mL) profoundly increased the percentage of cells in the sub-G1 phase, indicating cell apoptosis. These data suggest that CE induces apoptosis and cell death in human hepatocellular carcinoma via generation of intracellular ROS and disruption of DELTApsim. This is the first demonstration of the anticancer activity with proposed underlying mechanism of CE in liver cancer cells.
Chrysophyllum cainito has been used as a traditional medicine to treat a wide range of diseases, but the toxicity profile of this plant remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the acute ...toxicity of the aqueous extract of C. cainito (CE) bark based on OECD guidelines in two different in vivo experimental models: acute single-dose oral toxicity in adult Wistar rats and the zebrafish embryo acute toxicity test. All concentrations of CE (500-4000 mg/kg) tested during a 14-day period in both male and female rats showed no effect on behavior, body weight, organ weights, biochemical and hematological parameters. In contrast, CE significantly delayed zebrafish embryo hatching and decreased embryo survival rates in a dose-dependent manner. Hatched larvae were notably sensitive to CE-induced toxicity compared to unhatched fish embryos. Acridine orange staining showed that CE induced apoptosis in the yolk sac region that is responsible for supplying nutrients to support larval growth and development. According to OECD guidelines, CE was identified as GHS category 5, a substance with low to no acute toxicity. However, as embryotoxicity was observed in zebrafish, CE use during pregnancy should be exercised with caution until further examination of its safety.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely resistant to standard treatments leading to poor patient survival. The expression of plasma membrane calcium ATPase-4 (PMCA4) is reported to ...modulate key cancer hallmarks including cell migration, growth, and apoptotic resistance. Data-mining revealed that PMCA4 was over-expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors which correlated with poor patient survival. Western blot and RT-qPCR revealed that MIA PaCa-2 cells almost exclusively express PMCA4 making these a suitable cellular model of PDAC with poor patient survival. Knockdown of PMCA4 in MIA PaCa-2 cells (using siRNA) reduced cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+i) clearance, cell migration, and sensitized cells to apoptosis, without affecting cell growth. Knocking down PMCA4 had minimal effects on numerous metabolic parameters (as assessed using the Seahorse XF analyzer). In summary, this study provides the first evidence that PMCA4 is over-expressed in PDAC and plays a role in cell migration and apoptotic resistance in MIA PaCa-2 cells. This suggests that PMCA4 may offer an attractive novel therapeutic target in PDAC.
Pomacea canaliculata is an invasive snail species causing major problems in agriculture. The snail biology was then investigated. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the ...nervous system of the snail. The nervous system comprises pairs of cerebral, buccal, pedal, pleural, parietal ganglia and an unpaired visceral ganglion. Most neurons were concentrated at the periphery of the ganglia. The neurons were classified into four types: NR1, NR2, NR3, and NR4. The percentages of the NR3 and NR4 in the pleural and pedal ganglia were significantly higher than those of other ganglia. Ultrastructural study revealed that nuclei of all neuronal types exhibited mostly euchromatins. Many organelles including ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum were found in their cytoplasm. However, various mitochondria were found in the NR2 and NR3. The immunohistochemistry revealed immunoreactivity of ghrelin-like peptide in the neurons of the cerebral, pleural and pedal ganglia. However, immunoreactivity of GHS-R1a-like peptide existed only in the neurons of the pleural and pedal ganglia. The present study is the first to demonstrate the existence of ghrelin-like peptide and its receptor in P. canaliculata nervous system.
•The NR cells were classified into four types: NR1, NR2, NR3, and NR4 cells.•Average sizes of the NR cells were not significantly different in all ganglia.•Percentages of the NR3 and NR4 in the pleural and pedal ganglia were significantly higher than those of other ganglia.•Immunoreactivity of ghrelin-like peptide was observed in the NR cells of the cerebral, pleural and pedal ganglia.•Immunoreactivity of GHS-R1a-like peptide existed in the NR cells of the pleural and pedal ganglia.
PDF
