“
“Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of netrin-1 on peritubular capillary (PTC) loss and hypoxia in 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 10 rats/group): sham-operated GSK-3 inhibitor rats treated with control adenovirus; 5/6 Nx rats treated with control adenovirus; and 5/6 Nx rats treated with recombinant adenovirus mediated netrin-1 gene (Ad-netrin-1) therapy. Rats were killed 12 weeks after surgery. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and 24-h urinary albumin excretion rates were measured. Pathological changes in renal tissues were analyzed histologically. The concentration

of netrin-1, CD34, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time

PCR. Results: Renal function and histopathological damage were significantly improved in Ad-netrin-1 treated 5/6 Nx rats, compared with rats treated with the control adenovirus in the 5/6 Nx group. Furthermore, Ad-netrin-1 treatment induced a significant increase in renal PTC density, accompanied by a significant decrease in HIF-1 alpha expression. Conclusion: Adenovirus mediated netrin-1 treatment attenuates PTC damage, relieves tissues hypoxia and improves renal function, thus alleviating renal pathological changes find more and interstitial fibrosis in 5/6 Nx rats. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system selleck products (CNS) manifested with varying clinical course, pathology, and inflammatory patterns. There are multiple animal models that reflect different aspects of this heterogeneity. Collectively, these models reveal a balance between pathogenic and regulatory

CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, and B cells that influences the incidence, timing, and severity of CNS autoimmunity. In this review we discuss experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models that have been used to study the pathogenic and regulatory roles of these immune cells; models that recapitulate different aspects of the disease seen in patients with MS, and questions remaining for future studies.”
“Alterations in cholesterol metabolism have been linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Brain cholesterol is metabolized to the oxysterols 24-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol. Disturbed levels of these oxysterols are found in neurodegenerative conditions. In the current study we examined the effects of 27- and 24-hydroxycholesterol on viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with staurosporine, a toxic substance that induces apoptosis.