Nanoformulation of curcumin protects HUVEC endothelial cells against ionizing radiation and suppresses their adhesion to monocytes: potential in prevention of radiation-induced atherosclerosis

Objectives

To investigated the potential of a novel dendrosomal nanoformulation of curcumin (DNC) in blocking radiation-induced changes in irradiated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and their adhesion to human THP-1 monocytoid cells.

Results

Co⁶⁰ gamma rays reduced viability, raised the expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin (mRNA and protein), augmented the adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVECs, activated NF-κB binding, increased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1) and induced oxidative damage (reduced glutathione declined, while 8-OHdG and TBARS increased). 5 µM DNC significantly inhibited these radiation-induced changes, activated the Nrf-2 pathway, and effectively suppressed THP-1 adhesion to HUVECs, implicating p38 MAPK signaling.

Conclusion

DNC treatment is a potential preventive method against inflammation and vascular damage from ionizing radiation.

     

Melatonin protects vertebral endplate chondrocytes against apoptosis and calcification via the Sirt1‐autophagy pathway

Melatonin is reportedly associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Endplate cartilage is vitally important to intervertebral discs in physiological and pathological conditions. However, the effects and mechanism of melatonin on endplate chondrocytes (EPCs) are still unclear. Herein, we studied the effects of melatonin on EPC apoptosis and calcification and elucidated the underlying mechanism. Our study revealed that melatonin treatment decreases the incidence of apoptosis and inhibits EPC calcification in a dose‐dependent manner. We also found that melatonin upregulates Sirt1 expression and activity and promotes autophagy in EPCs. Autophagy inhibition by 3‐methyladenine reversed the protective effect of melatonin on apoptosis and calcification, while the Sirt1 inhibitor EX‐527 suppressed melatonin‐induced autophagy and the protective effects of melatonin against apoptosis and calcification, indicating that the beneficial effects of melatonin in EPCs are mediated through the Sirt1‐autophagy pathway. Furthermore, melatonin may ameliorate IDD in vivo in rats. Collectively, this study revealed that melatonin reduces EPC apoptosis and calcification and that the underlying mechanism may be related to Sirt1‐autophagy pathway regulation, which may help us better understand the association between melatonin and IDD.     

Mechanical stresses associated with flattening of human femoropopliteal artery specimens during planar biaxial testing and their effects on the calculated physiologic stress–stretch state

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Planar biaxial testing is commonly used to characterize the mechanical properties of arteries, but stresses associated with specimen flattening during...     

Cadmium accumulation and its effects on physiological and biochemical characters of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.).

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cadmium (Cd) toxicity on accumulation, growth, physiological responses, and biochemical characters in summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.). Plants were subjected to different levels of Cd concentrations including 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 15?mg L^?1 in the growing medium. Cd exposure led to a significant increase in root and shoot Cd content. Calculation of bioaccumulation factor, translocation factor, and transfer coefficient revealed that Cd mostly accumulated in roots of S. hortensis and root to shoot transport was effectively restricted. Cd toxicity negatively affected plant growth and significantly reduced chlorophyll content. Contrarily, proline, soluble and reducing carbohydrates, anthocyanin content, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes significantly increased as a result of Cd exposure. Cd application led to a significant increase in essential oil content of S. hortensis. GC-MS analysis revealed that percentage main constitute of S. hortensi, carvacrol, which determines the quality of oil increased under the highest Cd treatment. Based on our findings, S. hortensis can be considered an invaluable alternative crop for mildly Cd-contaminated soils. Besides, due to the high potential of Cd accumulation in the root, S. hortensis may offer a feasible tool for phytostabilization purposes.     

Evaluation of groundwater quality using water quality index and its suitability for assessing water for drinking and irrigation purposes: Case study of Sistan and Baluchistan province (Iran)

The present study evaluates the groundwater quality for drinking and agricultural purposes and determines physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran. In order to investigate the water quality, sampling was done in 654 open dug wells, the chemical parameters were analyzed, and water quality index was determined. In this regard, Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar Stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), Larson–Skold index (LS), and Aggressiveness index (AI) were considered to determine water suitability for industrial purposes. Finally, the analytical results were taken to generate the numerical spatial distribution of the parameters using the geographic information system (GIS) environment. According to the results, water sources were less corrosive based on AI and PSI, low and light corrosion according to RSI, and corrosion according to the Larsson–Sckold index. The results of the drinking water quality index showed that 1.2% shared extraction wells were classified as excellent, 52.1% as good, 39% as poor, 6% as very poor, and 1.7% as unsuitable for drinking purpose classes. In addition, irrigating water quality index illustrated that 19.9% and 80.1% wells were placed in the “excellent” and “Good” classes, respectively. Also, the quality of water in this study was categorized as brackish.     

Secretory Expression of a Chimeric Peptide in Lactococcus lactis: Assessment of its Cytotoxic Activity and a Deep View on Its Interaction with Cell-Surface Glycosaminoglycans by Molecular Modeling

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Nowadays, cancer remains a major cause of death affecting millions of people. Currently, the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potent anticancer therapeutic...     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system: Estimation of soil aggregates stability

In present study, the capabilities of multiple linear regression (MLR) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in developing pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD), from routine soil properties and combination of routine soil properties and fractal dimension of aggregates were evaluated. For this reason 101 samples were collected form the Northwest of Iran and some their properties such as soil texture, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter (OM), fractal dimension of aggregates between number-diameter (Dn), mass-diameter (Dmt), and bulk density-diameter (Dmy) were determined and used as an input variables for determining of mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) by MLR and ANFIS PTFs. Results showed that the application of fractal dimension of aggregates as a predictor in two methods improved the accuracy of PTFs. As well as, results showed that ANFIS have greater potential for determination of the relationships between soil aggregate stability indices and other soil properties in compared with MLR. Therefore using of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in developing pedotransfer functions is recommended.     

Angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist losartan, reduces MPTP-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra

Background

Recent attention has focused on understanding the role of the brain-renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Direct evidence of a role for the brain-RAS in Parkinson's disease (PD) comes from studies demonstrating the neuroprotective effect of RAS inhibitors in several neurotoxin based PD models. In this study, we show that an antagonist of the angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT₁) receptor, losartan, protects dopaminergic (DA) neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity both in primary ventral mesencephalic (VM) cultures as well as in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of C57BL/6 mice (Fig. 1).

Results

In the presence of exogenous Ang II, losartan reduced MPP⁺ (5 μM) induced DA neuronal loss by 72% in vitro. Mice challenged with MPTP showed a 62% reduction in the number of DA neurons in the SNpc and a 71% decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining of the striatum, whereas daily treatment with losartan lessened MPTP-induced loss of DA neurons to 25% and reduced the decrease in striatal TH⁺ immunostaining to 34% of control.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that the brain-RAS plays an important neuroprotective role in the MPTP model of PD and points to AT₁ receptor as a potential novel target for neuroprotection.