Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Ameliorates Diabetic Kidney Disease by Inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3/IL-1β Signaling Pathway.

Recent research indicates that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is crucial in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the predominant catechin in green tea, has been noted for its anti-inflammatory properties in DKD. However, the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

Deep-learning segmentation to select liver parenchyma for categorizing hepatic steatosis on multinational chest CT.

Unenhanced CT scans exhibit high specificity in detecting moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis. Even though many CTs are scanned from health screening and various diagnostic contexts, their potential for hepatic steatosis detection has largely remained unexplored. The accuracy of previous methodologies has been limited by the inclusion of non-parenchymal liver regions.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with sarcopenia risk in overweight maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a novel inflammatory marker, is strongly associated with the risk of sarcopenia. Notably, being overweight has been found to accelerate the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the effect of overweight status on the relationship between NLR and sarcopenia risk has been poorly studied.

Nitro-oleic acid ameliorates oxygen and glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation triggered oxidative stress in renal tubular cells via activation of Nrf2 and suppression of NADPH oxidase.

Nitroalkene derivative of oleic acid (OA-NO), due to its ability to mediate revisable Michael addition, has been demonstrated to have various biological properties and become a therapeutic agent in various diseases. Though its antioxidant properties have been reported in different models of acute kidney injury (AKI), the mechanism by which OA-NO attenuates intracellular oxidative stress is not well investigated. Here, we elucidated the anti-oxidative mechanism of OA-NO in an in vitro model of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

The role of long-term label-retaining cells in the regeneration of adult mouse kidney after ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Label-retaining cells (LRCs) have been recognized as rare stem and progenitor-like cells, but their complex biological features in renal repair at the cellular level have never been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate whether LRCs in kidney are indeed renal stem/progenitor cells and to delineate their potential role in kidney regeneration.

Methods: We utilized a long-term pulse chase of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells in C57BL/6J mice to identify renal LRCs.

Critical role of serum response factor in podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic nephropathy.

Purpose: To investigate the expression and function of serum response factor in podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: The expression of serum response factor, epithelial markers and mesenchymal markers was examined in podocytes or renal cortex tissues following high glucose. Serum response factor was upregulated by its plasmids and downregulated by CCG-1423 to investigate how it influenced podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic nephropathy.

Nitro-oleic acid attenuates OGD/R-triggered apoptosis in renal tubular cells via inhibition of Bax mitochondrial translocation in a PPAR-γ-dependent manner.

Background: Nitroalkene derivatives of oleic acid (OA-NO2) serve as high-affinity ligand for PPAR-γ, which regulates apoptosis, oxidation and inflammation and plays a central role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, we elucidated the protective mechanisms of OA-NO2 against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: HK-2 cells were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation followed by re-oxygenation (OGD/R) to mimic renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Berberine improves kidney function in diabetic mice via AMPK activation.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Effective therapies to prevent the development of this disease are required. Berberine (BBR) has several preventive effects on diabetes and its complications.

Connective tissue growth factor induces tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition through the activation of canonical Wnt signaling in vitro.

Background: Overwhelming evidences suggest epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells contributes to renal fibrosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of EMT. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell behaviors are not clear.

Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate diabetic glomerular fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting TGF-β signalling via secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 7.

Purpose: To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could inhibit transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling pathway by paracrine action.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived MSCs were transplanted to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via tail vein. MSC-conditioned media were used with a model of mesangial cell fibrosis induced by high glucose in vitro.

Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation ameliorates glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats via inhibiting macrophage infiltration.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment has been shown to be effective in diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanisms involved in the renoprotective effects of MSCs have not been clearly demonstrated. Especially, there was no study on the relationship of MSCs and macrophages in diabetic kidney.