Expression patterns of peroxiredoxin genes in bronchial epithelial cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles.

Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the adverse effects of air pollutants on airway cells. One such explanation is the presence of high concentrations of oxidants and pro-oxidants in environmental pollutants. All animal and plant cells have developed several mechanisms to prevent damage by oxidative molecules. Among these, the peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) are of interest due to a high reactivity with reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the functioning of the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase system. This study aimed to verify the gene expression patterns of the PRDX family in bronchial epithelial airway cells (BEAS-2B) cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) at a concentration of 15 µg/mL for 1 or 2 h because this it is a major component of particulate matter in the atmosphere. There was a significant decrease in mRNA fold changes of PRDX2 (0.43 ± 0.34; *p = 0.0220), PRDX5 (0.43 ± 0.34; *p = 0.0220), and PRDX6 (0.33 ± 0.25; *p = 0.0069) after 1 h of exposure to DEPs. The reduction in mRNA levels may consequently lead to a decrease in the levels of PRDX proteins, increasing oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B and thus, negatively affecting cellular functions.

Cellular stress response in human Müller cells (MIO-M1) after bevacizumab treatment.

Bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, is widely used in the treatment of retinal vascular diseases. However, due to the essential role Müller cell derived-VEGF plays in the maintenance of retinal neurons and glial cells, cell viability is likely to be affected by VEGF inhibition. We therefore evaluated the effect of bevacizumab-induced VEGF inhibition on Müller cells (MIO-M1) in vitro. MIO-M1 cells were cultured for 12 or 24 h in media containing bevacizumab at 0.25 or 0.5 mg/mL. Controls were cultured in medium only. Cell viability was determined with the trypan blue exclusion test and MTT assay. Caspase-3, beclin-1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin content were quantified by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR. Treatment with bevacizumab did not reduce MIO-M1 cell viability, but increased metabolic activity at 24 h (0.5 mg/mL) and induced apoptosis and autophagy, as shown by the increased caspase-3 levels at 12 h (0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL) and the increased beclin levels at 24 h (0.5 mg/mL). Caspase-3 mRNA was upregulated at 12 h and downregulated at 24 h in cells treated with bevacizumab at 0.25 mg/mL. Bevacizumab treatment was also associated with structural protein abnormalities, with decreased GFAP and vimentin content and upregulated GFAP and vimentin mRNA expression. Although bevacizumab did not significantly affect MIO-M1 cell viability, it led to metabolic and molecular changes (apoptosis, autophagy and structural abnormalities) suggestive of significant cellular toxicity.

Human bronchial epithelial cells exposed in vitro to diesel exhaust particles exhibit alterations in cell rheology and cytotoxicity associated with decrease in antioxidant defenses and imbalance in pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression.

Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) from diesel engines produce adverse alterations in cells of the airways by activating intracellular signaling pathways and apoptotic gene overexpression, and also by influencing metabolism and cytoskeleton changes. This study used human bronchial epithelium cells (BEAS-2B) in culture and evaluates their exposure to DEPs (15ug/mL for 1 and 2 h) in order to determine changes to cell rheology (viscoelasticity) and gene expression of the enzymes involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity. BEAS-2B cells exposed to DEPs were found to have a significant loss in stiffness, membrane stability, and mitochondrial activity. The genes involved in apoptosis [B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2 and caspase-3)] presented inversely proportional expressions (p = 0.05, p = 0.01, respectively), low expression of the genes involved in antioxidant responses [SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1); SOD2 (superoxide dismutase 2), and GPx (glutathione peroxidase) (p = 0.01)], along with an increase in cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) (p = 0.01). These results suggest that alterations in cell rheology and cytotoxicity could be associated with oxidative stress and imbalance between pro- and anti-apoptotic genes.

Análise imunocitoquímica e de expressão gênica de efeitos do bevacizumabe em explantes de retina de ratos lister e em linhagem celular de glia de Müller humana

INTRODUÇÃO: As doenças retinianas associadas à neovascularização, tais como a degeneração macular relacionada à idade e as retinopatias diabética e da prematuridade são as principais e mais importantes causas da cegueira em todo o mundo. Nos últimos anos, injeções intravítreas de fármacos com ação antiangiogênica, como o bevacizumabe (BVZ), têm sido de grande valia tanto em pacientes na fase adulta quanto nos recém-natos. Todavia, estudos experimentais in vitro e in vivo sugerem que essas drogas promovam efeitos adversos sobre alguns processos celulares, interferindo diretamente em mecanismos fisiológicos que mantém a homeostase do tecido retiniano, incluindo os mecanismos de proliferação, diferenciação e morte celular. OBJETIVO: investigar o efeito do BVZ nos processos de transcrição e tradução de marcadores da gliose: GFAP e vimentina, de morte celular, caspase-3 e beclina-1, e dos proteoglicanos relacionados à manutenção e desenvolvimento de tecido retiniano: neurocam, fosfacam e sindecam-3. MÉTODOS: Dois modelos experimentais foram usados nesse estudo: 1) linhagem celular de Müller de Glia humana adulta (MIO-M1), cultivada em meio de cultura D-MEM na presença e ausência de BVZ por 12 e 24 horas nas concentrações de 0,25 mg/mL e 0,50 mg/mL e 2) explantes de retinas de ratos 2 dias pós-nascidos submetidos à 0,50 mg/mL da droga por 48 horas. Durante este período foram mantidos a 5% de dióxido de carbono à temperatura de 37°C. A análise de proteínas foi realizada por imunocitohistoquímica e Western Blotting e a expressão de RNAm, pela reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (PCR Real Time). Foi utilizado o Teste de ANOVA - fator único para a comparação entre os grupos controle e tratados com BVZ de um mesmo período (12h ou 24h) e o teste t de Student para a comparação entre as mesmas concentrações de 12h e 24h, e para a comparação entre os grupos controle e tratado com BVZ dos explantes (p < 0,05). RESULTADOS...

Backgraound: Vasoproliferative retinal disorders such as age-related macular, degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity are major causes of blindness in the world. In recent years, intravitreal injections of drugs with antiangiogenic action, as bevacizumab, have been very useful for both patients in adulthood and in newborns. However, experimental studies, in vivo and in vitro, suggest that antiangiogenic drugs may promote side effects in cellular proceedings, interfering directly in physiological mechanisms of cellular proliferation, differentiation and death. POURPOSE: Investigate the bevacizumab effects in transcription and translation processes of gliosis, GFAP and vimentin, cellular death markers, caspase-3 and beclin-1, and proteoglycans involved in retinal tissue maintenance and development, neurocan, phosphacan and syndecan-3. METHODS: Two experimental models were used on this research: cellular lineage of adult and human Müller glial cell(MIO-M1) were cultivated on D-MEM medium with 0,25 and 0,50 mg/mL bevacizumab for 12 and 24 hours, and two days old rat retinal explants submitted to 0,50 mg/mL for 48 hours. During this period were stored in laboratory ovens at 5% carbon dioxide pressure and 37 °C average temperature. Molecular techniques were used to evaluate gene expression and protein content. Protein assessments were performed by immunocytochemistry and western blotting analysis, while Real Time PCR was used to measure mRNA content. ANOVA tests one factor were applied to compare the control and BVZ groups of the same period (12h or 24h) and t test from Student to compare the same conditions of 12h and 24h, and to compare the control and BVZ retinal explants groups (p<0.05). RESULTS...