Chang Wang^1,2,#, Zhi Zhang^1,#, Wei Sun¹, Quan Quan³, Wenshuang Hou³, Chenghao Jin^1,3,4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 465-482, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.062155 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Objectives: Epibrassinolide (EBR) is a steroid hormone with anti-tumor properties. Nevertheless, its potential to inhibit gastric cancer (GC) cells remains unknown. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of EBR on GC cells and to investigate the specific mechanism of EBR. Methods: A cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was utilized to determine cell survival rates. The investigation of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was performed using flow cytometry. To detect cell migration, a wound-healing assay was performed on AGS cells. Furthermore, western blotting assay was utilized to determine… More >

Hongjuan Guo¹, Dan Liu^1,2, Ruyu Yan^1,2, Tianjing Zhang³, Kecheng Zhou^1,2,*, Minxia Liu^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 483-502, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.062143 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Objectives: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a formidable malignancy characterized by its marked metastatic potential and intrinsic resistance to therapeutic interventions. The identification of potential biomarkers delineating the progression and metastatic cascade of NSCLC assumes paramount importance in fostering advancements toward enhanced patient outcomes and prognostic stratification. Methods: The expression level of the actin-related protein 2/3 complex; subunit 1A (ARPC1A) in NSCLC was evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases; along with the LinkedOmics database for co-expression genes. Further verification of ARPC1A expression in normal lung cells… More >

Nicholas T. Bello¹, Bonnie L. Firestein², Maribel Vazquez^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 349-354, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.061810 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Neurodegeneration of retinal tissue leads to progressive vision loss in millions of working-age adults each year. Metabolic alterations caused by modern diets that are high in fats and sugars contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy. Chronic, diet-induced metabolic changes are linked to high glucose and harmful, pro-inflammatory compounds in the blood, called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), that can alter the integrity of neurovascular barriers. AGEs-induced changes to the permeability of the inner blood-retinal barrier can lead to progressive vision loss with disparate impacts in patients with low estrogen, such as via natural aging More >

Alena A. Semenova^1,*, Anastasia D. Igoshkina¹, Alena A. Cherepanova¹, Natalia V. Mikina¹, Anastasia E. Stepanova¹, Оlga E. Krasnoshchekova¹, Vyacheslav A. Sharapov¹, Rimma G. Savchenko², Lyudmila V. Parfenova², Mikhail V. Dubinin¹

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 437-450, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.061798 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Objectives: Skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) occurs as a result of a marked reduction in arterial perfusion to a limb and can lead to tissue death and threaten limb viability. This work assessed the effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on hindlimb skeletal tissue following tourniquet-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: Animals were divided into 4 groups—control group (Control), Control + 20E (C + 20E), mice with IRI (IRI), and mice with IRI + 20E (IRI + 20E). IRI was modeled by applying a tourniquet to the hind limb for 2 h with reperfusion for 1 h. 5 mg/kg… More >

Kristina A. Kritskaya, Evgeniya I. Fedotova, Alexander D. Nadeev^*, Alexey V. Berezhnov^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 451-464, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.061624 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Objective: Activation of mitophagy is a promising option to overcome the mitochondrial malfunction that accompanies many diseases. Herein, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the ability of sodium lactate and pyruvate to initiate mitophagy, from the perspective of action on mitochondrial network and expression levels. Methods: Fluorescent and confocal microscopy was used to assess key cell parameters characterizing the state of the mitochondrial network and the level of mitophagy in human fibroblasts carrying mutations in genes encoding LRRK2 and PINK1 after the combined application of lactate and pyruvate and after direct acidification. qRT-PCR was used to… More >

Nathan Isaac Dibal^1,*, Martha Orendu Oche Attah^1,2

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 419-435, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.060565 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Oxidative stress is characterized by elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. At physiological levels, ROS work as signaling molecules, helping cells go through the cell cycle normally and keeping their balance. They also balance several physiological processes. However, a shift in the delicate balance between antioxidants and ROS results in aberrant cell death and deleterious effects. Elevated ROS is implicated in many diseases and disorders like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, infertility, and cardiovascular disorders. The imbalance disrupts normal cellular functions, including cell division. ROS are important regulators of the cell cycle, exerting both favorable and More >

Olga Koval^1,2,*, Maria Zhilnikova¹, Maria Balantaeva^1,2, Mikhail Biryukov^1,2, Vasiliy Atamanov^1,3

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 355-379, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059987 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Melanomas are aggressive cancers, with a high rate of metastatic disease. Cutaneous (CM) and uveal (UM) melanomas are intrinsically different diseases, and most cell death inducers effective for CM do not function for UM. This is primarily due to the fact the eye is an immunologically privileged organ, and it fails to achieve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) comparable to that for CM. However, approaches utilizing specific melanoma-associated antigens are being developed for metastatic forms of CM and UM. The most promising to date are gp100 and tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1), primarily… More >

Juan Yang^1,2,#, Jiahui Zhang^3,#, Le Zhang^1,2,*, Zhenshan Yang^4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 399-417, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059908 - 31 March 2025

Abstract With the prevalence of obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and can cause a series of serious complications. The pathogenesis of MASLD is complex, characterized by oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism, and cellular inflammation. Mitochondrial biology and function are central to the physiology of the liver. It has been suggested that mitochondrial oxidative stress plays a crucial role in MASLD progression. Excessive oxidative stress response is an important trigger for the occurrence and development of MASLD. In this review, we aim to More >

Emmanuel Mago¹, Jiayi Xu¹, Dan Weng^1,*, Yan Pan^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 381-398, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059432 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, functioning as a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor that triggers PANoptosis, a form of programmed cell death that integrates pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. Although ZBP1 was initially recognized for its role in antiviral defense, recent research has highlighted its importance in the tumor microenvironment (TME), where it is essential for suppressing tumor growth and proliferation. This review explores the multifaceted role of ZBP1 in various cancer types, emphasizing its ability to detect Z-nucleic acids and double-stranded RNAs, leading to the initiation of… More >

Xiaojian Chen^1,2,#, Zhujiang Dai^1,#, Qiang Wang³, Wei Chen¹, Yun Liu^1,*, Zhongchuan Wang^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 503-518, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059286 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Background: Nudix Hydrolase 21 (NUDT21) is crucial for the regulation of alternative polyadenylation, with its reduced expression frequently resulting in a shortened mRNA 3^′ untranslated region (UTR), thereby enhancing the protein levels of downstream genes. Although NUDT21 is widely recognized for its tumor-suppressive function in various cancers, its involvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood. Methods: The expression of NUDT21 in CRC and adjacent normal tissues was analyzed through qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, we investigated the correlation between NUDT21 expression and patient prognosis. With Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and Transwell assay, we… More >