Dual function of Selenium nanoparticles: Inhibition or induction of lysozyme amyloid aggregation and evaluation of their cell based cytotoxicity.

Aberrant protein aggregation and the formation of amyloid deposits are associated with numerous neuro- and non-neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, one potential strategy is to eliminate these deposits by halting amyloid aggregation. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) have great potential in biomedicine for various therapeutic and diagnostic purposes and also have the ability to inhibit amyloid fibrillation. Herein, Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) was chosen as a protein model, and rod-like Se-NPs with diameters ranging from 90 to 120 nm were synthesized and the influence of shape and concentration of the particles on HEWL fibrillation was investigated. The effect of the nanoparticles on HEWL amyloid formation was analyzed using thioflavin T and Congo red binding assays, atomic force microscopy, and cytotoxicity assays. In the present study, it has been observed that these particles have a dual function in various concentrations. Using lower concentrations of Se-NPs ranging from 3-30 µg/ml, the Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence intensity decreased significantly by 60%, with an increased lag time compared to that of the control. While HEWL fibrillation substantially increased upon co-incubation with a higher concentration of these particles (300-2400µg/ml), and these results were verified by AFM, Congo red, and MTT assay. We showed that inhibitory or inductive influences of Se-NPs on the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) amyloid aggregation are achieved via different independent mechanisms. These results demonstrate that dual-activity of Se-NPs might be a valuable targeting system for inhibiting amyloid aggregation, and thus, may play a useful role in new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for amyloid-related disorders.

Effects in broiler hens of genetic lines differing in fertility, biotin supplementation, and age on relative abundance of oviductal transforming growth factor-ß and carbonic anhydrase mRNA transcripts.

There was evaluation of effects of biotin administration on oviductal abundance of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) mRNA transcript in younger and older broiler hens of relatively lesser and greater fertility lines. Additionally, effects of biotin supplementation on attenuation of age-related subfertility were evaluated. Hens from the relatively greater (Line D, n = 60) and lesser (Line B, n = 60) fertility rate line were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Biotin was not or was administered in drinking water from 30 to 33 (younger age) and 53 to 56 (older age) wk of age to have access to no biotin (T0), or 0.3 (T1), or 0.45 (T2) mg/L of biotin. There was assessment the relative oviductal abundances of TGF-ß and CA mRNA transcript abundances. Supplemental biotin and age had no effect on the relative abundance of oviductal TGF-ß mRNA transcript in hens of Line D. There, however, was a ten-fold greater abundance of TGF-ß in hens of the T0 group of Line B compared with Line D. Relative abundance of TGF-ß mRNA transcript was greater in younger hens of Line B; however, biotin supplementation of older hens of the T2 group of Line B resulted in a similar TGF-ß abundance to that of younger hens. Inconstant with the TGF-ß abundance, CA abundance in hens of Line B was not affected by supplemental biotin or bird age. Overall, differences in TGF-ß or CA abundances did not affect fertility of broiler hens.

MELATONIN ALLEVIATES BLEOMYCIN-INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN MICE.

Pulmonary fibrosis occurs as a common end-stage sequela of a number of acute and chronic lung diseases. Eicosanoids exert crucial roles in inflammatory processes pertinent to fibrogenesis induction, however, the role of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is not fully elucidated in most pulmonary fibrosis related-disorders. Recently, melatonin (MLN) has been introduced as an effective immuno-modulator and anti-oxidant agent. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of MLN on COX-2 expression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Animals were divided into five groups, including: 1) saline control, 2) 1% ethanol control, 3) MLN control, 4) bleomycin (BLM), in which mice were injected with BLM (15 mg/kg, i.p.) two times per week for four weeks, and 5) BLM+MLN, in which MLN was given to mice (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes prior to BLM injections for four weeks. MLN administration significantly reduced body weight loss (P<0.05), the rate of mortality, edema formation, lung injury, COX-2 expression (P>0.05), interstitial tissue percentage volume (P<0.05), and also increased the alveolar space percentage volume. MLN attenuated the BLM-induced lung injury responses such as collagen accumulation and airway dysfunction in mice. Finally, histological evidence supported the ability of MLN to inhibit COX-2 expression. Thus, it may serve as a novel potential therapeutic agent for IPF.

In Vitro Study to Evaluate Antibacterial and Non-haemolytic Activities of Four Iranian Medicinal Plants.

OBJECTIVE: Aqueous extracts of four medicinal plants including Ferula gummosa, Echinophora orientalis, Nasturtium microphyllum and Verbascum thapsus were used to determine their antibacterial activities and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The aim of this study was to assess antibacterial activity of extracts of four medicinal plants against a Gram-positive and a Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus PTCC1431, and Escherichia coli HP101BA 7601c). METHODS: Radial diffusion assay was used to assess the antibacterial activity of extracted samples. Haemolysis assay was also used to examine their nontoxic effects on human red blood cells (RBCs). RESULTS: This study showed that all the mentioned plants have satisfactory antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of these samples were less than 750 µg/mL. In addition, no significant haemolytic activity was observed at their MIC values. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that all these studied plants have good potential for further studies for drug discovery.