Osteogenic Potential and Bioactive Profiles of Piper sarmentosum Ethanolic Extract-Treated Stem Cells

Piper sarmentosum is a well-known traditional herbal plant in various diseases treatments. Multiple scientific studies have also reported various biological activities exhibited by the plant's extract, such as antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antihyperglycemic activities, and, in addition, a bone protective effect in ovariectomized rats has been reported. However, no known Piper sarmentosum extract is involved in osteoblast differentiation using stem cells. Our study aims to identify the potential of P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract to induce osteoblast differentiation of human peripheral blood stem cells. Prior to the assay, the proliferation ability of the cells was observed for 14 days and the presence of hematopoietic stem cells in the culture was determined by the expression of SLAMF1 and CD34 genes. During the differentiation assay, the cells were treated with P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract for 14 days. Osteoblast differentiation was examined using an (alkaline phosphatase) ALP assay, by monitoring the expression of osteogenic gene markers and by von Kossa staining. The untreated cells served as the negative control, while cells treated with 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate acted as the positive control. Finally, the determination of the compound profile was performed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The isolated cells were able to proliferate for 14 days during the proliferation assay. The expression of hematopoietic stem cell markers was also upregulated during the 14 days assay. Following the differentiation induction, the ALP activity exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) from day 3 of the differentiation assay. A molecular analysis also showed that the osteogenic markers ALP, RUNX2, OPN and OCN were upregulated compared to the positive control. The presence of mineralized cells with a brownish-stained morphology was observed, indicating the mineralization process increased in a time-dependent manner regardless of the concentration used. There were 54 compounds observed in the GC-MS analysis, including β-asarones, carvacrol and phytol, which have been shown to possess osteoinductive capacities. Our results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of P. sarmentosum can induce osteoblast differentiation of peripheral blood stem cells. The extract contains potent compounds which can potentially induce the differentiation of bone cells, i.e., osteoblasts.

Gene expression profiles for in vitro human stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and osteoclasts: a systematic review

Background

There have been promising results published regarding the potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine. However, the vast variety of choices of techniques and the lack of a standard approach to analyse human osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation may reduce the utility of stem cells as a tool in medical applications. Therefore, this review aims to systematically evaluate the findings based on stem cell differentiation to define a standard gene expression profile approach.

Methods

This review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the study was conducted by retrieving articles from the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science to identify articles focussed on gene expression and approaches for osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.

Results

Six articles were included in this review; there were original articles of in vitro human stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and osteoclasts that involved gene expression profiling. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was the most used technique for gene expression to detect differentiated human osteoblasts and osteoclasts. A total of 16 genes were found to be related to differentiating osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.

Conclusion

Qualitative information of gene expression provided by qPCR could become a standard technique to analyse the differentiation of human stem cells into osteoblasts and osteoclasts rather than evaluating relative gene expression. RUNX2 and CTSK could be applied to detect osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively, while RANKL could be applied to detect both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This review provides future researchers with a central source of relevant information on the vast variety of gene expression approaches in analysing the differentiation of human osteoblast and osteoclast cells. In addition, these findings should enable researchers to conduct accurately and efficiently studies involving isolated human stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Profil Protein Sekretom Sel Stem Pulpa Gigi Manusia semasa Aruhan Asid Askorbik

Pembezaan sel stem secara in vitro kepada osteoblas secara umumnya melibatkan gabungan aruhan asid askorbik dan β-gliserofosfat. Namun, β-gliserofosfat didapati menyebabkan penurunan keviabelan sel. Maka, kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan potensi asid askorbik tanpa kehadiran β-gliserofosfat dalam mengaruh pembezaan osteoblas serta mengenal pasti perubahan keamatan pengekspresan sekretom bagi protein osteoblas. Sel stem pulpa gigi kekal (DPSC) yang dipencilkan; diaruh dengan 10 µg/mL asid askorbik selama 21 hari. Pengekspresan gen osteoblas pada hari ke-7 dan 21 ditentukan melalui transkripsi berbalik-tindak balas rantaian polimerase (RT-PCR). Selepas 21 hari aruhan, sel dieram dengan medium basal tanpa serum selama 12 jam dan dianalisis melalui pendekatan kromatografi cecair-spektrometri jisim/spektrometri jisim (LC-MS/MS). Kehadiran protein sekretom pada kedua-dua aruhan asid askorbik dan kawalan positif (gabungan asid askorbik + β-gliserofosfat) digunakan untuk menentukan proses biologi yang terlibat. Seterusnya, protein yang terlibat dalam pembezaan osteoblas serta mengalami perubahan terhadap keamatan pengekspresannya ditentukan melalui analisis UniProt dan PANTHER. Hubung kait antara protein sekretom ini ditentukan menggunakan STRING bagi penentuan tapak jalan pembezaan DPSC kepada osteoblas. Hasilnya, gen BSP didapati diekspreskan semasa perlakuan asid askorbik serta sebanyak 57 protein sekretom dikenal pasti terlibat semasa aruhan asid askorbik dan kawalan, dengan hanya tiga protein didapati berkaitan dengan pembezaan osteoblas serta mengalami perubahan keamatan pengekspresan melalui penggunaan UniProt dan PANTHER. Seterusnya, analisis menggunakan STRING mendapati hanya dua sekretom bagi DPSC dikenal pasti melibatkan tiga tapak jalan. Kesimpulannya, asid askorbik sahaja walaupun tanpa β-gliserofosfat berupaya mengaruh pengekspresan protein sekretom yang berkaitan dengan osteoblas. Inhibin beta rantai A dan fibrilin-2 dicadangkan sebagai penanda sekretom semasa pembezaan DPSC kepada osteoblas.

Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of ascorbic acid-induced differentially expressed osteoblast-related proteins in dental pulp stem cells from deciduous and permanent teeth

BACKGROUND

Proteomic is capable of elucidating complex biological systems through protein expression, function, and interaction under a particular condition.

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to determine the potential of ascorbic acid alone in inducing differentially expressed osteoblast-related proteins in dental stem cells via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach.

METHODS

The cells were isolated from deciduous (SHED) and permanent teeth (DPSC) and induced with 10 µg/mL ascorbic acid. Bone mineralisation and osteoblast gene expression were determined using von Kossa staining and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The label-free protein samples were harvested on days 7 and 21 followed by protein identification and quantification using LC-MS/MS. Based on the similar protein expressed throughout treatment and controls for both SHED and DPSC, overall biological processes followed by osteoblast-related protein abundance were determined using the PANTHER database. STRING database was performed to determine differentially expressed proteins as candidates for SHED and DPSC during osteoblast development.

RESULTS

Both cells indicated brownish mineral stain and expression of osteoblast-related genes at day 21. Overall, a total of 700 proteins were similar among all treatments on both days 7 and 21 with 482 proteins appearing in the PANTHER database. Osteoblast-related protein abundance indicated 31 and 14 proteins that related to SHED and DPSC, respectively. Further analysis by the STRING database identified only 22 and 11 proteins involved from the respective group. Differential expressed analysis of similar proteins from these two groups revealed ACTN4 and ACTN1 as proteins that are involved in both SHED and DPSC. In addition, three (PSMD11/RPN11, PLS3, and CLIC1) and one (SYNCRIP) proteins were differentially expressed specifically for SHED and DPSC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Proteome differential expression showed that ascorbic acid alone can induce osteoblast-related proteins in both SHED and DPSC and generates specific differentially expressed protein markers.

Optimization of nitrofurazone degradation by local Aspergillus tamarii KX610719.1

Microbial transformation is a biological process during which microorganisms transform organic molecules. Nitrofurazone is widely applied in poultry and aquaculture veterinary drugs. Without appropriate treatment, nitrofurazone residue from agriculture animal waste may have a negative impact on microorganisms. Thus, a study to enhance nitrofurazone degradation using local Aspergillus tamarii KX610719.1 was explored by optimizing the selected parameters. The specific aims of the exploration were: 1) to optimize parameters (pH, temperature and agitation speed) for nitrofurazone degradation rate, 2) to determine the nitrofurazone residue using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), 3) to verify the optimum parameters performance in degrading nitrofurazone. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to analyze and optimize the effect of parameters as independent parameters on the nitrofurazone degradation rate as the response function. The interaction effects and optimum parameters were obtained using Design Expert Version 13.0 software (Stat Ease, Inc., Minneapolis, USA). The adequacy of the model test was determined using statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a 95% confidence level, which demonstrated satisfactory agreement between the experimental data and the predicted model. The results demonstrate that the optimum conditions for nitrofurazone degradation rate were at the pH value (4.80), temperature (35.84 ºC) and agitation speed (121.33 rpm) with a coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.9612. Based on the verification process, the actual and predicted results was did not significantly differ (P <0.01). A. tamarii KX610719.1 showed a great ability in degrading nitrofurazone under optimum parameters.

Synthesis, Characterisation and Antibacterial Properties of Silicone-Silver Thin Film for the Potential of Medical Device Applications

Silver (Ag) particles have sparked considerable interest in industry and academia, particularly for health and medical applications. Here, we present the “green” and simple synthesis of an Ag particle-based silicone (Si) thin film for medical device applications. Drop-casting and peel-off techniques were used to create an Si thin film containing 10–50% (v/v) of Ag particles. Electro impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and tensile tests were used to demonstrate the electrical conductivity, crystallinity, morphology-elemental, and mechanical properties, respectively. The oriented crystalline structure and excellent electronic migration explained the highest conductivity value (1.40 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹) of the 50% Ag–Si thin film. The findings regarding the evolution of the conductive network were supported by the diameter and distribution of Ag particles in the Si film. However, the larger size of the Ag particles in the Si film resulted in a lower tensile stress of 68.23% and an elongation rate of 68.25% compared to the pristine Si film. The antibacterial activity of the Ag–Si film against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) was investigated. These findings support Si–Ag thin films’ ability to avoid infection in any medical device application.

Advocating Electrically Conductive Scaffolds with Low Immunogenicity for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Scaffolds support and promote the formation of new functional tissues through cellular interactions with living cells. Various types of scaffolds have found their way into biomedical science, particularly in tissue engineering. Scaffolds with a superior tissue regenerative capacity must be biocompatible and biodegradable, and must possess excellent functionality and bioactivity. The different polymers that are used in fabricating scaffolds can influence these parameters. Polysaccharide-based polymers, such as collagen and chitosan, exhibit exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, while the degradability of synthetic polymers can be improved using chemical modifications. However, these modifications require multiple steps of chemical reactions to be carried out, which could potentially compromise the end product's biosafety. At present, conducting polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), polyaniline, and polypyrrole, are often incorporated into matrix scaffolds to produce electrically conductive scaffold composites. However, this will reduce the biodegradability rate of scaffolds and, therefore, agitate their biocompatibility. This article discusses the current trends in fabricating electrically conductive scaffolds, and provides some insight regarding how their immunogenicity performance can be interlinked with their physical and biodegradability properties.

Electrically Conductive Polyester Fabrics Embedded Polyaniline

Recently, conductive fabric has attracted massive attention among researchers due to their unique conductive properties with a wide range of possible applications. This study explores the fabrication of poly aniline (PANI) conductive fabric through an immersion technique of polyester fabric in PANI solution. Two types of acids (sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and p-toulene sulfonic acid (pTSA) have been employed as the doping agent to induce the conductivity in various weight percentages (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt%) with immersion time of 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The fabricated conducting fabrics were then characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for analyses of chemical structure and phase identification respectively. Their morphologies were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which revealed the various fibrous structure. The finding is in line with the electrical conductivity properties of the fabrics observed using Four-point probe technique. Optimum conductivity of the conductive fabrics were found to be at 0.6 wt. % for both types of acid which are 1.30 x 10-2 S/cm (H2SO4) and 1.39 x10-3 S/cm (pTSA). Meanwhile, the varied immersion time showed no significant changes on this property, due to the short time laps. For FTIR results, the peaks confirmed the presence of PANI-EB together with the introduced acid within the PANI backbone. Collectively, H2SO4 is found to be a good candidate as doping agent, deduced from obtained conductivity values and structural properties.  

Impact of isolation method on doubling time and the quality of chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiated from murine dental pulp stem cells

Background

Stem cells are normally isolated from dental pulps using the enzymatic digestion or the outgrowth method. However, the effects of the isolation method on the quality of the isolated stem cells are not studied in detail in murine models. The aim of this study was to compare the matrices secreted by osteoblast and chondrocytes differentiated from dental pulp stem cells isolated through different means.

Method

DPSC from murine incisors were isolated through either the outgrowth (DPSC-OG) or the enzymatic digestion (DPSC-ED) method. Cells at passage 4 were used in this study. The cells were characterized through morphology and expression of cell surface markers. The cells’ doubling time when cultured using different seeding densities was calculated and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison post-test. The ability of cells to differentiate to chondrocyte and osteoblast was evaluated through staining and analysis on the matrices secreted.

Results

Gene expression analysis showed that DPSC-OG and DPSC-ED expressed dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell markers, but not hematopoietic stem cell markers. The least number of cells that could have been used to culture DPSC-OG and DPSC-ED with the shortest doubling time was 5 × 10² cells/cm² (11.49 ± 2.16 h) and 1 × 10² cells/cm² (10.55 h ± 0.50), respectively. Chondrocytes differentiated from DPSC-ED produced  2 times more proteoglycan and at a faster rate than DPSC-OG. FTIR revealed that DPSC-ED differentiated into osteoblast also secreted matrix, which more resembled a calvaria.

Discussion

Isolation approaches might have influenced the cell populations obtained. This, in turn, resulted in cells with different proliferation and differentiation capability. While both DPSC-OG and DPSC-ED expressed mesenchymal stem cell markers, the percentage of cells carrying each marker might have differed between the two methods. Regardless, enzymatic digestion clearly yielded cells with better characteristics than outgrowth.

Analyses of basal media and serum for in vitro expansion of suspension peripheral blood mononucleated stem cell

Transplantation of stem cells requires a huge amount of cells, deeming the expansion of the cells in vitro necessary. The aim of this study is to define the optimal combination of basal medium and serum for the expansion of suspension peripheral blood mononucleated stem cells (PBMNSCs) without resulting in loss in the differentiation potential. Mononucleated cells were isolated from both mice and human peripheral blood samples through gradient centrifugation and expanded in α-MEM, RPMI, MEM or DMEM supplemented with either NBCS or FBS. The suspension cells were then differentiated to osteoblast. Our data suggested that α-MEM supplemented with 10 % (v/v) NBCS gives the highest fold increase after 14 days of culture for both mice and human PBMNSCs, which were ~1.51 and ~2.01 times, respectively. The suspension PBMNSCs in the respective medium were also able to maintain osteoblast differentiation potential as supported by the significant increase in ALP specific activity. The cells are also viable during the differentiated states when using this media. All these data strongly suggested that α-MEM supplemented with 10 % NBCS is the best media for the expansion of both mouse and human suspension PBMNSCs.

Cytotoxicity effect of degraded and undegraded kappa and iota carrageenan in human intestine and liver cell lines

Background

Carrageenan is a linear sulphated polysaccharide extracted from red seaweed of the Rhodophyceae family. It has broad spectrum of applications in biomedical and biopharmaceutical field. In this study, we determined the cytotoxicity of degraded and undegraded carrageenan in human intestine (Caco-2; cancer and FHs 74 Int; normal) and liver (HepG2; cancer and Fa2N-4; normal) cell lines.

Methods

Food grade k-carrageenan (FGKC), dried sheet k-carrageenan (DKC), commercial grade k-carrageenan (CGKC), food grade i-carrageenan (FGIC) and commercial grade i-carrageenan (CGIC) were dissolved in hydrochloric acid and water to prepare degraded and undegraded carrageenan, respectively. Carrageenan at the concentration range of 62.5 – 2000.0 μg mL⁻¹ was used in the study. MTT assay was used to determine the cell viability while the mode of cell death was determined by May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and gene expression analysis.

Results

Degraded FGKC, DKC and CGKC showed IC₅₀ in 24, 48 and 72 hours treated Caco-2, FHs 74 Int, HepG2 and Fa2N-4 cell lines as tested by MTT assay. Degraded FGIC and CGIC only showed its toxicity in Fa2N-4 cells. The characteristics of apoptosis were demonstrated in degraded k-carrageenan treated Caco-2, FHs 74 Int, HepG2 and Fa2N-4 cells after MGG staining. When Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were undergone AO/EtBr staining, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were clearly seen under the microscope. However, DNA ladder was only found in HepG2 cells after gel electrophoresis analysis. Degraded k-carrageenan also inactivated PCNA, Ki-67 and survivin gene in HepG2. On the other hand, undegraded FGKC, DKC, CGKC, FGIC and CGIC treated cells showed no cytotoxic effect after analyzed by the same analyses as in degraded carrageenan.

Conclusion

Degraded k-carrageenan inhibited cell proliferation in Caco-2, FHs 74 Int, HepG2 and Fa2N-4 cell lines and the anti-proliferative effect was related to apoptosis together with inactivation of cell proliferating genes as determined by morphological observation and molecular analysis. However, no cytotoxic effect was found in undegraded carrageenan towards normal and cancer intestine and liver cell lines.

In vitro chondrogenesis transformation study of mouse dental pulp stem cells

A major challenge in the application of mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage reconstruction is that whether the cells are able to differentiate into fully mature chondrocytes before grafting. The aim of this study was to isolate mouse dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) and differentiate them into chondrocytes. For this investigation, morphological, molecular, and biochemical analyses for differentiated cells were used. To induce the chondrocyte differentiation, DPSC were cultured in chondrogenic medium (Zen-Bio, Inc.). Based on morphological analyses using toluidine blue staining, proteoglycan products appear in DPSC after 21 days of chondrocyte induction. Biochemical analyses in differentiated group showed that alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly increased at day 14 as compared to control (P < 0.05). Cell viability analyses during the differentiation to chondrocytes also showed that these cells were viable during differentiation. However, after the 14th day of differentiation, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the viability proportion among differentiated cells as compared to the control cells. In RT-PCR molecular analyses, mouse DPSC expressed Cd146 and Cd166 which indicated that these cells belong to mesenchymal stem cells. Coll I and Coll II markers showed high expression after 14 and 21 days, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that DPSC successfully differentiated into chondrocytes.

Stem cell heterogeneity of mononucleated cells from murine peripheral blood: molecular analysis

The main purpose of this paper was to determine the heterogeneity of primary isolated mononucleated cells that originated from the peripheral blood system by observing molecular markers. The isolated cells were cultured in complete medium for 4 to 7 days prior to the separation of different cell types, that is, adherent and suspension. Following a total culture time of 14 days, adherent cells activated the Cd105 gene while suspension cells activated the Sca-1 gene. Both progenitor markers, Cbfa-1 and Ostf-1, were inactivated in both suspension and adherent cells after 14-day culture compared to cells cultured 3 days in designated differentiation medium. In conclusion, molecular analyses showed that primary mononucleated cells are heterogeneous, consisting of hematopoietic stem cells (suspension) and mesenchymal stem cells (adherent) while both cells contained no progenitor cells.

Cellular and molecular changes in orthodontic tooth movement

Tooth movement induced by orthodontic treatment can cause sequential reactions involving the periodontal tissue and alveolar bone, resulting in the release of numerous substances from the dental tissues and surrounding structures. To better understand the biological processes involved in orthodontic treatment, improve treatment, and reduce adverse side effects, several of these substances have been proposed as biomarkers. Potential biological markers can be collected from different tissue samples, and suitable sampling is important to accurately reflect biological processes. This paper covers the tissue changes that are involved during orthodontic tooth movement such as at compression region (involving osteoblasts), tension region (involving osteoclasts), dental root, and pulp tissues. Besides, the involvement of stem cells and their development towards osteoblasts and osteoclasts during orthodontic treatment have also been explained. Several possible biomarkers representing these biological changes during specific phenomenon, that is, bone remodelling (formation and resorption), inflammation, and root resorption have also been proposed. The knowledge of these biomarkers could be used in accelerating orthodontic treatment.

Intrinsic anticarcinogenic effects of Piper sarmentosum ethanolic extract on a human hepatoma cell line

Background

Piper sarmentosum, locally known as kaduk is belonging to the family of Piperaceae. It is our interest to evaluate their effect on human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) for the potential of anticarcinogenic activity.

Results

The anticarcinogenic activity of an ethanolic extract from Piper sarmentosum in HepG2 and non-malignant Chang's liver cell lines has been previously determined using (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assays, where the IC₅₀ value was used as a parameter for cytotoxicity. The ethanolic extract that showed anticarcinogenic properties in HepG2 cells had an IC₅₀ of 12.5 μg mL^-1, while IC₅₀ values in the non-malignant Chang's liver cell line were greater than 30 μg mL^-1. Apoptotic morphological changes in HepG2 cells were observed using an inverted microscope and showed chromatin condensation, cell shrinkage and apoptotic bodies following May-Grunwald-Giemsa's staining. The percentage of apoptotic cells in the overall population (apoptotic index) showed a continuously significant increase (p < 0.05) in 12.5 μg mL^-1 ethanolic extract-treated cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours compared to controls (untreated cells). Following acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining, treatment with 10, 12 and 14 μg mL^-1 of ethanolic extracts caused typical apoptotic morphological changes in HepG2 cells. Molecular analysis of DNA fragmentation was used to examine intrinsic apoptosis induced by the ethanolic extracts. These results showed a typical intrinsic apoptotic characterisation, which included fragmentation of nuclear DNA in ethanolic extract-treated HepG2 cells. However, the non-malignant Chang's liver cell line produced no DNA fragmentation. In addition, the DNA genome was similarly intact for both the untreated non-malignant Chang's liver and HepG2 cell lines.

Conclusion

Therefore, our results suggest that the ethanolic extract from P. sarmentosum induced anticarcinogenic activity through an intrinsic apoptosis pathway in HepG2 cells in vitro.