Effect of mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes and green tea polyphenols on acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in adult male albino rats.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that result in recurrent inflammation plus ulcers of the colon and rectum. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes MSC-EXs have shown a lot of promise for the treatment of gut disorders, with cell regeneration and angiogenesis. Green tea polyphenols (GTPs) display specific beneficial effects on health and pathologies. The aim of this study was to explore the possible effect of MSC-EXs and GTPs on acetic acid-induced UC in rats. Sixty adult male rats were divided into five groups: group I, control group; group II, UC; group ΙIΙ, UC treated with GTPs; group ΙV, UC treated with MSC-EXs; and group V, UC treated with combined GTPs and MSC-EXs. Colonic samples were processed for histological and immunohistochemical methods. Expression of CXCR2 and TLR4 levels was measured. Groups ΙI and III showed ulceration, loss of surface columnar epithelium, disturbed crypt architecture with few goblet cells, and many cellular infiltrations with the overexpression of CXCR2 and TLR4. Group IV showed attenuation of some histological changes. Group V showed improvement of the most histological and immunohistochemical changes described previously. MSC-EXs represent future therapeutic hopes for chronic intestinal inflammatory states, keeping the integrity of innate immunity through their regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects. The combination of GTPs and MSC-EXs was more effective and produced an additive effect than using MSC-EXs alone.

Vitamin D Replacement Mitigates Menopause-Associated Dyslipidaemia and Atherogenic Indices in Ovariectomized Rats; A Biochemical Study.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Dyslipidaemia is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women and its management represents a keystone in the prevention of the worldwide increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therapy choices for menopause-associated dyslipidaemia are limited and a matter of debate. So, it becomes prudent to search for natural safe alternatives. Vitamin D (VD) has been acknowledged as an essential factor in cardiovascular health. Thus, we aimed to illustrate the impact of different VD status on dyslipidaemia and atherogenic indices. METHOD: 5 groups of rats were conducted; SHAM group fed control diet, ovariectomized rats fed control diet (OVX), ovariectomized rats fed VD-sufficient-high fat diet (HFD) (1 000 IU/ kg diet), ovariectomized rats fed VD-deficient-HFD (25 IU/ kg diet), and ovariectomized rats fed VD-replete-HFD (10 000 IU/ kg diet) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: Dyslipidaemia with an increased atherogenic index of plasma, atherosclerosis coefficient, cardiac risk ratio, and aortic total cholesterol accumulation in addition to reduced serum 25-hydroxy-VD levels was observed in the OVX and VD-sufficient HFD versus SHAM. These findings were aggravated by VD-deficient-HFD while reversed by VD-replete-HFD. The VD-mediated abundance of aortic ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression, reduced activity of the inflammatory Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and downregulation of aortic cluster of differentiation-36 (CD36) receptors expression together with increased serum total antioxidant capacity and reduced serum malondialdehyde were among the supposed mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sheds light on alarming levels of VD deficiency among ovariectomized rats. VD repletion improved the menopause-associated dyslipidaemia and atherogenic indices through hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.