• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2005

End-stage renal disease is a fatal and devastating disease that is caused by progressive and irreversible loss of functioning nephrons in the kidney. Dialysis and renal transplantation are the common treatments at present, but these treatments have severe limitations. The present study investigated the possibility of reconstructing renal tissues by transplantation of renal precursor cells to replace the current treatments for end-stage renal disease. Embryonic renal precursor cells, freshly isolated from metanephroi of rat fetus at day 15 post-gestation, were seeded on biodegradable polymer scaffolds and transplanted into peritoneal cavities of athymic mice for three weeks. Histologic sections stained with hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-Schiff revealed the formation of primitive glomeruli, tubules, and blood vessels, suggesting the potential of embryonic renal precursor cells to reconstitute renal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a marker of proliferating cells, showed intensive nuclear expression in the regenerated renal structures, suggesting renal tissue reconstitution by transplanted embryonic renal precursor cells. This study demonstrates the reconstitution of renal tissue in vivo by transplanting renal precursor cells with biodegradable polymer scaffolds, which could be utilized as a new method for partial or full restoration of renal structure and function in the treatment of end-stage renal disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5667-5672
• /
• 2014

Folate receptor alpha ($FR{\alpha}$) mediates folate uptake by endocytosis, and while folate is essential to DNA methylation and synthesis and may have an important role in proliferating cells. $FR{\alpha}$ is known to be expressed in rapidly proliferating cells, including many cancer cell lines, but there has been no systematic assessment of expression in cervical cancer cell lines. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of $FR{\alpha}$ on proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cells and correlation mechanism. In this study, we investigated the biological function of $FR{\alpha}$ in Hela cells using RNA interference. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, while cell cycling and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry, mRNA levels by real time-PCR and protein levels of $FR{\alpha}$, c-Fos and c-Jun by Western blotting. The results revealed that $FR{\alpha}$ was highly expressed in Hela cells and its silencing with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle in G0/G1 stages while decreasing the proportion in S and G2/M stages, and suppressed the expression levels of c-Fos and c-Jun. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that $FR{\alpha}$ down-regulation might be capable of suppressing cervical cancer cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. It suggested that $FR{\alpha}$ might be a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.247-251
• /
• 2001

Differentiating HiB5 cells, a rat hippocampal cell line, expressed neuregulins and showed constitutive activation of a neuregulin receptor, ErbB2, suggesting development of a neuregulin autocrine loop. RT-PCR analyses indicated that HiB5 cells produced SMDF and NDF, but not GGF, during the differentiation. None of neuregulin isoforms were detected in proliferating HiB5 cells. The neuregulins in HiBS cells, at least in part, are the $\beta$-isoforms of which the most of neuronal neuregulin isoforms are. The expression of SMDF and NDF was enhanced by PDGF and bFGF that promote cell survival and differentiation, suggesting a close relationship between the synthesis of neuregulins and the differentiation process. HiB5 cells have ErbB2 and ErbB4, but not ErbB3 receptors. Constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2 was detected in HiB5 cells that had not been exposed to exogenous GGF.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 1997

Promoter of the Drosophila proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene contains DRE (Drosophila DNA replication-related element) required for the high level expression of replication-related genes. Recently, we found that promoter region of the D-raf (a Drosophila homolog of the human c-raf-1) contains two sequences homologous to the DRE and demonstrated the DRE/DREF (DRE-binding factor) involvement in regulation of the D-raf gene. In this study, using ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpene acid reported to possess antitumor activities, we examined effects of UA on proliferation of the Drosophila cultured Kc cells and on expression of the PCNA and D-raf genes. UA showed an inhibitory effect on proliferation of the Kc cells in a concentration-dependent manner in DNA content assays and [3H]thymidine incorporation assays. The IC50 value of anti-proliferative effects of UA in DNA content assays was about 7.5uM. UA showed inhibitory effects on expression of the PCNA as well as on that of the D-raf, which were examined with the reporter plasmic p5'-168DPCNACAT or p5'-878DrafCAT, respectively. The results obtained in the present study suggest that expression of the PCNA and D-raf genes is coordinately regulated in at least UA-treated Kc cells and that down-regulation of expression of the PCNA and D-raf genes might be related with the antitumor activities of UA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.110-124
• /
• 2011

Anatomically separate fat depots differ in size, function, and contribution to pathological states such as the metabolic syndrome. We isolated pre-adipocytes from different adipose depots, omental, subcutaneous and intramuscular, of beef cattle, and cultured in vitro to determine the basis for the variations and attribute these variations to the inherent properties of adipocyte progenitors. The proliferating cells from all depots before the confluence were harvested and the proteome was analyzed by a functional proteomic approach, involving 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF. More than 252 protein spots were identified, selected and analyzed by Image Master (ver 7.0) and MALDI-TOF/TOF. Further, our analysis showed that there were specific differences in proteome expression patterns among proliferating precursor cells from the three depots. Sixteen proteins were found to be differentially expressed and these were identified as proteins involved in cellular processes, heat shock/chaperones, redox proteins, cytoskeletal proteins and metabolic enzymes. The results also enabled us to understand the basic roles of these proteins in different inherent properties exhibited by adipose tissue depots.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1634-1640
• /
• 2007

The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activities and ferric- reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay against extracts of Kalopanax pictus (KP) were measured. Radical scavenging and antioxidant activities were increased depend on the concentration and the effects were enhanced by ascorbic acid (AA). KP extracts and AA had a good anti-proliferating activity against HepG2 cells by MTT assay and induces cells apoptosis, which was demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis. KP extracts and AA caused the arrest of cell-cycle progression at either G0-G1-phase or G2/M-phase, which might be depending upon the KP extracts concentration. In addition, KP extracts and AA are effective in enhancing immunity and nitric oxide production by RAW 264.7 macrophages cells. KP extracts and AA inhibited tumor cell growth and exerted antioxidant effects as compared to controls. These results demonstrate that simultaneous AA and KP extracts treatment could be useful in preventing the oxidative damage and anti-proliferating HepG2 cells, and are effective in enhancing immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.122-136
• /
• 2023

Depression is a prevalent global problem since ages, predominately treated with SSRI. Cipralex, is an antidepressant of the SSRIs class used as a remedy for mood, depression and anxiety. Silymarin (SIL), a natural free radical scavenging, has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This hypothesis evaluates, for the first time, the role of cipralex on the structure of the endocrine and exocrine components of the pancreas and assess the beneficial effects of SIL on these changes. Forty-five rats were divided into control, cipralex, and cipralex plus SIL groups. During sacrifice, all rats and pancreases were weighed and the ratio of pancreatic weight (PW) to rat weight (RW) was calculated, blood samples were collected to estimate fasting glucose, insulin and amylase levels, the specimens were prepared for histological, immunohistochemical (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], caspase 3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA], and anti-insulin antibody), and morphometrical studies. Cipralex group exhibited marked destruction of the pancreatic architecture of the exocrine and endocrine parts, with a dense collagen fiber deposition. Also, there is highly significant decrease (P<0.001) of PW/RT ratio, insulin, and amylase levels, the number and diameter of islets of Langerhans, the number of PCNA positive immunoreactive cells, and the number of insulin positive β-cells. Furthermore, a highly significant increase of glucose level, iNOS, TNF-α, and caspase-3 positive immunoreactive cells in the islets of Langerhans and acinar cells were observed. SIL improves the pancreatic histological architecture, weight loss, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses. Administering SIL is advantageous in managing cipralex induced pancreatic injury via its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic qualities.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.201-205
• /
• 2023

Free adenine is mainly made during the polyamine synthesis in proliferating cells. Adenine molecule itself acts biological modulator in inflammation and cell death. In the previous report, we showed that adenine induces apoptotic cell death of B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells by eliciting of PARP and caspase 3 cleavages. In this study, we examined the adenine effect on other apoptotic molecules affecting caspase activation in B16-F10 melanoma cells. Adenine treatment make pro-apoptotic molecules active states. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was increased and phosphorylation of mTOR and Akt was decreased in a dose dependent manner. These results showed the possibility that Bax/Bcl-2, Akt and mTOR are engaged in adenine induced apoptosis of melanoma cells.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.317-340
• /
• 1993

This study was designed 1) to compare the distributions of periapical inflammatory cells and 2) to identify lymphocytes and compare the lymphocyte distribution with T lymphocyte subpopulation and then 3) to examine the distribution of cycling cell in human dental periapical lesions. From each of the twenty-five human dental periapical lesions observed one small portion was fixed, embeded in paraffin, sectioned serially and stained with HE. The periapical inflammatory cells were counted to obtain the relative concentration of lymphocyte, plasma cell, macrophage and neutrophil. The large part of each lesion was analysed using Flow cytometer and monoclonal antibodies to obtain the relative concentration of T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, T'helper cell and T suppressor/cytotoxic cell. In addition to that, seven human dental periapical lesions were examined with DNA analysis to observe the distribution of cycling cell. Following results were obtained: 1. 24 cases of the 32 periapical lesions examined were diagnosed as periapical granuloma and the remaining 8 cases as periapical cyst. Lymphocytes comprised 42.1% of total inflammatory cells in periapical granuloma and 41.8% in periapical cyst. Corresponding percentages for macrophages were 33.8% and 30.3%; for plasma cells, 15.9% and 19.0%; for neutrophils, 8.2% and 8.8%. 2. All of the periapical lesions examined had T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, T helper cell, T suppressor/cytotoxic cell. And in all cases, T lymphocytes were observed predominantly more than B lymphocytes. 3. In 2 cases of the control group only T lymphocytes were found, and in the remaining 2 cases T lymphocytes were observed predominantly. 4. T helper cells were observed predominantly more than T suppressor/cytotoxic cells in all cases of perapical granulomas. 5. T suppressor/cytotoxic cells were observed predominantly more than T helper cells in 4 cases of periapical cysts (total 5 cases were examined) and only in one case T helper cells were more than T suppressor/cytotoxic cells. 6. In control group, T helper cells were predominant in 2 cases and T helper cells were equivalent to T suppressor/cytotoxic cells in one case. In remaining one case T suppressor/cytotoxic cells were predominant. 7. As the result of DNA analysis, the average proliferating indices of the various groups examined were measured as follows: in the control group 5.45%, in periapical granuloma 6.64%, in periapical cyst 10.1%. The highest index was observed in periapical cyst.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.168-173
• /
• 1996

The effect of methanol soluble fraction(MSF) of kimchi on the proliferating and differentiating activity of normal rat mammary epithelial cells or organoids in culture were studied. Reconstituted basement membrane, Matrigel, supported the growth and development several different multicellular structures from mammary organoids. The five type colonies of multicellular structures, stellate, ductal, webbed, squamous, and lobulo-ductal colonies, were observed in Matrigel culture. In methanol extract groups, webbed colonies were more and squamous colonies were less than control group. and the lobulo-ductal colonies which is known that it formed in well differentiated mammary epoithelial cells were developed more in MSF treated group than control group. These results showed that methanol extract of kimchi affected on the proliferation and differentiation of normal rat mammary epithelial cells cultured in serum free medium condition.