[A study of the mechanisms of action of Fertiwell in vivo].

AIM: To investigate the specific mechanisms of action of Fertiwell in a mouse model of D-galactose-induced aging of the reproductive system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomized into four groups: intact mice (control group), a group of mice with artificial accelerated aging treated with D-galactose alone (Gal), D-galactose followed by Fertiwell (PP), and D-galactose followed by a combination of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine (LC). The artificial accelerated aging of reproductive system was induced by daily intraperitoneal administration of D-galactose at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 8 weeks. After the end of therapy in all groups, the characteristics of sperm, the level of serum testosterone, immunohistochemical parameters, and the expression of specific proteins were evaluated. RESULTS: Fertiwell had a pronounced therapeutic effect on testicular tissues and spermatozoa, restored testosterone levels to normal values, and, in addition, was more effective protector against oxidative stress in the reproductive system compared to L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine, which are widely used in male infertility. Fertiwell at a dose of 1 mg/kg allowed to significantly increase the number of motile spermatozoa to 67.4+/-3.1%, which was comparable to indicators in the intact group. The introduction of the Fertiwell positively affected the activity of mitochondria, which was also expressed in an increase in sperm motility. In addition, Fertiwell restored the intracellular level of ROS to the values of the control group and reduced the number of TUNEL+ cells (with fragmented DNA) to the level of intact control. Thus, Fertiwell, containing testis polypeptides, has a complex effect on reproductive function, leading to a change in gene expression, an increase in protein synthesis, the prevention of DNA damage in the testicular tissue, and an increase in mitochondrial activity in testicular tissue and spermatozoa of the vas deferens, which leads to the subsequent improvement of testicular function.

In vivo monitoring of vascularization and oxygenation of tumor xenografts using optoacoustic microscopy and diffuse optical spectroscopy.

The research is devoted to comparison of the blood vessel structure and the oxygen state of three xenografts: SN-12C, HCT-116 and Colo320. Differences in the vessel formation and the level of oxygenation are revealed by optoacoustic (OA) microscopy and diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) respectively. The Colo320 tumor is characterized by the highest values of vessel size and fraction. DOS showed increased content of deoxyhemoglobin that led to reduction of saturation level for Colo320 as compared to other tumors. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis for CD31 demonstrates the higher number of vessels in Colo320. The IHC for hypoxia was consistent with DOS results and revealed higher values of the relative hypoxic fraction in Colo320.

[Inactivation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Overcomes Resistance to Targeted B-RAF Inhibitors in Melanoma Cell Lines].

The discovery of B-RAF activating mutations in malignant melanoma cells has led to the development of a number of targeted drugs, which block exclusively the mutant B-RAF protein. Tumor cells often acquire resistance to B-RAF inhibitors via activation of alternative signaling pathways. One of the resistance mechanisms is activation of PDGF, VEGF, c-KIT, and certain other tyrosine kinases. The possibility of overcoming the resistance to the B-RAF inhibitor Vemurafenib by inactivating receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) was studied in metastatic melanoma cell lines differing in B-RAF mutations and RTK activity. It was found that RTK inactivation may help to overcome resistance to B-RAF inhibitors via inhibition of tyrosine kinase phosphorylation and a subsequent blocking of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MEK-ERK1/2 downstream signaling pathways. The changes eventually mitigated the cell growth and enhanced the Vemurafenib-dependent cell cycle arrest.

Characteristics of Mel Ibr Melanoma Line Subclone after Treatment with Chicken Embryo Extract.

We continue analysis of the phenotype of human melanoma cell Mel Ibr subclone obtained previously by treatment of the parental cell line by chicken embryo extract. The present study is focused on detection of markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition that determine enhanced metastatic and invasive potential of malignant tumors of various locations. Analysis of the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin genes in the subclone and parental cells detected activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the subclone. Immunological markers CD90, CD271, and CD95 were present in the parental population, but were not detected on the subclone cells. In contrast to the parental line, cells of the analyzed subclone retain viability in serum-free medium and formed vessel-like structures characteristic of vasculogenic mimicry.