Hepatitis C virus eradication by direct antiviral agents abates oxidative stress in patients with advanced liver fibrosis
Background and aims: HCV eradication improves non-hepatic outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases, although without clearly defined mechanisms. In this study we aimed to assess whether improvement of carotid atherosclerosis may be linked to a reduction in systemic oxidative stress after viral clearance. Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 105 patients (age 62.4 ± 11.2 years; 62 men) with F3/F4 fibrosis, characterized by carotid ultrasonography at baseline and at sustained virologic response (SVR) follow-up. Levels of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (F2-isoprostanes) and other oxidative stress markers were measured on frozen sera. Association between change (denoted as Δ) in oxidative str…
(+)-Pentazocine reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis in microglia following hypoxia/reoxygenation injury
Abstract Background Sigma-1 receptors (σ 1 R) are highly expressed in neurons as well as microglia and have been shown to modulate the inflammatory response in the central nervous system and thus may serve as possible target for neuroprotective strategies. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of (+)-pentazocine, a putative σ 1 R agonist, in an in vitro model of microglia activation. Methods Microglia (BV2 cells) was exposed (3 h) to 1% oxygen and reoxygenation was allowed for 24 h. Cells were treated with different concentrations (1, 10, 25 and 50 μM) of (+)-pentazocine in the presence or absence of NE-100 (1 μM), a well established σ 1 R antagonist. Cell viability and apopto…
ROLE OF HEME OXYGENASE-1 (HSP32) AND HSP90 IN GLIOBLASTOMA
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. The current treatment regimes for glioblastoma demonstrated a low efficiency and offer a poor prognosis. Advancements in conventional treatment strategies have only yielded modest improvements in overall survival. The heat shockproteins, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and Hsp90, serve these pivotal roles in tumor cells and have been identified as effective targets for developing therapeutics. This topic review summarizes the current preclinical and clinical evidences and rationale to define the potential of HO-1 and Hsp90 in GBM progression and chemoresistance.
Liraglutide Increases Serum Levels of MicroRNA-27b, -130a and -210 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Novel Epigenetic Effect
Liraglutide has shown favourable effects on several cardiometabolic risk factors, beyond glucose control. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression, resulting in post-transcriptional modifications of cell response and function. Specific miRNAs, including miRNA-27b, miRNA-130a, and miRNA-210, play a role in cardiometabolic disease. We aimed to determine the effect of liraglutide on the serum levels of miRNA-27b, miRNA-130a and miRNA-210. Twenty-five subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), naï