Animal Cell Culture Research Articles

Evaluation of plant-based composite materials as 3D printed scaffolds for cell growth and proliferation in cultivated meat applications

This study aimed to evaluate plant-based 3D scaffolds for supporting the cultivation of animal cells for cultivated meat. The physical and chemical characteristics of pectin and composite gels (pectin + soy protein isolate [SPI] or pea protein isolate [PPI]) were analyzed. Rheological property analysis revealed that all materials exhibited viscoelastic solid behavior, shear thinning, and micro-structure recovery behavior, essential properties for 3D printing. Texture profile analysis (TPA) of composite gels demonstrated that some of the textural properties of these composite materials were in the range of mechanical properties of meat products including pork, poultry, and fish. The cytocompatibility and proliferative potential of these scaffold gels were evaluated using C2C12 (myoblast cells) as a model cell line, indicating their potential to support the growth of the animal cell without apparent toxicity. In examining 3D printability, incorporating protein into the pectin gel resulted in enhanced printability, characterized by reduced surface roughness and thinner thickness. Based on these analyses, a 3D printed scaffold was generated by using pectin, 30% SPI, and 10% PPI. Remarkably, the scaffolds with pectin and 10% PPI supported the growth of the cells, comparable to the cells grown on a tissue culture plate (positive control) demonstrating its potential to support animal cell growth. These findings highlight the promising potential of the formulated materials for applications within the cultivated meat industry.

Oxygen uptake rate analysis to evaluate the impact of hydrodynamic stress on the growth of the avian cell line DuckCelt®-T17

Scale-up of bioprocesses involving animal cell culture is hampered by the sensitivity of the cells to hydrodynamic stress, either from agitation or bubble bursting. Here, the hydrodynamic stress experienced by a recent cell line, the DuckCelt®-T17 avian cells, previously used for viral vaccine production, is investigated in shake flasks and in a 3 L bioreactor. Cell stress was assessed by monitoring the dissolved oxygen in the culture medium, which depends on Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR) and Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) during cultivation. Classical parameters such as the maximum growth rate (µmax) and metabolite profiles were also determined. A dynamic model able to predict nutrient consumption, metabolic waste production, viable cell number and OUR was also developed and validated from the data measured in shake flasks. The experiments performed in the stirred tank bioreactor (STBR) show that OUR depended on both the cell growth phase and the stirring conditions. The oxygen consumption of the cells during the exponential growth phase (where there were no nutrient and O2 limitations) was significantly altered at average and maximum shear rates above 70 and 840 s−1, respectively, indicating highly shear-sensitive cells. OUR is a suitable tool to identify the hydrodynamic conditions for robust cell growth. The scale-up criteria to be favored for the DuckCelt®-T17 cell culture in STBRs would be the shear and/or the tip’s speed.

Mechanisms underlying sex differences in autoimmunity.

Autoimmune diseases are a leading cause of disability worldwide. Most autoimmune diseases occur more often in women than men, with rheumatic autoimmune diseases being among those most highly expressed in women. Several key factors, identified mainly in animal models and cell culture experiments, are important in increasing autoimmune disease in females. These include sex hormones, immune genes including those found on the X chromosome, sex-specific epigenetic effects on genes by estrogen and the environment, and regulation of genes and messenger RNA by microRNAs found in extracellular vesicles. Evidence is also emerging that viruses as well as drugs or toxins that damage mitochondria may contribute to increased levels of autoantibodies against nuclear and mitochondrial antigens, which are common in many autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this Review is to summarize our current understanding of mechanisms that may determine sex differences in autoimmune disease.

Enhancement of intracellular extraction from Oscillatoria okine and the potential use of the extract as a supplement to fetal bovine serum in animal cell culture

A robust cell wall and well-organized thylakoid cyanobacteria can be candidates as a promising resource for C-phycocyanin (C-PC) and intracellular applications in various biotechnological areas. However, the development of extraction techniques with minimal chemical contamination to obtain the components remains an ongoing challenge. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of C-PC and intracellular extraction from Ocillatoria okeni TISTR8549 utilizing freezing-thaw (FT), pulsed electric field (PEF), and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) techniques. Additionally, the potential of O. okeni extract as a supplement and substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in HaCaT cell culture was investigated. FT appeared to be the most proper method for C-PC extraction, yielding the highest purity and yield, although requiring 18 cycles for product accomplishment. PEF seemed unsuitable for intracellular component extraction from cyanobacteria with thick cell walls. The need for increased pulses resulted in thermal elevation and prolonged incubation times led to protein degradation. HPH proves to be an effective method for intracellular extraction, yielding high protein content suitable for the potential substitution of FBS in mammalian cell culture. Particularly, increasing pressure during HPH extraction leads to a decrease in protein yield. Resazurin and SRB assays revealed that adding algal extract in culture medium at concentrations of 1 % (w/v) improved HaCaT cell viability without disrupting cell morphology and metabolic processes. However, substituting algal extract in FBS resulted in cell proliferation decrease. Therefore, supplementing O. okeni extract during cell culture improved HaCaT cell proliferation, but it was unsuitable substitute for FBS in the culture medium. However, the feasibility of employing algal extracts as FBS replacements in cell culture is interesting and warrants further detailed investigation into the specific intracellular components that could serve as substitutes for FBS. Such an approach could offer an alternative source, mitigating ethical concerns and reducing costs associated with FBS usage.

Discovering vaccines: the trial tale.

This paper reviews the importance of vaccine trials to public health. Vaccines are developed to build immunity to disease, which have helped to completely eliminate smallpox, and reduced incidence of polio and measles. A variety of breakthroughs made many years ago, such as the smallpox vaccine by Edward Jenner and the discoveries by Louis Pasteur, also set the stage for modern international immunization programs. A few events, such as the licensing of the polio vaccine and the passage of the Vaccination Assistance Act helped to improve the study of vaccines. In particular, vaccine trials may be RCTs, cluster trials, or cohort studies. The sample sizes will depend on the objectives, which would include the primary and secondary endpoints. The population under study and the geographical location also affect the trial design. Preclinical evaluation is usually the starting point of vaccine trials, where the safety and efficacy are researched on animal models or cell cultures. Animal models are selected based on their similarity to the target disease. Safety is checked in Phase I, efficacy in Phase II, and both in Phase III. Phase IV is a post-marketing surveillance of the vaccine's safety in real life. Regulatory bodies play a very vital role in ensuring that vaccines adhere to a very high standard of safety and efficacy, such as the FDA, as required. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent and the rights of participants, are innate and are implemented and enforced through laws, regulations, and ethical committees. Vaccine studies vary from the drug studies as it is focused on preventing illness in healthy patients as opposed to cure of diseases in drug trials. The dramatic development in vaccine research was driven by recent pandemics, with parallel processing and data collection in real time. Clinical trials of the vaccine are a foundation stone of public health in the reduction of sickness, offering immunity to diseases, and continuing the fight against infectious diseases. The present review is aimed at describing vaccine trials and their important aspects.

Macrophage-Induced Pro-Fibrotic Gene Expression in Tubular Cells after Ischemia/Reperfusion Is Paralleled but Not Directly Mediated by C5a/C5aR1 Signaling.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is inevitable during kidney transplantation and causes acute kidney injury (AKI), which affects immediate outcome and leads to chronic changes such as fibrotic remodeling of the graft. We investigated pro-fibrotic signaling after I/R, focusing on the complement component and receptor C5a/C5aR1 and macrophage/tubule crosstalk. Male Dark Agouti rats were subjected to I/R and their kidneys were harvested 10 min, 6 h, 24 h, 3 days, 5 days and 8 weeks after reperfusion. The development of renal fibrosis was assessed by the detection of Vimentin (VIM), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen by immunohistochemistry and Sirius Red staining, respectively. The characterization of C5a/C5aR1 activity and C5aR1+ cells was performed by multiplex mRNA analysis, ELISA, immunofluorescence flow cytometry and in situ hybridization in animal models and cell culture analyses. In the cell culture experiments, we focused on macrophage/tubule cell crosstalk in co-culture experiments and mimicked in vivo conditions by hypoxia/reoxygenation and supplementation with C5a. Already 6-24 h after the induction of I/R in the rat model, C5a concentration in the plasma was significantly increased compared to the control. The matrix components VIM and α-SMA peaked on day 5 and declined after 8 weeks, when an increase in collagen was detected using Sirius Red. In contrast to early I/R-induced C5a activation, renal C5ar1 expression was maximal at day 5 and C5 expression increased until week 8, indicating that the renal upregulation of expression is not required for early complement activation. C5aR1 mRNA was detected in neutrophils and macrophages, but not in proximal tubular cells in the injured kidneys. The macrophage/tubular cell co-culture experiments showed that macrophages were mainly responsible for the increased expression of fibrosis-associated genes in tubule cells (ACTA2, VIM, SNAI1, TGFB1 and FGF-2), and hypoxia/reoxygenation had a partially enhancing effect. A direct pro-fibrotic effect of C5a was not observed. Increased TGF-ß levels were dependent on the differentiation of macrophages to the M2 subtype. In conclusion, the early activation of mesenchymal markers in tubular epithelial cells leads to long-term fibrotic remodeling characterized by VIM expression and driven by TGF-ß-dependent macrophage/tubular crosstalk. The chemoattractive properties of complement C5a may contribute to the recruitment of pro-fibrotic macrophages.

Assessment of the potential nutritional value of cell-cultured chicken meat in light of European dietary recommendations

In 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture approved cell-cultured chicken meat (CCM) made with animal cell culture technology; similar applications may soon be submitted for assessment in Europe. This study employed data submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration to re-evaluate the nutritional and safety of CCM manufactured by one US-based company in the light of European Union recommendations. Compared to conventional chicken meat, serum-free CCM revealed lower content of protein, and the majority of indispensable amino acid contents, Mg, and vitamin B3, but higher levels of total fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamins B5, B6, and A, and minerals Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, P, Se, and Zn. Toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) did not exceed allowance thresholds, though serum-free CCM had higher levels of Cd and Pb than conventional chicken meat. Although this first assessment of CCM generally falls within the European Union requirements, it is crucial to optimize the reproducibility of the production process due to observed variabilities in nutrient levels between tested lots. This study represents a re-evaluation of CCM offered by a single product, yet it should not be extrapolated to the entire field of cultured meat.

Anisodamine hydrobromide ameliorates acute lung injury via inhibiting pyroptosis in murine sepsis model

Objective Sepsis can have severe implications on lung function, leading to acute lung injury (ALI), a major contributor to sepsis-related mortality. Anisodamine hydrobromide (Ani HBr), a bioactive constituent derived from the root of Scopolia tangutica Maxim, a plant endemic to China, has demonstrated efficacy in treating septic shock. We aim to explore whether Ani HBr can alleviate sepsis-triggered ALI and elucidate the fundamental mechanisms involved. Materials and method The protective effects of Ani HBr were assessed in two models: in vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and in vivo, cecal ligation puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. To measure the cell viability of RAW264.7 cells after Ani HBr treatment, we used the CCK-8 assay. We quantified the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression using ELISA. We also measured the expression of pyrotosis indicators by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Results Our study demonstrates that Ani HBr can alleviate pulmonary edema, bleeding, and excessive inflammation induced by CLP. Additionally, it exhibits protective effects against cytotoxicity induced by LPS in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Furthermore, Ani HBr downregulates the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-18, and IL-1β in both animal models and cell cultures, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis in a similar mechanism to AC-YVAD-CMK (AYC)’s blockade of Caspase-1. Moreover, Ani HBr suppresses the production and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion These findings suggest that Ani HBr could serve as a protective agent against sepsis-induced ALI by suppressing pyroptosis.

Examining the Therapeutic Potential of CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Spondyloarthritis: Efficacy of TNF Inhibitor Adalimumab

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases characterized by axial and peripheral joint involvement, enthesitis, and extra-articular manifestations. Despite advancements in understanding the genetic and immunological underpinnings of SpA, current therapeutic options, including biologic therapies such as the TNF inhibitor adalimumab, primarily focus on symptom management and often show variable efficacy among patients. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology presents a revolutionary opportunity to directly modify genetic contributors to SpA, potentially transforming the therapeutic landscape and enhancing the efficacy of adalimumab. This review investigates the feasibility and implications of utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 for targeted gene editing in SpA to improve patient response to adalimumab. We review the current knowledge on genetic mutations and polymorphisms associated with SpA pathogenesis, focusing on key genes involved in immune regulation and inflammatory pathways targeted by adalimumab. By leveraging CRISPR-Cas9, we aim to explore how precise genetic modifications can optimize the molecular targets of adalimumab, thereby enhancing its efficacy and reducing refractory cases. Preliminary studies in animal models and cell cultures demonstrate promising results, showcasing the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 to correct genetic abnormalities and synergize with adalimumab to restore normal cellular functions and reduce inflammation. However, translating these findings into clinical applications requires addressing significant challenges, including delivery methods, off-target effects, and long-term safety. Future research directions include optimizing CRISPR-Cas9 delivery systems, such as viral vectors and nanoparticle-based approaches, to enhance specificity and efficiency in conjunction with adalimumab. Additionally, comprehensive preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials are essential to evaluate the combined therapeutic potential and safety profile of CRISPR-Cas9 and adalimumab in human subjects with SpA. This pioneering approach not only holds the promise of groundbreaking treatments for SpA but also sets the stage for broader applications of gene editing in rheumatology. By targeting the genetic roots of rheumatic diseases and optimizing adalimumab interactions, CRISPR-Cas9 could offer a new era of precision medicine, offering more effective and durable therapeutic outcomes.

Plant-derived leaf vein scaffolds for the sustainable production of dog cell-cultured meat

Animal cell culture technology in the production of slaughter-free meat offers ethical advantages with regards to animal welfare, rendering it a more socially acceptable approach for dog meat production. In this study, edible plant-derived scaffold was used as a platform for cell expansion to construct cell-cultured dog meat slices. Primary dog skeletal muscle satellite cells (MSCs) and adipose stem cells (ASCs) were isolated and cultured as seed cells, and 3D spheroid culture in vitro promoted MSCs and ASCs myogenic and adipogenic differentiation, respectively. Natural leaf veins (NLV) were produced as edible mesh scaffolds to create 3D engineered dog muscle and fat tissues. After MSCs and ASCs adhered, proliferated and differentiated on the NLV scaffolds, and muscle and fat slices were produced with cultured dog muscle fibers and adipocytes, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of plant-derived NLV scaffolds in the production of cultured dog meat.

Production of biologically active human basic fibroblast growth factor (hFGFb) using Nicotiana tabacum transplastomic plants.

We generated transplastomic tobacco lines that stably express a human Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (hFGFb) in their chloroplasts stroma and purified a biologically active recombinant hFGFb. MAIN: The use of plants as biofactories presents as an attractive technology with the potential to efficiently produce high-value human recombinant proteins in a cost-effective manner. Plastid genome transformation stands out for its possibility to accumulate recombinant proteins at elevated levels. Of particular interest are recombinant growth factors, given their applications in animal cell culture and regenerative medicine. In this study, we produced recombinant human Fibroblast Growth Factor (rhFGFb), a crucial protein required for animal cell culture, in tobacco chloroplasts. We successfully generated two independent transplastomic lines that are homoplasmic and accumulate rhFGFb in their leaves. Furthermore, the produced rhFGFb demonstrated its biological activity by inducing proliferation in HEK293T cell lines. These results collectively underscore plastid genome transformation as a promising plant-based bioreactor for rhFGFb production.

Stakeholders’ justifications in innovation: the case of cell-based meat

Cell-based meat (CBM) is a novel technology that employs the cultivation of animal cells in bioreactors to produce edible meat, representing a breakthrough innovation in the meat production chain. However, innovations are embedded in uncertainty and ambiguity; thus, several stakeholders shape their development and legitimacy. Stakeholders attempt to set their priorities by employing and disseminating justifications when facing novelty situations. This study builds on stakeholder and justification theories to explore the justifications employed by stakeholders and their impacts on innovations such as CBM technology. To this end, interviews with representatives of five stakeholder groups were conducted - startups, NGOs, investors, researchers, and conventional animal-based meat processing firms - and triangulated with secondary data from websites and news. Public Justification Analysis was applied to analyze the data. The results indicate that the analyzed stakeholders converge toward CBM legitimacy and development by sharing similar purposes and values. On the other hand, disputes and justifications contrary to CBM legitimacy are mainly related to traditional values, which can raise obstacles to product development. Hence, by analyzing stakeholders’ justifications, we can understand their behaviors and demonstrate how they shape innovation and a nascent high-tech industry.

Meat Alternatives and Their Impact on Human Health: A Comprehensive Review

In the contemporary landscape, conventional meat faces increasing scrutiny due to recent allegations raised by various associations and scientific groups. While these criticisms are often linked to excessive meat consumption, a growing number of individuals are reducing or eliminating meat from their diets, questioning its role in a healthy diet. The consequent request for alternative protein sources has prompted the food industry to create so-called “meat alternatives” products. These emerging foods aim to replicate the sensory characteristics of conventional meat, eliminating the need to slaughter animals, and minimize environmental impact. Despite the misleading claims of various supporters, the long-term nutritional sustainability of these novel products remains unclear. To date, products resembling meat, which exploit different sources such as plants, algae, fungi, insects, and in vitro–cultured animal cells (cell-based food) require an unavoidable level of industrial processing, rendering the final products as ultra-processed foods (UPF). Given the well-established adverse effects associated with prolonged consumption of UPF, it raises questions about whether these products truly serve as a viable substitute for whole and unprocessed foods, like meat. With limited scientific knowledge and technological innovation to date, the long-term effects of meat alternatives on human health remain unclear. Addressing this crucial gap, together with guaranteeing transparency of research, should be a top priority for the food industry, guiding decisions on whether investment in these emerging food products is not only a cost-effective but also a health-conscious strategy.

Progress and application of lung-on-a-chip for lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour with the highest incidence and mortality worldwide. Clinically effective therapy strategies are underutilized owing to the lack of efficient models for evaluating drug response. One of the main reasons for failure of anticancer drug therapy is development of drug resistance. Anticancer drugs face severe challenges such as poor biodistribution, restricted solubility, inadequate absorption, and drug accumulation. In recent years, “organ-on-a-chip” platforms, which can directly regulate the microenvironment of biomechanics, biochemistry and pathophysiology, have been developed rapidly and have shown great potential in clinical drug research. Lung-on-a-chip (LOC) is a new 3D model of bionic lungs with physiological functions created by micromachining technology on microfluidic chips. This approach may be able to partially replace animal and 2D cell culture models. To overcome drug resistance, LOC realizes personalized prediction of drug response by simulating the lung-related microenvironment in vitro, significantly enhancing therapeutic effectiveness, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics while minimizing side effects. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in the preparation of LOC and contrast it with earlier in vitro models. Finally, we describe recent advances in LOC. The combination of this technology with nanomedicine will provide an accurate and reliable treatment for preclinical evaluation.

Sulforaphane and ophthalmic diseases.

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an organosulfur compound categorized as an isothiocyanate (ITC), primarily extracted from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. The molecular formula of sulforaphane (SFN) is C6H11NOS2. SFN is generated by the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin (GRP) through the enzyme myrosinase, showing notable properties including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-angiogenic, and anticancer attributes. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating its potential in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes-related complications, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and liver diseases. Several animal carcinogenesis models and cell culture models have shown it to be a very effective chemopreventive agent, and the protective effects of SFN in ophthalmic diseases have been linked to multiple mechanisms. In murine models of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, SFN delays retinal photoreceptor cell degeneration through the Nrf2 antioxidative pathway, NF-κB pathway, AMPK pathway, and Txnip/mTOR pathway. In rabbit models of keratoconus and cataract, SFN has been shown to protect corneal and lens epithelial cells from oxidative stress injury by activating the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway and the Nrf-2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. Oral delivery or intraperitoneal injection at varying concentrations are the primary strategies for SFN intake in current preclinical studies. Challenges remain in the application of SFN in eye disorders due to its weak solubility in water and limited bioavailability because of the presence of blood-ocular barrier systems. This review comprehensively outlines recent research on SFN, elucidates its mechanisms of action, and discusses potential therapeutic benefits for eye disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), cataracts, and other ophthalmic diseases, while also indicating directions for future clinical research to achieve efficient SFN treatment for ophthalmic diseases.

Optimizing interleukin-6 and 8 expression, clarification and purification in plant cell packs and plants for application in advanced therapy medicinal products and cellular agriculture

Healthcare and nutrition are facing a paradigm shift in light of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and cellular agriculture options respectively. Both options heavily rely on some sort of animal cell culture, e.g. autologous stem cells. These cultures require various growth factors, such as interleukin-6 and 8 (IL-6/8), in a pure, safe and sustainable form that can be provided in a scalable manner. Plants seem well suited for this task because purification of small proteins can be readily achieved by membrane separation, human/animal pathogens do not replicate in plants and production can be scaled up using in-door farming or agricultural practices. Here, we illustrate this capacity by first optimizing the codon usage of IL-6/8 for translation in Nicotiana spp., as well as testing the effect of untranslated regions and product targeting to different sub-cellular compartments on expression in a high-throughput plant cell pack (PCP) assay. In the chloroplast, IL-6 accumulated up to 6.9±3.8 (SD, n=2) and 14.4±7.4 mg kg−1 (SD, n=5) were observed in case of IL-8. When transferring IL-8 expression into whole plants, accumulation was 12.3±1.5 mg kg−1 (SD, n=3). After extraction and clarification, IL-8 was purified using a two-stage process consisting of an ultrafiltration/diafiltration step with 100 kDa and 10 kDa cut off membranes followed by an IMAC polishing step. The purity, yield and recovery were 97.8%, 6.6 mg kg−1 and 38%, respectively. We evaluated the ability of the proposed purification process to remove endotoxins to ensure the compatibility of plant-made growth factors with cell culture.

Bioactivity of <i>Lantana camara</i> Flowers: Antilithiatic and Nephroprotective Implications in Male Wistar Rats

Lantana camara is a well-known medicinal plant with various reported therapeutic compounds. This study explores the antilithiatic and nephroprotective effects of Lantana camara flower hydroalcoholic extract. Using animal models and cell culture, we assessed its impact on ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis and gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis model revealed elevated levels of calcium, phosphate, and oxalate, indicating the formation of calculi. Treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract resulted in a significant decrease in uric acid levels, reducing the likelihood of calculi formation. Additionally, the animals treated with the extract showed reduced levels of urea, and creatinine, indicating improved kidney function. The results highlighted the notable difference between the preventive and curative treatments. In the HEK-293 cell culture, the hydroalcoholic extract demonstrated a significant inhibition of abnormal cell morphology induced by gentamicin, a nephrotoxic drug. The extract also exhibited a marked improvement in cell growth compared to the standard treatment. The findings of this study provide substantial evidence supporting the antilithiatic and nephroprotective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Lantana camara flowers. The extract effectively reduced the risk of calculi formation, improved renal parameters, and demonstrated potential in mitigating drug-induced nephrotoxicity. These results validate the traditional claims regarding the efficacy of Lantana camara as a therapeutic agent for kidney-related disorders. The hydroalcoholic extract of Lantana camara flowers could serve as a valuable alternative treatment option, offering potential benefits in the management of lithiasis and nephrotoxicity.

Evaluation of the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) nanoparticles synthesized by green synthesis on Caenorhabditis elegans.

In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has caused the products obtained with this technology to be used more daily. Information on the effects of these products, which provide great advantages in every respect, on human health and the environment is insufficient. It has been suggested that these nanoparticles may have toxic effects on living things, mostly in animal experiments and cell cultures. In this paper, the organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), which contains a genome and biochemical ways highly similar to humans, is used to understand and reveal the metabolism of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) toxicological effects. The toxicological effects of ZnO NPs on C. elegans organisms were investigated and the results were evaluated in terms of environment and human health. C. elegans was exposed to commercial ZnO NPs and green synthesized ZnO NPs from Olea europaea (olive tree, OLE). LC50 values were determined by probit analysis (green synthesized ZnO NP LC5024h = 84.97mg/L, LC5072h = 33.27mg/L, commercial ZnO NPs LC5024h = 5.75mg/L, LC5072h = 1.91mg/L). When the survival times of C. elegans were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method, it was seen that commercial ZnO NPs were more toxic than green synthesized ZnO NPs. In MTT tests, it was clearly seen that commercial ZnO NPs and green synthesized ZnO NPs entered the cell and caused different cytotoxicity. While there was a difference between control and 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50mg/L doses in commercial ZnO NP applications, there were significant differences between control and 25, 50mg/L concentrations in green synthesized ZnO NP applications.

NBR1-dependent autophagy activation protects against environmental cadmium-evoked placental trophoblast senescence

Cadmium (Cd), a well-established developmental toxicant, accumulates in the placentae and disrupts its structure and function. Population study found adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by environmental Cd exposure associated with cell senescence. However, the role of autophagy activation in Cd-induced placental cell senescence and its reciprocal mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we employed animal experiments, cell culture, and case-control study to investigate the above mentioned. We have demonstrated that exposure to Cd during gestation induces placental senescence and activates autophagy. Pharmacological and genetic interventions further exacerbated placental senescence induced by Cd through the suppression of autophagy. Conversely, activation of autophagy ameliorated Cd-induced placental senescence. Knockdown of NBR1 exacerbated senescence in human placental trophoblast cells. Further investigations revealed that NBR1 facilitated the degradation of p21 via LC3B. Our case-control study has demonstrated a positive correlation between placental senescence and autophagy activation in all-cause fetal growth restriction (FGR). These findings offer a novel perspective for mitigating placental aging and placental-origin developmental diseases induced by environmental toxicants.

Assessing the sustainability of cultured meat in optimized Danish diets

Reducing animal-sourced foods in diets saves a significant share of environmental impacts. Sustainable dietary patterns have proposed large reductions in red meats in particular. Foods with the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of diets are under increasing investigation, and cultured meat, produced by culturing animal cells, could play a key role, especially for diet transitions away from high red meat consumption. In this paper, the inclusion of cultured meat in optimized Danish diets is explored through minimizing climate impact in greenhouse gas emissions measured through Global Warming Potential (GWP) with ±30 %, 60 %, and 90 % stepwise changes from current diets while meeting nutritional requirements; the total consumer diet costs were also assessed. Three optimization models were run, one with a cultured meat diet (all animal-sourced meats are replaced with cultured meat), an omnivore diet (with conventional animal-sourced foods and no cultured meat), and a vegan diet (neither cultured meat nor other animal-sourced foods are allowed). Results revealed that both omnivore diets with and without cultured meat and vegan diets can achieve impact improvements compared to current diets. The greatest GWP reductions can be seen in the cultured meat diet (8.0 Mt CO2 eq./yr) and vegan diets (9.8 Mt CO2 eq./yr) with 90 % deviation in both from current diets. These reductions could represent potential Danish national emissions decrease of 21 % and 25 %, respectively, in 2022 impacts. Cultured meat diets resulted in the highest costs (11.58€/day) compared to the current diets (8.05€/day), vegan diets (6.49€/day), and omnivore diets (6.11 €/day). This paper provides key information about diet shifts and the potential of novel foods to reduce carbon emissions compared with the current diets. Although the socio-cultural acceptability and technological readiness of cultured meat, which represent crucial prerequisites to its inclusion in diets, still need to be assessed.