Melatonin Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Damaging Effects Induced by Polyethylene Microplastics in Albino Rats

There have been concerns about the potential health risks posed by microplastics (MP). The detection of MP in a variety of food products revealed that humans are ingesting MP. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data about their impacts, as well as their uptake, on intestinal barrier integrity. This study examined the toxic effects of oral administration of two doses of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) (3.75 or 15 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks; mean particle size: 4.0-6.0 µm) on the intestinal barrier integrity in rats. Moreover, the effect of melatonin treatment with MP exposure was also assessed. The PE-MP particle uptake, histopathological changes, Alcian blue staining, Muc2 mRNA, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), and cleaved caspase-3, as well as tight junction proteins (claudin-1, myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) were assessed. Oral administration of PE-MP resulted in apparent jejunal histopathological alterations; significantly decreased mucin secretion, occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1 expression; and significantly upregulated MLCK mRNA, IL-1β concentration, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Melatonin reversed these altered parameters and improved the PE-MP-induced histopathological and ultrastructure changes. This study highlighted the PE-MP's toxic effect on intestinal barrier integrity and revealed the protective effect of melatonin.

Evaluation of Immunity-related GTPase Family M Protein (IRGM) SNPs among Egyptian Lupus Patients: A Case-control Study

OBJECTIVE

One of the potential factors that cause systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development is autophagy. Immunity-related GTPase family M protein (IRGM) has been shown to be linked to immune-mediated diseases. The aim of the current study was to assess the role of the IRGM-autophagy gene in SLE susceptibility in an Egyptian population and its relation to lupus nephritis.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted in which a total of 200 subjects (100SLE and 100 healthy controls) were enrolled. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs10065172 and rs4958847) were genotyped. Genotypes and alleles analysis was conducted to compare between cases and controls, as well as a stratification analysis was conducted on the presence or absence of lupus nephritis.

RESULTS

Among selected SNPs of IRGM, no association was found between both SNPs and SLE susceptibility. For rs10065172, the major expressed genotype was CC (61% and 71%) (Adj OR= 2.9, 95%= 0.545-15.5), followed by TC (34% and 27%) (Adj OR= 1.985, 95% = 0.357-11.041) in cases and controls, respectively. For rs4958847, AA and AG were comparably expressed in case [(43% and 39%) (Adj OR= 1.073, 95% = 0.483-2.382)] and control [(41% and 43%) (Adj OR= 1.24, 95% = 0.557- 2.763)], respectively. Additionally, no relationship among both SNPs and gender, lupus nephritis, disease activity, or disease duration, was observed.

CONCLUSION

IRGM SNPs (rs10065172 and rs4958847) expression was comparable among SLE patients and controls of the Egyptian cohort. Genotype and allele frequency of IRGM SNPs did not differ in lupus nephritis and non-lupus nephritis patients.

Study of visfatin expression in acne patients in tissue and serum

Background

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous units, of multifactorial pathogenesis, one of which could be an adipokine such as visfatin.

Aim

The aim of this study was to study visfatin expression both in lesional skin and serum, of acne patients versus healthy controls. The secondary aim was to study the relationship of visfatin levels with dyslipidemia/metabolic syndrome.

Methods

This study included 30 patients with moderate and severe acne vulgaris and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum and tissue visfatin were estimated by enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. Clinical and laboratory examinations were done to assess the anthropometric data and various criteria of metabolic syndrome.

Results

Tissue and serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in patients as compared to healthy controls. Tissue visfatin levels were significantly higher than its serum levels in both patients and controls. Serum visfatin was significantly higher in overweight individuals. No correlations were found between tissue and serum visfatin levels in both patients and controls. Moreover, serum and tissue visfatin levels did not correlate to any of the lipid profile parameters or criteria of metabolic syndrome in acne patients.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and did not localize the exact source of tissue visfatin. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS was not evaluated.

Conclusion

Visfatin is an important proinflammatory adipokine, with significantly higher expression in acne patients. Tissue rather than serum visfatin might play a key role in acne.