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The possibility of using an oxygen-nitrous oxide mixture for prolonged hypothermic preservation of rat heart for 24 h was investigated. A comparative analysis of restoration of functional activity of hearts in the groups of 24-h preservation at +4 °C with different gases (O 2 , N 2 ) and gas mixtures (CO + O 2 , N 2 O + O 2 , N 2 +O 2 , N 2 O + N 2 ) was carried out. It was shown that the presence of oxygen in the gas mixture was the key factor for heart preservation. No stable heart preservation was observed in oxygen-free mixtures. At the same time, preservation in pure oxygen showed a significantly lower level of cardiac recovery compared to preservation in gas mixtures O 2 +CO (6.5 atm.) and O 2 +N 2 O (6.5 atm.). LVDP (left ventricular developed pressure) values were 30 ± 19 mmHg and 46 ± 9 mmHg, respectively, with no significant differences found. The decrease in LDVP after 24 h of storage was 26-40 % of the intact control. The results obtained indicate the presence of pronounced synergistic effects of both gases during 24-h heart preservation, which is confirmed by data of marker genes Nfe2l2, Nox1, Prdx1, Hif1a, Nos2, Slc2a4, Ucp-1, Jun, Casp3 expression analysis and myocardial infarction damage level data. The more frequent occurrence of arrhythmias was observed in the oxygen-nitrous oxide group compared with the CO group, and the mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. Nevertheless, the already medically approved N 2 O + O 2 gas mixture could serve as a balanced choice for future improvements, offering a shorter duration of cardiac preservation compared to the CO + O 2 mixture, while ensuring safety in its use., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, the challenge of preserving amphibian biodiversity has increasingly been addressed through technologies for the short-term storage of unfertilized spawn at low positive temperatures. Previously the possibility of using a 6.5 atm gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen for prolonged hypothermic preservation of unfertilized oocytes for more than 4 days was shown. This study aimed to investigate the viability of oocytes R. temporaria preserved under conditions of hypothermia at 2.5, 3 and 6.5 excess atm pressure in the various gas mixture compositions (CO, N 2 O, O 2 ) and pure oxygen. The use of pressure up to 3 excess atmospheres was significantly beneficial compared to 6.5 atm at the 7 days storage period. The results indicate that oxygen pressure is a critical factor in maintaining oocyte viability. Admixing CO or N 2 O to oxygen reduced variability in the results but did not significantly affect the measured indicators (fertilization, hatching) in the experimental groups. The composition CO + O 2 (0.5/3.5 ratio, 3 excess atm) reliably extended the shelf life of viable oocytes, indistinguishable from native controls by fertilization and hatching rates, to 4 days. After 7 days, oocytes exhibited fertilization and hatching rates that were 79 % and 48 % compared to native control. Reducing the pressure of the preserving gas mixture to 3 atm, as utilized in this study, simplifies the practical implementation of gas preservation technology for maintaining endangered amphibian species during breeding in laboratory conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Cryobiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The need for innovative techniques to preserve microbiota for extended periods, while maintaining the species composition and quantitative balance of the bacterial community, is becoming increasingly important. To address this need, we propose an efficient approach to cryopreserve human gut microbiota using a two-component cryoprotective composition comprising fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Fetal serum is a commonly utilized component in the freezing media for eukaryotic cells, however, its effects on prokaryotic cells have not been extensively researched., Results: In our study, we demonstrated the high efficiency of using a two-component cryoprotective medium, FBS + 5% DMSO, for cryopreservation of human gut microbiota using three different methods. According to the obtained results, the intact donor microbiota was preserved at a level of 85 ± 4% of the initial composition based on fluorescent analysis using the LIVE/DEAD test. No differences in survival were observed when comparing with pure DMSO and FBS media. The photometric measurement method for growth of aerobic bacteria (A. johnsoni), facultative anaerobes (E. coli, E. faecalis), microaerophilic (L. plantarum), and obligate anaerobic bacterial cultures (E. barkeri, B. breve) also demonstrated high viability rates of 94-98% in the two-component protective medium, reaching intact control levels. However, for anaerobic microflora representatives, serum proved to be a more suitable cryoprotectant. Also, we demonstrated that using cryoprotective media with 50-75% FBS content is enough to preserve a significant level of bacterial cell viability, from an economic standpoint., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of increasing the radioprotective potential of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and its mutant form S32A by their combined use with geldanamycin (GA) for 3T3 fibroblasts irradiated with X-rays at a dose of 6 Gy. The mutant enzyme S32A, which does not have phospholipase activity, exhibits a more pronounced radioprotective activity when combined with GA. The use of this combination of radioprotective drugs completely abolishes the peak of NF-κB activity in irradiated 3T3 cells. Another transcription factor, p53, which is an indicator of the level of cell apoptosis and increases upon irradiation, is also reduced by S32A in combination with GA. The low-molecular-weight protein p21, which is a marker of cell senescence and whose production increases upon irradiation, is also normalized when S32A is used in combination with GA. In addition, the use of this combination of radioprotective drugs significantly reduces the stress response of 3T3 cells to X-ray irradiation., (© 2022. Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.)

Background: It is well known that body temperature maintenance between 20 and 35°C prevents hypoxic damage. However, data regarding the ideal duration and permissible temperature boundaries for ultra-deep hypothermia below 20°C are rather fragmentary. The aim of the present study was to determine the time limits of reversible clinical death in rats subjected to ultra-deep hypothermia at 1-8°C., Results: Rat survival rates were directly dependent on the duration of clinical death. If clinical death did not exceed 35 min, animal viability could be restored. Extending the duration of clinical death longer than 45 min led to rat death, and cardiac functioning in these animals was not recovered. The rewarming rate and the lowest temperature of hypothermia experienced did not directly influence survival rates., Conclusions: In a rat model, reversible ultra-deep hypothermia as low as 1-8°C could be achieved without the application of hypercapnia or pharmacological support. The survival of animals was dependent on the duration of clinical death, which should not exceed 35 min., Competing Interests: None

Any biological material contains dissolved gases that affect physical and biological processes associated with cooling and freezing. However, in the cryobiology literature, little attention has been paid to the effect of gasses on cryopreservation. We studied the influence of helium, neon, krypton, xenon, argon, nitrogen, and sulfur hexafluoride on the survivability of HeLa and L929 cell lines during cryopreservation. Saturation of a cell suspension with helium, neon, and sulfur hexafluoride enhanced survival of HeLa and L929 cells after cryopreservation. Helium exerted the most significant effect. For a range of noble gases, the efficiency of the positive effect decreased as the molecular mass of the gas increased. This paper discusses possible mechanisms for the influence of gases on the cryopreservation of biological material. The most probable mechanism is the disruption of the frozen solution structure with gas-filled microbubbles produced during water crystallization. Ultimately, it was concluded that helium and neon can be used to improve methods for cryopreservation of cell suspensions with a low concentration of conventional penetrating cryoprotectants or even without them., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We studied the effect of xenon on the survival rate of the spermatozoa of the common frog Rana temporaria during slow freezing with saturation of the suspension with xenon at a pressure of up to 1.2 bar. The cryoprotective properties of xenon were analyzed in comparison with nitrogen. No specific cryoprotective effect of xenon was revealed. Viability of spermatozoa pretreated with xenon at atmospheric pressure (0 bar) or under excess pressure of 0.6 bar and frozen in a cryoprotective medium with dimethylformamide, sucrose, and BSA did not differ significantly. The use of overpressure of xenon of 1.0 or 1.2 bar in the pretreatment and freezing process significantly impaired viability of the biomaterial., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study examines the adhesive properties and cytotoxicity of polyelectrolyte nanofilms from polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) on human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (h-MSCs) and mouse adipose tissue (m-MSC) in vitro . Films are formed on 24- and 96-well culture plates in the combinations: PEI, PAH, PEI-PSS, PEI-PSS-PAH, PEI-PSS-PEI. An analysis of the culture results show that direct contact of h-MSCs with the PEI surface promotes adhesion (93-95% of adhesive cells versus 40% in the control). On the PEI surface, h-MSCs are evenly distributed, form colonies and 80% monolayer after 72 h of culture, as in the control on culture plastic. On nanofilms from PAH and PEI-PSS-PAH, cells grow in the form of rosette-like colonies with long and thin processes similar to neurites. The cytotoxic properties of PSS were revealed in direct contact with h-MSCs (more than 40% of nonviable cells with damaged plasma membranes). On the PSS surface, cells lost their adhesiveness. To culture and stably grow the cell mass of h-MSCs, it is better to use monolayer nanofilms made of highly adhesive and non-toxic PEI polyelectrolyte, which can bind the growth factors of blood serum and platelet lysate, ensuring the growth of h-MSCs under in vitro deprivation conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Protective effects of peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) in RIN-m5F β-cells and of thymulin in mice with alloxan-induced diabetes were recently reported. The present work was aimed at studying the efficiency of thymulin and PRDX6 in a type 1 diabetes mellitus model induced by streptozotocin in mice. Effects of prolonged treatment with PRDX6 or thymic peptide thymulin on diabetes development were evaluated. We assessed the effects of the drugs on the physiological status of diabetic mice by measuring blood glucose, body weight, and cell counts in several organs, as well as effects of thymulin and PRDX6 on the immune status of diabetic mice measuring concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in blood plasma (TNF-α, interleukin-5 and 17, and interferon-γ), activity of NF-κB and JNK pathways, and Hsp90α expression in immune cells. Both thymulin and PRDX6 reduced the physiological impairments in diabetic mice at various levels. Thymulin and PRDX6 provide beneficial effects in the model of diabetes via very different mechanisms. Taken together, the results of our study indicated that the thymic peptide and the antioxidant enzyme have anti-inflammatory functions. As increasing evidences show diabetes mellitus as a distinct comorbidity leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome and increased mortality in patients with COVID-19 having cytokine storm, thymulin, and PRDX6 might serve as a supporting anti-inflammatory treatment in the therapy of COVID 19 in diabetic patients.

Weak combined collinear magnetic fields (CMFs) composed of constant component, 60 μT and low-frequency alternating field, 100 nT, used in 40 min pretreatment, were shown to have diverse effects (alleviation/stimulation) depending on the frequency of the alternating component on respiratory burst intensity in neutrophil suspension after activation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe recorded by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. About 12.6 Hz frequency formally corresponding to ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) frequency of hydrated hydronium ion (Н 9 О 4 + ) had notable stimulating effect. On the contrary, treatment with 48.5 Hz frequency corresponding to hydronium ion (Н 3 О + ) was accompanied by significant alleviation of respiratory burst intensity. CMFs-pretreated water conducted only stimulating effect of CMFs when the field was adjusted to ICR of hydrated hydronium ion form, which is direct proof of participation of water in the mechanism of this effect of CMFs.

Type 1 diabetes is associated with the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, which is mediated via an autoimmune mechanism and consequent inflammatory processes. In this article, we describe a beneficial effect of peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) in a type 1 diabetes mouse model. The main idea of this study was based on the well-known data that oxidative stress plays an important role in pathogenesis of diabetes and its associated complications. We hypothesised that PRDX6, which is well known for its various biological functions, including antioxidant activity, may provide an antidiabetic effect. It was shown that PRDX6 prevented hyperglycemia, lowered the mortality rate, restored the plasma cytokine profile, reversed the splenic cell apoptosis, and reduced the β cell destruction in Langerhans islets in mice with a severe form of alloxan-induced diabetes. In addition, PRDX6 protected rat insulinoma RIN-m5F β cells, cultured with TNF- α and IL-1 β , against the cytokine-induced cytotoxicity and reduced the apoptotic cell death and production of ROS. Signal transduction studies showed that PRDX6 prevented the activation of NF- κ B and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling cascades in RIN-m5F β cells cultured with cytokines. In conclusion, there is a prospect for therapeutic application of PRDX6 to delay or even prevent β cell apoptosis in type 1 diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elena G. Novoselova et al.)

The role of two heat shock proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp90α, on stress response in mice with severe diabetes mellitus induced by a high dose of alloxan (500 mg/kg body weight), as well as in RIN-m5F β cells cultured in the presence of cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-α) was studied. Our results showed that severe type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) caused a higher expression of Hsp90α, but not Hsp70. Moreover, injections of the peroxiredoxin 6 antioxidant enzyme (PRDX6) did not affect the expression of these chaperones. Conversely, pro-inflammatory cytokines added to β-cells caused a significant increase in the expression of Hsp90α and, substantially, Hsp70. Moreover, cells cultivated in the presence of PRDX6 were more susceptible to the cytokine effect. Thus, in the course of severe alloxan-induced T1D, no protective role of the heat shock proteins, was revealed, and their expression level was not increased by PRDX6. At the same time the protective potential of these proteins was shown in vitro with the use of RIN-m5F β cells. Thus, the system of heat shock proteins was unable to prevent the devastating effects of severe T1D accompanied by high animal mortality.

Aim to study the molecular mechanisms of apoptotic death of mouse testicular teratocarcinoma cells (line F-9) under exposure to the widely used selenium-containing compounds with antitumor activity, sodium selenite and methylseleninic acid. Methods fluorescence microscopy, MTT assay, Western blotting. Results It was shown that sodium selenite at a concentration of 10 μM and methylseleninic acid at concentrations of 1 and 10 μM cause apoptosis-dependent death of F-9 cells, excluding necrotic death. Western blotting showed an increase in the expression of XBP1s when treating F-9 cells with 1 μM methylseleninic acid. Conclusions 10 μM methylseleninic acid leads to cell apoptosis, most likely by activation of the IRE1 signaling pathway under prolonged stress of the endoplasmic reticulum.

The search for potential partners of human SELM in lysates of two cancer cell lines, HT-1080 (fibrosarcoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), was carried out. Two cytoplasmic actin isoforms-cytoplasmic actin 1 (cytoskeleton β-actin) and cytoplasmic actin 2 (cytoskeletal γ-actin)-were identified as partners. In addition, the influence of two widely used antitumor selenium compounds (sodium selenite and methylseleninic acid) on the expression of SELM in cancer cells was studied. On the basis of the results obtained by real-time PCR and Western blotting, we concluded that 1 μM and 10 μM sodium selenite did not affect the expression of SELM in fibrosarcoma cells, whereas in breast adenocarcinoma cells 1 μM sodium selenite slightly increased expression and 10 μM sodium selenite significantly (approximately 2 times) decreased it. Methylseleninic acid in both cancer cell lines increased the SELM gene expression; the most pronounced effect was observed when fibrosarcoma cells were treated with 10 µM MSA (the expression of the hSelm gene increased almost 4 times).

The human intestinal microbiota is a complex ecosystem that consists of thousands of bacterial species that are responsible for human health and disease. The intestinal microbiota is a natural resource for production of therapeutic and preventive medicals, such as probiotics and fecal transplants. Modern lifestyles have resulted in the extinction of evolutionally selected microbial populations upon exposure to environmental factors. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the human gut microbiota to have the opportunity for timely restoration with minimal safety risks. Cryopreservation techniques that are suitable for the preservation of viable, mixed microbial communities and a biobanking approach are currently under development in different countries. However, the number of studies in this area is very limited. The variety of morphological and physiological characteristics of microbes in the microbiota, the different cryopreservation goals, and the criteria for the evaluation of cryopreservation effectiveness are the main challenges in the creation of a universal and standardized cryopreservation protocol. In this review, we summarized the current progress of the main cryopreservation techniques for gut microbiota communities and the methods for the assessment of the effectiveness of these techniques in the context of practical application., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

A radioprotective effect of exogenous recombinant peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) was revealed and characterized using an animal model of whole body X-ray irradiation at sublethal and lethal doses. Prx2 belongs to an evolutionarily ancient family of peroxidases that are involved in enzymatic degradation of a wide variety of organic and inorganic hydroperoxides. Apart from that, the oxidized form of Prx2 also exhibits chaperone activity, thereby preventing protein misfolding and aggregation under oxidative stress. Intravenous administration of Prx2 in animals at a concentration of 20 µg/g 15 min before exposure to ionizing radiation contributes to a significantly higher survival rate, suppresses the development of leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, as well as protects the bone marrow cells from genome DNA damage. Moreover, injection of Prx2 leads to suppression of apoptosis, stimulates cell proliferation and results in a more rapid recovery of the cell redox state. Exogenous Prx2 neutralizes the effect of the priming dose on the second irradiation of the cells. The radioprotective properties of exogenous Prx2 are stipulated by its broad substrate peroxidase activity, chaperone activity in the oxidized state, and are also due to the signal-regulatory function of Prx2 mediated by the regulation of the level of hydroperoxides as well as via interaction with redox-sensitive regulatory proteins., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the effects of weak combined magnetic fields (MFs) produced by superimposing a constant MF (in the range 30 - 150 µT) and an alternating MF (100 or 200 nT) on cytokine production in healthy Balb/C male mice exposed 2 h daily for 14 days. The alternating magnetic field was a sum of several frequencies (ranging from 2.5 - 17.5 Hz). The frequencies of the alternating magnetic field were calculated formally based on the cyclotron resonance of ions of free amino acids (glutamic and aspartic acids, arginine, lysine, histidine, and tyrosine). The selection of different intensity and frequency combinations of constant and alternating magnetic fields was performed to find the optimal characteristics for cytokine production stimulation in immune cells. MF with a constant component of 60 μT and an alternating component of 100 nT, which was a sum of six frequencies (from 5 to 7 Hz), was found to stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, and interleukin-3 in healthy mouse cells and induce cytokine accumulation in blood plasma. Then, we studied the effect of this MF on tumor-bearing mice with solid tumors induced by Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells by observing tumor development processes, including tumor size, mouse survival rate, and average lifespan. Tumor-bearing mice exposed to a combined constant magnetic field of 60 μT and an alternating magnetic field of 100 nT containing six frequencies showed a strong suppression of tumor growth with an increase in survival rate and enhancement of average lifespan.

In the present work, we aimed to study the effects of free and polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticle-bound thymulin on immune cell activity in mice with chronic inflammation. NF-κB, MAPK, and PKC-θ signaling pathway activity was assessed, alongside Hsp72, Hsp90-α, and TLR4 expression and levels of apoptosis. In addition, plasma cytokines and blood and brain melatonin and serotonin levels were measured. In mice treated with gradually raised doses of lipopolysaccharide, significant increases in the activity of the signaling pathways tested, heat-shock protein and TLR4 expression, lymphocyte apoptosis, and plasma proinflammatory cytokine levels were noted. Moreover, we observed significantly heightened serotonin concentrations in the plasma and especially the brains of mice with inflammation. In contrast, melatonin levels were reduced in the tissues examined, particularly so in the brain. Treatment of these mice with thymulin alleviated fever, reduced apoptosis, increased splenic cell number, and decreased cytokine production, Hsp72, Hsp90, and TLR4 expression, and the activity of the signaling pathways examined. In addition, thymulin partially restored brain and blood serotonin and melatonin levels. Thus, thymulin suppressed the proinflammatory response in LPS-treated mice, indicating the potential of thymulin co-therapy in the treatment of sepsis. Nanoparticle-bound thymulin was more effective in several respects., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The sodium selenite concentration that reduces the viability of Du-145 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells and F-9 mouse testicular teratocarcinoma cells was determined. We investigated the effect of sodium selenite on the mRNA expression level of the genes encoding mammalian selenocysteine-containing glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases (key antioxidant enzymes involved in the regulation of intracellular thiol redox balance), endoplasmic reticulum selenoproteins, and selenoproteins located in the testes and prostate.

Subchronic effect of a weak combined magnetic field (MF), produced by superimposing a constant component, 42 µT and an alternating MF of 0.08 µT, which was the sum of two frequencies of 4.38 and 4.88 Hz, was studied in olfactory bulbectomized (OBE) and transgenic Tg (APPswe, PSEN1) mice, which were used as animal models of sporadic and heritable Alzheimer's disease (AD) accordingly. Spatial memory was tested in a Morris water maze on the following day after completion of training trials with the hidden platform removed. The amyloid-β (Aβ) level was determined in extracts of the cortex and hippocampus of mice using a specific DOT analysis while the number and dimensions of amyloid plaques were detected after their staining with thioflavin S in transgenic animals. Exposure to the MFs (4 h/day for 10 days) induced the decrease of Aβ level in brain of OBE mice and reduced the number of Aβ plaques in the cortex and hippocampus of Tg animals. However, memory improvement was revealed in Tg mice only, but not in the OBE animals. Here, we suggest that in order to prevent the Aβ accumulation, MFs could be used at early stage of neuronal degeneration in case of AD and other diseases with amyloid protein deposition in other tissues.

The role of the p38 MAPK signaling cascade was studied in stress response of RAW 264.7 macrophages to extremely low-intensity centimeter microwaves. Irradiation stimulated production of a number of cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ and IL-10), as well as induced activation of the signaling cascades NF- κB and p38 MAPK, and enhanced expression of Hsp72 heat shock protein. In the presence of the cascade p38 MAPK inhibitor (p38 MAP kinase inhibitor XI), the stimulating effects of electromagnetic waves were abrogated either completely (for NF-κB and Hsp72) or partially (for p38 MAPK and cytokines). The results obtained are indicative of a high sensitivity of the signaling cascade p38 MAPK to the effect of low-intensity physical fields.

The intracellular localization of human selenoprotein SelI and the degree of expression of its gene in different human tumor cell lines were determined. It was found that the SelI protein is present in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and endoplasmic reticulum and is absent in the nucleolus. Since the oxidative stress caused by a sharp increase in the content of free radicals in the body is one of the causes of malignant transformation, the study of the role of the trace element selenium and selenocysteine-containing proteins as antioxidants in carcinogenesis is of great scientific interest.

Purpose: To clarify whether extremely low-level microwaves (MW) alone or in combination with p38 inhibitor affect immune cell responses to inhalation exposure of mice to low-level toluene., Materials and Methods: The cytokine profile, heat shock proteins expression, and the activity of several signal cascades, namely, NF-κB, SAPK/JNK, IRF-3, p38 MAPK, and TLR4 were measured in spleen lymphocytes of mice treated to air-delivered toluene (0.6 mg/m 3 ) or extremely low-level microwaves (8.15-18 GHz, 1μW/cm 2 , 1 Hz swinging frequency) or combined action of these two factors., Results: A single exposure to air-delivered low-level toluene induced activation of NF-κB, SAPK/JNK, IFR-3, p38 MAPK and TLR4 pathways. Furthermore, air toluene induced the expression of Hsp72 and enhanced IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in blood plasma, which is indicative of a pro-inflammatory response. Exposure to MW alone also resulted in the enhancement of the plasma cytokine values (e.g. IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and activation of the NF-κB, MAPK p38, and especially the TLR4 pathways in splenic lymphocytes. Paradoxically, pre-exposure to MW partially recovered or normalized the lymphocyte parameters in the toluene-exposed mice, while the p38 inhibitor XI additionally increased protective activity of microwaves by down regulating MAPKs (JNK and p38), IKK, as well as expression of TLR4 and Hsp90-α., Conclusions: The results suggest that exposure to low-intensity MW at specific conditions may recover immune parameters in mice undergoing inhalation exposure to low-level toluene via mechanisms involving cellular signaling.

Thymic peptides are immune regulators produced mainly in the thymus. However, thymic peptides such as thymosin-α and thymopoietin have precursors widely expressed outside the thymus, localized in cell nuclei, and involved in vital nuclear functions. In stress-related conditions, they can relocalize. We hypothesized that another thymic peptide, thymulin, could be similarly produced by non-thymic cells during stress and have a precursor therein. Non-thymic cells, including macrophages and fibroblasts, were exposed to oxidative stress, heat, apoptosis, or necrosis. Extracellular thymulin was identified in media of both cell types 2 h after exposure to stress or lethal signals. Therefore, thymulin is released by non-thymic cells. To examine possible thymulin precursors in non-thymic cells, macrophage lysates were analyzed by western blotting. Bands stained with anti-thymulin antibody were detected in two locations, approximately 60 kDa and 10 kDa, which may be a possible precursor and intermediate. All of the exposures except for heat were effective for induction of the 10 kDa protein. BLAST search using thymulin sequence identified SPATS2L, an intranucleolar stress-response protein with molecular weight of 62 kDa, containing thymulin-like sequence. Comparisons of blots stained with anti-thymulin and anti-SPATS2L antibodies indicate that SPATS2L may be a possible candidate for the precursor of thymulin.

Peroxiredoxins are redox-sensing multifunctional enzymes, among them peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) can neutralize the most broadest range of hydroperoxides and play an important role in maintaining the redox homeostasis of the cell. In the present study, radioprotective and signaling regulatory effects of Prx6 were demonstrated and characterized. Intravenously administered exogenous Prx6 protects the organism of mice from the destructive action of ionizing radiation in the lethal dose range of 5-10 Gy. Dose reduction factor of 1.4 Prx6 injection reduces the severity of radiation-induced leuko- and thrombopenia in irradiated animals, also preventing the destruction of epithelial cells in the small intestine. Injecting exogenous Prx6 also as its mutated form of Prx6-C47S lacking peroxidase activity affects the expression of genes involved in antioxidant response, DNA reparation, apoptosis and inflammatory processes, in bone marrow cells both in intact animals and in those subjected to ionizing radiation. The radioprotective properties of Prx6 are based, on the one hand, on the capability for ROS neutralization, and on the other hand - on the potentiality for activation of reparation processes of the cell under oxidative stress conditions. Prx6 can be considered as a potentially perspective radioprotective agent for the reduction of risks from the damaging action of ionizing radiation on the mammalian organism.

Due to shallow penetration of millimeter waves (MMW) and convection in liquid medium surrounding cells, the problem of accurate assessment of local MMW heating in in vitro experiments remains unsolved. Conventional dosimetric MMW techniques, such as infrared imaging or fiber optic (FO) sensors, face several inherent limits. Here we propose a methodology for accurate local temperature measurement and subsequent specific absorption rate (SAR) retrieval using microscale thermocouples (TC). SAR was retrieved by fitting the measured initial temperature rise to the numerical solution of an equivalent thermal model. It was found that the accuracy of temperature measurement depends on thermosensor size, that is, the smaller TC, the more accurate the temperature measurement. SAR determined using TC with lead diameters of 25 and 75 μm demonstrated 98.5% and 80.4% match with computed SAR, respectively. However, both TC provided the same temperature rises in long run (> 10 min). FO probe failed to measure adequately local heating both for short and long exposures due to the relatively large size of the probe sensor (400 μm) and time constant (0.6 s). Calculated SAR in the cell monolayer was almost two times lower than that in the surrounding liquid. It was shown that the impact of the cell monolayer on heating due to its small thickness (5 to 10 μm) can be considered as negligible. Moreover, we demonstrated the possibility of accurate measurement of MMW-induced thermal pulses (up to 10 °C) using 25 μm TC. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:11-21, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Seasonal changes in proteolytic activity and content of calpains in striated muscles of the longtailed ground squirrel Spermophilus undulatus were studied by casein zymography and Western blotting analysis. The results testify to hyperactivation of calpain proteases in the skeletal muscles of awakened animals during the "winter" activity. The observed changes are discussed in the context of adaptation of skeletal muscles of long-tailed ground squirrels to hibernation.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the small intestine caused by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery affects the intestinal tissue as well as components of the blood circulatory system from the microvasculature to mesenteric vessels. The aim of this work was to study the correlation between the dynamics of destruction development in the intestinal tissue, microvasculature, and mesenteric vessels in I/R of the small intestine. The microvasculature was analyzed by whole-organ continuous monitoring of the intestinal mucosal blood perfusion by laser Doppler flowmetry during the entire I/R. Real-time RT-PCR was used to assess gene expression of NF-κB, caspase-3, Ki67, and TNF-α in blood vessels. At the start of reperfusion, the first targets to be disrupted are microvessels in the apical villi. Injury of the apical part of the microcirculatory bloodstream correlates with the reduction in intestinal mucosal blood perfusion, which occurred simultaneously with apical villous destruction. By the end of the reperfusion period, the low intestinal mucosal blood perfusion is mirrored by the destruction of the microvasculature and mucosal structures in the entire organ. The development of mesenteric vessel injury is characterized by a change in NO metabolism and damaged endothelial cells concomitant with an alteration in the expression of genes encoding NF-κB, caspase-3, and Ki67 by the end of the reperfusion period. In I/R injury, detrimental effects on the intestinal tissue, microvasculature, and mesenteric vessels develop and exhibit common mechanisms of function, which show strong correlations., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A droplet formation in aqueous solutions of tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been experimentally detected at the submicrometer scale using two independent laser diagnostic techniques (dynamic light scattering and laser phase microscopy) and described in terms of THF-water intermolecular hydrogen bonding. It is shown that the nanodroplets have a mean size of 300 nm, their refractive index is higher than that of the ambient liquid, and they are highly enriched with THF molecules. The maximum of light scattering intensity falls within the THF concentration range 2-8 mol. %, which corresponds to the volume number density of the nanodroplets ∼10 10 -10 11 cm -3 . A theoretical explanation of forming the nanodroplets with a high content of THF, which is based on a model of dichotomous noise being applied to the so-termed "twinkling" hydrogen bonds and involves spinodal decomposition in the unstable region enclosed within the dichotomous binodal, is proposed. The parameters of hydrogen bonds in the molecular system "water-THF" were found, and the phase diagram of the solution with allowance for cross-linking hydrogen bonds was constructed.

The content of neutral lipids in tissue homogenates and liver cell nuclei of hibernating Yakutian ground squirrels was studied. In homogenates, hibernation increases the content of fatty acids and reduces the content of glycerides and cholesterol. When studying the liver cell nuclei of torpid winter ground squirrels, we detected a twofold increase in the content of fatty acids, cholesterol, and monoglycerides as compared to the "summer" ground squirrels. In the active "winter" ground squirrels, as compared to the torpid winter ones, the content of cholesterol did not change, whereas the content of fatty acids, monoglycerides, and diglycerides decreased but remained higher than in the "summer" ground squirrels.

In hibernating Yakutian ground squirrels S. undulatus, the content of total phospholipids in the nuclei of liver increased by 40% compared to that in animals in summer. In torpid state, the amount of sphingomyelin increased almost 8 times; phosphatidylserine, 7 times; and cardiolipin, 4 times. In active "winter" ground squirrels, the amount of sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, and cardiolipin decreased compared to the hibernating individuals but remained high compared to the "summer" ones. The torpor state did not affect the amount of lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol.

The expression level of the genes encoding six selenocysteine-containing human proteins was determined in the brain, cervical, liver, breast, prostate, and human fibrosarcoma cancer cells. It was found that a high level of expression in all studied types genes of tumor cells is characteristic for selh, selk, and selm genes, encoding SelH, SelK, and SelM proteins, respectively, whereas a complete lack of such expression was shown for gpx-6, selv, and sels genes. The results of this work can be regarded as a major prerequisite for further studies on the role of the three selenoproteins SelH, SelK, and SelM in the regulation of carcinogenesis processes associated with these types of cancer.

After injection of 20 mg/kg peroxiredoxin 6 to male Kv:SHK mice 15 min before X-ray irradiation in the range of lethal doses (7-10 Gy), the mice remained alive for 30 days, whereas the mortality of the control animals was 100%. In the irradiated animals, peroxiredoxin 6 decreased the severity of radiation-induced leucopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia, increased the number of blood corpuscles, and prevented the mass death of epithelial cells and the destruction of the small intestine. Thus, peroxiredoxin 6 can be regarded as a prophylactic radioprotective agent.

The aim of this study was to compare immune imbalances in "pre-diabetic" and diabetic mice and to evaluate the efficacy of several agents in improving the immunity of mice with type 1 diabetes. Pre-diabetic and diabetic models generated by a single or double alloxan injection were monitored for plasma glucose and pancreas immunohistochemistry. To study the immunity in pre-diabetic and diabetic Balb/C male mice; the levels of cytokines; synthesis of inducible heat shock proteins HSP72 and HSP90α; activity of the NF-κB, IFR3, SAPK/JNK, and TLR4 pathways; and apoptosis levels in thymuses were measured. Pre-diabetes resulted in a decrease in IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in plasma; in diabetic mice, plasma IFN-gamma, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 were decreased. The NF-κB alternative pathway activity and TLR4 expression were significantly increased only in pre-diabetic mice, whereas SAPK/JNK activation was observed at both stages of diabetes. Other measured parameters also showed distinct altered patterns in the immunity of pre-diabetic and diabetic mice. Treatment with an inhibitor of NF-κB, thymulin, or a diet with an antioxidant improved or normalized the immune balance in diabetic mice and also notably decreased pancreatic cell damage in pre-diabetic mice., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Strong oxidative stress starting in the epithelium upon restoration of blood cell circulation is a major cause of necrosis of the intestinal epithelium in ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage., Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the tissue-protective effect of exogenous peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) in ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage of small intestine., Methods: The research was carried out using a model of acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion in Wistar male rats. Exogenous Prx6 was administrated intravenously 15 min prior to small intestine ischemia. The distribution of endogenous Prx6 in the small intestine was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. The expression level of antioxidant enzymes was evaluated by RT-PCR in real time., Results: Exogenous Prx6 injected to animals intravenously was detected in blood vessel lumens, and its diffuse distribution was subsequently confirmed in the intestinal epithelium. Expression analysis of genes coding for major antioxidant enzymes demonstrated a significant activation of SOD 1, SOD 3, Prx6, GPx2, GPx7 expression during I/R-induced damage of the small intestine. Injection of exogenous Prx6 prior to induced ischemia resulted in minimization of oxidative injury by reducing necrosis and apoptosis, by normalization of gene activity of antioxidant enzyme. It eventually led to a reduction of epithelium destruction in the small intestine. By contrast, administration of a purified mutant form of Prx6 (Prx6C47S) without peroxidase activity had no protective effect., Conclusion: The application of exogenous Prx6 enables normalization of the antioxidant status of the small intestine and reduction of cell destruction upon I/R-induced organ damage.

Calculations of heating of membrane-forming holes in Teflon film exposed to decimeter waves were performed. The dependence of the temperature increment in holes on the geometry of holes, electrolyte concentration, and decimeter wave frequency was studied. The kinetics of heating depending on the hole diameter was also obtained. It was concluded that the observed in the experiment effects of the decimeter wave on bilayer lipid membranes resulted from the elevated concentration of decimeter electromagnetic waves in membrane-forming hole that led to selective heating of electrolyte in hole and bilayer lipid membranes.

In the present review, we tried to evaluate the known properties of gas hydrates and gases participating in the formation of gas hydrates from the point of view of the mechanisms of cryoinjury and cryoprotection, to consider the papers on freezing biological materials in the presence of inert gases, and to analyze the perspectives for the development of this direction. For the purpose, we searched for the information on the physical properties of gases and gas hydrates, compared processes occured during the formation of gas hydrates and water ice, analyzed the influence of the formation and growth of gas hydrates on the structure of biological objects. We prepared a short review on the biological effects of xenon, krypton, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide especially on hypothermal conditions and probable application of these properties in cryopreservation technologies. The description of the existing experiments on cryopreservation of biological objects with the use of gases was analyzed. On the basis of the information we found, the most perspective directions of work in the field of cryopreservation of biological objects with the use of gases were outlined. An attempt was made to forecast the potential problems in this field.

This study demonstrates that 20-100 GHz range can be used for spatially-accurate focusing of heating inside the skin achieved by varying frequency and exposure beam size, as well as by enforcing air convection. The latter is also used to reduce overheating of skin surface. Heating at different skin depths depending on these parameters is investigated in detail using the hybrid bio-heat equation. In particular, it is shown that decreasing frequency and/or increasing exposure beam size at forced airflow result in elevation of heating of deeper layers of tissue and decrease of skin surface temperature. Changes of water content within 15%, which exceed those due to aging and presence of tumors, only slightly affect heating. Exposure intensity necessary to reach a target temperature significantly increases in different areas of body with elevated blood flow. Dependence on exposure intensity and hyperthermia treatment duration is also investigated and discussed. Results of this study suggest that the lower part of the millimeter-wave range is an attractive alternative for non-invasive thermal treatment of skin cancer with a high spatial resolution., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The effect of the antioxidant α-tocopherol on rat brain protein kinase C activity as a model to study bimodal dose-dependent effect has been investigated. Enzyme activity has been monitored photometrically with a luciferase reporter assay that measures ADP produced by posphorylation. The inhibition of protein kinase C activity by α-tocopherol was found at the concentration range from 10(-3) to 10(-6) M with no effect of ultra low doses of the antioxidant (below. 10(-12) M). The absence of bimodal dose-dependent effect may be associated with the enzyme source.

It is shown that the exposure of heparinized venous human blood diluted in phosphate buffer saline to extremely weak alternating magnetic fields of the ultralow-frequency (1 Hz, 600 nT; 4.4 Hz, 100 nT; 16.5 Hz, 160 nT) in combination with a collinear static magnetic field of 42 microT at physiological temperatures, causes a sharp 3-4 fold increase in its chemiluminescence after addition of luminol.

To explore the effect of the spaceflight environment on immunity in animals, C57/BL6 mice flown on a 30-day space high-orbit satellite mission (BION-M1) were analyzed. Cytokine response in mice was measured in tandem with the following parameters: the synthesis of inducible forms of the heat shock proteins HSP72 and HSP90α; activity of the NF-κB, IFR3, and SAPK/JNK signalling pathways; and TLR4 expression. In addition, apoptosis in the thymus was measured by caspase-3 and ph-p53/p53 ratio testing. In response to flight environment exposure, mice had a reduction in spleen and thymus masses and decreased splenic and thymic lymphocyte counts. Plasma concentration of IL-6 and IFN-γ but not TNF-α was decreased in C57BL6 mice. The NF-κB activity in splenic lymphocytes through the canonical pathway involving IκB degradation was significantly increased at 12h after landing. One week after landing, however, the activity of NF-κB was markedly decreased below even the control values. Non-canonical NF-κB activity increased during the whole observation period. The activities of SAPK/JNK and IRF-3 were invariable at 12h but significantly increased 7 days after landing. The expression of Hsp72 and Hsp90α was somewhat increased 12h (Hsp72) and 7 days (Hsp90α). TLR4 expression in splenic cells was significantly increased only at 12h, returning to normal 7 days after landing. To assess the apoptosis in thymus lymphocytes, caspase-3 and levels of p53 protein along with its phosphorylated form were measured in thymic lymphocytes. The results indicated that the high-orbit spaceflight environment caused an increase in the level of p53 but more notably in the activated, phosphorylated form of the p53 protein. The calculated ratio of the active to inactive forms of the protein (ph-53/p53) 12h after landing increased by more than twofold, indicating the apparent induction of apoptosis in thymus cells. Interestingly, 7 days after the landing, this ratio was not restored, but rather increased: the specified ratio was four times higher compared to the ground-based control. Measurements of caspase-3 in thymic cells indicated more expressive increase in apoptosis. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that spaceflight induces an imbalance in the immunity of mice, showing variation in signalling, apoptosis and stress response that are not restored by 7 days after landing. These changes are distinguished from classic stress-related alterations usually caused by conventional stressors., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

To investigate some cellular and molecular aspects of the autoimmune response and anti-inflammatory efficiency of potential therapeutic agents in a severe form of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (sEAE), an inhibitor of NF-kappaB signalling, IKK Inhibitor XII, and/or thymic peptide thymulin, were injected intraperitoneally at 1.8 and 0.15mg/kg e.o.d, respectively, to C57BL/6 mice immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and several adjuvants. The immunization induced high lethality in three weeks. The biphasic cytokine response observed in earlier and delayed phases was attributed to the activity of Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively. Phosphorylation of RelA protein from the NF-kappaB family increased during the earlier phase and decreased in the delayed phase. SAPK/JNK signalling protein and heat shock protein Hsp72 significantly increased in lymphocytes. Both the IKK Inhibitor XII and thymulin reduced disease severity, attenuated immune imbalance, and increased mouse life-span. Co-administration of the agents produced no additive effect. Both the inhibitor and thymulin reduced the Th1 response but not the Th17 response. Therefore, RelA-associated Th1 activation and RelA-independent Th17 activation occurred in sEAE. Thymulin and the inhibitor demonstrate similar patterns of activity, potentially through the RelA pathway inhibition, resulting in a partial therapeutic effect on the animals' health status., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the role of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and stress activated protein kinases/Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) signalling pathways in the responses of RAW 264.7 macrophages to low-intensity microwaves (MW)., Materials and Methods: Three inhibitors of TLR4, SAPK/JNK, and NF-κB signalling, namely CLI-095, SP600125, and IKK Inhibitor XII, respectively, were added to cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages before MW treatment., Results: MW exposure resulted in stimulation of RAW 264.7 cell activity manifested by increases in cytokine production and the stimulation of cell signalling. The blocking of a key kinase of the NF-κB pathway by IKK Inhibitor XII resulted in decreased MW-induced TLR4 expression and increased SAPK/JNK and NF-κB phosphorylation in irradiated cells. In addition, IKK Inhibitor XII significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1α (IL-1α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) production in both exposed and unexposed RAW 264.7 macrophages. Inhibitor SP6000125 did not prevent an MW effect on signal proteins with the exception of decreased SAPK/JNK phosphorylation in RAW 264.7 cells. Cytokine production was markedly decreased in MW-exposed cells cultured with SP6000125. The inhibitor of TLR4, CLI-095, did not affect signal proteins and cytokine production changes in MW-exposed cells., Conclusions: The results suggest that low-intensity MW promotes macrophage activity via mechanisms involving cellular signalling, particularly the NF-κB pathway.

The role of casein kinase 2 (CK2) in the activation of the key NF-κB signaling cascade and other signaling and stress proteins during stress induced by exposure to nonthermal low-intensity electromagnetic radiation has been investigated. The ability of CK2 to regulate the activation of the NF-κB signaling cascade and upregulate the proinflammatory cytokine production and TLR4 receptor expression has been demonstrated. The existence of an alternative signaling pathway for NF-κB cascade activation directly involving protein kinase CK2 has been demonstrated using inhibition analysis in cells stressed by microwave irradiation.

It is shown that an exposure of pupae of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor to the combined static (42 μT) and very weak alternating (250 nT) magnetic fields exerts different influence, depending on the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, on duration of metamorphosis processes in these insects. For instance, an exposure of pupae to weak combined magnetic fields, adjusted to the frequency of ion cyclotron resonance for glutaminic acid (4,4 Hz), stimulates metamorphosis process--a transitional stage from pupae to imago lasts shorter. An inhibiting effect was observed when adjusted to the frequency of ion cyclotron resonance for Ca2 (32,2 Hz). At some frequencies this effect is not seen. For instance, an exposure at a frequency of ion cyclotron resonance for K+ (16,5 Hz) exerts no noticeable effect on the duration of the pupal metamorphosis stage.

It was demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor bFGF influences the process of heme synthesis, the proliferation activity and viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in culture under hypoxic conditions. The addition of fibroblast growth factor bFGF (7 ng/ml) to the medium under above conditions led to the accumulation of aminolevulinic acid--an early porphyrin and heme precursor, an increase in CD 71 expression--a transferrin receptor, and also a decrease in porphyrin pigments and heme contents--a late precursor and end products of heme synthesis, respectively. It was found that cultivation of the cells under hypoxic conditions and bFGF is an optimum to maintain high viability and proliferation capacity of the mesenchymal stem cells.

In this paper we derive a formula to calculate the amount of free water molecules in solution. Physical values in this formula may be obtained by analyzing the spectra of aqueous solutions in the terahertz frequency range. Formula is derived on the basis of considering water polarization process in electric field. It is shown that without processes of shielding the electric field in the water calculations lead to very high estimation of a share of free water molecule.

Seventy-eight promoter islands with an extraordinarily high density of potential promoters have been recently found in the genome of Escherichia coli. It has been shown that RNA polymerase binds internal promoters of these islands and produces short oligonucleotides, while the synthesis of normal mRNAs is suppressed. This quenching may be biologically relevant, as most islands are associated with foreign genes, which expression may deplete cellular resources. However, a molecular mechanism of silencing with the participation of these promoter-rich regions remains obscure. It has been demonstrated that all islands interact with histone-like protein H-NS--a specific sentinel of foreign genes. In this study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of H-NS using Δhns mutant of Escherichia coli and showed that deletion of dps, encoding another protein of bacterial nucleoid, tended to decrease rather than increase the amount of island-specific transcripts. This observation precluded consideration of promoter islands as sites for targeted heterochromatization only and a computer search for the binding sites of 53 transcription factors (TFs) revealed six proteins, which may specifically regulate their transcriptional output.