Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Biologica et Oecologica

Potential role of bacterial pathogens in the immunopathogenesis of ovarian cancer

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Potential role of bacterial pathogens in the immunopathogenesis of ovarian cancer Wierzbińska, Wiktoria; Kuźmycz, Olga The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques allowed conducting research with greater efficiency and determining the microbial pattern of niches in the human body that were previously considered sterile. Observed changes in the microbiome composition of patients with cancer lesions increasingly indicate the role of microorganisms in the tumour induction and progression. Overgrowth of certain pathogenic strains within the tissue may cause inflammation, which in its chronic form may lead to destabilization of host genome. Such changes may result in altering the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in significant metabolic pathways and promote pathogenic cell functions such as proliferation stimulation, apoptosis inhibition and modulation of inflammatory response. Consequently, these events may lead to tissue destruction, disruption of physiological processes and development of disease states including cancer. In light of emerging reports on the role of changes in the composition of the microbiota in tumorigenesis induction and the presence of pathogenic strains in the ovarian cancer (OC) tumour microenvironment (TME), the hypothesis of a potential role for bacteria in the pathogenesis of this cancer is also gaining interest. The following review presents a summary of scientific research indicating potential role of TME bacteria in the immunopathogenesis of OC.

Analysis of furin (FURIN) gene expression in the U-87 MG cell line as a potential target for gene inhibiting therapies in (auto-) immune diseases

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Analysis of furin (FURIN) gene expression in the U-87 MG cell line as a potential target for gene inhibiting therapies in (auto-) immune diseases Zapletal-Pudełko, Karolina; Machnik, Grzegorz; Stec-Grosman, Katarzyna; Bułdak, Łukasz; Okopień, Bogusław Purpose: Furin is a proprotein convertase commonly found in the human body. The enzymatic activity of furin is necessary for the activation of numerous substrates including e.g. hormones and growth factors. Nevertheless, furin is involved in various pathological conditions caused by, among others, chronic inflammation. Therefore furin is considered as a potential target in autoimmune diseases therapy.We performed an experiment in which the expression of FURIN gene in U-87 MG astrocytoma cells was investigated. Additionally, this cell line contains some sequences coding human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), including ERVW-1 and its receptor- SLC1A5. Deregulation of HERV expression has been observed in some neurodegenerative diseases as well as in inflammatory process.Material and Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) techniques were utilized for analysis. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were used for cell stimulation. Short interfering RNAs (siRNA) were used for gene expression inhibition in U-87 MG cells in vitro.Results: Cell stimulation by PMA strongly increased FURIN expression, simultaneously downregulating ERVW-1 (p<0.01). Moreover addition of PMA significantly stimulates the autocatalytic action of cellular furin itself resulting in the dissociation of its propeptide that was clearly visible in a time-dependent manner. SiRNA-mediated expression inhibition of ERVW-1 and FURIN influenced the mRNA level for SLC1A5 (ASCT2) - primary syncytin-1 receptor, that was significantly lower. FURIN inhibition by siRNA caused strong upregulation of ERVW-1 expression (p<0.01).Conclusion: Our results showed that stimulation by PMA and inhibition expression by siRNA affects the expression of FURIN in U-87 MG astrocytoma cells. Moreover, furin shows a complex relationship on the expression of ERVW-1 and SLC1A5 genes, as well as on the form (precursor or mature) and the amount of the final translation products of the transcripts. The regulation of FURIN may pose a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases caused by autoimmunity.

Cytoplasmic male sterility in plants with special emphasis on sugar beet

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cytoplasmic male sterility in plants with special emphasis on sugar beet Sadzik, Gabriela The phenomenon of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants is characterized by a disturbance in the development of functional pollen. The cause of this disorder is the incompatibility of the mitochondrial and nuclear genome. Determinants of CMS are found in the mitochondrial genome and are inherited maternally. Nuclear Rf genes are responsible for restoring male fertility in CMS plants most often by posttranscriptional and/or posttranslational activity on mitochondrial gene expression. Two fertility restoring genes have been identified in sugar beet plants, of which Rf1 is the best characterized. It is concluded that the translation product of this gene acts as a molecular chaperone leading to inactivation of a specific mitochondrial protein that is a marker for the CMS trait in sugar beet. The CMS phenomenon is applied in the commercial breeding of hybrid varieties of many crop species. Exploiting heterosis is easier with the knowledge of cytoplasmic (mitochondrial) determinants of sterility and corresponding restorer genes.

The use of UV-A radiation for biofortification of lettuce and basil plants with antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid compounds

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The use of UV-A radiation for biofortification of lettuce and basil plants with antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid compounds Pacak, Ilona; Trojak, Magdalena; Skowron, Ernest Stable plant production is a crucial concern of modern agriculture facing increasing food demands and the risk of less predictable weather conditions in the open field. Alternative approaches for plant production are greenhouses and indoor farming. Modern LED-based artificial lighting indoor facilities allow not only to fill the gap in the supply chain of food production, but to produce plants characterized with higher concentration of essential phytochemicals. Thus, in this study, we attempt to analyse the efficiency of short-term supplementation of spectrum within ultraviolet A light (UV-A, 365 nm) to increase the antioxidant potential of leafy plants, assessed by total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content. To this end, two distinct cultivars of baby leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) and microgreens basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants were grown under red-green-blue spectrum supplemented prior to harvest with low doses of UV-A radiation. Analyses showed that UV-A exposition enhanced TPC and TFC with green leaf cultivars, compared to dark-pigmented ones. The analysis also proved that plants exposed to UV-A presented higher overall antioxidant potential measured with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH). Results are crucial for better understanding the potential of UV-A supplementation to produce functional plants which are natural sources of dietary antioxidants.