Cationic liposomes as carriers of natural compounds from plant extract.

Lipid-based nanocarriers provide versatile platforms for the encapsulation and delivery of many different bioactive compounds to improve the solubility, stability and therapeutic efficacy of bioactive phyto-compounds. In this study, liposomes were used to load leaf extract of Coffea Arabica, which is known to be rich beneficial substances such as alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. The aim of this work is to optimize the valorization of agricultural wastes containing natural antioxidants.

Lysosome dynamics during human endometrial stromal cells decidualization: effect of para-nonylphenol.

During the process of decidualization, the stromal cells of the endometrium change dynamically to create a favorable environment for embryo implantation. Lysosome activity has often been associated with physiological changes in the endometrium during the preimplantation period and early pregnancy. In this study, the effect of para-nonylphenol (p-NP), an endocrine disruptor, on human immortalized endometrial stromal cells (tHESCs) was investigated.

Development and characterization of liposomal formulations containing sesquiterpene lactones for the treatment of chronic gout.

Gout and hyperuricemia are characterized by high uric acid levels, and their treatment involves medications that have adverse effects. In this study, we evaluated oral liposomal formulations with eremantholide C and goyazensolide as a novel approach to reduce the toxicity associated with these substances while maintaining their anti-hyperuricemic activity. We characterized the formulations and evaluated them based on encapsulation efficiency and stability over 12 months and under simulated physiological environments.

Rottlerin impairs early and late steps of Toxoplasma gondii infection in human trophoblast cells and villous explants.

Congenital toxoplasmosis, caused by the opportunistic protozoan parasite T. gondii, can cause stillbirths, miscarriages and fetal abnormalities, as well as encephalitis and chorioretinitis in newborns. Available treatment options rely on antiparasitic drugs that have been linked to serious side effects, high toxicity and the development of drug-resistant parasites.

3D model of the maternal-fetal interface: challenges, recent advances and beyond.

Embryo implantation is a complex and highly coordinated process that involves an intricate network of factors establishing intimate contact at the maternal-fetal interface. Knowledge of the human implantation process is compromised by both ethical issues, which do not allow the study of this process in vivo, and by the accuracy and reproducibility of in vitro models of human endometrium. Effective and reliable embryo implantation models are, therefore, necessary to mimic the molecular event cascade that occurs in vivo.

Fetal Myocardial Expression of GLUT1: Roles of BPA Exposure and Cord Blood Exosomes in a Rat Model.

Dietary exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical present in food containers, affects nutrient metabolism in the myocardium of offspring during intrauterine life. Using a murine model, we observed that fetal hearts from mothers exposed to BPA (2.5 μg/kg/day) for 20 days before mating and for all of the gestation had decreased expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1), the principal sugar transporter in the fetal heart, and increased expression of fatty acid cluster of differentiation 36 transporter (CD36), compared to control fetuses from vehicle-treated mothers.

The effect of ethanol and nicotine on ER stress in human placental villous explants.

Pregnant mothers continue smoking and drinking during pregnancy. To clarify the mechanisms of nicotine and ethanol toxicity during development, we have examined their effects on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in human first trimester and term placental explants. First trimester and term human placental explants were treated with ethanol (2 ‰) or nicotine (15 µM), or their combination.

Rank-Rankl-Opg Axis in Multiple Sclerosis: The Contribution of Placenta.

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) can safely become pregnant and give birth, with no side effects or impediments. Pregnancy is generally accepted as a period of well-being in which relapses have a softer evolution, particularly in the third trimester. Herein, we hypothesized that the placenta, via its "secretome", could contribute to the recognized beneficial effects of pregnancy on MS activity.

BEWO trophoblast cells and Toxoplasma gondii infection modulate cell death mechanisms in THP-1 monocyte cells by interference in the expression of death receptor and intracellular proteins.

Crosstalk between trophoblast and monocytes is essential for gestational success, and it can be compromised in congenital toxoplasmosis. Cell death is one of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of pregnancy, and this study aimed to evaluate the role of trophoblast in the modulation of monocyte cell death in the presence or absence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. THP-1 cells were stimulated with supernatants of BeWo cells and then infected or not with T.

The expression and role of glycans at the feto-maternal interface in humans.

During pregnancy, both the maternal endometrium and the blastocyst have highly glycosylated proteins with glycosylations controlled in a specific manner. Carbohydrates play a fundamental role in cell-cell and cell-matrix recognition and are involved in defining the structure and integrity of tissues. The uterus' secretions, which are rich in glycoproteins and glycogen and the presence of a functional glycocalyx on the uterine epithelium, establish a favourable milieu, which is essential for the correct implantation and subsequent development of the blastocyst.

Placental Glucose Transporters and Response to Bisphenol A in Pregnancies from of Normal and Overweight Mothers.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic phenol extensively used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and a component of liquid and food storages. Among health disorders potentially attributed to BPA, the effects on metabolism have been especially studied. BPA represents a hazard in prenatal life because of its presence in tissues and fluids during pregnancy.

Role of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Pathophysiology of Pre-Eclampsia.

Proinflammatory cytokines are produced in pregnancy in response to the invading pathogens and/or nonmicrobial causes such as damage-associated molecules and embryonic semi-allogenic antigens. While inflammation is essential for a successful pregnancy, an excessive inflammatory response is implicated in several pathologies including pre-eclampsia (PE). This review focuses on the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a critical regulator of the innate immune response and a major player of processes allowing normal placental development.

Emerging role of embryo secretome in the paracrine communication at the implantation site: a proof of concept.

Objective: To assess the role of embryo secretome in modifying the molecular profile of glycodelin A (GdA) in endometrial organoids (ORG) mimicking the implantation window. To verify whether the use of embryo-conditioned culture medium at the time of the embryo transfer may increase in vitro fertilization outcome.

Design: Molecular study with human endometrial ORG and embryo-conditioned culture medium.

Prenatal Nutrition Containing Bisphenol A Affects Placenta Glucose Transfer: Evidence in Rats and Human Trophoblast.

This work aims to clarify the effect of dietary supplementation with Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely present in beverage and food containers, on placental glucose transfer and pregnancy outcome. The study was performed on female Sprague Dawley rats fed with a diet containing BPA (2.5, 25 or 250 μg/Kg/day) for a period of a month (virgin state) plus 20 days during pregnancy.

Multiple mechanisms of Rottlerin toxicity in A375 melanoma cells.

Rottlerin is a cytostatic and cytotoxic drug in a variety of cancer cells. Our previous experience demonstrated that depending upon the genetic/biochemical background of cancer cells, rottlerin is able to induce both apoptotic and autophagic cell death, or dramatically disturb protein homeostasis leading to lethal cellular atrophy. In the current study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects and mechanisms of rottlerin against human amelanotic A375 melanoma cells.

Effects of Bisphenol A on endogenous retroviral envelopes expression and trophoblast fusion in BeWo cells.

Placenta is a target organ of Bisphenol A (BPA). To investigate possible effects on syncytiotrophoblast, the exchanging surface between mother and fetus, we exposed a trophoblast model (BeWo) to BPA concentrations occurring in humans (1 and 50 nM). We assessed the gene and protein expression of three human endogenous retroviral envelopes, specifically expressed in placenta (ERVW-1, ERVFRD-1 and ERV3-1), the secretion of β-hCG, the extent of trophoblast fusion and the activity of apoptosis markers (caspases 8, 3, 9 and PARP); additionally, the gene expression of transcription factors regulating HERV expression (i.

Increased Intracellular Proliferation in Human Extravillous Trophoblast Cells (HTR8/SVneo Line) Is Sequentially Triggered by MIF, ERK1/2, and COX-2.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, which mediates the regulation of diverse cellular functions. It is produced by extravillous trophoblastic cells and has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases caused by some protozoa, including . Previous studies demonstrated the ability of to take advantage of MIF action in human trophoblast cells.

Brazilian strains of Toxoplasma gondii are controlled by azithromycin and modulate cytokine production in human placental explants.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that causes congenital toxoplasmosis by transplacental transmission. Parasite strains are genetically diverse and disease severity is related to the genotype. In Uberlândia city, Brazil, two virulent strains were isolated: TgChBrUD1 and TgChBrUD2.

Role of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in the survival of first trimester human placenta under induced stress conditions.

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a multifunctional molecule highly secreted by human placenta mainly in the early phases of pregnancy. Studies in different cells show that MIF is a pro-survival factor by binding to its receptor CD74. By using the in vitro model of placental explants from first trimester pregnancy, we investigated the role of MIF in the survival of placental cells under induced stress conditions that promote apoptosis or mimic the hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R) injury that placenta could suffer in vivo.

Annexin A1 peptide is able to induce an anti-parasitic effect in human placental explants infected by Toxoplasma gondii.

This study was conducted to investigate annexin A1 (ANXA1) functions in human placental explants infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). We examined the first and third trimester placental explants infected with T.

hCG and Its Disruption by Environmental Contaminants during Human Pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone of considerable importance in the establishment, promotion and maintenance of human pregnancy. It has been clearly demonstrated that hCG exerts multiple endocrine, paracrine and autocrine actions on a variety of gestational and non-gestational cells and tissues. These actions are directed to promote trophoblast invasiveness and differentiation, placental growth, angiogenesis in uterine vasculature, hormone production, modulation of the immune system at the maternal-fetal interface, inhibition of myometrial contractility as well as fetal growth and differentiation.

Non-conventional rottlerin anticancer properties.

In the past few years, we focused the interest on rottlerin, an old/new natural substance that, over the time, has revealed a number of cellular and molecular targets, all potentially implicated in the fight against cancer. Past and recent literature well demonstrated that rottlerin is an inhibitor of enzymes, transcription factors and signaling molecules that control cancer cell life and death. Although the rottlerin anticancer activity has been mainly ascribed to apoptosis and/or autophagy induction, recent findings unveiled the existence of additional mechanisms of toxicity.

Physiological effects of high-altitude trekking on gonadal, thyroid hormones and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) responses in young lowlander women.

Altitude hypoxia is often associated with impairment of human reproduction. In this study, hormones and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF, a proinflammatory cytokine with key roles in human reproduction) were determined in seven regularly menstruating, lowlander native women living at sea level participating in 14 days of trekking at moderate and high altitude. Blood and saliva samples were collected from each subject at high altitude (5050 m a.

Azithromycin treatment is able to control the infection by two genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in human trophoblast BeWo cells.

Trophoblast infection by Toxoplasma gondii plays a pivotal role in the vertical transmission of toxoplasmosis. Here, we investigate whether the antibiotic therapy with azithromycin, spiramycin and sulfadiazine/pyrimethamine are effective to control trophoblast infection by two Brazilian T. gondii genotypes, TgChBrUD1 or TgChBrUD2.

Rottlerin-mediated inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii growth in BeWo trophoblast-like cells.

Autophagy is a crucial and physiological process for cell survival from yeast to mammals, including protozoan parasites. Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, typically exploits autophagic machinery of host cell; however host cell upregulates autophagy to combat the infection. Herein we tested the efficacy of Rottlerin, a natural polyphenol with autophagic promoting properties, against Toxoplasma infection on the chorioncarcinoma-derived cell line BeWo.