Fetal liver bisphenol A concentrations and biotransformation gene expression reveal variable exposure and altered capacity for metabolism in humans

Quinacrine enhances the efficacy of cisplatin by increasing apoptosis and modulating cancer survival proteins in a colorectal cancer cell line

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin and platinum-based compounds have been used successfully to treat various cancers. However, their use is often restricted due to the acquired resistance by cancer cells. Over-expression of p53 and inhibition of NF-kB sensitize several cancer cells towards cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Quinacrine, a cytotoxic drug with predictable safety revealed to concurrently suppress NF-kB and activate p53, which may be an attractive adjuvant in cisplatin chemotherapy. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to establish the role of quinacrine as an adjuvant in lowering the dose of cisplatin during cancer therapy to circumvent its toxic effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The colon cancer (HCT-8) cells were cultured and cell survival assays were performed using standard procedures. Cell cycle arrest and the extent of apoptosis were determined using a muse cell analyzer. Cancer survival proteins were analyzed using western blotting techniques.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that concomitant use of quinacrine with cisplatin increased cell apoptosis, suppressed cell proliferation and inhibited colony formation in a colorectal cancer cell line. Moreover, cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases and upregulation of p53 expression were observed. There was also downregulation of NF-kB and Bcl-xL protein expressions, both of which are associated with enhanced cell apoptosis and an increase in the sensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin, overcoming its chemoresistance. Overall, the results of the present study and available literature clearly indicate that the use of quinacrine as an adjuvant with cisplatin may enhance its anti-cancer activity and reduce chemoresistance.

Gestational exposure to high fat diets and bisphenol A alters metabolic outcomes in dams and offspring, but produces hepatic steatosis only in dams

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. Perinatal development is a critical window for altered, lifelong health trajectory, and evidence supports the role of perinatal programming in chronic metabolic diseases. To examine the impact of diet and bisphenol A (BPA) on the developmental trajectory of NAFLD in offspring, we exposed dams from pre-gestation through lactation to a human-relevant dose of oral BPA coupled with intake of high fat Western or Mediterranean-style diets. We assessed hepatic steatosis by quantifying hepatic triglycerides (TGs) and metabolic health by measuring body weight, relative organ weights, and serum hormone levels in dams and offspring at postnatal day 10 (PND10) and 10-months of age. In dams, consumption of the Western or Mediterranean diet increased hepatic TGs 1.7-2.4-fold, independent of BPA intake. Among offspring, both perinatal diet and BPA exposure had a greater impact on metabolic outcomes than on hepatic steatosis. At PND10, serum leptin levels were elevated 2.6-4.8-fold in pups exposed to the Mediterranean diet, with a trend for sex-specific effects on body and organ weights. At 10-months, sex-specific increases in organ weight and hormone levels were observed in mice perinatally exposed to Western + BPA or Mediterranean + BPA. These findings suggest lifestage-specific interaction of perinatal exposures to experimental diets and BPA on offspring metabolic health without effects on NAFLD later in life. Importantly, alterations in dam phenotype by diet and BPA exposure appear to impact offspring health trajectory, emphasizing the need to define dam diet in assessing effects of environmental exposures on offspring health.

Cardioprotective Effect of Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Urtica simensis Leaves on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Myocardial Injury in Rats

Background

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are becoming the major cause of death. Urtica simensis is one of endogenous plant which treats a wide range of disease conditions including heart diseases. However, there is limited information on safety and efficacy of the plant.

Objective

To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, the in vivo cardioprotective activity of crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis leaves on cyclophosphamide-induced myocardial injury.

Methods

The cardioprotective activity of the crude extract, aqueous and hexane fraction of Urtica simensis leaves was evaluated based on anatomical, biochemical and histopathological methods. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the plant was also assayed in terms of free radical scavenging activity (RSA).

Results

Crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis significantly prevented the deleterious effect of cyclophosphamide on body weight (P<0.001), heart weight to body ratio (P<0.01), cardiac biomarkers including troponin I (P<0.01), alanine transaminase (ALT) (P<0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P<0.01) and lipid profiles including triglycerides (P<0.001) and total cholesterol (P<0.01). The histopathological study confirmed presence of necrosis, oedema and haemorrhage on cyclophosphamide alone-treated groups while the 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the crude extract and aqueous fraction showed normal cardiocytes. The antioxidant assay of Urtica simensis plant exhibited free radical scavenging activity of inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC₅₀) for the crude extract with the values of 63.27µg/mL, aqueous fraction with the values of 136.38µg/mL and hexane fraction with the values of 258.70µg/mL.

Conclusion

Crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis leaves have cardioprotective activities. The cardioprotective effect could be attributed to the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts. However, this requires further in-depth understanding.

Direct Transfer of Phthalate and Alternative Plasticizers from Indoor Source Products to Dust: Laboratory Measurements and Predictive Modeling

Phthalate and alternative plasticizers are semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and among the most abundant indoor pollutants. Although ingestion of dust is one of the major exposure pathways to them, migration knowledge from source products to indoor dust is still limited. Systematic chamber measurements were conducted to investigate the direct transfer of these SVOCs between source products and dust in contact with the source. Substantial direct source-to-dust transfer of SVOCs was observed for all tests. The concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in dust was 12 times higher than the pre-experimental level after only two days of source-dust contact. A mechanistic model was developed to predict the direct transfer process, and a reasonable agreement between model predictions and measurements was achieved. The octanol/air partition coefficient (K_oa) of SVOCs, the emission parameter of the source product (y₀), and the characteristics of the dust layer (i.e., porosity and thickness) control the transfer, affecting the SVOC concentration in dust, the kinetics of direct transfer, or both. Dust mass loading has a significant influence on the transfer, while relative humidity only has a limited effect. The findings suggest that minimizing the use of SVOC-containing products and house vacuuming are effective intervention strategies to reduce young children's exposure to SVOCs.

An efficient method to isolate lemon derived extracellular vesicles for gastric cancer therapy

Background

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have great potential for clinical applications. Ultracentrifugation, considered the gold standard method for the preparation of PDEVs, is efficacious but time-consuming and highly instrument-dependent. Thus, a rapid and handy method is needed to facilitate the basic researches and clinical applications of PDEVs.

Results

In this study, we combined electrophoretic technique with 300 kDa cut-off dialysis bag (named ELD) for the isolation of PDEVs, which was time-saving and needed no special equipment. Using ELD, lemon derived extracellular vesicles (LDEVs) could be isolated from lemon juice. Nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the method separated intact vesicles with a similar size and number to the standard method-ultracentrifugation. LDEVs caused the gastric cancer cell cycle S-phase arrest and induced cell apoptosis. The anticancer activities of LDEVs on gastric cancer cells were mediated by the generation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, LDEVs were safe and could be remained in gastrointestinal organs.

Conclusions

ELD was an efficient method for the isolation of LDEVs, and could be carried out in any routine biological laboratory as no special equipment needed. LDEVs exerted anticancer activities on gastric cancer, indicating the great potentials for clinical application as edible chemotherapeutics delivery vehicle.

Low atrazine dosages reduce sperm quality of Calomys laucha mice

Reproductive effects caused by the exposure to environmentally relevant dosages of atrazine on wild animals are poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of three dosages of atrazine on sperm parameters of adult Calomys laucha males. Adult mice were orally exposed to dosages of 0 (water and vehicle control), 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg of animal weight for a 21-day period. Following exposure, analyses were performed to determine sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity and fluidity, mitochondrial functionality, acrosome integrity, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the sperm samples. Total and progressive motility were reduced in all dosages in comparison to control groups. Membrane integrity and mitochondrial functionality of sperm were reduced in all dosages, and the sperm membrane fluidity increased in the higher dosages of atrazine (1 and 10 mg/kg), in comparison with the vehicle control. A decrease in the acrosome integrity was noted at 10 mg/kg of atrazine, compared to the control groups. The integrity of DNA, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation of sperm showed no significant differences when compared with the control groups. These results suggest that exposure to low dosages of atrazine can affect sperm parameters of Calomys laucha and therefore reduce the reproductive capacity of wild rodent species.

Stress Conditions Induced by Carvacrol and Cinnamaldehyde on Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a major cause of nosocomial infections. The ability of A. baumannii to display various resistance mechanisms against antibiotics has transformed it into a successful nosocomial pathogen. The limited number of antibiotics in development and the disengagement of the pharmaceutical industry have prompted the development of innovative strategies. One of these strategies is the use of essential oils, especially aromatic compounds that are potent antibacterial molecules. Among them, the combination of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde has already demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against A. baumannii. The aim of this study was to determine the biological effects of these two compounds in A. baumannii, describing their effect on the rRNA and gene regulation under environmental stress conditions. Results demonstrated rRNA degradation by the carvacrol/cinnamaldehyde mixture, and this effect was due to carvacrol. Degradation was conserved after encapsulation of the mixture in lipid nanocapsules. Results showed an upregulation of the genes coding for heat shock proteins, such as groES, groEL, dnaK, clpB, and the catalase katE, after exposure to carvacrol/cinnamaldehyde mixture. The catalase was upregulated after carvacrol exposure wich is related to an oxidative stress. The combination of thiourea (hydroxyl radical scavenger) and carvacrol demonstrated a potent bactericidal effect. These results underline the development of defense strategies of the bacteria by synthesis of reactive oxygen species in response to environmental stress conditions, such as carvacrol.