Genotoxic evaluation of the antimalarial drugs artemisinin and artesunate in human HepG2 cells and effects on CASP3 and SOD1 gene expressions

The malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization involves medicines derived from artemisinin, an active compound extracted from the plant Artemisia annua, and some of its derivatives, such as artesunate. Considering the lack of data regarding the genotoxic effects of these compounds in human cells, the objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, and expressions of the CASP3 and SOD1 genes in a cultured human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells) treated with artemisinin and artesunate. We tested concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 20 μg/mL of both substances with a resazurin cytotoxicity assay, and the concentrations used in the genotoxicity experiments (2.5, 5, and 10 μg/mL) and gene expression analysis (5 mg/mL) were determined. The results of the comet assay in cells treated with artemisinin and artesunate showed a significant dosedependent increase (P < 0.001) in the number of cells with DNA damage at all concentrations tested. However, the gene expression analysis revealed no significant change in expression of CASP3 or SOD1. Our data showed that although artemisinin and artesunate exhibited genotoxic effects in cultured HepG2 cells, they did not significantly alter expression of the CASP3 and SOD1 genes at the doses tested. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Intra-abdominal fat is related to metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fat liver disease in obese youth

Background: Previous studies have shown an association between adiposity, especially intra-abdominal adipose tissue, and hemodynamic/metabolic comorbidities in adults, however it is not clear in pediatric population. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) with values of intra-abdominal (IAAT) and subcutaneous (SCAT) adipose tissue in obese children and adolescents.Methods: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: 182 obese sedentary children and adolescents (aged 6 to 16 y), identified by the body mass index (BMI). Measurements: Body composition and trunk fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry- DXA; lipid profile, blood pressure and pubertal stage were also assessed. NAFLD was classified as absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2) and severe (3), and intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness were identified by ultrasound. The MS was identified according to the cut offs proposed by World Health Organization adapted for children and adolescents. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables, and the binary logistic regression indicated the magnitude of the associations adjusted by potential cofounders (sex, age, maturation, NAFLD and HOMA-IR).Results: Higher quartile of SCAT was associated with elevated blood pressure (p = 0.015), but not associated with NAFLD (p = 0.665). Higher IAAT was positively associated with increased dyslipidemia (p = 0.001), MS (p = 0.013) and NAFLD (p = 0.005). Intermediate (p = 0.007) and highest (p = 0.001) quartile of IAAT were also associated with dyslipidemia, independently of age, sex, maturation, NAFLD and HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance).Conclusion: Obese children and adolescents, with higher IAAT are more prone to develop MS and NAFLD than those with higher values of SCAT, independent of possible confounding variables. © 2013 Silveira et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Efeito genotóxico da artemisinina e do artesunato em células de mamíferos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise prospectiva do padrão de metilação nos genes associados a doenças cardíacas SCN5A e MTR para aplicação na genética forense

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Estado nutricional de indivíduos alcoolistas crônicos na internação e na alta médica, em um hospital psiquiátrico, Araçatuba/SP

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Avaliação do sinal insulínico em ratos adultos com doença periodontal

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tendência da tuberculose em pacientes internados no hospital Nestor Goulart Reis de Américo Brasiliense-SP no período de 1994 a 2004 e prevalência da infecção entre os funcionários deste hospital em 2005

Pós-graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia Aplicadas à Farmácia - FCFAR

Prática de atividade física e qualidade de vida de pacientes com osteoporose e osteopenia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo citogenético comparativo entre Triatoma maculata e triatoma pseudomaculata (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise citogenética e molecular do gene FOXO3 em síndrome mielodisplásica

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Uso do Rad7 para a caracterização do torônio em águas de estâncias hidrominerais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo descritivo das mamografias categorias IV e V da classificação BI-RADS

Pós-graduação em Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Mastologia - FMB

Identificação de elementos traço em tumores de mama de cadelas e sua correlação com histopatologia e prognóstico de vida

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência de tabagismo no Campus de Botucatu/UNESP

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Ocorrência do complexo vermelho de Socransky, Diabete mellitus e hipertensão em gestantes com e sem doença periodontal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)