Tumor suppressive role of the antimicrobial lectin REG3A targeting the O -GlcNAc glycosylation pathway.

Background And Aims: Antimicrobial proteins of the regenerating family member 3 alpha (REG3A) family provide a first line of protection against infections and transformed cells. Their expression is inducible by inflammation, which makes their role in cancer biology less clear since an immune-inflammatory context may preexist or coexist with cancer, as occurs in HCC. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of REG3A in liver carcinogenesis and to determine whether its carbohydrate-binding functions are involved.

Regenerating islet-derived protein 3α: A promising therapy for diabetes. Preliminary data in rodents and in humans.

The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that administration of Regenerating islet-derived protein 3α (Reg3α), a protein described as having protective effects against oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activity, could participate in the control of glucose homeostasis and potentially be a new target of interest in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. To that end the recombinant human Reg3α protein was administered for one month in insulin-resistant mice fed high fat diet. We performed glucose and insulin tolerance tests, assayed circulating chemokines in plasma and measured glucose uptake in insulin sensitive tissues.

A Proof of Concept, Phase II Randomized European Trial, on the Efficacy of ALF-5755, a Novel Extracellular Matrix-Targeted Antioxidant in Patients with Acute Liver Diseases.

Objective: No efficient medical treatment is available for severe acute hepatitis (SAH) except N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure. The human C-type lectin Reg3α, referred to as ALF-5755, improved survival in an animal model of acute liver failure and was well tolerated in a phase 1 trial in humans. We performed a phase 2a trial of ALF5755 in non-acetaminophen induced SAH.

The Reg3α (HIP/PAP) Lectin Suppresses Extracellular Oxidative Stress in a Murine Model of Acute Liver Failure.

Background And Aims: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rapidly progressive heterogeneous illness with high mortality rate and no widely accessible cure. A promising drug candidate according to previous preclinical studies is the Reg3α (or HIP/PAP) lectin, which alleviates ALF through its free-radical scavenging activity. Here we study the therapeutic targets of Reg3α in order to gain information on the nature of the oxidative stress associated with ALF.

Human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein cures fas-induced acute liver failure in mice by attenuating free-radical damage in injured livers.

Unlabelled: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare syndrome with a difficult clinical management and a high mortality rate. During ALF, several molecular pathways governing oxidative stress and apoptosis are activated to induce massive tissue injury and suppress cell proliferation. There are few anti-ALF drug candidates, among which is the C-type lectin Reg3α, or human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein (HIP/PAP), which displayed promising properties for tissue regeneration and protection against cellular stress in transgenic mice.

Performance of endosonography-guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Objective: Preoperative diagnosis of cystic lesions of the pancreas remains difficult despite improvement in imaging modalities and cystic fluid analysis. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Methods: Data from a series of 127 consecutive patients with pancreatic cystic lesions were prospectively studied.

Transvaginal sonography and rectal endoscopic sonography for the assessment of pelvic endometriosis: a preliminary comparison.

Background: Endometriosis and possible rectal involvement are difficult to assess by physical examination. Previous studies have shown the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and rectal endoscopic sonography (RES) in this setting, but not that of transvaginal sonography (TVS). The aims of this study were to compare the accuracy of TVS and RES for the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis, and to compare the results with histological findings.