scholarly journals Anti-Candidal Activity of the Parasitic Plant Orobanche crenata Forssk

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1373
Author(s):  
Floriana D’Angeli ◽  
Fiorella Guadagni ◽  
Carlo Genovese ◽  
Daria Nicolosi ◽  
Angela Trovato Salinaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Orobanche Crenata ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Microdilution Method

Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) are part of the human microbiome. However, they possess numerous virulence factors, which confer them the ability to cause both local and systemic infections. Candidiasis can involve multiple organs, including the eye. In the present study, we investigated the anti-candidal activity and the re-epithelizing effect of Orobanche crenata leaf extract (OCLE). By the microdilution method, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of OCLE on both C. albicans and C. glabrata growth. By crystal violet and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we showed the ability of OCLE to inhibit the biofilm formation and the viability of yeast cells, respectively. By germ tube and adhesion assays, we proved the capacity of OCLE to affect the morphological transition of C. albicans and the adhesion of both pathogens to human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19), respectively. Besides, by MTT and wound healing assay, we evaluated the cytotoxic and re-epithelizing effects of OCLE on ARPE-19. Finally, the Folin–Ciocalteu and the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed a high content of phenols and the presence of several bioactive molecules in the extract. Our results highlighted new properties of O. crenata, useful in the control of Candida infections.

scholarly journals Statins for the prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy: cellular responses in cultured cells and clinical statin concentrations in the vitreous

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashavanthi Mysore ◽  
Eva M. del Amo ◽  
Sirpa Loukovaara ◽  
Marja Hagström ◽  
Arto Urtti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statin Therapy ◽  
Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Simulations ◽  
Pigment Epithelial Cells

AbstractProliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a complex inflammatory ocular disease. Statins are widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs with putative anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we have explored their efficacy in controlling post-surgical PVR formation. Simvastatin (SIM), atorvastatin (ATV), or rosuvastatin (RSV) were added to cultures of human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) prior to exposure with the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1) was examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the concentrations of simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and their metabolites were measured from the vitreal samples of 20 patients undergoing vitrectomy (16 of them receiving oral statin therapy) using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer technique. All statins alleviated LPS-induced inflammation at 5 µM concentration in the ARPE-19 cell cultures. Statin levels in the vitreous samples ranged from 6 to 316 pg/mL (ca. 0.1–7 M−10). Vitreal statin concentrations were similar to the typical steady-state unbound statin concentrations in plasma, indicating that only the unbound drug distributes from the blood circulation into the vitreous. Pharmacokinetic simulations of the intravitreal delivery of statins indicate that the measured clinical statin concentrations could be maintained with existing drug delivery technologies for months. Our results suggest that intravitreal statin therapy may have the potential in alleviating the risk of post-surgical PVR.

Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Cardiometabolic Diseases and Related Complications

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 1480-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sho-ichi Yamagishi ◽  
Takanori Matsui
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Visceral Obesity ◽  
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cardiometabolic Diseases ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Pigment Epithelium Derived Factor ◽  
Cardiometabolic Disorders

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a glycoprotein that belongs to the superfamily of serine protease inhibitors, serpins. It was first identified as a neuronal differentiating factor secreted by human retinal pigment epithelial cells, and then found to be the most potent inhibitor of pathological angiogenesis in mammalian eyes. Recently, PEDF has been shown not only to suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in vascular wall cells, T cells and macrophages, and adipocytes, but also to exert antithrombotic and anti-fibrotic properties, thereby protecting against the development and progression of various cardiometabolic diseases and related complications. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has suggested that circulating PEDF levels may be a biomarker of severity and prognosis of these devastating disorders. Number of subjects with visceral obesity and insulin resistance is increasing, and the metabolic syndrome and its related complications, such as diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatits, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are a growing health challenge. Therefore, in this study, we review the pathophysiological role of PEDF in obesity and metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetic eye and kidney complications, liver diseases, and reproductive system disorders, and discuss the potential clinical utility of modulating the expression and actions of PEDF for preventing these cardiometabolic disorders. We also refer to the clinical value of PEDF as a biomarker in cardiometabolic complications.

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