1,720,963 research outputs found
Modulation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis for wound healing acceleration
Wound healing is a complex process consisting of four major phases, namely haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and tissue remodeling.
Nonhealing wounds represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for a large portion of the population. Wound healing can be delayed by systemic factors such as age, body type and nutritional status, or by many diseases including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and vascular insufficiencies. During my PhD I have dealt with several aspects concerning the proliferative phase of the wound healing process, studying different substances that have been demonstrated to increase cell proliferation and migration or to promote the release of angiogenic mediators, suggesting
their possible application in accelerating wound healing. Moreover, in the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields, I focused my attention
on the synthesis of a biomaterial with improved mechanical properties for possible orthopedic engineering applications, and on the possible use of low-level laser therapy for bone regeneration therapy
Low zoledronate concentrations stimulate human keratinocyte proliferation.
AIM:
To evaluate, in an in vitro wound healing model, the effect of zoledronate on keratinocyte cellular behavior.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Human spontaneously immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) were treated with low zoledronate concentrations (10 nmol/l to 10 μmol/l) and its effect on cell proliferation was evaluated by means of a fluorescent assay (Tox-8), along with the analysis of cytokeratin 5 and filaggrin gene expression. Moreover, zoledronate effects on cell migration were evaluated by in vitro wound healing, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity was investigated by gelatin zymography.
RESULTS:
At the tested concentrations, zoledronate stimulated keratinocyte proliferation, upregulating cytokeratin 5 while downregulating filaggrin expression and wound healing ability, without any significant effect on MMP-9 activity. The lack of zoledronate effects on MMP-9 activity indicates that, in our experimental model, wound closure is mainly due to an increase in cell proliferation rather than an increase in cell migration. Moreover, the observed increase in cell proliferation could be ascribed to a zoledronate-mediated reduction of farnesyl pyrophosphate endogenous levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results could foster new clinical applications for this 'old' drug in the field of epithelial regeneration
Laser-induced osteoblast proliferation is mediated by ROS production.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is widely used in regenerative medicine and in dental therapy by virtue of its beneficial effects in a plethora of pathological conditions. In this study, the effect of a 980 nm diode laser on pre-osteoblasts proliferation has been evaluated, along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We hypothesized that ROS were a key factor in LLLT-induced pre-osteoblasts proliferation, as it is known that ROS can induce the activation of many biological pathways, leading to cell proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. Murine pre-osteoblasts MC3T3 cells were irradiated with different energy outputs (1-50 J) in the absence or presence of the antioxidant N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Laser treatment, in the absence of NAC, was able to induce a fluence-dependent statistically significant increase in ROS generation, while the presence of NAC strongly inhibited it. Cell proliferation, measured after laser stimulation, was significantly increased both at low and higher energy, with a peak at 10 J in the absence of the antioxidant. On the contrary, in the presence of NAC, laser irradiation was not able to induce any cell proliferation, suggesting a crucial role of ROS in this laser-induced cell effect. These results suggest that LLLT may be a useful tool for bone regeneration therapy and an effective range of fluences to be used is indicated
NO-dependent proliferation and migration induced by Vitamin D in HUVEC.
Recently, Vitamin D (Vit. D) has gained importance in cellular functions of a wide range of extraskeletal organs and target tissues, other than bone. In particular, Vit. D has displayed important beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system. Although little is known about the mechanism by which this response is exerted, a Vit. D-induced eNOS-dependent nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells (EC) has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Vit. D administration could affect human EC proliferation and/or migration through NO production. For this purpose, HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were used to evaluate Vit. D effects on cell proliferation and migration in a 3D matrix. Experiments were also performed in the presence of the specific VDR ligand ZK159222 and eNOS inhibitor L-NAME. This study demonstrated that Vit. D can promote both HUVEC proliferation and migration in a 3D matrix. These effects were NO dependent, since HUVEC proliferation and migration were abrogated along with Vit. D induced MMP-2 expression by inhibiting eNOS activity by L-NAME. These findings support the role of Vit. D in the angiogenic process, suggesting new applications for Vit. D in tissue repair and wound healing
Vitamin e acetate addition to poly(d,l)lactic acid modifies its mechanical behavior without affecting biocompatibility
Mechanical properties of poly(d,l)lactic acid films enriched with Vitamin E and Vitamin E Acetate (5–40% w/w) were investigated. The addition of both formulations resulted in increased polymer Young's modulus and tensile strength. Human foreskin fibroblasts and murine pre-osteoblasts were used to assess the biocompatibility of polymers. Pre-osteoblasts adhesion and proliferation were strongly decreased by Vitamin E, whereas Vitamin E Acetate did not alter cell proliferation. Collagen deposition was lower onto Vitamin E blended polymers than onto native and Vitamin E Acetate blended ones. Fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation were increased by both Vitamin E and Vitamin E Acetate addition
Flow cytometry evidence of human granulocytes interaction with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes: effect of nanoparticle charge.
Nanoparticles (NPs) entering the human body are immediately confronted with the innate part of human immune system. In particular, monocyte and neutrophil granulocytes readily clear particles by phagocytosis, even if in the case of NPs the uptake mechanism may be classified as macropinocytosis. Among engineered nanoparticles, in the last years, siliceous materials have emerged as promising materials for several applications ranging from catalysis to biomedical. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) are nanodimensional, easily synthesizable molecular compounds and POSS-based systems are promising carriers for biological molecules. In this work, the ability of human granulocytes to uptake positively and negatively charged POSS was measured using a simple flow cytometry analysis based on cell size modifications. The data obtained showed that after a 30 min exposure only positive NPs were uptaken by human granulocyte using both macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated mechanisms as demonstrated by uptake inhibition mediated by amiloride and chlorpromazine
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
1α,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Induces NO-Dependent Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Migration in a Three-Dimensional Matrix
Background/Aims: The 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (Vit. D) induces eNOS dependent nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). To our knowledge, there are no reports directly relating Vit. D induced NO production to proliferation and/or migration in endothelial cells (EC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Vit. D addition to porcine EC could affect their proliferation and/or migration in a three-dimensional matrix via NO production. Materials and Methods: Porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE) were used to evaluate Vit. D effects on cell proliferation and migration in a three-dimensional matrix. Results: Vit. D induced NO production in PAE cells. Moreover, it induced a significant increase in cellular proliferation and migration in a three-dimensional matrix. These effects were NO dependent, as inhibiting eNOS activity by L-NAME PAE migration was abrogated. This effect was strictly related to MMP-2 expression and apparently dependent on Vit. D and NO production. Conclusions: Vit. D can promote both endothelial cells proliferation and migration in a three-dimensional matrix via NO-dependent mechanisms. These findings cast new light on the role of Vit. D in the angiogenic process, suggesting new applications for Vit. D in such fields as tissue repair and wound healing
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