Cytotoxicity induced by carbon nanotubes in experimental malignant glioma.

Despite multiple advances in the diagnosis of brain tumors, there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which were previously used as a diagnostic and drug delivery tool, have now been explored as a possible therapy against neoplasms. However, although the toxicity profile of nanotubes is dependent on the physicochemical characteristics of specific particles, there are no studies exploring how the effectivity of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is affected by different methods of production.

Role of Redox Status in Development of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive neoplasia, prognosis remains dismal, and current therapy is mostly palliative. There are no known risk factors associated with gliomagenesis; however, it is well established that chronic inflammation in brain tissue induces oxidative stress in astrocytes and microglia. High quantities of reactive species of oxygen into the cells can react with several macromolecules, including chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA, leading to damage and malfunction of DNA repair enzymes.

PAMP-DAMPs interactions mediates development and progression of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease presumably associated with chronic immune stimulation promoted by either pathogens or autoimmune processes. It has been hypothesized that MS could be the result of previous viral infections rendering a permanent immune stimulation that could be triggered by molecular similarities, or by modulating the antigens expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on target cells, which in turn act as super antigens. During immune stimulation occurs the recruitment of immunological cells, resulting in local tissue damage and leading to the release of damage- associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which also act as inflammation inducers.

Vitamin A increases nerve growth factor and retinoic acid receptor beta and improves diabetic neuropathy in rats.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) promotes the endogenous expression of both nerve growth factor (NGF) and retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR-β). We have previously shown that the administration of ATRA partly reverts the damage induced by diabetic neuropathy (DN). In this investigation, we evaluated the effects of vitamin A, a commercial, inexpensive compound of retinoic acid, on the therapy of DN.