Second-generation antisense oligonucleotides against ß-catenin protect mice against diet-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance.

Although mutations in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway are linked with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in humans, the mechanism is unclear. High-fat-fed male C57BL/6 mice were treated for 4 wk with a 2'-O-methoxyethyl chimeric antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to decrease hepatic and adipose expression of ß-catenin. ß-Catenin mRNA decreased by ≈80% in the liver and by 70% in white adipose tissue relative to control ASO-treated mice. ß-Catenin ASO improved hepatic insulin sensitivity and increased insulin-stimulated whole body glucose metabolism, as assessed during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in awake mice. ß-Catenin ASO altered hepatic lipid composition in high-fat-fed mice. There were reductions in hepatic triglyceride (44%, P < 0.05) and diacylglycerol content (60%, P < 0.01) but a 30% increase in ceramide content (P < 0.001). The altered lipid content was attributed to decreased expression of sn-1,2 diacylglycerol acyltransferase and mitochondrial acyl-CoA:glycerol-sn-3-phosphate acyltransferase and an increase in serine palmitoyl transferase. The decrease in cellular diacyglycerol was associated with a 33% decrease in PKCε activation (P < 0.05) and 64% increase in Akt2 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). In summary, Reducing ß-catenin expression decreases expression of enzymes involved in hepatic fatty acid esterification, ameliorates hepatic steatosis and lipid-induced insulin resistance.

Comparison of hyperbaric oxygen and medical ozone therapies in a rat model of experimental distal colitis.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is effective in reducing the severity of acute distal colitis (ADC). Ozone therapy (OT) reduces inflammation in several pathological conditions. We aimed to compare the effects of HBO therapy and OT in an experimental ADC rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, ADC, ADC + HBO, and ADC + OT. Rats in the sham group were given isotonic saline. In the remaining groups, ADC was created by intracolonic administration of 4% acetic acid. No treatment was given to the ADC group. The rats in the ADC + HBO and ADC + OT groups were given HBO and ozone treatments, respectively. The administration of acetic acid caused an inflammatory response in all animals. Distal colons and blood samples were obtained. RESULTS: The histopathological score was significantly higher in the ADC group compared to the other groups. The histopathological scores in the ADC + HBO and ADC + OT groups were significantly lower compared to the ADC group (both p < 0.001). The most pronounced therapeutic effect was observed in the ADC + OT group. Malondialdehyde and neopterin levels and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the ADC group were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that the therapeutic effect of OT is more pronounced than that of HBO therapy. Its possible effect is by means of decreasing inflammation, edema, and oxidative stress. These findings also suggest that it is possible to improve the outcome of ADC by using ozone therapy as an adjuvant therapy.

Plasma total homocysteine concentrations in a Turkish population sample.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine the reference of plasma total homocysteine levels from a Turkish population and to investigate the relationship of plasma total homocysteine levels with sex and age groups. DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma total homocysteine levels were measured in 2257 Turkish individuals (1381 men and 876 women) aged 1-90 years. Plasma total homocysteine concentrations were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. RESULTS: The mean plasma total homocysteine level was significantly higher in men (mean, 10.6 micromol/L) than in women (mean, 8.7 micromol/L), P < 0.001. The mean plasma total homocysteine levels for the 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, and 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 61-70, 71-80, 81-90 age groups, were 6.5, 9.6, 10.1, and 10.4, 10.5, 10.9, and 11.3, 12.7, 14.6 miromol/L in men and 7.1, 7.6, 7.5, and 7.8, 8.7, 9.4, and 10.3, 11.2, 13.3 micromol/L in women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate the significance of sex- and age-associated differences of plasma total homocysteine levels in Turkish subjects. Plasma total homocysteine levels were increasing with age and men were found to have higher levels than women, as is found in other populations.

Urinary neopterin levels in uveitis: is it a new activity marker?

PURPOSE: Neopterin is an immunologic marker for the activation of the cell-mediated immune system and it is found to be elevated in autoimmune diseases. We aimed in this study to investigate the relationship between urinary neopterin levels and disease activity in patients with uveitis. METHODS: 31 patients with active uveitis and 13 patients with inactive uveitis were compared with 27 age and sex matched controls. Disease activity was evaluated by clinical examination and fundus florescein angiography findings. Samples were studied with High Performance Liquid Chromatography. RESULTS: Urinary neopterin levels in patients with active uveitis, inactive uveitis and control subjects were 274 +/- 98, 179 +/- 61 and 166 +/- 38 micromol/mol creatinine respectively (p < 001). The difference between active uveitis, inactive uveitis and control groups were statistically significant (p < 001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary neopterin levels are found to be increased in patients with active uveitis. Neopterin can be used as a biochemical activity marker to support the clinical findings in patients with uveitis.

Pentraxin 3 as a potential biomarker of acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

OBJECTIVE: Overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) can lead to severe liver injury in humans and experimental animals. Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is produced and released by several cell types. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether PTX-3 is a potential biomarker in the identification of APAP-induced liver injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, APAP-1 and APAP-2 groups. APAP-1 (1 g/kg) and APAP-2 (2 g/kg) group rats were given APAP by gastric tube. Liver tissues and blood samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Biochemical parameters, plasma and liver PTX-3 levels and degree of liver necrosis were measured in all groups. RESULTS: APAP treatments caused necrosis in liver and accompanied by elevated liver PTX-3 levels after 48 h. In APAP-1 and APAP-2 groups when compared with control group (7.5±3.3 ng/mg protein), mean liver PTX-3 concentrations were 14.1±3.0 (p=0.032) and 28.5±8.2 (p<0.001) ng/mg protein, respectively. All rats (100%) in the APAP-2 group had the degree 3 liver necrosis. However 10%, 40% and 50% of rats had the degree 1, the degree 2 and the degree 3 liver necrosis in the APAP-1 group, respectively. The degrees of liver necrosis of the APAP-1 and APAP-2 groups were higher than the group of control (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: PTX-3 may have a role in the APAP-induced liver injury in the rats. The elevated liver PTX-3 in the APAP-induced hepatic necrosis might be a marker of acute histological liver damage. Further prospective studies are necessary to clarify the prognostic value of liver PTX-3 for prediction of histological hepatic necrosis in the APAP-induced liver injury.