Disruption of anchoring junctions in the testes of experimental varicocele rats

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Disruption of anchoring junctions in the testes of experimental varicocele rats Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):887. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10319. Epub 2021 Jun 16. ABSTRACT Varicocele is a common disease of the male reproductive system and is the main cause of male infertility; however, the pathological mechanisms of varicocele remain unclear. The anchoring junctions (AJs) in the testies are located between Sertoli cells, or between Sertoli cells and germ cells. Intact and functional AJs are crucial for spermatogenesis. In the present study, the histomorphology, ultrastructure of AJ, cell cycle, expression of AJ structural proteins, and the level of AJ-associated signaling molecules were investigated in the left testes of experimental varicocele rats at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. The results revealed that varicocele induced the loss of premature germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, the results of the present study also revealed damage to the AJ ultrastructure, disorientation of the spermatid h ead, deregulation of the cell cycle, downregulation of AJ structural proteins, enhanced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at Tyr397 and its downstream adapter Src at Tyr416, and activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 (ERK1) signaling pathway. Thus, the present study demonstrated that varicocele disrupted the structure and function of AJs in the left testes of rats, and that enhancement of FAK phosphorylation may contribute to AJ damage by activating ERK1 signaling, disrupting actin-based filament networks, and altering the balance of the apical ectoplasmic specialization-blood testis barrier functional axis. These findings provide important insights into the pathological mechanisms through which varicocele contributes to male infertility and could help to identify new therapeutic targets for varicocele. PMID:34194565 | PMC:PMC8237278 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10319 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Curcumin sensitizes Epstein-Barr-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines to inorganic arsenic toxicity

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Curcumin sensitizes Epstein-Barr-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines to inorganic arsenic toxicity Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):872. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10304. Epub 2021 Jun 14. ABSTRACT Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through contaminated drinking water is an important health problem in certain countries. The use of phytochemicals such as curcumin has recently emerged as an alternative strategy for preventing cellular damage caused by iAs. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) affects ~90% of the population and experimental evidence suggested that curcumin mediates cytotoxicity against EBV-infected cells. Due to the potential for an interaction of these factors, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of this phytochemical on iAs-related toxicity in EBV-infected cells. Two independent EBV-immortalized human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) were used as the model. The cell lines were first incubated with increasing concentrations of curcumin or iAs for 24 and 15 h, respectively, to determine the individual effec ts of each exposure on cell death. In the next experiment, cell cultures were pre-incubated with 5 µM curcumin for 9 h prior to treatment with 10 µM iAs for 15 h, followed by evaluation of cell death and the cell cycle profile via flow cytometry. The results indicated that individual treatment with either curcumin or iAs induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin pre-treatment enhanced iAs-induced cell death and promoted cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. Taken together, these results suggested that curcumin sensitizes EBV-positive LCLs to the cytotoxic effects of iAs. PMID:34194550 | PMC:PMC8237405 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10304 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Actualities in immunological markers and electrochemical sensors for determination of dopamine and its metabolites in psychotic disorders (Review)

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Actualities in immunological markers and electrochemical sensors for determination of dopamine and its metabolites in psychotic disorders (Review) Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):888. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10320. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT Psychotic disorders represent a serious health concern. At this moment, anamnestic data, international criteria for diagnosis/classification from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 and the International Classification of Diseases-10 and diagnostic scales are used to establish a diagnosis. The most commonly used biomarkers in psychotic illnesses are those regarding the neuroimmune system, metabolic abnormalities, neurotrophins and neurotransmitter systems and proteomics. A current issue faced by clinicians is the lack of biomarkers to help develop a more accurate diagnosis, with the possibility of initiating the most effective treatment. The detection of biological markers for psychosis has the potential to contribute to improvements in its diagnosis, prognosis and treatment effectiveness. The mixture of multiple biomarkers may improve the ability to differentiate and classify these patients. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyze the literature concerning the potential biomarkers that could be used in medical practice and to review the newest developments in electrochemical sensors used for dopamine detection, one of the most important exploited biomarkers. PMID:34194566 | PMC:PMC8237259 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10320 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Stroke secondary to giant-cell arteritis: A literature review

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Stroke secondary to giant-cell arteritis: A literature review Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):876. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10308. Epub 2021 Jun 15. ABSTRACT Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In addition to the classical etiologies of stroke as atherosclerosis and cardioembolism there are many unusual, rare causes, which require a high level of clinical suspicion and further investigations for correct and early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Giant-cell arteritis or temporal arteritis, the most frequent vasculitis in the elderly population is one of the uncommon causes of stroke. In the setting of giant-cell arteritis, stroke more likely affects the vertebrobasilar territory and is the main cause of mortality. Duplex ultrasound examination is a routine investigation for stroke patients and may be key to the diagnosis if the classical hypoechoic 'halo sign' is recognized at the level of vertebral arteries. In this situation the ultrasound evaluation of temporal arteries and temporal artery biopsy are mandatory. The Giant-cell arteritis-related stroke is a rare condition; therefore, there are no evidence-based guidelines or standard recommendations for the treatment. In the present review, the main characteristics of giant-cell arteritis-related stroke are discussed. PMID:34194554 | PMC:PMC8237390 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10308 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

LGR5 enhances the osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader LGR5 enhances the osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):889. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10321. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a Wnt-associated gene that contributes to cell proliferation and self-renewal in various organs. LGR5 is expressed in Ewing sarcoma, and LGR5-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells promote fracture healing. However, the effects of LGR5 on osteoblastic differentiation remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore the function of LGR5 in osteoblastic differentiation. LGR5 was overexpressed or knocked down in the MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cell line via lentiviral transfection and its function in osteoblastic differentiation was investigated. The mRNA expression levels of the osteoblast differentiation markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin and collagen type I a1 were determined, and ALP and Alizarin red staining were performed. In addition, the effects of LGR5 modulation on β-catenin and the expression of target genes in the Wnt pathway were investigated. The results revealed that the overexpression of LGR5 promoted osteoblastic differentiation. This was associated with enhancement of the stability of β-catenin and its levels in the cell nucleus, which enabled it to activate Wnt signaling. By contrast, the inhibition of LGR5 decreased the osteogenic capacity of MC3T3-E1 cells. These results indicate that LGR5 is a positive regulator of osteoblastic differentiation, whose effects are mediated through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This suggests suggesting that the regulation of LGR5/Wnt/β-catenin signaling has potential as a therapy for osteoporosis. PMID:341945 67 | PMC:PMC8237272 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10321 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and the influence of iliac crest height on its clinical effects

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and the influence of iliac crest height on its clinical effects Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):866. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10298. Epub 2021 Jun 13. ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the clinical effects of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy using a transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technique for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and to analyse the influence of iliac crest height on these clinical effects. The clinical data of 76 patients with L5-S1 single-segment disc herniation treated with TESSYS at The Second Affiliated Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January and December 2016 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to the positional relation between the highest point of the iliac crest and the L4 and L5 pedicles in the lateral lumbar, as determined by X-ray: Group I, iliac crest height below the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=42); gr oup II, iliac crest height between the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle and the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=29) and group III, iliac crest height above the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle (n=5). Changes in the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of the lower back and lower limbs were observed, and the effects were compared among the three groups. The mean operating time was 86.5±13.5 min. A single patient experienced cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to a mild tear of the dura mater during the operation, which improved after symptomatic treatment. The same operation was repeated in one patient due to the recurrence of disc herniation. In all patients, the VAS pain score and ODI of the lower back and lower limbs at 1 week and 1, 3 and 12 months following the operation were significantly lower than those before the operation (all P<0.05). Furthermore, the postoperative VAS pain score an d ODI of the lower back and lower limbs were poorer in group III (L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation complicated with high iliac crest) than in groups I and II (P<0.05). These results suggested that TESSYS was effective in treating lumbar disc herniation. Whether the iliac crest is higher than the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle is suggested to be one of the factors influencing the outcome of the operation. PMID:34194544 | PMC:PMC8237383< /a> | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10298 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates the proliferation and damage of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with ulcerative colitis via H3K27ac

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates the proliferation and damage of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with ulcerative colitis via H3K27ac Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):890. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10322. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway on intestinal epithelial barrier injury in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifty-two patients with UC and 21 healthy subjects were recruited. The expression level of IL-6 in plasma was determined by ELISA. Normal human colon mucosal epithelial NCM460 cells were treated with IL-6 or plasma from the patients with UC. Then, the transepithelial electrical resistance value, fluorescein yellow permeability and zonulin release were evaluated. Using reverse transcription-quantitative (q)PCR and western blotting, claudin (CLDN) 1 and CLDN2 expression levels were analyzed. Furthermore, western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation of STAT3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR was performed to investigate the enrichment of H3K27ac in the promoter region s of CLDN1 and CLDN2. The present study revealed that IL-6 content was elevated in the plasma from patients with UC and increased with the progression of the disease. IL-6 was also observed to induce intestinal epithelial cell barrier injury and regulate barrier function by influencing the expression of tight junction-related proteins, as well as STAT3. The IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulated transcription of CLDN1 and CLDN2 by affecting the enrichment of histone H3K27ac in their promoter regions. Thus, the significantly increased expression level of IL-6 in the peripheral blood of patients with UC indicates a positive association with the development of UC. Furthermore, the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway influences the function of the intestinal barrier by affecting the H3K27ac level in intestinal epithelial cells. PMID:34194568 | PMC:PMC8237277 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10322 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Knockdown of lncRNA NORAD inhibits the proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis of human mesangial cells under high-glucose conditions by regulating the miR-485/NRF1 axis

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Knockdown of lncRNA NORAD inhibits the proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis of human mesangial cells under high-glucose conditions by regulating the miR-485/NRF1 axis Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):874. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10306. Epub 2021 Jun 14. ABSTRACT Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve major roles in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present study investigated the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) on DN in vitro. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA NORAD, microRNA-485 (miR-485) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) in the tissues of patients with DN and high-glucose (HG)-induced human mesangial cells (HMCs). The viability of HMCs was determined using an MTT assay. The levels of inflammatory [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6] and fibrotic [type IV collagen (Col. IV), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1)] factors in HMCs were measured by ELISA. The interactions between miR-485 and NORAD/NRF1 were predicted using StarBase and miRDB softwares and confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot analysis was utilized to measure NRF1 protein levels. lncRNA NORAD was highly expressed in tissues and HG-induced HMCs. NORAD knockdown suppressed cell viability in HG-induced HMCs. The levels of the inflammatory and fibrotic factors in HG-induced HMCs were inhibited by NORAD knockdown. miR-485 was the direct target of NORAD. NORAD reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-485 on HG-induced HMCs. Furthermore, NRF1 was the target gene of miR-485. Downregulation of miR-485 and upregulation of NRF1 reversed the inhibitory effects of NORAD knockdown on HG-induced HMCs. NORAD knockdown inhibited HG-induced HMC proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis by regulating miR-485/NRF1, providing a possible therapeutic strategy for DN. PMID:34194552 | PMC:PMC8237396 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10306 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Insulin growth factor-1 promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Insulin growth factor-1 promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):891. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10323. Epub 2021 Jun 17. ABSTRACT Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are stem cells that exist in bone marrow tissue and have osteogenic differentiation potential. Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a key role in the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. However, the specific mechanism of IGF-1 in cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation remains unclear. In the present study, BMSCs were transfected with lentivirus carrying the siRNA-Wnt3a gene, and the Wnt3a level in BMSCs was revealed to be reduced by western blotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence detection. Then, BMSCs were treated with 80 ng/ml IGF-1 in complete medium for 5 days. CCK-8 and cell cycle assays revealed that cell proliferation was significantly decreased in the siRNA-Wnt3a group than in the control group. The protein and mRNA levels of β-catenin and cyclin D1 were significantly downregulated in the siRNA-Wnt3a group compared with the control group. In addition, BMSCs were treated with IGF-1 in osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 and 21 days, and alkaline phosphatase staining and Alizarin Red staining demonstrated significantly reduced osteogenic differentiation ability in the siRNA-Wnt3a group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the protein and mRNA levels of β-catenin, RUNX2, and OPN were downregulated compared with the control group. Our findings revealed that IGF-1 promoted the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs at least partially through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings provided new insight into the clinical treatment of bone disease. PMID:34194569 | PMC:PMC8237273 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10323 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Difluoromethylornithine attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating apoptosis, autophagy and the mitochondria-associated membranes pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Difluoromethylornithine attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating apoptosis, autophagy and the mitochondria-associated membranes pathway Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):870. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10302. Epub 2021 Jun 13. ABSTRACT Myocardial hypertrophy is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and is closely associated with the incidence of heart failure. In the present study, we hypothesized that difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) could attenuate cardiac hypertrophy through mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) and autophagy. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in male rats by intravenous administration of isoproterenol (ISO; 5 mg/kg/day) for 1, 3,7 and 14 days. For DFMO treatment group, rats were given ISO (5 mg/kg/day) for 14 days and 2% DFMO in their water for 4 weeks. The expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA,heart parameters, apoptosis rate, fibrotic area and protein expressions of cleaved caspase3/9, GRP75, Mfn2, CypD and VDAC1 were measured to confirm the development of cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and autophagy induced by ISO. ANP mRNA and MAM protein expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting to evaluate hypertrophy and the effects of DFMO oral administration. The results demonstrated that heart parameters, ANP mRNA levels, fibrotic area and apoptosis rate were significantly increased in the heart tissue for ISO 7 and 14 day groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, treatment with DFMO significantly inhibited these indicators, and DFMO downregulated the MAM signaling pathway and upregulated the autophagy pathway in heart tissue compared with the ISO 14 day group. Overall, all ISO-induced changes analyzed in the present study were attenuated following treatment with DFMO. The findings form this study suggested that DFMO treatment may be considered as a potential strategy for preventing ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy. PMID:34194548 | PMC:PMC8237397 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10302 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.