Hepatic fibrosis causes severe morbidity and death. No viable treatment can repair fibrosis and protect the liver until now. We intended to discover the empagliflozin’s (EMPA) hepatoprotective efficacy in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity by targeting AMPK/SIRT-1 activity and reducing HIF-1α. Rats were treated orally with EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) with TAA (100 mg/kg, IP) thrice weekly for 6 weeks. EMPA in both doses retracted the serum GGT, ALT, AST, ammonia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and increased serum albumin. At the same time, EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) replenished the hepatic content of GSH, ATP, AMP, AMPK, or SIRT-1 and mitigated the hepatic content of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB, or HIF-1α in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, hepatic photomicrograph stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Masson trichrome stain of EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) revealed marked regression of the hepatotoxic effect of TAA with minimal injury. Similarly, in rats given EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg), the immunohistochemically of hepatic photomicrograph revealed minimal stain of either α-SMA or caspase-3 compared to the TAA group. Therefore, we concluded that EMPA possessed an antifibrotic effect by targeting AMPK/SIRT-1 activity and inhibiting HIF-1α. The present study provided new insight into a novel treatment of liver fibrosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the lining of the synovial joints and approximately affects 0.5-1% of the total population imposing a socioeconomic burden. Currently, there is no cure for RA, but receiving proper medical care at early stages of the disease is of high importance, to prevent the progressive disability and premature death. Using rat animal model injected with Complete Freund’s adjuvant proved to be successful in induction of a state highly resembling RA in human. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are considered as one of the most important metal oxide nanoparticles due to their exclusive properties, and they are currently merged in several biological applications due to their biocompatibility, low cost, and high safety profile. In this study, we demonstrated the novel possible beneficial effects of using zinc oxide nanoparticles, on such devastating severe disease. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) proved to reduce the adjuvant-induced increased productions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, total leukocyte count, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP levels in rats, suggesting an interesting option to be available either alone or in combinations to better control RA.In conclusion we recommend the expansion of more in vivo studies to highlight the benefits which could be obtained of nanoparticles either alone or in combination with the known anti-arthritic and/or anti-inflammatory agents; giving rise to new protocols to maximize the control of RA.

No abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the lining of the synovial joints and approximately affects 0.5-1% of the total population imposing a socioeconomic burden. Currently, there is no cure for RA, but receiving proper medical care at early stages of the disease is of high importance, to prevent the progressive disability and premature death. Using rat animal model injected with Complete Freund's adjuvant proved to be successful in induction of a state highly resembling RA in human. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are considered as one of the most important metal oxide nanoparticles due to their exclusive properties, and they are currently merged in several biological applications due to their biocompatibility, low cost, and high safety pro le. In this study, we demonstrated the novel possible bene cial effects of using zinc oxide nanoparticles, on such devastating severe disease. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) proved to reduce the adjuvant-induced increased productions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, total leukocyte count, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP levels in rats, suggesting an interesting option to be available either alone or in combinations to better control RA.In conclusion we recommend the expansion of more in vivo studies to highlight the bene ts which could be obtained of nanoparticles either alone or in combination with the known anti-arthritic and/or antiin ammatory agents; giving rise to new protocols to maximize the control of RA.

No abstract