CircPDE7B/miR-661 axis accelerates the progression of human keloid fibroblasts by upregulating fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2).

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in keloidogenesis and development. We aimed to investigate the role of a new identified phosphodiesterase 7B-derived circRNA (hsa_circ_0002198; henceforth named as PDE7B) in human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) and to further confirm its mechanism via competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Transcriptional and translational levels of circPDE7B, microRNA (miR)-661, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), cleaved caspase3, B-cell lymphoma (bcl)-2, and bcl-2-associated X protein (bax) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. Relationship among circPDE7B, miR-661, and FGF2 was confirmed by bioinformatics algorithm, dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down assay, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis. Cell progression was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine assay, transwell assays, and flow cytometry. Expression of circPDE7B was upregulated in human keloid tissues and HKFs, accompanied with miR-661 downregulation and FGF2 upregulation. High circPDE7B accelerated proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibited apoptosis. These effects were paralleled with increased bcl-2 and decreased cleaved caspase3 and bax. Moreover, low circPDE7B played opposite effects to high circPDE7B. Restoring miR-661 could suppress HKFs progression, while blocking miR-661 could facilitate that. Notably, miR-661 was directly sponged by circPDE7B and then directly governed FGF2 gene expression. Deleting miR-661 and re-expressing FGF2 both abrogated the suppression of circPDE7B knockdown in HKFs progression. In conclusion, circPDE7B might contribute to HKFs progression via functioning as ceRNA for miR-661, suggesting a novel circPDE7B/miR-661/FGF2 pathway underlying keloid formation and treatment.

Inhibitory action of chamaejasmin A against human HEP-2 epithelial cells: effect on tubulin protein.

In this work, the anticancer activity of chamaejasmin A was studied by evaluating its in vitro cytotoxicity against several cell lines (CAL-27, UMSCC-1, UMSCCG19, HEP-2 and Vero cells) using the 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazoly1)-3,5-diphenytetrazolium bromide assay. Results indicated chamaejasmin A shows more notable anticancer activity against HEP-2 cells, with IC(50) values of 3.48 µM. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that chamaejasmin A is able to increase the expression of ß-tubulin (TB), but not α-TB. In vivo, chamaejasmin A intake through gavage resulted in ß-TB depolymerization inhibition in HEP-2 tumors. In silico simulations indicated that chamaejasmin A specifically interacts with the binding site which is located at the top of ß-TB, thanks to the presence of strong hydrophobic effects between the core templates and the hydrophobic surface of the TB protein active site, associated with two strong H-bonds. The binding energy (E (inter)) was calculated to be -129.40 kcal mol(-1). Results above suggest that chamaejasmin A possesses anti-cancer properties relating to ß-TB depolymerization inhibition.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Allium cepa prevents UVB radiation mediated inflammation in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells).

The extensive relevance of nanoparticles arouses the requirement for manufacturing although the predictable technique are frequently perilous and energy saving. In the current study, zinc oxide nanoparticles manufactured from Allium cepa avert UVB radiation interceded irritation in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). In the current study, the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) was synthesized from the extract of A. cepa. The optimized ZnO-NPs hence attained and was enumerated and exemplified by UV visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and EDAX impending analysis. In addition, amalgamated ZnO-NPs were experienced for cell viability (MTT), formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and antioxidant and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels. Also, we explored the effect of A. cepa ZnO-NPs in molecular level by evaluating the inflammatory and apoptotic markers, in which ZnO-NPs reinstated the interleukins 6, 10 and related signaling molecules like iNOS, COX-2 levels. Ultimately, ZnO-NPs induce apoptotic markers (Bax, Bcl-2) and also recommended that ZnO-NPs might aggravate cancer cell apoptosis in HaCaT cells.

Biologically synthesized green gold nanoparticles from Siberian ginseng induce growth-inhibitory effect on melanoma cells (B16).

Siberian ginseng, perennial herb belongs to Araliaceae family used in traditional medicines to treat hypertension, thrombus, inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we biosynthesized goldnanoparticles using Siberian ginseng aqeous extract in a cost effective manner. The synthesized Siberian ginseng gold nanoparticle (SG-GNPs) were characterized using UV-Vis spec, HR-TEM, XRD, FTIR, SAED analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis showed a surface Plasmon resonance peak at 538 nm which does not reduce till 30 days of incubation. The results of HR-TEM, XRD and SAED confirm the spherical shape, crystalline nature and the size of the synthesized gold nanoparticles. The FTIR results prove that the biological components present in the Siberian ginseng had reduced the gold ions to synthesis gold nanoparticles. After characterization, the efficacy of SG-GNPS against the melanoma, a deadliest skin carcinoma, was assessed in vitro using B16 murine melanoma cells. The CC50 dose of SG-GNPs against B16 cells were assessed with MTT assay and the anticancer activity was evaluated using Rhodamine 123, H2DCFDA and dual staining techniques. The induction of apoptosis by SG-GNPs against melanoma cells were confirmed with q-PCR analysis. The results of staining techniques prove that SG-GNPs increase the reactive oxygen species and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. It is further confirmed by the results of q-PCR analysis which shows increased apoptotic Bid, Bad, Casp3, Casp 9 genes and decreased antiapoptotic Bcl2 gene expression in SG-GNPs treated cells. Our results authentically prove the biosynthesized SG-GNPs induces apoptosis in melanoma cells and it possesses anticancer property.

Quantum dots-based lateral flow immunoassay combined with image analysis for semiquantitative detection of IgE antibody to mite.

Semiquantitative and rapid detection of specific IgE (sIgE) with well clinical relevance to house dust mite (HDM) are promising for prevalence rhinitis and asthma patients due to the increasing air pollution. However, the conventional IgE measurement systems are time-consuming, complicated and require special instruments. Herein, we overcome the above limitations of sIgE to HDM detection system by developing a quantum dot nanobeads-based lateral flow immunoassay and an image analysis procedure. The proposed detection system could semiquantitatively measure the IgE in a linear range of 0.2-10 U/mL. Moreover, there is a well correlation between the developed detection system and the clinical symptoms by a comparison study using 56 positive patients' sera and 40 healthy control sera. The proposed detection system is simple, robust and easy-to-use and promising for in home test.

Identification of compounds from chufa (Eleocharis dulcis) peels with inhibitory acrylamide formation activity

Abstract Five compounds were isolated from the peels of chufa (Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch., Cyperaceae). The chemical structures were determined by various spectroscopic analysis methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, and by comparison with literature data. All compounds were isolated for the first time from the peels of chufa. Compounds orcinol glucoside, leonuriside A, 2-hydroxymethyl-6-(5-hydroxy-2-methyl-phenoxy-methyl)-tetra-hydro-pyran-3,4,5-triol, and 1,4-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside showed good acrylamide formation activity, and acrylamide inhibition rates were 30.24, 32.81, 30.53, and 28.18%, respectively.