Cytotoxic activity of physodic acid and acetone extract from Hypogymnia physodes against breast cancer cell lines.

Context: Lichens produce specific secondary metabolites with different biological activity.

Objective: This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of physodic acid, in addition to the total phenolic content and cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of acetone extract from Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl.

Novel Promising Estrogenic Receptor Modulators: Cytotoxic and Estrogenic Activity of Benzanilides and Dithiobenzanilides.

The cytotoxicity of 27 benzanilides and dithiobenzanilides built on a stilbene scaffold and possessing various functional groups in aromatic rings previously described for their spasmolytic properties was assayed on three human cancer cell lines (A549 -lung adenocarcinoma, MCF-7 estrogen dependent breast adenocarcinoma and MDA-MB-231 estrogen independent breast adenocarcinoma) and 2 non-tumorigenic cell lines (CCD39Lu-lung fibroblasts, MCF-12A - breast epithelial). Three compounds (6, 15 and 18) showed selective antiproliferative activity against estrogen dependent MCF-7 cancer cells and their estrogenic activity was further confirmed in MCF-7 transfected with an estrogen receptor reporter plasmid and in HEK239 cells over-expressing the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Compound 18 is especially interesting as a potential candidate for therapy since it is highly toxic and selective towards estrogen dependent MCF7 cell lines (IC50 = 5.

COX-2 inhibitors: a novel strategy in the management of breast cancer.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are common anti-inflammatory drugs with pleiotropic, endogenous actions that could be useful in the management of breast cancer. Here, we provide a complete understanding of the biochemistry of COX-2 and discuss the various molecular mechanisms behind its increased expression in breast cancer. We also analyze the possible mechanisms responsible for the anticancer effect of COX-2 inhibitors and provide an overview of the available preclinical and clinical data on the use of COX-2 inhibitors in breast cancer.

The radiolytic studies of cefpirome sulfate in the solid state.

The possibility of applying radiation sterilization to cefpirome sulfate was investigated. The lack of changes in the chemical structure of cefpirome sulfate irradiated with a dose of 25 kGy, required to attain sterility, was confirmed by UV, FT-IR, Raman, DSC and chromatographic methods. Some radical defects with concentration no more than over a several dozen ppm were created by radiation.

Senescent peritoneal mesothelium induces a pro-angiogenic phenotype in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model in vivo.

It is believed that senescent cells contribute to the progression of primary and metastatic tumors, however, the exact mechanisms of this activity remain elusive. In this report we show that senescent human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) alter the secretory profile of ovarian cancer cells (A2780, OVCAR-3, SKOV-3) by increasing the release of four angiogenic agents: CXCL1, CXCL8, HGF, and VEGF. Proliferation and migration of endothelial cells subjected to conditioned medium generated by: cancer cells modified by senescent HPMCs; cancer cells co-cultured with senescent HPMCs; and by early-passage HPMCs from aged donors, were markedly intensified.

Colorectal cancer-promoting activity of the senescent peritoneal mesothelium.

Gastrointestinal cancers metastasize into the peritoneal cavity in a process controlled by peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). In this paper we examined if senescent HPMCs can intensify the progression of colorectal (SW480) and pancreatic (PSN-1) cancers in vitro and in vivo. Experiments showed that senescent HPMCs stimulate proliferation, migration and invasion of SW480 cells, and migration of PSN-1 cells.

Complex of rutin with β-cyclodextrin as potential delivery system.

This study aimed to obtain and characterize an RU-β-CD complex in the context of investigating the possibility of changes in the solubility, stability, antioxidative and microbiological activity as well as permeability of complexated rutin as against its free form. The formation of the RU-β-CD complex via a co-grinding technique was confirmed by using DSC, SEM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, and its geometry was assessed through molecular modeling. It was found that the stability and solubility of the so-obtained complex were greater compared to the free form; however, a slight decrease was observed inits antibacterial potency.

Microfluidic method of pig oocyte quality assessment in relation to different follicular size based on lab-on-chip technology.

Since microfollicular environment and the size of the follicle are important markers influencing oocyte quality, the aim of this study is to present the spectral characterization of oocytes isolated from follicles of various sizes using lab-on-chip (LOC) technology and to demonstrate how follicle size may affect oocyte quality. Porcine oocytes (each, n = 100) recovered from follicles of different sizes, for example, from large (>5 mm), medium (3-5 mm), and small (<3 mm), were analyzed after preceding in vitro maturation (IVM). The LOC analysis was performed using a silicon-glass sandwich with two glass optical fibers positioned "face-to-face.

Expression and cellular distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the real-time proliferation of porcine cumulus cells.

Although the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors within porcine ovary and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) is well recognized, still little information is known regarding expression of the progesterone receptor (PGR), PGR membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and of estrogen-related receptors (ERRγ and ERRβ/γ) in separated cumulus cells in relation to real-time proliferation. In this study, a model of oocytes-separated cumulus cells was used to analyze the cell proliferation index and the expression PGR, PGRMC1 and of ERRγ and ERRβ/γ during 96-h cultivation in vitro using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and confocal microscopic observation. We found that PGR protein expression was increased at 0 h, compared with PGR protein expression after 96 h of culture (P < 0.

Expression and cellular distribution of zona pellucida glycoproteins in canine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation.

This study was aimed at investigating zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZP) ZP2, ZP3 mRNA expression as well as ZP3, ZP4 (ZPB) protein distribution before and after in vitro maturation (IVM) in canine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from 27 anoestrous mongrel bitches and matured for 72 h in TCM199 medium. The canine COCs were analysed before and after IVM.

Peritoneal mesothelium promotes the progression of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in a mice xenograft model in vivo.

The role of mesothelial cells in the intraperitoneal spread of ovarian cancer is still elusive. In particular, it is unclear whether these cells constitute a passive barrier preventing cancer cell progression or perhaps act as an active promoter of this process. In this report we show that omental human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) stimulate adhesion and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells (A2780, OVCAR-3, SKOV-3).

DMU-212 inhibits tumor growth in xenograft model of human ovarian cancer.

DMU-212 has been shown to evoke a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in transformed fibroblasts and breast cancer. However, recently published data indicated the ability of DMU-212 to evoke apoptosis in both mitochondria- and receptor-mediated manner in two ovarian cancer cell lines, namely A-2780 and SKOV-3, which showed varied sensitivity to the compound tested. The pronounced cytotoxic effects of DMU-212 observed in A-2780 cells were related to the execution of extracellular apoptosis pathway and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase.

Effects of hydroxylated resveratrol analogs on oxidative stress and cancer cells death in human acute T cell leukemia cell line: prooxidative potential of hydroxylated resveratrol analogs.

Resveratrol and its higher hydroxylated analogs have been reported to possess a variety of biological properties including antioxidant as well as prooxidant effects. The antioxidant properties are assumed to enable these compounds to protect cells from oxidative damage, however prooxidant activity are held likely to be responsible for their cytotoxic or pro-apoptotic effects. In present study the effects of resveratrol (Res) and its three derivatives: 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene (M6), 3,4,4',5-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene (M8) and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexahydroxy-trans-stilbene (M12) were investigated on T cell leukemia Jurkat cells.

Expression and cellular distribution of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and connexin 43 (Cx43) in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation.

It is recognised that connexin 43 (Cx43) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) are involved in the cumulus cell-oocyte communication via gap junctions and the control of cell cycle progress. However, little is known about their mRNA expression pattern and encoded proteins distribution in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 31 puberal crossbred Landrace gilts and analysed for their Cdk4 and Cx43 mRNA expression using RQ-PCR and for the respective protein expression by confocal microscopic observations.

Expression of INHβA and INHβB proteins in porcine oocytes cultured in vitro is dependent on the follicle size.

The current study aimed to investigate differential expression of inhibin βA (INHβA) and inhibin βB (INHβB) in porcine oocytes before or after in vitro maturation (IVM) isolated from follicles of various sizes. Porcine oocytes isolated from large, medium and small follicles (40 from each) were used to study the INHβA and INHβB protein expression pattern using western blot analysis before or after 44 h of oocyte IVM. An increased expression of INHβA was found in oocytes collected from large and medium follicles compared with small follicles before or after IVM (P < 0.

Different susceptibility of colon cancer DLD-1 and LOVO cell lines to apoptosis induced by DMU-212, a synthetic resveratrol analogue.

The cytotoxic activity of DMU-212 has been shown to vary in cell lines derived from the same type of cancer, i.e. ovarian, breast and colorectal ones.

Expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and MnSOD in a panel of human cancer cell lines.

The expression of P450 enzymes and antioxidative enzymes in tumour tissue can have a major impact on the responsiveness of tumours to cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, therefore such information may be very precious when experiments are designed. The compressive information, concerning the expression of drug metabolism enzymes or antioxidative enzymes is still lacking, therefore in this study the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase MnSOD (both mRNA and protein) in a panel of eight commonly used cancer cell lines, representing four tumour tissues was assayed. In the study two ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and SKOV-3, two colorectal cancer LOVO and DLD-1, two breast cancer derived MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and two cervical cancer cell lines HeLa and C33A were employed.

Real-time proliferation of porcine cumulus cells is related to the protein levels and cellular distribution of Cdk4 and Cx43.

The proper maturation of cumulus somatic cells depends on bidirectional communication between the oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells (CCs). The aim of this study was (i) to investigate maturation markers, such as Cx43 and Cdk4 protein levels, and (ii) to analyze the distribution of these two proteins in CCs cultured for 44, 88, 132, and 164 hours in both separated and cumulus-enclosed oocyte cultures. CCs were isolated from porcine ovarian follicles after the treatment of the recovered COCs with collagenase.

Short-term cultivation of porcine cumulus cells influences the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and connexin 43 (Cx43) protein expression--a real-time cell proliferation approach.

The CC (cumulus cell) proliferation index in relation to the expression and distribution of Cdk4 and Cx43 proteins, which are crucial factors for oocyte maturation, was investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from pubertal crossbred Landrace gilts and treated with collagenase, and separated CCs were cultured in standard TCM199 medium for 44 h. At each step of in vitro cultivation (IVC) of CCs (0, 12, 24 and 44 h), a normalized proliferation index was assessed.

Differential expression of GDF9, TGFB1, TGFB2 and TGFB3 in porcine oocytes isolated from follicles of different size before and after culture in vitro.

The TGFB superfamily genes are involved in several important cell functions, including proliferation and differentiation, and the role of the expression of these genes in growth and development of theca and granulosa cells is well recognised. However, the dependence between the stage of oocyte maturation or follicular size and the expression of these genes in pigs is still not entirely known. This study was aimed at investigating the expression pattern of GDF9, TGFB1, TGFB2 and TGFB3 in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation (IVM) as well as in oocytes collected from follicles of different sizes.

Thioglycerol-capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dot bioconjugates as efficient two-photon fluorescent nano-probes for bioimaging.

Water-dispersible 1-thioglycerol (TG)-capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots were prepared in aqueous solution using the nucleation-doping strategy. Using 4% Mn relative to Zn and a Zn(OAc)/NaS ratio of 0.9, Mn:ZnS nanocrystals with an average diameter of 3.

Expression and cellular distribution of INHA and INHB before and after in vitro cultivation of porcine oocytes isolated from follicles of different size.

Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected from small (<3 mm), medium (3-5 mm), and large (>5 mm) porcine follicles, and the INHA and INHB expression and cellular localization were studied. Developmentally competent (BCB+) COCs were cultured for 44 h. Samples of mRNA were isolated before and after in vitro maturation (IVM) from oocytes collected from follicles of different size for RQ-PCR assay.

Resveratrol analogue 3,4,4',5-tetramethoxystilbene inhibits growth, arrests cell cycle and induces apoptosis in ovarian SKOV-3 and A-2780 cancer cells.

In the screening studies, cytotoxicity of 12 methylated resveratrol analogues on 11 human cancer cell lines was examined. The most active compound 3,4,4'5-tetramethoxystilbene (DMU-212) and two ovarian cancer cell lines A-2780 (IC(50)=0.71 μM) and SKOV-3 (IC(50)=11.

Biological activity of piceatannol: leaving the shadow of resveratrol.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trans-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring stilbene, is considered to have a number of beneficial effects, including anticancer, anti-aethrogenic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and estrogenic activity. Piceatannol (3, 3', 4, 5'-trans-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring hydroxylated analogue of resveratrol, is less studied than resveratrol but displays a wide spectrum of biological activity. Piceatannol has been found in various plants, including grapes, passion fruit, white tea, and Japanese knotweed.

[Sirtuins--modulation of their activity as a novel therapeutic target].

Sirtuins are a NAD(+)-dependent deacetylases involved in several cellular processes like e.g. transcriptional silencing, regulation of apoptosis, fat homeostasis and aging.