Heterozygous Loss of Yap1 in Mice Causes Progressive Cataracts.

Purpose: Yap1 encodes an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional coactivator and functions as a down-stream effector of the Hippo signaling pathway that controls tissue size and cell growth. Yap1 contributes to lens epithelial development. However, the effect of Yap1 haplodeficiency on the lens epithelium and its role in the development of cataracts has not been reported.

Study of corneal epithelial progenitor origin and the Yap1 requirement using keratin 12 lineage tracing transgenic mice.

Key issues in corneal epithelium biology are the mechanism for corneal epithelium stem cells to maintain the corneal epithelial homeostasis and wound healing responses, and what are the regulatory molecular pathways involved. There are apparent discrepancies about the locations of the progenitor populations responsible for corneal epithelial self-renewal. We have developed a genetic mouse model to trace the corneal epithelial progenitor lineages during adult corneal epithelial homeostasis and wound healing response.

IKK2 inhibition using TPCA-1-loaded PLGA microparticles attenuates laser-induced choroidal neovascularization and macrophage recruitment.

The inhibition of NF-κB by genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of IKK2 significantly reduces laser-induced choroid neovascularization (CNV). To achieve a sustained and controlled intraocular release of a selective and potent IKK2 inhibitor, 2-[(aminocarbonyl)amino]-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-thiophenecarboxamide (TPCA-1) (MW: 279.29), we developed a biodegradable poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymer-delivery system to further investigate the anti-neovascularization effects of IKK2 inhibition and in vivo biosafety using laser-induced CNV mouse model.

IKK2 inhibition attenuates laser-induced choroidal neovascularization.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is aberrant angiogenesis associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Inflammation has been suggested as a risk factor for AMD. The IKK2/NF-κB pathway plays a key role in the inflammatory response through regulation of the transcription of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and angiogenic factors.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of 2-(4-[(2-hydroxybenzyl) amino]-phenyl amino-methyl)-phenol in STZ induced diabetic rats.

Oral administration of 2-(4-[(2-hydroxybenzyl) amino]-phenyl amino-methyl)-phenol (HBPMP) (30 mg/kg) to Streptozotocin (STZ) rats produced significant antidiabetic activity after 6 h of HBPMP administration. Treatment of the STZ rats with HBPMP (30 mg/kg/day) for 30 days resulted in a significant decrease in their Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), Very Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) along with an increase in serum High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Activities of Serum Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of blood urea and creatinine were improved to near normal levels in the treated STZ rats indicating the protective role of the HBPMP against liver and kidney damage and its non-toxic property.

Structural analysis of the mutant protein D26G of human γS-crystallin, associated with Coppock cataract.

Purpose: To analyze the protein structural features responsible for the aggregation properties of the mutant protein D26G human γS-crystallin (HGSC) associated with congenital Coppock-type cataract.

Methods: cDNAs of wild-type (WT) and D26G mutant HGSC were cloned and expressed in BL21 (DE3) pLysS cells and the proteins isolated and purified. Their secondary and tertiary structural features, aggregation tendencies, and structural stabilities were compared using spectroscopic (circular dichroism, intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence), molecular modeling, and dynamics methods.

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity of Piper longum root aqueous extract in STZ induced diabetic rats.

Background: The available drugs for diabetes, Insulin or Oral hypoglycemic agents have one or more side effects. Search for new antidiabetic drugs with minimal or no side effects from medicinal plants is a challenge according to WHO recommendations. In this aspect, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Piper longum root aqueous extract (PlrAqe) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

Cinnamic acid as one of the antidiabetic active principle(s) from the seeds of Syzygium alternifolium.

The Indian traditional system of medicine prescribed plant therapies for diseases including diabetes mellitus. One such plant is Syzygium alternifolium (SA). We reported earlier, that fraction C from aqueous extract of SA seeds showed good antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities.

Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities of alcoholic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Background And Objectives: The present study investigated the effect of Commiphora mukul ethanol extract gum resin (CMEEt) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats by measuring fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, plasma lipid profile, atherogenic index, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein oxidation (PO) and activities of enzymatic antioxidants.

Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups, normal control group, CM-treated control group, diabetic control group and CM-treated diabetic group. For induction of diabetes, STZ was administered at a dose of 55mg/kg body weight, meanwhile CM-treated groups were administered CMEEt at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight for 60 days.

Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Setaria italica seeds in STZ diabetic rats.

Background: Setaria italica is commonly known as Foxtail millet. In India it is chiefly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. It can be eaten as a sweet or savory food in all ways that rice is used.

Effect of Pterocarpus santalinus bark, on blood glucose, serum lipids, plasma insulin and hepatic carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of bark of Pterocarpus santalinus, an ethnomedicinal plant, on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipids and the activities of hepatic glucose metabolizing enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated (acute/short-term and long-term) with ethyl acetate:methanol fractions of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. santalinus.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of methanol:water (4:1) fraction isolated from aqueous extract of Syzygium alternifolium seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

The present study was taken up to identify potent antihyperglycemic fraction from the aqueous extract of Syzygium alternifolium (SA) seeds, using bioassay guided fractionation. The isolated fraction C at a dose of 50 mg/kg.b.

Isolation and characterization of a novel antihyperglycemic protein from the fruits of Momordica cymbalaria.

Aim Of The Study: A new antihyperglycemic protein was identified in the aqueous extract of fruits of Momordica cymbalaria by bioassay-guided fractionation. The study was aimed at isolation and characterization of this protein.

Materials And Methods: The active principle was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration column chromatography on Sephadex G-50 followed by reverse phase HPLC.

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity of ethyl acetate:isopropanol (1:1) fraction of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Ethanolic extract prepared from the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic activity in STZ (Streptozotocin) induced diabetic rats. Administration of ethanolic extract at a dosage of 0.50 g/kg bw produced the maximum fall (82%) in the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats after 6 h of treatment.