Apoptotic Activity Research Articles

Identification of Potent SFRP1 Inhibitors for Colorectal Cancer using a Comprehensive Computational Approach.

The incidence of CRC has increased worldwide over the past decade. The statistics report from WHO highlights the increased severity and fatality rate of CRC among the populations. Wnt/β-catenin is recognized as the resource for cell regeneration and cancer signaling pathways driven by frizzled receptor cofactors. Aberrant regulation of Wnt/β- catenin suppression is an important challenge in treating CRC management. The SFRP1 comprises a cysteine-rich region that is homologous to the putative Wnt-binding sites of Frizzled proteins, with the potential to impede and alter the cascade of Wnt signaling. Indirect regulation, like targeting Wnt antagonist SFRP1, is an alternative strategy to suppress the cancer signals by enhancing the apoptotic activity. Hence, this study aimed to approach the SFRP1 protein as a therapeutic target to inhibit Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer. Further, it aimed to identify the lead compounds against the SFRP1 protein, which inhibit the oncogenic expression of CRC, which might be possible using computational approaches, recognizing the importance of the SFRP1 protein role in CRC. The homology-modeled SFRP1 structure was refined, and virtual screening was performed against the anti-cancer drugs and natural drug databases to find the best hit molecules. The molecular docking, MD, and MMGBSA analysis confirmed the firm binding of SFRP1 complexes to identify the potent CRC inhibitors. The amino acid residues Arg5, Arg11, Ala13, Lys 245, Lys274, Phe147, Pro99, and Ser277 are essential for ligand binding and show similar interactions for SFRP1 complexes. The ADME/T profile for top hits is acceptable in range and obtains the drug-likeness property. The 100ns run for MD simulation confirms the stability of protein complexes. Overall, the findings of this study reveal that the lead compounds screened are capable of inhibiting SFRP1 against CRC. Targeting SFRP1 paves the way for new platforms in the field of cancer and the therapeutic sector for new approachable finds.

Preliminary evaluation of antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of novel indolin-2-one derivatives.

Indole-based agents are frequently used in targeted or supportive therapy of several cancers. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties of originally synthesized novel indolin-2-one derivatives (6a-d) against Malignant Mesothelioma, Breast cancer, and Colon Cancer cells. Our results revealed that all derivatives were effectively delayed cell proliferation by inhibiting the ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3 signaling pathways in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, these variants induced cell cycle arrest in the S phase, accompanied by elevated levels of p21 and p27 expressions. Derivatives also initiated mitochondrial apoptosis through the upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 proteins, leading to the activation of caspase 3 and PARP cleavage in exposed cells. Remarkably, three of the indolin-2-one derivatives displayed significant selectivity towards Breast and Colon Cancer cells, with compound 6d promising as the most potent and wide spectral one for all cancer cell lines.

PH-Induced conversion of bolaamphiphilic vesicles to reduction-responsive nanogels for enhanced Nile Red and Rose Bengal delivery

This study details the preparation and investigation of molecular nanogels formed by the self-assembly of bolaamphiphilic dipeptide derivatives containing a reduction-sensitive disulfide unit. The described bolaamphiphiles, featuring amino acid terminal groups, generate cationic vesicles at pH 4, which evolve into gel-like nanoparticles at pH 7. The critical aggregation concentration has been determined, and the nanogels' size and morphology have been characterized through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy reveals substantial molecular reconfigurations accompanying the pH shift. These nanogels enhance the in vitro cellular uptake of the lipophilic dye Nile Red and the ionic photosensitizer Rose Bengal into Human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells, eliminating the need for organic co-solvents in the former case. Fluorescence measurements with Nile Red as a probe indicate the reduction-sensitive disassembly of the nanogels. In photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications, Rose Bengal-loaded nanogels demonstrate notable improvements, with flow cytometry analysis evidencing increased apoptotic activity in the study with HT-29 cells.

Synergistic Antitumor and Apoptotic Activity of Sitagliptin or Linagliptin Plus Cisplatin Against A549 Lung Cancer Cells (an Invitro Study)

Objective: Lung cancer (LC) has the highest mortality rate globally. Most chemotherapeutic medicines now in use are cytotoxic, prompting the search for novel compounds with anticancer properties and improved safety profiles for normal cells. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have demonstrated anticancer effects and apoptotic properties by specifically inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase -4, a glycoprotein found in various organs that support the spread of cancer and tumor formation. Based on that, this study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of sitagliptin (SITA) and linagliptin (LINA) against the lung cancer cell line (A549) alone and in combination with cisplatin (CP). Methods: A549 cells were categorized into six groups: control (untreated cells), CP-treated cells, SITA-treated cells, LINA-treated cells, CP plus SITA treated cells (1:1 ratio), and CP plus LINA treated cells (1:1 ratio). After 72 hours of incubation, cell viability (or cytotoxicity) and concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell viability (IC50) for each group were determined using an MTT assay. This method is safe and easy to use, has more reproducibility, and is commonly used for cell viability and cytotoxicity tests. Later, A549 cells were cultured in six flasks and exposed to the IC50 for 36 hours. Afterward, the cells were harvested and centrifuged, and the supernatant was removed. The remaining cell pellets were collected and lysed using a lysis buffer to measure B-cell lymphoma type 2 (BCL-2) levels with ELISA test kits. The data was collected and subjected to statistical analysis techniques. Results: MTT assay results determined that SITA and LINA significantly increased A549 cell cytotoxicity compared to the control group (P<0.0001). Moreover, combining SITA or LINA with CP showed markedly increased antitumor efficacy and more significant cytotoxicity directed toward A549 cells. Additionally, these combinations highly reduced IC50 in comparison to monotherapy. Considerably, both drugs showed remarkable apoptotic activity on A549 cells when used alone or combined with CP by decreasing BCL2 levels. Consequently, it potentiates apoptotic effects and cytotoxicity of CP against cancer cells. Interestingly, Lina was more potent than Sita regarding cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity on A549 cells. Conclusion: SITA and Lina exhibited significant cytotoxic and apoptotic effects against A549 cells through the induction of apoptosis. Notably, the results suggest a potential synergistic anticancer impact on CP.

Morphomolecular identification of heavy parasitic typhlitis in layer flocks: tissue response and cell-mediated reaction

BackgroundHeterakis gallinarum (H. gallinarum) is a common poultry parasite that can be found in the ceca of many gallinaceous bird species, causing minor pathology and reduced weight gain. Most infections go unnoticed in commercial flocks due to the dependence on fecal egg counts, which are prone to false-negative diagnoses. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on gastrointestinal nematodes that use molecular identification methods, which could be essential for rapid diagnosis and developing efficient control approaches. As a result, the study aimed to look at the cause of mortality in layer chickens induced by H. gallinarum in Egyptian poultry farms using morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular characterization. Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and cell-mediated immune responses from damaged cecal tissues were also examined.ResultsSeventy bird samples from ten-layer flocks of different breeds (Native, white, and brown layers) suffering from diarrhea, decreased egg output, and emaciation were collected. Cecal samples were collected from affected and non-affected birds and were examined for parasitic diseases using light and a scanning electron microscope. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (COX1) gene was used to characterize H. gallinarum. Our results showed that the collected nematodal worms were identified as H. gallinarum (male and female), further confirmed by COX1 gene amplification and sequence alignment. Gene expression analysis of the inflammatory markers in infected tissues showed a significant up-regulation of IL-2, IFN-γ, TLR-4, and IL-1β and a significant down-regulation of the anti-inflammatory IL-10. The mRNA level of the apoptotic cas-3 revealed apoptotic activity among the H. gallinarum samples compared to the control group.ConclusionsOur results implemented the use of molecular methods for the diagnosis of Heterakis, and this is the first report showing the tissue immune response following infection in layers: upregulation of IL-1β, IFN-γ, Il-2, and TLR-4, while down-regulation of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in cecal tissue, Cas-3 apoptotic activity and Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)activity with immunophenotyping of T-cells in Heterakis infected tissue.

Cinnamaldehyde potentiates cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects of doxorubicin in prostate cancer cell line.

Nowadays, herbal medicine has been utilized to treat various diseases such as cancer, which showed successful therapeutic efficacy in previous studies. This study for the first time evaluated the cytotoxic potential of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) alone and in combination with doxorubicin (DOX), a well-known potent anti-tumor agent, on the proliferation of prostatic cancer cell line (PC3). The cytotoxicity and apoptotic activities of CIN and DOX, either separately or together, were determined on PC3 cells by the MTT test and Annexin V/PI assay, respectively. To further investigate which apoptotic pathway participated in cell death a collection of prominent markers of apoptosis induction including caspase-3/7 activations, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and phosphatidyl serine translocation were detected. The different concentrations of CIN and DOX significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cells in a concentration-dependent way within a 24-h treatment. In addition, the induction of apoptosis by CIN was accompanied by an increase in the activation of caspase-3/7 in PC3 cells with IC50 concentrations of 12.5 and 10 μg/mL for CIN and DOX, respectively. Moreover, the morphological observations obtained from flow cytometry MMP and caspase-3/7 activity assays, altogether, revealed the potential effect of CIN on apoptosis induced in PC3 cells by DOX. Taken together, the current study concluded that the combination of CIN and DOX could lead to the production of a potential therapeutic agent for prostate cancer. However, further in vivo and clinical studies are still needed to validate this combination in prostate cancer therapy.

Effects of dietary arginine supplementation on muscle structure, meat characteristics and lipid oxidation products in lambs and its potential mechanisms of action

This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary arginine supplementation on muscle structure and meat characteristics of lambs also considering lipid oxidation products and to contribute to reveal its mechanisms of action using tandem mass tagging (TMT) proteomics. Eighteen lambs were allocated to two dietary treatment groups: control diet or control diet with the addition of 1% L-arginine. The results revealed that dietary arginine supplementation increased muscle fibre diameter and cross-sectional area (P < 0.05), which was attributable to protein deposition, as evidenced by increased RNA content, RNA/DNA ratio, inhibition of apoptotic enzyme activity, and alterations in the IGF-1/Akt signaling pathway (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary arginine elevated pH24h, a* values, and IMF content, decreased shear force value and backfat thickness (P < 0.05), as well as decreased the formation of lipid oxidation products involved in meat flavor including hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal and 1-octen-3-ol by increasing the antioxidant capacity of the muscle (P < 0.05). The proteomics results suggested that seven enrichment pathways may be potential mechanisms by which arginine affected the muscle structure and meat characteristics of lambs. In summary, arginine supplementation in lamb diets provides a safe and effective way to improve meat quality, and antioxidant capacity of muscle of lamb.

The silibinin-loaded Zein-β cyclodextrin nano-carriers (SZBC-NCs) as a novel selective cancer cell drug delivery system in HT-29 cell line

Entrapping phytochemical bioactive compounds into nano-structured biocompatible polymers has been successfully utilized for improving cancer treatment efficiency. Silibinin is a potent compound that shows promising anticancer properties. In the present study, the Zein-β-cyclodextrin complex was used to encapsulate silibinin and evaluate the induced cell death type and cytotoxic impacts on human cancer cells. The silibinin-loaded Zein-β cyclodextrin nano-carriers (SZBC-NCs) were synthesized utilizing a gradual ultrasound-mediated homogenization technique and characterized by Zeta potential, DLS, FESEM, and FTIR analysis. The SZBC-NCs’ antioxidant activity was studied by conducting ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Finally, the SZBC-NCs selective toxicity and cellular death induction mechanism were studied on the HT-29 and AGS cancer cells by measuring the cell survival and apoptotic gene (Caspase 3, 9), respectively, which were verified by conducting the DAPI staining analysis. The negatively charged (− 27.47 mV) nanoparticles (286.55 nm) showed significant ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the remarkable decrease in the IC50 concentrations of the SZBC-NCs among the HT-29 and AGS cancer cell lines exhibited their selective cytotoxic potential. Also, the overexpressed apoptotic (Caspases 3 and 9) and down-regulated necrotic (NFKB) gene expressions following the SZBC-NCs treatment doses indicated the apoptotic activity of SZBC-NCs, which were verified by the increased apoptotic morphology of the DAPI-stained HT-29 cancer cells. The antioxidant and colon cancer cell-related apoptotic activity of the SZBC-NCs make it an appropriate anti-colon cancer nano delivery system. Therefore, they can potentially be used as a safe efficient colon cancer treatment strategy. However, further in vivo experiments including animal cancer models have to be studied.

Determination of Cell Viability, Apoptotic and Necrotic Activities of Boswellia serrata Extract in Liver Cancer (HepG2) and Breast Cancer (MCF7) Cell Lines

Cancer is a very important disease that has existed for a very long time in the history of humanity and poses a great threat to humanity today. Today, cancer remains a global health problem. The scientific world has introduced many innovative treatment approaches, but due to the complexity of cancer cells and their resistance to treatment, significant progress has been made in the fight against cancer, but a definitive cure has not yet been found. Boswellia serrata has been used in many parts of the world for a variety of ailments from ancient times to the present day, comes from the Burseraceae family and is commonly known as white gum. B. serrata is a resin tree with very small and few leaves, as it is a plant species that grows as a small tree or shrub 4-6 meters high in the desert. In this study, B.serrata resin was obtained commercially in Gaziantep province and obtained by extraction in methanol and hexane solvents. The cytotoxic activity of B. serrata resin extract was determined by MTT Assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Apoptotic/necrotic activity was determined by double staining (Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide). Human breast cancer (MCF7) and human liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines were used in these experiments.

Cytotoxicity of alkaloids isolated from Peganum harmala seeds on HCT116 human colon cancer cells.

The present study aimed to elucidate the potential anticancer activity and mechanism of P. harmala's alkaloid extract, harmine (HAR), and harmaline (HAL) in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. P. harmala's alkaloid was extracted from harmala seeds. HCT-116 cells were treated with P. harmala's alkaloid extract, HAR and HAL. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay, apoptotic activity detected via flow cytometry and acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) dual staining, and cell cycle distribution analyzed withflow cytometry. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) was measured by real-time PCR. Furthermore, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, GSK3β and p53 proteins, were determined by western blotting. The findings indicated that, P. harmala's alkaloids extract, HAR and HAL were significantly cytotoxic toward HCT116 cells after 24 and 48h of treatment. We showed that P. harmala's alkaloid extract induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2 phase in the HCT116 cell line. Downregulation of GSK3β and Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax and p53 were observed. The findings of this study indicate that the P. harmala's alkaloid extract has anticancer activity and may be further investigated to develop future anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Evaluation of antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis activity of novel chromene-sulfonamide hybrids synthesized under solvent-free conditions and 3D-QSAR modeling studies

In this study, eleven novel chromene sulfonamide hybrids were synthesized by a convenient method in accordance with green chemistry. At first, chromene derivatives (1–9a) were prepared through the multi-component reaction between aryl aldehydes, malononitrile, and 3-aminophenol. Then, synthesized chromenes were reacted with appropriate sulfonyl chlorides by grinding method to give the corresponding chromene sulfonamide hybrids (1–11b). Synthesized hybrids were obtained in good to high yield and characterized by IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, CHN and melting point techniques. In addition, the broth microdilution assay was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of newly synthesized chromene-sulfonamide hybrids. The MTT test was used to determine the cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of the newly synthesized compounds against fibroblast L929 cells. The 3D‑QSAR analysis confirmed the experimental assays, demonstrating that our predictive model is useful for developing new antibacterial inhibitors. Consequently, molecular docking studies were performed to validate the findings of the 3D-QSAR analysis, confirming the potential binding interactions of the synthesized chromene-sulfonamide hybrids with the target enzymes. Molecular docking studies were employed to support the 3D-QSAR predictions, providing insights into the binding interactions between the newly synthesized chromene-sulfonamide hybrids and their target bacterial enzymes, thereby reinforcing the potential efficacy of these compounds as antibacterial agents. Also, some of the experimental outcomes supported or conflicted with the pharmacokinetic prediction (especially about compound carcinogenicity). The performance of ADMET predictor results was assessed. The work presented here proposes a computationally driven strategy for designing and discovering a new sulfonamide scaffold for bacterial inhibition.

Design, synthesis and apoptotic activity of substituted chalcones tethered 1,3,5-triazine hybrids: An insights from molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, DFT, ADME, and DAPI analyses

A novel library of chalcone tethered 1,3,5-triazine hybrids (5a-j) were designed and synthesized and their structures were confirmed by using spectroscopic/analytical techniques. The anticancer activity of the synthesized novel derivatives (5a-j) was evaluated against four human cancer cell lines: PC3 (Prostate cancer), A549 (Lung cancer), MCF7 (Breast cancer), and Colo-205 (Colon cancer) by employing of MTT assay method. In comparison to “Etoposide”, all the compounds showed excellent to moderate activity. The IC50 values of the novel derivatives (5a-j) ranged from 0.01±0.0032 µM to 12.4 ± 6.18 µM whereas positive control (Etoposide) showed 0.14±0.017 µM to 3.08±0.135 µM respectively. The newly developed substituted chalcone linked triazine hybrids were found to be good alternative anticancer agents. Among the all, (5a-j), mainly 5a, 5e, 5f, 5 g and 5j displayed highly potent anticancer activity towards MCF7 (5a), A549 (5 g), PC3 (5e, 5f) and Colo-205 (5j) human cancer cell lines. Principally, two compounds 5a and 5e were displayed as the most promising activities. The apoptotic mechanism in anticancer activity was further confirmed by nuclear staining analysis on more active test compounds 5a and 5e by DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) at different concentrations with MCF-7 cells, Additionally, all the synthesized compounds were investigated by molecular docking simulation studies with topoisomerase-IIβ enzyme (PDB ID: 3QX3) protein to correlate the in-vitro biological activity data evaluated on four human cancer cell lines. The docking scores of the newly produced conjugates (5a-j) varied from – 7.52 kcal/mol to -6.27 kcal/mol, indicating these compounds serve as an inhibitor. Human oral absorption is expected to be greater than 75 %. The in-vitro cytotoxicity behavior of tested compounds was further supported by in-silico predictions such as ADME, MD simulations and DFT studies.

A Therapeutic Evaluation of Anticancer and Pharmacological Abilities on Tinospora cordifolia: A Systematic Review

Tinospora cordifolia (Tc), commonly called as Giloy, it is a herbaceous vine that is widely used in traditional medicine systems for its alleged anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this systematic study is to assess Tinospora cordifolia’s (Tc) medicinal potential against cancer. A thorough search of various scientific databases was done for studies looking at Tinospora cordifolia's anti-cancer properties. The findings demonstrate a varied variety of In vitro and In vivo research demonstrating Tinospora cordifolia’s (Tc) anti-proliferative, apoptotic and anti-metastatic activities against many cancer types, including breast, prostate, colon, and leukaemia. Mechanistic insights into its mode of action, such as modulation of signaling pathways involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and angiogenesis, are presented. However, limitations in study designs, inconsistency in methodology, and differences in reported outcomes highlight the need for more well-designed clinical trials to evaluate Tinospora cordifolia's efficacy and safety as a potential supplementary medicine in cancer treatment regimens. Therapeutic plants, such as T. cordifolia, can strengthen the body's defences against disease and cure specific areas, displaying more body compatibility and fewer side effects than medications. In conjunction with this, the current study highlights T. cordifolia's pharmacological potential against a variety of illnesses.

Biological attributes required for epidermal regeneration: Evaluation of the next-generation autologous cell harvesting device.

Early wound intervention and closure is critical for reducing infection and improving aesthetic and functional outcomes for patients with acute burn wounds and nonthermal full-thickness skin defects. Treatment of partial-thickness burns or full-thickness injuries with autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) achieves robust wound closure while limiting the amount of donor skin compared with standard autografting. A Next Generation Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (NG-ACHD) was developed to standardize the preparation process for ASCS to ensure biological attributes are obtained known to correlate with well-established safety and performance data. This study compared ASCS prepared using the NG-ACHD and ACHD following the manufacturer's guidance, evaluating cellular yields, viability, apoptotic activity, aggregates, phenotypes and functional capacity. Non-inferiority was established for all biological attributes tested and comparable healing trajectories were demonstrated using an in vitro skin regeneration model. In addition to standardization, the NG-ACHD also provides workflow efficiencies with the potential to decrease training requirements and increase the ease of incorporation and utilization of ASCS in clinical practice.

Investigation of the immunological effects of escitalopram oxalate in the breast cancer co-culture model.

During breast cancer treatment, approximately half of the patients are prescribed psychotropic medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Escitalopram oxalate is an SSRI used as an antidepressant. In this study, by creating a breast cancer microenvironment with THP-1, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer co-culture models were created. MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and THP-1 cell lines to determine the concentration range of the cytotoxic effect of escitalopram oxalate MTS and MTT test were used. IC50 values were determined by the xCELLigence real-time cell analysis (RTCA) system. Apoptotic activities and cytokine levels were determined by flow cytometry. In the xCELLigence real-time analysis made according to the results, the IC50 value of escitalopram oxalate was measured as 13.7 μM for MCF-7 and 10.9 μM for MDA-MB-231. The IC50 value was measured as 54.6 μM for MCF-7 and 58.4 μM for MDA-MB-231 in xCELLigence analysis with tamoxifen. According to the MTS test results, the IC50 value of tamoxifen for THP-1 was 92.03 μM and the IC50 value for escitalopram oxalate was 95.32 μM. In the co-culture model, the immunological effects of escitalopram oxalate on MCF-7 cells were 2.8%, 11.1%, 15.6%, 10.6%, and 12.1% for interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α, respectively, while MDA effects on MB-231 cells, respectively, were 2.1%, 15.9%, 16.2%, 8.8%, and 11.8%. According to the results obtained, it was concluded that the immunological effects of escitalopram oxalate are more effective than tamoxifen and that it can be used as an adjunctive agent in breast cancer treatment.

Nerolidol inhibited U-251 human glioblastoma cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis via the upregulation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor with high mortality and morbidity. Nerolidol (NRD) is a sesquiterpene alcohol sequestered from the essential oils of aromatic florae with potent antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying cell-cycle mechanisms of NRD-mediated antiproliferative and apoptosis activities in GBM using human U-251 cells. The current research investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of NRD on U-251 cells. The effects of NRD were measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level assessment, and western blot assay. Nerolidol decreased U-251 viability in a dose-dependent manner, as well as induced apoptotic activity, reduced B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) levels, and increased mRNA expression of BCL-2-associated X (Bax), caspase-3 and caspase-9. The attenuation of the cyclin-D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 mRNA expression confirmed cell cycle regulation. Western blot analysis of CDK1 indicated reductions in cyclin-B1 and p21. Furthermore, NRD prompted apoptosis through p38 amelioration and increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase 1 (p-ERK1) and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1 (p-JNK1) levels. Nerolidol inhibited GBM cell viability and induced apoptosis through the regulation of cell-cycle proteins via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Thus, NRD could be developed as a potential natural therapeutic agent for GBM.

Antiparasitic and apoptotic modulatory activities of curcumin and extracts of Nigella sativa L, Zingiber officinale Rosc., and Punica granatum L. in combination with spiramycin against chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised mice

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of coadministration of different medicinal plant extracts (curcumin and extracts of Nigella sativa L. [N. sativa, Jia Hei Zhong Cao], Zingiber officinale Rosc. [Z. officinale, Sheng Jiang], and Punica granatum L. [P. granatum, Shi Liu]) with spiramycin (SP) against the cystogenic ME-49 Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) strain in immunocompromised mice. MethodsWe utilized 68 mice categorized into 8 groups: 2 non-infected controls (immunocompetent and immunocompromised), 1 infected control, and 5 infected and treated groups. Following the experiment, the cerebral tissues of each mouse underwent parasitological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations. ResultsCompared with the infected non-treated group, all infected treated groups showed significant reductions in brain cyst numbers (all P < .05), with the highest reduction rate (77.4%) recorded for P. granatum and SP combination (G8). Only G8 showed a significant reduction in mouse deaths compared with the other groups. With regards to restoring histopathological changes and decreasing inflammation, the groups infected and treated with curcumin and P. granatum combined with SP showed the best results (P < .05). Combinations of curcumin and extracts of Z. officinale and P. granatum with SP significantly restored the cerebral expression of caspase-3 compared with the N. sativa extract combination (P < .05). G8 showed non-significant expression compared with the local expression in the negative control groups. ConclusionOur study revealed that the coadministration of P. granatum extract with SP was the most effective combination against chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Analysis of regulation of cell death pathway genes in CSC-enriched TNBC after treatment with doxorubicin: A potencial biomarker.

e13154 Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 10-20% of all cases globally. TNBC has the worst prognosis among other types of breast cancer due to the lack of targeted therapy. In addition, TNBC tumors exhibit significant cellular and molecular heterogeneity, along with the presence of cells with cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics, which contribute to the low response to available chemotherapy treatments, leading to chemoresistance, recurrence and metastasis. objective of this study is to evaluate the expression of genes related to cell death and survival pathways in CSCs-enriched spheroids DOX-treated obtained of BT-549 cells, a human TNBC cell line. The death receptor genes include TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF10C, CFLAR, RIPIK1, CASP8, NFKB1, RELA, and MLKL. Methods: To achieve this, gene expression was analyzed through RT-qPCR, comparing the expression in DOX-treated CSCs-enriched spheroids (IC50 55.7 μM/ 48h incubation) and untreated CSCs-enriched spheroids. Preliminary results indicated that, among the evaluated genes, only CFLAR, NFKB1, and RELA were expressed in the untreated CSCs-enriched spheroids, while the others were not expressed under any condition. Results: The genes CFLAR, NF- κ B and RELA showed considerable Ct values, while the remaining genes did not exhibit a Ct value in one or more samples. The gene CFLAR showed an overexpression, both in monolayers vs. spheroids and in treated spheroids vs. untreated spheroids, which can be related to the inhibition of Caspase 8 and consequently, the apoptotic activity of cells. The overexpression of the RELA, same as CFLAR, suggests increased inflammation pathway activation in the tumor microenvironment. However, the lower expression of the NF-κB1 gene in treated spheroids vs. untreated spheroids may be related to the production of ROS, suppressing its activation. Conclusions: The expression of NFKB1 and RELA genes is associated with the cellular survival pathway, which may be linked to the resistance to the drug observed in many patients. Previous studies of our group have shown that achieving a satisfactory result of DOX action on CSCs-enriched spheroids requires using a dose 100 times higher than that used in monolayer cells. This may be related to the non-expression of the TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF10C, RIPIK1, CASP8, and MLKL genes in CSCs-enriched spheroid DOX-treated. Thus, the results obtained so far indicate that DOX may have an impact on the expressed genes in CSCs-enriched spheroids and demonstrate the expression of apoptosis inhibitors in treated breast spheres. Consequently, the expression of these genes in BT-549 cells TNBC indicates a pro-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and pro-cell survival profile of CSC-enriched spheroids.

Synthesis, structural investigations, in vitro cytotoxicity, apoptotic activity, cell cycle analysis, and molecular modeling studies of nano‐sized Zn(II) Schiff base complex

A new novel tetradentate ligand, [(1E,1′E)‐N,N′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis(1‐(5‐(2‐fluorophenyl)furan‐2‐yl)methanimine) (PFPFMI), and its nano‐sized [Zn(PFPFMI)Cl2].3H2O complex were synthesized. The geometry of PFPFMI and its Zn(II) complex was described through CHN analyses, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and mass spectral data tests. The spectral data of the nano‐sized [Zn(PFPFMI)Cl2].3H2O complex indicates that the PFPFMI ligand functions as a tetradentate (N2O2) coordination through two azomethine nitrogen groups (N) and two furan ring oxygen (O) atoms. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed using the molecular studio software to investigate the optimal geometry of PFPFMI and its [Zn(PFPFMI)Cl2].3H2O complex. The SEM, TEM, XRD, AFM, and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX) analyses of the studied complex unveil distinct and strong diffraction peaks, indicating its crystalline nature and providing evidence of its nano‐sized particle sizes. Additionally, the inhibition zone diameter was used to assess the in vitro antimicrobial action of PFPFMI and the particular complex against Gram‐positive bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis, Gram‐negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli, as well as fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Geotricum candidum, Syncephalastrum racemosum, and Candida tropicalis. The [Zn(PFPFMI)Cl2].3H2O complex exhibits higher activity than the ligand PFPFMI. In vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized [Zn(PFPFMI)Cl2].3H2O complex was explored using MCF7 (breast cancer), HCT116 (colon cancer), A549 (lung cancer), HePG‐2 (liver cancer), A375 (melanoma cancer), and normal lung fibroblast (WI38) cell lines. Based on IC50 and selective index (SI) values, it was shown that the complex exhibited higher potency against MCF7 cell lines. Moreover, the Zn(II) complex exhibited the ability to induce DNA damage in MCF7 cells, resulting in dose‐dependent cell apoptosis. Subsequent investigations revealed that complex 2 also induced cell cycle arrest in the G2 and S phases.

Enhancing the effectiveness of paclitaxel with stigmasterol bioactive compounds for cancer treatment

This study examines the anticancer activity of stigmasterol bioactive compounds combined with paclitaxel. Drug resistance and high toxicity in chemotherapy present a challenge in treating cancer. However, no study has reported the combination therapy of SS with PTX up to now. We evaluated the potential effects of stigmasterol (SS) combined with Paclitaxel (PTX) on cell viability and apoptosis in liver cancer (HepG2) and normal liver (AML 12) cells. The SS showed the highest cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells (IC50= 117.75 µg/ml) compared to PTX (IC50= 294.59 µg/ml); however, SS and PTX did not affect normal cells, and SS caused higher apoptotic activity in the sub-G1 phase in HepG2 cells after being treated with SS alone compared to other treatments. In combination therapy for both cells, PTX: SS significantly increased cell viability (IC50 of 464.44 and 1056.44 µg/ml for HepG2 and AML 12, respectively) that differed from the drug alone and the compound, confirming that the PTX combined with SS did not enhance cytotoxic performance against HepG2 cell lines. However, this study found that PTX: SS could reduce the side effects arising from the treatment with PTX. This research indicates that SS is a potential anticancer agent for liver cancer. Furthermore, the current study introduces a novel synergistic therapy that can target various cell lines or enhance the concentration of both SS and PTX to investigate the delivery technologies of both compounds.