Mycophenolic acid reverses TGF beta-induced cell motility, collagen matrix contraction and cell morphology in vitro.

The aim of this study was to elucidate functional and molecular effects of mycophenolic acid (MPA) on non-lymphatic, kidney epithelial cells treated with transforming growth factor (TGF). MPA effects were studied using HK2 cells incubated with EGF and TGF. The reversibility of these effects was verified using guanosine and 8-aminoguanosine.

Lack of correlation between Treg quantification assays in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Aim: To compare the number of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) measured by flow cytometry with those obtained using a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Tregs percentages obtained by both flow cytometry and qPCR methods in 35 adult IBD patients, 18 out of them with Crohn´s disease (CD) and 17 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were compared to each other as well as to scores on two IBD activity questionnaires using the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) for CD patients and the Simple Colitis Clinical Activity Index (SCCAI) for UC patients. The Treg percentages by flow cytometry were defined as CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low)FOXP3(+) cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, whereas the Treg percentages by qPCR method were determined as FOXP3 promoter demethylation in genomic DNA.

Effects of mycophenolate mofetil on kidney function and phosphorylation status of renal proteins in Alport COL4A3-deficient mice.

Background: We investigated the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on kidney function and on protein phosphorylation in a mouse model for the human Alport syndrome.

Methods: COL4A3-deficient (COL4A3-/-) mice were randomly allocated to receive a placebo (PLC COL4A3-/-) or MMF treatment (MMF COL4A3-/-). Wild type mice (WT) were used as controls.

Combination of alcohol and fructose exacerbates metabolic imbalance in terms of hepatic damage, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in rats.

Although both alcohol and fructose are particularly steatogenic, their long-term effect in the development of a metabolic syndrome has not been studied in vivo. Consumption of fructose generally leads to obesity, whereas ethanol can induce liver damage in the absence of overweight. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum for 28 days on five diets: chow (control), liquid Lieber-DeCarli (LDC) diet, LDC +30%J of ethanol (L-Et) or fructose (L-Fr), and LDC combined with 30%J ethanol and 30%J fructose (L-EF).

Diet high in fructose leads to an overexpression of lipocalin-2 in rat fatty liver.

Aim: To explore lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) expression and its possible role and mechanism(s) of production in rat models of diet-inducible fatty liver.

Methods: Fatty liver was triggered in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either with liquid Lieber-DeCarli (LDC) or LDC + 70% cal fructose (L-HFr) diet for 4 or 8 wk. Chow-nourished animals served as controls.

FoxP3 demethylation is increased in human colorectal cancer and rat cholangiocarcinoma tissue.

Objectives: FoxP3 expression is a marker for Tregs which are known to be involved in tumor immunity. We aimed to evaluate FoxP3 promoter demethylation in human colorectal cancer (CRC) and rat intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Design And Methods: Bisulfite-treated genomic DNA templates of shock frozen paired samples were studied from 13 anonymous CRC patients and from 10 male rats (n=6 ICC induced by thioacetamide and n=4 age-matched controls).