CH02 Peptide Promotes CD34+ Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells Ex Vivo Expansion

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been clinically used for human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transplantation. However, limited numbers of the functional UCB-HSCs from single cord blood restricts its application in adults, while most of the strategies for stem cells expansion in vitro are either inefficient or costly. To overcome these obstacles, we evaluated the potential role of our newly identified CH02 peptide in ex vivo culture expansion of CD34+ UCB-HSCs. Methods: Enriched human CD34+ progenitor/stem cells populations were cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with different cytokines combinations for 8 days. These cytokines combinations included various concentration of CH02 peptide or the FLT3 ligand, with a cocktail of several growth factors such as IL-6, SCF and TPO. In addition, the global gene expression profile of the CD34+ cells cultured under different conditions were monitored through RNA-seq experiments. Furthermore, the expanded CD34+ cells were topically transplanted into the dorsal wounds of diabetic mice, and the wound closure was observed to evaluate the pro-repair ability of CH02-cultured CD34+ cells.Results: We herein report that the combination of CH02 peptide and other cytokines under the serum-free medium can effectively expand the CD34+ HSCs into 12-fold within 7 days while maintaining their stem cell properties. Moreover, CH02 peptide increased the anti-inflammatory and growth-promoting capacity of CD34+ cells, and thus accelerating wound healing of diabetic mice via promoting the anti-inflammatory and inhibiting the inflammatory factors.Conclusions: Together, our CH02 peptide demonstrated promising potentials to improve HSCs expansion for clinical application.

Satellite Cells Exhibit Decreased Numbers and Impaired Functions on Single Myofibers Isolated from Vitamin B6-Deficient Mice

Emerging research in human studies suggests an association among vitamin B6, sarcopenia, and muscle strength. However, very little is known regarding its potential role at the cellular level, especially in muscle satellite cells. Therefore, to determine whether vitamin B6 affects the satellite cells, we isolated single myofibers from muscles of vitamin B6-deficient and vitamin B6-supplemented mice. Subsequently, we subjected them to single myofiber culture and observed the number and function of the satellite cells, which remained in their niche on the myofibers. Prior to culture, the vitamin B6-deficient myofibers exhibited a significantly lower number of quiescent satellite cells, as compared to that in the vitamin B6-supplemented myofibers, thereby suggesting that vitamin B6 deficiency induces a decline in the quiescent satellite cell pool in mouse muscles. After 48 and 72 h of culture, the number of proliferating satellite cells per cluster was similar between the vitamin B6-deficient and -supplemented myofibers, but their numbers decreased significantly after culturing the myofibers in vitamin B6-free medium. After 72 h of culture, the number of self-renewing satellite cells per cluster was significantly lower in the vitamin B6-deficient myofibers, and the vitamin B6-free medium further decreased this number. In conclusion, vitamin B6 deficiency appears to reduce the number of quiescent satellite cells and suppress the proliferation and self-renewal of satellite cells during myogenesis.

Involvement of Auxin Biosynthesis and Transport in the Antheridium and Prothalli Formation in Lygodium japonicum

The spores of Lygodium japonicum, cultured in the dark, form a filamentous structure called protonema. Earlier studies have shown that gibberellin (GA) induces protonema elongation, along with antheridium formation, on the protonema. In this study, we have performed detailed morphological analyses to investigate the roles of multiple phytohormones in antheridium formation, protonema elongation, and prothallus formation in L. japonicum. GA4 methyl ester is a potent GA that stimulates both protonema elongation and antheridium formation. We found that these effects were inhibited by simultaneous application of abscisic acid (ABA). On the other hand, IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) promoted protonema elongation but reduced antheridium formation, while these effects were partially recovered by transferring to an IAA-free medium. An auxin biosynthesis inhibitor, PPBo (4-phenoxyphenylboronic acid), and a transport inhibitor, TIBA (2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid), both inhibited protonema elongation and antheridium formation. L. japonicum prothalli are induced from germinating spores under continuous white light. Such development was negatively affected by PPBo, which induced smaller-sized prothalli, and TIBA, which induced aberrantly shaped prothalli. The evidence suggests that the crosstalk between these plant hormones might regulate protonema elongation and antheridium formation in L. japonicum. Furthermore, the possible involvement of auxin in the prothalli development of L. japonicum is suggested.

Employing lipase of candida antarctica (calb) as catalyst in the acetylation of para-aminophenol in aqueous and water-free medium

Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB) is one of lipase classes enzymes that has many advantages to be used in the process of synthesizing organic compounds. In this study, some experiments were conducted to examine the ability of CaLB as a catalyst in the para-aminophenol (PAP) acetylation to produce paracetamol as the result. Two types of research have been carried out, the first one is to utilize CaLB to catalyze acetylation of PAP in a water-free reaction medium, and the second one is to use CaLB as catalyst in aqueous medium through oxidative amidation reaction. Reaction in water free system was held in ethyl catalyst acetate as solvent that also act as the acyl donor, while in the aqueous medium, acetylacetone was used as acyl donor and ethyl acetate as source to produce peracid that will be used as oxidator. Analysis was done by HPLC and TLC densitometric to follow the amount of paracetamol produced. The results of CaLB-catalyzed acylation in water free system showed that the enzyme could accept PAF and ethyl acetate as a substrate in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, resulting in paracetamol as a product. However, the yield from the acylation of PAP is still not satisfactory. In the reaction in aqueous medium, CaLB has been proven to show its activity to catalyze the acylation of PAP with acetylacetone, as well as the reaction of peracid formation from ethyl acetate. The results show that this strategy can work well and give better yields than the other reaction in water-free medium.

Fatty Acid Modification of the Anticancer Peptide LVTX-9 to Enhance Its Cytotoxicity against Malignant Melanoma Cells

Spider venom is a valuable resource for the development of novel anticancer drugs. In this study, we focused on novel linear amphipathic α-helical anticancer peptide LVTX-9, which was derived from the cDNA library of the venom gland of the spider Lycosa vittata. The cytotoxicity of LVTX-9 against murine melanoma cells in the range of 1.56–200 μM was tested and found to be significantly lower than those of most anticancer peptides reported. Its IC50 was determined to be 59.2 ± 19.8 μM in a serum or 76.3 ± 12.7 μM in serum-free medium. Fatty acid modification is a promising strategy for improving peptide performance. Therefore, to enhance the cytotoxic activity of LVTX-9, fatty acid modification of this peptide was performed, and five different carbon chain length lipopeptides named LVTX-9-C12-C20 were produced. Among them, the lipopeptide LVTX-9-C18 showed the highest cytotoxic activity in relation to B16-F10 cells, whether in a serum or serum-free medium. Most importantly, the cytotoxic activity of LVTX-9-C18 was improved by about 12.9 times in a serum medium or 19.3 times in a serum-free medium compared to that of LVTX-9. Subsequently, assays including scanning electron microscopy, trypan blue staining, lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay, and hemolytic activity could indicate that the potential direct cell membrane disruption is the main mechanism of LVTX-9-C18 to induce cancer cell death. Furthermore, the LVTX-9-C18 also showed strong cytotoxicity in relation to 3D B16-F10 spheroids, which indicates it might be a promising lead for developing anticancer drugs.

Transmission of the effect of Mercurius corrosivus 30 CH on -amylase in cell free medium through water.

Background Mercurius corrosivus 30CH promoted -amylase activity in a cell free medium invitro. -amylase causes hydrolysis of starch. The activity of the enzyme is measured in terms of the amount of maltose liberated due to breakdown of starch. In a number of experimental studies it has been demonstrated that the effect of homeopathic potency would be transmitted from one plant to another through water. Here one leaf of a pair of plants was dipped in water in a beaker. The two beakers were connected by a water filled polythene tube. The effect of treatment of one plant with homeopathic potency would be observed in the directly treated plant as well as the connected plant. Two groups of toads were kept in water in two different containers. The two containers were connected by a water filled polythene tube. The effect of treatment of one group of toads with homeopathic potency would be observed in both the directly treated group as well as the connected group. Objectives The purpose of the present study is to see whether the effect of Mercurius corrosivus 30 CH on -amylase in one test tube would be transmitted to another test tube connected with the former by water filled capillary tube. Methods Mercurius corrosivus 30 CH was diluted with distilled water (1:100). Two hard glass test tubes each containing -amylase were connected with a water filled capillary tube while one test tube received Mercurius corrosivus 30CH solution, the other only the control solution. The control solution consisted of equal amount of 90% ethanol diluted with water (1:100).There were two more test tubes, one containing same amount of distilled water instead of Mercurius corrosivus 30 CH solution and the other test tube the same amount of 90% ethanol (1:100) as in the control set. After 10 mins starch solution in Sodium acetate buffer was added to each test tube. The enzyme in each test tube was allowed to react with starch for 15 mins and then it was stopped by DNSA (Dinitro salicylic acid) solution .The activity of -amylase was measured by standard biochemical process. The breakdown product maltose in each test tube was quantified by a standard curve prepared by measuring the optical density of the maltose solution at 560 nm in a UV-VIS Spectrophotometer. This experiment was repeated 20 times. Results Activity of -amylase was expressed in terms of the amount of maltose liberated from breakdown of starch with standard errors in 15mins at a fixed temperature. The data were analyzed statistically using t-test. Mercurius corrosivus 30 CH enhanced the enzyme activity significantly in the directly treated test tube as well as the connected one (p

The Inhibitory Activity of Curcumin on P-Glycoprotein and Its Uptake by and Efflux from LS180 Cells Is Not Affected by Its Galenic Formulation

The biological activities of curcumin in humans, including its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions, are limited by its naturally low bioavailability. Different formulation strategies have been developed, but the uptake of curcumin from these galenic formulations into and efflux from intestinal cells, which may be critical processes limiting bioavailability, have not been directly compared. Furthermore, little is known about their effect on P-glycoprotein activity, an important determinant of the pharmacokinetics of potentially co-administered drugs. P-glycoprotein activity was determined in LS180 cells, incubated with 30 or 60 µmol/L of curcumin in the form of seven different formulations or native curcuma extract for 1 h. All formulations inhibited P-glycoprotein activity at both concentrations. Curcumin uptake, after 1 h incubation of LS180 cells with the formulations (60 µmol/L), showed significant variability but no consistent effects. After 1 h pre-treatment with the formulations and further 8 h with curcumin-free medium, curcumin in cell culture supernatants, reflecting the efflux, differed between individual formulations, again without a clear effect. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits P-glycoprotein activity independently of its formulation. Its uptake by and efflux from intestinal cells was not significantly different between formulations, indicating that these processes are not important regulatory points for its bioavailability.

Physiological and Biochemical Parameters of Common Duckweed Lemna minor after the Exposure to Tetracycline and the Recovery from This Stress

In this study, the ability of Lemna minor L. to recover to normal growth, after being degraded in a tetracycline-containing medium, was extensively investigated. The plants were exposed to tetracycline (TC) at concentrations of 1, 2.5, and 10 mM. Subsequently, their physiological status was analysed against the following criteria: rate of plant growth; free radical accumulation; antioxidant enzyme activity; chlorophyll content; HSP70 protein content; cell membrane permeability, and mitochondrial activity. The study showed that duckweed can considerably recover from the damage caused by antibiotics, within a week of cessation of stress. Of the plant properties analysed, mitochondrial activity was the most sensitive to antibiotic-induced disturbances. After transferring the plants to a tetracycline-free medium, all plant parameters improved significantly, except for the mitochondrial activity in the plants grown on the medium containing the highest dose of tetracycline. In the plants treated with this antibiotic at the concentration of 10 mM, the proportion of dead mitochondria increased and was as high as 93% after one week from the beginning of the recovery phase, even after the transfer to the tetracycline-free medium.