HeLa Research Articles

Enhancing anticancer activity of Clerodendrum viscosum vent. extracts by solvent fractionation: An in vitro and in silico mechanistic study

Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. is a well-known plant in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine systems. While studies showed its crude leaf extract's cytotoxicity against HT-29 and HeLa cells, various non-bioactive compounds present in crude extracts may influence overall bioactivity. This study aimed to separate the most bioactive fractions from Clerodendrum viscosum’s crude extracts that exhibit anticancer potential against HepG2 cells. Crude extracts were fractionated using a solvent-polarity-based process and their anticancer activity was investigated through in vitro, in silico, and network pharmacology approaches. Nonpolar leaf (CVLH) and root (CVRH) fractions showed maximum cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells without affecting noncancer-origin WRL68 cells. Both extracts induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in HepG2 cells, with CVRH exhibiting a superior effect. GC-MS analysis identified various anticancer phytochemicals differentially present in CVLH and CVRH. Network pharmacology with these phytochemicals predicted Bcl-2 as the primary target, while molecular docking confirmed lupeol, stigmasterol, alpha-amyrin, cycloartenol, and calysterol being the top five phytochemicals exhibiting strong binding against Bcl-2, androgen receptor (AR), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Western blot confirmed an elevated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in HepG2 cells by CVLH and CVRH. In summary, the nonpolar fractions of Clerodendrum viscosum leaf and root crude extracts showed enhanced anticancer activity, suggesting their potential pharmaceutical applications.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by soy protein/proanthocyanidins nanocomplexes: Physicochemical properties and in vitro release properties

As a class of natural antioxidant polyphenols, proanthocyanidins (PANs) offer unique advantages in anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-cancer fields. However, the practical application of PANs is hindered by their low stability and limited bioavailability. Pickering emulsions have shown great potential in addressing the issue of PANs’ susceptibility to degradation, with their stability mainly dependent on stabilizers. In recent years, soy proteins have gained significant attention as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions due to their excellent biocompatibility and amphiphilicity. In this work, we integrated soy protein isolate (SPI) with PANs to create SPI-PANs nanocomplexes serving as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions, aiming to enhance emulsion stability and safeguard PANs from environmental degradation. Our findings indicated that SPI-PANs nanocomplexes with a 50:4 mass ratio of SPI and PANs demonstrated outstanding antioxidant capacity, low hydrophobicity, and relatively small, uniform particle sizes. The non-covalent interactions between SPI and PANs primarily involved hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Subsequently, we successfully prepared oil-in-water SPI-PANs Pickering emulsions using homogenization techniques. Our in vitro digestion and release studies revealed that these emulsions exhibited nearly double the PANs retention compared to controls (pure PANs), highlighting their significant sustained-release advantage. Additionally, the emulsions demonstrated significant creaming stability and were non-cytotoxic to HEK 293 T and HeLa cells. Overall, SPI Pickering emulsions remain considerable potential as a carrier system for the intestinal delivery of PANs and other bio-functional compounds in the field of functional food.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of piperine derivatives as potent antitumor agents

A series of piperine derivatives were designed and successfully synthesized. The antitumor activities of these compounds against 293 T human normal cells, as well as MDA-MB-231 (breast) and Hela (cervical) cancer cell lines, were assessed through the MTT assay. Notably, compound H7 exhibited moderate activity, displaying reduced toxicity towards non-tumor 293 T cells while potently enhancing the antiproliferative effects in Hela and MDA-MB-231 cells. The IC50 values were determined to be 147.45 ± 6.05 μM, 11.86 ± 0.32 μM, and 10.50 ± 3.74 μM for the respective cell lines. In subsequent mechanistic investigations, compound H7 demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of clone formation, migration, and adhesion in Hela cells. At a concentration of 15 μM, its inhibitory effect on Hela cell function surpassed that of both piperine and 5-Fu. Furthermore, compound H7 exhibited promising antitumor activity in vivo, as evidenced by significant inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and reduction in tumor weight in a chicken embryo model. These findings provide a valuable scientific foundation for the development of novel and efficacious antitumor agents, particularly highlighting the potential of compound H7 as a therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Ruthenium p-Cymene Complexes Incorporating Substituted Pyridine-Quinoline-Based Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxic Properties.

Organometallic complexes of the formula [Ru(N^N)(p-cymene)Cl][X] (N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands, p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, X = counter anion), are currently studied as possible candidates for the potential treatment of cancer. Searching for new organometallic compounds with good to moderate cytotoxic activities, a series of mononuclear water-soluble ruthenium(II)-arene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine-quinoline ligands, with pending -CH2OH, -CO2H and -CO2Me groups in the 4-position of quinoline ring, were synthesized, for the first time, to study their possible effect to modulate the activity of the ruthenium p-cymene complexes. These include the [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqhyme)Cl][X] (X = Cl- (1-Cl), PF6- (1-PF6), pqhyme = 4-hydroxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqca)Cl][Cl] ((2-Cl), pqca = 4-carboxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqcame)Cl][X] (X = Cl- (3-Cl), PF6- (3-PF6), pqcame = 4-carboxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline) complexes, respectively. Identification of the complexes was based on multinuclear NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopic, and ESI-HRMS techniques. The solid-state structures of 1-PF6 and 3-PF6 have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealing a three-legged piano stool geometry. This is the first time that the in vitro cytotoxic activities of these complexes are studied. These were conducted in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells) via the MTT assay. The results show poor in vitro anticancer activities for the HeLa cancer cell lines and 3-Cl proved to be the most potent (IC50 > 80 μΜ). In both cell lines, the cytotoxicity of the ligand precursor pqhyme is significantly higher than that of cisplatin.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of piperine derivatives as potent antitumor agents

A series of piperine derivatives were designed and successfully synthesized. The antitumor activities of these compounds against 293 T human normal cells, as well as MDA-MB-231 (breast) and Hela (cervical) cancer cell lines, were assessed through the MTT assay. Notably, compound H7 exhibited moderate activity, displaying reduced toxicity towards non-tumor 293 T cells while potently enhancing the antiproliferative effects in Hela and MDA-MB-231 cells. The IC50 values were determined to be 147.45 ± 6.05 μM, 11.86 ± 0.32 μM, and 10.50 ± 3.74 μM for the respective cell lines. In subsequent mechanistic investigations, compound H7 demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of clone formation, migration, and adhesion in Hela cells. At a concentration of 15 μM, its inhibitory effect on Hela cell function surpassed that of both piperine and 5-Fu. Furthermore, compound H7 exhibited promising antitumor activity in vivo, as evidenced by significant inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and reduction in tumor weight in a chicken embryo model. These findings provide a valuable scientific foundation for the development of novel and efficacious antitumor agents, particularly highlighting the potential of compound H7 as a therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Tirbanibulin decreases cell proliferation and downregulates protein expression of oncogenic pathways in human papillomavirus containing HeLa cells.

Tirbanibulin 1% ointment is a synthetic antiproliferative agent approved in 2021 by the European Union for treating actinic keratoses (AK). Topical tirbanibulin has clinically resolved HPV-57 ( +) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), HPV-16 ( +) vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, epidermodysplasia verruciformis, and condyloma. We examined how tirbanibulin might affect HPV oncoprotein expression and affect other cellular pathways involved in cell proliferation and transformation. We treated the HeLa cell line, containing integrated HPV-18, with increasing doses of tirbanibulin to determine the effects on cell proliferation. Immunoblotting was performed with antibodies against theSrc canonical pathway, HPV 18 E6 and E7 transcription regulation, apoptosis, and invasion and metastasis pathways. Cell proliferation assays with tirbanibulin determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HeLa cells to be 31.49nmol/L. Increasing concentrations of tirbanibulin downregulates the protein expression of Src(p < 0.001), phospho-Src(p < 0.001), Ras(p < 0.01), c-Raf(p < 0.001), ERK1(p < 0.001), phospho-ERK1(p < 0.001), phospho-ERK2(p < 0.01), phospho-Mnk1(p < 0.001), eIF4E(p < 0.01), phospho-eIF4E(p < 0.001), E6(p < 0.01), E7(p < 0.01), Rb(p < 0.01), phospho-Rb(p < 0.001), MDM2(p < 0.01), E2F1(p < 0.001), phospho-FAK(p < 0.001), phospho-p130 Cas(p < 0.001), Mcl-1(p < 0.01), and Bcl-2(p < 0.001), but upregulates cPARP(p < 0.001), and cPARP/fPARP(p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that tirbanibulin may impact expression of HPV oncoproteins via the Src- MEK- pathway. Tirbanibulin significantly downregulates oncogenic proteins related to cell cycle regulation and cell proliferation while upregulating apoptosis pathways.

Phosphorylation at the disordered N-end makes HuR accumulate and dimerize in the cytoplasm.

Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA binding protein mainly involved in maintaining the stability and controlling the translation of mRNAs, critical for immune response, cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis. Although HuR is a nuclear protein, its mRNA translational-related function occurs at the cytoplasm, where the oligomeric form of HuR is more abundant. However, the regulation of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of HuR and its connection with protein oligomerization remain unclear. In this work, we describe the phosphorylation of Tyr5 as a new hallmark for HuR activation. Our biophysical, structural and computational assays using phosphorylated and phosphomimetic HuR proteins demonstrate that phosphorylation of Tyr5 at the disordered N-end stretch induces global changes on HuR dynamics and conformation, modifying the solvent accessible surface of the HuR nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling (HNS) sequence and releasing regions implicated in HuR dimerization. These findings explain the preferential cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated HuR in HeLa cells, aiding to comprehend the mechanisms underlying HuR nucleus-cytoplasm shuttling and its later dimerization, both of which are relevant in HuR-related pathogenesis.

Novel pyrene-based Schiff base ligand as a fluorescent sensor for Al3+ and colorimetric sensor for Ni2+ ions detection: Synthesis, photo-physical and cell imaging studies

A simple fluorescent and colorimetric pyrene-based ((Z)-4-hydroxy-3-((pyren-1-ylmethylene)amino)benzoic acid (HPMB) chemosensor was synthesized through the condensation reaction between pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde and 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid. The structure of HPMB was elucidated using 1H NMR, MS, and UV–Visible spectroscopic techniques. The receptor HPMB displayed a detectable, colorimetric colour shift in the presence of Ni2+ and the colour of the solution was observed to be light brown. On the other hand, it also exhibited a fluorescent “turn on” response when Al3+ ions were added in DMSO solution (HEPES 0.01 M, pH = 7.4) at room temperature. Job’s plot showed that HPMB binding ratio to Ni2+ and Al3+ ions was in 1:1 ratio. The detection limit for Ni2+ and Al3+ ions was found to be 0.33 × 10-6 M and 0.26 × 10-6 M, respectively. In addition, HPMB was utilised to create a molecular logic gate, and the fluorescence imaging of HeLa cells was investigated because of HPMB’s low cytotoxicity, indicating that it could be used to detect Al3+ and Ni2+ in living cells.

Ere, a Family of Short Interspersed Elements in the Genomes of Odd-Toed Ungulates (Perissodactyla).

Short Interspersed Elements (SINEs) are eukaryotic retrotransposons transcribed by RNA polymerase III (pol III). Many mammalian SINEs (T+ SINEs) contain a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA), a pol III transcription terminator, and an A-rich tail in their 3'-end. The RNAs of such SINEs have the capacity for AAUAAA-dependent polyadenylation, which is unique to pol III-generated transcripts. The structure, evolution, and polyadenylation of the Ere SINE of ungulates (horses, rhinos, and tapirs) were investigated in this study. A bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of up to ~4 × 105 Ere copies in representatives of all three families. These copies can be classified into two large subfamilies, EreA and EreB, the former distinguished by an additional 60 bp sequence. The 3'-end of numerous EreA and all EreB copies exhibit a 50 bp sequence designated as a terminal domain (TD). The Ere family can be further subdivided into subfamilies EreA_0TD, EreA_1TD, EreB_1TD, and EreB_2TD, depending on the presence and number of terminal domains (TDs). Only EreA_0TD copies can be assigned to T+ SINEs as they contain the AATAAA signal and the TCTTT transcription terminator. The analysis of young Ere copies identified by comparison with related perissodactyl genomes revealed that EreA_0TD and, to a much lesser extent, EreB_2TD have retained retrotranspositional activity in the recent evolution of equids and rhinoceroses. The targeted mutagenesis and transfection of HeLa cells were used to identify sequences in equine EreA_0TD that are critical for the polyadenylation of its pol III transcripts. In addition to AATAAA and the transcription terminator, two sites in the 3' half of EreA, termed the β and τ signals, were found to be essential for this process. The evolution of Ere, with a particular focus on the emergence of T+ SINEs, as well as the polyadenylation signals are discussed in comparison with other T+ SINEs.

Importin subunit beta-1 mediates ERK5 nuclear translocation, and its inhibition synergizes with ERK5 kinase inhibitors in reducing cancer cell proliferation.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is emerging as a promising target in cancer. Indeed, alterations of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway are present in many types of cancer, including melanoma. One of the key events in MAPK signalling is MAPK nuclear translocation and its subsequent regulation of gene expression. Likewise, the effects of ERK5 in supporting cancer cell proliferation have been linked to its nuclear localization. Despite many processes regulating ERK5 nuclear translocation having been determined, the nuclear transporters involved have not yet been identified. Here, we investigated the role of importin subunit alpha (α importin) and importin subunit beta-1 (importin β1) in ERK5 nuclear shuttling to identify additional targets for cancer treatment. Either importin β1 knockdown or the α/β1 importin inhibitor ivermectin reduced the nuclear amount of overexpressed and endogenous ERK5 in HEK293T and A375 melanoma cells, respectively. These results were confirmed in single-molecule microscopy in HeLa cells. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis showed that ivermectin impairs epidermal growth factor(EGF)-induced ERK5 nuclear shuttling in HeLa cells. Both co-immunoprecipitation experiments and proximity ligation assay provided evidence that ERK5 and importin β1 interact and that this interaction is further induced by EGF administration and prevented by ivermectin treatment. The combination of ivermectin and the ERK5 inhibitor AX15836 synergistically reduced cell viability and colony formation ability in A375 and HeLa cells and was more effective than single treatments in preventing the growth of A375 and HeLa spheroids. The increased reduction of cell viability upon the same combination was also observed in patient-derived metastatic melanoma cells. The combination of ivermectin and ERK5 inhibitors other than AX15836 provided similar effects on cell viability. The identification of importin β1 as the nuclear transporter of ERK5 may be exploited for additional ERK5-inhibiting strategies for cancer therapy.

A coumarin-based near infrared fluorescent probe for the detection of hydrogen sulfide/sulfur dioxide and mitochondrial viscosity

Existing studies have implied that H2S, SO2, and viscosity have potential interrelationships in diseases such as inflammation in the body. Developing fluorescent probes that can simultaneously distinguish and detect the three will be beneficial for relevant workers to explore their potential interrelationships in physiology and pathology. Due to the similar chemical properties of HS− and SO32− (both possessing strong nucleophilic properties), it presents a task with certain challenges that demand careful consideration to detect and differentiate between them using a single probe capable of simultaneously monitoring viscosity changes. In this study, we have designed and prepared a near-infrared fluorescent probe capable of distinguishing and detecting HS−, SO32−, and viscosity, as well as targeting mitochondria. The response of this probe to HS− and SO32− is quenching type and ratio type, respectively, with extremely low detection limits (LOD1 = 0.60 nM for HS−, LOD2 = 1.28 μM for SO32−), fast response time (T1 = 1 min for HS−, T2 = 2 min for SO32−), good selectivity and outstanding anti-interference performance. The monitoring of the viscosity of the probe also shows superior performance. As the viscosity enhances from 0.89 cP to 1412 cP, the fluorescence signal value increases by 52 times, and the trend of fluorescence intensity with viscosity well complies with the Förster-Hoffmann equation. To better understand the response mechanism of the probe to viscosity, we conduct a more in-depth exploration using Gaussian calculations, whose results are in excellent agreement with experimental phenomena. In addition, the probe has successfully achieved monitoring and imaging of HS−, SO32−, and viscosity in Hela cells and 97H cells.

DSN signal amplification strategy based nanochannels biosensor for the detection of miRNAs

MiRNA-21 is recognized as an important biological marker for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer. Here, we have created a nanochannel biosensor utilizing the duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) signal amplification strategy to achieve the detection of miRNAs. In this system, DNA as the capture probe was covalently immobilized on the surface of nanochannels, which hybridized with the target miRNA and forms RNA/DNA duplexes. DSN could cleave the probe DNA in RNA/DNA duplexes, recycling target miRNA, which may again hybridized with other DNA probes. After N cycles, most of the DNA probes had been cleaved, and the content of miRNA could be quantified by detecting changes in surface charge density. This biosensor can distinguish miR-21 from non-complementary miRNAs and one-base mismatched miRNAs, with reliable detection limits as low as 1 fM in PBS. In addition, we had successfully applied this method to analysis of total RNA samples in MCF-7 cells and HeLa cells, and the nanochannels had also shown excellent responsiveness and strong anti-interference ability. This new method is expected to contribute to miRNA detection in clinical diagnostics, providing a unique approach to detecting and distinguishing disease-associated molecules.

Characterizing Chemical, Environmental, and Stimulated Subcellular Physical Characteristics of Size-Fractionated PMs Down to PM0.1.

Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM), is a significant environmental pollution worldwide. Studying the chemical, environmental, and life-related cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs is important because of their different degrees of harmful effects on human respiratory tracts and organ systems, causing severe diseases. This study evaluates the chemical components of size-fractionated PMs down to PM0.1 collected during a biomass-burning episode, including elemental/organic carbon and trace elements. Single particle sizes and distributions of PM0.1, PM0.5-0.1, PM1.0-0.5, and PM2.5-1.0 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Zeta sizer. Two commonly used cell lines, e.g., HeLa and Cos7 cells, and two respiratory-related cell lines including lung cancer/normal cells were utilized for cell cytotoxicity experiments, revealing the key effects of particle sizes and concentrations. A high-speed scanning ion conductance microscope explored particle-stimulated subcellular physical characteristics for all cell lines in dynamics, including surface roughness (SR) and elastic modulus (E). The statistical results of SR showed distinct features among different particle sizes and cell types while a E reduction was universally found. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the chemical, environmental, and cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs and sheds light on the necessity of controlling small-sized PM exposures.

Real-time imaging of intracellular deformation dynamics in vibrated adherent cell cultures.

Mechanical vibration has been shown to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanism of its cellular mechanotransduction remains unclear. Although the measurement of intracellular deformation dynamics under mechanical vibration could reveal more detailed mechanisms, corroborating experimental evidence is lacking due to technical difficulties. In this study, we aimed to propose a real-time imaging method of intracellular structure deformation dynamics in vibrated adherent cell cultures and investigate whether organelles such as actin filaments connected to a nucleus and the nucleus itself show deformation under horizontal mechanical vibration. The proposed real-time imaging was achieved by conducting vibration isolation and making design improvements to the experimental setup; using a high-speed and high-sensitivity camera with a global shutter; and reducing image blur using a stroboscope technique. Using our system, we successfully produced the first experimental report on the existence of the deformation of organelles connected to a nucleus and the nucleus itself under horizontal mechanical vibration. Furthermore, the intracellular deformation difference between HeLa and MC3T3-E1 cells measured under horizontal mechanical vibration agrees with the prediction of their intracellular structure based on the mechanical vibration theory. These results provide new findings about the cellular mechanotransduction mechanism under mechanical vibration.

Assessment of NIR-triggered PEG-coated NaGdF4:Tm3+/Yb3+ bio-compatible upconversion nanoparticles for contrast enhancement in OCT imaging and optical thermometry

In this investigation, we embarked on the synthesis of polyethylene glycol coated NaGdF4:Tm3+/Yb3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), aiming to assess their utility in enhancing image contrast within the context of swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and photo-thermal OCT imaging. Our research unveiled the remarkable UC emissions stemming from the transitions of Tm3+ ions, specifically the 1G4 → 3H6 transitions, yielding vibrant blue emissions at 472 nm. We delved further into the UC mechanism, meticulously scrutinizing decay times and the nanoparticles′ capacity to convert radiation into heat. Notably, these nanoparticles exhibited an impressive photo-thermal conversion efficiency of 37.5%. Furthermore, our investigations into their bio-compatibility revealed a promising outcome, with more than 90% cell survival after 24 h of incubation with HeLa cells treated with UCNPs. The nanoparticles demonstrated a notable thermal sensitivity of 4.7 × 10−3 K−1 at 300 K, signifying their potential for precise temperature monitoring at the cellular level.

Detection, Optimization, Characterization, and Cytotoxic Effect of Vaginolysin Extracted from Gardnerella Vaginalis Isolated from Iraqi Women Who Had Abortions

Objective: The goal of this study is the detection of the gen that responsible for production the vaginolysin toxin, discovered the optimal condition for produce vaginolysin, purification and characterization of the toxin and show the cytotoxic effect of vaginolysin on VK2cell and HeLa cell. Methods: Among 592 specimens isolated from pregnant women suffering from vaginal inflammation and threatened with abortion(these women is suffering from strong pain in the cervical region), only 62 of isolates identified as G vaginalis. From Baghdad teaching hospital. detection of the gen that responsible for production the vaginolysin toxin. study of the optimal condition to produce vaginolysin. the purification of the toxin by using ammonium sulfate, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, toxin characterization of pH and temperature activity and stability, the study of cytotoxic effect of vaginolysin on VK2 and HeLa cells. Result: The optimal condition to produce the toxin is pH level in 4, best temperature is 37 0C, the best media is TSB broth , and the best hours is 24hr. . The best range for precipitation saturation ratio 50%. ion exchanges have specific activity 4 mg. gel filtrations show an increase in the specific activity of purified toxin (10U/mg). the characterization done by pH and temperature,Vaginolysin was active in 0.5 U/ mL at pH 7, and stable in pH 7 activity, the best temperature for vaginolysin activity is 0.5 U/mL at 37°C and maximum stability was recorded at 37°C . the cytotoxic effect of the toxin on VK2 cell observed the viability ratio 69.98%, at higher toxin concentration, while the result for HeLa cell viability ratio 38.77%, at higher toxin concentration. Conclusion: vaginolysin cause lysis of vaginal cell and cervical cell may lead to abortion, the killing ratio increase by increasing the concentration of the toxin and the effect of the toxin on HeLa cell is more than on VK2 cell.

Endothelial cell specific molecule 1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer via the E-box binding homeobox 1.

To investigate the mechanism of endothelial cell specific molecule 1 (ESM1) promoting cervical cancer cell proliferation and EMT characteristics through zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)/EMT pathway. The correlation between ESM1 expression and prognosis of cervical cancer patients was analyzed by bioinformatics. SiHa, HeLa cell lines and corresponding control cell lines with stable ESM1 expression were obtained. Cell proliferation ability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The invasion and migration ability of Hela and SiHa cells were detected by Transwell assay and scratch closure assay. Expressions of EMT-related markers E-cadherin and Vimentin were detected by real-time PCR. The ability of silenced ESM1 to tumor formation in vivo was detected by tumor formation in nude mice. The effects of aloe-emodin on inhibit ESM1 expression and its inhibitory effect on cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo were analyzed by the same method. ESM1 was highly expressed in cervical cancer, and the high expression of ESM1 was associated with poor prognosis of cervical cancer patients. CCK-8 results showed that the proliferation, invasion and migration of Hela and SiHa cells were significantly reduced after siRNA interfered with ESM1 expression. Overexpression of ESM1 promoted the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells. Mechanism studies have shown that the oncogenic effect of ESM1 is realized through the ZEB1/PI3K/AKT pathway. High throughput drug screening found that aloe-emodin can target ESM1. Inhibitory effect of aloe emodin on ESM1/ZEB1/EMT signaling pathway and cervical cancer cells. The silencing of ESM1 expression may inhibit the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting ZEB1/PI3K/AKT. Aloe-emodin is a potential treatment for cervical cancer, which can play an anti-tumor role by inhibiting ESM1/ZEB1.

A highly sensitive and colorimetric fluorescent probe for visualizing hydroxylamine in immune cells

BackgroundHydroxylamine (HA) is vital industrial raw material and pharmaceutical intermediate. In addition, HA is an important cellular metabolite, which is intermediate in the formation of nitric oxide and nitroxide. However, excessive amounts of HA are toxic to both animals and plants. Conventional methods for the detection of HA are cumbersome and complicated. The detection of HA with fluorescent probes is convenient and sensitive. There are few probes available for the detection of hydroxylamine. Therefore, a fluorescent probe for the sensitive and selective detection of HA was developed in this work. ResultsA coumarin derivative SWJT-22 was synthesized as a colorimetric fluorescent probe to detect hydroxylamine (HA), with high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection limit of the probe to HA was 0.15 μM, which was lower than most probes of HA. Upon the addition of HA to aqueous solution containing SWJT-22, the color of the solution changed from orange to yellow, and the fluorescence color also changed from orange to green. The reaction mechanism of SWJT-22 to HA was confirmed by 1H NMR titrations, mass spectrometry and round bottom flask experiments. Moreover, SWJT-22 had been fabricated into portable test strips for the detection of HA. SWJT-22 had been successfully used in cellular imaging and could detect both endogenous and exogenous HA in HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 cells. SignificanceDue to the physiological role of hydroxylamine in organisms, it is crucial to detect hydroxylamine selectively and sensitively. This work provided a convenient tool for the detection of hydroxylamine, not only to detect endogenous and exogenous HA in cells, but also made into portable test strips. The HA fluorescent probe SWJT-22 is expected to promote the study of HA in physiological processes.

Integrating Metabolic Oligosaccharide Engineering and SPAAC Click Chemistry for Constructing Fibrinolytic Cell Surfaces.

To effectively solve the problem of significant loss of transplanted cells caused by thrombosis during cell transplantation, this study simulates the human fibrinolytic system and combines metabolic oligosaccharide engineering with strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) click chemistry to construct a cell surface with fibrinolytic activity. First, a copolymer (POL) of oligoethylene glycol methacrylate (OEGMA) and 6-amino-2-(2-methylamido)hexanoic acid (Lys) was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization, and the dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) functional group was introduced into the side chain of the copolymer through an active ester reaction, resulting in a functionalized copolymer DBCO-PEG4-POL with ε-lysine ligands. Then, azide functional groups were introduced onto the surface of HeLa model cells through metabolic oligosaccharide engineering, and DBCO-PEG4-POL was further specifically modified onto the surface of HeLa cells via the SPAAC "click" reaction. In vitro investigations revealed that compared with unmodified HeLa cells, modified cells not only resist the adsorption of nonspecific proteins such as fibrinogen and human serum albumin but also selectively bind to plasminogen in plasma while maintaining good cell viability and proliferative activity. More importantly, upon the activation of adsorbed plasminogen into plasmin, the modified cells exhibited remarkable fibrinolytic activity and were capable of promptly dissolving the primary thrombus formed on their surfaces. This research not only provides a novel approach for constructing transplantable cells with fibrinolytic activity but also offers a new perspective for effectively addressing the significant loss of transplanted cells caused by thrombosis.

Macroalgal (Ulva compressa) Silver Nanoparticles: Their Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Applications

In this study, an extract of Ulva compressa (UC), a green macroalgae, was used to synthesize biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The formation of nanoparticles (NPs) was evaluated and confirmed by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. UV-VIS spectra showing absorption peaks at 450 nm confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The particles were crystalline in nature according to the XRD pattern. AgNPs formation was proved by the FT-IR spectrum of UC. TEM image showed that the average particle size was 4.55 nm. The antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic activity was evaluated for the synthesized AgNPs. AgNPs obtained from algae demonstrated antimicrobial activity against all bacteria including B. subtilis, E. faecalis, S. mutans, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. pyogenes. The NPs were shown to have anticarcinogenic activity on HEK 293, MCF-7, and HeLa (reducing viability by 25.42%, 46.42%, and 62.42%, respectively) cell cultures. These findings indicate that AgNPs can be useful medicinal compounds. Green synthesized NPs can be developed and utilized as anticancer agents in the treatment of various types of cancer, as well as their antimicrobial effects can be utilized to ensure the long-term sustainability of food in this study.