Integrin β3 Induction Promotes Tubular Cell Senescence and Kidney Fibrosis

Tubular cell senescence is a common biologic process and contributes to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the molecular mechanisms regulating tubular cell senescence are poorly understood. Here, we report that integrin β3 (ITGB3) expression was increased in tubular cells and positively correlated with fibrosis degree in CKD patients. ITGB3 overexpression could induce p53 pathway activation and the secretion of TGF-β, which, in turn, resulted in senescent and profibrotic phenotype change in cultured tubular cells. Moreover, according to the CMAP database, we identified isoliquiritigenin (ISL) as an agent to inhibit ITGB3. ISL treatment could suppress Itgb3 expression, attenuate cellular senescence, and prevent renal fibrosis in mice. These results reveal a crucial role for integrin signaling in cellular senescence, potentially identifying a new therapeutic direction for kidney fibrosis.

Gene expression network analysis provides potential targets against SARS-CoV-2

Cell entry of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19, is facilitated by host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). We aimed to identify and characterize genes that are co-expressed with ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and to further explore their biological functions and potential as druggable targets. Using the gene expression profiles of 1,038 lung tissue samples, we performed a weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) to identify modules of co-expressed genes. We explored the biology of co-expressed genes using bioinformatics databases, and identified known drug-gene interactions. ACE2 was in a module of 681 co-expressed genes; 10 genes with moderate-high correlation with ACE2 (r > 0.3, FDR < 0.05) had known interactions with existing drug compounds. TMPRSS2 was in a module of 1,086 co-expressed genes; 31 of these genes were enriched in the gene ontology biologic process ‘receptor-mediated endocytosis’, and 52 TMPRSS2-correlated genes had known interactions with drug compounds. Dozens of genes are co-expressed with ACE2 and TMPRSS2, many of which have plausible links to COVID-19 pathophysiology. Many of the co-expressed genes are potentially targetable with existing drugs, which may accelerate the development of COVID-19 therapeutics.

Akebia Saponin D prevents axonal loss against TNF-induced optic nerve damage with autophagy modulation

Akebia Saponin D (ASD), a triterpenoid saponin, was shown to have protective effects in certain neuronal cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility of ASD to prevent tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced axonal loss and the ASD modulation of the biologic process of autophagy in optic nerves. Rats were given intravitreal administration of TNF, simultaneous administration of 2, 20, or 200 pmol ASD and TNF, or ASD alone. LC3-II and p62 expression, which is a marker of autophagic flux, and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) expression in optic nerves were examined by immunoblot analysis. Morphometric analysis revealed a significant ameliorated effect of ASD against TNF-induced optic nerve damage. p62 was significantly increased in the optic nerve in TNF-treated eyes, but this increase was totally prevented by ASD. The ASD alone injection showed significant reduction of p62 levels compared with the PBS-treated control eyes. LC3-II was significantly increased by ASD treatment in the TNF-injected eyes. p-p38 was significantly increased in the optic nerve in TNF-treated eyes, but this increase was completely prevented by ASD. The protective effects of ASD may be associated with enhanced autophagy activation and inhibition of p-p38.

Effect of Oral Honey Administration on Sleep-Deprived Male Mice

Background: Sleep is a biologic process that is essential for life and optimal health. Sleep plays a critical role in brain function and systemic physiology. The deleterious health consequences of sleep deprivation are associated with risks for a wide variety of medical conditions. Honey’s potential role in restorative sleep may have implications in improving long term health. Objective: To determine the effect of honey on sleep deprivation in male mice. Method: The study was carried out using four (4) groups of young male mice (N=5-6 per group) deprived of sleep for a period of 6 hours. Bee honey was administered orally at three dose levels; 10 %, 20 % and 40 % V/v respectively to three groups while the control group was administered normal saline (vehicle). Novelty-Induced Behaviour (NIB), Elevated plus-maze (EPM), Hole board and Y-maze models were used to evaluate the effects of honey on the mice. Results: In the NIB model, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in locomotion was observed dose-dependently. The same observation was recorded for rearing behaviour while a biphasic effect was observed in grooming behaviour. The results obtained in the other models showed that locomotor activity was significantly decreased suggesting that honey has central inhibitory effect. In the hole board test and EPM, there were significantly (p<0.05) decreased activity of the mice due to the administration of honey. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that honey exerts dose-dependent central inhibitory effects in sleep-deprived male mice therefore suggesting possible amelioration of sleep deprivation effects.

Effect of two photobiomodulation devices on the tissue repair of mice

Cronic wounds are one of the most serious complications in individuals with diabetes. Wound repair is a complex and dynamic biologic process with three phases: inflammation, proliferation and maturation. Photobiomodulation (PBM) can be used as an alternative therapy to treat this lesion. In this study, we evaluated the effect of two PBM devices (DUAL pen and Polarized light) to treat skin wounds in diabetic mice. Mice were treated for 1 or 3 days. After treatment, all animals were sacrificed and a biopsy of the lesion was taken. Clinically, the groups treated with the two devices presented an improved healing process than control groups.

Variation in Expression of Inflammation-Related Signaling Molecules with Profibrotic and Antifibrotic Effects in Cutaneous and Oral Mucosa Scars

Wound healing is a complex biologic process evolving in three phases: inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling controlled by numerous growth factors and cytokines. Oral mucosa wounds heal with significantly less important scars with less numerous macrophages and mast cells and more numerous myofibroblasts than cutaneous counterparts. We analyzed 32 cutaneous and 32 oral mucosa scars for TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2, TGFbeta3, TNFalpha, PDGF BB and FGF1 expression in mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. We identified differences in the expression of profibrotic and antifibrotic factors in oral mucosa and skin scars; TGFbeta2 was positive in cutaneous multinucleated giant cells, TNFalpha was positive in cutaneous macrophages, and both were negative in oral mucosa while TGFbeta3 was positive in oral macrophages and mostly negative in cutaneous ones. PDGF BB and FGF1 were positive in oral endothelial cells and oral macrophages and negative in macrophages with opposite positivity pattern in cutaneous scars. Based on these findings, macrophage seems to be the key player in modulating pro- and antifibrotic processes in wound regeneration.

Endothelial stem and progenitor cells (stem cells): (2017 Grover Conference Series)

The capacity of existing blood vessels to give rise to new blood vessels via endothelial cell sprouting is called angiogenesis and is a well-studied biologic process. In contrast, little is known about the mechanisms for endothelial cell replacement or regeneration within established blood vessels. Since clear definitions exist for identifying cells with stem and progenitor cell properties in many tissues and organs of the body, several groups have begun to accumulate evidence that endothelial stem and progenitor cells exist within the endothelial intima of existing blood vessels. This paper will review stem and progenitor cell definitions and highlight several recent papers purporting to have identified resident vascular endothelial stem and progenitor cells.

SIKAP REMAJA PUTRI DALAM MENGHADAPI PERUBAHAN FISIK MASA PUBERTAS

Physical changes in teenager is a principal characteristic from biologic process in puberty age. The wrong attitude in confront of physical changes can make girl dislike moreover hate the physical changesthat she’s got, so the parent have an important role to girl’s attitude. The objective of this research is to analyze the correlation of girls perception about parenting education type with the attitude of teenagerfacing physical changes in puberty age in Student of 7th class of Junior High School 13 Malang City. This research is using observational with cross sectional. Number of population 120 students, number of sample 92 students, with simple random sampling technique. Data collecting applies questioner sheet filled out by the respondent. Data is showing table type and text. The result of research is using chisquare showing that majority of respondent are democratic type about 59 students (64,1%). Majority of respondent (64,1%) have negative attitude (unfavorable) in confront of physical changes, and the girls that have perception democratic type have negative attitude (unfavorable) in confront of physical changes. Then, be obtain value x2 table (5,991), and the conclusion that there is no Corelation between perception about Parenting Education Type with Attitude Facing Physical Changes in Puberty Age.Keyword: girls, parenting education type, physical change

Benefits of caloric restriction in the myenteric neuronal plasticity in aging rats

Aging is a biologic process characterized by progressive damage of structures and functions of organic systems. In gastrointestinal tract, it can involve enteric nervous system, which plays an important role in digestion and absorption of nutrients, causing hastening of intestinal transit thus reducing its absorptive function. Caloric restriction has been used in several studies with the intention of delaying deleterious effects of aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of caloric restriction on myenteric neurons of ileum by aging in rats. 30 Wistar rats were grouped as follows: GI (animals aged 6 months fed with normal diet), GII (animals aged 18 months fed with normal diet) and GIII (animals aged 18 months subject to 31% of caloric restriction). The rats of the GI group were euthanized at 6 months of age and after experimental period of 12 months animals of the group GII and GIII were euthanized, the ileum of all groups were collected, measured and processed by NADPH-dp and Acetylcholinesterase. Quantitative analysis of neurons revealed that aging promotes the increasing of myenteric neurons NADPH-dp and reduces Acetylcholinesterase neuronal population. However, in the cellular profile area, were not observed significant differences between the groups. The caloric restriction has been efficient and can be used preventively because it minimizes quantitative changes associated with aging on ileum myenteric plexuses.