Vitamina D, miR-21 y marcadores de apoptosis en pacientes con diabetes tipo I / Vitamin D, miR-21 and apoptosis markers in patients with type 1 diabetes

La diabetes Tipo 1 (DT1) es una compleja enfermedad autoinmune con una etiología aún desconocida. La vitamina D ha sido ampliamente estudiada debido a su potencial terapéutico en los potenciales nuevos casos de DT1. Por otra parte, los microARNs (miRs) han sido propuestos como posibles biomarcadores en diversos procesos biológicos como en la apoptosis e inflamación. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la suplementación con vitamina D sobre el perfil de expresión del miR-21 y marcadores de apoptosis tales como: BCL2, STAT3, TIPE2 y DAXX, en células mononucleares periféricas provenientes de pacientes con DT1 y sujetos controles. RESULTADOS: El perfil de expresión de miR-21 se encontró disminuido en los pacientes con DT1 en comparación con los controles. La expresión relativa de BCL2 se encontró aumentada en controles al comparar con pacientes DT1 en todas las condiciones experimentales. La expresión relativa de DAXX mostró un perfil de expresión diferencial al comparar pacientes con DT1 versus controles (p=0.006). CONCLUSIÓN: El estímulo con vitamina D parece tener un posible efecto regulador sobre los genes BCL2 y DAXX.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease. Vitamin D has been one of the most studied therapeutic potential outbreaks related to T1D. Specific miRNAs have been proposed as potential biomarkers in several biological processes as apoptosis and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on the expression profiles of miR-21 and apoptotic markers BCL2, STAT3, TIPE2 and DAXX, in PBMCs from T1D patients and control subjects. RESULTS: miR-21 expression was increased in controls regarding T1D patients. BCL2 was increased in controls compared to T1D patients in all experimental conditions. DAXX showed different expression patterns between T1D patients and controls (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D showed a possible regulation effect on apoptosis markers mainly through the regulation of BCL2 and DAXX

Gramicidin inhibits human gastric cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle and induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, which seriously affects human health. Gramicidin is a short peptide antibiotic which could be used for treating infection induced by bacteria or fungi. However, the anti-cancer effect of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells and its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. RESULTS: Gastric cancer cells SGC-7901, BGC-823 and normal gastric mucosal cells GES-1 were treated with different concentrations of gramicidin respectively. The results of CCK-8 experiment revealed cellular toxicity of gramicidin to cancer cells while cell colony formation assay showed that gramicidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, but had little effect on normal gastric mucosal cells. In addition, the wound healing assay showed that gramicidin inhibited the migration of SGC-7901 cell. Meanwhile, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis revealed that gramicidin induced cell apoptosis with G2/M cell cycle inhibition. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated that gramicidin down-regulated the expression of cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 as well as the FoxO1 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: The current study illustrated the anti-tumor activity of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells, providing a possibility for gramicidin to be applied in clinical practice for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Effects of thymoquinone against cisplatin-induced cardiac injury in rats

PURPOSE: T o investigate the possible protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) in cisplatin (CP) induced myocardial injury. METHODS: A total of 28 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups as follows: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (CP at 15 mg/kg dose), Group 3 (TQ 40 mg/kg/day for two days prior to CP injection and on third day, CP at 15 mg/kg dose was intraperitoneally administered and TQ treatment continued until fifth day) and Group 4 (TQ at 40mg/kg/day dose for five days). RESULTS: There was a significant increment in CP group in terms of congestion, edema and pycnotic nuclei in myocardial fibers, comparing with other groups. TQ group exhibited significant increase in expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, comparing with CP group (p<0.05). In only CP administered group, expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was lowest comparing with other groups. CONCLUSION: Established data indicate that cisplatin is cardiotoxic and thymoquinone may be useful in treating CP-induced cardiac injury.

Neuroprotección por ácido valproico y cambios en la expresión de Bcl-2 y caspasa-3 activada en ratas sometidas a isquemia/reperfusión / Neuroprotective action of valproic acid accompanied of the modification on the expression of Bcl-2 and activated caspase-3 in the brain of rats submitted to ischemia/reperfusion

El ácido valproico, que además de ser un conocido antiepiléptico, una serie de trabajos en los últimos años lo proponen como un agente neuroprotector. En éste trabajo se investigó primeramente, si el ácido valproico protege a las neuronas del daño producido por el estrés oxidativo inducido por la isquemia-reperfusión en el cerebro de ratas sanas sometidas a la oclusión transitoria de la arteria cerebral media derecha; en segundo lugar, se indagó si este fármaco induce cambios en la expresión de Bcl-2 y caspasa 3-activada como un posible mecanismo de acción sobre la muerte celular del tipo apoptótico. La evaluación neurológica de los animales que fueron sometidos a isquemia/reperfusión y recibieron ácido valproico fue mejor que los que no lo recibieron. Por otro lado, los niveles de malondialdehído en el hemisferio cerebral derecho en las ratas tratadas con ácido valproico fueron inferiores a los del mismo hemisferio del grupo control, mientras la cantidad de proteínas carboniladas se redujeron un 67% en comparación al grupo control. Además, se encontró por western blot, que en homogeneizados de tejido cerebral de los animales sometidos a isquemia/reperfusión y que recibieron ácido valproico, hubo un aumento significativo de la densidad de las bandas correspondientes a Bcl-2 y una disminución de caspasa 3-activada en comparación a los que no fueron tratados con este fármaco. Se concluye que el tratamiento con ácido valproico previno el déficit neurológico en ratas sanas sometidas a isquemia-reperfusión, bloqueando el efecto de los radicales libres sobre lípidos y proteínas de la corteza cerebral afectada y se sugiere que posiblemente este fármaco interviene en la muerte por apoptosis inducida durante este tipo de lesión, pudiendo ser una alternativa terapéutica en el tratamiento de la isquemia cerebral.

Valproic acid, apart from being known as an anti-epileptic drug, has been proposed in the past few years, as a neuroprotective agent. The purpose of this study was to investigate firstly, if valproic acid protects the neurons from the damage produced by oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion in the brain of healthy rats, under the transitory occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Secondly it was studied if this antiepileptic drug induces changes on the expression of Bcl-2 and activated caspase-3 as a possible mechanism of action on apoptosis. The neurological evaluation of the animals that were subject to ischemia-reperfusion and received valproic acid was better than the ones who didn’t receive it. On another subject, the levels of malondialdehyde on the right cerebral hemisphere in the rats treated with valproic acid were below the levels of the control group in the same hemisphere, whereas the amount of carbonylated proteins was reduced by 67% compared to the control group. Besides, it was found by western blot, that in homogenized brain tissue of the animals under ischemia-reperfusion which received valproic acid, there was a rise on the density of the bands corresponding to Bcl-2, and a reduction of activated 3-capase in comparison to the ones who were not treated with the antiepileptic drug. It’s concluded that the treatment with valproic acid prevented the neurological deficit in healthy rats under Ischemia-reperfusion, blocking the effect of free radicals on lipids and proteins of the affected brain cortex, and it is suggested that the same drug intervenes on apoptosis induced during this type of damage, being able to be a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) in lymphoproliferative malignancies: Tata Memorial experience.

Rituximab has been used extensively in lymphoproliferative disorders. We evaluated the results of 64 consecutive patients treated between 2001 and 2004 at our institution. This included 54 males and 10 females. The median age was 54 years (range 17 to 85 years). One-fourth of patients were above 60 years. The histology was aggressive NHL in 35, indolent NHL in 22 and 7 cases were diagnosed as CLL. Among NHL, sixteen were in early stage (I/II) and the remaining forty-one were in advanced stage (III/IV) of disease. B symptoms were present in 47% of cases. A total of 33 were de novo cases and 31 were previously treated. Rituximab monotherapy was used in 17 cases. Rituximab was used in combination with chemotherapy in the other 47 cases. Infusional toxicity included anaphylaxis in one, hypotension in one and minor infusional reactions in four others. The patient who developed anaphylaxis required discontinuation of further Rituximab. Growth factors were used in 25 patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 19 patients. The overall RR (CR + PR) was 72%. One patient had stable disease and progressive disease was documented in 17 patients. A total of seven patients died, three due to progressive disease, three due to chemotherapy related toxicity and one due to an unrelated cause. We conclude that Rituximab is a valuable addition to the treatment armamentarium of lymphoproliferative disorders.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor promotes the survival of osteoclast precursors by up-regulating Bcl-XL

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is known as one of the factors essential for osteoclast development. In the present study, we examined effects of M-CSF on the apoptotic pathway of osteoclast precursors and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Osteoclast precursors underwent apoptosis in the absence of M-CSF, even in the presence of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL). Active caspase-3 and -9 were detected in the osteoclast precursors and treatments of precursors with their specific inhibitors (Z- DEVD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) decreased the apoptosis. M-CSF decreased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner with decreasing in active caspases-3 and -9 levels and up-regulating Bcl-XL. Those effects of M-CSF on inhibiting apoptosis of osteoclasts precursor by regulating anti-apoptotic signals was more effective when combined with RANKL. These results demonstrate that M-CSF acts as a survival factor for the osteoclast precursors. Furthermore, it is believed that the apoptosis of osteoclast precursors may be involved in the activation of caspase-9 and that M-CSF may promote their survival through Bcl-XL-induced inhibition of caspase-9 activation.