Recent studies suggested that boron has a chemo-preventive role in prostate cancer. In the present report, we investigated the effects of calcium fructoborate (CF) and boric acid (BA) on activation of the apoptotic pathway in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Exposure to BA and CF inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with CF but not BA resulted in a decrease in p53 and bcl-2 protein levels. Furthermore, after the treatment with CF, augmentation of pro-caspase-3 protein expression, cytosolic cytochrome c level, and caspase-3 activity were observed, indicating apoptotic cell death induction. This was also demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end-labeling assay. In conclusion, our data provide arguments to the fact that both BA and CF inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells, while only CF induced apoptosis. Additional studies will be needed to identify the underlying mechanism responsible for the observed cellular responses to these compounds and to determine if BA and CF may be further evaluated as chemotherapeutic agents for human cancer.

The present study is supported by our previous findings suggesting that calcium fructoborate (CF) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Thus, we investigated the effects of CF on a model for studying inflammatory disorders in vitro represented by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. This investigation was performed by analyzing the levels of some mediators released during the inflammatory process: cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukins IL-1beta and IL-6 as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the main enzyme responsible for endotoxin/LPS-induced prostaglandin synthesis by macrophages. We also measured production of nitric oxide (NO) that plays an important role in the cytotoxicity activity of macrophages towards microbial pathogens. After CF treatment of LPS-stimulated macrophages we found an up-regulation of TNF-alpha protein level in culture medium, no significant changes in the level of COX-2 protein expression and a decrease in NO production as well as in IL-1beta and IL-6 release. Collectively, this series of experiments indicate that CF affect macrophage production of inflammatory mediators. However, further research is required in order to establish whether CF treatment can be beneficial in suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and against progression of endotoxin-related diseases.

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We report on the in vitro response of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1 cell line) to various thin films of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) deposited on titanium (Ti) substrates by low pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD). The aim was to study the influence of film structural parameters on the cell behavior comparatively with a native-oxide covered titanium specimen, this objective being topical and interesting for materials applications in implantology. HGF-1 cells were cultured on three LP-MOCVD prepared thin films of TiO 2 differentiated by their thickness, roughness, transversal morphology, allotropic composition and wettability, and on a native-oxide covered Ti substrate. Besides traditional tests of cell viability and morphology, the biocompatibility of these materials was evaluated by fibronectin immunostaining, assessment of cell proliferation status and the zymographic evaluation of gelatinolytic activities specific to matrix metalloproteinases secreted by cells grown in contact with studied specimens. The analyzed surfaces proved to influence fibronectin fibril assembly, cell proliferation and capacity to degrade extracellular matrix without considerably affecting cell viability and morphology. The MOCVD of TiO 2 proved effective in positively modifying titanium surface for medical applications. Surface properties playing a crucial role for cell behavior were the wettability and, secondarily, the roughness, HGF-1 cells preferring a moderately rough and wettable TiO 2 coating.

This investigation is based on the premise that heavy metals are sequestered by the mineral phase of teeth [1,2], hydroxyapatite, during their formation and there is a relation between heavy metal pollution and progressive destruction of human primary tooth. Our study was carried out on temporary molars – sound and carious - extracted from children up to 6 year old, residing in an area of Romania known to be highly polluted with heavy metals (Pb and Cd). In carious dentin extracts we found increased levels of collagen type 1 and alkaline phosphatase activity that can be correlated with the remineralization processus during teeth decay. Gelatin zymography shown increased MMP-1 (type-I collagenase) and MMP-2 (gelatinase-A) activities only in dentin extract from carious teeth isolated from children residing in a highly polluted area, suggesting their role in pathological extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and degradation processes in the progression of carious decay.