Overexpression of sirtuin 1 attenuates calcium oxalate-induced kidney injury by promoting macrophage polarization.

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein is involved in macrophage differentiation, while NOTCH signaling affects inflammation and macrophage polarization. Inflammation and macrophage infiltration are typical processes that accompany kidney stone formation. However, the role and mechanism of SIRT1 in renal tubular epithelial cell injury caused by calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposition and the relationship between SIRT1 and the NOTCH signaling pathway in this urological disorder are unclear.

microRNA-486-5p is implicated in the cisplatin-induced apoptosis and acute inflammation response of renal tubular epithelial cells by targeting HAT1.

The proinflammatory property of cisplatin is potentially destructive and contributes to the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The role and upstream regulatory mechanism of histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) in acute kidney inflammation are still unknown. We performed RNA sequencing to filter differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the kidney tissue of mice with AKI induced by cisplatin and ischemia-reperfusion.

Adsorption Performances and Electrochemical Properties of Methyl Blue onto CoFe₂O₄ Nanoparticles.

Magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were successfully manufactured through the process of nitrate combustion using anhydrous ethanol as fuel, they together with their intermediate were characterized by thermo gravimetric (TG) analysis, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These results indicated a phenomenon that the magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles could be formed at 400 °C, the average grain size, the specific magnetization, and the specific surface area of magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles fabricated at 400 °C for 2 h with 30 mL anhydrous ethanol were corresponding 20 nm, 78.0 Am²/kg and 83.

[Effect of testicular autophagy on spermatogenic cells in varicocele rats].

Objective: To study the effect of different levels of autophagy in the testis on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the rat model of varicocele (VC).

Methods: We randomly divided 54 SD male rats into six groups, blank control (n = 6), rapamycin control (n = 6), chloroquine control (n = 6), VC model control (n = 12), VC + rapamycin (n = 12), and VC + chloroquine (n = 12). We observed the histomorphological changes of the testis and epididymis by HE staining, obtained the scores on spermatogenesis in the testis and epididymis, calculated the apoptosis index (AI) of the testicular spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and determined the expressions of LC3-Ⅱ, LC3-Ⅰ, p62, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by Western blot.

Dihydroquercetin protects against renal fibrosis by activating the Nrf2 pathway.

Background: Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is an antifibrotic agent. However, whether DHQ can prevent renal fibrosis remains unknown.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of DHQ on tubulointerstitial fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice in vivo and NRK-49F cells in vitro.

Ursolic acid inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo.

Context: Ursolic acid (UA; 3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid), one of the pentacyclic triterpenoids found in various plants and herbs, possesses some beneficial effects under pathological conditions, including combating hepatic fibrosis.

Objective: This study investigates the effects of UA on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in vivo and in vitro.

Materials And Methods: In vivo, 24 male C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups.

Cryptotanshinone hinders renal fibrosis and epithelial transdifferentiation in obstructive nephropathy by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad3/integrin β1 signal.

Recent studies have reported that CTS can alleviate cardiac fibrosis. However, the effects of CTS on kidney fibrosis and EMT are still unknown. This study explored whether CTS could attenuate tubulointerstitial fibrosis as well as EMT, and investigated the potential underlying mechanisms.

ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition and .

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induces the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, in addition to protecting and supporting the immune system. The present study investigated the effects of AM on renal fibrosis.

Baicalein ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis by inducing myofibroblast apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.

Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of baicalein and its influence on myofibroblasts in vivo and in vitro.

Materials And Methods: An in vivo unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) mouse model and an in vitro transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) activated normal rat kidney (NRK)-49F cell model were established. Baicalein treatment was then investigated in these models to assess its anti-fibrotic effects and potential mechanisms of action.

Baicalein attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation via down-regulating NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways.

Baicalein is a natural flavonoid that possesses notable anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we detected whether baicalein protects against inflammatory response in unilateral ureteral obstruction mice model to ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Baicalein treatment significantly attenuated tubulointerstitial fibrosis by markedly reducing fibronectin and collagen-I.

[Expression of insulin-like factor 3 in the testis of flutamide-induced cryptorchidism mice and its significance].

Objective: To study the changes in the mRNA expression of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL-3) in the testis of mouse models of flutamide-induced cryptorchidism.

Methods: We randomized pregnant BALB/c mice to groups A (control) , B, C, D and E to receive continuous gavage of flutamide at 0, 150, 300, 500 and 700 mg/kg body weight, respectively, from gestation day 12 to 21. We detected the expression of INSL-3 mRNA in the testis of the neonates by real-time PCR at 4 and 8 postnatal weeks.

In vitro dissolution of calcium oxalate stones with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and snake venom thrombin-like enzyme.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using snake venom thrombin-like enzyme (SVTLE) and/or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to dissolve calcium oxalate stones in vitro.

Methods: Seven calcium oxalate stones were incubated with various chemolytic agents [EDTA, Tris-HCl/EDTA (TE) buffer or SVTLE diluted in TE buffer]. The pH, calcium concentration, stone weight and stone surface integrity were recorded, as well as related pathological changes to bladder mucosae.

Biological implications of oxidation and unidirectional chiral inversion of D-amino acids.

Recent progress in chiral separation of D- and L-amino acids by chromatography ascertained the presence of several free Damino acids in a variety of mammals including humans. Unidirectional chiral inversion of many D-amino acid analogs such as exogenous NG-nitro-D-arginine (D-NNA), endogenous D-leucine, D-phenylanine and D-methionine have been shown to take place with inversion rates of 4-90%, probably dependent on various species D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) enzymatic activities. DAAO is known to catalyze the oxidative deamination of neutral and basic D-amino acids to their corresponding α-keto acids, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, and is responsible for the chiral inversion.

Histone deacetylation directs DNA methylation in survivin gene silencing.

DNA methylation and histone acetylation are major epigenetic modifications in gene silencing. In our previous research, we found that the methylated oligonucleotide (SurKex) complementary to a region of promoter of survivin could induce DNA methylation in a site-specific manner leading to survivin silencing. Here, we further studied the role of histone acetylation in survivin silencing and the relationship between histone acetylation and DNA methylation.

Induced epigenetic modifications of the promoter chromatin silence survivin and inhibit tumor growth.

Anti-apoptotic survivin is over-expressed in a variety of human carcinomas and is considered as a therapeutic target in cancers. Suppression of survivin mRNA by RNAi and anti-sense nucleotides has proved to be a powerful anti-tumor therapy in both animal models and human investigations. In this communication, we tested an alternative approach to silence survivin by knocking down its gene transcription through a short methylated oligonucleotide (SurKex) that is complementary to the survivin gene promoter.

Spinal D-amino acid oxidase contributes to neuropathic pain in rats.

D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) is an enzyme catalyzing oxidative deamination of neutral and polar d-amino acids and is expressed in the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system (CNS) including the spinal cord. We have previously demonstrated that DAO gene deletion/mutation by using mutant ddY/DAO(-/-) mice and systemic administration of the DAO inhibitor sodium benzoate blocked formalin-induced hyperalgesia in mice. In this study, we further investigated the potential role of DAO in neuropathic pain in a rat model of tight L(5)/L(6) spinal nerve ligation.

Inhibition of D-amino-Acid oxidase activity induces pain relief in mice.

(1). We investigated the effects of inhibiting D: -amino-acid oxidase (DAO) activity on nociceptive responses through the use of mutant ddY/DAO(-) mice, which lack DAO activity, and through the application of a selective inhibitor of DAO, sodium benzoate, in the tail flick test, hot-plate test, formalin test, and acetic acid-induced writhing test. (2).

Inhibitory effects of benzoate on chiral inversion and clearance of N(G)-nitro-arginine in conscious rats.

N(G)-nitro-arginine (NNA) is known to exhibit stereoselective pharmacokinetics in which N(G)-nitro-d-arginine (d-NNA) has a faster clearance rate than N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA) in anesthetized rats, and d-NNA undergoes unidirectional chiral inversion. It was postulated that chiral inversion of d-NNA was performed in a two-step pathway by d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) followed by an unidentified transaminase. Such chiral inversion contributes (at least partially) to the pharmacokinetic stereoselectivity of NNA.

D-dopa is unidirectionally converted to L-dopa by D-amino acid oxidase, followed by dopa transaminase.

1. Many studies have shown that administration of d-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (D-dopa) produces contralateral rotation in hemi-parkinsonian animals comparable to L-dopa, with less potency and slower onset. It was postulated that D-dopa was converted to L-dopa to produce these effects.

Renal D-amino acid oxidase mediates chiral inversion of N(G)-nitro-D-arginine.

N(G)-nitro-d-arginine (d-NNA), i.v. injected into rats, produced a pressor response, and was presumed to act via chiral inversion into N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase.