imagine (Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering)
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Differences in bioactivity of three endemic Nepeta species arising from main terpenoid and phenolic constituents
Get PDFMethanol extracts of three endemic Nepeta species were analyzed for their main secondary metabolites, terpenes and phenolics, and further investigated for antioxidant capacity and embryonic toxicity in zebrafish. UHPLC/DAD/(+/-) HESI-MS/MS analysis showed that the dominant compound in N. rtanjensis was trans, cis-nepetalactone, the cis, trans isomer of this monoterpene lactone was dominant in N. sibirica, while nepetalactone was detected only in traces in N. nervosa. In all investigated species, rosmarinic acid was the dominant phenolic compound, while other identified phenolic acids (chlorogenic, neochlorogenic and caffeic) were present in considerably lower amounts. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that the methanol extracts of N. rtanjensis, N. sibirica and especially N. nervosa possessed strong antioxidant activities, with the FRAP assay revealing high ferric-reducing abilities for all three tested species. Such a strong antioxidant potential, especially as manifested in the DPPH and FRAP assays, can be attributed to phenolic acids, and in the first place to rosmarinic acid. Increased lethality of zebrafish embryos in any of the treatments was not observed, but several toxic effects on embryonic development were recorded, such as pericardial and yolk sac edema. As in other Nepeta species, the three studied endemic species possessed a great potential for food conservation or as medicinal supplements if applied in optimized concentrations; however, alternative sources of plant material (e.g. field cultivation) should be established bearing in mind their vulnerability in nature
Benzothiazole carbamates and amides as antiproliferative species
No full textA series of new benzothiazole-based carbamates and amides were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity was determined. Derivatives with profound activity were identified and further investigated for their possible mechanism of action. It was found that these compounds induce specific apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest and decrease ROS level in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Moreover, sub-micromolar antiproliferative activity of examined carbamates against NT2/D1 testicular embryonal carcinoma was shown. The most potent derivatives strongly inhibited NT2/D1 cell migration and invasiveness. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Videnović, M.; Mojsin, M.; Stevanović, M.; Opsenica, I.; Srdić-Rajić, T.; Šolaja, B. Benzothiazole Carbamates and Amides as Antiproliferative Species. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 157, 1096–1114. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.08.067]Supplementary material: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2814]Published version: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1148
Variants in TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 and ABCB1 genes as predictors of 6-mercaptopurine induced toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Get PDFAkutna limfoblastna leukemija je najčešća maligna bolest decjeg doba. Optimalna upotreba antileukemijskih lekova dovela je do smanjenja toksičnosti i neželjenih događaja, kao i do povećanja stope preživljavanja. Tiopurinski lekovi, uključujući 6-merkaptopurin, predstavljaju najčešće korišćene antileukemijske lekove u lečenju dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije, koji se koriste u toku faze održavanja. Persona lizovana terapija 6-merkaptopurinom, prilagođena TPMT genotipu svakog pacijenta, već je implementirana u terapijske protokole. Cilj ove studije je bio da ispita ulogu varijanti u genima TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 i ABCB1 kao prediktora ishoda i toksičnosti uzrokovane 6-merkaptopurinom u toku faze održavanja u lečenju pedijatrijske akutne limfoblastne leukemije. Metode: U studiju je bilo uključeno 68 dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije. Pacijenti su lečeni primenom A LL IC-BFM 2002 ili A LL IC-BFM 2009 protokola. Toksičnost i neželjeni događaji su posmatrani i beleženi upotrebom surogat markera (broj nedelja bez terapije, broj epizoda leukopenije i prosecna doza 6-merkaptopurina) a probabilisticki modeli su korišćeni za predikciju ukupne toksicnosti uzrokovane primenom 6-merkaptopurina. Rezultati: Studija je potvrdila da pacijenti oboleli od akutne limfoblastne leukemije koji imaju neaktivni TPMT alel zahtevaju redukciju doze 6-merkaptopurina. Varijante u genima ITPA i ABCC4 nisu bile povezane sa toksicnošću koja je uzrokovana primenom 6-merkaptopurina u toku faze održavanja. Nosioci varijante u genu ABCB1 su ispoljili veću hepatotoksicnost. Probabilisticki model Neural net kojim su posmatrane sve analizirane genske varijante se pokazao kao najbolji predikcioni model. Primenom ovog modela bilo je moguće razlikovati A LL pacijente sa lošom i dobrom tolerancijom 6-merkaptopurina u 71% slucajeva (AUC=0,71). Zaključak: Ova studija doprinosi dizajniranju panela farmakogenetskih markera koji bi se koristili za predikciju toksicnosti uzrokovane primenom tiopurinskih lekova kod dece obolele od akutne limfoblastne leukemije.Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy. Optimal use of anti leukemic drugs has led to less toxicity and adverse reactions, and a higher survival rate. Thiopurine drugs, including 6-mercaptopurine, are mostly used as antileukemic medications in the maintenance phase of treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For those patients, TPMT genotype-tailored 6-mercaptopurine therapy is already implemented in the treatment protocols. We investigated the role of TPMT, ITPA, ABCC4 and ABCB1 genetic variants as predictors of outcome and 6-mercaptopurine induced toxicity during the maintenance phase of treatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods: Sixty-eight children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were enrolled in this study. Patients have been treated according to A LL IC-BFM 2002 or ALL IC-BFM 2009 protocols. Toxicity and adverse events have been monitored via surrogate markers (off-therapy weeks, episodes of leukopenia and average 6-mercaptopurine dose) and a probabilistic model was employed to predict overall 6-mercaptopurine related toxicity. Results: We confirmed that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that carry inactive TPMT allele(s) require 6mercaptopurine dose reduction. ITPA and ABCC4 genetic variants failed to show an association with 6-mercapto - purine induced toxicity during the maintenance phase. Carriers of ABCB1 variant allele experienced greater hepatotoxicity. The probabilistic model Neural net which considered all the analysed genetic variants was assessed to be the best prediction model. It was able to discriminate ALL patients with good and poor 6-mercaptopurin tolerance in 71% of cases (A U C = 0 .7 l). Conclusions: This study contributes to the design of a panel of pharmacogenetic markers for predicting thiopurineinduced toxicity in pediatric ALL
Biofilm-forming ability and infection potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from animals and humans
Get PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa has been amongst the top 10 'superbugs' worldwide and is causing infections with poor outcomes in both humans and animals. From 202 P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 121 animal and n = 81 human), 40 were selected on the basis of biofilm-forming ability and were comparatively characterized in terms of virulence determinants to the type strain P. aeruginosa PAO1. Biofilm formation, pyocyanin and hemolysin production, and bacterial motility patterns were compared with the ability to kill human cell line A549 in vitro. On average, there was no significant difference between levels of animal and human cytotoxicity, while human isolates produced higher amounts of pyocyanin, hemolysins and showed increased swimming ability. Non-parametric statistical analysis identified the highest positive correlation between hemolysis and the swarming ability. For the first time an ensemble machine learning approach used on the in vitro virulence data determined the highest relative predictive importance of the submerged biofilm formation for the cytotoxicity, as an indicator of the infection ability. The findings from the in vitro study were validated in vivo using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. This study highlighted no major differences between P. aeruginosa species isolated from animal and human infections and the importance of pyocyanin production in cytotoxicity and infection ability
The predictive value of morphological findings in early diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities
No full textThis study explores cytomorphologic features and their predictive role for early identification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with morphological distinctive recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities (RCA): t(15;17), t(8;21) and inv(16)/t(16;16). We retrospectively evaluated 396 de novo AML cases, diagnosed and treated at single institution, between 2013-2017. Specific cytomorphologic features suggesting distinctive AML-RCA were revealed at diagnosis in 62 (15.65%) patients, including AML with t(15;17) in 41 (66.13%), t(8;21) in 13 (20.97%) and inv(16)/t(16;16) in 8 (12.90%). Final diagnoses of AML-RCA according to WHO integrated diagnostic criteria were established in 66 (16.66%) cases, including AML with t(15;17) 40 (60.60%), t(8;21) 17 (25.76%), and inv(16)/t(16;16) 9 (13.64%). Discordance between cytomorphological and other integrated criteria was detected as missed/wrong-call in 0/1 for t(15;17), 6/2 for t(8;21) and 2/1 for inv(16)/t(16;16). The cytomorphological accuracy was 97.56% (40/41) for t(15;17), 57.89% (11/19) for t(8;21) and 70% (7/10) for inv (16)/t(16;16). Positive/negative predictive values of cytomorphological evaluation were: 97.56%/100% for t(15;17); 84.62%/88.68% for t(8;21);87.50%/96.65% for inv(16)/t(16;16). Sensitivity/specificity were: 100%/96.15% for t(15;17);64.10%/95.92% for t(8;21);77.78%/98.25% for inv(16)/t(16;16). We confirmed that morphology is still a highly relevant evaluation method in diagnosing several common AML-RCAs before completing cytogenetic and molecular studies, enabling early detection, particularly of AML with t(15;17)
Approaches to Understanding the Mediator Function of Brh2 in Ustilago maydis
No full textPrimary components of the homologous recombination pathway in eukaryotes include Rad51 whose function is to search for DNA sequence homology and promote strand exchange, its mediator BRCA2, and Dss1, a key regulator of BRCA2. We seek to understand the role of BRCA2 in governing the activity of Rad51 and to learn how BRCA2 function is regulated by Dss1. We use the microbe Ustilago maydis as a model system for experimentation because it has a well-conserved BRCA2-homolog, Brh2, and is amenable to biochemical and molecular genetic manipulations and analysis. The powerful attributes of this system open the way for gaining insight into BRCA2's molecular mechanism through avenues not immediately approachable in the vertebrate systems. Here we provide protocols for preparing Brh2, Dss1, and Rad51 as reagents for use in biochemical assays to monitor function and present methods for transposon-based mutational analysis of Brh2 for use in genetic dissection of function
Does Dietary Provision of Guanidinoacetic Acid Induce Global DNA Hypomethylation in Healthy Men and Women?
Get PDFBackground/Aims: Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an experimental dietary additive and has been reported to induce methyl depletion when provided by the diet. However, no study evaluated whether supplemental GAA affects DNA methylation, a critical epigenetic process for genome regulation. Methods: In this open-label, repeated-measure interventional trial, we evaluated the impact of 12 weeks of GAA supplementation on global DNA methylation in 14 healthy participants (8 women and 6 men, age 22.2 +/- 2.3 years, body mass index 24.8 +/- 5.7). Results: Dietary provision of GAA had no effect on global DNA methylation, with 5-methylcytosine (m5C) nonsignificantly increased by 13.4% at postadministration when averaged across participants (95% confidence interval -5.5 to 32.3; p = 0.26). Notable DNA hypomethylation (corresponding to a 5% drop in m5C) was found in 3 of 14 participants at follow-up. Conclusion: Global DNA methylation seems to be unaltered by dietary provision of 3 g of GAA per day for 12 weeks in healthy men and women
Genomic profiling supports the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia and reveals novel candidate genes and genetic variants
Get PDFPrimary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive or X-linked disorder that mainly affects lungs. Dysfunction of respiratory cilia causes symptoms such as chronic rhinosinusitis, coughing, rhinitis, conductive hearing loss and recurrent lung infections with bronchiectasis. It is now well known that pathogenic genetic changes lead to ciliary dysfunction. Here we report usage of clinical-exome based NGS approach in order to reveal underlying genetic causes in cohort of 21 patient with diagnosis of PCD. By detecting 18 (12 novel) potentially pathogenic genetic variants, we established the genetic cause of 11 (9 unrelated) patients. Genetic variants were detected in six PCD disease-causing genes, as well as in SPAG16 and SPAG17 genes, that were not detected in PCD patients so far, but were related to some symptoms of PCD. The most frequently mutated gene in our cohort was DNAH5 (27.77%). Identified variants were in homozygous, compound heterozygous and trans-heterozygous state. For detailed characterization of one novel homozygous genetic variant in DNAI1 gene (c. 947_948insG, p. Thr318TyrfsTer11), RT-qPCR and Western Blot analysis were performed. Molecular diagnostic approach applied in this study enables analysis of 29 PCD disease-causing and related genes. It resulted in mutation detection rate of 50% and enabled discovery of twelve novel mutations and pointed two possible novel PCD candidate genes
Benzothiazole carbamates and amides as antiproliferative species
No full textA series of new benzothiazole-based carbamates and amides were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity was determined. Derivatives with profound activity were identified and further investigated for their possible mechanism of action. It was found that these compounds induce specific apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest and decrease ROS level in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Moreover, sub-micromolar antiproliferative activity of examined carbamates against NT2/D1 testicular embryonal carcinoma was shown. The most potent derivatives strongly inhibited NT2/D1 cell migration and invasiveness.Accepted verison: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2813]Supplementary material: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2814