SARS-CoV-2 and pancreas: a potential pathological interaction?

The widespread extrapulmonary complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have gained momentum; the pancreas is another major target for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we take a closer look into potential pathological interactions. We provide an overview of the current knowledge and understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the pancreas with a special focus on pancreatic islets and propose direct, indirect, and systemic mechanisms for pancreas injury as result of the COVID-19–diabetes fatal bidirectional relationship

The liver-derived exosomes stimulate insulin gene expression in pancreatic beta cells under condition of insulin resistance

Introduction: An insufficient functional beta cell mass is a core pathological hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite the availability of several effective pharmaceuticals for diabetes management, there is an urgent need for novel medications to protect pancreatic beta cells under diabetic conditions. Integrative organ cross-communication controls the energy balance and glucose homeostasis. The liver and pancreatic islets have dynamic cross-communications where the liver can trigger a compensatory beta cell mass expansion and enhanced hormonal secretion in insulin-resistant conditions. However, the indispensable element(s) that foster beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion have yet to be completely identified. Exosomes are important extracellular vehicles (EVs) released by most cell types that transfer biological signal(s), including metabolic messengers such as miRNA and peptides, between cells and organs. Methods: We investigated whether beta cells can take up liver-derived exosomes and examined their impact on beta cell functional genes and insulin expression. Exosomes isolated from human liver HepG2 cells were characterized using various methods, including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Western blot analysis of exosomal markers. Exosome labeling and cell uptake were assessed using CM-Dil dye. The effect of liver cell-derived exosomes on Min6 beta cells was determined through gene expression analyses of beta cell markers and insulin using qPCR, as well as Akt signaling using Western blotting. Results: Treatment of Min6 beta cells with exosomes isolated from human liver HepG2 cells treated with insulin receptor antagonist S961 significantly increased the expression of beta cell markers Pdx1, NeuroD1, and Ins1 compared to the exosomes isolated from untreated cells. In line with this, the activity of AKT kinase, an integral component of the insulin receptor pathway, is elevated in pancreatic beta cells, as represented by an increase in AKT’s downstream substrate, FoxO1 phosphorylation. Discussions: This study suggests that liver-derived exosomes may carry a specific molecular cargo that can affect insulin expression in pancreatic beta cells, ultimately affecting glucose homeostasis

Investigation of prevalence of Shigella sonnei in children with diarrhea admitted to two hospital Emam Khomeini and Milad in Tehran in 1391 with Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates

Background and Aim: Shigella infection is one of the prevalent causes of diarrhea disease in most developing countries in children under 10 years old. Conventional microbiological examination to identify Shigella species are time-consuming and requires a lot of work and cost. The object of the present research was to isolate and identify of serotypes of Shigella, Shigella sonnei from patients with bacillary dysentery and to detect their one major virulence genes ipaH by using PCR. Materials and Methods: 3000 stool sample from children with diarrhea admitted in two famous hospitals in1391 in summer & autumn in Tehran were used in this study. The identification of isolated was done by serogrouping and biochemical test & the prevalence of ipaH gene determined by PCR method using specific pairs of primers. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was performed according to the CLSI guidelines. Results: All Shigella spp isolates in this study harbored the ipaH gene. Out of 160 shigella isolates, 50 isolates determined as S. sonnei with serogrouping and biochemical test. 90% of isolates were resistant to Tetracycline, Cotrimoxazole, Streptomycin and Minocycline. Conclusions: We conclude that ipaH PCR procedure is more reliable, sensitive, easier, reproducible and specific which is significantly faster than current conventional detection assays such as serologic test. Althuogh in this study we report that among Shigella .spp cause diarrhea infection most of them are S .sonnei resistant antibiotic