Effects of a Hydrolyzed Lignin Derivative on Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice.

Female C57BL/J mice with pulmonary fibrosis induced by injections of bleomycin (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, 8 times for 4 weeks) were treated with a lignin derivative-based composition BP-C3 (80 mg/kg, daily intragastric administrations for 4 weeks). Bleomycin treatment increased the severity of pulmonary fibrosis (Ashcroft score increased from 1.43±0.20 to 4.17±0.48) and the percentage of α-SMA+ tissue (from 15.22±1.01 to 33.12±2.30%) and DNA-synthetizing nuclei (from 1.05±0.14 to 3.38±0.375). After treatment with BP-C3, we observed a tendency to a decrease in Ashcroft score (to 3.40±0.51) and a significant decrease in the percentage of α-SMA+ tissue to 24.30±1.70%; the percentage of DNA-synthetizing nuclei decreased to a lesser extent (to 3.03±0.22%). These results suggest that BP-C3 has a moderate antifibrotic activity.

[Polyphenols of natural origin against age-related disorders of tissue homeostasis.]

Aging-related disorders of tissue homeostasis may lead to excessive cell proliferation in the form of cancer and to extracellular matrix expansion in the form of fibroses. Death rates attributed to both of the conditions are decreased, according to epidemiological evidence, upon increased dietary intakes of polyphenols, including flavonoids, stilbenes, lignans, and curcuminoids. That is, polyphenols, although they have very different structures, unidirectionally influence the two opposite sides of balance in tissue homeostasis: the cells, which are able, and the extracellular matrix, which is unable to proliferate. The common features of fibroses and cancer are the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts (MF) and the epithelial- and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT and EndMT), which shift cell proportions in tissues toward MF. The increased ability of MF to produce collagen promotes fibroses in non-cancerous tissues, and EMT and EndMT enhance cancer progression. These processes are influenced by not polyphenols themselves due to their interactions with different sterically suitable targets, but by polyphenol oxidation products, which are all highly electrophilic. By binding to the SH-groups of the KEAP1 protein complexed with the NRF2 protein, they release NRF2, which is generally known as a transcription factor involved in activating the genes implicated in cell antioxidant defenses. In the present review, attention is drawn to the published data about NRF2 ability to attenuate TGFß1 signaling, which promotes fibroblasts conversion into MF and enhances EMP and EndMP, that is increases the phenotypic instability of cells. Thus, the anticarcinogenic and antifibrotic effects of polyphenols may both involve cell phenotype stabilization, which may contribute to the geroprotector effects of polyphenols.

Exploring bioactivity potential of polyphenolic water-soluble lignin derivative.

Many natural substances exhibit anti-inflammatory activity and considerable potential in prophylaxis and treatment of allergies. Knowing exact molecular targets, which is required for developing these as medicinal products, is often challenging for multicomponent compositions. In the present study we examined novel polyphenolic substance, a water-soluble fraction of wood lignin (laboratory code BP-Cx-1). In our previous study, a number of polyphenolic components of BP-Cx-1 (flavonoids, sapogenins, phenanthrenes etc.) were identified as the major carriers of biological activity of BP-Cx drug family, and several molecular targets involved in cancer and/or inflammation signaling pathways were proposed based on the results of the in vitro and in silico screening studies. In the present study, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of BP-Cx-1 was established with a radioligand method and a range of IC50 values between 22.8 and 40.3 µg/ml were obtained for adenosine receptors A1, A2A and prostaglandin receptors EP2, IP (PGI2). IC50 for serotonin 5-HT1 and for glucocorticoid GR receptors were 3.0 µg/ml and 12.6 µg/ml, respectively, both being within the range of BP-Cx-1 concentrations achievable in in vivo models. Further, distribution of [3H] labelled BP-Cx-1 in NIH3T3 murine fibroblasts and MCF7/R carcinoma cells was studied with autoradiography. [3H]-BP-Cx-1 (visualized as silver grains produced by tritium beta particles) was mainly localized along the cell membrane, in the perinuclear region and in the nucleus, suggesting ability of BP-Cx-1 to enter cells and bind to membrane or cytosol receptors. In our experiment, we observed the effect of BP-Cx-1 on maturation of dendritic cells (DCs): downregulation of expression of the lipid-presentation molecule CD1a, co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD83 and CD 40, decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α and increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. It is hypothesized that [3H]-BP-Cx-1 detectable in the nucleus is part of the activated GR complex, known to be involved in regulation of transcription of genes responsible for the anti-inflammatory response. Based on IC50, cell distribution data and results of the experiment with DCs it is suggested that the in vivo effects of BP-Cx-1 are mediated via GR and 5-HT1 receptors thus promoting development of tolerogenic effector function in dendritic cells.

[Comparative analysis of experimental data about the effects of various polyphenols on lifespan and aging.]

To analyze experimental data on the effect of various polyphenolic compounds on lifespan of mice, we approximated survival curves with the Gompertz model in its minimal form, which does not account for the heterogeneity of samples and the age-independent mortality. The plots of regressions of log0 (logarithm of the initial mortality) on  (the rate of aging) in series of control samples were used to assess the deviations of vectors directed from control to experimental data from the slopes of the control regressions. The analysis of published data suggests that resveratrol, polyphenol-containing grape skin extract, metformin, tocopherol, and the antioxidant SkQ1 do not produce changes beyond those possible upon comparing of different samples of a control population. The effect of the polyphenolic composition BP-C3 on female SHR mice is unique in being associated with a significant decrease in the rate of aging. The effect may be partly contributed to by the antioxidant properties of BP-C3. Its antioxidant capacity determined in vitro is comparable with that of established antioxidants, such as dihydroquercetin. Its effects in vivo include the ability to ameliorate reduction in the peroxide-decomposing activity of RBC lysates from male BALB/c mice treated with 5-fluorouracil.

Experience of Antiseptic Application for Processing of Rat Lung Biological Matrices.

To select the optimum method for disinfecting scaffolds before recellularization, the effects of octenisept and chlorhexidine at different concentrations on lung biological matrices before and after decellularization were studied by using morphological methods (studies of biomechanical strength of extracellular matrix fibers) and by analyzing chemiluminescence in rats. Chlorhexidine diluted 1 : 10 had the least damage on the matrix properties and to the greatest extent contributed to disinfection of scaffolds for their further storage and experimental studies.

Estimation of Decellularization and Recellularization Quality of Tissue-Engineered Constructions by the Chemiluminescence Method.

It was found that the chemiluminescence intensity in native and recellularized tissues of rat muscular organs as well as in their decellularized scaffolds can serve as an express criterion that, along with ultrastructural analysis, makes it possible to perform quantitative assessment of the viability of cellular structures in biological samples of the diaphragm.

Morphological Evaluation of the Tissue Reaction to Subcutaneous Implantation of Decellularized Matrices.

Based on the data of morphological analysis, we performed histological evaluation of rat tissue reaction to subcutaneous implantation of decellularized matrices of intrathoracic organs and tissues. Cell composition of the inflammatory infiltrate was analyzed, and the dynamics of macrophage and T and B lymphocyte content was assessed on days 7 and 14 of the experiment. It was found that the reaction to implantation depended not only on the quality of decellularization and efficiency of removal of antigen molecules, but also on the original histological structure and quality of preimplantation processing of the transplant.

In Vivo Experimental Study of Biological Compatibility of Tissue Engineered Tracheal Construct in Laboratory Primates.

Biological compatibility of a tissue engineered construct of the trachea (synthetic scaffold) and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells was studied on laboratory Papio hamadryas primates. Subcutaneous implantation and orthotopic transplantations of tissue engineered constructs were carried out. Histological studies of the construct showed chaotically located filaments and mononuclear cells fixed to them. Development of a fine connective tissue capsule was found at the site of subcutaneous implantation of the tissue engineered construct. The intact structure of the scaffold populated by various cell types in orthotopic specimens was confirmed by expression of specific proteins. The results indicated biological compatibility of the tissue engineered construct with the mesenchymal stem cells; no tissue rejection reactions were recorded; simulation of respiratory disease therapy on Papio hamadryas proved to be an adequate model.

[Automatic morphometric analysis as a method for determining the level of extracellular matrix components and for quantifying nuclear antigens]. / Avtomatizirovannyi morfometricheskii analiz kak metod opredeleniia soderzhaniia komponentov vnekletochnogo matriksa i kolichestvennoi otsenki iadernykh antigenov.

Automated image analysis methods are highly important for biotechnology research. The authors developed and tested a program for the morphometric analysis of photomicrographs of the sections processed using the standard immunohistochemical examination protocols. The color deconvolution method used in the algorithm was proven to be effective in mapping the distribution of DAB chromogen in the sample containing multiple dyes. The experiment demonstrated that the level of extracellular matrix proteins could be comparatively quantified in different groups of samples. The effective methods for the quantitative analysis of the Ki-67 labelling index were also tested using the same algorithms. The developed program was published under free GPL 3.0.

[Causal relationships in stroke and kidney injury]. / Prichinno-sledstvennye vzaimootnosheniia pri insul'te i porazhenii pochek.

AIM: To assess the frequency, severity, and causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 272 patients (143 men and 129 women) (mean age, 66.7±11.6 years) with stroke were examined. The 2008 European Stroke Organization (ESO) guidelines were used to diagnose stroke, to determine indications for and contraindications to thrombolytic therapy, and to evaluate its efficiency. Hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes (HS and IS) were diagnosed in 52 (19%) and 220 (81%) patients, respectively. AKI was diagnosed and classified according to the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. RESULTS: AKI was diagnosed in 89 (33%) patients: 19 (36.5%) with HS and 70 (31.8%) with IS. The relative risk of death in patients with AKI-associated stroke was 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-4.0). A poor outcome (the combined endpoint of death or Rankin scale scores of 4-5) was noted in 56 (62.9%) patients with AKI and in 70 (38.2 %) without AKI (χ2=14.6; p=0.0002). The relative risk of a poor outcome in patients with AKI-associated with stroke was 1.64 (95% CI 1.3-2.0). Forty-five (50.6%) patients with stroke developed AKI in the prehospital period. CONCLUSION: AKI complicates stroke in every three patients and increases death rates. 50% of cases develop AKI in the prehospital period due to the common causes of stroke and AKI.

[Experimental development and rationale for a renal decellularization protocol with subsequent comprehensive assessment of the biological scaffold].

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is one of the most challenging problems of contemporary medicine. Patients with chronic renal failure usually need renal replacement therapy as either hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or a kidney transplant. The latter is the most promising option for end-stage kidney disease. However, the shortage of donor organs, the complexity of their delivery, the difficulty in finding an immunologically compatible donor and the need for lifelong immunosuppression triggered advances in modern tissue engineering. In this field, the primary priority is focused on developing bioengineered scaffolds with subsequent recellularization with autologous cells. Using such constructs would allow for solving both ethical and immunological problems of transplantation. The aim of this pilot study was to develop a new method of renal decellularization using small laboratory animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study investigated the morphological structure of the obtained decellularized matrix and quantitatively tested DNA residues in the resulting scaffold. We proposed a new biophysical method for assessing the matrix quality using the EPR spectroscopy and conducted experiments on the matrix recellularization with mesenchymal multipotent stem cells to estimate cytotoxicity, cell viability and metabolic activity. RESULTS: The obtained decellularized renal matrix retained the native tissue architecture after a complete removal of the cell material, had no cytotoxic properties and supported cell adhesion and proliferation. CONCLUSION: All the above suggests that the proposed decellularization protocol is a promising method to produce tissue-engineered kidney constructs with possible clinical application in the foreseeable future.

Modification of Rat Lung Decellularization Protocol Based on Dynamic Conductometry of Working Solution.

We modified the protocol of obtaining of biological scaffolds of rat lungs based on dynamic recording of specific resistivity of working detergent solution (conductometry) during perfusion decellularization. Termination of sodium deoxycholate exposure after attaining ionic equilibrium plateau did not impair the quality of decellularization and preserved structural matrix components, which was confirmed by morphological analysis and quantitative assay of residual DNA.

Evaluation of the influence of decellularization on the changes in biomechanical properties of primate lungs.

The effect of decellularization on the biomechanical properties of macaque lungs was studied. The quality of the biological scaffold was additionally assessed by morphological methods, and the contents of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers were determined both qualitatively and quantitatively. Histological analysis revealed no damage of structural integrity of ECM components, but the scaffold elasticity significantly decreased, which was confirmed by the changes in the hysteresis loop without a concomitant decrease in peak loads, with the mechanical strength of the samples being retained. These changes require taking additional measures to prevent a decrease in the effective lung volume.

EPR spectroscopy solutions for assessment of decellularization of intrathoracic organs and tissues.

Using EPR spectroscopy it was established that the determination of the concentration of paramagnetic centers in lyophilized tissues allows indirect evaluation of the quality of decellularization of intrathoracic organs (diaphragm, heart, and lungs), since the content of paramagnetic particles in them can serve as a criterion of cell viability and points to the necessity to repeat decellularization. Experiments in rats showed that the EPR spectra of the native thoracic organs contained paramagnetic centers with g-factor values ranging from 2.007 to 2.011 at a concentration of 10(-8) to 6.62 × 10(-7) mol/g of lyophilized tissue, whereas in all decellularized tissues of the same organs paramagnetic particles were not detected.

[Role of circadian rhythms and cellular clock in aging cancer development].

Almost all the body's functions exhibit circadian rhythm maintained in a cell by a system of Clock genes and proteins. Failure to synchronize or loss of these rhythms are found in aged organism and are associated with risk of cancer development. The article describes data on mechanisms of circadian rhythms regulation in whole organism and cell, rhythm change during aging and relationship between rhythm disturbances and tumorigenesis of different localisations in humans and animals.

[Role of circadian rhythms and cellular clock in aging-related diseases].

Almost all the functions of a living organism have circadian oscillations. Disturbance of circadian rhythms can be either a reason or a consequence of a number of diseases. The article describes data on relationship of circadian rhythm and clock genes disturbances with type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease development in humans and animals.

[Role of clock proteins in skin carcinogenesis in 14-month-old SHR mice maintained under disrupted light regimen].

Circadian rhythm disturbance promotes of carcinogenesis and is associated with changes in clock genes and proteins expression. In the current study we observed that continu- ous light exposure potentiated skin carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-0-tetradecanoylphor- bol-13-acetate while melatonin had opposite effect. Carcinogenic exposure decreased BMAL1 and CRYI- expression in the skin, CLOCK expression was upregulated and CRYl downregulated in tumor compared to normal skin. BMAL1 expression increased under disrupted light regimen; melatonin treatment affected CLOCK expression in tumors and CRYI in skin at the carcinogens application sites.

[Myocardial responses to ischemia].

The paper details the types of a myocardial response to impaired blood flow, such as myocardial stunning, hibernation, ischemic preconditioning, warm-up phenomenon, ischemic postconditioning, remodeling, and infarction. According to the pathogenesis, the authors identify several types of myocardial dysfunction in transient ischemic attack--uptake, delivery; and a mixed one. It is concluded the myocardial response to damage depends on a combination of influencing factors, a number of pathophysiological processes starting in the acute phase of ischemia achieve its peak in the late period.

[Serum albumin binding capacity values in the clinical evaluation of endogenous intoxication in acute viral hepatitis].

The fluorescence technique was used to determine the effective albumin concentration (EAC) and albumin binding reserve (ABR) in 130 patients with acute viral hepatitis A and B in order to establish their values in the evaluation of endogenous intoxication (EI). The most considerable EAC and ABR reduction was found in patients with previous comorbidity and with negative responsiveness changes underlying a high baseline EI level. Despite the resolution of the clinical symptoms of intoxication, the long existence of EAC and ABR changes in the course of the disease in these patients is associated with the tension of the body's key systems in impaired somatic regulation and determines the increased consumption of defense reserves and their rapid exhaustion. Thus, the informative value of the study biochemical parameters of EI increased within the multifactor system of its clinical evaluation.