Redox signaling in diabetic retinopathy and opportunity for therapeutic intervention through natural products.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common serious complication of diabetes that accounts for the leading cause of blindness among the working-age population in developed countries. Despite substantial progress in therapeutic approaches, DR remains highly prevalent, indicating deeper pathomechanism studies are urgently needed. Nowadays, natural products with outstanding safety and efficacy play an increasingly vital role in drug discovery research, and some of them have the potential to facilitate the treatment of DR. In this review, we primarily revisit the contribution of redox signaling and its mediators that might be amenable to targeting DR, including Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as well as microRNAs. Ultimately, we summarize and evaluate the use of natural products to regulate these signaling pathways, which may increase our understanding and ability to target these important molecules and may help to achieve further clinical benefits.

[Establishment and identification of highly expressing and replicating hepatitis B virus genome transgenic mouse models].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a highly expressing and replicating hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome transgenic mouse models for screening anti-HBV drugs and investigating the pathogenesis of hepatitis B. METHODS: Elongated HBV genome as the investigated gene was transducted into the pronuclei of the fertilized eggs of mice by the technique of microinjection, then the eggs were transplanted into the oviducts of the pseudopregnant mice. All the newborn mice were screened and identified by PCR and Southern blot detecting genomic DNA in tail tissue, then the positive mice were examined plasma HBsAg, HBeAg by ELISA and plasma HBV DNA by Southern blot. RESULTS: Among the 61 offsprings, 18 were positive for tail tissue HBV DNA examination, 7 of which were positive for replication and expression detection. CONCLUSION: Transgenic mice with elongated HBV genome possess high efficiency of replication and expression, which can be used for further investigation.