Discovery of genomic loci for liver health and steatosis reveals overlap with glutathione redox genetics.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver condition in the United States, encompassing a wide spectrum of liver pathologies including steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Despite its high prevalence, there are no medications currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of NAFLD. Recent work has suggested that NAFLD has a strong genetic component and identifying causative genes will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to NAFLD and yield targets for future therapeutic investigations.

Quantitative trait mapping in Diversity Outbred mice identifies novel genomic regions associated with the hepatic glutathione redox system.

The tripeptide glutathione (GSH) is instrumental to antioxidant protection and xenobiotic metabolism, and the ratio of its reduced and oxidized forms (GSH/GSSG) indicates the cellular redox environment and maintains key aspects of cellular signaling. Disruptions in GSH levels and GSH/GSSG have long been tied to various chronic diseases, and many studies have examined whether variant alleles in genes responsible for GSH synthesis and metabolism are associated with increased disease risk. However, past studies have been limited to established, canonical GSH genes, though emerging evidence suggests that novel loci and genes influence the GSH redox system in specific tissues.

Genetic mapping of renal glutathione suggests a novel regulatory locus on the murine X chromosome and overlap with hepatic glutathione regulation.

Glutathione (GSH) is a critical cellular antioxidant that protects against byproducts of aerobic metabolism and other reactive electrophiles to prevent oxidative stress and cell death. Proper maintenance of its reduced form, GSH, in excess of its oxidized form, GSSG, prevents oxidative stress in the kidney and protects against the development of chronic kidney disease. Evidence has indicated that renal concentrations of GSH and GSSG, as well as their ratio GSH/GSSG, are moderately heritable, and past research has identified polymorphisms and candidate genes associated with these phenotypes in mice.

The effects of different doses of curcumin compound on growth performance, antioxidant status, and gut health of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species.

Supplementation of broiler diets with feed additives such as chemotherapeutic drugs and antibiotics has side effects, meat residues, and antibiotics resistance complications. Plant-derived natural compounds could be safe and easy substitutes for chemical additives. One of the natural compounds is curcumin, the extract from herbal plant Curcuma longa, known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may be effective in reducing coccidia infection in poultry.

Effects of Inorganic Zn and Cu Supplementation on Gut Health in Broiler Chickens Challenged With spp.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of inorganic copper and zinc on growth performance, intestinal permeability, intestinal lesion scores, oocyst shedding, antioxidant properties and bone quality in broilers challenged with spp. A total of 360 d-old male Cobb broiler chickens were housed in floor cages for 12 days at the Poultry Research Center. At 12 days of age, birds were placed in grower Petersime batteries and distributed in a completely randomized design with 10 birds per cage, six replicates per treatment, and six treatments.