Resveratrol Encapsulation and Release from Pristine and Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Carriers

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, has attracted significant attention due to its antioxidant, cardioprotective and anticancer potential. However, its low aqueous solubility limits resveratrol bioavailability and use. In this work, different mesoporous silica matrices were used to encapsulate the polyphenol and to increase its dissolution rate. Pristine MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-15, SBA-16, FDU-12 and MCF silica were obtained. The influence of SBA-15 functionalized with aminopropyl, isocyanate, phenyl, mercaptopropyl, and propionic acid moieties on resveratrol loading and release profiles was also assessed. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated for mesoporous carriers and resveratrol-loaded samples against human lung cancer (A549), breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and human skin fibroblast (HSF) cell lines. The effect on apoptosis and cell cycle were assayed for selected resveratrol-loaded carriers. The polyphenol molecules are encapsulated only inside the mesopores, mostly in amorphous state. All materials containing either pristine or functionalized silica carriers increased polyphenol dissolution rate. The influence of the physico-chemical properties of the mesoporous carriers and resveratrol–loaded supports on the kinetic parameters was identified. Resv@SBA-15-SH and Resv@SBA-15-NCO samples exhibited the highest anticancer effect against A549 cells (IC50 values were 26.06 and 36.5 µg/mL, respectively) and against MDA-MB-231 (IC50 values were 35.56 and 19.30 µg/mL, respectively), which highlights their potential use against cancer.

Nanomechanical Atomic Force Microscopy to Probe Cellular Microplastics Uptake and Distribution

The concerns regarding microplastics and nanoplastics pollution stimulate studies on the uptake and biodistribution of these emerging pollutants in vitro. Atomic force microscopy in nanomechanical PeakForce Tapping mode was used here to visualise the uptake and distribution of polystyrene spherical microplastics in human skin fibroblast. Particles down to 500 nm were imaged in whole fixed cells, the nanomechanical characterization allowed for differentiation between internalized and surface attached plastics. This study opens new avenues in microplastics toxicity research.

Histological assessment, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-biofilm activities of Dioon spinulosum extract: in vitro and in vivo approach

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium causing several health problems and having many virulence factors like biofilm formation on different surfaces. There is a significant need to develop new antimicrobials due to the spreading resistance to the commonly used antibiotics, partly attributed to biofilm formation. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities of Dioon spinulosum, Dyer Ex Eichler extract (DSE), against Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates. DSE exhibited a reduction in the biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa isolates both in vitro and in vivo rat models. It also resulted in a decrease in cell surface hydrophobicity and exopolysaccharide quantity of P. aeruginosa isolates. Both bright field and scanning electron microscopes provided evidence for the inhibiting ability of DSE on biofilm formation. Moreover, it reduced violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 12,472). It decreased the relative expression of 4 quorum sensing genes (lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR) and the biofilm gene (ndvB) using qRT-PCR. Furthermore, DSE presented a cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 4.36 ± 0.52 µg/ml against human skin fibroblast cell lines. For the first time, this study reports that DSE is a promising resource of anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing agents.

Lucanthone, Autophagy Inhibitor, Enhances the Apoptotic Effects of TRAIL through miR-216a-5p-Mediated DR5 Upregulation and DUB3-Mediated Mcl-1 Downregulation

A lucanthone, one of the family of thioxanthenones, has been reported for its inhibitory effects of apurinic endonuclease-1 and autophagy. In this study, we investigated whether lucanthone could enhance tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in various cancer cells. Combined treatment with lucanthone and TRAIL significantly induced apoptosis in human renal carcinoma (Caki and ACHN), prostate carcinoma (PC3), and lung carcinoma (A549) cells. However, combined treatment did not induce apoptosis in normal mouse kidney cells (TCMK-1) and normal human skin fibroblast (HSF). Lucanthone downregulated protein expression of deubiquitinase DUB3, and a decreased expression level of DUB3 markedly led to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Ectopic expression of DUB3 inhibited combined treatment with lucanthone and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Moreover, lucanthone increased expression level of DR5 mRNA via downregulation of miR-216a-5p. Transfection of miR-216a-5p mimics suppressed the lucanthone-induced DR5 upregulation. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that lucanthone enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through DR5 upregulation by downregulation of miR-216a-5p and DUB3-dependent Mcl-1 downregulation in human renal carcinoma cells.

Compound Kushen Injection Protects Skin From Radiation Injury via Regulating Bim

Background: Radiation-induced skin injury is a major side-effect observed in cancer patients who received radiotherapy. Thus identifying new radioprotective drugs for prevention or treatment of post-irradiation skin injury should be prompted. A large number of clinical studies have confirmed that Compound Kushen injection (CKI) can enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to confirm the effect of CKI in alleviating radiotherapy injury in the skin and explore the exact mechanism.Methods: 60 patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were allocated to treatment group (CKI before radiotherapy) or control group (normal saline before radiotherapy) randomly. MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western Blot, and transient transfection were performed to detect the cell viability, cell apoptosis and Bim expression after treatment with CKI or/and radiotherapy.Results: CKI had the effect of alleviating skin injury in cancer patients who received radiotherapy in clinic. CKI induced cancer cell apoptosis when combined with irradiation (IR), while it reversed the induction of cell apoptosis by IR in human skin fibroblast (HSF) cells. And Bim, as a tumor suppressor, was induced in cancer cells but had no change in HSF cells when treated with CKI. Moreover, the above effect could be attenuated when Bim was silenced by siRNA.Conclusion: We conclude that CKI represents a promising radio-protective agent with a potential differential beneficial effect on both cancer cells (inducing apoptosis) and HSF cells (providing radio-protection via inhibiting IR-induced apoptosis), via regulating Bim. Our study uncovers a novel mechanism by which CKI inhibits human cancer cell while protects skin from radiotherapy, indicating CKI might be a promising radio-protective drug.Clinical Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn), identifier ChiCTR2100049164.

In-Silico and In-vitro Analysis of Human SOS1 Protein Causing Noonan Syndrome – A Novel Approach to Explore the Molecular Pathways

Aims: Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by single nucleotide mutation in PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, and KRAS genes. Background: We hypothesize that in-silico analysis of human SOS1 mutations would be a promising predictor in identifying the pathogenic effect of NS. Methods: Here, we computationally analyzed the SOS1 gene to identify the pathogenic non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) to cause NS. The variant information of SOS1 was collected from the SNP database (dbSNP). The variants were further analyzed by in-silico tools I-Mutant, iPTREE-STAB, and MutPred to elucidate their structural and functional characteristics. Results: We found that 11 nsSNPs of SOS1 were more pathogenic to cause NS. The 3D modeling of the wild-type and the 11 nsSNPs were performed using I-TASSER and validated via ERRAT and RAMPAGE. SOS1 interacting proteins were analysed through STRING, which showed that SOS1 interacted with cardiac proteins GATA4, TNNT2, and ACTN2. During these interactions, GRB2 and HRAS act as an intermediate molecules between SOS1 and cardiac proteins. These in-silico analyses were validated using induced cardiomyocytes (iCMCs) derived from NS patients carrying SOS1 gene variant c.1654A>G (NS-iCMCs) and compared with control human skin fibroblast-derived iCMCs (C-iCMCs). Our in vitro data further confirmed that the SOS1, GRB2 and HRAS gene expressions as well as the activated ERK protein, were significantly decreased in NS-iCMCs compared to C-iCMCs. Conclusion: This is the first in-silico and in vitro study demonstrating that 11 nsSNPs of SOS1 were playing a deleterious pathogenic role in causing NS.

Antibacterial, Immunomodulatory, and Lung Protective Effects of Boswelliadalzielii Oleoresin Ethanol Extract in Pulmonary Diseases: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and pneumonia are causing many global health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has directed the scientific community’s attention toward performing more research to explore novel therapeutic drugs for pulmonary diseases. Herein, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry tentatively identified 44 compounds in frankincense ethanol extract (FEE). We investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of FEE against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, isolated from patients with respiratory infections. In addition, its in vitro immunomodulatory activity was explored by the detection of the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In addition, its anticancer activity against the A549 lung cancer cell line and human skin fibroblast (HSF) normal cell line was studied. Moreover, the in vivo lung protective potential of FEE was explored histologically and immunohistochemically in mice using a benzo(a)pyrene induced lung damage model. FEE exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm activities besides the significant inhibition of gene expression of TNFα, IL-6, and NF-κB. FEE also exerted a cytotoxic effect against A549 cell line. Histological and immunohistochemical investigations with morphometric analysis of the mean area percentage and color intensity of positive TNF-α, COX-2, and NF-κB and Bcl-2 reactions revealed the lung protective activity of FEE. This study outlined the promising therapeutic activity of oleoresin obtained from B. dalzielii in the treatment of different pulmonary diseases.

“Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity Properties of Novel Biomediated Nanosized-Silver By Egyptian Streptomyces Roseolus For Safe Antimicrobial Applications”

For biosafety purposes, the genotoxicity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was assessed using comet assay for the first time on Blood Lymphocytes, with zero tail migration and 100% head intensity indicating non-genotoxic effect. Ag-NPs have been projected as a new generation of antimicrobial agents because of its antimicrobial property. Ag-NPs were biomediated by Egyptian Streptomyces roseolus for the first time, that was molecularly identified using 16S rRNA sequencing under accession no. MT071505. Biosynthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, FTIR, and DLS. FTIR confirmed the presence of different bioactive functional groups, such as, O-H, N-H, C-H, C-O-C, C-NH2, and C=O acting as reducing-stabilizing agents for biosynthesized Ag-NPs. Biosynthesized Ag-NPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against some multi-drug resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. MBC of biosynthesized Ag-NPs against Listeria monocytogenes and Klebsiella pneumonia were 0.195 and 0.048 mg/mL, respectively, with tolerance level of 2 confirming its biocidal effect. SEM imaging of Ag-NPs-treated L. monocytogenes and K. pneumonia showed shrunk destroyed cells after 6h. Biosynthesized Ag-NPs exhibited IC50 of <0.3 and 8.21 mg/mL, respectively, on normal Human Skin Fibroblast, and Blood Lymphocytes. IC50 values were significantly higher than its MBC values, with no harmful cytotoxic-effect, thus can be safely applied at its biocidal concentration. An ecofriendly biomediated synthesis of Ag-NPs was described with easy scale-up, non-toxic by-products, so, it can be recommended as powerful-safe antimicrobial agent.

Valorization of spent coffee grounds as the specialty material for dullness and aging of skin treatments

Background Coffee beans contain oil with health benefits from fatty acids. The unprocessed and processed coffee beans are mostly identical in coffee oil quality and are substantively supplied for certain industries. However, the cost-effective valorization of specialty ingredients from spent coffee grounds for cosmetics is sparely presented. Linoleic acid-rich spent coffee oil, as a specialty material for skin lightening and antiaging cosmetics, is objectively to be presented. Results Spent coffee oils were prepared by different methods. The most cost-effective material with a high extraction yield, linoleic acid content and unsaturated/saturated fatty acid (UFA/SFA) ratio (13.21 ± 0.25, 32.09% and 0.97) was modified. The modified oil was boosted in linoleic acid (77.20% or 140.57% improvement) and the UFA/SFA ratio (33.12). The physicochemical properties of the oil were applicable for cosmetics as per its safety profiles in B16F10 melanoma and normal human skin fibroblast cells. The oil significantly better inhibited cellular melanogenesis than kojic and linoleic acids (p < 0.01), with prominent tyrosinase and TRP-2 inhibitions. The cellular antioxidant activity of the oil was comparable to those of ascorbic and linoleic acids. The collagen stimulating efficacy of the oil was significantly better than that of ascorbic but comparable to that of linoleic acid as indicated by the MMP-2 inhibitory activities (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions The oil is a specialty material for skin brightening and skin wrinkle reduction/skin elasticity improvement products. A successive circular bioeconomy of spent coffee ground waste in a more profitable cosmetic industry is indicated. Graphic abstract

Interleukin-17A Drives IL-19 and IL-24 Expression in Skin Stromal Cells Regulating Keratinocyte Proliferation

IL-17A has been shown to be up-regulated in psoriasis lesions and is central to psoriasis pathogenesis. IL-19, along with other IL-20 subfamily cytokines such as IL-20 and IL-24, is induced by IL-17A and contributes especially to epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis. However, the regulation, cellular sources of IL-19 and whether targeting of IL-17A by biologics influence IL-19 expression is not completely understood. To investigate the regulation of IL-19 by IL-17A in psoriasis, the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse (IMQ) model was used. Enhanced expression of IL-17A in the IMQ model was achieved by anti-IL-10 antibody treatment. Assessments of skin inflammation macroscopically, by histology and flow cytometry, all confirmed increased psoriatic symptoms. Interestingly, depletion of IL-10 markedly upregulated IL-23/IL-17 pathway related cytokines followed by a significant increase in IL-19 and IL-24. The up-regulation of IL-19 and IL-24, but not IL-17A, coincided with increased keratinocyte proliferation. To investigate the cellular source and effects of biologics on IL-19, human skin fibroblasts from healthy controls and psoriasis patients were cultured alone or co-cultured with activated memory CD4+ T cells. Besides IL-1β, IL-17A induced direct expression of IL-19 and IL-24 in skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Importantly, intrinsic higher expression of IL-19 in psoriatic skin fibroblasts was observed in comparison to healthy skin fibroblasts. Neutralization of IL-17A in the human skin fibroblast-T cell co-culture system significantly suppressed IL-19 and IL-24 expression. Together, our data show that IL-17A-induced IL-19 and IL-24 expression in skin stromal cells contribute to keratinocyte proliferation.