Atherosclerosis is characterized by lipid accumulation, inflammatory response, cell death and fibrosis in the arterial wall, which is the pathological basis for ischemic coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Major risk factors for atherosclerosis include high plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and low plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Intervention studies with statins have shown to reduce plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations and subsequently the risk of developing CHD. However, not all the aggressive statin therapy could decrease the risk of developing CHD. Therefore, additional therapeutic interventions beyond statins are ......

The liver is a complex, functionally heterogeneous organ, which performs hundreds of functions including detoxification, nutrient metabolism, and secretion of serum proteins. Though the liver has an excellent ability to alleviate the effects of ongoing damage and regenerate, the healing mechanism is impaired during chronic injuries. Mainly, the prolonged activation of otherwise quiescent, retinoid-storing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during chronic liver diseases (CLDs) causes an excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the liver. This dynamic condition is called hepatic fibrosis. If unchecked, liver fibrosis can lead to portal hypertension, cirrhosis, hepatoce......

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening, inflammatory disease affecting premature infants with intestinal necrosis, but the mechanism remains unclear. Neonatal macrophages are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of NEC through the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Restriction of cytokine expression in macrophages of NEC tissues may be beneficial. In adult macrophages, interfering with Rac1 has been shown to influence the expression of cytokines. Here, we investigated whether interfering with Rac1 in neonatal macrophages affects their inflammatory responses. First, we found that Rac1-activation was upregulated in the macrophages of rats with NEC mo......

Leydig cells (LCs), which are located in the interstitial compartment of the testes and nestled among the seminiferous tubules, are primarily responsible for the production of testosterone. Thus, LCs are indispensable for the development and maintenance of the masculine phenotype, endocrine homeostasis, and reproductive function. Hereditary primary hypogonadism (HPH) is caused by malfunction at the level of the testes due to genetic causes which impair LCs function. This condition is characterized by low or absent testosterone levels and high gonadotropins levels, underdeveloped masculine phenotype, and severely impaired spermatogenesis. Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor ......

Gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans and animals, which can synthesize various metabolic products that affect human health either positively or negatively, upon interaction with the host. Gut bacteria could metabolize indigestible carbohydrates like cellulose, hemicelluloses, resistant starch, pectin, oligosaccharides and lignin into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetic, propionic and butyric acids. The microbiota can also perform an essential role in vitamin synthesis such as biotin, thiamine, cobalamin, riboflavin, nicotine and pantothenic acids, as well as vitamin B and K. Observational findings achieved during......

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease and affects 2-3% of the global population.It is characterized by well-demarcated, erythematous plaques covered by silvery-white scales, typically occurring in a symmetric distribution involving the elbows, knees, trunk and scalp. Individuals with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing other chronic and serious health diseases. These comorbid diseases include psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome or components of the syndrome, cardiovascular disorders, and several other diseases such as anxiety and depression, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Crohn’s disease, and lymphoma. At present, the treatment options for psoriasis include to......