FRANCISCO J. CORPAS^*, SALVADOR GONZÁLEZ-GORDO, MARTA RODRÍGUEZ-RUIZ, MARÍA A. MUÑOZ-VARGAS, JOSÉ M. PALMA

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 1-5, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.017300

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) are two molecules that share signaling properties in plant and animal cells. NO and H₂S originate two families of derived molecules designated reactive nitrogen and sulfur species (RNS and RSS, respectively). These molecules are responsible for certain protein regulatory processes through posttranslational modifications (PTMs), being the most remarkable S-nitrosation and persulfidation, which affect the thiol group of cysteine residues. NO and H₂S can also exert regulatory functions due to their interaction through the iron present in proteins that contain heme groups or iron-sulfur clusters, as reported mainly in animal cells. However, the available… More >

SEAN J. O’SULLIVAN^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 7-11, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017680

Abstract The development of effective treatments for psychiatric disease has been disappointing in recent decades given the advancements in neuroscience. Moreover, rising rates of mental illness such as addiction and depression compel scientists and physicians to discover novel and creative solutions. One such approach that has proven effective is systems neuroscience: A focus on networks as opposed to mechanism. Further, investigation at the single-cell and circuit level is likely to be fruitful in such endeavors as this resolution describes the functional psychopathology that allows for intervention. More >

ALI H. ABU ALMAATY¹, BASMA M. HENDAM², FAYEZ ALTHOBAITI³, EMAN FAYAD^3,*, YASMIN M. ABD EL-AZIZ¹

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 219-234, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017623

Abstract The hepatotoxic effect of potassium bromide (KBr) on rat liver tissues were determined, as well as the potential protective effect of Tegillaraca granosa (T. granosa) flesh body extract. Twenty adult male albino rats were equally distributed into four groups; Group (I) treated with physiological saline (control group), Group (II) was orally gavaged by 200 mg/kg of T. granosa body extract day after day, Group (III) was intoxicated by KBr (150 mg/kg bwt day after day orally) and finally, Group (IV) was given a combination of T. granosa flesh body extract plus KBr with similar doses in the second and third… More >

GASTÓN AMABLE^#, EDUARDO MARTÍNEZ-LEÓN^#, MARÍA E. PICCO, OSVALDO REY

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 51-59, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017565

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality in the developed world despite recent developments in detection and treatment. Several epidemiological studies indicate that metformin, a widely prescribed antidiabetic drug, exerts a protective effect on different cancers including CRC. Furthermore, a recent double-blind placebo-controlled, randomized trial showed that metformin significantly decreased colorectal adenoma recurrence. Studies exploring the mechanism of action of metformin in cells derived from different types of cancers reported many effects including respiratory chain complex 1 inhibition, Akt phosphorylation inhibition, ATP depletion, PKA activation and Wnt signaling inhibition. However, many of these results were… More >

MAURA BENEDETTI, MARIA ELISA GIULIANI, MARICA MEZZELANI, ALESSANDRO NARDI, LUCIA PITTURA, STEFANIA GORBI, FRANCESCO REGOLI

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 37-49, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017507

Abstract Oxidative stress is a critical condition derived from the imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species and the sophisticated network of antioxidant mechanisms. Several pollutants and environmental factors can affect this system through connected mechanisms, indirect relationships, and cascade effects from pre-transcriptional to catalytic level, by either enhancing intracellular ROS formation or impairing antioxidant defenses. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the pro-oxidant challenges from emerging environmental stressors threatening marine organisms, such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics and climate-related ocean changes. Emphasis will be placed on oxidative pathways, including signaling proteins and transcription factors involved in regulation of antioxidant responsiveness.… More >

SALONI THAKUR¹, ADESH K. SAINI^2,3, JOYDEEP DAS⁴, VIPIN SAINI³, PARIN BALHARA⁵, JAGPREET S. NANDA⁶, REENA V. SAINI^2,3

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 13-26, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016953

Abstract MicroRNA-153 (miR-153), belongs to a class of small non-coding RNA. It is a critical regulator of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level which interacts with the functional mRNA at 3’UTR region and suppresses the expression of the mRNA. More recently, it has become apparent that changes in the miR-153 expression lead to invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis and various types of tumor progression. This review summarizes the connection between dysregulation of miR-153 and various types of cancer progression. miR-153 regulates various signaling pathways to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in the cancer cell and also show synergistic activity with anticancer drugs.… More >

JIANRONG YANG^1,#, WAN CHEN^2,#, XING ZHOU^3,#, YAOXUAN LI^4,#, ZHIHUANG NONG⁵, LIYUAN ZHOU⁴, XUAN WEI⁴, XIAORONG PAN⁶, CHUNXIA CHEN⁷, WENSHENG LU³

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 137-148, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016807

Abstract In this study, we investigated the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on PC12 and H9C2 cell damage caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion and its possible mechanism. PC12 and H9C2 cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion model were established. Cells were divided into a control group, model group, hyperbaric air (HBA) group and HBO group. The cell viability was detected by the CCK8 assay. Hoechst 33342 and PI staining assays and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assays were used to detect cell apoptosis. The ultrastructure of cells, including autophagosomes, lysosomes, and apoptosis, were examined using a transmission electron microscope. The expression of autophagy-related proteins was… More >

JIAYU ZHANG^1,2,3,#, RUOYAN CAO^1,2,3,#, JIANMIN PENG^1,2,3, QINCHAO HU^1,2,3, JUAN XIA^1,2,3,*, BIN CHENG^1,2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 111-125, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016612

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming and immunologic suppression are two critical characteristics promoting the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The integrative analysis of all the metabolism-related genes (MRGs) in HNSCC is lacking and the interaction between the metabolism and the immune characteristics also requires more exploration to uncover the potential mechanisms. Therefore, this study was designed to establish a prognostic signature based on all the MRGs in HNSCC. Genes of HNSCC samples were available from the TCGA and GEO databases while the MRGs were retrieved from a previous study. Ultimately 4 prognostic MRGs were selected to construct a model… More >

KHESLLER PATRÍCIA OLAZIA^1,2, JULIANA SOUZA DA SILVA¹, GUILHERME SIRIMARCO DE SOUZA TONELLI¹, SÔNIA NAIR BÁO^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 275-283, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016603

Abstract In this study, the sperm ultrastructure of three species of Idarnes genus was investigated using light and transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoon morphology of the three species was similar to that of most Chalcidoidea, with helicoidally twisted nucleus and flagellum. The head region consists of an acrosome and a nucleus; the nucleus-flagellum transition region characterized by the presence of mitochondrial derivatives and the centriolar adjunct; a flagellum region, which includes the axoneme with microtubular arrangement 9 + 9 + 2 and two mitochondrial derivatives. However, the sperm of these three species exhibit features that discriminate one species from each other: (1)… More >

JUAN ZHANG², JUN HUANG³, YAYUAN TANG², XIUZHEN LONG¹

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 195-205, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016563

Abstract Age-related declines in fertilization success have been reported for a wide range of species. The fertilization of parasitic wasps is closely related to egg production and sperm storage. Aenasius bambawalei (Hymenoptera: Encyridae) is a key parasitic wasp of the important invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The female offspring ratio of this parasitic wasp was declined with parental age in mass rearing under laboratory conditions. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the reproduction of A. bambawalei, an extensive analysis of the impact of age on transcriptome profile of mated ovaries of this wasp was performed by comparing the gene… More >