Rho GTPase activating protein 21-mediated regulation of prostate cancer associated 3 gene in prostate cancer cell.

The overexpression of the prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) gene is well-defined as a marker for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Although widely used in clinical research, PCA3 molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Herein we used phage display technology to identify putative molecules that bind to the promoter region of PCA3 gene and regulate its expression. The most frequent peptide PCA3p1 (80%) was similar to the Rho GTPase activating protein 21 (ARHGAP21) and its binding affinity was confirmed using Phage Bead ELISA. We showed that ARHGAP21 silencing in LNCaP prostate cancer cells decreased PCA3 and androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional levels and increased prune homolog 2 (PRUNE2) coding gene expression, indicating effective involvement of ARHGAP21 in androgen-dependent tumor pathway. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed the interaction between PCA3 promoter region and ARHGAP21. This is the first study that described the role of ARHGAP21 in regulating the PCA3 gene under the androgenic pathway, standing out as a new mechanism of gene regulatory control during prostatic oncogenesis.

Ultrafast sonochemistry-based approach to coat TiO2 commercial particles for sunscreen formulation.

TiO2 is a common inorganic filter used in sunscreens due to its photoprotective effect on the skin against UV radiation. However, the use of this kind of material in cosmetics is limited by its inherent photocatalytic activity. It is known that coating on TiO2 surface can improve some features. Although, many of the methodologies used for this purpose are still laborious and time-consuming. Thus, this work reports a novel, easy, cheap and fast strategy to coat TiO2 particles by using a sonochemistry approach, aiming to decrease photocatalytic activity and to enhance colloidal stability. For this proposal, SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2 and sodium polyacrylate (PAANa) were used to tune the surface of commercial TiO2 particles and they were applied in a sunscreen formulation. The samples were characterized by XRPD, FT-IR, DLS, EDS, SEM and TEM. The photocatalytic activity and UV-shielding ability were also evaluated. The sunscreen formulations were prepared and characterized by zeta potential, DLS, and Sun Protection Factor (SPF). FT-IR, EDS, and charge surface of the particles confirmed the success of the sonochemistry coating. Additionally, TiO2@Al2O3, TiO2@SiO2 and TiO2@PAANa show a lower photocatalytic activity than original TiO2 with similar UV-shielding ability. The sunscreens produced with the coated TiO2 have similar SPF to the one with commercial TiO2. Specifically, the sunscreen with TiO2@PAANa shows an increase in colloidal stability. Herein, the incorporation of the sonochemical-coated TiO2 particles in sunscreen formulations may produce sunscreens with better aesthetic appearance and a greater health security due to its lower free radicals production.

Participation of the Cytoskeletal and Lysosomal Compartments in Campylobacter jejuni Invasion of Caco-2 cells, the Cellular Response by Morphometric Analysis and the Presence of Cytokine and Chemokine Transcripts.

This study aimed to evaluate the participation of actin and tubulin in the process of internalisation, the interaction of bacterial phagosomes with lysosomes, the morphometric changes and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in Caco-2 cells infected with Campylobacter jejuni. Both actin and tubulin participated in the process of internalisation. Inside the cells, lysosomes fuse with phagosomes, which may lead to bacterial death because after 2 h, the bacteria were not detected by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). There is increased expression of TGF-ß3 during the early stages, and IL-8 was expressed after 60 min p.i. This work showed that C. jejuni invades and causes major morphometric changes in epithelial cells. In response, the cells increase their expression of cytokines that can lead to inflammation. The mechanisms of invasion are dependent on actin and tubulin, and once internalised, lysosomes fuse with phagosomes.

Parkinsonia aculeata aqueous extract fraction: biochemical studies in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The antidiabetic effect of Parkinsonia aculeata water soluble fraction (WSF) made of aerial parts of the plant (leaves and flowers) was investigated in alloxan diabetic rats. Its effect was compared with that of insulin (positive control). The physico-metabolic parameters measured were: body weight, food and liquid intake, urinary volume, hepatic glycogen, serum glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, urinary glucose and urea, and the weight of epididymal adipose tissue, liver, kidneys and the skeletal muscles (soleus and extensor digitorum longus). Oral administration of WSF (125 or 250 mg/kg) for 16 days exhibited a significant reduction in serum and urinary glucose, urinary urea, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in alloxan diabetic rats. An improvement of hepatic glycogen, a decrease of liquid and food intake, and a significantly positive actions in the weight of skeletal muscles (soleus and extensor digitorum longus) and kidneys were also observed, but just diabetic group treated with WSF at a dose of 125 mg/kg showed significant reduction in urinary volume, body weight, an improvement of epididymal adipose tissue and a positive action in liver weight. The effects of WSF on the physico-metabolic parameters was comparable to those observed in diabetic insulin treated group. The results of this work suggest that P. aculeate may have new clinical significant choice in diabetes mellitus illness, and could explain the basis for its traditional use to manage diabetes-related complications by rural community of northeast of Brazil.