Inhibitory effect of Curcumin on a cervical cancer cell line via the RAS/RAF signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer has a very important place in female infertility and ranks fourth among cancers affecting women. Curcumin (CUR) is closely associated with the expression and activity of various regulatory proteins. It is also known that curcumin has preventive and therapeutic effects on various types of cancer. In this study, the anticancer activities of curcumin were demonstrated in the human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). METHODS: qRT-PCR and western blot analyses were used to evaluate mRNA and protein expression of curcumin in HeLa and immortalized human skin keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) (proliferation and apoptosis regulatory markers of the RAS/RAF signaling pathway). MTT analysis was performed, showing HeLa and HaCaT cell proliferation depending on the dose and duration of curcumin and doxorubicin. A wound scratch healing assay was applied to examine cell migration and invasion of HeLa after curcumin application. To determine the role of curcumin and doxorubicin in the apoptosis of HeLa cells, the mRNA levels of caspase-3 were examined by qRT-PCR. The results were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA SPSS 20.0 program. RESULTS: CUR (IC50: 242.8 µM) and DOX (IC50: 92.1 µM) were determined to have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells and induce apoptosis over a 72-hour period and dose-dependently. Moreover, the results revealed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of RAF and RAS in HeLa cells were downregulated by CUR and DOX. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that an alternative treatment method for cervical cancer can be developed with the application of CUR and DOX. Alternative methods for cervical cancer treatment may be developed using different methods in future studies.

E-cadherin and NF-κB expression in the vagina after ovarian ischemia and reperfusion.

PURPOSE: To investigate inflammation and cell adhesion molecules in the vagina after ovarian ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. METHODS: 20 Wistar albino female rats were divided into two groups: control, and IR groups. In IR group, blood flow was restricted for 2 hours for ovarian ischemia. Then, tissues were re-blood 2 hours for reperfusion. Vagina tissues were excised and processed for histopathological analysis. Histopathological and biochemical follow-ups were performed. RESULTS: Both malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase values were increased in IR group compared to control group. Glutathione content was decreased in IR group compared to control group. Epithelial degeneration, inflammation, dilatation, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression were increased in IR group compared to control group. E-cadherin expression was significantly decreased in IR group. In the IR group, E-cadherin showed a positive reaction in adenomas, gland-like cryptic structures, cellular junctions with clustered inflammatory cells. In the IR group, NF-κB expression was increased in basement membrane, inflammatory cells, in blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian ischemia caused degeneration of epithelial cells in the vaginal region and disruptions in the cell junction complex, which leads to activation of E-cadherin and NF-κB signaling pathway and alterations in reproductive and embryonal development in the vaginal region.

Effects of rosmarinic acid and doxorubicine on an ovarian adenocarsinoma cell line (OVCAR3) via the EGFR pathway.

PURPOSE: We aimed to reveal the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA), which has come to the forefront with its antitumor and antioxidant properties in many studies recently in the ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line, on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) signaling pathway in the presence of doxorubicin (DOX). METHODS: Ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line (OVCAR3) and human skin keratinocyte cell line human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) were used as control. (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was applied to determine the effect of RA and DOX on the proliferation of OVCAR3 and HaCaT cells. Bcl2 expression and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression levels of the markers. RESULTS: It was determined that RA (IC50 = 437.6 µM) and DOX (IC50 = 0.08 µM) have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of OVCAR3 cells and induce apoptosis in a 72-hour time and dose-dependent manner. Western blot showed that the expression level of Bcl-2 and EGFR in OVCAR3 cells was down-regulated by RA and DOX. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis in OVCAR3 cells can potentially be induced by RA via the EGFR pathway, and RA may be a potent agent for cancer therapy.

E-cadherin and NF-κB expression in the vagina after ovarian ischemia and reperfusion

Purpose: To investigate inflammation and cell adhesion molecules in the vagina after ovarian ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Methods: 20 Wistar albino female rats were divided into two groups: control, and IR groups. In IR group, blood flow was restricted for 2 hours for ovarian ischemia. Then, tissues were re-blood 2 hours for reperfusion. Vagina tissues were excised and processed for histopathological analysis. Histopathological and biochemical follow-ups were performed. Results: Both malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase values were increased in IR group compared to control group. Glutathione content was decreased in IR group compared to control group. Epithelial degeneration, inflammation, dilatation, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression were increased in IR group compared to control group. E-cadherin expression was significantly decreased in IR group. In the IR group, E-cadherin showed a positive reaction in adenomas, gland-like cryptic structures, cellular junctions with clustered inflammatory cells. In the IR group, NF-κB expression was increased in basement membrane, inflammatory cells, in blood vessels. Conclusions: Ovarian ischemia caused degeneration of epithelial cells in the vaginal region and disruptions in the cell junction complex, which leads to activation of E-cadherin and NF-κB signaling pathway and alterations in reproductive and embryonal development in the vaginal region.

Effects of rosmarinic acid and doxorubicine on an ovarian adenocarsinoma cell line (OVCAR3) via the EGFR pathway

Purpose: We aimed to reveal the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA), which has come to the forefront with its antitumor and antioxidant properties in many studies recently in the ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line, on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) signaling pathway in the presence of doxorubicin (DOX). Methods: Ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line (OVCAR3) and human skin keratinocyte cell line human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) were used as control. (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was applied to determine the effect of RA and DOX on the proliferation of OVCAR3 and HaCaT cells. Bcl2 expression and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression levels of the markers. Results: It was determined that RA (IC50 = 437.6 µM) and DOX (IC50 = 0.08 µM) have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of OVCAR3 cells and induce apoptosis in a 72-hour time and dose-dependent manner. Western blot showed that the expression level of Bcl-2 and EGFR in OVCAR3 cells was down-regulated by RA and DOX. Conclusions: Apoptosis in OVCAR3 cells can potentially be induced by RA via the EGFR pathway, and RA may be a potent agent for cancer therapy.

The Relationship between First Trimester 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Second Trimester Femur Length and Their Effects on Birth Weight and Length at Birth: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of our study was to assess relationships between first trimester 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and infant birthweight and length at birth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a study over our medical records of 154 live-term births at Acibadem Atakent Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Subjects were classified into five independent groups. RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 154 live birth records. They took vitamin D3 supplement 1000 U/day. We classified the serum vitamin D levels into 5 groups by concentration. Group 1 comprised serum vitamin D levels <10 ng/ml (n = 41); group 2 comprised serum Vitamin D levels between >10-16 ng/ml (n = 33); group 3 comprised serum vitamin D levels >16-20 ng/ml (n = 26); group 4 vitamin D level between >20-30 ng/ml (n = 33) and group 5 comprised vitamin D levels >30 ng/ml. The femurs of infants were found to be longer between the groups, although the differences were not significant (p=0.054). There was also a statistically significant difference in the neonatal birth weight (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: We observed associations between low and high maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and fetal growth at birth weight but no difference in birth length. We conclude that we always need to conduct further research to be able to predict the effects of vitamin D deficiency.

Is pentraxin 3 a new cardiovascular risk marker in polycystic ovary syndrome?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have an increased rate of subclinical inflammation, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an inflammatory mediator which belongs to the same family as the well-established cardiovascular biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP). The present study was performed to investigate plasma PTX3 levels in patients with PCOS and to determine the relationship between PTX3 and other known cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: 40 patients with PCOS and 40 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The groups were divided into subgroups according to BMI. Insulin resistance indexes, lipid profile, CRP and PTX3 levels were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference for insulin resistance indexes and lipid profile between the PCOS and control groups. CRP levels were significantly higher in obese PCOS and control subjects than in lean subjects, whereas no difference in PTX3 concentrations was observed between subgroups. CONCLUSION: PTX3 and CRP levels were similar in the PCOS group compared with the non-PCOS control group.