The effect of Nrf2 pathway activation on human pancreatic islet cells.

Background: Pancreatic islets are known to contain low level of antioxidants that renders them vulnerable to oxidative stress. Nrf2 is the master regulator of numerous genes, encoding antioxidant, detoxifying, and cytoprotective molecules. Activation of Nrf2 pathway induces up-regulation of numerous genes encoding antioxidant and phase II detoxifying enzymes and related proteins.

Pharmacological activation of Nrf2 pathway improves pancreatic islet isolation and transplantation.

Oxidative stress is a major cause of islet damage and loss during the islet isolation process. The Nrf2 pathway plays a critical role in protecting the cells against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an Nrf2 activator (dh404) on islet isolation and transplantation in a rodent model.

Distribution and size of mucous glands in the ferret tracheobronchial tree.

A transgenic ferret model of cystic fibrosis has recently been generated. It is probable that malfunction of airway mucous glands contributes significantly to the airway pathology of this disease. The usefulness of the ferret model may therefore depend in part on how closely the airway glands of ferrets resemble those of humans.

Chloride secretion by cultures of pig tracheal gland cells.

Malfunction of airway submucosal glands contributes to the pathology of cystic fibrosis (CF), and cell cultures of CF human airway glands show defects in Cl(-) and water transport. Recently, a transgenic pig model of CF (the CF pig) has been developed. Accordingly, we have developed cell cultures of pig airway gland epithelium for use in investigating alterations in gland function in CF.