Search results for "Cell Cultures"

Selective, Highly Sensitive, and Rapid Detection of Genomic DNA by Using Gated Materials:MycoplasmaDetection

2013

The coupling of gated-indicator delivery with highly specific biochemical recognition is an innovative strategy for the detection of DNA sequences, able to compete with classical methods which need PCR amplification, in important areas such as point-of-care diagnostics or detection of specific biological contaminations with pathogens. Such comparatively simple and cheap yet highly selective and sensitive assays hold promise for use in less-developed areas of the world.

GSH: A MARKER FOR OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HUMAN CELL CULTURES

2013

GSH: A MARKER FOR OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HUMAN CELL CULTURES Gueli Maria Concetta Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNEC), Università degli Studi di Palermo. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in physiological processes, but when being in excess ROS react readily with proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, often inducing irreversible functional alterations or even complete destruction. In cells, under physiological conditions, the production and detoxification of ROS are more or less balanced. GSH functions as antioxidant and the oxidative conversion of GSH to GSSG is widely recognized as a reliable index of oxidative stress. The…

Quality controls for cell cultures: identification of interspecies cross-contamination by PCR-RFLP analysis of the cytochrome b gene

2012

Cross-contaminations of a cell line with cells of different species represent a potential risk in laboratories handling human and animal cells. Therefore, it is necessary to control such contaminations. Tests based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are used in forensic analysis, phylogenetic studies and in food authentication. However, the use of mtDNA in quality controls of cell cultures is recent. Mitochondrial sequence differences of closely related animal species are five- to tenfold higher than those of nuclear genes. On the contrary, intraspecies variation in mitochondrial sequences is low in most animal species. Moreover, each cell contains 100–10.000 mitochondrial genomes. The amount of …

Cell stimulation versus cell death induced by sequential treatments with pulsed electric fields and cold atmospheric pressure plasma

2018

Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) are currently both investigated for medical applications. The exposure of cells to PEFs can induce the formation of pores in cell membranes and consequently facilitate the uptake of molecules. In contrast, CAP mainly acts through reactive species that are generated in the liquid environment. The objective of this study was to determine, if PEFs combined with plasma-treated cell culture medium can mutually reinforce effects on viability of mammalian cells. Experiments were conducted with rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells and their tumorigenic counterpart WB-ras for a direct comparison of non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic…

EFFECTS OF CELLULAR SHORT-TERM STARVATION ON CONVENTIONAL CHEMOTHERAPY RESPONSE IN HUMAN CANCER: UNDERSTANDING OF MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND MICRORNAS …

Background: Short Term Starvation (STS) is a type of dietary restriction able to reduce tumorigenesis and cancer progression but molecular bases of this effect are still unclear. Aim: In vitro analysis of STS effects in presence of chemotherapy and evaluation of microRNAs (miRNAs) involvement. Results: STS affects the expression profiles of miRNAs involved in chemotherapy response leading to cancer cells sensitization and to healthy cells protection.

The use of three-dimensional oral mucosa cell cultures to assess the toxicity of soldered and welded wires

2007

The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a difference in toxicity and loss of viability of three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed human oral epithelium (RHOE) cell cultures induced by point-welded (PW), laser-welded (LW), and silver-soldered (SiS) orthodontic wires. Three types of soldered stainless steel (SS) wires: PW, LW, and SiS were prepared ( n = 3) and subjected to multiple end-point analysis (MEA). Six pieces were cut from each wire. Each piece was placed on the triplicate cell cultures (RHOE model based on TR 146 cells). After 24 hours of topical exposure, the cell cultures were cut and stained with haematoxylin/eosin. Toxicity was assessed by evaluating the mor…

A new culturing strategy optimises Drosophila primary cell cultures for structural and functional analyses

2004

Abstract Neurons in primary cell cultures provide important experimental possibilities complementing or substituting those in the nervous system. However, Drosophila primary cell cultures have unfortunate limitations: they lack either a range of naturally occurring cell types, or of mature physiological properties. Here, we demonstrate a strategy which supports both aspects integrated in one culture: Initial culturing in conventional serum-supplemented Schneider's medium (SM 20K ) guarantees acquisition of all properties known from 30 years of work on cell type-specific differentiation in this medium. Through subsequent shift to newly developed active Schneider's medium (SM active ), neuron…

Ginkgo biloba induces different gene expression signatures and oncogenic pathways in malignant and non-malignant cells of the liver

2018

Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) is a widely used botanical drug. Several reports indicate that EGb761 confers preventive as well as anti-tumorigenic properties in a variety of tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We here evaluate functional effects and molecular alterations induced by EGb761 in hepatoma cells and non-malignant hepatocytes. Hepatoma cell lines, primary human HCC cells and immortalized human hepatocytes (IH) were exposed to various concentrations (0-1000 μg/ml) of EGb761. Apoptosis and proliferation were evaluated after 72h of EGb761 exposure. Response to oxidative stress, tumorigenic properties and molecular changes were further investigated. While anti-oxidant effects w…

Prenatal exposure to the CB1 receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 causes learning disruption associated with impaired cortical NMDA receptor function and em…

2005

The aim of this study was to investigate whether prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) at a daily dose devoid of overt signs of toxicity and/or gross malformations (0.5 mg/kg, gestation days 5-20), influences cortical glutamatergic neurotransmission, learning and emotional reactivity in rat offspring. Basal and K+-evoked extracellular glutamate levels were significantly lower in cortical cell cultures obtained from pups exposed to WIN during gestation with respect to those measured in cultures obtained from neonates born from vehicle-treated dams. The addition of NMDA to cortical cell cultures from neonates born from vehicle-treated dams concentration-…

Toxicity of used orthodontic archwires assessed by three-dimensional cell culture

2006

The aim of the present study was to determine whether used orthodontic wires made of different materials cause toxicity and loss of viability on three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures. Three types of orthodontic wires, stainless steel, Nitinol, and TMA (n = 9) which had been used clinically in fixed appliances for a period of 1 month, were retrieved at random from five patients. Both upper and lower archwires were collected and subjected to two different protocols: to assess toxicity, two pieces of each wire were placed on 3D cell cultures (reconstituted human epithelium); to investigate the possibility of cell damage, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) ass…