Background: The pathogenesis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is still poorly understood and apoptosis via oxidative stress has been proposed as one possible mechanism. We therefore studied the apoptotic signaling mechanism in CIN and also tested whether the new antioxidant N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) could prevent CIN.
Methods: LLC-PK1 cells were exposed to a widely used contrast agent, iohexol (IH). Cytotoxicity was assessed with morphology and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell death was analyzed by the DNA content analysis and PARP cleavage. Protein expression was assessed with Western blotting.
Results: We observed cell death with apoptotic features in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Initiation of IH-induced apoptosis was mediated by upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, which was preceded by p38 MAPK activation and iNOS induction. Inhibitors of p38 MAPK and iNOS partially abolished IH-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found pretreatment with NACA partially protected cells from IH-induced death by reverting the expression of Bcl-2, Mc1-1 and Bax expression through inhibition of p38 MAPK and iNOS pathway.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that apoptosis occurs during CIN. Apoptosis is associated with activations of p38 MAPK and iNOS. Pretreatment with the antioxidant NACA could prevent IH-induced cell death by blocking the p38 MAPK/iNOS signaling pathway.
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been commonly used in various consumer products, including water bottles, food containers, and canned food linings. However, there are concerns about its potential toxicity to human health, particularly its impact on the liver and kidneys. The objective of this research was to investigate the potential ameliorative effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) against BPA-induced liver and kidney toxicities.
Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; FAU Profile Center Immunomedicine (FAU I-MED), Germany. Electronic address:
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is an incurable disease caused by the environmental mold Aspergillus fumigatus. This hypersensitivity pneumonia is characterized by an inflammatory type 2 immune response, accompanied by influx of eosinophils into the lung. To investigate the mode of action of eosinophils and the signaling events triggered by A.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 12A (TNFRSF12A) has been reported to be upregulated in thyroid cancer (THCA). However, the role and mechanism of TNFRSF12A in THCA remain largely unknown. TNFRSF12A expression in THCA samples was analyzed using bioinformatics analysis.
Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtubule-associated protein known to be a key regulator of neuronal migration and differentiation during brain development. However, the role of DCX, particularly in regulating the survival and growth of glioma cells, remains unclear. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock down DCX in the human glioma cell line (U251).
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Mutations in genes and precursors of amyloid (Aβ) are found in the familial form of the disease. This led to the evaluation of seven monoclonal antibodies against Aβ in subjects with AD, two of which were approved for use by the FDA.
