Anti-apoptotic effects of phyllanthin against alcoholinduced liver cell death

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-apoptotic effect of phyllanthin on alcohol-induced liver cell death in HepG2 cells alone and in co-culture with human monocytic (THP-1) differentiated macrophage cells. Methods: Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cells were pretreated with 1, 5 and 10 μM phyllanthin for 24 h followed by 1300 mM alcohol for HepG2 cells and 2000 mM alcohol for the co-cultured cells. Thereafter, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changes, apoptotic cell death and caspase-3/7 activities were assessed. Results: Alcohol exposure significantly increased intracellular ROS generation (p < 0.001), decreased MMP changes (p < 0.001), increased the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells (p < 0.001) and also induced higher caspase-3/7 activity (p < 0.001) in the co-culture with THP-1 differentiated macrophage cells than in HepG2 cells alone. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells and co-cultured cells with phyllanthin for 24 h prior to alcohol exposure significantly decreased intracellular production of ROS (p < 0.001) and also increased the change in MMP (p < 0.001) as well as caused a decrease in the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells (p < 0.001), but inhibited caspase-3/7 activity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that phyllanthin treatment may have a significant therapeutic effect on alcohol-related liver diseases.

No relationship between most polymorphisms of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) gene with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine women’s disorders in reproductive age. Hyperandrogenism has a critical role in the etiology of PCOS and it can cause fault in Steroidogenesis process. During steroidogenesis, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) seems to increase the delivery of cholesterol through mitochondrial membrane. Therefore, polymorphisms of StAR might effect on this protein and play a role in the etiology of PCOS. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between StAR SNPs with PCOS. Thus, seven polymorphisms in this gene: rs104894086, rs104894089, rs104894090, rs137852689, rs10489487, rs104894085 were detected. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 45 PCOS women, 40 male factor/unexplained infertile women, and 40 fertile women as two control groups were participated from 2008-2012. Polymorphisms were detected using restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: Heterozygote genotyping for rs137852689 SNP (amino acid 218 C > T) was only seen in seven PCOS patients, one in normal ovulatory women, and five in male factor/unexplained infertile women (15.5%, 2.5%, 12.5%, respectively) (p= 0.12). While, it has shown no association between other SNPS with PCOs. Conclusion: The RFLP results for seven chosen SNPs, which located in exon 5 and 7 showed normal status in three groups, it means no heterozygous or homozygous forms of selected SNPs were observed. So, it seems evaluation of the active amino acid sites should be investigated and also the study population should be increased.