Woo-Gyun Choi, Byung Joo Kim^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2365-2375, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072715 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Objectives: Petasites japonicus (PJ) is a traditional medicinal herb widely used in East Asia for treating diverse ailments. However, its anticancer properties and underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. This study investigated the anticancer potential and molecular mechanisms of the methanol extract of Petasites japonicus (PJE) in human adenocarcinoma gastric stomach (AGS) cells. Methods: AGS cells were treated with various concentrations of PJE, and cell viability was measured using MTT and CCK-8 assays. Apoptotic cell death was evaluated by the cell cycle, caspase-3 and -9 activity assays, and western blotting. To elucidate the underlying signaling mechanisms, we… More >

Sanggu Kim¹, Seongmo Yang¹, Soochong Kim^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2335-2364, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072418 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Regenerative medicine has attracted increasing attention across diverse organs, including the skin, musculoskeletal tissues, eye, and nervous system, where structural repair is limited. Among these, skin wound care is particularly urgent and challenging because diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, and severe burns often resist standard dressings, debridement, and revascularization, resulting in infection, amputation, and high costs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained value because platelets release coordinated growth factors and cytokines (e.g., platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1) that modulate hemostasis, inflammation, angiogenesis,… More >

Chang-Eui Hong^1,2,3, Su-Yun Lyu^1,2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2377-2397, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072360 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a major therapeutic challenge with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic anticancer effects of doxorubicin (DOX) combined with Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin (VCA) and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms in TNBC cells. Methods: This study evaluated the synergistic effects and mechanisms of doxorubicin (DOX) and Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin (VCA) combination in MDA-MB231 TNBC cells. Cell viability, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis-related proteins, cell migration, and proliferative recovery were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide… More >

Virna Margarita Martín Giménez¹, SebastiáN GarcíA MenéNdez^2,3, Luiz Gustavo A. Chuffa⁴, Vinicius Augusto SimãO⁴, Russel J. Reiter⁵, Ramaswamy Sharma⁶, Walter Balduini⁷, Carla Gentile⁸, Walter Manucha^2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2245-2282, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071830 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are characterized by progressive neuronal loss, which is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. These pathologies involve a complex interplay of genetics, protein misfolding, and cellular stress, culminating in impaired energy metabolism, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and defective mitochondrial quality control. The accumulation of damaged mitochondria and dysregulation of pathways such as the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) are central to the pathogenesis of these conditions. This review explores the critical relationship between mitochondrial stress… More >

YANG-YANG SHUAI^1,2, PEI-PEI WANG¹, HAI-JUN ZHANG², HUI AO^1,*, WEI PENG¹, HONG ZHANG^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2299-2333, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071569 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Breast cancer ranks first among cancer-related fatalities and is the most frequent cancer in women globally. ROS plays an important role in controlling the occurrence and progression of breast cancer. Increasing reports suggest that natural products and their derivatives are beneficial for the management of breast cancer via the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A summary of the known patterns of natural products that modulate ROS against breast cancer will contribute to the discovery of more natural medicines for clinical applications and the development of new drugs. In this review, the pharmacological effects of More >

Min Ma^1,2,3,#, Zhuxiu Wang^4,#, Yan Cao⁴, Juanying Yang⁴, Zeliang Zhuang⁵, Linqian Shi^4,*, Qian Gao^4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2399-2413, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071255 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Objectives: Keratin 6A (KRT6A) has been implicated in the progression of multiple malignancies; however, its expression pattern and biological role in cervical cancer (CC) have not been elucidated. This study aims to investigate KRT6A expression in CC tissues and evaluate its effects on cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion, thereby assessing its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Methods: Differentially expressed genes were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE9750) using the thresholds |log2FC| > 2 and false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate KRT6A protein expression in tumor… More >

Ilhong Son^1,2, Sun Jung Han², Dong Hwan Ho^1,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2283-2297, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071119 - 24 December 2025

Abstract The potential of urinary biomarkers to facilitate non-invasive monitoring of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a promising avenue, offering insights into the complex pathophysiology of the disease. The aggregation of α-synuclein, a central feature of PD, can be detected in urine, providing a diagnostic clue. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene, associated with increased kinase activity, can be estimated through the measurement of phosphorylated LRRK2 (pS1292) in urine. Oxidative stress, a hallmark of PD, is reflected in elevated levels of oxidized DJ-1 (oxDJ-1) in urine. Beyond these core biomarkers, other urinary components like DOPA decarboxylase, acetyl phenylalanine, More >

Helen Fenske¹, Ingrid R. Niesman^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2433-2455, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071078 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Objective: Tyrosinase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the generation of melanin. The feline tyrosinase mutation, G302R, confers temperature-sensitive loss of function, resulting in the familiar Siamese cat phenotype. Crystal or cryoEM structures are elusive for any mammalian tyrosinase to date. Protein misfolding is suggested as a basis for phenotypes resulting from mutant tyrosinases, but this hypothesis needs structural confirmation. Our objective for this study is to confirm misfolding of mutant tyrosinase as a basis for temperature-sensitive phenotypes compared to catalytic dysfunction that may be responsible for other tyrosinase mutant breed phenotypes. Methods: We have employed… More >

Huiping Qiu¹, Shaofang Huang^2,*, Xin Xiong¹, Li Zhang¹

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2415-2432, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.070402 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Background: Pulmonary fibrosis is an irreversible lung disorder that currently has a limited number of effective therapeutic strategies. Taraxasterol (TAR), a bioactive triterpenoid isolated from plants used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, its precise role in pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely defined. This study aimed to elucidate whether TAR alleviates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating Protein Phosphatase 2 Scaffold Subunit Abeta (PPP2R1B) expression. Methods: A bleomycin-induced murine model of pulmonary fibrosis and a transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) stimulated mouse lung fibroblast cell line (MLg) were established. To evaluate the effects of… More >

Roland Mangold, Timea Teglas^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2239-2244, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.069925 - 24 December 2025

Abstract The quality of life in older adulthood is greatly influenced by cognitive aging, which in turn is affected by nutrition, especially as it relates to hippocampal function. Although the link between hippocampal function and nutrition is defined, the exact mechanics are still unknown. The commentary addresses how docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes to age-related cognitive decline and may play a role in promoting neurogenesis and neuroplasticity on the molecular level. The current challenge to our understanding is to investigate how DHA influences hippocampal function and cognitive aging, which would be possible and even more detailed with More >