Hepatocyte nuclear factor Foxa-2 effectively differentiates mesenchymal stem cells to functional hepatocytes

Overexpression of hepatocyte nuclear factor (Foxa-2), a master regulator significantly enhances the hepatic differentiation by triggering targeted liver-specific gene expression for liver development. We investigated the function of key regulators that facilitate hepatic differentiation. The functional hepatocyte was determined by observing morphological changes, expression of liver specific markers through immunocytochemical analysis, qRT-PCR, Western Blot and specific liver function assays. Our study confirmed that induction of functional hepatocyte shows typical epithelial morphology, express hepatic genes and acquire hepatocyte functions. Notably, these cells expressed the markers of mature hepatocytes, including albumin, tyrosine aminotransferase, cytokeratin, Cyp7A1 and hepatic transcription factors. Furthermore, these cells exhibited hepatic functions in vitro, including glycogen storage, albumin production, urea secretion and functional assessment of hepatocytes. We have developed a robust and efficient method to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells into induced functional hepatocytes, which exhibits characteristics of mouse hepatocytes. Apparently, induction of functional hepatocytes will pave a better cellular therapy or effective cell source within a short timeline to facilitate the development of hepatocytes for future clinical applications of regenerative medicine

Hepatocyte nuclear factor Foxa-2 effectively differentiates mesenchymal stem cells to functional hepatocytes

369-380Overexpression of hepatocyte nuclear factor (Foxa-2), a master regulator significantly enhances the hepatic differentiation by triggering targeted liver-specific gene expression for liver development. We investigated the function of key regulators that facilitate hepatic differentiation. The functional hepatocyte was determined by observing morphological changes, expression of liver specific markers through immunocytochemical analysis, qRT-PCR, Western Blot and specific liver function assays. Our study confirmed that induction of functional hepatocyte shows typical epithelial morphology, express hepatic genes and acquire hepatocyte functions. Notably, these cells expressed the markers of mature hepatocytes, including albumin, tyrosine aminotransferase, cytokeratin, Cyp7A1 and hepatic transcription factors. Furthermore, these cells exhibited hepatic functions in vitro, including glycogen storage, albumin production, urea secretion and functional assessment of hepatocytes. We have developed a robust and efficient method to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells into induced functional hepatocytes, which exhibits characteristics of mouse hepatocytes. Apparently, induction of functional hepatocytes will pave a better cellular therapy or effective cell source within a short timeline to facilitate the development of hepatocytes for future clinical applications of regenerative medicine

ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE DERMAL TOXICITY STUDIES OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L. FRUIT EXTRACT IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

 Objective: Morinda citrifolia is one of the most significant plants that are used in traditional medicine. However, details of the dermal toxicity of M.citrifolia are still undiscovered. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vivo acute and subacute dermal toxicity of ethanolic extract of M.citrifolia fruit extract at doses 2000 and 5000 mg/kg in acute and 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight in rats.Methods: In acute experiment, a total of 40 female rats were divided into eight groups, each group had five rats, and a total of 66 male rats weredivided into 11 groups of six rats in sub-acute experiment.Results: The extract at a single dose of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg of body weight did not produce treatment-related signs of toxicity or mortality inany of the animals tested during the 14-day observation period. In the repeated dose 28-day study, the application of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg ofbody weight/day of fruit extract revealed no significant change (p>0.05) in bodyweight, hematological and biochemical parameters compared withthe control group. Similarly, grosspathology and histopathology examinations of liver, spleen, kidneys, and skin did not reveal any morphologicalalteration.Conclusion: Overall, the results recommend that the close application of M. citrifolia fruit extract did not deliver any critically dangerous impact inrats. Subsequently, the concentrate can be employed for pharmaceutical plans.Keywords: Morinda citrifolia, Acute dermal toxicity, Fruit extract, Sub-acute dermal toxicit

Distribution and morphological measurements of wild and urban rodents from four habitats in the states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

A total of 204 rodents comprising of 14 species were identified from four different habitats namely urban, forest, paddy field and coastal. The Gombak forest reserve habitat was found to be ideal for the survival of 11 different rodent species. Maxomys rajah, Leopoldamys sabanus and Sundamys muelleri were the predominant rodent species distributed in the Gombak forest. Rattus ratus diardii was found mainly in the urban, paddy field and coastal habitat (67.1%). Morphological measurements of the rodents trapped from the four habitats did not show any major changes

An overview of nematodes infecting urban and wild rats (Muridae) in Malaysia

Rodents particularly those belonging to the Muridae family in Malaysia have been well studied because of their medical and economic importance. Much of the work on rodents has been focusing on the identification of endo and ecto parasites. Parasites in rats (Murids) particularly helminthes belonging to the Nematoda family have been described by many workers for more than a century. This paper is an attempt to compile 50 papers on rodent nematodes that has been published in various scientific journals over the last 100 years in Malaysia. It is hoped that this literature overview on rodent nematodes will come useful as a reference material for the budding parasitologist and biology scientist

Vapor-Phase Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol Using Manganese Oxide Octahedral Molecular Sieves (OMS-2)

Vapor-phase selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol has been accomplished using cryptomelane-type manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) catalysts. A conversion of 92% and a selectivity to benzaldehyde of 99% were achieved using OMS-2. The role played by the oxidant in this system was probed by studying the reaction in the absence of oxidant. The natures of framework transformations occurring during the oxidation reaction were fully studied using temperature-programmed techniques, as well as in situ X-ray diffraction under different atmospheres

Deficiency of TET3 leads to a genome-wide DNA hypermethylation episignature in human whole blood (vol 6, 92, 2021)

Genetics of disease, diagnosis and treatmen