Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2023 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
Obstructive uropathy is a clinical condition that can lead to chronic kidney disease. However, treatments that can prevent the progression of renal injury and fibrosis are limited. Farrerol (FA) is a natural flavone with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the effect of FA on renal injury and fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Mice underwent a sham or UUO operation and received intraperitoneal injections of FA (20 mg/kg) daily for 8 consecutive days. Histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, Western blotting, gene expression analysis, and biochemical tests were performed. FA attenuated renal dysfunction (p < 0.05) and ameliorated renal tubular injury (p < 0.01) and interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.001) in UUO mice. FA alleviated 4-hydroxynonenal expression (p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) by regulating pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Apoptosis in the kidneys of UUO mice was inhibited by FA (p < 0.001), and this action was accompanied by decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3 (p < 0.01). Moreover, FA alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine production (p < 0.001) and macrophage infiltration (p < 0.01) in the kidneys of UUO mice. These results suggest that FA ameliorates renal injury and fibrosis in the UUO model by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation....
Background: Achilles-tendon rupture prevails as a common tendon pathology. Adiposederived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are multipotent stem cells derived from adipose tissue with attractive regeneration properties; thus, their application in tendinopathies could be beneficial. Methods: Male rabbit ADMSCs were obtained from the falciform ligament according to previously established methods. After tenotomy and suture of the Achilles tendon, 1 × 106 flowcytometry- characterized male ADMSCs were injected in four female New Zealand white rabbits in the experimental group (ADMSC group), whereas four rabbits were left untreated (lesion group). Confirmation of ADMSC presence in the injured site after 12 weeks was performed with quantitative sex-determining region Y (SRY)-gene RT-PCR. At Week 12, histochemical analysis was performed to evaluate tissue regeneration along with quantitative RT-PCR of collagen I and collagen III mRNA. Results: Presence of male ADMSCs was confirmed at Week 12. No statistically significant differences were found in the histochemical analysis; however, statistically significant differences between ADMSC and lesion group expression of collagen I and collagen III were evidenced, with 36.6% and 24.1% GAPDH-normalized mean expression, respectively, for collagen I (p < 0.05) and 26.3% and 11.9% GAPDH-normalized mean expression, respectively, for collagen III (p < 0.05). The expression ratio between the ADMSC and lesion group was 1.5 and 2.2 for collagen I and collagen III, respectively. Conclusion: Our results make an important contribution to the understanding and effect of ADMSCs in Achilles-tendon rupture....
Neuropeptide B (NPB) and neuropeptideW(NPW) are neuropeptides, which constitute NPB/W signaling systems together with G-protein coupled receptors NPBWR1. The location and function of NPB/W signaling systems have been predominantly detected and mapped within the CNS, including their role in the modulation of inflammatory pain, neuroendocrine functions, and autonomic nervous systems. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of diabetes on the neuropeptide B/W signaling system in different heart compartments and neurons which innervates it. In the RT-qPCR analysis, we observed the upregulation of mRNA for preproNPB in RV, for preproNPW in LA, and for NPBWR1 in DRG in diabetic rats. On the contrary, the expression of mRNA for NPBWR1 was downregulated in LV in diabetic rats. In the WB analysis, significant downregulation of NPBWR1 in LV (0.54-fold, p = 0.046) in diabetic rats was observed at the proteomic level. The presence of NPBWR1 was also confirmed in a dissected LCM section of cardiomyocytes and coronary arteries. The positive inotropic effect of NPW described on the diabetic cardiomyocytes in vitro could point to a possible therapeutic target for compensation of the contractile dysfunction in the diabetic heart. In conclusion, the NPB/W signaling system is involved in the regulation of heart functions and long-term diabetes leads to changes in the expression of individual members of this signaling system differently in each cardiac compartment, which is related to the different morphology and function of these cardiac chambers....
Selenium (Se), an essential antioxidant trace element, is reported to play a role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, there is a lack of systematic studies on different Se forms against PD. Our study is designed to compare the neuroprotective effects of inorganic and organic Se in two classical PD mice models and investigate the underlying mechanisms for their potentially differential actions against PD. In this study, different dosages of inorganic sodium selenite (Se-Na) or organic seleno-Lmethionine (Se-Met) were fed to either acute or chronic PD mice models, and their neuroprotective effects and mechanisms were explored and compared. Se-Na provided better neuroprotective effects in PD mice than Se-Met administered at the same but at a relatively low Se dosage. Se-Na treatment could influence GPX activities but not their mRNA expressions in the midbrains of PD mice. The enhanced GPX activities caused by Se-Na, but not Se-Met, in PD mice could be the major reason for the positive actions of inorganic Se to prevent dopaminergic neuronal loss in this study. In vivo bio-distribution experiments found MPTP injection greatly changed Se bio-distribution in mice, which led to reversed alterations in the bioavailability of Se-Met and Se-Na. Se-Na had higher bioavailability than Se-Met in PD mice, which could explain its better neuroprotective effects compared to Se-Met. Our results proved that Se forms and dosages determined their biological actions in mouse models of PD. Our study will provide valuable scientific evidence to researchers and/or medical professionals in using Se for PD prevention or therapy....
Verbenalin, among the major constituents of Verbena officinalis, has been reported to exhibit sleep-promoting and antioxidant activities. This study demonstrates the effects of verbenalin on amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide generation in Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP)- overexpressing Neuro2a cells (SweAPP/N2a) and in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) animal models. We further performed molecular biological analyses of these in vitro and in vivo models of AD. The effects of verbenalin were assessed based on the expression of factors related to Aβ peptide production usingWestern blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The intracellular expression and release of APP protein were both decreased by verbenalin treatment in SweAPP/N2a cells. Thus, the production of Aβ peptides was decreased. Compared to those in AD transgenic (Tg) mice, IHC revealed that verbenalin-treated animals showed decreased Aβ and tau expression levels in the hippocampus. In addition, verbenalin restored the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of AD animal models. These findings suggest that verbenalin may decrease Aβ formation both in vitro and in vivo. Verbenalin may also help improve the pathological hallmarks of AD....
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