RELSA-A multidimensional procedure for the comparative assessment of well-being and the quantitative determination of severity in experimental procedures.

Good science in translational research requires good animal welfare according to the principles of 3Rs. In many countries, determining animal welfare is a mandatory legal requirement, implying a categorization of animal suffering, traditionally dominated by subjective scorings. However, how such methods can be objectified and refined to compare impairments between animals, subgroups, and animal models remained unclear.

The Roles of Long-Term Hyperhomocysteinemia and Micronutrient Supplementation in the Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

A causal contribution of hyperhomocysteinemia to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as potential prevention or mitigation of the pathology by dietary intervention, have frequently been subjects of controversy. In the present study, we attempted to further elucidate the impact of elevated homocysteine (HCys) and homocysteic acid (HCA) levels, induced by dietary B-vitamin deficiency, and micronutrient supplementation on AD-like pathology, which was simulated using the amyloid-based knock-in mouse model. For this purpose, cognitive assessment was complemented by analyses of parameters in whole blood, serum, CSF, and brain tissues from the mice.

IL-38 Ablation Reduces Local Inflammation and Disease Severity in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

IL-38 is an IL-1 family receptor antagonist that restricts IL-17-driven inflammation by limiting cytokine production from macrophages and T cells. In the current study, we aimed to explore its role in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice, which is, among others, driven by IL-17. Unexpectedly, IL-38-deficient mice showed strongly reduced clinical scores and histological markers of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Effects of Alzheimer-Like Pathology on Homocysteine and Homocysteic Acid Levels-An Exploratory In Vivo Kinetic Study.

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been suggested potentially to contribute to a variety of pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). While the impact of hyperhomocysteinemia on AD has been investigated extensively, there are scarce data on the effect of AD on hyperhomocysteinemia. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the kinetics of homocysteine (HCys) and homocysteic acid (HCA) and effects of AD-like pathology on the endogenous levels.

Improving target assessment in biomedical research: the GOT-IT recommendations.

Academic research plays a key role in identifying new drug targets, including understanding target biology and links between targets and disease states. To lead to new drugs, however, research must progress from purely academic exploration to the initiation of efforts to identify and test a drug candidate in clinical trials, which are typically conducted by the biopharma industry. This transition can be facilitated by a timely focus on target assessment aspects such as target-related safety issues, druggability and assayability, as well as the potential for target modulation to achieve differentiation from established therapies.

Impact of Hyperhomocysteinemia and Different Dietary Interventions on Cognitive Performance in a Knock-in Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a possible contributor to the complex pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). For years, researchers in this field have discussed the apparent detrimental effects of the endogenous amino acid homocysteine in the brain. In this study, the roles of hyperhomocysteinemia driven by vitamin B deficiency, as well as potentially beneficial dietary interventions, were investigated in the novel knock-in mouse model for AD, simulating an early stage of the disease.

Non-invasive bioluminescence imaging as a standardized assessment measure in mouse models of dermal inflammation.

Background: Myeloperoxidase is used as a marker and diagnostic tool for inflammatory processes. Hypochlorous acid produced by myeloperoxidase oxidizes luminol to produce light. By injecting luminol into experimental animals, inflammatory processes can be tracked in real-time by bioluminescence imaging (BLI).