Impact of Lactational Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyl Causes Epigenetic Modification and Impairs Sertoli Cells Functional Regulators in F1 Progeny.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Sertoli cells (SCs) provide physical and nutritional support for developing germ cells. Dysfunction in SCs has adverse effects on spermatogenesis. Previously, we found that the lactational exposure of PCBs (1, 2, and 5 mg/kg birth weight/day, orally from postnatal days 1 to 20) decreased the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and androgen receptor (AR) expression in SCs of F1 progeny. Transcription factors initiate and regulate the transcription of genes. DNA methylation plays an important role in epigenetic gene regulation. Hence, this study was aimed to identify the level of transcription factors regulating FSHR, AR gene expression, and DNA methylation in the promoter of these genes in SCs of both F1 prepuberal and puberal offspring. DNA methylation in the promoter of FSHR and AR genes was examined by sodium bisulfite conversion technique. The protein levels of transcription factors (steroidogenic factor 1 [SF1], upstream stimulatory factors 1 and 2, c-fos, c-jun, and CREB-binding protein) and enzymes DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt1, Dnmt3ab, Dnmt3l, and histone deacetylase 1 [HDAC1]) were analyzed by Western blotting. The transcription factors that regulate the FSHR and AR gene in SCs were decreased in both the PCB-exposed F1 progeny. Methylation was observed in the promoter of FSHR, AR, and SF1. The protein levels of Dnmt1, Dnmt3ab, Dnmt3l, and HDAC1 were increased in the PCBs-treated groups. Subsequently, it leads to transcriptional repression of the genes in SCs. Our finding suggests that PCBs caused epigenetic change in SCs, thereby it impaired SCs function in F1 progeny.

Nimbolide inhibits androgen independent prostate cancer cells survival and proliferation by modulating multiple pro-survival signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most prominent cancer in men, experiencing a relapse in disease often express high serum TNF-α levels. It has been correlated with increased cell survival and proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Previous studies reported that nimbolide, a terpenoid derived from the leaves and flowers of neem tree inhibits cancer growth through selective modulation of cell signaling pathways linked to inflammation, survival, proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. METHODS: The present study aimed to examine the effect of nimbolide at 1 and 2µM concentrations on TNF-α/TNFR1 mediated signaling molecules involved in cell survival and proliferation in PC-3 cell line via NF-κB and MAPK pathways by real time PCR and western blot. Protein and compound interaction were performed by Molecular docking analysis. RESULTS: Our results indicate that nimbolide treatment suppressed expression of TNF-α, SODD, Grb2, SOS mRNA and modulated TNF-α/TNFR1 regulated NF-κB and MAPK signaling molecules in PC-3 cells. Additional molecular dynamics simulation studies confirmed the stability of nimbolide and signaling molecules binding interactions. Binding pose analysis revealed the significance of hydrogen bond interactions for effective stabilization of virtual ligand protein complexes. CONCLUSION: Nimbolide inhibited prostate cancer cell survival and proliferation via NF-κB and MAPK pathways.