Mesenchymal stem cells versus their conditioned medium in the treatment of ischemia/reperfusion injury: Evaluation of efficacy and hepatic specific gene expression in mice.

Objectives: The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of MSCs on hepatic I/R injury are still poorly described, especially the changes in hepatocyte gene expression. In this study, the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) and their conditioned medium on hepatocyte gene expression resulted by I/R shock were investigated. Materials and Methods: Liver ischemia models were induced by clamping in experimental groups. Experimental groups received MSCs or conditioned medium treatments and the control group received Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). During 1, 24 hr, and 1 week after treatment, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes and tissue catalase activity (CAT) were measured. Gene expression of a number of hepatocyte-specific genes (Alb, Afp, and Ck8) and Icam-1 which is upregulated under inflammatory conditions were also evaluated in 5, 24 hr, and 1-week intervals after I/R insult. Results: In this study, liver enzymes showed a much more shift in the control group than treated groups and it was more noticeable 5 hr post-treatment. Moreover, gene expression pattern of the control group underwent changes after I/R injury. However, treated groups gene expression analysis met a steady trend after I/R insult. Conclusion: Our finding shows that stem cell treatment has better curative effects than conditioned medium. BMSCs, AMSCs or BMSC and AMSC-derived bioactive molecules injection have potential to be considered as a therapeutic approach for treating acute liver injury.

Effect of Curcuma zedoaria hydro-alcoholic extract on learning, memory deficits and oxidative damage of brain tissue following seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in rat.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that seizures can cause cognitive disorders. On the other hand, the Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) has beneficial effects on the nervous system. However, there is little information on the possible effects of the CZ extract on seizures. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of CZ extract on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress induced by epilepsy in rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into different groups. In all rats (except the sham group), kindling was performed by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) at a dose of 35 mg/kg every 48 h for 14 days. Positive group received 2 mg/kg diazepam + PTZ; treatment groups received 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg CZ extract + PTZ; and one group received 0.5 mg/kg flumazenil and CZ extract + PTZ. Shuttle box and Morris Water Maze tests were used to measure memory and learning. On the last day of treatments PTZ injection was at dose of 60 mg/kg, tonic seizure threshold and mortality rate were recorded in each group. After deep anesthesia, blood was drawn from the rats' hearts and the hippocampus of all rats was removed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the data showed that the CZ extract significantly increased the tonic seizure threshold and reduced the pentylenetetrazol-induced mortality and the extract dose of 400 mg/kg was selected as the most effective dose compared to the other doses. It was also found that flumazenil (a GABAA receptor antagonist) reduced the tonic seizure threshold compared to the effective dose of the extract. The results of shuttle box and Morris water maze behavioral tests showed that memory and learning decreased in the negative control group and the CZ extract treatment improved memory and learning in rats. The CZ extract also increased antioxidant capacity, decreased MDA and NO in the brain and serum of pre-treated groups in compared to the negative control group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the CZ extract has beneficial effects on learning and memory impairment in PTZ-induced epilepsy model, which has been associated with antioxidant effects in the brain or possibly exerts its effects through the GABAergic system.

Recent Findings in Molecular Basis of Inflammation and Anti-inflammatory Plants.

Inflammation is one of the most important body responses provided by the immune system since it ensures survival when tissues are affected by injuries or infections. The inflammatory response is an important process for maintenance of normal tissue homeostasis. In contrast to acute inflammation, chronic inflammation does not have a useful impact. Prevention and suppression of inflammation are necessary to reduce patient suffering and to preserve the integrity of multiple organs. Unfortunately, commercial available anti-inflammatory drugs are not free from side effects. Hence, there is an urgent need for introducing potent, nontoxic or less toxic antiinflammatory drugs. Recently, substantial progress has been made in the understanding of inflammatory mechanisms which may open new avenues for the preparation of novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicinal plants are also promising sources for preparation of such novel drugs. Taking into consideration the anti-inflammatory activities of a large group of medicinal plants, this article, in addition to describing recent advances in progress in understanding the molecular basis of inflammation, presents the most important medicinal plants with antiinflammatory activity.