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Background Renoprotective effects of vitamin D analogues have been shown in several experimental and clinical studies, the exact mechanism of the therapeutic effectiveness of these analogues in Nephrotic syndrome remains unclear, and these are relatively few studies on potential treatment roles for vitamin D analogues in nephrotic-range proteinuria. ?ndicate similar efficacy of the vitamin D analogues calcitriol and paricalcitol in time-limited amelioration of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome, yet suggest the likelihood of mechanisms other than direct upregulation of nephrin and podocin in podocytes underlie the renoprotective effects of vitamin D analogues. Objective To investigate the effect of vitamin D (Vit D) analogues calcitriol and paricalcitol on urinary protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) and renal podocin and nephrin expression in a rat model of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS). Methods A total of 28 male Wistar Albino rats were separated into 4 groups (n=7 for each) including CON [control; intraperitoneal (IP) saline injection], PAN (NS + IP saline injection), PAN-C (NS + IP 0.4 µg/kg/day calcitriol injection), and PAN-P (NS + IP 240 ng/kg/day paricalcitol injection). Nephrotic syndrome was induced via intravenous (IV) administration of 10mg/100gr PAN. The UPCR as well as histopathological, immuno-histochemical, and real time PCR analyses of kidney tissue specimens were recorded and analyzed among the 4 groups. Results Median UPCR (Day 4) was significantly lower in both the PAN-C [1.45 (range 1.20-1.80)] and PAN-P [1.40 (range 1.10-1.80)] groups than in the PAN group [2.15 (range 2.00-2.40)] (P

The aim of this study was to show the effects of autophagy inhibitor Wortmannin and antiangiogenic-proapoptotic Thalidomide on autophagy and apoptosis markers in 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 4T1 cells for Wortmannin and Thalidomide were evaluated by Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. After cancer formation in 28 BALB/C female mice, drugs were administered for seven days. Cells and tissue sections were evaluated for anti-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), anti- the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain3 (MAPLC3β), anti-caspase 8, anti-caspase 9, and anti-caspase 3 immunoreactivities by immunohistochemical staining and apoptosis by Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. Both PI3K and MAPLC3β immunoreactivities decreased in all treatments when compared to control group except Thalidomide treatment in primary cancer tissue. The caspase 3, 8, and 9 immunoreactivities were increased in all treatment groups and TUNEL positive cells were the highest in the Wortmannin and Thalidomide group. Our findings suggest that autophagy is an important mechanism for 4T1 cells and both Wortmannin and Thalidomide treatments inhibit autophagy and induce apoptosis. In primary cancer tissues, autophagy was not effective as in vitro. The treatment of Wortmannin and Thalidomide increased the apoptotic cells in vivo independent from autophagy inhibition. Different results may be because of microenvironment. Further studies must be done to elucidate the effect of microenvironment.

Cyclophosphamide (CTX), also known as cytophosphane among other, is a medication used as chemotherapy and to suppress the immune system. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is involved in the regulation of diverse cellular functions, including cell growth, protein synthesis, cell cycle regulation, glucose metabolism, and motility. In our study eight weeks old C57BL/6 female mice were divided into 3 groups as control (C), sham (S) and experimental group. The experimental group has been established with CTX treatment. No treatment was applied to the C group. The S group were given an equal amount of saline. CTX was administered intraperitoneally one every 2 days for 3 weeks; the first dose was 70 mg/kg, the ongoing doses were 30 mg/kg. At the end of 3 weeks mice were sacrificed and kidneys were taken for investigation. In order to show the effect of cyclophosphamide in kidney tissue, the tissues were stained via indirect immunohistochemistry with PI3K, AKT and mTOR primary antibodies. In our study, PI3K, AKT and mTOR expression levels were found to be significantly decreased in CTX-mediated mechanisms indicating that the mechanisms of CTX might involve in the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Premature Ovarian Failure; is characterized by the dysfunction or early depletion of ovarian reserves due to follicular loss in the ovary in women under age of 40. POF is the important cause of infertility and its etiology is still not clearly understood. Investigation of cell death mechanisms (CDM) that play a role in the follicular atresia (FA) triggered by excessive loss of granulosa cells (GCs) that provide metabolic support for oocyte and follicle development in the ovary will help to understand POF etiology. It was known that apoptosis and autophagy play a role in FA. Recent studies have shown that paraptosis, associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), also exist in FA. POF model was established in C57BL/6 female mice by CTX and it was confirmed by increased follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteal hormone (LH) and decreased estradiol (E2) blood levels and follicle count. According to the results of the immunohistochemistry (IHC) cell death markers were significantly more expressed than control (C) and sham (S) groups in the POF model. In addition, more apoptotic cells were observed in the POF group compared to C and S in the TUNEL analysis. In consequence of this study apoptosis and autophagy as well as paraptosis play a role in the FA leading to POF, will help to develop new treatment protocols.