A Single Early Life Acetaminophen Exposure Causes Persistent Abnormalities in the Murine Lung.

Whether early life acetaminophen (APAP) exposures injure the developing lung is controversial. We sought to correlate murine pulmonary developmental expression profiles of to susceptibility to APAP exposure. P14 C57BL/6 mice were exposed to APAP (140 mg/kg x 1, IP) and assessed for evidence of a histologic, metabolic, functional, and/or transcriptional pulmonary response.

Investigating the role of Wnt3a and Wnt5a as critical factors of hepatic stellate cell activation in acute toxicant-induced liver injury.

Toxicant exposure can lead to acute liver injury, characterized by hepatic reprogramming and wound healing. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a key role in liver regeneration during wound healing by secreting fibrogenic factors and production of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, repetitive injury to the liver can lead to extensive scarring and liver fibrosis, indicating HSCs coordinate both regeneration and disease.

Overexpression of TNFα in TNF∆ARE+/- mice increases hepatic periportal inflammation and alters bile acid signaling in mice.

Background: Intestinal inflammation is a common factor in ~70% of patients diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The TNF∆ARE+/- mouse overexpresses TNFα and spontaneously develops ileitis after weaning. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of ileitis and TNFα overexpression on hepatic injury, fibrosis, inflammation, and bile acid homeostasis.

Reducing the excessive inflammation after burn injury in aged mice by maintaining a healthier intestinal microbiome.

One in six people are projected to be 65 years or older by 2050. As the population ages, better treatments for injuries that disproportionately impact the aged population will be needed. Clinical studies show that people aged 65 and older experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality after burn injury, including a greater incidence of pulmonary complications when compared to younger burn injured adults, which we and others believe is mediated, in part, by inflammation originating in the intestines.

CYP2E1 in 1,4-dioxane metabolism and liver toxicity: insights from CYP2E1 knockout mice study.

1,4-Dioxane (DX), an emerging water contaminant, is classified as a Group 2B liver carcinogen based on animal studies. Understanding of the mechanisms of action of DX liver carcinogenicity is important for the risk assessment and control of this environmental pollution. Previous studies demonstrate that high-dose DX exposure in mice through drinking water for up to 3 months caused liver mild cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage, a process correlating with hepatic CYP2E1 induction and elevated oxidative stress.