Effect of modified citrus pectin on galectin-3 inhibition in cisplatin-induced cardiac and renal toxicity.

This study evaluated the effect of pharmacological inhibition of galectin 3 (Gal-3) with modified citrus pectin (MCP) on the heart and kidney in a model of cisplatin-induced acute toxicity. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6/group): SHAM, which received sterile saline intraperitoneally (i.p.

Lack of Annexin A1 Exacerbates Inflammatory Response in Acute Endometritis Model.

Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is a glucocorticoid-inducible protein and an important endogenous modulator of inflammation. However, its effect in the endometrial microenvironment is poorly explained. This study aimed to evaluate the role of endogenous AnxA1 in an endometritis mouse model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Galectin-3 is a key hepatoprotective molecule against the deleterious effect of cisplatin.

Aims: Evaluate the role of galectin-3 in the liver using an acute model of cisplatin-induced toxicity.

Material And Methods: Modified citrus pectin (MCP) treatment was used to inhibit galectin-3. Rats were distributed into four groups: SHAM, CIS, MCP and MCP + CIS.

The role of annexin A1-derived peptide Ac on liver and kidney injuries induced by cisplatin in rats.

Aims: In this study we evaluated the effect of pharmacological treatment with AnxA1-derived peptide Ac in an experimental model of toxicity induced by cisplatin.

Main Methods: Male rats were divided into Sham (control), Cisplatin (received intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg/day of cisplatin for 3 days) and Ac (received intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg/kg/day of peptide, 15 min before cisplatin) groups.

Key Findings: After 6 h of the last dose of cisplatin, an acute inflammatory response was observed characterized by a marked increase in the number of neutrophils and GM-CSF, IL-β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α plasma levels.

Pharmacological treatment with annexin A1-derived peptide protects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Cisplatin is an antineoplastic agent widely used, and no effective treatments capable of preventing cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and neurotoxicity in humans have yet been identified. This study evaluated the effect of the anti-inflammatory annexin A1 (AnxA1)-derived peptide Ac in a cisplatin-induced ototoxicity model. Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injections of cisplatin (10 mg/kg/day) for 3 days to induce hearing loss, and Ac (1 mg/kg) was administered 15 min before cisplatin administration.

Expression Pattern and Immunoregulatory Roles of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis.

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (Ps) overlaps, particularly the activation of the immune response and tissue damage. Here, we evaluated galectin (Gal)-1 and Gal-3 levels, which are beta-galactoside-binding proteins with immunomodulatory functions and examined their effects on human keratinocytes stimulated with either interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-17A. Skin biopsies from AD, Ps, and control patients were evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical analyses.

Metformin improves ovarian follicle dynamics by reducing theca cell proliferation and CYP-17 expression in an androgenized rat model.

Background: Metformin influences insulin receptor signaling, which might interfere with the proliferation of ovarian follicular structures and steroidogenesis. We hypothesize that reductions in glucose and insulin levels might interfere with CYP-17 expression and histomorphological changes in an androgenized rat model. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of metformin on CYP-17 expression, follicular dynamics, and proliferative parameters in neonatally androgenized female rats.

Effects of estrogen status in osteocyte autophagy and its relation to osteocyte viability in alveolar process of ovariectomized rats.

Estrogen maintains osteocyte viability, whereas its deficiency induces osteocyte apoptosis. As autophagy is important for osteocyte viability, we hypothesized whether the anti-apoptotic effect of estrogen is related to autophagy in osteocytes. Thirty adult female rats were sham-operated (SHAM) or ovariectomized (OVX).

DNA and bone structure preservation in medieval human skeletons.

Morphological and ultrastructural data from archaeological human bones are scarce, particularly data that have been correlated with information on the preservation of molecules such as DNA. Here we examine the bone structure of macroscopically well-preserved medieval human skeletons by transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry, and the quantity and quality of DNA extracted from these skeletons. DNA technology has been increasingly used for analyzing physical evidence in archaeological forensics; however, the isolation of ancient DNA is difficult since it is highly degraded, extraction yields are low and the co-extraction of PCR inhibitors is a problem.

Melatonin influences on steroidogenic gene expression in the ovary of pinealectomized rats.

Objective: To analyze the expression of genes related to steroidogenesis in the ovary of pinealectomized rats.

Design: Experimental research.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Role of GP82 in the selective binding to gastric mucin during oral infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Oral infection by Trypanosoma cruzi has been the primary cause of recent outbreaks of acute Chagas' diseases. This route of infection may involve selective binding of the metacyclic trypomastigote surface molecule gp82 to gastric mucin as a first step towards invasion of the gastric mucosal epithelium and subsequent systemic infection. Here we addressed that question by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Trypanosoma cruzi surface molecule gp90 downregulates invasion of gastric mucosal epithelium in orally infected mice.

Experiments were performed to elucidate why Trypanosoma cruzi isolates 573 and 587 differ widely in their efficiency to infect gastric mucosal epithelium when administered orally to mice. These isolates have the same surface profile and a similar capacity to enter host cells in vitro. Metacyclic forms of isolates 573 and 587 and the control CL isolate expressed similar levels of gp82, which is a cell invasion-promoting molecule.