Gene, Cell and Tissue
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Jan 2021

 Exosomes are membrane nanovesicles, 30 to 100 nm in diameter, secreted by most cell types. Besides playing many biological roles, especially in cell-cell communication, scientific proof indicated that the pathology of so many human cancers is closely related to many biologic elements in exosomes. They may serve as useful biomarkers for treatment, prognosis, and detection. Cancer cells produce more exosomes, inducing changes in target cells (near or distant from the tumor), such as metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, isolation, identification, and analysis of these microvesicles seem essential.

 The current study aimed at collecting and purifying microvesicles secreted from breast cancer cells and confirming the identity of the obtained exosomes using methods assessing size and morphology.

 In recent research, the MDA-MB-231 cell line was grown under standard conditions. Released exosomes were collected and ultra-centrifuged. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to assess exosome size.

 The obtained data revealed that MDA-MB-231 cells produced exosomes. The nanovesicles were isolated from the culture medium of MDA-MB-231 cells by applying different strategies, including differential centrifugation, filtration, and ultracentrifugation. The exosomes were characterized; they had a size of 30 - 100 nm and spherical shape.

 Intercellular communication can be mediated through direct cell-cell contact or transfer of secreted molecules. In the last two decades, a third mechanism for intercellular communication has emerged that involves intercellular transfer of extracellular vesicles (exosomes). Due to their many functions in the body, it is of great importance to purely isolate and recognize exosomes to understand their modes of action as the first step in the advancement of researches. However, more research is required to obtain cost-effective and efficient methods. It was found that MDA-MB-231 cells release exosomes. They are spherical and 30-100 nm in diameter. The use of a combination strategy for the first time was useful in isolating exosomes derived from MDA-MB-231 cells without disturbing their structure. Further studies are required to compile a uniform protocol for exosome isolation in medical research.

 Peripheral nervous system injuries are common and currently have no definitive treatment method. Phenytoin is one of the main antiepileptic drugs. Some studies have described a cerebroprotective effect of phenytoin in an established model of global cerebral ischemia.

 In this study, the neuroprotective effects of phenytoin were evaluated on the cultivation and maintenance of Wharton’s jelly stem cells (WJSCs) on acellularized sciatic nerve scaffolds.

 In this study, acellular scaffolds from the rat sciatic nerve were prepared by the sondell method. After extraction of cells of MSCs, flow cytometry analysis was executed. Also, cell differentiation potential was evaluated by placement in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation media for 21 days. Biocompatibility of the scaffold and cell viability were investigated using the MTT assay. The morphological and cell adhesion characteristics of MSCs on acellular scaffolds were compared using SEM micrographs images. Data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc test by SPSS (version 19.0) software.

 The removal of cells from the scaffold was confirmed by stanning with hematoxylin-eosin, van Gieson's picro-fuchsin, and DAPI. With the aid of flow cytometry analysis and differentiation into bone and fat cells, it was confirmed that extracted cells were mesenchymal stem cells. The results of the MTT assay showed that phenytoin increased cell viability and retention on the scaffold.

 The study indicated that phenytoin improves the viability of cells and provided a good condition for the growth, survival, and attachment of cells to the scaffold when compared to the control group. These results suggest that phenytoin can be considered a new treatment for nerve regeneration and tissue engineering applications.

 The effect of training on the gene expression of GLUT4 and insulin receptor (IR) has been investigated in some studies, but the simultaneous effect of swimming training along with cinnamon consumption is unknown.

 This study aimed to examine the effect of six weeks of swimming training with cinnamon consumption on the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the brown adipose tissue of diabetic rats.

 In this experimental study, 28 diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven animals, including 1- control (C), 2- cinnamon (Ci), 3- swimming (S), and 4- swimming plus cinnamon (S + Ci). Rats in groups 3 and 4 trained for six weeks and five sessions. Groups 2 and 4 received 200 mg/kg/day. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test at the level of P ≤ 0.05.

 The gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the S, Ci, and S + Ci groups was significantly (P = 0.001) higher than the control group. Also, the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the S group was significantly (P = 0.001) higher than the Ci and S + Ci groups.

 Swimming training and cinnamon consumption and their simultaneous implementation had a significant effect on increasing the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the brown adipose tissue of diabetic rats. On the other hand, swimming training alone had a greater effect than cinnamon consumption and swimming plus cinnamon consumption.

 aging is accompanied by multiplie changes in the body, mainly due to hormonal changes. Few favorable comprehensive exercise prescriptions are defined for older adults.

 The current study aimed to compare the effect of eight weeks of water-based versus land-based cycling on serum levels of testosterone and IGF-1 in male elderly.

 Twenty participants were randomly allocated into two groups of water-based cycling (n = 10; mean age = 64.1 ± 5.4 years; and body mass index (BMI) = 25.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2) and land-based cycling (n = 10; mean age=63.8 ± 4.3 years; and BMI = 25.0 ± 3.7 kg/m2). Both groups received eight weeks of cycling program at 60% to 70% of maximum heart rate, three sessions per week. In the first week, training sessions were nearly 30 minutes, then increased by 2 minutes per week. At the baseline and the end of the program, the fasting blood of participants was measured to evaluate testosterone and IGF-1 concentrations.

 After providing the intervention, the serum testosterone level was significantly increased in the WBC groups (18.75%, P = 0.010), nevertheless, it was significantly decreased in the LBC group (20.69%, P = 0.042). Also, serum IGF-1 level was significantly increased in the WBC group (9.69%, P = 0.005), though, it didn’t change in the LBC group after providing the intervention (-5.9%, P = 0.555). The independent sample t-test indicated an increased level of testosterone in the WBC (P < 0.05) compared to the LBC group. However, there was no difference in IGF-1 level between the two groups.

 Water-based cycling program caused alters in testosterone and IGF-1. This proposes that WBC protocol may stimulate anabolic effects in older adults.

 Autophagy is a vital cell survival mechanism that authorizes cells to assort to metabolic stress and is essential for the development and maintenance of cellular and tissue homeostasis, as well as the prevention of human disease. It has also been shown that autophagy plays a significant role in the development and differentiation of stem cells, as well as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

 The present study aimed to examine the mRNA expression of the ATG5 gene, one of the key markers of autophagy in human iPSCs (hiPSCs) during endoderm induction.

 In this study, we cultured the human iPSC line (R1-hiPSC1) on mitomycin-C, inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) layer, and used hanging drop protocol to generate embryoid body (EB) and expose differentiation. The Real-time PCR method was used to examine the mRNA expression level of ATG5 in hiPSC during endoderm induction.

 Our results demonstrated the high mRNA expression of ATG5 in the mesendoderm induction (MEI) stage, which shows the high rate of autophagy in MEI days rather than the other stages of differentiation.

 The modification of ATG5 gene expression within hiPSC during endoderm induction shows the importance of autophagy assessments in hiPSC differentiation. Therefore, subsequent studies are needed to clarify the details of autophagy effects on hiPSC differentiation.

 Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth most frequent cancer-related death. Despite improvements in treatment approaches, it has remained one of the most challenging cancers for treatment. Thus, it is necessary to introduce novel and efficient methods for treatment. In this regard, the anti-cancer and antioxidant properties of pomegranate have been more concerned.

 The present study aimed to assess the potential cytotoxicity effects of pomegranate on the esophageal cancer cell line.

 We cultured esophageal cancer cell line (KYSE-30) and fibroblast cell line (HF2FF) as normal cell line in RPMI-1640/Ham's F12 and RPMI-1640 medium, respectively, with different concentrations of pomegranate seed oil (2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125 mg/mL). Then, we evaluated the cytotoxic effects of pomegranate seed oil via morphologic observation and MTT assay after 24, 48, and 72 hours. The wound-healing assay was used for the evaluation of the mobility and migration potential of the treated cells.

 The results of the MTT assay showed the cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory effects of pomegranate seed oil on esophageal cancer cells. The viability of tumor cells was significantly reduced compared with the untreated control cells and normal cells (P < 0.05), which were dose and time-dependent. The results of the wound-healing assay indicated that pomegranate seed oil could reduce the migration ability of KYSE-30 cells.

 According to the results, pomegranate seed oil seems to have cytotoxicity effects on esophageal cancer cells. Thus, it might be considered a new, cheap, and safe treatment option for esophageal cancer.

Pregnancy is associated with oxidative stress that results in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). Prolonged-unalleviated ER stress causes the activation of the autophagy pathway via UPR. Expression of genes encoding glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and BECLIN1 are induced in UPR and autophagy.

We studied the mRNA expression of the aforementioned genes in the liver and brain of Nulligravida versus saline and ethanol-treated pregnant rats.

Control pregnant rats were orally treated with normal saline, and test animals received ethanol 250 mg/kg or resveratrol 120 mg/kg from day 1 to day 21 of gestation. Nulligravida rats treated by saline comprised the non-pregnant control group. On day 21, mRNAs encoding GRP78 and BECLIN1 were extracted from the liver and brain tissues and assessed using real-time PCR.

Our results showed that the level of transcripts encoding GRP78 and BECLIN1 was higher in the liver of pregnant rats compared to Nulligravida ones. Further, ethanol decreased the mRNA levels of GRP78 and BECLIN1 in the liver of pregnant rats, an effect that was reversed by resveratrol. Levels of GRP78 transcripts were decreased, and those of BECLIN1 remained unchanged in the brain of ethanol exposed pregnant rats.

Levels of mRNAs for GRP78 and BECLIN1 are up-regulated during pregnancy. These levels are reduced in the liver of ethanol-treated rats, and resveratrol compensates these effects.

Early determination of fetal gender during pregnancy is essential for the early detection of gender-linked diseases in the fetus. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in determining fetal gender in pregnant mothers at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation.

The study included 227 pregnant mothers at 11 to 14 weeks of gestational age. Ultrasonography results were recorded for fetal gender determination based on gestational age and body mass index (BMI).

The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography for male gender determination were 91.73% and 99.05%, respectively. This value for female gender determination was 99.05% and 91.73%, respectively.

The results of our study showed that ultrasonography at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation had high sensitivity and specificity in detecting gender, and its sensitivity in female gender determination was higher.