PFOS Inhibited Normal Functional Development of Placenta Cells via PPARγ Signaling

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a persistent environmental pollutant, has adverse effects on gestation pregnancy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is involved in angiogenesis, metabolic processes, anti-inflammatory, and reproductive development. However, the function of PPARγ in PFOS evoked disadvantageous effects on the placenta remain uncertain. Here, we explored the role of PPARγ in PFOS-induced placental toxicity. Cell viability, cell migration, angiogenesis, and mRNA expression were monitored by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, tube formation assay, and real-time PCR, respectively. Activation and overexpression of PPARγ were conducted by rosiglitazone or pcDNA-PPARγ, and inhibition and knockdown of PPARγ were performed by GW9662 or si-PPARγ. Results revealed that PFOS decreased cell growth, migration, angiogenesis, and increased inflammation in human HTR-8/SVneo and JEG-3 cells. Placenta diameter and fetal weight decreased in mice treated with PFOS (12.5 mg/kg). In addition, rosiglitazone or pcDNA-PPARγ rescued cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and decreased inflammation induced by PFOS in HTR8/SVneo and JEG-3 cells. Furthermore, GW9662 or si-PPARγ exacerbated the inhibition of cell viability, migration, angiogenesis, and aggravated inflammation induced by PFOS in HTR-8/SVneo and JEG-3 cells. Meanwhile, the results of mRNA expression level were consistent with the cell representation. In conclusion, our findings revealed that PFOS induced placenta cell toxicity and functional damage through PPARγ pathway.

NDRG2 inhibition facilitates angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an angiogenesis-dependent tumor, and angiogenesis plays pivotal roles in progression and hematogenous metastasis. Upregulating NDRG2 expression could inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. However, the development of angiogenesis is a complicated and dynamic process, and the specific mechanisms that NDRG2 influences its progression are largely unknown. Conditioned media (CM) was collected from HCC cells. Cell viability, migration assay, tube formation, and western blot were used to evaluate the effect of NDRG2 on angiogenesis in HCC cells. ELISA assay was used to measure the level of VEGFA in CM. CM from NDRG2 knockdown cells significantly promoted HUVECs proliferation, migration, and tube formation compared with control cells. The level of VEGFA in CM was increased by NDRG2 knockdown relative to the control group. The expression of VEGFA, HIF-1α, and p-Akt was significantly increased in NDRG2 knockdown cells. CM from NDRG2 knockdown cells with VEGFA antibody failed to induce HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. YC-1 significantly inhibited the level of VEGFA in CM from NDRG2 knockdown cells. YC-1 also inhibited the expression of VEGFA and HIF-1α. Therefore, NDRG2 inhibition promoted the angiogenesis of HCC via VEGFA and may be used to be an anti-angiogenesis target.

Biofilm Bakteri pada Penderita Rinosinusitis Kronis

Banyak dilaporkan kegagalan pengobatan pada rinosinusitis kronis (RSK) disebabkan resistensi terhadap antibiotik. Beberapa penelitian menunjukkan bahwa biofilm bakteri berperan penting pada etiologi dan persistensi dari RSK. Penulisan tinjauan pustaka ini adalah untuk mengetahui implikasi biofilm bakteri pada penderita RSK. Rinosinusitis kronis adalah penyakit inflamasi mukosa hidung dan sinus paranasal yang berlangsung dalam waktu lebih dari 12 minggu. Biofilm adalah suatu struktur komunitas sel-sel bakteri yang ditutupi oleh matriks polimer yang dihasilkan sendiri dan menempel pada permukaan. Berbagai penelitian menunjukkan terdapatnya biofilm bakteri pada mukosa sinonasal penderita RSK dan berhubungan dengan resistensi terhadap pengobatan dengan antibiotika. Berbagai pemeriksaan untuk mendeteksi biofilm yaitu Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), modifikasi Calgary Biofilm Device Assay, Tube Method dan Congo Red Agar Method. Beberapa terapi potensial untuk mengatasi biofilm pada RSK sedang berkembang.

Evaluation of growth and production of Pleurotus sp. in sterilized substrates

The gender Pleurotus is also known as oyster mushroom, shimeji or hiratake. Aiming to select the best substrates to cultivate two species of Pleurotus, this work measured vigor, mycelium growth (cm.day-1), fresh mass (g), productivity (%) and biological efficiency (%) of P. sajor-caju (PSC96/03) and P. ostreatoroseus (POR01/06) cultivated in the following substrates: sugarcane bagasse, elephant grass, waste of castor oil plant and pasteurized rice straw. Fungal cultures were recovered in culture medium CDA. For the evaluation of mycelium growth, moist substrates were put into a closed assay tube with sterilized aluminum paper. Then, they were inoculated in 10 mm culture dishes and taken to the incubator at 26 ± 2°C. Mycelium vigor was measured with grades from 1 to 3 according to density. For axenic cultivation, substrates were placed into 250 g flasks of substrate and autoclaved twice at 121°C (1 atm) for 60 minutes, and then inoculated with 3% of spawn. The lineage P. sajor-caju (PSC96/03) showed higher growth rates in relation to P. ostreatoroseus (POR01/06). Substrates showing lower C/N ratio provided more mycelium vigor. Castor oil plant waste based-substrate showed good perspectives to growing P. sajor-caju (PSC96/03).

Fluorometric Enzyme Immunoassay of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor with Monoclonal Antibodies

We compared three different strategies for measuring basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by fluorometric enzyme immunoassay (EIA). After optimizing conditions, we found that a primary anti-bFGF MAb directly conjugated with peroxidase gave the best detection limit for recombinant bFGF (approximately 30 ng/L, 3 pg/assay tube) in a two-site sandwich assay. The detection limit of methods based on biotinylated primary MAbs or on secondary antibodies followed by streptavidin-conjugated peroxidase was slightly lower than that of the above method. Using the most sensitive EIA examined in this study, we made a preliminary measurement of immunoreactive bFGF in sera of apparently healthy people and found it to be 190 (SD 32) ng/L (n = 48), in agreement with an earlier reported value (30-206 ng/L). Also, the concentration of immunoreactive bFGF in sera was above normal in 19 of 31 patients with stomach cancer.

Immunoadsorption of IgG onto second antibody covalently attached to Amino-Dylark beads for radioimmunoassays

We present a solid-phase immobilization method for radioligand assays, using an immunoadsorption coating procedure of anti-triiodothyronine rabbit IgG (anti-T3 IgG) onto second antibody (sheep anti-rabbit IgG) covalently bound to Amino-Dylark beads. The second antibody was in excess, compared with the first antibody, thus eliminating reproducibility problems between immunoadsorptions. Beads coated with second antibody can be used to immobilize a variety of antigen-specific first antibodies. The amount of anti-T3 antibody required for solid-phase T3 radioimmunoassay (RIA) was only 10% more, per assay tube, than that utilized in liquid-phase T3 RIA, in which polyethylene glycol solution was the separation reagent; characteristics of assay performance were comparable. The immobilization procedure requires high-titer antisera or antigen-specific IgG and seems advantageous because of the decrease in antibody requirements without significant modification of antibody functionality.