Apoptosis

Bovine yolk sac: from morphology to metabolomic and proteomic profiles

A. C. Galdos-Riveros, Favaron, P. O., Will, S. E. A. L., Miglino, M. A., and Maria, D. A., “Bovine yolk sac: from morphology to metabolomic and proteomic profiles”, vol. 14, pp. 6223-6238, 2015.

In several species, placentation involves the presence of two different membranes responsible for maternal-fetal exchanges: the yolk sac and the chorioallantoic placenta. The yolk sac plays important roles in embryonic survival, mainly during the early stages of gestation. In bovine, it is a transitional membrane that is present until day 50-70 of pregnancy. Herein, we evaluated the morphological and molecular aspects of the yolk sac of bovine embryos during 24 to 52 days of gestation.

Mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by the anesthetic isoflurane: the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors

W. - H. Zhai, Zhao, J., Huo, S. - P., Chen, X. - G., Li, Y. - D., Zhang, Z. - L., Yu, L. - L., Song, S., and Wang, Q. - J., “Mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by the anesthetic isoflurane: the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors”, vol. 14, pp. 6929-6942, 2015.

Isoflurane can induce widespread cytotoxicity. We hypothesized that isoflurane induces apoptosis partly by causing excessive calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via direct activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R). Rat pheochromocytoma cells cultured for seven days with nerve growth factor were divided into four groups: control group (C), IP3R antagonist group (X), isoflurane group (I) and isoflurane + IP3R antagonist group (I+X). Groups I and I+X were treated with 1 MAC isoflurane for 12 h.

Marsdenia tenacissima extract sensitizes MG63 cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis

T. Huang, Gong, W. H., Zou, C. P., Li, X. C., Jiang, G. J., Li, X. H., and Qian, H., “Marsdenia tenacissima extract sensitizes MG63 cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis”, vol. 13, pp. 354-362, 2014.

Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE) is a new plate-derived biotechnology product that is frequently used, but occasionally reported, in the field of chemotherapy. In this study, we assessed the antitumor activity and related mechanisms of MTE by various biotechnological methods. The survival rates of MG63 osteosarcoma cells treated with MTE and doxorubicin were measured, individually or jointly, and the changes in cellular shape, apoptotic rates, and Fas expression were observed.

Effects of the ginkgo biloba extract on the superoxide dismutase activity and apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells from diabetic peripheral blood

M. Zhao, Wang, X. - X., and Wan, W. - H., “Effects of the ginkgo biloba extract on the superoxide dismutase activity and apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells from diabetic peripheral blood”, vol. 13, pp. 220-227, 2014.

Although ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) was shown to have antioxidant effects, little has been reported on the ability to GBE to help endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) resist oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the influence of different concentrations of GBE on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and apoptosis of diabetic peripheral blood EPCs. Twenty-five diabetic patients without any vascular complications were included in the experimental group, while 15 healthy adults made up the control group.

Cell proliferation and apoptosis in the fetal and neonatal ovary of guinea pigs

S. Y. Sun, Zhang, W., Han, X., Huang, R. H., and Shi, F. X., “Cell proliferation and apoptosis in the fetal and neonatal ovary of guinea pigs”, vol. 13, pp. 1570-1578, 2014.

The guinea pig is an excellent animal model for studying reproductive biology of adult humans and most domestic animals. Yet, whether this animal might serve as a good model for embryonic stage investigations and determinations of signals affecting or directing ovary development remains unknown. These questions were addressed by examining morphological evolution and the expression of biomarkers of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the ovaries of fetal and neonatal guinea pigs in the present study.

Overexpression of the growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax inhibits proliferation, migration, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in serum-induced vascular smooth muscle cells

H. Zheng, Xue, S., Hu, Z. L., Shan, J. G., and Yang, W. G., “Overexpression of the growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax inhibits proliferation, migration, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in serum-induced vascular smooth muscle cells”, vol. 13, pp. 1993-2008, 2014.

The Gax gene has been implicated in a variety of cell-developmental and biological processes, and aberrant Gax expression is linked to many diseases. In this study, to provide important insights for Gax-based gene therapy in vein graft restenosis and its anti-restenotic mechanism, we used rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to investigate the effects of Gax overexpression on proliferation, migration, cell cycle, and apoptosis in a serum-stimulated culture.

miR-34a targets the inhibin beta B gene, promoting granulosa cell apoptosis in the porcine ovary

F. Tu, Pan, Z. X., Yao, Y., Liu, H. L., Liu, S. R., Xie, Z., and Li, Q. F., “miR-34a targets the inhibin beta B gene, promoting granulosa cell apoptosis in the porcine ovary”, vol. 13, pp. 2504-2512, 2014.

During ovarian follicular growth and development, only a few follicles actually ovulate. Recently, it was found that follicular atresia is triggered by granulosa cell apoptosis, but the molecular mechanism of follicular atresia was not understood. Using flow cytometry, we found that miR-34a promotes granulosa cell apoptosis in pig ovarian follicles. In addition, inhibin beta B was found to be a miR-34a target gene, based on luciferase reporter assays, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting.

Low-frequency ultrasound induces apoptosis of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5) via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway

B. Zhang, Zhou, H. S., Cheng, Q., Lei, L., and Hu, B., “Low-frequency ultrasound induces apoptosis of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5) via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway”, vol. 13, pp. 3143-3153, 2014.

Ultrasound, a non-invasive therapy method, is a potential tool for medical applications, but its biological effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to explore the effect and possible apoptotic mechanism of VSMCs that were induced by low-frequency ultrasound (LFU). Cell viability and apoptosis of A7r5 cells were evaluated after treating A7r5 cells with a continuous 45-kHz 1.0-W/cm2 ultrasound (exposure time of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 35 s) by MTT assay and flow cytometry.

Induction of apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells with active components of Menispermum dauricum

J. Y. Wang, Sun, S., Liu, L., and Yang, W. S., “Induction of apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells with active components of Menispermum dauricum”, vol. 13, pp. 3545-3552, 2014.

Menispermum dauricum DC possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects. In this study, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by active components of M. dauricum was investigated in the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line. HeLa cells were treated with different M. dauricum concentrations over different time periods. The proliferation-inhibitory rate and cytotoxic effect of HeLa cells were measured by using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry.

Apoptotic effects of proteasome and histone deacetylase inhibitors in prostate cancer cell lines

I. Kiliccioglu, Konac, E., Varol, N., Gurocak, S., and C. Bilen, Y., “Apoptotic effects of proteasome and histone deacetylase inhibitors in prostate cancer cell lines”, vol. 13, pp. 3721-3731, 2014.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of urological cancers. Despite the implementation of effective radiotherapy and chemotherapy methods, prostate cancer cells can still show resistance to treatment. In recent years, a combination of proteasome and histone deacetylase inhibitors has been used to treat various malignancies.

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