Immune-mediated mesangial cell injury—Biosynthesis and function of prostanoids

Immune-mediated mesangial cell injury—Biosynthesis and function of prostanoids. We studied the formation of cyclo-oxygenase products in a rat model of mesangial cell injury, in order to determine a possible role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin I2 (determined as 6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in immune-mediated glomerular disease. Selective immune-mediated mesangial cell injury was induced by i.v. administration of a rabbit anti-rat thymocyte antiserum (ATS). Intravenous ATS leads to immune deposits in the mesangium followed by mesangiolysis and the infiltration of polymorphonuclear granulocytes and monocytes. Glomerular TxB2 formation two hours (292 ± 27 pg/mg/min) and 48 hours (396 ± 69 pg/mg/min) following antibody was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to animals receiving non-antibody rabbit IgG (TxB2: 2hr 143 ± 13; 48hr 171 ± 32 pg/mg/min). Treatment with cobra venom factor (CVF) and the reduction of glomerular monocyte infiltration inhibited the increase of glomerular TxB2 formation significantly. Depletion of granulocytes with a rabbit anti-rat granulocyte serum had no effect on glomerular prostanoid formation following ATS. Glomerular PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1α production was not altered following ATS. Inulin clearance in rats with immune-mediated mesangial cell injury was significantly (P < 0.001) lower at two hours (456 ± 24 µl/min/100g body wt) and 48 hours (433 ± 54 µl/min/lOO g body wt) compared to their corresponding control animals which were treated with non-antibody IgG (2 hr: 914 ± 51; 48 hr: 694 ± 79 µl/min/100g body wt). Pretreatment of rats with indomethacin (Indo) or with the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor UK 38485 prevented the decrease in inulin clearance following ATS at two hours (Indo: 800 ± 67; UK 38485: 923 ± 115) and at 48 hours (Indo: 697 ± 60; UK 38485: 654 ± 99). The data demonstrate that selective, immune-mediated mesangial cell injury in rats is associated with increased glomerular TxB2 formation. Complement and monocyte/macrophage depletion reduces TxB2 production. The fall in inulin clearance following ATS is ameliorated when the rats receive indomethacin or the Tx synthetase inhibitor UK 38485. Thus, elevated TxB2 formation might mediate the reduction in GFR in this model of glomerular immune injury

An analysis of material consumption culture in the Muslim world

In this paper, we examine the notion of material consumption culture in Islamic societies. We differentiate between institutionalised religion and religion as culture. We contest the Orientalist portrayal of Islam as a fanatic ideology opposed to Western Modernity’s features of secularism, individualism, and pluralism. With reference to the Qur’anic text, we discuss that such qualities are embedded with Islam. We do not interpret the Qur’an from a theological perspective; rather, we seek to demonstrate the possibilities of its multiple interpretations. We argue that, in their everyday life consumption practices, Muslims (re)interpret religious guidelines in different ways and refer to Islam, as a transcendental set of guidelines, to make better sense of their cultural practices in different ways. We summarise our discussion by highlighting the importance of analysing the culture of consumption from the lens of insiders and offer directions for future research

Islamic economics: a survey of the literature

A central thesis of this paper is that social science is the study of human experience, and hence is strongly conditioned by history. Modern Western political, economic and social structures have emerged as a consequence of the repudiation of religion associated with the Enlightenment and are based on secular principles. Many of these are inimical to Islamic principles, and cannot be adapted to an Islamic society. Muslim societies achieved freedom from colonial rule in the first half of the twentieth century and have sought to construct institutions in conformity with Islam. The development of Islamic economics is part of this process of transition away from Western colonial institutions. This paper is a survey of the literature on Islamic economics, which focuses on the contrasts between Western economic theories and Islamic approaches to the organization of economic affairs