22-oxacalcitriol prevents acute kidney injury via inhibition of apoptosis and enhancement of autophagy.

Background: The pathophysiology of ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) is thought to include a complex interplay between tubular cell damage and regeneration. Several lines of evidences suggest a potential renoprotective effect of vitamin D. In this study, we investigated the effect of 22-oxacalcitriol (OCT), a synthetic vitamin D analogue, on renal fate in a rat model of ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) induced acute kidney injury (AKI).

The cellular selection between apoptosis and autophagy: roles of vitamin D, glucose and immune response in diabetic nephropathy.

Background And Aims: Apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest are cellular responses to injury which are supposed to play fundamental roles in initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aims of the present study is to shed light on the potential effects of vitamin D analog 22-oxacalcitriol (OCT) on different cell responses during DN, and the possible interplay between both glucose, immune system and vitamin D in determining the cell fate.

Method: All rats were randomly allocated into one of three groups: control, vehicle-treated DN group and OCT-treated DN group.

Study of the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on the promotion of hepatic tumorigenesis in rats fed a high fat diet.

Background/objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. The highest prevalence of hepatitis is an important risk factor contributing to development of HCCs. However, an increasing number of cases are associated metabolic disease and steatohepatitis.