scholarly journals Nickel: Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Genchi ◽  
Alessia Carocci ◽  
Graziantonio Lauria ◽  
Maria Stefania Sinicropi ◽  
Alessia Catalano
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Transition Element ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Epigenetic Alterations ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunctions ◽  
Nasal Cancer ◽  
Nickel Exposure

Nickel is a transition element extensively distributed in the environment, air, water, and soil. It may derive from natural sources and anthropogenic activity. Although nickel is ubiquitous in the environment, its functional role as a trace element for animals and human beings has not been yet recognized. Environmental pollution from nickel may be due to industry, the use of liquid and solid fuels, as well as municipal and industrial waste. Nickel contact can cause a variety of side effects on human health, such as allergy, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, lung fibrosis, lung and nasal cancer. Although the molecular mechanisms of nickel-induced toxicity are not yet clear, mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress are thought to have a primary and crucial role in the toxicity of this metal. Recently, researchers, trying to characterize the capability of nickel to induce cancer, have found out that epigenetic alterations induced by nickel exposure can perturb the genome. The purpose of this review is to describe the chemical features of nickel in human beings and the mechanisms of its toxicity. Furthermore, the attention is focused on strategies to remove nickel from the environment, such as phytoremediation and phytomining.

Excitotoxicity as a Target Against Neurodegenerative Processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1251-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio Binvignat ◽  
Jordi Olloquequi
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunctions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Clinical Investigations ◽  
Turn Over ◽  
Excitotoxic Cell Death ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

: The global burden of neurodegenerative diseases is alarmingly increasing in parallel to the aging of population. Although the molecular mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration are not completely understood, excitotoxicity, defined as the injury and death of neurons due to excessive or prolonged exposure to excitatory amino acids, has been shown to play a pivotal role. The increased release and/or decreased uptake of glutamate results in dysregulation of neuronal calcium homeostasis, leading to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, disturbances in protein turn-over and neuroinflammation. : Despite the anti-excitotoxic drug memantine has shown modest beneficial effects in some patients with dementia, to date, there is no effective treatment capable of halting or curing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This has led to a growing body of research focusing on understanding the mechanisms associated with the excitotoxic insult and on uncovering potential therapeutic strategies targeting these mechanisms. : In the present review, we examine the molecular mechanisms related to excitotoxic cell death. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive and updated state of the art of preclinical and clinical investigations targeting excitotoxic- related mechanisms in order to provide an effective treatment against neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals Expression and function of Smad7 in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiping Hu ◽  
Juan He ◽  
Lianhua He ◽  
Bihua Xu ◽  
Qingwen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Signaling Mechanism ◽  
And Function

AbstractTransforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays a critical role in the pathological processes of various diseases. However, the signaling mechanism of TGF-β in the pathological response remains largely unclear. In this review, we discuss advances in research of Smad7, a member of the I-Smads family and a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling, and mainly review the expression and its function in diseases. Smad7 inhibits the activation of the NF-κB and TGF-β signaling pathways and plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Specifically, Smad7 can not only attenuate growth inhibition, fibrosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and inflammatory T cell differentiation, but also promotes epithelial cells migration or disease development. In this review, we aim to summarize the various biological functions of Smad7 in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancers, and kidney diseases, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of Smad7.

scholarly journals Interleukin-6 via Toll-Like Receptor 3 Signaling Attenuates the Expression of Proinflammatory Chemokines in Human Podocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-218
Author(s):  
Hidenori Umetsu ◽  
Shojiro Watanabe ◽  
Tadaatsu Imaizumi ◽  
Tomomi Aizawa ◽  
Koji Tsugawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Interference ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Induced Expression ◽  
Inflammatory Reactions ◽  
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 ◽  
Polycytidylic Acid ◽  
Tlr3 Signaling

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Although toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling is involved in the development of certain chronic kidney diseases, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory reactions via activation of TLR3 signaling in human podocytes remain unclear. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine associated with innate and adaptive immune responses; however, little is known about the implication of IL-6 via the activation of regional TLR3 signaling in the inflammatory reactions in human podocytes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We treated immortalized human podocytes with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly IC), an authentic viral double-stranded RNA, and assessed the expression of IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To further elucidate the poly IC-induced signaling pathway, we subjected the cells to RNA interference against IFN-β and IL-6. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We found that the activation of TLR3 induced expression of IL-6, MCP-1, CCL5, and IFN-β in human podocytes. RNA interference experiments revealed that IFN-β was involved in the poly IC-induced expression of IL-6, MCP-1, and CCL5. Interestingly, IL-6 knockdown markedly increased the poly IC-induced expression of MCP-1 and CCL5. Further, treatment of cells with IL-6 attenuated the expression of CCL5 and MCP-1 mRNA and proteins. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> IL-6 induced by TLR3 signaling negatively regulates the expression of representative TLR3 signaling-dependent proinflammatory chemokines in human podocytes.

Interventions for Improving Health Care Workers’ Retention in Epidemics – a Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Zarei Jelyani ◽  
Sadra Valiee ◽  
Mohammad Kia ◽  
Ali jajarmizadeh ◽  
Sajad Delavari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Health System ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Introduction: Generally, in Epidemics, such as COVID-19, health care workers (HCWs) faces many problems which lead to a shortage and weakening of human resources in the health system. Therefore, using effective strategies to retain human resources is one of the most important issues during outbreaks. This study aims to collect and classify the proposed interventions to strengthen human health resources and their sustainability during epidemics through scoping review.Methods: In this scoping review study, 2300 studies were retrieved through searching international databases –PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. The retrieved studies were screened, and finally, 50 studies were included for analysis. The strategies were classified using inductive qualitative content analysis.Results: Most of the studies were conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. The target population in 39 studies was all health workers; five studies were on physicians, five studies on nurses, and only one study on dentists. The proposed interventions were classified into five categories: preparation, protection, support, treatment, and feedback. Discussion: Most studies focused on providing interventions in one or two dimensions of human resources, but these interventions were summarized and categorized in this review. Therefore, this study has a holistic view of various dimensions of strengthening and maintaining human health resources during epidemics by providing a thematic map. Considering that human beings are multidimensional, policymakers and managers of the health system should use a set of interventions that simultaneously cover different aspects of their needs to strengthen and maintain HCWs.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Regulation of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle in Osteosarcoma

Sarcoma ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krithi Rao-Bindal ◽  
Eugenie S. Kleinerman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Cycle Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Mutations ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Alterations ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Cycle Regulation ◽  
Insight Into

The role of genetic mutations in the development of osteosarcoma, such as alterations in p53 and Rb, is well understood. However, the significance of epigenetic mechanisms in the progression of osteosarcoma remains unclear and is increasingly being investigated. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic alterations such as methylation and histone modifications of genes involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of this tumor. Importantly, understanding the molecular mechanisms of regulation of these pathways may give insight into novel therapeutic strategies for patients with osteosarcoma. This paper serves to summarize the described epigenetic mechanisms in the tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma, specifically those pertaining to apoptosis and cell cycle regulation.

scholarly journals PAH biomarkers for human health risk assessment: a review of the state-of-the-art

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (suppl 4) ◽  
pp. a569-s580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Silveira Franco ◽  
Adelaide Cássia Nardocci ◽  
Wanda Maria Risso Günther
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
The State ◽  
Human Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are widely distributed in the environment, and some are carcinogenic to human beings. The study of biomarkers has helped clarify the nature and magnitude of the human health risks posed by such substances. This article provides a review of the state-of-the-art on PAH biomarkers for human health risk assessment and also discusses their applicability within the context of environmental management in Brazil. The article discusses the methodologies for determination of some biomarkers such as 1-hydroxypyrene and PAH-DNA adducts. Cytogenetic markers, frequency of chromosomal aberrations, and micronucleus induction were considered for the evaluation of cancer risk. The current stage of studies on validation of such biomarkers was also approached.

scholarly journals Stem cells and fluid flow drive cyst formation in an invertebrate excretory organ

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanh Thi-Kim Vu ◽  
Jochen C Rink ◽  
Sean A McKinney ◽  
Melainia McClain ◽  
Naharajan Lakshmanaperumal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Cystic Kidney ◽  
Flow Sensing ◽  
Cell Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Genetic Interference ◽  
Cystic Kidney Diseases

Cystic kidney diseases (CKDs) affect millions of people worldwide. The defining pathological features are fluid-filled cysts developing from nephric tubules due to defective flow sensing, cell proliferation and differentiation. The underlying molecular mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood, and the derived excretory systems of established invertebrate models (Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster) are unsuitable to model CKDs. Systematic structure/function comparisons revealed that the combination of ultrafiltration and flow-associated filtrate modification that is central to CKD etiology is remarkably conserved between the planarian excretory system and the vertebrate nephron. Consistently, both RNA-mediated genetic interference (RNAi) of planarian orthologues of human CKD genes and inhibition of tubule flow led to tubular cystogenesis that share many features with vertebrate CKDs, suggesting deep mechanistic conservation. Our results demonstrate a common evolutionary origin of animal excretory systems and establish planarians as a novel and experimentally accessible invertebrate model for the study of human kidney pathologies.

scholarly journals Abnormal Iron and Lipid Metabolism Mediated Ferroptosis in Kidney Diseases and Its Therapeutic Potential

Metabolites ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Xiaoqin Zhang ◽  
Xiaogang Li
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Metabolic Signaling ◽  
Iron Regulatory Proteins

Ferroptosis is a newly identified form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Ferroptosis has distinct biological and morphology characteristics, such as shrunken mitochondria when compared to other known regulated cell deaths. The regulation of ferroptosis includes different molecular mechanisms and multiple cellular metabolic pathways, including glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) signaling pathways, which are involved in the amino acid metabolism and the activation of GPX4; iron metabolic signaling pathways, which are involved in the regulation of iron import/export and the storage/release of intracellular iron through iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs), and lipid metabolic signaling pathways, which are involved in the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes. Ferroptosis plays an essential role in the pathology of various kidneys diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Targeting ferroptosis with its inducers/initiators and inhibitors can modulate the progression of kidney diseases in animal models. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of ferroptosis and the ferroptosis-based mechanisms, highlighting the potential role of the main ferroptosis-associated metabolic pathways in the treatment and prevention of various kidney diseases.

scholarly journals Concentration of Aluminum in Drinking Water of Pakistan and Its Implications on Human Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Syeda Mehpara Farhat ◽  
Mahwish Ali
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Abundant Element ◽  
Great Exposure

Aluminum (Al), is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust but it is “excluded from biology” as development of all biota has taken place without it and there are no known biological functions linked to it. Currently anthropogenic activities have resulted in great exposure of this non-essential metal to human beings. The intake of Al has implications on human health and increases risk of various diseases. Major sources of Al include occupational exposure, food and water. Water is of greatest concern because Al is commonly bioavailable in water. The alarming situation in Pakistan about Al concentration in drinking water calls for an immediate need to design policies and legislations to ensure below average risk of this metal's effects. Limiting human exposure to Al is the only way to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). In view of the extensive literature review, we propose development of public health surveillance programs for AI at the policy level.

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