Aldehyde dehydrogenase in fresh primordial germ cells as a marker of cell 'stemness'.

SummaryChicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the primary pluripotent stem cell types that will differentiate towards germ cells. High aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is considered as a functional marker for the detection of cell 'stemness'. In our study the ALDEFLUOR™ kit was used for determination of ALDH activity in PGCs. PGCs were co-stained with diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) and ALDH and analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results showed a small cell population (8.0 ± 3.3%) upon preincubation of the cells with the specific inhibitor DEAB, however cells without inhibitor staining showed a fluorescence shift as an ALDH-positive population (70.5 ± 1.6%). These findings indicate higher expression of ALDH in PGCs and ALDH activity can therefore be used as a new functional marker for the detection of cell 'stemness' in chicken PGCs. These results may have importance for characterization of PGCs as a potential genetic resource in poultry. Further research is necessary to elucidate the role of this functional marker in these cells.

Effect of body condition and season on yield and quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos.

The aim of our study was to examine the effects of cow's body condition score (BCS; scale 1-5) and season on the quality of bovine in vitro produced embryos. The proportion of good quality oocytes (Q1 and Q2) was higher (P < 0.05) in the BCS 2 (57.60%) and BCS 3 (60.90%) groups compared with the BCS 1 (43.60%) group. There were no statistical differences in embryo cleavage and blastocyst rate among the BCS groups. The highest total cell number (TCN, DAPI stain) of blastocysts (P < 0.05), recorded in BCS 1 (122.27 ± 6.90) in comparison with BCS 2 (101.8 ± 3.60) or BCS 3 (105.44 ± 3.70) groups, was related to higher dead cell (DCI, TUNEL) index in this group (7.07%) when compared with BCS 2 (6.54%) or BCS 3 (6.06%), respectively. The yield of good quality oocytes during spring was lower (P < 0.05) compared with the summer season. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in maturation and cleavage rates between autumn and summer (73.42%, 76.2% vs. 85.0%, 41.8%, respectively). The highest (P < 0.01) blastocyst rate was noted during spring and summer months. Significant difference (P < 0.05) in the TCN among spring (99.38 ± 3.90), autumn (110.1 ± 4.58) or summer (108.96 ± 3.52) was observed. The highest proportion of embryos with the best (grade I) actin cytoskeleton (phalloidin-TRITC) quality was noted during the summer months. Our results indicate that body condition affects the initial quality of oocytes, but does not affect embryo cleavage, blastocyst rate and actin quality. This finding may suggest that development in vitro can mask the influence of BCS. The season affects yield and quality of blastocysts in the way that the autumn period is more favorable for embryo development.

Cyclic chalcone analogue KRP6 as a potent modulator of cell proliferation: an in vitro study in HUVECs.

In the present investigation a novel series of chalcone analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among 14 tested compounds, chalcone analogue (E)-3-(2'-methoxybenzylidene)-4-chromanone (KRP6) exhibited the most potent activity with IC50 19 µM. Moreover, HUVECs exhibited divergent, even opposing concentration-dependent responses to KRP6. This compound was the most potent inhibitor of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix formation (fibronectin and type IV collagen) at higher concentrations (20-50 µM). In contrast, KRP6 stimulated the compensatory increase in proliferative activity including extracellular matrix formation at low concentrations (1, 10 µM). KRP6 concentration-dependently modulated phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/-2 and p38 kinase, suggesting that these pathways play a role in the effect mediated by this compound. In addition, we found a selective effect on activated endothelial cells, in particular with resting endothelial cells. In conclusion, KRP6 is a potent modulator of selected steps of the angiogenic process in vitro. Accordingly, further in vivo research should be performed to facilitate its use in clinical practice.

Predictive factors of endometriosis progression into ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the endometriosis has overcome a noteworthy renaissance in the recognition of its potential. In certain patients, a demonstrable malignant progression of ectopic foci leading to development of ovarian cancer is seen. The knowledge of endometriosis overthrow background into endometriosis associated ovarian cancer is of paramount importance for selection of patients at risk. The goal of the presented study was to review a malignant potential of the endometriosis and to specify predictive factors of endometriosis progression into ovarian cancer. Altogether 189 patients were included in the study. Conventional cytogenetics as well as measurement of transcriptional activity of CTNNB1 (ß-catenin) and HIF1A (HIF1-α) genes were prospectively studied in 60 endometriosis patients and 50 control group patients. The retrospective histopathological analysis was performed in 19 endometriosis associated ovarian cancer patients and 60 patients with histologically confirmed endometriosis. RESULTS: Five endometriosis patients showed a deviation from normal cytogenetics finding without affecting of their phenotype. In 6 cases of endometriosis associated ovarian cancer ectopic endometrium was not confirmed. The remaining 13 cases demonstrated either benign or atypical endometriosis or even structures of borderline carcinoma. Atypical endometriosis was histologically confirmed in 20% of 60 endometriosis patients. Determination of gene expression (CTNNB1, HIF1A) formed two subgroups. Transcriptionally incipient endometriosis subgroup with insignificant genes expression compared to control group. In transcriptionally evident endometriosis subgroup were genes expressions significantly higher compared to control group (p < 0.01) as well as transcriptionally incipient endometriosis subgroup (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant structural abnormalities of chromosomes are not included in genetic rigging of endometriosis patients. Atypical endometriosis represents a histopathologically detectable intermediate of endometriosis progression. Determination of genes expression CTNNB1 and HIF1A helps to allocate risk patients with endometriosis where more precise management is needed.

Photodynamic effect of hypericin in primary cultures of human umbilical endothelial cells and glioma cell lines.

Hypericin is the most powerful naturally occurring photosensitizer and as such there is renaissant interest in the potentials of this compound for anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT). The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy effects on normal human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) in comparison with cancer human glioma cell lines U-87 MG and U-373 MG, in in vitro conditions. The data suggest that endothelial cells as well as glioma cell lines are sensitive only to photoactivated hypericin. The inhibitory effects of photoactivated hypericin did not differ in endothelial compared with tumor cells in cytotoxicity MTT and DNA fragmentation assays. However, an important difference in sensitivity was found between the above mentioned cell types in migration and metalloproteinases inhibition assays performed as cell function tests. The findings in both function tests were supported by the high sensitivity of endothelial cells in an additional angiogenesis test of tubular formation in vitro.

The crucial role of emilin 1 gene expression during progression of tumor growth.

BACKGROUND: This study describes the effect of rapid tumor growth of patients suffering from various grades of malignant ductal breast carcinoma associated with the gene expression of ECM protein emilin 1, in correlation with the number of gene copies of emilin 1 and degradation of tumor tissue proteins. METHODS: A total of 40 examined patients participated in the experiment (controls, n = 10, grades GI-GIII, each n = 10). After isolation of total mRNA, transcription of mRNA into the cDNA was performed. Quantification of gene expression changes was detected by the real-time PCR method. Analysis at the protein level was performed via Western blot method. RESULTS: During the detection of changes at the mRNA level, a significantly decreased level of emilin 1 in tumor tissues with grade II (about 54 ± 8 % lower than control) was identified. Protein-level analysis indicated an increased level of emilin 1 in tumors with grade I in comparison with control samples (about 10 ± 3 %). CONCLUSION: Obtained results demonstrated that the suppressive role of emilin 1 is related to the grade of growing breast tumors, and associated with increased hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment followed by elevated unfolding and degradation of tissue proteins.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury - the histopathological status of remote vital organs in acute and subacute phases.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of graft recovery and function follows current trends in intestinal transplantation; however, the alteration of remote organs (RO) predicts complicated systemic rejection. This study was conceived to describe the histopathological status of RO arising in both acute and subacute stages after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIR) injury. MATERIAL/METHODS: Wistar rats (n=54) were divided into 7 experimental groups (n=7 each). All the animals were subjected to 60 min mesenteric ischemia and subsequently to reperfusion 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, 72 h, 10 days, 20 days and 30 days following the groups IR2 h, IR4 h, IR24 h, IR72 h, IR10 d, IR20 d and IR30 d. As a control group (S; n=5) sham-operated animals were used. Histopathological scores (HPS) were evaluated in biopsies of the right kidney, heart and colon ascendens. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in kidney HPS was seen during reperfusion, with the peak in IR4h group (p<0.01). Thereafter, improved morphology was observed; however, increased HPS was seen even in the subacute stage, and significant deterioration of HPS up to 10 days of reperfusion was detected (p<0.05). Heart biopsies also showed statistically increased HPS value in IR4h group (p<0.05). Intact morphology of the colon was detected in all reperfusion periods. CONCLUSIONS: IIR causes a systemic reaction affecting RO. The peak of alteration for kidney and heart morphology was induced by 60 min of ischemia followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Thereafter, improved morphology was observed, although latent persistence of histopathological changes was seen even in the subacute stage. The colon remained intact during the whole experiment despite its anatomical proximity, confirming its high immunological capacity.

In vitro antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects of synthetic chalcone analogues.

As flavonoids, chalcones possess a wide variety of biological activities including anticancer properties. In the present study we have investigated the in vitro antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects of four synthetic chalcones. E-2-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)-1-benzosuberone (3) was the most active compound with IC(50)=10(-7)mol l(-1) in Jurkat cells. In both Jurkat and HeLa chalcone 3-treated cells we found a significant increase in the proportion of cancer cells in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle as well as an increase in cells having sub-G(0)/G(1) DNA content which is considered to be a marker of apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis was also confirmed by annexin V staining and DNA fragmentation. These effects were associated with reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, and increased expression of the pro-apoptotic gene, Bax. Furthermore, chalcone 3 was selected to evaluate its effect on some angiogenic events. In non-toxic concentrations, chalcone 3 inhibited VEGF-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Moreover, it also decreased secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (mainly MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In conclusion, the present study has assessed the in vitro antiproliferative/antiangiogenic potential of chalcone 3. This results generate a rationale for in vivo efficacy studies with this compound in preclinical cancer models.