Proliferation and apoptosis processes in the seasonal testicular development of the wild Daurian ground squirrel (Citellus dauricus Brandt, 1844)

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingying Han ◽  
Jinqi Zhan ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Fengwei Zhang ◽  
Zhengrong Yuan ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the regulatory role of cell proliferation and apoptosis in testicular development of wild Daurian ground squirrels during the breeding season (April), the non-breeding season (June) and before hibernation (September). Gross mass and hormonal analysis showed that the testis : body mass ratio and plasma testosterone concentration fluctuated seasonally, with a peak in April and lowest values in June. Similarly, spermatogenesis was fully developed in April but suppressed in June and September. Testicular decellularisation and vacuolisation was seen during the transition from the breeding to the non-breeding season. Furthermore, testicular levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D2 and caspase-3 protein were significantly increased in June and September. Intriguingly, positive terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP–digoxigenin nick end-labelling staining and nuclear translocation of caspase-3 in testicular germ cells appeared only during the prehibernation period, whereas accumulation of cyclin D2 in spermatocyte nuclei occurred in September. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that both cell proliferation and apoptosis are stimulated during the prehibernation period, indicating that a hormonal-regulated balance of testicular germ cell proliferation and apoptosis may play a pivotal role in preparing for testicular recrudescence of wild Daurian ground squirrels.

Dose-Response ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 155932582092673
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Huan Fang ◽  
Jinguo Zhang ◽  
Wencai Guan ◽  
Guoxiong Xu

Garcinol is a plant-derived compound that has some physiological benefits to human cells. However, the effect of garcinol on ovarian cancer (OC) cell proliferation and apoptosis is unknown. The current study aimed to examine the effects of garcinol alone and in combination with cisplatin (DDP) on cellular behavior and to explore the expression pattern of PI3K/AKT and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in human OC cells. We found that OVCAR-3 cell viability was decreased after garcinol treatment. Garcinol alone and in combination with DDP significantly inhibited cell proliferation and had a synergistic effect evaluated by CompuSyn software. The cell cycle analysis showed the S phase arrest by garcinol. Furthermore, garcinol alone and in combination with DDP promoted cell apoptosis. The garcinol-induced apoptosis was further confirmed by the detection of cleavage forms of PARP and caspase 3. An increase in proapoptotic factor Bax expression was also found in garcinol-treated cells. Moreover, garcinol significantly decreased the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT proteins and downregulated the expression of NF-κB. Thus, our data demonstrated that garcinol has the potential to be used as an anticancer agent and may synergize the effect of DDP. These actions are most likely through the regulation of the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (6) ◽  
pp. F948-F956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Hughes ◽  
Paul Brown ◽  
Stuart J. Shankland

Tubulointerstitial renal injury induced by unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) is characterized by marked cell proliferation and apoptosis. Proliferation requires cell cycle transit that is positively regulated by cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and inhibited by the CIP/KIP family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs: p21, p27, and p57). We have shown that the absence of p27 results in markedly increased tubular epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis following UUO (V. Ophascharoensuk, M. L. Fero, J. Hughes, J. M. Roberts, and S. J. Shankland. Nat. Med.4: 575–580, 1998). Since p21 mRNA is upregulated following UUO, we hypothesized that p21 would also serve to limit cell proliferation and apoptosis. We performed UUO in p21 +/+ and p21 −/− mice. Cell proliferation [bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)], apoptosis [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method], interstitial myofibroblast accumulation (actin), macrophage infiltration (F4/80), and collagen I expression were quantified at days 3, 7, and 14. In contrast to p27 −/− mice, there was no difference in tubular epithelial cell proliferation or apoptosis between p21 −/− and p21 +/+ mice at any time point. However, interstitial cell proliferation at day 3 was significantly increased in p21 −/− mice [BrdU, 40.7 ± 1.9 cells/high-power field (cells/hpf) vs. 28.8 ± 2, P< 0.005], although, interestingly, no difference was seen in interstitial cell apoptosis. Actin/BrdU double staining demonstrated increased interstitial myofibroblast proliferation at day 3 in p21 −/− animals (10 ± 0.12 vs. 5.8 ± 0.11 cells/hpf, P < 0.05), which was followed by increased myofibroblast accumulation at day 7 in p21 −/− mice. No differences were detected in interstitial macrophage infiltration, collagen I deposition or transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA (in situ hybridization) expression. In conclusion p21, unlike p27, is not essential for the regulation of tubular epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis following UUO, but p21 levels do serve to limit the magnitude of the early myofibroblast proliferation. This study demonstrates a differential role for the CKI p21 and p27 in this model.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kotaro Tanimoto ◽  
Satoru Ohkuma ◽  
Yuki Tanne ◽  
Ryo Kunimatsu ◽  
Naoto Hirose ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured gingival fibroblasts (GFs). Human GFs were isolated from the palatal gingival tissues of 16 healthy volunteers ranging in the age from 9 to 35 years old. Cultured GFs were subjected to the analyses for cell proliferation by ELISA assay, gene expression by RT-PCR analysis, and apoptosis potency by caspase-3 assay. The cell proliferation activity and gene expression of type-I collagen and caspase-3 activity were enhanced significantly by the treatment with bFGF in cultured GFs. Furthermore, the activity of caspase-3 in cultured GFs from young subjects was significantly higher than that in GFs from adults. It is shown that bFGF significantly enhances the gene expression of type-I collagen in cultured fibroblasts from human gingival tissues. It also demonstrated that bFGF modulates the apoptosis of periodontal fibroblasts, and the effect is higher in young subjects, indicating a significant role of bFGF in the prevention of scar formation during wound healing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Ma ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Juan Su ◽  
Sheng Yang ◽  
Wenna Qiao ◽  
...  

Neuromedin B (NMB), a mammalian bombesin-related peptide, has numerous physiological functions, including regulating hormone secretions, cell growth, and reproduction, by binding to its receptor (NMBR). In this study, we investigated the effects of NMB on testosterone secretion, steroidogenesis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in cultured primary porcine Leydig cells. NMBR was mainly expressed in the Leydig cells of porcine testes, and a specific dose of NMB significantly promoted the secretion of testosterone in the primary Leydig cells; moreover, NMB increased the expression of mRNA and/or proteins of NMBR and steroidogenic mediators (steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR), CYP11A1, and HSD3B1) in the Leydig cells. In addition, specific doses of NMB promoted the proliferation of Leydig cells and increased the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Cyclin B1 proteins, while suppressing Leydig cell apoptosis and decreasing BAX and Caspase-3 protein expression. These results suggest that the NMB/NMBR system might play an important role in regulating boar reproductive function by modulating steroidogenesis and/or cell growth in porcine Leydig cells.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Liu ◽  
Qi You ◽  
Yingfeng Tu ◽  
Quanyi Li ◽  
Lihong Zheng ◽  
...  

Background: There is an increasing interest in the role of astrocytes contributing to the intrinsic bioremediation of ischemic brain injury. The purpose of this study was to disclose the effects and mechanism of midazolam (MDZ) on the proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes under oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) condition. Methods: The astrocytes were assigned randomly into four groups: control group, OGD group, OGD+MDZ group, and OGD+MDZ+IL-6 group. The astrocytes were treated with MDZ at dose of 10 μmol/L in OGD+MDZ group. And in OGD+MDZ+IL-6 group, the astrocytes were treated with MDZ at dose of 10μmol/L and IL-6 at dose of 50 ng/mL. MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL apoptosis assay kit and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the expression of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, p-STAT3, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins were determined by western blotting assay. Results: Astrocytes proliferation was decreased obviously in OGD group, while MDZ could increase astrocytes proliferation under OGD condition. Moreover, OGD could induce apoptosis in astrocytes and MDZ could play an anti-apoptotic role. However, IL-6, a JAK2 activator, could attenuate cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects of MDZ in astrocytes. In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 protein in MDZ group increased markedly, while the JAK2/STAT3 signal proteins, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins decreased relative to OGD group. But IL-6 could counteract the anti-apoptotic effects of MDZ. Conclusion: Midazolam has protective effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes via JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway in vitro. We firstly disclose the beneficial roles of midazolam in astrocytes under ischemic condition, which may be a rational treatment selection for ischemic cerebral protection.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Feng Wu ◽  
Zi-Hui Zhou ◽  
Jian Zou

Objective: To investigate the effects of microRNA-181 (miR-181) on the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes in osteoarthritis (OA) by targeting PTEN. Methods: The chondrocytes in logarithmic growth phase were selected and divided into 6 test groups: the normal, blank, negative control, miR-181 mimic, miR-181 inhibitor, and miR-181 inhibitor + PTEN-siRNA groups. Reverse transcription qPCR was used to detect the expressions of miR-181 and PTEN mRNA. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. The protein expressions of PARP and caspase-3 and the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by Western blotting and gelatin zymography assay. Results: The miR-181 mimic group showed increased miR-181 expression and decreased PTEN expression compared with the other 5 groups. Also, by comparison with the other 5 groups, the cell proliferation rate declined and the rate of cell apoptosis was elevated in the miR-181 mimic group. The MiR-181 mimic group showed remarkably increased protein expression of caspase-3 and PARP compared with the other 5 groups. The activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was higher in the miR-181 mimic group than the other 5 groups. Conclusion: MiR-181 could up-regulate the expressions of caspase-3, PARP, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and thereby inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis of chondrocytes in OA by targeting PTEN.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song-Shu Lin ◽  
Chi-Chien Niu ◽  
Li-Jen Yuan ◽  
Tsung-Ting Tsai ◽  
Po-Liang Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a vital role in the intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The expression level of miR-573 was downregulated whereas Bax was upregulated notably in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-573 in human degenerative NPCs following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. Methods: NPCs were separated from human degenerated IVD tissues. The control cells were maintained in 5% CO2/95% air and the hyperoxic cells were exposed to 100% O2 at 2.5 atmospheres absolute. MiRNA expression profiling was performed via microarray and confirmed by real-time PCR, and miRNA target genes were identified using bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays. The mRNA and protein levels of Bax were measured. The proliferation of NPCs were detected using MTT assay. The protein expression levels of Bax, cleaved caspase 9, cleaved caspase 3, pro-caspase 9 and pro-caspase 3 were examined.Results: Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the Bax mRNA contained the “seed-matched-sequence” for hsa-miR-573, which was validated via reporter assays. MiR-573 was induced by HBO and simultaneous suppression of Bax was observed in NPCs. Knockdown of miR-573 resulted in upregulation of Bax expression in HBO-treated cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-573 by HBO increased cell proliferation and coupled with inhibition of cell apoptosis. The cleavage of pro‑caspase 9 and pro‑caspase 3 was suppressed while the levels of cleaved caspase 9 and caspase 3 were decreased in HBO-treated cells. Transfection with anti-miR-573 partly suppressed the effects of HBO. Conclusion: Mir-573 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting Bax in human degenerative NPCs following HBO treatment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 925 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Roberto da Costa ◽  
P. M. Serrão ◽  
S. Monteiro ◽  
P. Pessa ◽  
J. Robalo Silva ◽  
...  

Cell proliferation and apoptosis are hormone-dependent physiological processes involved in endometrial growth and regression. The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate endometrial cell proliferation using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression; (2) to evaluate the induction of endometrial cell death by the expression of active caspase-3 and the apoptotic phenotype visualised by DNA fragmentation; and (3) to relate these observations to endometrial tissue dynamics in the equine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle. Endometria were assigned to follicular and luteal phases based on ovarian structures and plasma progesterone. Cell proliferation and active caspase-3-mediated apoptosis were expressed in both phases of the oestrous cycle. In the luteal phase, PCNA expression was higher than in the follicular phase. Highest PCNA activity was noted in the luminal and glandular structures. Active caspase-3 staining was increased in luminal epithelium and deep glandular cells during the luteal phase. However, in the follicular phase, stromal cells showed greater active caspase-3 expression. Only a few apoptotic endometrial cells were detected by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP–digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) and these cells were mostly present in luminal and glandular structures. A simultaneous increase in DNA, cell proliferation and protein synthesis was observed in the endometrium during the mid-luteal phase. This suggests that cell hyperplasia occurs at the time the histotroph is needed for eventual embryo nourishment.


Reproduction ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Rak ◽  
Eliza Drwal ◽  
Anna Wróbel ◽  
Ewa Łucja Gregoraszczuk

Previously, we demonstrated the expression of resistin in the porcine ovary, the regulation of its expression and its direct effect on ovarian steroidogenesis. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of resistin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a co-culture model of porcine granulosa and theca cells. First, we analysed the effect of resistin at 1 and 10 ng/ml alone or in combination with FSH- and IGF1 on ovarian cell proliferation with an alamarBlue assay and protein expression of cyclins A and B using western blot. Next, the mRNA and protein expression of selected pro-apoptotic and pro-survival regulators of cell apoptosis, caspase-9, -8 and -3 activity and DNA fragmentation using real time PCR, western blot, fluorescent assay and an ELISA kit, respectively, were analysed after resistin treatment. Furthermore, we determined the effect of resistin on the protein expression of ERK1/2, Stat and Akt kinase. Using specific inhibitors of these kinases, we also checked caspase-3 activity and protein expression. We found that resistin, at both doses, has no effect on cell proliferation. The results showed that resistin decreased pro-apoptotic genes, which was confirmed on protein expression of selected factors. We demonstrate an inhibitory effect of resistin on caspase activity and DNA fragmentation. Finally, resistin stimulated phosphorylation of the ERK1/2, Stat and Akt and kinases inhibitors reversed resistin action on caspase-3 activity and protein expression to control. All of these results showed that resistin has an inhibitory effect on porcine ovarian cell apoptosis by activation of the MAPK/ERK, JAK/Stat and Akt/PI3 kinase signalling pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 207-215
Author(s):  
Mengdi Liang ◽  
Xin Liu ◽  
Jia Guo ◽  
Yuwei Yang ◽  
Yonghong Zhang ◽  
...  

QKI, a KH domain containing RNA binding, is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis through binding to the QKI response element (QRE) site of its target mRNA. And Caspase 8 (CASP8) and Caspase 3 (CASP3) play important roles in the pathway of apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of QKI-5 on the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The experimental results show that pig tissues contain QKI-5, QKI-6 and QKI-7. Overexpression of QKI-5 significantly decreased the mRNA expression of CASP8 (P &lt; 0.05) and the protein expression of CASP8 (P &lt; 0.05). On the contrary, inhibiting QKI-5 increased the expression of CASP8 significantly. Overexpression of QKI-5 significantly reduced the apoptosis of Sertoli cells and promoted cell growth (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, QKI-5 specifically reduced the stability of CASP8 mRNA by binding QRE sites on CASP8. Our experiments provide preliminary evidence that QKI-5 induces Sertoli cells proliferation by inhibiting apoptosis, and this may be one of the factors promoting testicular development.


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