Membrane Potential Measurements Research Articles

The Multidirectional Effect of Azelastine Hydrochloride on Cervical Cancer Cells.

A major cause of cancer cell resistance to chemotherapeutics is the blocking of apoptosis and induction of autophagy in the context of cell adaptation and survival. Therefore, new compounds are being sought, also among drugs that are commonly used in other therapies. Due to the involvement of histamine in the regulation of processes occurring during the development of many types of cancer, antihistamines are now receiving special attention. Our study concerned the identification of new mechanisms of action of azelastine hydrochloride, used in antiallergic treatment. The study was performed on HeLa cells treated with different concentrations of azelastine (15–90 µM). Cell cycle, level of autophagy (LC3 protein activity) and apoptosis (annexin V assay), activity of caspase 3/7, anti-apoptotic protein of Bcl-2 family, ROS concentration, measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and level of phosphorylated H2A.X in response to DSB were evaluated by cytometric method. Cellular changes were also demonstrated at the level of transmission electron microscopy and optical and fluorescence microscopy. Lysosomal enzyme activities-cathepsin D and L and cell viability (MTT assay) were assessed spectrophotometrically. Results: Azelastine in concentrations of 15–25 µM induced degradation processes, vacuolization, increase in cathepsin D and L activity, and LC3 protein activation. By increasing ROS, it also caused DNA damage and blocked cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. At the concentrations of 45–90 µM, azelastine clearly promoted apoptosis by activation of caspase 3/7 and inactivation of Bcl-2 protein. Fragmentation of cell nucleus was confirmed by DAPI staining. Changes were also found in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, whose damage was confirmed by staining with rhodamine 123 and in the MTT test. Azelastine decreased the mitotic index and induced mitotic catastrophe. Studies demonstrated the multidirectional effects of azelastine on HeLa cells, including anti-proliferative, cytotoxic, autophagic, and apoptotic properties, which were the predominant mechanism of death. The revealed novel properties of azelastine may be practically used in anti-cancer therapy in the future.

Non‐invasively derived human induced mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate an enhanced protection of cardiomyocytes from injuries

BackgroundMesenchymal stem are multipotent stem cells used for treating various diseases including cardiomyopathy. However, their heterogeneity, limited proliferation and low retention in the transplanted tissue restricts their application for cell therapy. Recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) have created an exciting source of cells for autologous therapy.ObjectiveIn this study, we have compared the therapeutic potential of non‐invasively derived iMSCs with adult umbilical cord MSCs (hereafter referred as MSCs) for the protection of cardiomyocytes from injury.Methods and ResultsThe urinary epithelial cells obtained from adult human urine were safely reprogrammed into iPSCs using a mixture of mRNA of pluripotency genes (Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, Klf4, cMyc and Lin28) along with a cocktail of miRNAs. The generated iPSCs were subsequently differentiated into iMSCs, which had the capacity to differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Our comparative qRT‐PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the mesenchymal‐specific CD73, CD90 and CD105 gene transcripts and proteins were highly expressed in both iMSCs and MSCs. But the iMSCs maintained their mesenchymal markers even at a late passage (P18), during which the MSCs started losing their characteristics. Scratch assay and transwell migration assay demonstrated that iMSCs had a greater wound healing property compared to MSCs. Furthermore, the cardioprotective properties of iMSCs and their exosomes (obtained from the conditioned media by precipitation method) were evaluated using human skin fibroblast‐derived induced‐cardiomyocytes, treated with 50 µg of exosomes 1 hr before subjecting them to either 24 hrs of angiotensin II treatment (10 µM) or 6 hrs of 1% hypoxia and 24 hrs of reoxygenation. In comparison with MSCs, iMSCs and their exosomes elicited an enhanced cardiomyocyte protection studied through measurement of mitochondrial membrane potentials (JC1 dye), intracellular reactive oxygen species (CM‐H2DCFDA), in situ cell death by apoptosis, and qRT‐PCR expression of survival genes. Further studies are underway to evaluate the specific role of exosomal RNA and protein in mediating the cardioprotection.ConclusionIn this study, we have demonstrated a non‐invasive method of generating iMSCs for regenerative therapy. This homogeneous and highly proliferative iMSCs may provide an alternative source of cells or cell‐free exosomes for treating ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Chimeric HDAC and the cytoskeleton inhibitor broxbam as a novel therapeutic strategy for liver cancer

Broxbam, also known as N-hydroxy-4-{1-methoxy-4-[4′-(3′-bromo-4′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-oxazol-5′-yl]-2-phenoxy} butanamide, is a novel chimeric inhibitor that contains two distinct pharmacophores in its molecular structure. It has been previously demonstrated to inhibit the activity of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and tubulin polymerisation, two critical components required for cancer growth and survival. In the present study, the potential suitability of broxbam for the treatment of liver cancer was investigated. The effects of broxbam on cell proliferation and apoptosis, in addition to the under-lying molecular mechanism of action, were first investigated in primary liver cancer cell lines Huh7, HepG2, TFK1 and EGI1. Real-time proliferation measurements made using the iCEL-Ligence system and viable cell number counting following crystal violet staining) revealed that broxbam time- and dose-dependently reduced the proliferation of liver cancer cell lines with IC50 values <1 µM. In addition, a significant inhibition of the growth of hepatoblastoma microtumours on the chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of fertilised chicken eggs by broxbam was observed according to results from the CAM assay, suggesting antineoplastic potency in vivo. Broxbam also exerted apoptotic effects through p53- and mitochondria-driven caspase-3 activation in Huh7 and HepG2 cells according to data from western blotting (p53 and phosphorylated p53), mitochondrial membrane potential measurements (JC-1 assay) and fluorometric capsase-3 measurements. Notably, no contribution of unspecific cytotoxic effects mediated by broxbam were observed from LDH-release measurements. HDAC1, -2, -4 and -6 expression was measured by western blotting and the HDAC inhibitory potency of broxbam was next evaluated using subtype-specific HDAC enzymatic assays, which revealed a largely pan-HDAC inhibitory activity with the most potent inhibition observed on HDAC6. Silencing HDAC6 expression in Huh7 cells led to a drop in the expression of the proliferation markers Ki-67 and E2F3, suggesting that HDAC6 inhibition by broxbam may serve a predomi-nant role in their antiproliferative effects on liver cancer cells. Immunofluorescence staining of cytoskeletal proteins (α-tubulin & actin) of broxbam-treated HepG2 cells revealed a pronounced inhibition of tubulin polymerisation, which was accompanied by reduced cell migration as determined by wound healing scratch assays. Finally, data from zebrafish angiogenesis assays revealed marked antiangiogenic effects of broxbam in vivo, as shown by the suppression of subintestinal vein growth in zebrafish embryos. To conclude, the pleiotropic anticancer activities of this novel chimeric HDAC- and tubulin inhibitor broxbam suggest that this compound is a promising candidate for liver cancer treatment, which warrants further pre-clinical and clinical evaluation.

Functional Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels Are Present in the Human B Cell Membrane.

B cells express various ion channels, but the presence of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels has not been confirmed in the plasma membrane yet. In this study, we have identified several NaV channels, which are expressed in the human B cell membrane, by electrophysiological and molecular biology methods. The sensitivity of the detected sodium current to tetrodotoxin was between the values published for TTX-sensitive and TTX-insensitive channels, which suggests the co-existence of multiple NaV1 subtypes in the B cell membrane. This was confirmed by RT-qPCR results, which showed high expression of TTX-sensitive channels along with the lower expression of TTX-insensitive NaV1 channels. The biophysical characteristics of the currents also supported the expression of multiple NaV channels. In addition, we investigated the potential functional role of NaV channels by membrane potential measurements. Removal of Na+ from the extracellular solution caused a reversible hyperpolarization, supporting the role of NaV channels in shaping and maintaining the resting membrane potential. As this study was mainly limited to electrophysiological properties, we cannot exclude the possible non-canonical functions of these channels. This work concludes that the presence of voltage-gated sodium channels in the plasma membrane of human B cells should be recognized and accounted for in the future.

Mechanistic investigation of synergistic interaction of tocopherol succinate with a quinoline-based inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin.

Cancer monotherapy is associated with various limitations; therefore, combination chemotherapy is widely explored for optimum drug efficacy. In this study, 4-(N-Phenyl-N'-substituted benzenesulfonyl)-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl) quinoline-based mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor (IIIM-4Q) was investigated in combination with tocopherol succinate (TOS), and the mechanism of cytotoxicity was elucidated. The cytotoxic potential of IIIM-4Q and TOS was evaluated in five cell lines. Further, to understand the mechanism of cytotoxicity of IIIM-4Q, TOS and their combination, various studies including morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy and 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, estimation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), in-vitro cell migration assay, Western blotting and staining with acridine orange (AO) for autophagy detection were performed. Investigated combination was synergistic in nature and exhibited greater oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in pancreatic cancer cells. The migration potential of MIA PaCa-2 cells was significantly mitigated under the influence of this combination, and morphological changes such as chromatin condensation and nuclear blebbing were observed. Also, poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase cleavage and caspase-3 activation were observed in IIIM-4Q and TOS combination-treated cells. The investigated combination synergistically inhibited proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 cells through simultaneous induction of autophagy followed by apoptosis, and this combination demonstrated potential for further translational studies.

An integrated toolbox to profile macrophage immunometabolism

SummaryMacrophages are dynamic immune cells that can adopt several activation states. Fundamental to these functional activation states is the regulation of cellular metabolic processes. Especially in mice, metabolic alterations underlying pro-inflammatory or homeostatic phenotypes have been assessed using various techniques. However, researchers new to the field may encounter ambiguity in choosing which combination of techniques is best suited to profile immunometabolism. To address this need, we have developed a toolbox to assess cellular metabolism in a semi-high-throughput 96-well-plate-based format. Application of the toolbox to activated mouse and human macrophages enables fast metabolic pre-screening and robust measurement of extracellular fluxes, mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, and glucose and lipid uptake. Moreover, we propose an application of SCENITH technology for ex vivo metabolic profiling. We validate established activation-induced metabolic rewiring in mouse macrophages and report new insights into human macrophage metabolism. By thoroughly discussing each technique, we hope to guide readers with practical workflows for investigating immunometabolism.

Parameter Identification Problem in the Hodgkin-Huxley Model.

The Hodgkin-Huxley (H-H) landmark model is described by a system of four nonlinear differential equations that describes how action potentials in neurons are initiated and propagated. However, obtaining some of the parameters of the model requires a tedious combination of experiments and data tuning. In this letter, we propose the use of a minimal error iteration method to estimate some of the parameters in the H-H model, given the measurements of membrane potential. We provide numerical results showing that the approach approximates well some of the model's parameters, using the measured voltage as data, even in the presence of noise.

Ubiquitylation of cyclin C by HACE1 regulates cisplatin-associated sensitivity in gastric cancer.

BackgroundCyclin C (CCNC) was reported to take part in regulating mitochondria‐derived oxidative stress under cisplatin stimulation. However, its effect in gastric cancer is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of cyclin C and its ubiquitylation in regulating cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer.MethodsThe interaction between HECT domain and ankyrin repeat‐containing E3 ubiquitin‐protein ligase 1 (HACE1) and cyclin C was investigated by GST pull‐down assay, co‐immunoprecipitation and ubiquitylation assay. Mitochondria‐derived oxidative stress was studied by MitoSOX Red assay, seahorse assay and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement. Cyclin C‐associated cisplatin resistance was studied in vivo via xenograft.ResultsHACE1 catalysed the ubiquitylation of cyclin C by adding Lys11‐linked ubiquitin chains when cyclin C translocates to cytoplasm induced by cisplatin treatment. The ubiquitin‐modified cyclin C then anchor at mitochondira, which induced mitochondrial fission and ROS synthesis. Depleting CCNC or mutation on the ubiquitylation sites decreased mitochondrial ROS production and reduced cell apoptosis under cisplatin treatment. Xenograft study showed that disrupting cyclin C ubiquitylation by HACE1 conferred impairing cell apoptosis response upon cisplatin administration.ConclusionsCyclin C is a newly identified substrate of HACE1 E3 ligase. HACE1‐mediated ubiquitylation of cyclin C sheds light on a better understanding of cisplatin‐associated resistance in gastric cancer patients. Ubiquitylation of cyclin C by HACE1 regulates cisplatin‐associated sensitivity in gastric cancer. With cisplatin‐induced nuclear–mitochondrial translocation of cyclin C, its ubiquitylation by HACE1 increased mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial‐derived oxidative stress, leading to cell apoptosis.

Non-autonomous stomatal control by pavement cell turgor via the K+ channel subunit AtKC1.

Stomata optimize land plants' photosynthetic requirements and limit water vapor loss. So far, all of the molecular and electrical components identified as regulating stomatal aperture are produced, and operate, directly within the guard cells. However, a completely autonomous function of guard cells is inconsistent with anatomical and biophysical observations hinting at mechanical contributions of epidermal origins. Here, potassium (K+) assays, membrane potential measurements, microindentation, and plasmolysis experiments provide evidence that disruption of the Arabidopsis thaliana K+ channel subunit gene AtKC1 reduces pavement cell turgor, due to decreased K+ accumulation, without affecting guard cell turgor. This results in an impaired back pressure of pavement cells onto guard cells, leading to larger stomatal apertures. Poorly rectifying membrane conductances to K+ were consistently observed in pavement cells. This plasmalemma property is likely to play an essential role in K+ shuttling within the epidermis. Functional complementation reveals that restoration of the wild-type stomatal functioning requires the expression of the transgenic AtKC1 at least in the pavement cells and trichomes. Altogether, the data suggest that AtKC1 activity contributes to the building of the back pressure that pavement cells exert onto guard cells by tuning K+ distribution throughout the leaf epidermis.

An Immersible Microgripper for Pancreatic Islet and Organoid Research.

To improve the predictive value of in vitro experimentation, the use of 3D cell culture models, or organoids, is becoming increasingly popular. However, the current equipment of life science laboratories has been developed to deal with cell monolayers or cell suspensions. To handle 3D cell aggregates and organoids in a well-controlled manner, without causing structural damage or disturbing the function of interest, new instrumentation is needed. In particular, the precise and stable positioning in a cell bath with flow rates sufficient to characterize the kinetic responses to physiological or pharmacological stimuli can be a demanding task. Here, we present data that demonstrate that microgrippers are well suited to this task. The current version is able to work in aqueous solutions and was shown to position isolated pancreatic islets and 3D aggregates of insulin-secreting MIN6-cells. A stable hold required a gripping force of less than 30 μN and did not affect the cellular integrity. It was maintained even with high flow rates of the bath perfusion, and it was precise enough to permit the simultaneous microfluorimetric measurements and membrane potential measurements of the single cells within the islet through the use of patch-clamp electrodes.

Mesoporous Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles Assisted Photodynamic Therapy Using 5-Aminolevulinic Acid: Mechanistic and In Vivo Studies.

Exclusively red-emitting upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with the composition NaErF4:0.5%Tm as a core and NaYF4 as a shell were synthesized for performing photodynamic therapy (PDT). A possible mechanism was proposed for core-shell UCNPs formation. For loading a maximum amount of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), mesoporous silica coating was performed on UCNPs. Studies under dark conditions confirmed the biocompatibility of 5-ALA-loaded UCNPs formulation (UCNPs-5-ALA) with MCF-7 cells. Meanwhile, studies under light-exposed conditions exhibited effective cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells. Studies employing D2O-based cell cultured media and addition of DABCO in cell culture established that the cell death was due to oxidation of cellular components by reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggering the apoptosis. The formation of ROS was confirmed by DCF(H)DA-based ROS analysis via fluorescence microscopy to demonstrate the ROS production, which mediates the programmed cell death. Additionally, we have validated the apoptosis in MCF-7 cells with flow cytometry analyses. This was further confirmed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay on nuclear extract and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential. In the case of animal model studies, the formulation UCNPs-5-ALA without irradiation (980 nm) did not possess any in vivo cytotoxicity on tumor-induced SCID mice and there was a minimum migration of UCNPs-5-ALA to the vital organs but maximum retention at the tumor site only. Meanwhile, only the mice treated with UCNPs-5-ALA and irradiated on the tumor region with 980 nm laser (500 mW) for 20 min possessed a tumor with a size reduced to about 75% as compared with the corresponding control groups. To the best of our knowledge, this type of study was conducted for the first time employing exclusively red-emitting phosphors for effective PDT.

Genetically encoded voltage indicator proteins revealed differential effects of hyperosmotic stress on yeast plasma membrane potential imposed by different stress conditions.

Cells can be affected by several causes of osmotic stress, by which they are forced to adapt. An essential aspect of adaptation is ion regulation, and many insights into such complex processes can be obtained through measurement of the plasma membrane potential (PMP) of cells during stress. We recently established genetically encoded voltage indicator proteins that could be utilized to report the yeast PMP change in real time. In this work, we employed this method to monitor the early change in the PMP of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with intact cell wall, immediately following hyperosmotic up-shock due to various stress agents. The results pointed to differential effects of NaCl, sorbitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. Yeast PMP was more responsive toward PEG 6000 than NaCl and sorbitol at comparable osmotic pressure, and PEG 6000 stimulated the largest response magnitude, followed by sorbitol and NaCl, respectively. After prolonged treatment, PEG 6000 also instigated distinct cell morphology from NaCl and sorbitol. Accordingly, this study presents new evidence supporting multiple pathways underlying yeast adaptation to varying hyperosmotic conditions, enabled through the optical physiology approach. Our findings promote better understanding of the yeast cellular response to hyperosmotic stress, with tenable relevance to the physiologically related plant cells.

In vitro antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesised using the seed extracts of three varieties of Phoenix dactylifera.

Green synthesis of ‏silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an ecofriendly, cost-effective and promising approach for discovery of novel therapeutics. The aim of the current work was to biogenic synthesize, characterize AgNPs using seed extracts of three economically important varieties of date palm (Iklas, Irziz and Shishi), and assess their anti-pathogenic bacterial activities. AgNPs were synthesised then characterised using electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analyses. The bactericidal activities of AgNPs against five different bacterial pathogens, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. In particular, changes in membrane integrity of virulent bacterial strains in response to AgNPs were investigated. Results of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, and measurement of membrane potential revealed that the cytotoxic effects of the AgNPs were mainly centred on the plasma membrane of bacterial cells, leading to loss of its integrity and eventually cell death. In conclusion, green synthesis of AgNPs is an efficient, cost-effective and promising strategy to combat virulent antibiotic-resistant strains.

Monitoring Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Live Cells Using Time-Lapse Fluorescence Imaging.

The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) generated by proton pumps (Complexes I, III, and IV) is an essential component in the process of energy generation during oxidative phosphorylation. Tetramethylrhodamine, methyl ester, perchlorate (TMRM) is one of the most commonly used fluorescent reporters of ΔΨm. TMRM is routinely employed in a steady state for the measurement of membrane potential. However, it can also be utilized with time-lapse fluorescence imaging to effectively monitor the changes in membrane potential in response to a given stimulus by analyzing the change in distribution of the dye with time.

Exploring the Antiproliferative Mechanisms of Urtica dioica L. extract in Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cell Line

Background: Nature is a source of therapeutic compounds which have fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Stinging nettle extract, widely-used in Anatolia, has a strong antiproliferative effect on many types of cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this effect is still not known. Materials and Methods: In this study, the interaction of Urtica dioica L. extract at different concentrations with apoptosis and autophagy pathways in the human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60) was studied to elucidate how it triggers the antiproliferative effects. In this context, firstly, the plant leaves were extracted in water with the Soxhlet extraction method. HL-60 cells were incubated with the extract at different concentrations for 24 hours, and the activated antitumoral effect pathway was investigated with advanced following molecular tests: MTT staining, Nitric oxide (NO) level, Annexin-V in flow cytometry, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential measurement (MMP) and qPCR for evaluation of apoptosis and autophagy mediator genes. Results: It was determined that cell proliferation was suppressed at a concentration of 100 µg/mL and cells were kept in G0/G1 phase, MMP was impaired in cells and the rate of apoptotic cells increased. These apoptotic markers were confirmed by statistically increased expression of apoptotic and autophagy genes and NO level. Conclusions: Taken together, it is predicted that Urtica dioica L. water extract initiates apoptosis in HL-60 cells and could be promising compound candidate for cancer treatment.

Aging Affects KV7 Channels and Perivascular Adipose Tissue-Mediated Vascular Tone.

Aging is an independent risk factor for hypertension, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. However, detailed mechanisms linking aging to cardiovascular disease are unclear. We studied the aging effects on the role of perivascular adipose tissue and downstream vasoconstriction targets, voltage-dependent KV7 channels, and their pharmacological modulators (flupirtine, retigabine, QO58, and QO58-lysine) in a murine model. We assessed vascular function of young and old mesenteric arteries in vitro using wire myography and membrane potential measurements with sharp electrodes. We also performed bulk RNA sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests in mesenteric arteries and perivascular adipose tissue to elucidate molecular underpinnings of age-related phenotypes. Results revealed impaired perivascular adipose tissue-mediated control of vascular tone particularly via KV7.3–5 channels with increased age through metabolic and inflammatory processes and release of perivascular adipose tissue-derived relaxation factors. Moreover, QO58 was identified as novel pharmacological vasodilator to activate XE991-sensitive KCNQ channels in old mesenteric arteries. Our data suggest that targeting inflammation and metabolism in perivascular adipose tissue could represent novel approaches to restore vascular function during aging. Furthermore, KV7.3–5 channels represent a promising target in cardiovascular aging.

A DedA Family Membrane Protein in Indium Extrusion in Rhodanobacter sp. B2A1Ga4.

Indium (In) is a critical metal widely used in electronic equipment, and the supply of this precious metal is a major challenge for sustainable development. The use of microorganisms for the recovery of this critical high-tech element has been considered an excellent eco-friendly strategy. The Rhodanobacter sp. B2A1Ga4 strain, highly resistant to In, was studied in order to disclose the bacterial mechanisms closely linked to the ability to cope with this metal. The mutation of the gene encoding for a DedA protein homolog, YqaA, affected drastically the In resistance and the cellular metabolic activity of strain Rhodanobacter sp. B2A1Ga4 in presence of this metal. This indicates that this protein plays an important role in its In resistance phenotype. The negative impact of In might be related to the high accumulation of the metal into the mutant cells showing In concentration up to approximately 4-fold higher than the native strain. In addition, the expression of the yqaA gene in this mutant reverted the bacterial phenotype with a significant decrease of In accumulation levels into the cells and an increase of In resistance. Membrane potential measurements showed similar values for native and mutant cells, suggesting that there was no loss of proton-motive force in the mutant cells. The results from this study suggest a potential role of this DedA family protein as a membrane transporter involved in the In efflux process. The mutant strain also has the potential to be used as a biotool in bioaccumulation strategies, for the recovery of In in biomining activities.

Prediction of Rhizoma Drynariae Targets in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

Rhizoma Drynariae has been widely used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), but its potential targets and molecular mechanisms remain to be further explored. Targets of Rhizoma Drynariae and OA were predicted by relevant databases, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify key targets. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was performed to obtain related pathways and then select significant pathways associated with OA. The OA chondrocyte model was established by inflammatory factor-induced SW1353 chondrocytes, and molecular docking was conducted to verify the above theoretical prediction. The results showed that a total of 86 Rhizoma Drynariae-OA interaction targets were identified, among which IL-6 and AKT1 were the key targets in the PPI network. Luteolin was the most critical component of Rhizoma Drynariae. KEGG results indicated that the effects of Rhizoma Drynariae on OA are associated with the PI3K/AKT, TNF, IL-17, apoptosis, and HIF-1 signaling pathway. The PI3K/AKT pathway can activate the downstream NF-κB pathway and further regulate the transcription and expression of downstream IL-6, IL-17, HIF-1α, Bax, and TNF, suggesting that the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway is the critical pathway in the treatment of OA with Rhizoma Drynariae. Active components of Rhizoma Drynariae and key proteins of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway were subjected to molecular docking, whose results showed that luteolin and IKK-α played a critical role. In vitro experiments indicated that both aqueous extracts of Rhizoma Drynariae (AERD) and luteolin inhibited the expression of IL-6 and HIF-1α and suppressed the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, IL-17, and TNF pathways. The measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) indicated that AERD and luteolin can decrease the LPS-induced early apoptotic cells. Luteolin had a more prominent inhibitory effect than AERD in the abovementioned in vitro experiments. In conclusion, the therapeutic mechanism of Rhizoma Drynariae against OA may be closely related to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway and downstream pathways, and luteolin plays a vital role in the treatment.

Abstract 12545: Autologous Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells-derived Exosomes Exhibit Enhanced Protection Of Cardiomyocytes From Injuries

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)-derived exosomes containing small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) showed protection of the myocardium from injury, infection, and disease. Recently, we have generated a safe and non-viral method of generating induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MSCs (iMSCs) with high replicative, autologous, cardioprotecive potentials, originally derived from human urinary epithelial cells. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that exosomes from iMSC possess a superior cardioprotective, and regenerative characteristics compared to the exosomes from adult umbilical cord MSCs (hereafter referred as MSCs) for the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods &amp; Results: Exosomes isolated from serum-free conditioned media obtained from iMSCs and MSCs were characterized using Zetasizer, which showed that exosomes from iMSCs had smaller particle size than the MSCs (Fig. A). Exosomal tetraspanin proteins (CD9, CD63 and CD81) were identified by Western blotting. Cardioprotective properties of exosomes were evaluated using functional iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iCMCs), which were treated with 50 μg of exosomes 1 hr before subjecting them to either 24 hrs of Ang II treatment (10 μM) or 6 hrs of 1% hypoxia and 24 hrs of reoxygenation. The exosomes from iMSCs elicited a superior cardioprotective characteristic studied through qRT-PCR expression of survival genes and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potentials (JC1 dye), intracellular reactive oxygen species (CM-H2DCFDA), and in situ cell death by apoptosis (Fig. B) when compared to the exosomes from MSCs. Furthermore, the expressions of injury-associated sncRNAs such as SNORD32a, SNORD33, and SNORD35a were identified in both exosomes. Conclusions: In comparison with the exosomes of available MSCs, exosomes from iMSCs showed an enhanced protection of cardiomyocytes from injuries and can be a valuable cell-free source for the treatment of ICM.

YQFM alleviated cardiac hypertrophy by apoptosis inhibition and autophagy regulation via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAs a traditional compound preparation of Chinese medicine, Yiqi Fumai lyophilized injection (YQFM) has protective effects on various cardiac diseases including cardiac hypertrophy, which is the primary cause of arrhythmia. However, the involved mechanism remains unclear. Aim of the study: This study was projected to investigate whether YQFM could prevent cardiac hypertrophy and arrhythmia concurrence. Materials and Methods: The cardiac hypertrophy rats were established by transverse aortic ligation and the H9c2 hypertrophy cardiomyocyte was induced by angiotensin II (AngII). The electrocardiogram (ECG) was conducted to estimate the arrhythmia occurrence of cardiac hypertrophy rats under isoprenaline (iso) treatment. The cardiac related indicators and histopathology were also detected. The protective effects of YQFM on H9c2 hypertrophy cardiomyocyte were determined by the cell size measurement, apoptosis detection and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement. The cardiac hypertrophy relative proteins (ANP and BNP), autophagy related factors (LC3II, p62 and Beclin-1), apoptosis related markers (p53, caspase 3, Bax and Bcl-2) and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway expressions were all measured by Western blot. Results: YQFM decreased the arrhythmia occurrence and improved cardiac function in cardiac hypertrophy rats. YQFM also reduced the H9c2 cardiomyocyte size and alleviated the cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by AngII. In addition, YQFM inhibited cell apoptosis by increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio and decreasing caspase 3 and p53 expressions in vitro and vivo. Meanwhile, YQFM regulated the autophagy pathway by down-regulating of LC3II and Beclin-1 expressions, as well as up-regulating of p62 expression. Finally, the results showed that YQFM could activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by enhancing the p-AKT, p-PI3K and p-mTOR expressions. Conclusion: Our results displayed that YQFM attenuated the cardiac hypertrophy by apoptosis inhibition and autophagy regulation via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.