Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity, which affects 2% to 8% of pregnancies in the world. The aberrant maternal inflammation and angiogenic imbalance have been demonstrated to contribute to the pathogenesis of PE. This research aimed to investigate the effect of Astragaloside IV (AsIV) in the treatment of PE and the underlying mechanisms. A rat PE‐like model was established by tail vein injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and different doses of AsIV (40 and 80 mg/kg) were treated at the same time. Systolic blood pressure, total urine protein and urine volume were observed. Serum and placenta inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. The mRNA and protein expression of relative genes were analyzed by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. In PE‐like rats, there were obvious increases in systolic blood pressure, total urine protein and urine volume, which were obviously alleviated by treatment with AsIV. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), IL‐6 and IL‐18, as well as IL‐4, IL‐10, PIGF, VEGF and sFlt‐1, were all reversed by treatment with AsIV. Meanwhile, AsIV treatment improved abnormal pregnancy outcomes, such as low litter size and low fetal weight. In addition, AsIV treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory gene IL‐1β and IL‐6 in PE rats model, and AsIV treatment inhibited the activation of TLR‐4, NF‐κB, and sFlt‐1 in the placenta of PE rats. Our findings indicated the first evidence that AsIV alleviated PE‐like signs, and this improvement effect is possibly through inhibition of inflammation response via the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway.
The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its associated risks of chronic kidney disease or end‐stage renal disease development are on the rise. T1D is an autoimmune disease in which insulin‐producing beta cells are destroyed. Increased incidence of T1D has been suggested to be a result of environmental factors such as exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). 2‐aminoanthracene (2AA) is a PAH that has been associated with the onset of early diabetic symptoms. This study was conducted to assess if 2AA dietary ingestion would induce T1D renal injuries. To accomplish study goals, Sprague‐Dawley rats were assigned into three 2AA dietary (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg‐2AA) ingestion groups for 12 weeks. Animals were evaluated for various morphometric indices, clinical markers, and gene expression. The rats in the 100 mg/kg group lost 5% less weight than the other treatment groups and converted roughly 3% more of their food intake into body mass. Renal histopathology indicated no significant difference between groups. The kidney weight per bodyweight of the 100 mg/kg treatment group was 30.1% greater than the control group. Creatinine concentration of the 100 mg/kg group was 46.2% greater than the control group. Serum glucose levels were significantly elevated in rats exposed to 2AA. On the contrary, serum albumin concentration was significantly reduced in 2AA‐treated rats. T1D and genetic markers of renal injury such as FABP1, SPP1, IL‐1B, and IL‐7 were elevated in treated groups. These results suggest that 2AA may induce the early diabetic renal injuries.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10458525
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Volume:
- 35
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 1520-4081
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 203-212
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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OBJECTIVE To characterize high type 1 diabetes (T1D) genetic risk in a population where type 2 diabetes (T2D) predominates.
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