Olive leaf extract counteracts epithelial to mesenchymal transition process induced by peritoneal dialysis, through the inhibition of TGFß1 signaling.

The mesothelial cells (MCs) play an important role in the morpho-functional alterations of the peritoneal membrane (PM) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). MCs, through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process (EMT), progressively acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype, promoting peritoneal fibrosis (PF) and failure of peritoneal membrane function. Transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), through canonical and non-canonical pathways, promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process leading to PF. To investigate the therapeutic potential of an olive leaf extract (OLE) on preserving peritoneal membrane function, we evaluated the effect of OLE on the TGFß1-induced EMT in mesothelial cells, Met5A, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. As assessed by changes in the expression of epithelial, mesenchymal, and fibrotic cell markers (such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-SMA, fibronectin, vimentin), levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), and cell migration, OLE inhibited the TGFß1-induced EMT. Importantly, the beneficial effect of OLE was mediated by reduction of the TGFß1-induced activation of Smad2/3 signaling and the mitigation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Smad/non-Smad signaling pathways, activated by TGFß1, both reduce expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin which has a crucial role in EMT initiation. Interestingly, we observed that in presence of OLE activity of the E-cadherin, promoter was increased and concomitantly OLE reduced the nuclear content of its co-repressor SNAIL. Our results suggest the potential therapeutic of OLE to counteract fibrotic process in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Olive leaf extract counteracts cell proliferation and cyst growth in an in vitro model of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive enlargement of kidney cysts, leading to chronic kidney disease. Since the available treatment for ADPKD is limited, there is emerging interest for natural compounds as potential therapeutic candidates. The aim of our study was to investigate whether an olive leaf extract may be able to counteract the cyst growth in an in vitro model of ADPKD. We treated WT9-12 cells with an olive leaf extract (OLE). In monolayer culture we evaluated cell viability by the MTT assay, protein expression by western-blot analysis and apoptosis by DNA laddering and TUNEL assays. For functional studies we used transient transfection and ChIP assays. Intracellular calcium measurement was performed with a spectrofluorimeter using a fluorescent probe. 3D-cell-culture was used for cyst growth studies. OLE reduced the WT9-12 cell growth rate and affected intracellular signaling due to high c-AMP levels, as OLE reduced PKA levels, enhanced p-AKT, restored B-Raf-inactivation and down-regulated p-ERK. We elucidated the molecular mechanism by which OLE, via Sp1, transactivates the p21WAF1/Cip1 promoter, whose levels are down-regulated by mutated PKD1. We demonstrated that p-AKT up-regulation also played a crucial role in the OLE-induced anti-apoptotic effect and that OLE ameliorated intracellular calcium levels, the primary cause of ADPKD. Finally, using a 3D-cell-culture model we observed that OLE reduced the cyst size. Therefore, multifaceted OLE may be considered a new therapeutic approach for ADPKD treatment.

Imprinted hydrophilic nanospheres as drug delivery systems for 5-fluorouracil sustained release.

Molecularly imprinted hydrogel nanospheres as devices for the controlled/sustained release of 5-fluororacil in biological fluids were synthesized employing one-pot precipitation technique as the polymerization method. Methacrylic acid as a functional monomer and ethylene glycole dimethacrylate as a cross-linker were used in polymeric feed. Morphological and hydrophilic properties were determined by scanning electron microscopy and water content measurement, and recognition and selectivity properties of spherical molecularly imprinted polymers were compared with the spherical non-imprinted polymers, both in organic (acetonitrile) and water media. Finally, in vitro release studies were performed in plasma simulating fluids.

Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction for the selective HPLC determination of alpha-tocopherol in bay leaves.

A new sorbent for molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) was synthesized to extract and purify alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TP) from vegetable sources. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) were synthesized using methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent using a photo-polymerization procedure. A thermo-polymerization was also performed but no imprinting effect in the resulting materials was raised. The proposed MISPE protocol could overcome the drawback of traditional detection methods, which require pre-treatments of the samples. The possibility to obtain the selective recognition of alpha-TP from natural samples in aqueous mixtures represents one of the main advantages of our materials. Our procedure involves the direct HPLC injection of eluate without any treatment and above all the use of no toxic and biocompatible organic solvents. After the evaluation of the selectivity of the alpha-TP imprinted polymers, the performance of these materials as solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents was investigated. Our MISPE-HPLC procedure has a high sensitivity, LOD and LOQ were 3.49x10(-7) and 1.16x10(-6) mol L(-1), respectively, as well as good precision (intraday precision below 3.3% and interday precisions below 6.5%) and recovery (60%). Thus, it can be successfully used for the purification of alpha-TP from bay leaves.

Radical cross-linked albumin microspheres as potential drug delivery systems: preparation and in vitro studies.

The aim of this research is the preparation of acryloylated bovine serum albumin microspheres and the evaluation of their employment in drug delivery. The influence of preparation parameters on albumin microspheres and the chemicophysical properties of loaded drugs were investigated. In particular, we focused our attention on acylation albumin degree, amount of acryloylated albumin against comonomer in the polymerization step, and finally the release profile. We considered on the interaction drug-matrix, the fuctionalization degree of albumin, and the water affinity of matrix.

Radical crosslinked albumin microspheres as potential drug delivery systems: preparation and in vitro studies.

This article reports on the preparation of acryloylated bovine serum albumin microspheres and the evaluation of their employment in drug delivery areas. The influence of preparation parameters on albumin microspheres and the chemicophysical properties of loaded drugs were investigated. In particular, we focussed on acylation albumin degree and the amount of acryloylated albumin against comonomer in the polymerization step. Finally the release profile took into consideration the interaction drug-matrix, the fuctionalization degree of albumin, and the water affinity of matrix.

Spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) via a novel precipitation polymerization in the controlled delivery of sulfasalazine.

Spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) have been prepared via a novel precipitation polymerization using sulfasalazine (prodrug used in the diseases of the colon) as template. The sulfasalazine was incorporated into SMIPs and into a spherical non-imprinted polymer (control), and then the release rate of the bioactive agent at different pH values was evaluated. Considerable differences in the release characteristics between imprinted and non-imprinted polymers have been observed. This opens the possibility of the development of drug release systems capable of modulating the release of a specific molecule. Photomicrography of spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs).