Inhibiting SETD7 methyl-transferase activity impairs differentiation, lipid metabolism and lactogenesis in mammary epithelial cells.

SETD7 (SET7/9, KMT7) is a lysine methyltransferase that targets master regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, the impact of inhibiting SETD7 catalytic activity on mammary epithelial cell differentiation was studied by focusing on genes associated with epithelial differentiation, lactogenesis, and lipid metabolism in HC11 and EpH4 cell lines. Setd7 mRNA and protein levels were induced upon lactogenic differentiation in both cell lines. Inhibition of SETD7 activity by the compound (R)-PFI-2 increased cell proliferation and downregulated E-cadherin, beta-catenin, lactoferrin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5, and beta-casein levels. In addition, inhibition of SETD7 activity affected the lipid profile and altered the mRNA expression of the phospholipid biosynthesis-related genes choline phosphotransferase 1, and ethanolamine-phosphate cytidylyltransferase. Altogether, the results suggest that inhibiting SETD7 catalytic activity impairs mammary epithelial and lactogenic differentiation.

Enrichment of Sunflower Oil with Ultrasound-Assisted Extracted Bioactive Compounds from Crithmum maritimum L.

Crithmum maritimum L., or sea fennel, is an edible halophyte plant, rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, that naturally grows in Mediterranean coasts. This study aims to incorporate bioactive compounds extracted from lyophilized Crithmum maritimum to sunflower oil assisted by ultrasounds (UAE), to improve its biological value and oxidative stability. UAE conditions were optimized as a function of time (5-20 min) and lyophilized plant concentration (5-20% m/v). The experiments were dictated by a central composite rotatable matrix. Oxidation products were not influenced by UAE conditions. Acidity, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were affected by both factors, while total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (FRAP method) only increased with plant concentration. Response surfaces were fitted to these experimental results. Flavonoids were highly related with oil antioxidant activity. No sensory defects were detected in supplemented oil (12.5% m/v plant/5 min UAE). The oxidative stability of this oil was evaluated at 60 °C/12 days. Chlorophylls, phenols, radical scavenging (DPPH), and antioxidant activities decreased over time but were always higher than the values in non-supplemented oil (8.6 and 7-fold with FRAP and DPPH, respectively). C. maritimum presented high amounts of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, adequate for sunflower oil supplementation by UAE.