Open Access
REVIEW
Yong CHEN1, Yongpin DONG2, Xiaoli DU3,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 1-5, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08041
Abstract The human respiratory system consists of the upper and the lower respiratory tracts. Anatomically, the lower
respiratory tract consists of the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles (terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles),
alveolar duct, alveolar duct sacs, and alveoli. Alveoli are composed of two epithelial cell types, cuboidal alveolar type
2 (AT2) cells that secrete surfactant to prevent alveolar collapse and function as stem cells to regenerate alveolar type
1 (AT1) cells during damage repair, and squamous AT1 cells that cover most of the surface area of the alveoli and
mediate gas exchange. Previous studies mainly focused on AT2 cells; this review summarizes… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Yuguo YI, Jiamin ZHENG, Yang ZHOU, Zhiqin LIU, Dan WENG*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 7-11, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08686
Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a huge threat to public health of the whole world.
Around 25% of NAFLD patients will progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has been predicted to be
the main reason for liver transplantation in the United States in 2020. Extensive effort has been devoted to investigating
the underlying molecular mechanisms of NASH pathogenesis and developing new promising treatments. Recent
studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis, an inflammatory programmed cell death mediated by inflammasome and
gasdermin-D (GSDMD), is involved in the development and progression of NASH. This review aims to summarize the
recent findings regarding the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xihe TANG1,2, Meigang YU3, Rui HUANG2, Shengyong LAN2,*; Yimin FAN1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 13-18, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.07593
Abstract Human-induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) transplantation is a potential treatment of neurodegeneration
diseases. However, whether the reprogrammed cells have the same characterizations as human fetal neural stem cells
needs further exploration. Here we isolated human fetal neural stem cells from aborted 12-week fetal brains and
compared with iNSCs reprogrammed from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in gene expression, proliferation
ability, differentiation capacity, and the responses to tumor necrosis factor-α. We found that iNSCs and NSCs both
expressed neural stem cell markers Nestin, SOX1, and SOX2. However, only iNSCs can be patterned into dopaminergic
neurons and motor neurons. Furthermore, both iNSCs… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Binbin QIAN1, Xiaoduo LIU2, Xiaolin GU1, Lu YANG3, Dake CHEN1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 19-26, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.07859
Abstract Prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP) belongs to the S28 family of proteases, which is also a dipeptidyl peptidase.
In this study, we demonstrate the expression pattern of PRCP in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found that
the repression of PRCP expression by small interfering RNA successfully inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and
invasion. Further, we explored the involvement of PRCP in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
The epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly increased, meanwhile mesenchymal markers MUC1, vimentin, and
SNAIL were markedly decreased in PRCP knockdown cells. Moreover, the downregulation of PRCP in the NSCLC
cells induced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Osama M. AHMED1, Mohamed A. HASSAN2, Ablaa S. SALEH2
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 27-29, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08040
Abstract This study aimed to assess the effect of hesperetin and/or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
(BM-MSCs) on disturbed lipid profile, heart and kidney functions, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system
in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was induced in male Wistar rats by
injecting 40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) STZ dissolved in citrate buffer (pH 4.5). The diabetic rats were treated with
hesperetin orally administered at dose 20 mg/kg b.w., BM-MSCs intravenously injected at a dose of 1 x 106 cells/
rat/week and their combination for 6 weeks. The diabetic rats exhibited lipid abnormalities manifested by… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Osama M. AHMED1,*, Sanaa R. GALALY2, Mai RASLAN3, Mennah-Allah M. A. MOSTAFA1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 41-53, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08157
Abstract This study aimed to assess the preventive effects of thyme oil and thymol on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced
renotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Thyme oil was subjected to GC-MS analysis, which
indicated that thymol was the major constituent representing 33.896%. Rats intraperitoneally injected with DOX at
a dose of 2 mg/kg b.w./one per week for 7 weeks were co-treated with thyme oil and its major constituent, thymol, at
doses 250 and 100 mg/kg b.w./every other day, respectively, by oral gavage for the same period. Thyme oil and thymol
markedly ameliorated the raised levels of serum urea, uric acid, and… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Sahar ALZAIN1, Hana AL SHEIKH1, Arwa AL THOMALI2, Fatimah AL-MUKAYNIZI2, Noha ALMOBEREK2, Sahar A. ALMALKI2, Narasimha Reddy PARINE3, Arjumand WARSY2,
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 55-62, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.07974
Abstract Residual ridge resorption (RRR) is the decrease in the jaw structure that follows tooth extraction. It is a
multifactorial disorder, but reports on the associated genetic factors are scarce, particularly amongst the Saudis. This
study aimed to investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in fibroblast growth factor receptor
1 oncogene partner 2 (FGFR1OP2) in RRR development in Saudis. The study included 192 individuals (RRR = 96;
controls = 96) attending outpatient clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University. Demographic and clinical
data were collected, the digital panoramic dental radiograph was obtained, and mandibular residual ridge height… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Sareh HAJIABADI1, Mansour MASHREGHI1, Ahmad Reza BAHRAMI1,2, Kiarash GHAZVINI3, Maryam M. MATIN1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 63-71, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08171
Abstract Cellulose is the main structural component of lignocellulosic wastes that can be converted to sugars and
biofuels by cellulase. Due to wide applications of this enzyme in various industries around the world, cellulase is
considered as the third industrial enzyme. The ability of thermophilic bacteria in the production of heat-stable cellulases
has made them valuable tools in biotechnology. The aim of this study was isolation and molecular identification of
cellulolytic thermophile bacteria from Dig Rostam hot spring and investigating their cellulase activity. Samples were
taken from water and sediments of this hot spring, and cellulolytic bacteria were enriched in media… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Wensong LIU1, Yunjie LU1, Dong ZHANG1, Longqing SHI1, Guangchen ZU1, Haijiao YAN2,*, Donglin SUN1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 73-80, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08613
Abstract Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies with poor prognosis and high mortality.
Recent studies showed that microRNAs are dysregulated and involved in the initiation and progression of pancreatic
cancer. In this study, we found that miR-708 was significantly downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell
lines. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of miR-708 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and invasion, while
enhanced chemosensitivity to gemcitabine in both Panc-1 and SW1990 cells. Luciferase reporter assay showed that
miR-708 bound the 3’-untranslated region of survivin and suppressed the expression of survivin in pancreatic cancer
cells. In pancreatic cancer tissues, survivin protein was… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xinxiong FEI, Wenbin HU, Gangsheng WANG, Chunyan SU, Xuqun HUANG, Zhongjun JIANG*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 81-88, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08125
Abstract Lung cancer poses a serious threat to human life with high incidence and miRNA is an important biomarker
in tumors. This study aimed to explore the effect of miR-143-3p on the biological function of lung cancer cells and the
underlying mechanism. Eighty-seven samples of lung cancer tissues and 81 samples of tumor-adjacent tissues from
patients undergoing radical lung cancer surgery in our hospital were collected. The lung cancer cells and lung fibroblast
cells (HFL-1) were purchased, and then miR-143-3p-mimics, miR-NC, si-CTNND1, and NC were transfected into
A549 and PC-9 cells to establish cell models. MiR-143-3p and CTNND1 expression levels were… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Zhenzhen SHI, Jiaxin CAO, Hailong PANG, Lingyun JIA, Kun SUN, Hanqing FENG*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 89-99, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08059
Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most widespread and toxic heavy metals to plants. Extracellular ATP (exATP) is
thought to be an extracellular effector in regulating the physiological responses of plant cells to environmental stresses.
However, the function of exATP in Cd-stressed plant cells is much unknown. The present work showed that treating
tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow-2) cell-suspension cultures with exogenous CdCl2 reduced the cell
viability, exATP level, and Mg content. However, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Cd content, and
electrolyte leakage of the cells were enhanced by exogenous CdCl2. When the Cd-induced accumulation of… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xin YANG*, Liqun LU, Li HUANG, Jing HE, Jie LV
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 101-110, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08324
Abstract T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a hematological tumor caused by the malignant
transformation of immature T-cell progenitor cells. Emerging studies have stated that microRNAs (miRNAs) may play
key roles in T-ALL progression. This study aimed to investigate the roles of miR-145-3p in T-ALL cell proliferation,
invasion, and apoptosis with the involvement of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. T-ALL Jurkat
cells were harvested, and the expression of miR-145-3p and NF-κB-p65 was measured. Gain- and loss-of-functions of
miR-145-3p and NF-κB-p65 were performed to identify their roles in the biological behaviors of Jurkat cells, including
proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Consequently, the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Ha ABDEL MAKSOUD1, Mk MAHFOUZ1, Mi SOLIMAN1, Mohamed G ELHARRIF2,*, M ABBASS1, Ma EL-BADRY1,
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 111-115, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08399
Abstract Pyrethroid esters are widely used as insecticides worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the harmful
effect of deltamethrin on the male reproductive system through the assessment of reproductive hormones, inflammatory
markers, and testicular function. To achieve our aim, eighty male 7-9-week-old, Wistar rats were taken, weighed, and
divided into four experimental groups. The first group was kept as a control group, and the other three groups were
given deltamethrin orally at different concentrations (0.87, 8.7, and 17.4 mg/kg body weight) for nine weeks. The results
indicated that deltamethrin administration associated with a significant decrease in reproductive hormones, especially… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yao SUN, Yao LI, Xin SUN, Qiong WU, Lei WANG*
BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 117-126, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08242
Abstract Phosphorylation is a common type of post-translational modification (PTM). It plays a vital role in many
cellular processes. The reversible phosphorylation and dephosphorylation affect protein structures and proteinprotein
interactions. Previously, we obtained five proteins that interact with ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) from the
cDNA library of Populus simonii x Populus nigra. To further investigate the effect of dephosphorylation of PsnERF on
its protein binding ability, we generated different phosphorylation states of PsnERF and demonstrated their protein
binding capacity by the yeast two-hybrid assay (Y2H). The secondary structures and 3D structures of PsnERF, ERFm,
TrunERF, and psnerf197/198/202a were predicted by homology modeling.… More >
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