Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Cartilage Regeneration: Bridging Biological Complexity to Clinical Precision.","authors":"Shayan Boozarjomehri Amnieh, Sina Mahmoudian, Mahdi Ghorbani, Javad Behroozi, Ali Shakerimoghaddam, Seyyed Morteza Tabatabaei, Zahra Hami, Mohsen Chamanara, Reza Heidari","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22236","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease characterized by pain, stiffness, progressive cartilage loss, and reduced mobility. Current treatments primarily aim to relieve symptoms rather than restore damaged cartilage, and durable regeneration of native hyaline cartilage remains a major clinical challenge. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), particularly those derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), have emerged as promising cell-free therapeutic platforms because of their ability to modulate inflammation, regulate chondrocyte activity, and influence extracellular matrix metabolism. However, EV heterogeneity, source-dependent variability, limited targeting efficiency, inconsistent cargo loading, and lack of standardized manufacturing protocols continue to restrict their clinical translation. This review summarizes recent advances in engineered EV-based strategies for OA and cartilage repair, including parental-cell preconditioning, genetic modification, surface functionalization, cargo loading, artificial EV platforms, and biomaterial-assisted delivery. Importantly, we distinguish between <i>in vitro</i> findings, preclinical animal studies, and early clinical evidence to provide a balanced assessment of translational readiness. We also discuss key regulatory and safety challenges, including GMP-compliant production, batch-to-batch variability, quality-control criteria, potency assays, scalability, biodistribution, and long-term safety. By integrating EV engineering with translational and regulatory perspectives, this review highlights the potential of engineered EVs as future disease-modifying tools for OA while emphasizing that their clinical efficacy and capacity to restore durable hyaline cartilage remain to be demonstrated in robust human studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"189-206"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrospun Poly Vinyl Alcohol-Chitosan Fiber Containing Punica Granatum: Promising Effects on Malignant Melanoma Cell Line.","authors":"Hamed Alipour, Maryam Aghdaki","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Melanoma is the deadliest type of cancer affecting the skin's deeper layers and spreading rapidly to other tissues. The use of biodegradable scaffolding is widely used nowadays.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study the anticancer activity against Malignant Melanoma (MM) of different concentrations of <i>Punica granatum</i> (PG) extract loaded on electrospun Poly Vinyl Alcohol- Chitosan fiber was evaluated. The antitumor effects of these compounds were studied against MM cell lines (A375).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The experimental data indicate that the cell cycle arrest occurs at different phases for the species analyzed (G2 checkpoint and G0/G1), suggesting a potential involvement of cell-cycle regulatory mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Since metastasis is very important in cancer cells, the results of this study showed that the use of this plant extract prevents cell migration. The results of this study have promising effects on use of PG versatility in biological systems and into its role as a potential platform for further melanoma-related studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"207-215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631541/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antidiabetic Effects of Ethanolic Extract of <i>Macrothelypteris torresiana</i> : <i>In Vitro</i> Enzyme Inhibition and <i>In Vivo</i> Evaluation in Streptozotocin-Induced Sprague-Dawley Rats.","authors":"Karra Prabhath, Bolisetty Padmavathi, Yemineni Renu Sri, Nadendla Rama Rao","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and associated long-term complications. Plant-based therapies possessing enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties have gained attention as complementary approaches for diabetes management. <i>Macrothelypteris torresiana</i> (<i>M. torresiana</i>) (Family: Thelypteridaceae) is a medicinal fern traditionally used in folklore medicine; however, its antidiabetic potential remains inadequately explored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The present study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of the ethanolic extract of <i>M. torresiana</i> using both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> approaches. <i>In vitro</i> assays included α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, along with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) radical scavenging activity. The extract exhibited IC₅₀ values of 424.08 <i>μg/ml</i> (α-amylase), 238.30 <i>μg/ml</i> (α-glucosidase), and 662.16 <i>μg/ml</i> (H₂O₂ scavenging). <i>In vivo</i> studies were conducted in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats treated with the extract for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and body weight were evaluated. One-way ANOVA and Dunnett's test were used as statistical analysis, and the findings were reported as mean ± SEM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The extract demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes and significant antioxidant activity <i>in vitro</i>. In diabetic rats, treatment significantly (p<0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels, while increasing serum insulin, HDL levels, and body weight compared to diabetic control. The observed effects were comparable to the standard drug Glibenclamide.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study demonstrate that <i>M. torresiana</i> possesses significant antidiabetic activity, likely mediated through enzyme inhibition, antioxidant action, and improvement of metabolic disturbances. These results provide scientific support for the therapeutic potential of this fern as a natural candidate for the management of diabetes mellitus. However, further studies involving phytochemical standardization and molecular-level investigations are required to confirm its therapeutic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"240-248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulation of NF-κB, MMP-1, and HAase by <i>Coriandrum sativum</i> Seed Extract in UV-Induced Skin Aging Model.","authors":"Meilinah Hidayat, Wahyu Widowati, Mariska Elisabeth, Anindita Putri Distya, Hanna Sari Widya Kusuma","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Coriandrum sativum</i> L. (coriander) contains abundant flavonoids and phenolic compounds that contribute substantially to its antioxidant capacity. These constituents exhibit strong free radical-scavenging activity, offering protection against cellular damage and premature skin aging, particularly under Ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This study evaluated the anti-aging effects of Coriander Seed Extract (CSE) in an <i>in vitro</i> UVB-induced photoaging model using human dermal fibroblasts (BJ cells).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CSE was prepared through ethanol maceration. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the WST-8 assay. CSE was tested at concentrations ranging from 1.56 to 100 <i>μg/ml</i>. Hyaluronidase (HAase) protein levels were quantified using a human HAase ELISA kit. Gene expression of <i>NF-κB</i> and <i>MMP-1</i> was analyzed using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CSE concentrations up to 25 <i>μg/ml</i> exhibited no cytotoxic effects. Treatment with 25 <i>μg/ml</i> CSE significantly downregulated <i>NF-κB</i> and <i>MMP-1</i> expression in UV-irradiated BJ cells compared with the untreated UV control. In addition, CSE reduced HAase protein levels, indicating improved preservation of the extracellular matrix and reduced hyaluronic acid degradation. Notably, the percentage of senescent cells decreased by nearly 50% compared with the UV-exposed group (p<0.05), restoring levels comparable to non-irradiated cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, CSE may exert anti-aging activity by modulating inflammatory pathways, preventing extracellular matrix breakdown, and limiting UV-induced cellular senescence <i>in vitro</i>. These findings suggest its potential for development as a natural active ingredient for anti-aging skincare formulations; however, further <i>in vivo</i> and clinical studies are required to confirm its safety and efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"232-239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149102871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Noscapine Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Invasion in Caco-2 Colon Cancer Cells <i>via</i> Overexpression of miR-218 As Well as Down-Regulation of lncRNA CCAT2, MYC, and GLI1.","authors":"Zahra Dolatabadi Farahani, Zahra Katebi, Homa Mohseni Kouchesfehani, Ronak Heidarian, Elaheh Amini","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22239","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There are growing evidences related with critical role of non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), oncogenes, and microRNAs (miRNAs) in pathogenesis and metastatic capacity of Colorectal Cancer (CRC). This study aimed to elucidate the pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic effect of Noscapine as alkaloid compound in addition its effect on CCAT2, miR-218-5p, MYC, and GLI in Caco-2 CRC cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Caco-2 cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of Noscapine (10-100 <i>μM</i>). The cytotoxicity, DNA damage, apoptosis recruitment, and cell cycle analysis were examined using MTT assay, comet assay, and fluorometric analysis. IC₅₀ measured by GraphPad Prism software was used for anti-cancer analysis. To assess cell invasion, a scratch assay was performed. The quantitative changes in the expression of CCAT2, miR-218-5p, and MYC, GLI1 were evaluated by qRT-PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The MTT assay showed the dose and time dependent attenuation of Caco-2 cells survival rate compared to the control. Comet assay demonstrated significant DNA damage in treated cells. The flow cytometry indicated cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and late apoptotic and necrotic cell increment. The scratch assay confirmed impaired migration, with markedly reduced wound closure in IC50 treated group. The qRT-PCR showed that in contrast to remarkable up-regulation of miRNA 218 (*p<0.05), the level of CCAT2 (*p<0.05), MYC (**p<0.01) and GLI1 (**p<0.01) was significantly diminished in Noscapine treated cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Noscapine exhibited anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects in Caco-2 CRC cells, which are associated with altered expression of <i>CCAT2</i>, <i>miR-218</i>, <i>MYC</i>, and <i>GLI1</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"223-231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631540/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review on Green Synthesized Selenium Nanoparticles as Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Agents: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential.","authors":"Shobuj Ahamed, Ananna Ahamed, Sanjida Akhter, Farhana Islam, Salman Istiak Sabbir, Shaira Khandaker, Ataur Rahman","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanotechnology has introduced revolutionary progress in medical sciences, providing unparalleled prospects for diagnosing and treating diseases. Notably, Nanomedicine enables targeted drug delivery, maximizes therapeutic effects, limits undesirable effects, and enhances therapeutic precision, which was unattainable with conventional methods. Furthermore, integrating natural biomolecules in nanoparticle synthesis has evolved as a sustainable approach, combining ecological safety with improved biocompatibility and pharmacological performance. This review aims to systematically scrutinize the literature on the beneficial effects of green Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) on antioxidant and anti-diabetic potential. For this study, the literature was meticulously searched, and data were collected from preferred sources, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, ScienceOpen, DOAJ, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scilit. The literature search was restricted to English-language works published between 2014 and 2024. Data collection focused on the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of green-synthesized SeNPs, which were reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. Methods like DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were used to assess the antioxidant activity. This review finds that <i>Aloe vera, Annona muricata (A. muricata), Waltheria indica (W. indica)</i> (IC₅₀ 0.00692), <i>Millettia pinnata</i> (IC₅₀ 0.0077), <i>Camellia sinensis, Citrus sinensis</i> (IC₅₀ 0.00849) mediated NPs in DPPH and <i>W. indica</i> (IC₅₀ 0.01685), <i>A. muricata, Calluna vulgaris</i> (IC₅₀ 0.01687), <i>Echinacea purpurea, Aloe vera, Blighia sapida</i> NPs in ABTS (in <i>mg/ml</i> concentration) exhibited a very promising anti-oxidant effect. The plant <i>Fagonia critica (F. cretica)</i> (IC₅₀ 0.1), <i>Cassica auriculata (C. auriculata), Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera)</i>, <i>Caralluma tuberculate (C. tuberculate)</i> in α-glucosidase and <i>F. cretica</i>, <i>C. auriculata, M. oleifera</i>, <i>Broccoli florets</i>, <i>C. tuberculata</i> mediated NPs, in α-amylase assay (<i>mg/ml</i> concentration) showed the most prominent antidiabetic effects. Therefore, the green-synthesized SeNPs could be considered as distinct antioxidant and antidiabetic agents, potentially contributing to both antidiabetic and anti-oxidant therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"167-188"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"miR-103/107-Mediated Suppression of NKILA Enhances Oncogenic Behaviors in Human Lung Cancer Cells.","authors":"Davood Jafari, Hossein Naghiloo, Seyyed Shamsadin Athari, Farshid Noorbakhsh, Nima Rezaei","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lung cancer remains a major global health burden, and conventional therapies often fail to meet clinical needs. Although non-coding RNAs are increasingly recognized as key regulators in cancer, the role of NKILA and its modulation by the miR-103/107 cluster in lung cancer growth and metastasis is not fully characterized. This study investigates the impact of the NKILA-miR-103/107 axis on lung cancer progression and metastatic behavior.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To suppress miR-103 and miR-107 activity in the human lung cancer cell line A549, specific LNA-based inhibitors were introduced into the cells. Following <i>in vitro</i> transfection with either miR-specific LNA or a mock control, alterations in the components of the NKILA-miR-103/107 regulatory pathway were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. The effects of miR inhibition on cellular behavior were then evaluated by measuring A549 cell growth with an MTT assay and assessing invasive capacity through a Transwell invasion test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In lung cancer A549 cells, suppression of miR-103/107 using LNA inhibitors led to a marked elevation in NKILA transcript levels. Functional assays showed that miR-103/107 inhibition was associated with a significant decrease in A549 cell viability (p=0.0041) and a pronounced reduction in invasive capacity (p=0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this <i>in vitro</i> study using A549 lung cancer cells, the NKILA-miR-103/107 axis was associated with lung cancer aggressiveness. miR-103/107 inhibition upregulated NKILA and was accompanied by decreased proliferation and invasion of A549 cells. These findings are preliminary and limited to a single cell line model. Further validation in additional lung cancer models and <i>in vivo</i> systems is required to determine the broader biological and therapeutic relevance of this regulatory interaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"216-222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactivities of Mangrove-Associated Filamentous Fungi from Jepara, Indonesia: Anti-Bacterial Metabolites and Wood-Degrading Enzymes.","authors":"Christian Wibowo, Delianis Pringgenies, Sri Sedjati","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v18i3.22242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mangrove-associated fungi are widely known due to their bioactivities, especially their antibacterial and lignocellulose-degrading enzymes activity. However, research on their bioactivity in Indonesia, particularly in Jepara Regency remain limited. This research aims to explore the antibacterial and wood-degrading enzymatic properties from mangroves-associated fungi of Jepara, Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 43 isolates were successfully collected from leaf and barks of <i>Excoecaria agallocha</i>, <i>Acanthus ilicifolius</i>, as well as <i>Lumnitzera racemosa</i>. Antibacterial screening against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) was then conducted to all isolates, where 1 isolate was active against <i>E. coli</i>, 12 against <i>S. aureus</i>, and 5 isolates active against both pathogens. All active isolates were identified through microscopic observation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Isolates with the most consistent inhibition zone, namely AB1, E2D2, E2B4, and LB10 continued to have metabolite extraction and antibacterial assay through disc-diffusion methods against the same 2 pathogens. Isolate E2B4 was able to produce the largest halo zone diameter measuring 22.28±1.59 <i>mm</i> at concentration of 50 <i>mg/mL</i> against <i>S. aureus</i>. Based on preliminary phytochemical screening, crude extract of E2B4 contains flavonoid and alkaloid as secondary metabolite. To search for further bioactivity, wood-degrading enzymatic assay was conducted, where the result showed that 6 isolates were actively produced cellulase, 1 laccase, 7 tannase, and 5 lignin peroxidase. DNA barcoding revealed that AB1, E2D2, and E2B4 isolates were identified as <i>Phaeophleospora eucalypticola, Curvularia lunata,</i> and <i>Paraconiothyrium</i> sp., respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Therefore, these findings highlight mangrove-associated fungi bio-activities potential through screening assay and provide critical information regarding the rarely studied Indonesian fungi.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 3","pages":"249-262"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishing an Optimized Caco-2/THP-1 Co-Culture Model to Efficiently Simulate Inflammatory Bowel Disease <i>In Vitro</i>.","authors":"Gilda Parsamanesh, Kaveh Baghaei, Nima Rezaei","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i2.21506","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i2.21506","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a complex disorder for which the mechanisms and targeted therapies remain unclear. Several <i>in vitro</i> models, including organoids, cytokine-stimulated Caco-2 monolayers, and co-culture systems, have been developed to study IBD pathogenesis and potential treatments. Meanwhile, the Caco-2/THP-1 co-culture is a practical model representing the interaction of intestinal epithelial and immune cells. However, multiple factors, such as culture duration and exposure time to inflammatory agents, significantly affect model outcomes. Developing an optimized co-culture that better mimics intestinal inflammation can introduce a valuable method for future studies. This study aimed to optimize a Caco-2/THP-1 co-culture model, focusing on culture timing and treatment conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophage-like cells (M0) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 50 <i>ng/ml</i>, 48 <i>hr</i>). M0 cells were treated with different Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations for 6 or 24 <i>hr</i> to determine the optimal inflammatory dose. Inflammatory macrophages (M1) were co-cultured with differentiated or undifferentiated Caco-2 monolayers. Expression of <i>IL-6</i>, <i>IL-8</i>, and <i>TNF-α</i> was measured by qRT-PCR, M1 macrophage markers (CD86/HLA-DR) by flow cytometry, and nitric oxide by the Griess assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Stimulation with 100 <i>ng/ml</i> LPS for 6 <i>hr</i> increased M1 (CD86⁺/HLA-DR⁺) macrophages to 58.9% and induced maximal nitric oxide production (179.3 <i>μM</i>). Co-culture with these M1 cells enhanced IL-8 and modestly increased IL-6 expression in differentiated Caco-2 cells compared with other groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The differentiated Caco-2/THP-1 co-culture efficiently mimics intestinal inflammation observed in IBD and provides an optimized <i>in vitro</i> model for further investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 2","pages":"137-146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13374668/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential Targets in Innate Immunity Receptors for Gastric Cancer: Insights from Virtual Screening in TCM and <i>In Vitro</i> Assay.","authors":"Abbas Ganjali, Baratali Fakheri, Abbas Bahari, Leila Fahmideh, Reza Valadan, Mahdi Tavakolizadeh","doi":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i2.21503","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ajmb.v18i2.21503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gastric Cancer (GC) poses a substantial global health threat, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among gastrointestinal malignancies. This investigation explores the potential therapeutic implications of plant extracts on gastric cancer, with a specific focus on their effects on the innate immune system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive analysis was conducted using 200 Sequence Read Runs (SRRs) thigh samples associated with gastrointestinal cancer tissue, juxtaposed with pathologically confirmed healthy tissues serving as controls. Differential Gene Expression (DGE) testing, encompassing the examination of 28,000 genes, including 95 pivotal genes associated with the innate immune system, was conducted. Findings elucidate alterations in the expression of key pattern recognition receptors, such as TLR2 and TLR4, as well as pivotal molecules within their signaling pathways. In pursuit of potential antagonists for these receptors, virtual screening on the Maestro docking platform in the Schrödinger 2022 package was conducted, evaluating 220,000 diverse tautomer's of plant active substances. Selected candidates, exhibiting superior docking scores across four additional platforms, were subjected to further scrutiny.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MMT results showed that nettle extract showed significant cytotoxic effects within 12 <i>hr</i> compared to the control (no treatment) sample, resulting in a 34.7% reduction in AGS cancer cell viability. The flow cytometry test showed that the control group had 71%, and groups treated with nettle extract for two and 12 <i>hr</i> had 65.3 and 67.18% viable cells, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant, indicating that nettle extract selectively preserves healthy living cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cytotoxicity tests and cell cycle assessments confirmed the ability of nettle extract to reduce the survival of GC cells. This property makes nettle a promising candidate for drug development in this direction.</p>","PeriodicalId":8669,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology","volume":"18 2","pages":"113-120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13374676/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}