A Knockout of the IFITM3 Gene Increases the Sensitivity of WI-38 VA13 Cells to the Influenza A Virus

One of the ways to regulate the sensitivity of human cells to the influenza virus is to knock out genes of the innate immune response. Promising targets for the knockout are genes of the interferon-inducible transmembrane protein (IFITM) family, in particular the IFITM3 gene, whose product limits the entry of a virus into the cell by blocking the fusion of the viral and endosomal membranes. In this study, by means of genome-editing system CRISPR/Cas9, monoclonal cell lines with an IFITM3 knockout were obtained based on WI-38 VA13 cells (human origin). It was found that such cell lines are more sensitive to infection by influenza A viruses of various subtypes. Nevertheless, this feature is not accompanied by an increased titer of newly formed viral particles in a culture medium.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of new chitosan derivative bearing diphenyl pyrazole moiety

This work reports the synthesis of a new pyrazole derivative by reacting 5-amino-1,3-diphenyl pyrazole with succinic anhydride and bearing the product chemically on the chitosan chains via amide linkage to achieve a new chitosan derivative (DPPS-CH). The prepared chitosan derivative was analyzed by IR, NMR, elemental analysis, XRD, TGA-DTG, and SEM. As compared with chitosan, DPPS-CH showed an amorphous and porous structure. Coats-Redfern results showed that the thermal activation energy for the first decomposition of DPPS-CH is 43.72 KJ mol^-1 lower than that required for chitosan (88.32 KJ mol^-1), indicating the accelerating effect of DPPS on the thermal decomposition of DPPS-CH. The DPPS-CH manifested a powerful wide spectrum antimicrobial potential against pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans at minute concentrations (MIC = 50 μg mL^-1) compared to chitosan (MIC = 100 μg mL^-1). The MTT assay proved the toxic properties of DPPS-CH against a cancer cell line (MCF-7) at a minute concentration (IC50 = 15.14 μg mL^-1) while affecting normal cells (WI-38) at seven times this concentration (IC50 = 107.8 μg mL^-1). According to the current findings, the chitosan derivative developed in this work appears to be a promising material for use in biological domains.

Circ-BICC1 Knockdown Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced WI-38 Cell Injury Through miR-338-3p/MYD88 Axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in human diseases, including infantile pneumonia. In this article, we aimed to investigate the functions of circ-BICC1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury of WI-38 cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was performed for the levels of circ-BICC1, BICC1, microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p), and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to evaluate cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used for the concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The levels of oxidative stress markers were detected with commercial kits. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was adopted to analyze the interaction between circ-BICC1 and miR-338-3p, as well as MYD88 and miR-338-3p. Western blot assay was employed for the protein level of MYD88. Circ-BICC1 level was increased in pneumonia patients' blood samples and LPS-treated WI-38 cells. LPS treatment suppressed WI-38 cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Circ-BICC1 knockdown reversed the effect of LPS-induced WI-38 cell injury. For mechanism analysis, circ-BICC1 could function as the sponge for miR-338-3p and miR-338-3p inhibition reversed the effect of circ-BICC1 knockdown on LPS-induced WI-38 cell injury. MYD88 was identified as the target of miR-338-3p. MiR-338-3p overexpression relieved LPS-induced injury of WI-38 cells, while the impact was abolished by elevating MYD88. Circ-BICC1 silencing remitted LPS-triggered WI-38 cell damage by adsorbing miR-338-3p and regulating MYD88.

Determination of Genotoxicity Attributed to Diesel Exhaust Particles in Normal Human Embryonic Lung Cell (WI-38) Line

Several epidemiological studies concluded that inhalation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is associated with an increase in the relative risk of lung cancer. In vitro research evaluating the genetic damage and/or changes in gene expression have been attempted to explain the relationship between DEP exposure and carcinogenicity. However, to date, investigations have been largely confined to studies in immortalized or tumorigenic epithelial cell models. Few studies have investigated damage at the chromosomal level to DEP exposure in normal cell lines. Here, we present the genotoxic effects of DEP in normal cells (embryonic human lung fibroblasts) by conventional genotoxicity testing (micronuclei (MN) and comet assay). We show the differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways in DEP-exposed WI-38 cells using RNA sequencing data. We observed a significant increase in single-strand DNA breaks and the frequency of MN in DEP-exposed cells in a dose-dependent manner. The differentially expressed genes following DEP exposure were significantly enriched in the pathway for responding to xenobiotics and DNA damage. Taken together, these results show that DEP exposure induced DNA damage at the chromosomal level in normal human lung cells and provide information on the expression of genes associated with genotoxic stress.

Stress Resistance Screen in a Human Primary Cell Line Identifies Small Molecules That Affect Aging Pathways and Extend Caenorhabditis elegans' Lifespan

Increased resistance to environmental stress at the cellular level is correlated with the longevity of long-lived mutants and wild-animal species. Moreover, in experimental organisms, screens for increased stress resistance have yielded mutants that are long-lived. To find entry points for small molecules that might extend healthy longevity in humans, we screened ∼100,000 small molecules in a human primary-fibroblast cell line and identified a set that increased oxidative-stress resistance. Some of the hits fell into structurally related chemical groups, suggesting that they may act on common targets. Two small molecules increased C. elegans’ stress resistance, and at least 9 extended their lifespan by ∼10–50%. We further evaluated a chalcone that produced relatively large effects on lifespan and were able to implicate the activity of two, stress-response regulators, NRF2/skn-1 and SESN/sesn-1, in its mechanism of action. Our findings suggest that screening for increased stress resistance in human cells can enrich for compounds with promising pro-longevity effects. Further characterization of these compounds may reveal new ways to extend healthy human lifespan.

The in vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antibacterial potential of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil cultivated in Egypt

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity effects of Satureja hortensis (S. hortensis) essential oil (EO). The GC-MS analysis of S. hortensis EO (SEO) has identified seven compounds, representing 96.84% of the oil. The two main constituents of the oil were; carvacrol (48.51%) and γ-terpinene (36.63%). The total phenolics and flavonoids contents of SEO were 199.1 ± 0.5 µg GAE/mg (GAE-gallic acid equivalent) and 161.5 ± 0.9 µg CE/mg (CE-catechin equivalent), respectively. SEO showed superior antioxidant potential (ABTS, 1038.66 and DPPH, 12.679 mg Trolox/g), and exhibited antibacterial activity against five food born bacterial strains, exerting the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 2 to 4 mg/mL. On the other hand, using of SEO at inhibiting concentrations for pathogenic bacteria can affect the beneficial bacteria negatively. Moreover, SEO showed toxicity on normal cells (WI-38, THLE2, and phoenx-eco) and consequently, it is worthwhile for extensive toxicity studies in normal cells and animal models. As our-knowledge, this is the first study on antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of Egyptian S. hortensis.

In vitro Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Various Solvent Fractions from Clerodendrum viscosum Leaves

Background:

Free radicals such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, generated in the body, play an important role in the fulfillment of various physiological functions but their imbalance in the body lead to cellular injury and various clinical disorders such as cancer, neurodegenaration, and inflammation.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to fight this problem, natural antioxidant from plants can be considered as possible protective agents against various diseases such as cancer which might also modify the redox microenvironment to reduce the genetic instability. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of Clerodendrum viscosum fractions against various carcinomas.

Materials and Methods:

In this present study, 70% methanolic extract of C. viscosum leaves have been fractionated to obtain hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions, which were tested for their antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Results:

It was observed that chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed good free radical scavenging properties as well as inhibited the proliferation of human lung cancer (A459), breast (MCF-7), and brain (U87) cells. Moreover, they arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase of breast and brain cancer. These inhibitory effects were further confirmed by bromodeoxyuridine uptake imaging. Phytochemical investigations further indicate the presence of tannic acid, quercetin, ellagic caid, gallic acid, reserpine, and methyl gallate which might be the reason for these fractions’ antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.

Conclusion:

Clerodendrum viscosum leaf chloroform and Clerodendrum viscosum leaf ethyl acetate fractions from C. viscosum showed good reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species scavenging potential. Both the fractions arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase in MCF-7 and U87 cells which lead to induce apoptosis.

SUMMARY

Crude extract of Clerodendrum viscosum leaves was fractionated using different solvents

Among them, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited excellent free radical scavenging properties

The same fractions inhibited the proliferation of human lung cancer (A459), breast (MCF-7), and brain (U87) cells

Chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase of breast and brain cancer

Phytochemical investigations further indicate the presence of several bioactive principles present in them.

Abbreviations used: CVLME: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf methanolic extract; CVLH: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf hexane; CVLC: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf chloroform; CVLE: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf ethyl acetate; CVLB: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf butanol; CVLW: Clerodendrum viscosum leaf water; BrdU: Bromodeoxyuridine; WST-1: Water soluble tetrazolium salt.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of different solvent fractions from Terminalia belerica Roxb. fruit on various cancer cells

Terminalia belerica Roxb. fruits have been previously reported against diabetes, ulcer, microbial problems and hepatotoxicity. The present study was aimed to investigate antioxidant and anticancer potential of sequentially fractionated hexane (TBHE), chloroform (TBCE), ethyl acetate (TBEE), butanol (TBBE) and water (TBWE) extracts from the 70% methanolic extract of T. belerica fruits. TBCE, TBEE, TBBE and TBWE showed excellent ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species) scavenging activities which was investigated using 11 different assays for various free radicals. Among 5 fractions, TBHE and TBCE remained nontoxic to any of the malignant cell lines including normal cells (WI-38). TBBE and TBWE inhibited the proliferation of breast (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa) and brain (U87) cancer cells by inducing G2/M arrest while TBEE caused apoptosis. However, these fractions did not inhibit the proliferation of lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells. BrdU incorporation study also suggested the efficient anticancer potential of TBEE, TBBE and TBWE. Moreover, TBBE and TBWE treated MCF-7, HeLa and U87 cells showed upregulation of p53 and p21 proteins. Phytochemical analysis reflected the presence of adequate quantities of different phytochemicals. Moreover, HPLC analysis show peaks of purpurin, catechin, tannic acid, reserpine, ellagic acid, methyl gallate, aconitine and rutin in TBBE, TBWE and TBEE. Hence these polar extracts of T. belerica can be used to develop drug against different types of cancer.