The increasing threat of nuclear incidents and the widespread use of ionizing radiation (IR) in medical treatments underscore the urgent need for effective radiation countermeasures. Despite the availability of compounds such as amifostine, their clinical utility is significantly limited by adverse side effects and logistical challenges in administration. This study focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of novel piperazine derivatives as potential radioprotective agents, with the aim of overcoming the limitations associated with current countermeasures. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine derivatives. The compounds were assessed for cytotoxicity across a panel of human cell lines, and for their radioprotective effects in the MOLT-4 lymphoblastic leukemia cell line and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to gamma radiation. The radioprotective efficacy was further quantified using the dicentric chromosome assay (DCA) to measure DNA damage mitigation. Among the synthesized derivatives, compound 6 demonstrated the most significant radioprotective effects in vitro, with minimal cytotoxicity across the tested cell lines. Compound 3 also showed notable efficacy, particularly in reducing dicentric chromosomes, thus indicating its potential to mitigate DNA damage from IR. Both compounds exhibited superior safety profiles and effectiveness compared to amifostine, suggesting their potential as more viable radioprotective agents. This study highlights the development of novel piperazine derivatives with promising radioprotective properties. Compound 6 emerged as the leading candidate, offering an optimal balance between efficacy and safety, with compound 3 also displaying significant potential. These findings support the further development and clinical evaluation of these compounds as safer, and more effective radiation countermeasures.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The most commonly used flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of cellular DNA content relies on ethanol fixation followed by RNA digestion and propidium iodide (PI) intercalation into double-stranded DNA. This is a laborious and time-consuming procedure that is subject to systematic errors due to centrifugation and washing steps associated with sample preparation. It can adversely affect the reliability of the results. Here, we present a modified concept of DNA quantification in adherent cell lines by FCM that involves neither ethanol fixation nor any washing and cell transferring steps. Our high throughput assay of adherent cell lines reduces sample-processing time, requires minimal workload, provides a possibility for automation, and, if needed, also allows a significant reduction in the size of individual samples. Working with a well-proven commercial tool-The BD CycletestTM Plus DNA Reagent Kit-primarily designed for cell cycle analysis and aneuploidy determination in experimental and clinical samples, we suggest a novel, very efficient, and robust approach for DNA research in adherent cell cultures.
- MeSH
- aneuploidie MeSH
- automatizace MeSH
- buněčná adheze MeSH
- buněčný cyklus genetika MeSH
- DNA * analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie * metody MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the frequency of primary cilia (PC) and β-catenin expression in 218 patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 125 pts with adenocarcinoma and 93 pts with squamous cell carcinoma. In the whole group of 218 pts with NSCLC, overall survival (OS) was significantly inferior among pts with present PC than without PC (p=0.024) and with higher cytoplasmic β-catenin expression (25-75%) than with lower cytoplasmic β-catenin expression (<25%) (p=0.008). In the univariate Cox proportional hazard model, the hazard ratio was 1.653 in pts with present PC (p=0.026) and 1.851 in pts with higher cytoplasmic β-catenin (25-75%) (p=0.009). Multivariate testing of the whole group of 218 pts with NSCLC showed that the presence of PC was associated with a worse prognosis (p=0.018). In the subgroup of 125 pts with adenocarcinoma, OS was significantly improved in pts with higher membranous β-catenin expression (≥50%) than in pts with lower expression (<50%) (p=0.0300) and OS was significantly inferior in pts with higher cytoplasmic β-catenin expression (25-75%) than in pts with lower expression (<25%) (p=0.0004). Multivariate testing of the subgroup of pts with adenocarcinoma showed that cytoplasmic β-catenin (p<0.001) and pleural invasion (p=0.017) were associated with worse prognosis. The present results indicate a negative prognostic significance of PC and cytoplasmic β-catenin expression in NSCLC and a negative prognostic significance of cytoplasmic β-catenin expression in adenocarcinoma.
- MeSH
- adenokarcinom patologie metabolismus mortalita MeSH
- beta-katenin * metabolismus MeSH
- cilie * patologie metabolismus MeSH
- cytoplazma * metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové biomarkery metabolismus MeSH
- nádory plic * patologie metabolismus mortalita MeSH
- nemalobuněčný karcinom plic * patologie metabolismus mortalita MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- spinocelulární karcinom patologie metabolismus mortalita MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of membranous β-catenin and cytoplasmic β-catenin expression in pancreatic cancer patients (pts). One hundred pts with histologically verified exocrine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively studied. The membranous β-catenin, cytoplasmic β-catenin, and cell nucleus β-catenin expression were immunohistochemically evaluated. The expression of membranous β-catenin was <5% in none of the pts, 5-25% in one patient, 26-50% in 2 pts, 51-75% in 14 pts, and >75% in 81 pts. The expression of cytoplasmic β-catenin was <5% in 34 pts, 5-25% in 42 pts, 26-50% in 18 pts, 51-75% in 3 pts, and >75% in one patient. The expression of β-catenin in the cell nucleus was negative in all pts. At the time of the last follow-up, 21 pts were alive and 79 pts had died. Median OS was 1.3 (0.4-2.3) years in pts with membranous β-catenin expression ≤75% and 1.7 (1.3-2.1) years in pts with membranous β-catenin expression >75% (p=0.045). Median OS was (1.3-2.0) 1.6 years in pts with cytoplasmic β-catenin expression ≤25% and 0.9 (0.5-1.2) years in pts with cytoplasmic β-catenin expression >25% (p=0.040). In the univariate Cox proportional hazard models HR (95% CI) was 0.556 (0.311-0.995) in pts with membranous β-catenin expression >75% (p=0.048) and 2.200 (1.216-3.980) in pts with cytoplasmic β-catenin expression >25% (p=0.009). The present results indicate a favorable prognostic significance of membranous β-catenin expression in pancreatic cancer.
PURPOSE: Ionizing radiation (IR) is widely applied in radiotherapy for the treatment of over 50% of cancer patients. IR is also intensively used in medical diagnostics on a daily basis in imaging. Moreover, recent geopolitical events have re-ignited the real threat of the use of nuclear weapons. Medical radiation countermeasures represent one of the effective protection strategies against the effects of IR. The aim of this review was to summarize the most commonly used strategies and procedures in the development of radiation countermeasures and to evaluate the current state of their research, with a focus on those in the clinical trial phase. METHODS: Clinical trials for this review were selected in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The search was performed in the clinicaltrials.gov database as of May 2022. RESULTS: Our search returned 263 studies, which were screened and of which 25 were included in the review. 10 of these studies had been completed, 3 with promising results: KMRC011 increased G-CSF, IL-6, and neutrophil counts suggesting potential for the treatment of hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS); GC4419 reduced the number of patients with severe oral mucositis and its duration; the combination of enoxaparin, pentoxifylline, and ursodeoxycholic acid reduced the incidence of focal radiation-induced liver injury. CONCLUSION: The agents discovered so far show significant side effects or low efficacy, and hence most of the tested agents terminate in the early stages of development. In addition, the low profitability of this type of drug demotivates the private sector to invest in such research. To overcome this problem, there is a need to involve more public resources in funding. Among the technological opportunities, a deeper use of in silico approaches seems to be prospective.
- MeSH
- akutní radiační syndrom * prevence a kontrola MeSH
- ionizující záření MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
The JC-1 dye is widely used in apoptosis studies to monitor mitochondrial health. The probe was tested in vitro on two established cell lines and peripheral porcine blood lymphocytes after gamma irradiation (IR) to assess its potential in biodosimetric evaluation. In brief, we stained irradiated and non-irradiated cells with the JC-1 dye to determine the existing changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and monitor cell health through flow cytometry. The stage of injury in these cells was evaluated through an irradiated versus non-irradiated ratio (IVNIR), comparing the relative proportion of polarised cells containing red JC-1 aggregates. We observed a decreasing IVNIR as the radiation dose increased (i.e. 0.5; 1; 2; 4; 6; 8 and 10 Gy), performing the analysis at 4, 8 and 24 h after IR in all the tested cells. The results from the JC1-dye test showed that CD4 T lymphocytes were more sensitive to irradiation than other subpopulations.
This study establishes a new experimental approach for retrospective biodosimetric assessment by apoptosis detection ex vivo. For this purpose, we used mononuclear blood leukocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of irradiated Wistar rats and cultured them ex vivo for posterior analysis. Using flow cytometry, we distinguished apoptotic lymphocyte subsets individual biodosimetric potential at different time periods after exposure: B-lymphocytes 6-8 h (0-7 Gy), natural killer cells 24 h (0-7 Gy) and T-lymphocytes 24 h (0-1 Gy). This novel experimental design innovates through the need of a single blood sample from irradiated individuals for a complete biodosimetric assessment.
Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) stimulates epithelial regeneration but may also induce life-threatening hypoglycemia. In our study, we first assessed its safety. Subsequently, we examined the effect of IGF-1 administered in different dose regimens on gastrointestinal damage induced by high doses of gamma radiation. Material and methods: First, fasting C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with IGF-1 at a single dose of 0, 0.2, 1, and 2 mg/kg to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The glycemic effect of MTD (1 mg/kg) was additionally tested in non-fasting animals. Subsequently, a survival experiment was performed. Animals were irradiated (60Co; 14, 14.5, or 15 Gy; shielded head), and IGF-1 was administered subcutaneously at 1 mg/kg 1, 24, and 48 h after irradiation. Simultaneously, mice were irradiated (60Co; 12, 14, or 15 Gy; shielded head), and IGF-1 was administered subcutaneously under the same regimen. Jejunum and lung damage were assessed 84 h after irradiation. Finally, we evaluated the effect of six different IGF-1 dosage regimens administered subcutaneously on gastrointestinal damage and peripheral blood changes in mice 6 days after irradiation (60Co; 12 and 14 Gy; shielded head). The regimens differed in the number of doses (one to five doses) and the onset of administration (starting at 1 [five regimens] or 24 h [one regimen] after irradiation). Results: MTD was established at 1 mg/kg. MTD mitigated lethality induced by 14 Gy and reduced jejunum and lung damage caused by 12 and 14 Gy. However, different dosing regimens showed different efficacy, with three and four doses (administered 1, 24, and 48 h and 1, 24, 48, and 72 h after irradiation, respectively) being the most effective. The three-dose regimens supported intestinal regeneration even if the administration started at 24 h after irradiation, but its potency decreased. Conclusion: IGF-1 seems promising in the mitigation of high-dose irradiation damage. However, the selected dosage regimen affects its efficacy.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Hyaluronic acid (HA) has a special position among glycosaminoglycans. As a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This simple, unbranched polysaccharide is involved in the regulation of various biological cell processes, whether under physiological conditions or in cases of cell damage. This review summarizes the history of this molecule's study, its distinctive metabolic pathway in the body, its unique properties, and current information regarding its interaction partners. Our main goal, however, is to intensively investigate whether this relatively simple polymer may find applications in protecting against ionizing radiation (IR) or for therapy in cases of radiation-induced damage. After exposure to IR, acute and belated damage develops in each tissue depending upon the dose received and the cellular composition of a given organ. A common feature of all organ damage is a distinct change in composition and structure of the ECM. In particular, the important role of HA was shown in lung tissue and the variability of this flexible molecule in the complex mechanism of radiation-induced lung injuries. Moreover, HA is also involved in intermediating cell behavior during morphogenesis and in tissue repair during inflammation, injury, and would healing. The possibility of using the HA polymer to affect or treat radiation tissue damage may point to the missing gaps in the responsible mechanisms in the onset of this disease. Therefore, in this article, we will also focus on obtaining answers from current knowledge and the results of studies as to whether hyaluronic acid can also find application in radiation science.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
The primary function of the skin is that of a physical barrier against the environment and diverse pathogens; therefore, its integrity is essential for survival. Skin regeneration depends on multiple stem cell compartments within the epidermis, which, despite their different transcriptional and proliferative capacity, as well as different anatomical location, fall under the general term of skin stem cells (SSCs). Skin wounds can normally heal without problem; however, some diseases or extensive damage may delay or prevent healing. Non-healing wounds represent a serious and life-threatening scenario that may require advanced therapeutic strategies. In this regard, increased focus has been directed at SSCs and their role in wound healing, although emerging therapeutical approaches are considering the use of other stem cells instead, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Given its extensive and broad nature, this review supplies newcomers with an introduction to SSCs, wound healing, and therapeutic strategies for skin regeneration, thus familiarizing the reader with the subject in preparation for future in depth reading.
