UGT1A1 morpholino antisense oligonucleotides produce mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in cyclosporine A-induced cardiovascular disorders in BLC57 mice

This study aimed to investigate the induction of mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in hepatic UGT1A1 inhibition by Morpholinos antisense in CsA-treated BLC57 mice in comparison with the efficacy of chitosan (CH) as an anti-hypolipidemic natural product. Antisense morpholino oligonucleotides were injected intravenously into CsA-treated mice for 14 days thrice a week. Serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, and gene expression analysis of eNOS, PPAR-α, NF-kB, cFn, AT1-R, and ETA-R were determined in cardiac tissues with confirmation by histopathology. Inhibition of UGT1A1 significantly elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin within a physiological range. Furthermore, induced mild hyperbilirubinemia reduces hyperlipidemia, improves antioxidant status, and significantly increases the expression of the cardiac PPAR-α gene while decreasing, ETA-R, iNOS, NF-kB, cFn and AT1-R gene expression in CsA-treated mice. Importantly, mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia within physiological ranges may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy to lower hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and the CVD outcomes in CsA- treated transplant recipients.

The Effect of Cerebrolysin in an Animal Model of Forebrain Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury: New Insights into the Activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/Antioxidant Signaling Pathway

Forebrain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury causes neurological impairments due to decreased cerebral autoregulation, hypoperfusion, and edema in the hours to days following the restoration of spontaneous circulation. This study aimed to examine the protective and/or therapeutic effects of cerebrolysin (CBL) in managing forebrain IR injury and any probable underlying mechanisms. To study the contribution of reperfusion to forebrain injury, we developed a transient dual carotid artery ligation (tDCAL/IR) mouse model. Five equal groups of six BLC57 mice were created: Group 1: control group (no surgery was performed); Group 2: sham surgery (surgery was performed without IR); Group 3: tDCAL/IR (surgery with IR via permanently ligating the left CA and temporarily closing the right CA for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 72 h); Group 4: CBL + tDCAL/IR (CBL was given intravenously at a 60 mg/kg BW dose 30 min before IR); and Group 5: tDCAL/IR + CBL (CBL was administered i.v. at 60 mg/kg BW three hours after IR). At 72 h following IR, the mice were euthanized. CBL administration 3 h after IR improved neurological functional recovery, enhanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, alleviated apoptotic neuronal death, and inhibited reactive microglial and astrocyte activation, resulting in neuroprotection after IR injury in the tDCAL/IR + CBL mice group as compared to the other groups. Furthermore, CBL reduced the TLRs/NF-kB/cytokines while activating the Keap1/Nrf2/antioxidant signaling pathway. These results indicate that CBL may improve neurologic function in mice following IR.

The Potential Protective Effect and Underlying Mechanisms of Physiological Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia Mediated by UGT1A1 Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy in a Mouse Model of Cyclosporine A-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Cyclosporine A (CSA) is an immunosuppressive drug that has improved transplant survival rates. However, its use is often limited because it is thought to be linked to the development of chronic kidney disease after kidney transplants. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of physiological unconjugated (UC) hyperbilirubinemia mediated by UGT1A1 antisense oligonucleotide in a mouse model of CsA-induced chronic kidney disease, and match these with that of chitosan (CH) as a natural chelator against kidney injury. In the current study, CsA-treated mice were given an intravenous injection of UGT1A1 antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (16 µg/kg) every third day for 14 days. In serum samples, bilirubin, creatinine, and urea were determined. Markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant activities, and mRNA expression of target genes PPAR-α, cFn, eNOS, NF-B, AT1-R, ETA-R, Kim-1, and NGAL were measured in the kidney tissues. Moreover, histopathological examinations were carried out on the kidney tissue. Physiological UC hyperbilirubinemia could be a promising protective strategy against CsA-induced kidney disease in transplant recipients. UGT1A1 antisense oligonucleotide-induced physiological UC hyperbilirubinemia serum significantly protected against CsA-induced kidney dysfunction. UCB acts as a signaling molecule that protects against kidney disease through different mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormonal action, by activating nuclear hormone receptors (PPAR-α). Moreover, it significantly downregulated mRNA expression of NF-kB, ETA-R, iNOS, AT1-R, cFn, Kim-1, and NGAL in the kidney tissue and alleviated CsA-induced kidney histological changes in CsA-treated mice.

Enhanced Autophagic Flux, Suppressed Apoptosis and Reduced Macrophage Infiltration by Dasatinib in Kidneys of Obese Mice

Obesity causes renal changes (ORC), characterized by defective renal autophagy, lipogenesis, enhanced macrophage infiltration and apoptosis. We hypothesize that Dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may ameliorate changes associated with obesity. We the mice with either Obesogenic diet (OD) or a standard basal diet. After 12 weeks, the mice received either vehicle or Dasatinib 4 mg/kg/d for an additional four weeks. We examined serum creatinine, urea, lipid profile and renal cortical mRNA expression for lipogenesis marker SREBP1, inflammatory macrophage marker iNOS and fibrosis markers; TGFβ and PDGFA genes; immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CD68; inflammatory macrophage marker and ASMA; fibrosis marker, LC3 and SQSTM1/P62; autophagy markers and western blotting (WB) for caspase-3; and, as an apoptosis marker, LC3II/I and SQSTM1/P62 in addition to staining for H&E, PAS, Sirius red and histopathological scoring. Dasatinib attenuated renal cortical mRNA expression for SREBP1, iNOS, PDGFA and TGFβ and IHC staining for CD68, ASMA and SQSTM1/P62 and WB for caspase-3 and SQSTM1/P62, while elevating LC3 expression. Moreover, Dasatinib ameliorated ORC; glomerulosclerosis, glomerular expansion, tubular dilatation, vacuolation and casts; inflammatory cellular infiltration; and fibrosis. Dasatinib is a promising therapy for ORC by correcting autophagy impairment, attenuating lipogenesis, apoptosis and macrophage infiltration by inducing antifibrotic activity.

Can Dasatinib Ameliorate the Hepatic changes, Induced by Long Term Western Diet, in Mice?

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a worldwide disease that progresses into steatohepatitis (NASH) that has no current effective treatment. This study aimed, for the first time, to investigate the effect of Dasatinib; a tyrosine kinase inhibitor showing anti-PDGFR activity with a macrophage modulating efficacy, on NASH.

METHODS

NASH was induced, in C57BL/6 mice by western diet (WD). Control groups received either DMSO or Dasatinib. After 12 weeks, WD-fed mice received DMSO, Dasatinib (4 mg/kg) or Dasatinib (8 mg/kg) once daily, for four weeks. Serum was examined for ALT and lipid profile. Immunohistochemical staining for SREBP1 (lipogenesis marker), iNOS, arginase-1, CD68, CD163 (macrophage polarization markers), TGF-β (fibrosis marker) and ASMA (a marker for activated hepatic stellate cell), hepatic mRNA expression for SREBP-1, iNOS, arginase-1, TGF-β and PDGFA genes; and western blotting for phosphorylated PDGFR α and β, SREBP1, iNOS, arginase-1, IL1α, COX2, TGF-β and ASMA were performed. Liver sections were stained also for H & E, Oil red O and Sirius red.

RESULTS

Dasatinib could ameliorate the WD-induced disturbance of serum ALT, lipid profile and significantly reduced hepatic expression of PDGFA, phosphorylated PDGFR α and β, IL1α, COX2, SREBP-1, iNOS, CD68, TGF-β and ASMA but increased expression for arginase-1 and CD163 (M2 macrophage markers). Moreover, Dasatinib reduced the steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning, hepatic fibrosis and the high NAFLD activity scoring induced by WD.

CONCLUSION

Dasatinib can prevent the progression of WD-induced NASH by attenuating lipogenesis, and inducing M2 macrophage polarization with antifibrotic activity.