Serum Amyloid A3 Promoter-Luciferase Reporter Mice Are Useful for Early Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity Detection.

Early detection of drug-induced kidney injury is essential for drug development. In this study, multiple low-dose aristolochic acid (AA) and cisplatin (Cis) injections increased renal mRNA levels of inflammation, fibrosis, and renal tubule injury markers. We applied a serum amyloid A3 (Saa3) promoter-driven luciferase reporter (Saa3 promoter-luc mice) to these two tubulointerstitial nephritis models and performed bioluminescence imaging to monitor early renal pathologies.

In silico identification and in vitro validation of alpha-hederin as a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in metastasis, recurrence and chemoresistance in breast cancer. β-catenin, which is a frequently over activated protein in CSCs, binds to T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) family transcription factors leading to ectopic expression of Wnt pathway responsive genes necessary for the maintenance and action of CSCs. With the aim of identifying a small molecules that can effectively eliminate CSCs, molecular docking studies were performed against the Tcf/Lef binding hotspot on β-catenin using a library of 100 natural or synthetic small molecules.

Satellite cell content and muscle regeneration in a mouse model of NAFLD.

Objectives: Muscle wasting is a common complication in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we investigated the effect of NAFLD on satellite cell (SC) content and skeletal muscle repair.

Methods: Male CD-1 mice fed a choline-deficient diet for 4 wk were used as an NAFLD model.

Serum Amyloid A3 Promoter-Driven Luciferase Activity Enables Visualization of Diabetic Kidney Disease.

The early detection of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in mice is necessary for the development of drugs and functional foods. The purpose of this study was to identify genes that are significantly upregulated in the early stage of DN progression and develop a novel model to non-invasively monitor disease progression within living animals using in vivo imaging technology. Streptozotocin (STZ) treatment has been widely used as a DN model; however, it also exhibits direct cytotoxicity to the kidneys.

Comparative study on molecular mechanism of diabetic myopathy in two different types of streptozotocin-induced diabetic models.

Aims: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animal models have been widely used to study diabetic myopathy; however, non-specific cytotoxic effects of high-dose STZ have been discussed. The purpose of this study was to compare diabetic myopathy in a high-STZ model with another well-established STZ model with reduced cytotoxicity (high-fat diet (HFD) and low-dose STZ) and to identify mechanistic insights underlying diabetic myopathy in STZ models that can mimic perturbations observed in human patients with diabetic myopathy.

Main Methods: Male C57BL6 mice were injected with a single high dose of STZ (180 mg/kg, High-STZ) or were given HFD plus low-dose STZ injection (STZ, 55 mg/kg/day, five consecutive days, HFD/STZ).

Molecular docking and pharmacokinetic studies of phytocompounds from Nigerian Medicinal Plants as promising inhibitory agents against SARS-CoV-2 methyltransferase (nsp16).

Background: Since the index case was reported in China, COVID-19 has led to the death of at least 4 million people globally. Although there are some vaccine cocktails in circulation, the emergence of more virulent variants of SARS-CoV-2 may make the eradication of COVID-19 more difficult. Nsp16 is an S-adenosyl-L-Methionine-dependent methyltransferase that plays an important role in SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA cap formation-a crucial process that confers viral stability and prevents virus detection by cell innate immunity mechanisms.

Improvement of mitochondrial function by Tapinanthus globifer (A.Rich.) Tiegh. Against hepatotoxic agent in isolated rat's liver mitochondria.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Disturbed mitochondrial function and energy crisis serve as key mechanisms for the development of liver injury. Hence, targeting cellular mitochondria in liver diseases might serve as a therapeutic option. Tapinanthus globifer (A.