Carboxyethyl aminobutyric acid (CEGABA) lacks cytotoxicity and genotoxicity and stimulates cell proliferation and migration in vitro.

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetics formulated using compounds with medical-like benefits. Though the antiaging effect of carboxyethyl aminobutyric acid (CEGABA) has been discussed, its action mechanism in cosmeceuticals remains unclear. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy and safety of CEGABA. NHI-3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line was treated with two CEGABA concentrations (50 and 500 µmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated by colorimetry (MTT) and the alkaline version of the comet assay, respectively. Flow cytometry and the scratch-wound assay were used to assess cell-cycle phase distributions and cell migration rates. Compared with the untreated control, CEGABA increased cell growth 1.6 times after 72 h, independent of dose. The compound also decreased cell replication time by 4 h. These findings seem to be related with the approximately 1.5-times increase in phase S cells numbers. Importantly, in vitro wound healing improved roughly 20% after treatment with CEGABA for 24 h and persisted after 48 h, indicating culture recovery. The time-dependent proliferation and migration of fibroblasts induced by CEGABA besides the fact that the compound is neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic makes it an ideal candidate in the development of cosmeceuticals in antiaging therapy.

Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from Ctenomys minutus.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells distributed in all tissues and characterized by adherence, morphology, immunophenotype and trilineage differentiation potential. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize adherent MSC-like populations from different tissues of Ctenomys minutus, a threatened wildlife rodent popularly known as tuco-tuco. Adherent cells were isolated from bone marrow, brain, liver, pancreas and adipose tissue of three adult animals collect in southern Brazil. Cultures showed typical morphology and proliferation potential. Adipose-derived MSCs showed trilineage potential. Cultures derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow and brain were immunophenotyped with negative results for CD31, CD44, CD45, CD106, and MHC class II, as well as strong positive results for CD29. Low fluorescence levels were seen for CD49d, CD90.2 and CD117. Cultures were negative for CD49e, except for brain-derived cultures that were weakly positive. CD11b was negative in adipose-derived MSCs, but positive in brain and bone marrow-derived cultures. The scratch assay showed high migration potential for pancreas and adipose tissue-derived cells. This study represents the first report of isolation and characterization of cultures having characteristics of MSCs from Ctenomys minutus. The collection of biological information for biobanks represents an important contribution to the creation of strategies for prevention of loss of genetic diversity.

Cytotoxic, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity effects of guanylhydrazone derivatives.

Several studies have reported that guanylhydrazones display a variety of desirable biological properties, such as antihypertensive, antibacterial, and antimalarial behaviour. They furthermore promote anti-pneumocystosis and anti-trypanosomiasis, exhibit antitumor activity, and show significant cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. In this work, we have evaluated the cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity of two guanylhydrazones derivatives, (E)-2-[(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl) methylene] hydrazine carboxymidamide hydrochloride (2,3-DMeB) and (E)-2-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) methylene] hydrazine carboxymidamide hydrochloride (3,4-DMeB), in different biological models. Both 2,3-DMeB and 3,4-DMeB induce weak cytotoxic and mutagenic effects in bacteria and yeast. The genotoxicity of these compounds was determined in a fibroblast cell line (V79) using alkaline comet assay, as well as a modified comet assay with bacterial enzymes formamidopyrimidine DNA-glycosylase (FPG) and endonuclease III (EndoIII). Both guanylhydrazone derivatives induced DNA damage. Treatment of V79 cells with EndoIII and FPG proteins demonstrated a significant effect of 2,3-DMeB and 3,4-DMeB with respect to oxidized bases. In addition, the derivatives induced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells at high doses. The antifungal and anti-trypanosomal properties of these guanylhydrazone derivatives were also evaluated, and the obtained results suggest that 2,3-DMeB is more effective than 3,4-DMeB. The biological activity of 2,3-DMeB and 3,4-DMeB may thus be related, at least in part, to their oxidative potential, as well as to their ability to interact with DNA. Considering the previously reported in vitro antitumor activity of guanylhydrazone derivatives in combination with the lack of acute toxicity and the fact that DNA damage is only observed at high doses should render both compounds good candidates for in vivo studies on antitumor activity.