Determination of Biological Activity of Recombinant Reteplase Using Clot Lysis Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Lysis Methods: A Comparative Study.

Recombinant plasminogen activator (reteplase) is a third generation thrombolytic agent which has been used on coronary artery thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction. Clot lysis assay is usually considered as a unique method to evaluate biological activity of reteplase. In this study biological activity of reteplase was determined by APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) lysis method. Validity of this method was evaluated in comparison with reference method, clot lysis time assay. Results of APTT lysis test showed good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) 3-5% for within day analysis and 4-7% for between day analysis), and accuracy (101.3-102.7%). APTT lysis responses were linear in range of 0.001-0.1 mg/mL reteplase. Therefore, APTT lysis method is applicable for biological activity determination of reteplase. Although more comprehensive studies are required to approve this test as a reference method, APTT lysis method seems to be valuable to receive more attention due to advantages of technical simplicity, sensitivity, applicability, and cost efficiency.

Evaluation of discoidin domain receptor-2 (DDR2) expression level in normal, benign, and malignant human prostate tissues.

Discoidin domain receptor (DDR) is a new member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family. There are two isoforms of discoidin domain receptor (DDR), DDR1 and DDR2. These receptors play a major role in the adhesion, motility and cell proliferation. Due to the important role of DDR2 in the development of tumor extension, this receptor is pivotal in the field of carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mRNA and protein expression of DDR2, in the malignant, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and normal tissues of patients with prostate cancer. In this study the gene and protein expression of DDR2 in adjacent normal (n=40), BPH (n=40), and malignant (n=40) prostate tissue were measured using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Then, the correlation of DDR2 gene and protein expression with prognostic factors such as age, tumor grade, tumor stage, lymph node involvement, and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration were evaluated. The relative mRNA and protein expression level of DDR2 in malignant and benign prostate tissue was significantly higher than those of adjacent normal tissues (P<0.01). This expression was found to increase approximately 3.5 and 2.1 fold for mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Spearman test indicated a significant correlation between DDR2 mRNA and protein expression with prognostic factors such as tumor grade, stage, lymph node involvement, and serum PSA concentration. However, significant correlation with age was not observed. These findings suggest that DDR2 is a cancer-related gene associated with the aggressive progression of prostate cancer patients.

Development and Validation of a Micellar Capillary Electrophoresis Method for Determination of IFNß-1b in Lyophilized Formulation of a Biosimilar Product.

Human interferons (IFNs) are key cytokines secreted by immune system. They have several effects such as antiviral and anti tumors activity, activating immune cells and healing of multiple sclerosis. The type IFNs present in humans are α ,ß and Υ. IFN ß is a polypeptide, normally produced by fibroblasts and seems to be more species-specific than IFN. Structural properties of IFNs are important for their biologic effects. There are a few analytical techniques for separation, identification and determination of IFNs in its formulations such as mass spectroscopy, RP-HPLC and capillary electrophoresis (CE). In this study we used Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (MEKC) as a unique mode of CE because of its capability to separate neutral as well as charged solutes. We used sodium tetraborate (Borax) as buffer without any modifier and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant. The optimum MECK running buffer consisted of Borate 50 Mm; SDS 20 mM pH =9.6. The validated method was used for determination of the IFN ß-1b formulation which is manufactured in Iran. From 9 collected different batches, all of them had acceptable potency as claimed on their label with average 102.25 ±10.030 %. This is the first time that a MEKC method is introduced for quantification of IFN ß-1b in its pharmaceutical dosage forms. The method is reliable safe, rapid and accurate.

Herbal Extracts Induce Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation of Human Hair Follicles.

BACKGROUND: The number of people suffering from balding or hair thinning is increasing, despite the advances in various medical therapies. Therefore, it is highly important to develop new therapies to inhibit balding and increase hair proliferation. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of herbal extracts commonly used for improving balding in traditional medicine to identify potential agents for hair proliferation. METHODS: The expression levels of 5α-reductase isoforms (type I and II) were analyzed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the human follicular dermal papilla cells (DPCs). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylteterazolium bromide and bromodeoxyuridine tests were used to evaluate the cell proliferation effect of herbal extracts in DPCs. The expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured using western blot analysis. RESULTS: The 5α-reductase isoform mRNAs and proteins were detected in the cultured DPCs, and the expression level of 5α-R2 in DPCs in the presence of the herbal extracts was gradually decreased. Herbal extracts were found to significantly increase the proliferation of human DPCs at concentrations ranging from 1.5% to 4.5%. These results show that the herbal extracts tested affected the protein expressions of ERK, Akt, cyclin D1, Cdk4, Bcl-2, and Bax in DPCs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that herbal extracts exert positive effects on hair proliferation via ERK, Akt, cyclin D1, and Cdk4 signaling in DPCs; they also suggest that herbal extracts could be a great alternative therapy for increasing hair proliferation.

Anti-pruritic activity of pioglitazone on serotonin-induced scratching in mice: possible involvement of PPAR-gamma receptor and nitric oxide.

Pioglitazone is a member of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists, particularly used in management of type II diabetes. However it also has effects in some dermatological disorders. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of oral administration of pioglitazone and the association of nitric oxide, in serotonin-induced scratching in mice. In order to produce the scratching activity, serotonin (141 nm/site) was administered intradermally in the nape of the neck. Pioglitazone in concentrations of 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, was peroral administered (p.o) as a single dose, 4 h before the serotonin injection. PPAR-γ antagonist, GW9662 (2 mg/kg, i.p); a non-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 mg/kg, i.p); or a nitric oxide precursor, L-arginine (100 mg/kg, i.p.); adminstrated 15 min before pioglitazone were analyzed for anti-scratching activity. Results obtained showed that pioglitazone (40 and 80 mg/kg, p.o) reduced the scratching in a dose-dependent manner. GW9662 inverted the anti-scratching effect of pioglitazone (80 mg/kg). Acute dose of L-NAME (1 mg/kg, i.p) also prevented the anti-scratching property of pioglitazone (80 mg/kg, p.o); although L-arginine was used in sub-effective dose (100 mg/kg, i.p), however it potentiated the anti-scratching behavior when co-injected with pioglitazone (20 mg/kg, p.o). The results indicate that acute pioglitazone has an anti-scratching effect on serotonin-induced scratching in mice. It is concluded that anti-scratching outcome of acute pioglitazone is initiated via activation of PPAR-γ receptor and to some extent by the NO pathway.

Combination of herbal extracts and platelet-rich plasma induced dermal papilla cell proliferation: involvement of ERK and Akt pathways.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has attracted attention in various medical fields, including plastic surgery, treatment for problematic wounds, and dermatology. Specifically, PRP has been tested during hair transplantation to reduce swelling and pain and to increase hair density. We examined the effects of PRP and herbal extracts combination in order to identify potential stimulants of hair growth. METHODS: PRP was prepared using the double-spin method and applied to dermal papilla cells (DPCs). MTT viability test and BrdU cell proliferation assay were used to study the effect of herbal extracts and PRP on proliferation of DPCs. To understand the mechanisms of herbal extracts and PRP involved in the regulation of hair growth, we evaluated signaling pathways and measured the expressions of ERK and Akt, by Western blot. RESULTS: Combination of herbal extracts and PRP was found to induce significant proliferation of human DPCs at concentrations ranging from 1.5% to 4.5%. The present study shows that herbal extracts and PRP affect the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt in DPCs. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have shown that combination of herbal extracts and PRP plays an active role in promoting the proliferation of human dermal papilla (DP) cells via the regulation of ERK and Akt proteins, and this may be applicable to the future development of herbal extracts and PRP combination therapeutics to enhance hair growth.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase by silymarin in proliferating mesenchymal stem cells: comparison with glutathione modifiers.

Silymarin, a mixture of flavonolignans, is extracted from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and has a strong antioxidant activity and exhibits anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects. In this study we attempted to determine whether silymarin and the glutathione modifiers, buthionine sulfoxamine (BSO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), are involved in regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in proliferating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Cellular glutathione was manipulated during a 14-day culture using BSO, NAC and silymarin. At intervals of 2, 7 and 14 days, cells were collected and COX-2 and iNOS levels were measured. In parallel, generation of cellular H(2)O(2) and glutathione were measured. Supplementation of the culture media with BSO caused a dose-dependent decrease in MSC proliferation, whereas NAC or silymarin elevated the proliferation (p < 0.05). Treatment of MSC with NAC or silymarin caused a significant decrease in COX-2 levels. However, COX-2 levels in cells treated with high levels of NAC (1.0 mM) were significantly lower than those in MSCs treated with high levels of silymarin (100 µM). BSO (1.0 and 5.0 µM) caused a significant increase in COX-2 on days 2, 7 and 14. BSO caused a significant increase in iNOS, whereas NAC or silymarin decreased cellular iNOS. Overall result show that glutathione, iNOS and COX-2 in proliferating MSCs are affected by silymarin treatment. It appears that glutathione is the main target of silymarin, and in consequence iNOS and COX-2 are affected in response to silymarin treatment.

Using biochemical findings to study the effect of silymarin on the liver of pregnant rat that consumed ethanol.

In pregnancy period, there is high risk of hepatic diseases and alcohol consumption increases such risk. Some pregnant mothers are not able to quit the habit of drinking alcohol or they are unaware of its dangers. Finding a drug which is effective and efficient in reducing ethanol misuse consequences during pregnancy can assist the decrease of harmful effects of this habit. The purpose of the current research is to investigate the effects of oral administration of silymarin in preventing consequences of ethanol consumption on the liver during pregnancy, using the rat animal model as well as biochemical findings and clinical symptoms. 45 female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, each composed of 15 rats. After the first day of pregnancy, the study was performed as follows. The first group received distilled water. The second group was given ethanol equivalent to 35% of their total required calorie. Furthermore, the third group received the same amount of ethanol plus 200 mg/kg silymarin. In order to evaluate liver's activity, biochemical analysis was performed at days 1, 7, 14, and 21, to measure the amount of the enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin. The nutrition and clinical status of animal in the groups was studied and recorded 2 times daily. This study showed that silymarin's protective effects are expressed from the first day of treatment.