Activity In SaOS-2 Cells Research Articles

Evaluation of Antioxidant Effects of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Extract on Aging- and Menopause-Related Diseases Using Saos-2 Cells and Ovariectomized Rats.

Aging and menopause are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we evaluated the antioxidant properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed extract and assessed its ameliorative effects on aging- and menopause-related diseases using Saos-2 cells and ovariectomized rats. The seed extract had bioactive components that exhibited antioxidant activity. The extract increased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of Saos-2 cells. The oral administration of the extract to ovariectomized rats for 12 weeks decreased their body weight, fat weight, and cardiac risk indices. It also contributed to reductions in the levels of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as assessed by measuring the serum levels of malondialdehyde and analyzing gene expression in rats. Furthermore, the administration of the extract also promoted an enhancement of the transcription of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1), and catalase (Cat), involved in antioxidant activity; endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNos), involved in vasculoprotective activity; and PR/SET domain 16 (Prdm16) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (Pgc1α), involved in brown adipogenesis and thermogenesis. Our results using ovariectomized rats show that pumpkin seed extract may have ameliorative effects on menopause-related diseases by increasing ALP activity, evaluating the antioxidant system, ameliorating oxidative stress and thermogenesis, and enhancing lipid profiles.

Genistein Induces Antiproliferative Activity and Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma Saos-2 Cells.

Genistein (4', 5, 7-trihydroxyisoflavone) and daidzein (4', 7-dihydroxyisoflavone) are isoflavones derived from soybean and have anti-cancer effects in various cells. However, the effects of genistein and daidzein on the human osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2 has not been investigated before. Human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells were treated with genistein for 24 and 48 hours. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were measured. Genistein significantly inhibited proliferation of Saos-2 cells stronger than daidzein in a dose-dependent manner (0 to 80 μM). Genistein also significantly suppressed Saos-2 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (0 to 100 μM). In contrast, daidzein did not affect Saos-2 cell viability. Real-time PCR revealed that genistein caused G1-arrest by increasing the expression of p21 and p27 mRNAs in Saos-2 cells. In addition, genistein induced apoptosis through the up-regulation of effector caspase-3/7 activity in Saos-2 cells. Genistein also enhanced initiator caspase-9 and TNF-α mRNA expression in cells. Genistein may inhibit proliferation through the up-regulation of p21 and p27 and viability by inducing apoptosis in Saos-2 cells.

Production and bioactivities of nanoparticulated and ultrasonic-degraded levan generated by Erwinia tasmaniensis levansucrase in human osteosarcoma cells

Levan is a bioactive polysaccharide that can be synthesized by various microorganisms. In this study, the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of levan synthesized by recombinant levansucrase from Erwinia tasmaniensis were investigated. The synthesis conditions, including the enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and temperature, were optimized. The obtained levan generally appeared as a cloudy suspension. However, it could transform into a hydrogel at concentrations exceeding 10 % (w/v). Then, ultrasonication was utilized to reduce the molecular weight and increase the bioavailability of levan. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) indicated that the size of levan was significantly decreased by ultrasonication, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray powder diffraction revealed that the chemical structure of levan was not changed. Finally, the bioactivities of both levan forms were examined using human osteosarcoma (Saos-2) cells. The result clearly illustrated that sonicated levan had higher antiproliferative activity in Saos-2 cells than original levan. Sonicated levan also activated Toll-like receptor expression at the mRNA level. These findings suggested the important beneficial applications of sonicated levan for the development of cancer therapies.

The effect of 4-hexylresorinol administration on NAD+ level and SIRT activity in Saos-2 cells

Background4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) has been shown to have anti-oxidant activity similar to that of resveratrol. As resveratrol increases sirtuin (SIRT) activity, 4HR might behave similarly to resveratrol.MethodIn this study, the expression levels of SIRT1, SIRT3, and SIRT6 were evaluated after 4HR administration (1–100 μM). As NAD+ is a substrate for SIRTs, its levels with SIRT activity were also studied.ResultsIn the results, SIRT3 (100 μM at 24 h) and SIRT6 (1–100 μM at 24 h and 10 μM at 8 h) were shown to have significantly higher expression levels compared to untreated control (p < 0.05). Pan-SIRT activity and the NAD+ level was significantly increased compared to that of the untreated control (p < 0.05; 10 and 100 μM at 24 h).Conclusion4HR administration increased SIRT activity and the NAD+ level in Saos-2 cells.

Effects of 4-Hexylresorcinol on Craniofacial Growth in Rats.

4-Hexylresorcinol (4HR) has been used as a food additive, however, it has been recently demonstrated as a Class I histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi). Unlike other HDACi, 4HR can be taken through foods. Unfortunately, some HDACi have an influence on craniofacial growth, therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4HR on craniofacial growth. Saos-2 cells (osteoblast-like cells) were used for the evaluation of HDACi and its associated activities after 4HR administration. For the evaluation of craniofacial growth, 12.8 mg/kg of 4HR was administered weekly to 4 week old rats (male: 10, female: 10) for 12 weeks. Ten rats were used for untreated control (males: 5, females: 5). Body weight was recorded every week. Serum and head samples were collected at 12 weeks after initial administration. Craniofacial growth was evaluated by micro-computerized tomography. Serum was used for ELISA (testosterone and estrogen) and immunoprecipitation high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). The administration of 4HR (1–100 μM) showed significant HDACi activity (p < 0.05). Body weight was significantly different in male rats (p < 0.05), and mandibular size was significantly smaller in 4HR-treated male rats with reduced testosterone levels. However, the mandibular size was significantly higher in 4HR treated female rats with increased growth hormone levels. In conclusion, 4HR had HDACi activity in Saos-2 cells. The administration of 4HR on growing rats showed different responses in body weight and mandibular size between sexes.

Cicer arietinum L. Sprouts' Influence on Mineralization of Saos-2 and Migration of MCF-7 Cells.

In the present study, we investigated the biological activity of four extracts obtained from Cicer arietinum L. sprouts. The fermentation of the sprouts with Lactobacillus casei and their incubation with β-glucosidase elevated the concentrations of isoflavonoids, especially coumestrol, formononetin and biochanin A. To study the biological activity of C. arietinum, the human osteosarcoma Saos-2 and human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines were used. The extracts obtained from fermented sprouts exhibited the strongest ability to decrease intracellular oxidative stress in both types of cells. They augmented mineralization and alkaline phosphatase activity in Saos-2 cells, as well as diminished the secretion of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α. Simultaneously, the extracts, at the same doses, inhibited the migration of MCF-7 cells. On the other hand, elevated concentrations of C. arietinum induced apoptosis in estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells, while lower doses stimulated cell proliferation. These results are important for carefully considering the use of fermented C. arietinum sprouts as a dietary supplement component for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Optimal red clover ethanolic extract by relative aggregated metric increases osteoblastic activity and nuclear factor kappa-B ligand gene expression in SaOS-2 cells

Age-related osteoporosis affects people of both genders at any age especially postmenopausal women. The manifestation of reduced bone strength leads to increased risk of bone fracture. Currently, many have sought for plant-based supplements for the management of bone health. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) contains phytoestrogenic isoflavones which are known to limit osteoclastic activity and reduce bone resorption. Our study aimed to optimize the condition for the preparation of red clover ethanolic extract to obtain highest yield while retaining the desired bioactivity. In this study, relative aggregated metric (RAM) was designed to ease the selection process of extraction formulation based on yield and SaOS-2 cell viability. The selected ethanolic red clover extract obtained from the optimum condition (RC-D) exerted high cell viability in SaOS-2 cells which is comparable to that of 17β-estradiol. RC-D also showed promising dose-dependent alkaline phosphatase activity in SaOS-2 cells. Besides, the RANKL, OPG, ALP and Col-A gene expression analysis revealed that RC-D potentially halts the osteoclastic activity via downregulation of RANKL mRNA expression. In short, RC-D prepared and selected via RAM developed in this study has shown promising anti-osteoporotic characteristics in SaOS-2 cells and might be considered as a functional food for bone quality management.

Kaempferol stimulates WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway to induce differentiation of osteoblasts

Flavonoids, a group of natural compounds found in a variety of vegetables and herbal medicines, have been intensively reported on stimulating bone mineral density and bone formation. Among them, kaempferol has been reported to assist bone formation in vitro and in vivo, but its precise mechanism of action for stimulating bone forming abilities of osteoblasts remained elusive. In SaOS-2 osteoblasts, treatment of kaempferol increased early and late osteogenic parameters significantly, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis, and mRNA expression levels of Runx2, osterix, osteopontin and bone sialoprotein. Interestingly, kaempferol promoted osteoblastic differentiation via the activation of the WNT signaling pathway. The stimulation of SaOS-2 cells by kaempferol resulted in an increased activity of WNT signaling responsive reporter construct, Axin-2, and, subsequently, stabilization of WNT signaling mediated transcription factor β-catenin, probably leading to the activation of WNT-targeted genes for osteogenesis. In corroboration, the kaempferol-induced ALP activity was fully abolished by FH 535, an inhibitor of WNT signaling pathway. Kaempferol mediated activation of WNT signaling pathway through estrogen signaling pathway, as the application of ICI 182,780 (an inhibitor for estrogen receptors) markedly inhibited kaempferol-induced WNT signaling activation and osteogenic marker like ALP activity in SaOS-2 cells. Immunohistochemical studies in drill-hole defect model showed increased expression of Runx2 and β-catenin staining after kaempferol treatment. Thus, it may be concluded that kaempferol stimulates estrogen signaling followed by WNT signaling pathway activation to achieve its potential for bone-sparing effects.

MicroRNA-134 inhibits osteosarcoma angiogenesis and proliferation by targeting the VEGFA/VEGFR1 pathway.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) signaling is crucial for angiogenesis and progression of osteosarcoma (OS). However, the regulation of the VEGF/VEGFR1 expression is still unclear in OS. Here, we show lower levels of miRNA-134 (miR-134) in OS tissues and cells. Induction of miR-134 overexpression significantly reduced the proliferation of Saos-2 cells and their secretion of pro-angiogenic factors, but increased the frequency of apoptotic Saos-2 cells. Treatment with conditioned medium from the cells transfected with miR-134 reduced the tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which was abrogated by a combination of VEGF and conditioned medium. Furthermore, miR-134 significantly inhibited the growth of implanted OS tumors invivo and attenuated the VEGFA and VEGFR1 expression and angiogenesis in the tumors. In addition, higher levels of VEGFA and VEGFR1 were detected and miR-134 inhibited the expression of VEGFA and VEGFR1 in Saos-2 cells and OS tumors. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the 3'-UTR of VEGFA and VEGFR1 contained the motif for miR-134 binding. Co-transfection with the luciferase reporter containing the wild-type, but not the mutant, of the 3'-UTR of VEGFA or VEGFR1 together with miR-134 decreased the luciferase activity in Saos-2 cells. Finally, miR-134 dramatically inhibited AKT activation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in Saos-2 cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that miR-134 is a potential tumor suppressor by targeting VEGFA/VEGFR1 signaling to attenuate the progression and angiogenesis in OS. Therefore, miR-134 may be a novel biomarker for the prognosis of OS and a target for the design of new therapies for OS.

The immunomodulatory effects of Zn-incorporated micro/nanostructured coating in inducing osteogenesis

Micro/nanostructured TiO2/ZnO coating has been shown to possess multiple functions, including antibacterial activity and bioactivity. Osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells were employed for evaluating the in vitro osteogenic capacity of this coating and positive results were obtained. However, traditional principles of osseointegration focus only on the osteogenic differentiation alone. The effects of immunomodulation on the osteogenic activity have been largely ignored. In this study, the inflammatory responses of macrophages on the micro/nanostructured TiO2/ZnO coating were investigated. The extract media of macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cultured on the TiO2/ZnO coating were collected as indirect co-culture conditioned media. The osteogenic activity of SaOS-2 cells in the conditioned media was investigated. Adhesion, ALP activity and extracellular mineralization of cells grown in the conditioned media extracted from the micro/nanostructured TiO2/ZnO coating were found to be enhanced, compared to those grown in the conditioned media extracted from the macroporous TiO2 coating. The immune microenvironment produced by the micro/nanostructured TiO2/ZnO coating showed excellent capacity to promote osteogenesis, indicating that this coating could be a promising candidate for implant surface modification in orthopaedic and dental applications. Furthermore, this work could help us understand the interplay between the host immune system and the osteoimmunomodulatory properties of the biomaterials, and optimize the design for coating biomaterials.

ZnO nanostructures enhance the osteogenic capacity of SaOS-2 cells on acid-etched pure Ti

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has attracted a great deal of interest due to its electronic and optical properties, and has potential applications in biomedical field, while few studies have been conducted to investigate its biocompatibility. In this study, we prepared nanostructured ZnO on acid-etched pure Ti surface through a moderate hydrothermal treatment in ammonia solution (pH = 12.6). By changing Zn precursor concentration and hydrothermal duration, it was feasible to synthesis flake-like ZnO nanostructures with variable spacings. The adhesion, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of SaOS-2 cells were enhanced on the ZnO nanostructures when the Zn precursor concentration was 0.02 M and the hydrothermal duration was 4 h, compared to those on the acid-etched pure Ti without ZnO nanostructures. Narrower spacings (<70 nm) between ZnO nanostructures are considered to contribute to this enhancement. Together, the results indicate that the superposition of ZnO nanostructures on titanium surfaces may be beneficial for the enhanced biological performance.

Biocompatibility and mineralized nodule formation of Neo MTA Plus and an experimental tricalcium silicate cement containing tantalum oxide.

To evaluate the biocompatibility and mineralized nodule formation of an experimental tricalcium silicate cement with tantalum oxide (TSC/Ta2 O5 ) as radiopacifier, Neo MTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc., Bradenton, FL, USA) and MTA (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) on human osteoblast-like cells (Saos-2). Biocompatibility was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red (NR) assays, after exposure of Saos-2 to cement extracts at 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 dilutions for 24h. Bioactivity was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcium deposits were detected with alizarin red staining (ARS). Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance and Bonferroni or Tukey post-test (α=0.05). The MTT assay revealed lower cytotoxicity for NEO and MTA (P<0.05), and higher for TSC/Ta2 O5 at 1:1 and 1:2 dilutions when compared to serum-free medium - control (P>0.05). At 1:4 dilution, the TSC/Ta2 O5 cytotoxicity was similar to the control (P>0.05). At 1:8 dilution, cell viability was significantly greater than the control (P<0.05). Saos-2 cell viability performed using the NR assay at all dilutions revealed no cytotoxic effect of MTA, NEO and TSC/Ta2 O5 . ALP activity at 1 and 3days was similar to the control (P>0.05). TSC/Ta2 O5 had significantly greater ALP activity at 7days when compared with the control (P<0.05). All materials induced the production of mineralized nodules, and NEO produced significantly more mineralized nodules than MTA and TSC/Ta2 O5 (P<0.05). Neo MTA Plus and TSC/Ta2 O5 were biocompatible and induced ALP activity in Saos-2 cells. Both materials induced mineralized nodule formation by Saos-2 with Neo MTA Plus producing significantly more.

Transcriptional Regulation of Frizzled-1 in Human Osteoblasts by Sp1.

The wingless pathway has a powerful influence on bone metabolism and is a therapeutic target in skeletal disorders. Wingless signaling is mediated in part through the Frizzled (FZD) receptor family. FZD transcriptional regulation is poorly understood. Herein we tested the hypothesis that Sp1 plays an important role in the transcriptional regulation of FZD1 expression in osteoblasts and osteoblast mineralization. To test this hypothesis, we conducted FZD1 promoter assays in Saos2 cells with and without Sp1 overexpression. We found that Sp1 significantly up-regulates FZD1 promoter activity in Saos2 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) assays identified a novel and functional Sp1 binding site at -44 to -40 from the translation start site in the FZD1 promoter. The Sp1-dependent activation of the FZD1 promoter was abolished by mithramycin A (MMA), an antibiotic affecting both Sp1 binding and Sp1 protein levels in Saos2 cells. Similarly, down-regulation of Sp1 in hFOB cells resulted in less FZD1 expression and lower alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, over-expression of Sp1 increased FZD1 expression and Saos2 cell mineralization while MMA decreased Sp1 and FZD1 expression and Saos2 cell mineralization. Knockdown of FZD1 prior to Sp1 overexpression partially abolished Sp1 stimulation of osteoblast differentiation markers. Taken together, our results suggest that Sp1 plays a role in human osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, which is at least partially mediated by Sp1-dependent transactivation of FZD1.

Biphasic calcium phosphate–casein bone graft fortified with Cassia occidentalis for bone tissue engineering and regeneration

Research on traditional herbs is gaining momentum owing to their potent medical properties, among which Cassia occidentalis (CO) is a promising herb, with osteogenic potential. The study investigates the efficacy of CO extract incorporated biphasic calcium phosphate as an osteoinductive material. Prepared bone implants were characterized physico-chemically using FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM and EDX. The implants were analysed further for mechanical and biological properties. The results revealed that CO extract-incorporated bone implants possessed better compression strength and it was able to induce proliferation and enhance alkaline phosphatase activity in SaOS-2 cells. The implant proves to be promising for bone tissue engineering, and hence it demands further in vivo evaluation.

Effects of Brown Rice Extract Treated with Lactobacillus sakei Wikim001 on Osteoblast Differentiation and Osteoclast Formation.

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) or phytate is considered an anti-nutrient due to the formation of precipitated complexes that strongly reduces the absorption of essential dietary minerals. In this study, brown rice with reduced phytate was made by inoculation with Lactobacillus sakei Wikim001 having high phytase activity. The effects of brown rice extract treated with L. sakei Wikim001 (BR-WK) on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast formation were investigated. The proliferation of SaOS-2 cells was measured by the MTT assay. Treatment with BR-WK increased cell proliferation by 136% at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. The Alkaline phosphate activity in SaOS-2 cells was 129% higher when BR-WK was processed at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. The proliferation of bone marrow macrophages decreased by nearly 60% in response to treatment with BR-WK. In addition, BR-WK reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from bone marrow macrophages. These results indicate that BR-WK stimulates bone formation through its positive action on osteoblast differentiation and function and furthermore, decreases osteoclast differentiation.

Functional analysis of mutant FAM20C in Raine syndrome with FGF23-related hypophosphatemia

Raine syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by generalized osteosclerosis with periosteal bone formation and a distinctive facial phenotype. Either homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in family with sequence similarity 20, member C (FAM20C) have been reported to cause this syndrome. Recently, it was reported that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)-related hypophosphatemia was found in patients with non-lethal Raine syndrome, and Fam20c conditional knockout mice presented Fgf23-related hypophosphatemic rickets. To clarify the mechanism of how FAM20C regulates FGF23, we performed functional analysis of mutant FAM20C proteins reported in Raine syndrome. We analyzed 6 mutant FAM20C proteins (T268M, P328S, R408W, D451N, D478A, and R549W) for their distributions, kinase activities, and effects on dentin matrix protein (DMP1) promoter activity. We also analyzed the effect of Fam20c knockdown on Dmp1 and Fgf23 mRNA levels in UMR-106 cells. As a result, all the mutant FAM20C proteins showed decreased kinase activities compared to wild-type (WT) FAM20C, and most of them also showed impaired secretion. Overexpression of WT FAM20C increased DMP1 promoter activity in Saos-2 cells while mutant FAM20C did not. Fam20c knockdown decreased Dmp1 mRNA and increased Fgf23 mRNA in UMR-106 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that FAM20C suppresses FGF23 production by enhancing DMP1 expression, and inactivating mutations in FAM20C cause FGF23-related hypophosphatemia by decreasing transcription of DMP1.

Estrogens and Hyperglycemic Modulation of mRNAs Expressions Involved in Bone Metabolism: An Overshadowed Association?

Human bone cell line (SaOS2) express different mRNAs involved in bone biology and physiology such as estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), vitamin D receptor (VDR), 1α, 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 hydroxylase (1OHase) as well as 12 and 15 lipoxygenases (12LO and 15LO). These mRNAs are modulated by estrogenic compounds. Since the skeletal protective effects of estrogens are not discernible in diabetic women, we tested whether the expression of the parameters measured here and their modulations by estrogens, in SaOS2 cells grown in growth medium containing high glucose (HG; 9.0 g/L; 44 mM) compared to normal glucose (NG; 4.5 g/L; 22 mM). High Glucose (HG) significantly increased DNA synthesis and creatine kinase (CK) specific activity in SaOS2 cells. Stimulations of DNA but not of CK by E2, by 4, 4′, 4′′-[4-propyl-(1H)-pyrazol-1, 3, 5- triyl] tris-phenol (PPT, ERα specific agonist), or by 2, 3-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN, ERβ specific agonist), were abolished by HG. HG itself upregulated the expression of mRNA of 12LO and 15LO and upregulated to much less extent of ERβ and VDR, but had no effect on the expression of mRNA of ERα and 1OHase. The different hormonal treatments modulated the expressions of 12LO and 15LO mRNAs which was reduced in HG, whereas the induction of their products 12HETE and 15HETE was only slightly affected by HG. The exact mechanism of HG effects on bone cell responses is yet to be investigated and its relationship to human bone physiology is not yet clear.

Phyllanthus urinaria suppresses human osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration by transcriptionally inhibiting u-PA via ERK and Akt signaling pathways

Phyllanthus urinaria is widely used as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-hepatotoxic medicines in almost every tropical country. However, scientific evidence supporting its use in cancer metastasis is limited, particularly osteosarcoma. We investigated the effect of P. urinaria extract (PUE) on cell viability, invasion, and migration in the human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell line, and looked at the impact of PUE on several relevant proteases and signaling pathways. This study demonstrates that PUE, at a range of concentrations (from 0 to 100μg/ml), concentration-dependently inhibited the migration/invasion capacities of Saos-2 without cytotoxic effects. Zymographic and western blot analyses revealed that PUE inhibited the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) enzyme activity, as well as protein expression. Western blot analysis also showed that PUE inhibits phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt. Testing of mRNA level, quantitative real-time PCR, and promoter assays evaluated the inhibitory effects of PUE on u-PA expression in Saos-2 cells. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was reactive to the transcription protein SP-1, which was inhibited by PUE. In conclusion, PUE suppresses human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell invasion and migration by transcriptionally inhibiting u-PA via ERK and Akt signaling pathways. Therefore, PUE produces anti-metastatic activity in Saos-2 cells.

Restoration of miR‐34a in p53 deficient cells unexpectedly promotes the cell survival by increasing NFκB activity

Upregulation of miR-34a by p53 is recently believed to be a key mediator in the pro-apoptotic effects of this tumor suppressor. We sought to determine whether restoration of miR-34a levels in p53 deficient cells could rescue the response to DNA damage. Compared with the p53 wildtype U2OS cells, miR-34a expression was much lower in p53 deficient Saos2 cells upon cisplatin treatment. Unexpectedly, delivery of miR-34a in Saos2 cells does not increase the cell sensitivity to apoptosis. This effect was mediated by direct downregulation of SirT1 expression by miR-34a, which in turn increased the NFκB activity. Inhibition of NFκB activity in Saos2 cells by Aspirin sensitized the miR-34a overexpressing cells to cell death. Thus, in tumors with p53 deficiency, miR-34a restoration alone confers drug resistance through Sirt1-NFκB pathway and combination of miR-34a and NFκB inhibitor could be considered as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Electrospinning and Evaluation of PHBV-Based Tissue Engineering Scaffolds with Different Fibre Diameters, Surface Topography and Compositions

While electrospinning is an effective technology for producing poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) micrometre-scale fibrous scaffolds for tissue regeneration, electrospinning of PHBV fibrous scaffolds composed of sub-micrometre fibres, surface-porous fibres or nanocomposite fibres is rarely explored. In this study, the average PHBV fibre diameter was successfully reduced to the sub-micrometre scale by dissolving a conductivity-enhancing salt in the polymer solution for electrospinning. Surface-porous fibres were made using a mixture of solvents, and carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHA) nanoparticles were incorporated into the fibres with the aid of an ultrasonic power source. Water contact angle measurements demonstrated that both fibre diameter reduction and CHA incorporation enhanced the wettability of the fibrous scaffolds. Tensile properties of the scaffolds were not undermined by the reduction of fibre diameter and the presence of surface pores. In vitro biological evaluation using a human osteoblast-like cell line (SaOS-2) demonstrated that all types of fibrous scaffolds supported cell attachment, spreading and proliferation. Analysis of cell morphology revealed similar projected cell areas on all types of scaffolds. However, cells on sub-micrometre fibres possessed a lower cell aspect ratio than cells on microfibres. The reduction of fibre diameter to the sub-micrometre scale enhanced cell proliferation after 14 days cell culture, while the incorporation of CHA nanoparticles in microfibres significantly enhanced the alkaline phosphatase activity of SaOS-2 cells. The control of fibre diameter, surface topography and composition is important in developing electrospun PHBV-based scaffolds for specific tissue-engineering applications.