Development of the vertebrate pancreas is a complex stepwise process comprising regionalization, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. Studies in zebrafish are contributing to an emerging picture of pancreas development in which extrinsic signaling molecules influence intrinsic transcriptional programs to allow ultimate differentiation of specific pancreatic cell types. Zebrafish experiments have revealed roles for several signaling molecules in aspects of this process; for example our own work has shown that retinoic acid signals specify the pre-pancreatic endoderm. Time-lapse imaging of live zebrafish embryos has started to provide detailed information about early pancreas morphogenesis. In addition to modeling embryonic development, the zebrafish has recently been used as a model for pancreas regeneration studies. Here, we review the significant progress in these areas and consider the future potential of zebrafish as a diabetes research model.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bies.200800123 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
The Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes haemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, and permanent blindness and has been listed by the WHO as a priority pathogen. To study RVFV pathogenesis and identify small-molecule antivirals, we established a novel In Vivo model using zebrafish larvae. Pericardial injection of RVFV resulted in ~4 log viral RNA copies/larva, which was inhibited by the antiviral 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmaceutics
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pesquisa Translacional em Fármacos e Medicamentos (PPG-PTFM), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
Amphotericin B (AmB) is a commonly utilized antifungal agent, which is also recommended for the treatment of certain neglected tropical diseases, including leishmaniasis. However, its clinical application is constrained because of its poor oral bioavailability and adverse effects, prompting the investigation of alternative drug delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) have gained attention as a potential drug delivery vehicle, providing advantages such as sustained release and enhanced bioavailability, and could have potential as AmB carriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmaceuticals (Basel)
January 2025
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Science, No. 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China.
: Rhamnetin 3--α-rhamnoside (ARR) is a major flavonoid of the herb Franch. & Sav., which has been used for treating liver diseases in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
January 2025
Biomedical Sciences Laboratory (CBMU), School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá D.C 111711, Colombia.
, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a parasite known for its diverse genotypic variants, or Discrete Typing Units (DTUs), which have been associated with varying degrees of tissue involvement. However, aspects such as parasite attachment remain unclear. It has been suggested that the TcI genotype is associated with cardiac infection, the most common involved site in chronic human infection, while TcII is associated with digestive tract involvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife (Basel)
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China.
The scorpion Karsch is edible and has been an essential resource in traditional Chinese medicine for treating numerous diseases. In this study, two small peptides from hydrolysates were examined to elucidate their potential against gastric cancer. The small peptides (AK and GK) were identified using the LC-QTOF-MS-based approach.
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