Fatemeh Jamshidi-Adegani

Intracellular glutathione content, developmental competence and expression of apoptosis-related genes associated with G6PDH-activity in goat oocyte

PurposeTo associate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity in goat oocytes with intracellular glutathione (GSH) content, meiotic competence, developmental potential, and relative abundance of Bax and Bcl-2 genes transcripts.MethodsGoat oocytes were exposed to brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test and categorized into BCB+ (blue-cytoplasm), and BCB− (colorless-cytoplasm) groups. A group of oocytes were not exposed to BCB test and was considered as a control group. After maturation in vitro, a group of oocytes were used for determination of nuclear status and intracellular GSH content while another group was subjected to parthenogenetic activation followed by in vitro embryo culture.ResultsWe found that BCB+ oocytes not only yielded higher rate of maturation, but also showed an increased level of intracellular GSH content than BCB− and control oocytes. Furthermore, BCB+ oocytes produced more blastocysts than BCB− and control oocytes. Our data revealed that the expression of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and pro-apoptotic (Bax) genes were interacted with G6PDH-activity in mature oocyte, their surrounding cumulus cells, and blastocyst-stage embryos.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that selection of goat oocytes based on G6PDH-activity through the BCB test improves their developmental competence, increases intracellular GSH content, and affects the expression of the apoptosis-related genes.

Association of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity with oocyte cytoplasmic lipid content, developmental competence, and expression of candidate genes in a sheep model

PurposeTo evaluate associations of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity in sheep oocytes with cytoplasmic lipid content, maturational competence, developmental competence to the blastocyst stage, and gene expression of certain molecular markers.MethodsBefore brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test, oocytes were classified as high, middle, and low cytoplasmic lipid content (HCLC, MCLC, and LCLC) and after the test as having low or high G6PDH-activity (BCB+ and BCB−, respectively). After maturation in vitro, a group of oocytes were subjected to IVF followed by in vitro embryo culture and another group was used for evaluation of expression of candidate genes.ResultsThe cleavage and blastosyst rates were lowest (P < 0.05) in LCLC group, intermediate (P < 0.05) in MCLC group and highest (P < 0.05) in HCLC group. More (P < 0.05) oocytes in HCLC group were BCB+, and higher (P < 0.05) maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were seen for BCB+ oocytes than the BCB− oocytes. Our gene expression data indicated that mRNA transcript abundance of ITGB2, pZP3, BMP15, and GDF9 genes was similar between BCB oocytes groups. However, the expression of ATP1A1 was higher (P < 0.05) for BCB+ oocytes compared to BCB− oocytes. In addition, BAX transcript abundance was similar (P > 0.05) among BCB+, BCB−, and control groups, before and after maturation in vitro.ConclusionActivity of G6PDH in sheep oocytes is highly associated with lipid content, and compared with the morphological parameters might be a more precise and objective predictor for subsequent developmental competence in vitro.

Prevention of adhesion bands by ibuprofen-loaded PLGA nanofibers.

In this study, prevention of the adhesion bands and inflammatory features has been investigated using poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid)‐ibuprofen (PLGA‐IB) nanofibrous meshes in a mice model. To find the optimized membrane for prevention of postoperative adhesion bands, we have compared PLGA‐IB group with PLGA, IB, and control groups in a mice adhesion model. Two scoring adhesion systems were used to represent the outcome. According to the results obtained in this study, the PLGA‐IB nanofiber membrane showed a greater reduction in adhesion band than other groups. In conclusion, among FDA‐approved polymers and drugs, PLGA‐IB meshes could be applicable as a potential candidate for prevention of postoperative abdominal inflammation and adhesion bands formation.

The role of miR-17-92 cluster in the expression of tumor suppressor genes in unrestricted somatic stem cells

The miR-17-92 cluster consisted of seven miRNAs (mir-17-5p, -17-3p, -18a, -19a, -20a, -19b-1, and -92a-1). Previous studies have shown this cluster has been over-expressed in several cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the over-expression impacts of miR-17-92 on stem cells. In the current work, the effect of miR-17-92 cluster which was cloned in Lentiviral vector has been investigated on unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs). Tumor suppressor genes (p53, p15, RBL1, SMAD2, SMAD4, and MAPK-1) expression, especially p53, was considerably reduced. These data show the potential of miR-17-92 for oncogenesis regulation in stem cells. In conclusion, the role of miR-17-92 in USSCs may provide a better understanding of its function in tumorigenesis and for the possible use in cell therapy of the anti-mir-17-92 cluster.

Prolonged drug release using PCL–TMZ nanofibers induce the apoptotic behavior of U87 glioma cells

ABSTRACT In situ prolonged delivery of drugs at the site of tumor can be satisfactorily accelerated patient recovery. We compared the effect of temozolomide while incorporated by polycaprolactone nanofibers on the apoptotic behavior of U87 glioma cells. After biocompatibility evaluation of nanofibers by scanning electron microscope and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis, the apoptosis of U87 cells was evaluated using p53, Bcl2 and Bax genes expression. It was found that nanofiber-temozolomide group showed a greater ability to induce apoptosis as well as have a significantly diminished initial burst release of drug compared with other groups and have promising potential in treating cancer. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT