Characterization of the effect of pomegranate crude extract, and its post-harvesting preservation procedures, on redox tone, cellular growth and metabolic profile of MDA-MB-231 cell line.

Background: Pomegranate is known for its beneficial properties due to its high content in antioxidants and might constitute a natural option for preventing and treatment of different pathologies including cancer. Since mitochondria are involved in tumorigenesis through ROS production and modulation of oxidative metabolism, we investigated the biological effects of pomegranate on cellular redox state, proliferation and metabolism in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 (MDA).

Methods: MDA were treated for 24 h with graded concentration of filtered Pomegranate juice (PJ) and tested for metabolic Flux Analysis with XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer, for proliferation using the xCELLigence System Real-Time Cell Analyzer and for intracellular ROS content by Confocal Microscopy Imaging.

Bioenergetic profile and redox tone modulate in vitro osteogenesis of human dental pulp stem cells: new perspectives for bone regeneration and repair.

Background: Redox signaling and energy metabolism are known to be involved in controlling the balance between self-renewal and proliferation/differentiation of stem cells. In this study we investigated metabolic and redox changes occurring during in vitro human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) osteoblastic (OB) differentiation and tested on them the impact of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling.

Methods: hDPSCs were isolated from dental pulp and subjected to alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining, q-RT-PCR, and western blotting analysis of differentiation markers to assess achievement of osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation.

Unveiling Metabolic Vulnerability and Plasticity of Human Osteosarcoma Stem and Differentiated Cells to Improve Cancer Therapy.

Defining the metabolic phenotypes of cancer-initiating cells or cancer stem cells and of their differentiated counterparts might provide fundamental knowledge for improving or developing more effective therapies. In this context we extensively characterized the metabolic profiles of two osteosarcoma-derived cell lines, the 3AB-OS cancer stem cells and the parental MG-63 cells. To this aim Seahorse methodology-based metabolic flux analysis under a variety of conditions complemented with real time monitoring of cell growth by impedentiometric technique and confocal imaging were carried out.