Activation of canonical Wnt signalling is required for TGF-β-mediated fibrosis

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway is a key mediator of fibroblast activation that drives the aberrant synthesis of extracellular matrix in fibrotic diseases. Here we demonstrate a novel link between transforming growth factor-β and the canonical Wnt pathway. TGF-β stimulates canonical Wnt signalling in a p38-dependent manner by decreasing the expression of the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1. Tissue samples from human fibrotic diseases show enhanced expression of Wnt proteins and decreased expression of Dickkopf-1. Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway stimulates fibroblasts in vitro and induces fibrosis in vivo. Transgenic overexpression of Dickkopf-1 ameliorates skin fibrosis induced by constitutively active TGF-β receptor type I signalling and also prevents fibrosis in other TGF-β-dependent animal models. These findings demonstrate that canonical Wnt signalling is necessary for TGF-β-mediated fibrosis and highlight a key role for the interaction of both pathways in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases

Effects of processing methods on the antinutrional factor and the nutritional comparison of sesame (Sesamum indicum l) seed

The effect of processing on phytic acid (PA) reduction and nutritional composition of sesame seed was investigated. Raw sesame seed (RASS) was compared with seeds processed by three different methods: roasted (ROSS), boiled (BOSS) and soaked (SOSS) sesame seeds. Processing had no significant (P>0.05) effects on the proximate composition and the amino acid profile of the seeds but, significantly (

Carcass Characteristics of Broilers Fed Differently Processed Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Seed as a Source of Dietary Methionine

In an 8 week – experiment the effect of differently processed sesame seed (SS) as a source of dietary methionine on the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens was investigated. Five iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0.00% sesame seed (NOSS) in diet 1 (Control) and 15.00% each of raw sesame seed (RASS), Roasted sesame seed (ROSS), boiled and dried sesame seed (BDSS) and soaked and dried sesame seed (SDSS) in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, were formulated. The highest phytic acid (PA) reduction (52.99%) was obtained with soaking. Similarly, percent amino acid was marginally increased with soaking. However, none of the processing methods adversely affected the amino acid (AA) composition of the seed. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in carcass yield and the yield of thigh, drumstick and abdominal fat amongst treatments. The percent wing was significantly (p0.05). Significantly (

Zincmethylphyrins and coproporphyrins, novel growth factors released by Sphingopyxis sp., enable laboratory cultivation of previously uncultured Leucobacter sp through interspecies mutualism

We have identified coproporphyrins including structurally new zincmethylphyrins I and III as growth factors A-F for the previously uncultured bacterial strain, Leucobacter sp. ASN212, from a supernatant of 210 l of Sphingopyxis sp. GF9 culture. Growth factors A-F induced significant growth of strain ASN212 at the concentrations of picomolar to nanomolar which would otherwise be unculturable in liquid medium or on agar plate. More interestingly, we found that the growth factors functioned as self-toxic compounds for the growth-factor producing strain GF9 at the picomolar to nanomolar levels. As a variety of bacteria could potentially produce coproporphyrins, our findings suggest that these compounds function as a novel class of signal molecules across a boundary at phylum level in the complex bacterial communities

Commercial Feed Diluted with Different Fiber Sources and Enzyme Product for Broilers: Growth Performance, Carcass and Gut Health

ABSTRACT The dilution of commercial broiler feed with copra meal (CM), palm kernel meal (PKM) and cassava leaf meal (CLM) and enzyme supplementation was investigated. Two hundred and eighty 7-day old Cobb 500 broilers were fed commercial feed alone or diluted with the test ingredients with and without enzyme. There were no interaction effects (p>0.05) on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG). Poorer (p0.05) by enzyme supplementation. There was no interaction effect on final body weight (FBW). Diet dilution depressed FBW (p0.05) this weight depression. Abdominal fat was lighter (p0.05) on the weight of gut segments and E. coli count. Heavier (p<0.05) liver, gizzard and intestine were observed on the test diets. Commercial feed dilution with CM, CLM and PKM at 100 g/kg for starter and 200 g/kg for finisher would be a viable option for smallholder broiler production. More research is needed into dilution levels and enzyme concentrations