Microdissection of the Rodent Eye

The ocular micro-dissection of the rodent eye involves the segmentation of the enucleated eyeball with the attached nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, ...

generation-rat-model-acute-liver-failure-combining-70-partial

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical condition caused by various etiologies resulting in the loss of metabolic, biochemical, synthesizing, and ...

National Institute of Immunology

Stress-induced subclinical reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) has been studied previously. However, subclinical reactivation of VZV induced by the stress of pregnancy has not been investigated. The objective was to study varicella DNA and varicella antibody levels in mothers and their newborn babies. VZV immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in 350 mother-newborn dyads were studied using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing. A subset of 73 dyads was selected, DNA was isolated from the serum samples, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed. Nearly 15% (14.6%) mothers tested were positive for varicella antibodies (>100 mIU/dL) and 16% were borderline (<100 and >50 mIU/dL). Approximately 16.9% of the babies were positive, and 18% were in borderline. Among those tested for VZV-DNA, 70% of mothers with low VZ-IgG (<100 mIU/dL) and 11.32% of those with high VZ-IgG (>100 mIU/dL) were positive for DNA. Among the newborns, 60% of those with low VZ-IgG and 15% of those with high VZ-IgG were positive for DNA. Mothers who have had VZV infection in the past can transmit VZV DNA to their babies.

Mother-to-Child Transfer of Reactivated Varicella-Zoster Virus DNA and Varicella-Zoster IgG in Pregnancy.

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial flavoprotein involved in redox signalling and programmed cell death. The role of AIF has been well recognized in diabetes and obesity. However, the aspect of AIF deficiency in the development of hepatic steatosis and liver injury is unknown. Therefore, in the current study, Harlequin (Hq mutant) mouse with markedly reduced content of AIF was investigated to explore the role of AIF on the initiation of liver injury. The wild type (WT) developed physiological and pathological features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that were not seen in the Hq mice with AIF deficiency, when fed on high fat high fructose (HFHF) diet. Following bile duct ligation (BDL), the liver associated pathological changes were less conspicuous in Hq mice as compared to WT mice. The expression of AIF protein and apoptosis was markedly lesser as compared to their respective control in Hq mice on HFHF diet. Furthermore, the genes involved in fatty acid metabolism were also altered in the group of treated Hq mice. In conclusion, Hq mice failed to develop diet induced hepatic steatosis, suggestive of a role of AIF mediated pathway in the initiation and progression of liver inflammation. Thus, partial loss of AIF appears to be hepatoprotective. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: AIF deficiency has multiple roles in altered pathology processes and cellular metabolism, thereby compromising the cellular homeostasis. Considering the molecular functions of AIF in other organ pathology little is known about its role in diet induced liver injury. Hence, the aim of the current study was to investigate the role of AIF deficiency in liver injury and diseases with focus on NAFLD. The study will help to deliniate the mechanisms of NAFLD using Harliquin Mice.

Apoptosis-inducing factor deficient mice fail to develop hepatic steatosis under high fat high fructose diet or bile duct ligation.

Tubercular granulomas are a common manifestation of intraocular tuberculosis. These are said to be hypoxic granulomas with increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Management of these granulomas includes a combination of antitubercular therapy (ATT) and oral corticosteroids. We report a case of tubercular granuloma with exudative retinal detachment which was treated with weekly intravitreal anti-VEGF and antibiotic injections along with ATT and corticosteroids. The VEGF levels measured paralleled with the clinical regression of the granuloma.

Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor with the clinical regression of tubercular granuloma.

Cell therapy is one of the most promising therapeutic interventions for retinitis pigmentosa. In the current study, we aimed to assess if peripheral blood-derived monocytes which are highly abundant and accessible could be utilized as a potential candidate for phenotypic differentiation into neuron-like cells.

Peripheral blood-derived monocytes show neuronal properties and integration in immune-deficient rd1 mouse model upon phenotypic differentiation and induction with retinal growth factors.

Due to the limited utility of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only approved vaccine available for tuberculosis, there is a need to develop a more effective and safe vaccine. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a dry powder aerosol (DPA) formulation of BCG encapsulated alginate particle (BEAP) and the conventional intradermal BCG immunization in infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The infant macaques were immunized intratracheally with DPA of BEAP into the lungs. Animals were monitored for their growth, behaviour, any adverse and allergic response. The protective efficacy of BEAP was estimated by the ex-vivo H37Rv infection method. Post-immunization with BEAP, granulocytes count, weight gain, chest radiography, levels of liver secreted enzymes, cytokines associated with inflammation like TNF and IL-6 established that BEAP is non-toxic and it does not elicit an allergic response. The T cells isolated from BEAP immunized animals' blood, upon stimulation with M.tb antigen, secreted high levels of IFN-γ, TNF, IL-6 and IL-2. The activated T cells from BEAP group, when co-cultured with M.tb infected macrophages, eliminated largest number of infected macrophages compared to the BCG and control group. This study suggests the safety and efficacy of BEAP in Non-human primate model.

The safety and efficacy of BCG encapsulated alginate particle (BEAP) against M.tb H37Rv infection in Macaca mulatta : A pilot study.

To report pre and post treatment levels of VEGF-A in the aqueous humour of patients with intraocular tubercular granulomas and study the effect of a combined intravitreal anti-VEGF bevacizumab and moxifloxacin therapy on their regression.

Adjunctive Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Moxifloxacin Therapy in Management of Intraocular Tubercular Granulomas.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary retinal disease which leads to visual impairment. The onset and progression of RP has physiological consequences that affects the ocular environment. Some of the key non-genetic factors which hasten the retinal degeneration in RP include oxidative stress, hypoxia and ocular inflammation. In this study, we investigated the status of the ocular immune privilege during retinal degeneration and the effect of ocular immune changes on the peripheral immune system in RP. We assessed the peripheral blood mononuclear cell stimulation by retinal antigens and their immune response status in RP patients. Subsequently, we examined alterations in ocular immune privilege machineries which may contribute to ocular inflammation and disease progression in rd1 mouse model.

ArticleTotal : 2	Year
Publication title	2023
Publication title Cited by 10	2019

Article	Year
Mother-to-Child Transfer of Reactivated Varicella-Zoster Virus DNA and Varicella-Zoster IgG in Pregnancy. Viral immunology\| PubMed ID: 31834852	2020
Apoptosis-inducing factor deficient mice fail to develop hepatic steatosis under high fat high fructose diet or bile duct ligation. Cell biochemistry and function\| PubMed ID: 32767404	2021
Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor with the clinical regression of tubercular granuloma. Indian journal of ophthalmology\| PubMed ID: 32823472	2020
Peripheral blood-derived monocytes show neuronal properties and integration in immune-deficient rd1 mouse model upon phenotypic differentiation and induction with retinal growth factors. Stem cell research & therapy\| PubMed ID: 32967734	2020
The safety and efficacy of BCG encapsulated alginate particle (BEAP) against M.tb H37Rv infection in Macaca mulatta : A pilot study. Scientific reports\| PubMed ID: 33542363	2021
Adjunctive Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Moxifloxacin Therapy in Management of Intraocular Tubercular Granulomas. Ocular immunology and inflammation\| PubMed ID: 34919497	2023
Immunological consequences of compromised ocular immune privilege accelerate retinal degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa. Orphanet journal of rare diseases\| PubMed ID: 36253797	2022

K. Varsha Mohan

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