Normal Human Lung Fibroblasts Research Articles

Cytotoxic activity, selectivity, and clonogenicity of fruits and resins of Saudi medicinal plants against human liver adenocarcinoma.

Edible fruits and resins provide various benefits to mankind including potential medicinal applications. This study aimed to determine the cytotoxicity, selectivity, and clonogenicity of fruits and exudates of certain Saudi medicinal plants (Anethum graveolens (BEP-09), Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller (BEP-10), Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr. (BEP-11), and Commiphora myrrha (BEP-12)) against human liver adenocarcinoma (HepG2). Initial cytotoxicity and cell line selectivity against different cell lines were screened using MTT assay. The most promising extract was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to determine the main phytoconstituents. Clonogenicity was checked for the most active extract. The selected plants' fruits and resins possess a significant cytotoxic activity estimated as IC50. The fruit of BEP-10 was found to be the most active extract against liver cancer cells (IC50 = 2.82) comparable to both doxorubicin (IC50 = 1.40) and camptothecin (IC50 = 1.11). It showed a selectivity index of 4.47 compared to the normal human foetal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells. BEP-10 showed a dose-dependent clonogenic effect against HepG2 cells comparable to the effect of doxorubicin. The GC-MS chromatogram of BEP-10 extract revealed the presence of eight small polar molecules, representing 73% of the total identified compounds and the rest three molecules (27%) were non-polar constituents. The furan derivatives represent the chief components in BEP-10 (16.3%), while the aldehyde 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde was found to be the main molecule (13.2%). The fruits of BEP-10 have a potential cytotoxic effect particularly against HepG2. The identified phytoconstituents in the tested plant extract might contribute to the investigated cytotoxic activity.

Formulation and characterization of tea tree and jojoba oils nano-emulgel for in-vivo wound healing assessment

Cutaneous wounds are the most common surgical affections among living organisms worldwide, and their healing may be interrupted by several factors. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity of tea tree and jojoba oils nano-emulsions, additionally, investigating the cytotoxicity of the optimized formula was investigated on normal human lung fibroblast cells (WI-38) by MTT colorimetric assay, additionally its in-vivo wound healing. Nano-emulsions (NEs) were prepared using a high-energy method and characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Zeta potential, droplet size, and poly dispersive index (PDI). Nano-emulgel (NEG) was formulated by mixing the standard NE with carbopol® 940. For in-vivo wound healing, thirty adult female albino rats were assigned into control, moist exposed burn ointment (Mebo), and NEG-treated groups. The healing was assessed by analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and histopathology in healed wound tissues. All formulations demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus Subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. The CC50 of the optimized formula was 453.82± 3.87 µg/mL, with a mean droplet size of 105.4 nm and a zeta potential of −39.2 ± 2.1 mV. NEG enhanced wound closure compared to Mebo-treated and control groups. Also, MDA significantly decreased and SOD significantly increased in NEG and Mebo-treated groups compared to the control (p ˂ 0.05). TNF-α, and IL-1β significantly decreased in NEG and Mebo-treated compared to the control (p < 0.05). Histopathology revealed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, rapid epithelization, and increased collagen deposition in NEG-treated wound tissues compared to the control and Mebo-treated wounds. In conclusion, the NEG containing tea tree and jojoba oils demonstrated significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing activities.

The Anticancer Properties, Cell-cycle Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis of Cissus rotundifolia, Trema orientalis, and Buddleja polystachya with Ocular Applications

BackgroundBuddleja polystachya, Trema orientalis, and Cissus rotundifolia were applied locally for various ocular purposes, while receiving few scientific evaluations. PurposeThis study aimed to screen the anticancer properties and determine the cell-cycle cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of the most promising plant extract. MethodsIn this study, MTT assays with MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), HT29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) and HepG2 (human liver adenocarcinoma) were used. In addition to MRC5 (normal human foetal lung fibroblast) was carried out for preliminary activity screening and selectivity. The most promising extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to determine the phytochemical composition. Additionally, a clonogenic assay was performed to measure tumor cell survival and subsequent proliferative capacity after drug exposure was conducted for the most active extract(s) and finally western blotting was used to determine the expression change of the two selected proteins (survivin and CCND1) in order to determine the exact mechanistic features of the most promising plant extract. ResultsThe six extracts showed variable IC50 values ranging from 1.77- 40.97 μg/mL. The most active extracts were C. rotundifolia coded as (stem; BEP-03A and leaves; BEP-03B) on HepG2 cells and showed ∼ 4 and 8 fold selectivity compared to normal MRC5 cells. Both extracts showed a dose-dependent clonogenic effect on HepG2 cells, which was comparable to the effect of doxorubicin. The extract (BEP-03B) caused a significant decrease in the expression of survivin and CCND1 compared to the control GAPDH at its highest dose (12 µg/mL). The GC-MS chromatogram of the leaf of C. rotundifolia extract (BEP-03B) revealed the presence of 17 compounds, as the main phytoconstituents representing 57.5% of the total compounds present in BEP-03B. Three steroidal components (12, 14 and 15) were the main components, while compound stigmast-5-en-3-ol (compound 15) was the main component. ConclusionsLeaves of Cissus rotundifolia (Forssk.) Vahl, possess a significant cytotoxic effect and it may produce this effect, through apoptosis induction, perturbation, and disruption of the cell cycle. The detected phytoconstituents in the plant extract might be involved in the tested cytotoxic activity and its molecular apoptotic mechanism. Future studies are required to isolate the active ingredient(s) and confirm the therapeutic application(s).

CGAS Expression is Enhanced in Systemic Sclerosis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease and Stimulates Inflammatory Myofibroblast Activation.

The lungs of patients with Systemic Sclerosis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD) contain inflammatory myofibroblasts arising in association with fibrotic stimuli and perturbed innate immunity. The innate immune DNA binding receptor Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is implicated in inflammation and fibrosis, but its involvement in SSc-ILD remains unknown. We examined cGAS expression, activity, and therapeutic potential in SSc-ILD using cultured fibroblasts, precision cut lung slices (PCLS), and a well-accepted animal model. Expression and localization of cGAS, cytokines, and type 1 interferons were evaluated in SSc-ILD lung tissues, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and isolated lung fibroblasts. CGAS activation was assessed in a publicly available SSc-ILD single cell RNA sequencing dataset. Production of cytokines, type 1 interferons, and αSMA elicited by TGFβ1 or local substrate stiffness were measured in normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs) via qRT-PCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. Small molecule cGAS inhibition was tested in cultured fibroblasts, human PCLS, and the bleomycin pulmonary fibrosis model. SSc-ILD lung tissue and BAL are enriched for cGAS, cytokines, and type 1 interferons. The cGAS pathway shows constitutive activation in SSc-ILD fibroblasts and is inducible in NHLFs by TGFβ1 or mechanical stimuli. In these settings, and in human PCLS, cGAS expression is paralleled by the production of cytokines, type 1 interferons, and αSMA that are mitigated by a small molecule cGAS inhibitor. These findings are recapitulated in the bleomycin mouse model. cGAS signaling contributes to pathogenic inflammatory myofibroblast phenotypes in SSc-ILD. Inhibiting cGAS or its downstream effectors represents a novel therapeutic approach.

Modification of selectively acid-etched halloysite by mucoadhesive chitosan derivatives: New bionanocomposites with improved functional properties

In this study, the modification of selectively acid-etched halloysite (eHal) by low molecular weight chitosan (LChi) and its methacrylated derivative (MeLChi) is investigated to form new bionanocomposites with improved functional properties. The formation of nanocomposites was confirmed by various instrumental techniques (ζ-potential measurements, SEM, FT-IR, DSC, XRD and 1H NMR). Both nanocomposites exhibited improved functional properties while preserving the tubular structure of halloysite. The cytotoxic activity of eHal and eHal-polycation nanocomposites against normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC5) was determined using MTT assay. The results showed good biocompatibility of the prepared nanocomposites, with a cell survival rate of more than 90 %. The mucoadhesive properties of eHal and the corresponding chitosan nanocomposites were investigated in vitro. Primarily, ζ-potential measurements revealed electrostatic interactions between the eHal-polycation nanocomposites and mucin. The absorption study showed that the eHal-MeLChi nanocomposites could adsorb a greater amount of mucin (≈82 %) than the eHal-LChi nanocomposites (≈72 %) and eHal (≈58 %) after 8 h of incubation. Furthermore, the compacts of the tested samples were prepared by direct compression, and the detachment force against the mucin compact was measured using a texture analyzer. A significantly higher detachment force of the eHal-MeLChi nanocomposite compact (1.59 ± 0.07 N) from the mucin compact was determined compared to the eHal-LChi (1.35 ± 0.08 N) and eHal (0.98 ± 0.08 N) samples, demonstrating their improved mucoadhesive potential. In summary, this study demonstrates that functionalization of eHal with MeLChi may be a useful approach for the preparation of nanocomposites as potential carriers for mucoadhesive dosage forms.

EVALUATION OF IN-VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF A NEW CARBOXYMETHYLCHITOSAN-BASED CYANOGUANIDINE COPOLYMER

A new carboxymethylchitosan-based acryloylcyanoguanidine copolymer (CMCS-g-ACG) has been successfully prepared using the grafting technique. The grafting percentage, grafting efficiency, and homopolymer percentage were 86, 85, and 14%, respectively. The chemical structure and surface morphology of the CMCS-g-ACG copolymer were confirmed using elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H-NMR, XRD, and SEM. The copolymer has greater inhibition activity on both Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) in comparison to CMCS. It is more potent against E. coli than S. aureus. At 2000 μg/mL concentration, CMCS and the copolymer exhibited DPPH scavenging of 63.45% ± 4.19 and 78.56% ± 4.61, respectively. The copolymer of concentration less than 62.5 μg/mL was safe on the normal human lung fibroblast cells. The growth inhibition of the breast cancer cells at 500 μg/mL was 79.59% ± 2.12 and 91.41% ± 2.34 for CMCS and the copolymer, respectively. Thus, the insertion of ACG into CMCS highly boosted its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer characteristics. It is a proper strategy to realize good systems to compete the traditional drugs used for such applications.

Identification of a fibronectin-binding protein signature associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical component of tissue where it provides structural and signaling support to cells. Its dysregulation and accumulation lead to fibrosis, a major clinical challenge underlying many diseases that currently has little effective treatment. An understanding of the key molecular initiators of fibrosis would be both diagnostically useful and provide potential targets for therapeutics. The ECM protein fibronectin (FN) is upregulated in fibrotic conditions and other ECM proteins depend on assembly of a FN foundational ECM for their matrix incorporation. We used cell culture and in vivo models to investigate the role of FN in the progression of lung fibrosis. We confirmed that normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs) treated with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) to stimulate fibrotic gene expression significantly increased both FN expression and its assembly into a matrix. We found that levels of alternatively spliced EDA and EDB exons were proportional to the increase in total FN RNA and protein showing that inclusion of these exons is not enhanced by TGF-β stimulation. RNA-sequencing identified 43 core matrisome genes that were significantly up- or down-regulated by TGF-β treatment and a Luminex immunoassay demonstrated increased levels of ECM proteins in conditioned medium of TGF-β-treated NHLFs. Interestingly, among the regulated core matrisome genes, 16 encode known FN-binding proteins and, of these, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) was most highly up-regulated. To link the NHLF results with in vivo disease, we analyzed lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from bleomycin-treated mice and found dramatically higher levels of FN and the FN-binding proteins IGFBP3, tenascin-C, and type I collagen in fibrotic conditions compared to controls. Altogether, our data identify a set of FN-binding proteins whose upregulation is characteristic of IPF and suggest that FN provides the foundational matrix for deposition of these proteins as fibrosis develops.

New pyridopyrimidine derivatives as dual EGFR and CDK4/cyclin D1 inhibitors: synthesis, biological screening and molecular modeling.

Aim: A series of pyridopyrimidine derivatives 5-20 was designed, synthesized and examined for antitumor activity using four types of malignant cells.Materials & methods: Cervical cancer (HeLa), hepatic cancer (HepG-2), breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer (HCT-166) cells, as well as normal human lung fibroblast cells (WI-38) were used to determine the cytotoxicity.Results: Pyrazol-1-yl pyridopyrimidine derivative 5 was found to be the most active compound against three malignant cells Hela, MCF-7 and HepG-2 with IC50 values of 9.27, 7.69 and 5.91μM, respectively, related to standard Doxorubicin. Moreover, compounds 5 and 10 showed good inhibition against cyclin dependent kinase (CDK4/cyclin D1) and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) enzymes.

Plakevulin A induces apoptosis and suppresses IL-6-induced STAT3 activation in HL60 cells

(+)-Plakevulin A (1), an oxylipin isolated from an Okinawan sponge Plakortis sp. inhibits enzymatic inhibition of DNA polymerases (pols) α and δ and exhibits cytotoxicity against murine leukemia (L1210) and human cervix carcinoma (KB) cell lines. However, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for cytotoxicity significantly differed from those observed for the enzymatic inhibition of pols α and β, indicating the presence of target protein(s) other than pols. This study demonstrated cytotoxicity against human promyelocytic leukemia (HL60), human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa), mouse calvaria-derived pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1), and human normal lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cell lines. This compound had selectivity to cancer cells over normal ones. Among these cell lines, HL60 exhibited the highest sensitivity to (+)-plakevulin A. (+)-Plakevulin A induced DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation in HL60 cells, indicating its role in apoptosis induction. Additionally, hydroxysteroid 17-β dehydrogenase 4 (HSD17B4) was isolated from the HL60 lysate as one of its binding proteins through pull-down experiments using its biotinylated derivative and neutravidin-coated beads. Moreover, (+)-plakevulin A suppressed the activation of interleukin 6 (IL-6)-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Because the knockdown or inhibition of STAT3 induces apoptosis and HSD17B4 regulates STAT3 activation, (+)-plakevulin A may induce apoptosis in HL60 cell lines by suppressing STAT3 activation, potentially by binding to HSD17B4. The present findings provide valuable information for the mechanism of its action.

Hypoxia Promotes Invadosome Formation by Lung Fibroblasts.

Lung parenchymal hypoxia has emerged as a cardinal feature of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Hypoxia promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis through signaling that is dependent upon the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor, LPA1 (LPAR1). Abundant data indicate that LPA1-dependent signaling also enhances lung fibrogenesis in IPF. We recently reported that fibroblasts isolated from the lungs of individuals with IPF have an increased capacity to form subcellular matrix-degradative structures known as invadosomes, an event that correlates with the degree of lung fibrosis. We therefore hypothesized that hypoxia promotes invadosome formation in lung fibroblasts through LPA1-dependent signaling. Here, it is demonstrated that invadosome formation by fibroblasts from the lungs of individuals with advanced IPF is inhibited by both the tyrosine receptor kinase inhibitor nintedanib and inhibition of LPA1. In addition, exposure of normal human lung fibroblasts to either hypoxia or LPA increased their ability to form invadosomes. Mechanistically, the hypoxia-induced invadosome formation by lung fibroblasts was found to involve LPA1 and PDGFR-Akt signaling. We concluded that hypoxia increases the formation of invadosomes in lung fibroblasts through the LPA1 and PDGFR-Akt signaling axis, which represents a potential target for suppressing lung fibrosis.

Novel coumarin-piperazine-2(5H)-furanone hybrids as potential anti-lung cancer agents: Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies

Novel coumarin-piperazine-2(5H)-furanone hybrids 5a–l were efficiently synthesized by introducing a furanone scaffold into coumarin using piperazine as a linker. The cytotoxicity of all hybrids 5a–l were evaluated by MTT assay on human lung cancer A549 cells and normal human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells with cytarabine (CAR) as a positive control. Hybrid 5l (IC50 = 11.28 μM) was the most toxic to A549 cells, 18-fold more toxic than the reference CAR (IC50 = 202.57 μM). Moreover, hybrid 5l (IC50 = 411.93 μM) was less toxic to WI-38 cells, with a much higher selectivity (5l, SI ≈ 37, WI-38/A549) than CAR (SI ≈ 2). Structure–activity relationship analysis showed that both the cytotoxicity against A549 cells and selectivity (WI-38/A549) were greatly improved when the bornyl group was incorporated in the hybrids (5c, 5f, 5i and 5l). Further, hybrid 5l was more toxic and selective against four types of human lung cancer cells (A549, Calu-1, PC-9 and H460; IC50 = 5.72–45.46 μM; SI ≈ 9–72) than three other types of human cancer cells (SK-BR-3, 786-O and SK-OV-3, IC50 = 39.07–130.82 μM; SI ≈ 0–2), showing remarkable specificity. In particular, hybrid 5l (IC50 = 5.72 μM) showed the highest cytotoxicity against H460 cells with the highest selectivity of up to 72 (WI-38/H460). Flow cytometric analysis showed that hybrid 5l induced apoptosis in H460 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking studies revealed a high binding affinity of hybrid 5l with CDK2 protein. Hybrid 5l is expected to be a leading candidate for anti-lung cancer agents.

Modulating in vitro lung fibroblast activation via senolysis of senescent human alveolar epithelial cells.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an age-related disease with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Activation of lung fibroblasts and differentiation to myofibroblasts are the principal effectors of disease pathology, but damage and senescence of alveolar epithelial cells, specifically type II (ATII) cells, has recently been identified as a potential trigger event for the progressive disease cycle. Targeting ATII senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) is an attractive therapeutic strategy; however, translatable primary human cell models that enable mechanistic studies and drug development are lacking. Here, we describe a novel system of conditioned medium (CM) transfer from bleomycin-induced senescent primary alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) onto normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) that demonstrates an enhanced fibrotic transcriptional and secretory phenotype compared to non-senescent AEC CM treatment or direct bleomycin damage of the NHLFs. In this system, the bleomycin-treated AECs exhibit classical hallmarks of cellular senescence, including SASP and a gene expression profile that resembles aberrant epithelial cells of the IPF lung. Fibroblast activation by CM transfer is attenuated by pre-treatment of senescent AECs with the senolytic Navitoclax and AD80, but not with the standard of care agent Nintedanib or senomorphic JAK-targeting drugs (e.g., ABT-317, ruxolitinib). This model provides a relevant human system for profiling novel senescence-targeting therapeutics for IPF drug development.

Antiviral and cytotoxic activities and chemical profiles of two species of Abies nordmanniana from Türkiye.

Abies is an important genus of the family Pinaceae, with about 50 species found in the highlands of Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North and Central America. The principal aim of the present work was to investigate the chemical content and biological potential of the resin and cone from Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmulleriana and Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, respectively. The flavonoid and phenolic contents of the resin and cones were evaluated using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Additionally, the essential oil and fatty acid compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), respectively. Cytotoxicity of the extracts and essential oils were screened against certain cancer cell lines, namely, human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line (PC3), human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549), human pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1), human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2), human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB231), and normal human lung fibroblast cell line (CCD-34-LU), with MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay. According to the MTT results, hexane extracts of both cone (CH) and resin (RH), ethanol-water (CEW), dichloromethane (CD), and acetone (CA) extracts of the cone mostly inflict cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell line. Antiviral activities of Abies nordmanniana subsp. extracts at doses of 5 μg/g and 10 μg/g were also evaluated in ovo for their virucidal activity against avian coronavirus. Abies nordmanniana subsp. extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antiviral activity on specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs. Significantly, cone acetone extract (CA), cone ethanol extract (CE), and cone dichloromethane extract (CD) of Abies nordmanniana subsp. exhibited strong inhibition of the virus at a concentration of 10 μg/g. The most potent virucidal activity was observed with ethanol-water extract of conifer form (CEW). According to these results, it was proved that Abies nordmanniana species could be a potential, sustainable, and renewable drug source, especially considering the impressive antiviral and significant cytotoxic activity potentials.

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonamide appended rigid phenyl-based and non-rigid 1,4-benzodioxan-based ring systems and their Pt(II) complexes towards potential therapeutic targets

Two novel non-rigid; 1,4-benzodioxan (bzd) based and rigid; 4-methylbiphenyl (4-Mebip) based di-(2-picolyl)amine derived sulfonamide ligands, and their cis-dichloroplatinum(II) complexes have been synthesized. The ligands; L1: N(SO2)(bzd)dpa and L2: N(SO2)(4-Mebip)dpa were synthesized via N-sulfonylation of di-(2-picolyl)amine in good yield. Their platinum(II) complexes; C1: [PtCl2(N(SO2)(bzd)dpa)], C2: [PtCl2(N(SO2)(4-Mebip)dpa)]·CH3CN were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Structural studies revealed that the L1 and L2 ligands coordinate Pt(II) in a bidentate mode in C1 and C2 complexes, forming an eight-membered chelate ring. Interestingly, L1 possesses two conformations because the dioxan ring exists with a 95:5 occupancy ratio. The L2 ligand crystal undergoes a phase transition to triclinic form with twinning at 90 K whereas, at 150 K, the ligand exists in a monoclinic system; the populations of the two orientations for one pyridine substituent are approximately 78:22. The 1H NMR spectra of both Pt complexes obtained in DMSO‑d6 revealed two doublets (exo-CH2 and endo-CH2) for the magnetically inequivalent methylene protons, in contrast to their uncoordinated ligands, which show a singlet peak for the methylene protons. The NCI-H292 (non-small cell lung cancer cells) and MRC-5 (human normal lung fibroblast cells) were used to examine the in vitro cytotoxic activity of all synthesized compounds. All tested compounds demonstrated notable cytotoxicity against NCI-H292 cells, with the most pronounced cytotoxic effect being displayed by [PtCl2(N(SO2)(4-Mebip)dpa)]·CH3CN (C2). Docking studies strengthen in vivo antiproliferation activity where specific interactions with AKT1, BAX, STK-11, and BCL-2 were explored. Further predictions revealed that the compounds have inhibitory effects on COX-2 and PDE10A proteins.

Mussel-Inspired Polymer-Based Coating Technology for Antifouling and Antibacterial Properties.

Zwitterionic coatings provide a promising antifouling strategy against biofouling adhesion. Quaternary ammonium cationic polymers can effectively kill bacteria on the surface, owing to their positive charges. This strategy can avoid the release of toxic biocides, which is highly desirable for constructing coatings for biomedical devices. The present work aims to develop a facile method by covalently grafting zwitterionic and cationic copolymers containing aldehydes to the remaining amine groups of self-polymerized dopamine. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization was used to copolymerize either zwitterionic 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine monomer (MPC) or cationic 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium monomer (META) with 4-formyl phenyl methacrylate monomer (FPMA), and the formed copolymers poly(MPC-st-FPMA) and poly(META-st-FPMA) are denoted as MPF and MTF, respectively. MPF and MTF copolymers were then covalently grafted onto the amino groups of polydopamine-coated surfaces. PDA/MPF/MTF-coated surfaces exhibited antibacterial and antifouling properties against S. aureus, E. coli, and bovine serum albumin protein. In addition, they showed excellent viability of normal human lung fibroblast cells MRC-5. We expect the facile surface modification strategy discussed here to be applicable to medical device manufacturing.

Production of highly cytotoxic and low immunogenic L-asparaginase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia EMCC2297

L-asparaginase is an important therapeutic enzyme that is frequently utilized in the chemotherapy regimens of adults as well as pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, a high rate of hypersensitivity with prolonged use has limited its utilization. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) EMCC2297 isolate was reported as a novel and promising source for L- asparaginase. The present study aimed at the production, purification, and characterization of L- asparaginase from S. maltophilia EMCC2297 isolate. The microbial production of L-asparaginase by the test isolate could be increased by pre-exposure to chloramphenicol at 200 µg/ml concentration. S. maltophilia EMCC2297 L-asparaginase could be purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation and the purified form obtained by gel exclusion chromatography showed total activity of 96.4375 IU/ml and specific activity of 36.251 IU/mg protein. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the purified form of the enzyme is separated at an apparent molecular weight of 17 KDa. Michaelis-Menten constant analysis showed a Km value of 4.16 × 10− 2 M with L-asparagine as substrate and Vmax of 10.67 IU/ml. The antitumor activity of the purified enzyme was evaluated on different cell lines and revealed low IC50 of 2.2 IU/ml and 2.83 IU/ml for Hepatocellular cancer cell line (HepG-2), human leukemia cancer cell line (K-562), respectively whereas no cytotoxic effect could be detected on normal human lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). However, mice treated with native L-asparaginase showed lower IgG titre compared to commercial L-asparaginase. This study highlights the promising characteristics of this enzyme making it a valuable candidate for further research and development to be an adduct in cancer chemotherapy.

ASK1-mediated Apoptosis in Human Lung Fibroblasts

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating lung disease characterized by progressive fibrosis and dysregulated wound repair that negatively affect lung function. Although lung fibroblasts are important in repair mechanisms following lung injury, differentiation into myofibroblasts in the presence of TGF-β and resistance to apoptosis can promote the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase family that is known to promote apoptosis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that ASK1 is an important mediator of apoptosis in lung fibroblasts. Normal human lung fibroblasts were obtained from five donors and cultured in the presence or absence of TGF-β (1ng/mL) for 72h. Apoptosis was assessed by a Caspase-Glo® 3/7 assay following treatment with a combination of cycloheximide and Fas ligand antibody with or without the ASK1 inhibitor, selonsertib. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen, ASK1, and survivin (a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family) were determined by western blot. Apoptosis was induced in three of the five donor lines, and selonsertib treatment reduced caspase-3/7 activity. These donor lines expressed lower levels of survivin compared with the non-responding lines. TGF-β did not significantly affect these results. As expected, TGF-β stimulated expression of collagen and α-SMA in all donor lines, but this was reduced by treatment with selonsertib. Interestingly, TGF-β caused a reduction in the expression of ASK1 which is consistent with the idea that myofibroblasts in IPF are resistant to apoptosis. These results suggest that ASK1 can promote apoptosis in normal lung fibroblasts, but this is dependent upon the expression of survivin. Supported by VA Merit Award BX005889 (CMW) and NIH grant HL131526 (CMW). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Cell type-dependent modulation of senescence features using Weo electrolyzed water.

Electrolyzed-reduced water has powerful antioxidant properties with constituents that scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to be produced by several intrinsic and extrinsic processes. When there is an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses, oxidative stress occurs. Persistent oxidative stress leads to cellular senescence, an important hallmark of aging, and is involved in several age-related conditions and illnesses. This study aims to investigate whether Weo electrolyzed water (WEW) could modulate the phenotype of senescent cells. We compared normal human lung fibroblasts (BJ) and breast cancer cells (T47D) treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce senescence. We assessed the molecular impact of WEW on markers of cellular senescence, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, and stress response genes. Treatment with WEW modulated markers of cellular senescence, such as the senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, EdU incorporation and p21 expression, similarly in both cell types. However, WEW modulated the expression of SASP factors and stress response genes in a cell type-dependent and opposite fashion, significantly decreasing them in BJ cells, while stimulating their expression in T47D cells. Reduction in the expression of SASP factors and stress-related genes in BJ cells suggests that WEW acts as a protective factor, thereby reducing oxidative stress in normal cells, while making cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of cellular stress, thus increasing their elimination and consequently reducing their deleterious effects. These findings suggest that, due to its differential effects as a senomorphic factor, WEW could have a positive impact on longevity and age-related diseases.

Neutralization of CX3CL1 Attenuates TGF-β-Induced Fibroblast Differentiation Through NF-κB Activation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Airway Fibrosis.

Severe asthma, characterized by inflammation and airway remodeling, involves fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts expressing α-SMA. This process leads to the production of fibronectin and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), driven by factors such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Furthermore, the persistent presence of myofibroblasts is associated with resistance to apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. The chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) plays a role in tissue fibrosis. However, it is currently unknown whether neutralization of CX3CL1 decreases TGF-β-induced fibroblast differentiation and mitochondrial dysfunction in normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs). CX3CL1/C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), CX3CL1 was analyzed by immunofluorescence (IF) or immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of ovalbumin-challenged mice. CX3CL1 release was detected by ELISA. TGF-β-induced CTGF, fibronectin, and α-SMA expression were evaluated in NHLFs following neutralization of CX3CL1 (TP213) treatment for the indicated times by Western blotting or IF staining. Mitochondrion function was detected by a JC-1 assay and seahorse assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by a terminal uridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. An increase in CX3CL1 expression was observed in lung tissues from mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma by IF staining. CX3CR1 was increased in the subepithelial layer of the airway by IHC staining. Moreover, CX3CR1 small interfering (si)RNA downregulated TGF-β-induced CTGF and fibronectin expression in NHLFs. CX3CL1 induced CTGF and fibronectin expression in NHLFs. TGF-β-induced CX3CL1 secretion from NHLFs. Furthermore, TP213 decreased TGF-β-induced CTGF, fibronectin, and α-SMA expression in NHLFs. Mitochondrion-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were examined after CX3CL1 neutralization in TGF-β-treated NHLFs. TP213 alleviated TGF-β-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis resistance in NHLFs. CX3CL1 induced p65, IκBα, and IKKα phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, CX3CL1-induced fibronectin expression and JC-1 monomer were decreased by p65 siRNA. TP213 reduced TGF-β-induced p65 and α-SMA expression in NHLFs. These findings suggest that neutralizing CX3CL1 attenuates lung fibroblast activation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Understanding the impacts of CX3CL1 neutralization on fibroblast mitochondrial function could contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies for managing airway remodeling in severe asthma.

Alkynyl Gold(I) Phosphine Complexes: Evaluation of Structure–Activity Relationships for the Alkynyl Ligands on Luminescence and Cytotoxicity

AbstractA series of gold (I) phoshpine complexes with diverse alkynyl ligands [Au(C≡CR)(PTA)] (R=C6H11OH, 1; C5H9OH, 2; C15H11OH, 3; C19H27O2, 4; C18H23O2, 5; C9H12N, 6; CH2OCH2C6H5, 7; C6H4OCH3, 8; PTA=1,3,5‐Triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane) have been synthesized and characterized using a range of spectroscopic techniques. Complex 1 and 3 show an infinite one–dimensional S–type and zigzag aurophilic chain, respectively, whereas complex 2 containing 1‐ethynyl‐1‐cyclohexanol gives an approximate linear two–dimensional aurophilic chain, through intra/intermolecular Au(I)⋯Au(I) interactions as well as hydrogen bonding interactions between hydroxy groups of alkynyl ligands and PTA. Solid complexes 1–8 display strongly room/low–temperature emissive of 477–613 nm with the emission lifetime of 0.40–14.0 μs. All the complexes display higher cytotoxicities against MCF‐7, with the cytotoxicity decreasing in the following order 4&gt;8&gt;5&gt;3&gt;7&gt;6&gt;2&gt;1. Complex 4 and 5 stand out for the highest selectivity towards MCF–7 (IC50=0.63–0.78 μM) compared with normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts (helf) (IC50=14.85–18.13 μM), which makes those complexes attractive for breast cancer therapy.