Regulation of type IV collagen alpha chains of glomerular epithelial cells in diabetic conditions

Amelioration of exosome and mesenchymal stem cells in rats infected with diabetic nephropathy by attenuating early markers and aquaporin-1 expression

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent diabetic microvascular condition. It is the leading cause of kidney disease in the advanced stages. There is no currently effective treatment available. This research aimed to investigate the curative potentials of exosomes isolated from mesenchymal stem cells affecting DN. This study was performed on 70 male adult albino rats. Adult rats were randomized into seven groups: Group I: Negative control group, Group II: DN group, Group III: Balanites treated group, Group IV: MSCs treated group, Group V: Exosome treated group, Group VI: Balanites + MSCs treated group and Group VII: Balanites + exosome treated group. Following the trial period, blood and renal tissues were subjected to biochemical, gene expression analyses, and histopathological examinations. Results showed that MDA was substantially increased, whereas TAC was significantly decreased in the kidney in the DN group compared to normal health rats. Undesired elevated values of MDA levels and a decrease in TAC were substantially ameliorated in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes compared to the DN group. A substantial elevation in TNF-α and substantially diminished concentration of IGF-1 were noticed in DN rats compared to normal health rats. Compared to the DN group, the co-administration of Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes substantially improved the undesirable elevated values of TNF-α and IGF-1. Furthermore, in the DN group, the mRNA expression of Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV was significantly higher than in normal healthy rats. Compared with DN rats, Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV Upregulation were substantially reduced in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes. In DN rats, AQP1 expression was significantly lower than in normal healthy rats. Furthermore, the groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes demonstrated a substantial increase in AQP1 mRNA expression compared to DN rats.

Repair of articular cartilage defects with intra-articular injection of autologous rabbit synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Background

The role of rabbit synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rbSF-MSCs) in cartilage defect repair remains undefined. This work evaluates the in vivo effects of rbSF-MSCs to repair knee articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model.

Methods

Cartilage defects were made in the patellar grooves of New Zealand white rabbits. The rbSF-MSCs were generated from the knee cavity by arthrocentesis. Passage 5 rbSF-MSCs were assayed by flow cytometry. The multipotency of rbSF-MSCs was confirmed after 3 weeks induction in vitro and the autologous rbSF-MSCs and predifferentiated rbSF-MSCs were injected into the synovial cavity. The intra-articular injection was performed once a week for 4 weeks. The animals were euthanized and the articular surfaces were subjected to macroscopic and histological evaluations at 8 and 12 weeks after the first intra-articular injection.

Results

Hyaline-like cartilage was detected in the defects treated with rbSF-MSCs, while fibrocartilage tissue formed in the defects treated with chondrocytes induced from rbSF-MSCs.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that autologous undifferentiated rbSF-MSCs are favorable to articular cartilage regeneration in treating cartilage defects.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1485-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of aminoguanidine and vitamin C on collagen type IV in diabetic nephropathy rats

The aim of this article is to investigate the effects of Aminoguanidine and vitamin C (VitC) on type IV collagen in diabetic nephropathy rats. Diabetic nephropathy rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (n = 10), diabetes group (n = 10), aminoguanidine group (n = 10), VitC group (n = 10), aminoguanidine and VitC group (n = 10). After 16 weeks, the general conditions, blood gloucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum type IV collagen, urinary albumin excretion rate, and creatinine clearance rate were detected, type IV collagen protein was determined by immunohistochemical analysis as well as the expression of collagen type IVα1 mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization analysis in the kidneys of each group. The results were (1) diabetes mellitus and renal lesions occurred in the diabetes group, aminoguanidine group, VitC group, VitC and aminoguanidine group; (2) aminoguanidine and VitC improved the general conditions of diabetic nephropathy rats, decreased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin excretion rate as well as increased creatinine clearance rate. The expressions of collagen type IV were significantly down-regulated in treatment groups in contrast to the diabetes group. Aminoguanidine and VitC protect renal lesions in diabetic nephropathy, respectively, by inhibiting expression of type IV collagen, while aminoguanidine and VitC have a synergistic effect on them.

Functional, metabolic, and morphologic characteristics of a novel rat model of type 2 diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a pilot study to investigate functional, metabolic, and penile morphologic changes in a novel model of lean DM2. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent sequela in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

METHODS

Eight rats received a high-fat diet and 2 weeks later, 2 intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg). Five age-matched rats served as controls. Insulin challenge tests were performed at 6 and 12 weeks after induction of DM2. At 12 weeks, erectile function was tested by measurement of intracavernous pressure (ICP) increase upon cavernous nerve stimulation. Penile tissue and serum samples were harvested for histology and biochemistry, respectively.

RESULTS

A lean DM2 model was established as demonstrated by decreased insulin resistance, elevated nonfasting plasma glucose levels, hyperlipidemia, and decreased insulin concentration in the absence of obesity. ICP/mean arterial pressure was significantly decreased in DM2 animals (0.29) compared with controls (0.81). Expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and rat endothelial cell antigen-1, and the smooth muscle/collagen ratio were significantly decreased in the penis of DM2 animals.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose an inexpensive nongenetic animal model of lean DM2-associated ED. Microanatomical changes in the erectile tissue that reflect an advanced stage of the disease were observed.