Recent progress on the effects of structured lipids and fluidity of plasma membrane on tumor metastasis / 药学学报

The lipid composition of cell plasma membranes of aggressive tumors is significantly altered from normal, affecting the membrane fluidity and function. Plasma membrane fluidity involves multiple steps in tumor invasion and metastasis, including cell movement, adhesion, lateral diffusion of membrane molecules, signal transduction, material exchange and so on. This review highlights the difference in plasma membrane lipid composition and fluidity between normal and cancer cells, as well as the correlation with the invasion and metastasis potential of cancer. We also point out that the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumors can be inhibited by improving membrane fluidity or interfering with the membrane structured lipid composition, this focusing more on changing the biophysical properties of cancer cell membranes, and providing a novel strategy that works for treatment of tumor metastasis.

Oocyte quality assessment in marine invertebrates: a novel approach by fluorescence spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: The assessment of oocyte quality is, nowadays, a major challenge in aquaculture, oocyte cryopreservation, and environmental science. Oocyte quality is a determining factor in fertilization and embryo development; however, there is still a lack of rapid and sensitive cellular markers for its assessment. Currently, its estimation is pre-dominantly based on morphological analysis, which is subjective and does not consistently reflect the developmental competence of the oocytes. Despite several recent studies investigating molecular markers related to oocyte quality, methods currently available for their determination pose various technical challenges and limitations. In this study, we developed a novel approach based on fluorescence spectroscopy to assess different intrinsic physiological parameters that can be employed to evaluate egg quality in marine invertebrates that are widely used as animal models such as sea urchins and mussels. RESULTS: Different physiological parameters, such as viability, mitochondrial activity, intracellular ROS levels, plasma membrane lipid peroxidation, and intracellular pH, for egg quality evaluation have been successfully assessed in sea urchins and mussels by using specific fluorescent dyes and detecting the fluorescent signals in eggs through fluorescence spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, we propose these physiological markers as useful predictors of egg quality in marine invertebrates; they can be estimated rapidly, selectively, and sensitively by employing this novel approach, which, due to the speed of analysis, the low cost, and easy use can be considered a powerful analytical tool for the egg quality assessment.

Simvastatin treatment reduces the cholesterol content of membrane/lipid rafts, implicating the N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor in anxiety: a literature review

ABSTRACT Membrane/lipid rafts (MLRs) are plasmalemmal microdomains that are essential for neuronal signaling and synaptic development/stabilization. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase (statins) can disable the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor through disruption of MLRs and, in turn, decrease NMDA-mediated anxiety. This hypothesis will contribute to understanding the critical roles of simvastatin in treating anxiety via the NMDA receptor.

Effect of NaCl stress on growth and physiological-biochemical characteristics of Stellaria dichotoma / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the effect of NaCl stress on growth and physiological-biochemical characteristics of Stellaria dichotoma amdits mechanism. Methods: In this study, one-year-old S. dichotoma was cultivated in pot at four NaCl levels (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5%) and the plant growth parameters and physiological-biochemical characteristics were determined. Results: NaCl stress had no significant effect on S. dichotoma growth at 0.3% NaCl. However, NaCl stress significantly inhibited the growth of S. dichotoma at 0.4% NaCl or above, and this inhibition was greater at higher concentration. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT increased first and then decreased as NaCl concentration increased; The content of MDA and proline significantly increased as NaCl concentration increased, while membrane permeability and soluble protein content significantly decreased as NaCl concentration increased. Conclusion: S. dichotoma has osmotic stress resistance ability and reactive oxygen scavenging capacity at light NaCl stress, which causes S. dichotoma growth no inhibited at a certain extent NaCl stress.

Effects of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener on the structures and functions of the mitochondria / 中国药理学通报

AIM To evaluate the effects of diazoxide on the structures and functions of the mitochondria after hypoxia injury. METHODS A myocardial hypoxia injury model on rat is established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO) 5 mg?kg -1. The degree of oxidative phosphorylation, membrane lipid fluidity (LFU), phospholipidase A 2 activity, and phosphlipid content of mitochondria were observed after hypoxia injury. RESULTS Compared with the controls, the levels of RCR, LFU and phosphlipid content were decreased 20.8% (P

Effects of chitosan on hepatic lipids and mitochondria in fatty liver rats / 中国海洋药物

Aim: To study the effects of chitosan on hepatic lipids in fatty liver rats. Methods: The rats given a low does of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and fed a high-fat diet were treated with chitosan in different doses. Results: When rats were treated with mid dose of chitosan (4mg? g~-1?d~-1), the contents of triglycerde (TG). total cholesterol (TC) in liver decreased significantly, the level of mitochondria malonal-dialdehyde (MDA) was markedly attenuated and the mitochondria membrane fluidity was restored, which compared with model group. Conclusion: Chitosan may decrease the hepatic lipids by reduced the lipid peroxida- tion and restored mitochondria membrane fluidity to improve the mitochondrial beta-oxida- tion.

Effect of Haimidin on lipid fluidity in erythrocyte membrane and DNA content in normal and H_(22) tumor bearing mice / 中草药

Object To study the effect of Haimidin(HMD) on erythrocyte membrane of H 22 ascites tumor bearing mice and DNA synthesis in human gastric tumor cell Methods By fluorescence spectrophotometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy Results HMD can lower erythrocyte microviscosity and elevate membrane lipid fluidity of H 22 ascite tumor bearing mice It also reduced DNA fluorescent intensity and DNA content of gastric tumor cells in vitro Conclusion HMD can improve blood circulation of tumor bearing mice, enhance immune adherence of erythrocyte on tumor cells and displays its antitumor activity by interferring DNA synthesis of tumor cells

Effects of Aluminum Sulfate on GSH Activity and Membrane Lipid Fluidity of Visceral Yolk Sac Cell of Mouse Embryo in Vitro / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To explore the developmental toxicity of aluminum sulfate and its mechanism. Methods 8.5-day-old embryos of Kunming mice were explanted and cultured in a whole embryo culture system with Al 3+ concentrations of 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0 ?g/ml for 48 h. Each viable embryo was evaluated using Maele-Fabry scoring system, and visceral yolk sac diameter, crown-rump and head length, and embryo dry weight were measured, as well as GSH activity in embryonic tissue by using 5,5-dithion-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB), and membrane lipid fluidity of visceral yolk sac cell by DPH fluorescence polarization technique. Results Al 2(SO 4)3 at Al 3+ concentration of 3 ?g/ml resulted in significant inhibition of development of embryos and differentiation of organs, and increasing prevalance rate of abnormal embryos including open neural tube, small head abnormality and deficit in flexion. At Al 3+ concentration of 6.0 ?g/ml, the activity of GSH and the membrane lipid fluidity of visceral yolk sac decreased significantly. In a certain degree, the dose-effect(response) relationship were observed in the above hazardous effects induced by Al 2(SO 4)3. Conclusion Al 2(SO 4)3 presented potential teratagenicity and embryotoxicity, which might be associated with the decreases of the membrane lipid fluidity of visceral yolk sac and the activity of GSH both induced by Al 2(SO 4)3.

HT-TOXIN PRODUCED BY EXSEROHILUM TURCICUM AND SUPEROXIDATION OF MEMBRANE LIPID IN CORN CELL / 微生物学通报

Superoxidation of membrane lipid in corn leaf cells has been studied by researching the relationship between membrane permeability,the content of MDA,and the activity of POD and SOD under HT\|toxin stress.The experimental results showed that the content of MDA ascended,the POD activity was stimulated and SOD activity was inhibited in compatible combination,but POD activity was inhibited in incompatible combination.HT\|toxin strongly destroyed the permeability of cell membrane of corn,and there were positive correlation between toxin effect and toxin concentration and time exposure to toxin.It was conclusion that there may be toxin\|binding site in both resistant and susceptible cell membrane,and the difference in sensitivity of resistant and susceptible cells to toxin may result from their active oxygen metabolism.