Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is the most important and widespread type of cancer in women's population.
Aim:This study was conducted to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles conjugated with gingerol (ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol) and evaluate their anticancer effects on breast cancer cells.
Materials and Methods: To synthesize ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol nanoparticles, one gram of ZnO@CPTMS nanoparticles was dispersed in 30 ml of dry toluene. One gram of gingerol and 10 ml of triethylamine were added to the reaction mixture and refluxed for 24 hours. The product was washed twice with a mixture of distilled water and ethanol (1:1), and the final product was dried at 100°C for 24 hours. Physicochemical properties of ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol nanoparticles were studied by FT-IR, XRD, DLS, EDS, zeta potential measurement, and electron microscope imaging. The inhibitory effects of different concentrations of ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol nanoparticles on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HEK293, as normal cells, were evaluated by the MTT test. To perform this experiment, cells were prepared in 96-well cell culture plates with a density of 104 cells/well, and then were treated with concentrations of 15.625, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 μg/mL of ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol. After incubating the cells for 24 hours at 37°C, 0.2 ml of MTT solution was added to each well. The wells without nanoparticles treatment were considered as controls. After incubation for 4 hours, the supernatant was removed, and 100 μl of DMSO solution was added to each well. After pipetting, the optical density was read at 570 nm using an ELISA Reader. To determine the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells, 5x10⁵ cells were treated with ZnO@CPTMS-Gingerol nanoparticles for 24 hours with half inhibitory concentration (IC50). Then, the treated and control cells were stained with annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) dyes. Finally, cell analysis was done by a flow cytometer. Data analysis was done using device software and dividing the points recorded in the two-dimensional curve into four regions including Q1 to Q4. The experiments were performed in three replicates, and the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis including t-tests, and one-way ANOVA was performed using SPSS. A p

Abstract Aim: The toxic effects of cadmium exposure are mainly due to the production of oxygen free radicals, reduction of cellular antioxidants and oxidative stress, which can lead to cell component destruction, DNA damage, apoptosis and ultimately tissue damage. In this study, the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine, as a substance with antioxidant properties, in cadmium-exposed Wistar mice were investigated by liver histology and measuring the expression of effective genes in apoptosis and cell proliferation.
Material and Methods: Mice weighing approximately 150-200 g were classified into three treatments including, G1) control treatment, G2) cadmium recipient treatment, and G3) concomitant cadmium and N-acetylcysteine treatment and for four weeks received the desired. Then liver tissue samples were taken for histopathological examination and expression of eif4e and mad1 genes.
Results: The results of this study showed that cadmium exposure resulted in serious damage to rat liver tissue, including central artery hyperemia, increased number of inflammatory cells and inflammation in the liver parenchyma, while the use of N-acetylcysteine significantly reduced the mentioned injuries. Also, the use of N-acetylcysteine resulted in a significant reduction in the expression of eif4e and mad1 genes by 2.14 and 2.27 times, compared with mice that received only cadmium.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that N-acetylcysteine as an antioxidant can play an important role in preventing tissue damage due to oxidative stress and preventing the induction of cellular apoptosis.