Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry,Faculty of Pharmacy,Horus University Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta, 34518, Egypt.
An Overview of the Mechanisms of Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in the Male Reproductive System Samar A. Antar, Aymen Halouani, Cherry Gad, Ahmed Ali Al-Karmalawy Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2024 Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that is known to accumulate in various organs and tissues in the body, including the testes. Exposure to Cd has been shown to cause significant testicular damage, including impaired spermatogenesis and decreased fertility in both humans and animals. This damage is thought to be due to Cd-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, which can lead to cellular damage and apoptosis. Cd has also been shown to disrupt the blood-testis barrier, leading to increased permeability and an altered testicular microenvironment. In addition, Cd exposure has been linked to changes in hormone levels, including decreased testosterone production and altered gonadotropin secretion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an imbalance in the activity of antioxidant enzymes cause oxidative stress. The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling system, which controls multiple genes involved in inflammatory responses including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), is activated by oxidative stress. These effects can contribute to decreased sperm count, motility, and viability. Efforts to reduce exposure to Cd may help to prevent or mitigate the harmful effects on testicular function. This can be achieved through occupational and environmental regulations, as well as public education and awareness programs. In this review, we highlight many of the principal mechanisms included in testicular damage. These pathways could be considered promising targets for the development of potential therapies for a variety of important human diseases.
Editorial: Recent advances in the pathogenesis and potential biomarkers of fibrosis Samar A. Antar, Aymen Halouani, Karim Tawfic, Walied Abdo, Ayman M. Mahmoud, Yassine Sassi Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024 tissue. Collagens, particularly types I and III, are the primary constituents of the fibrotic scar tissue. The fibrotic process is associated with chronic inflammation, metabolic homeostasis, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling. Fibrosis is a pathological feature of most chronic inflammatory disorders and proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to be important initiators of fibrosis (Wynn & Ramalingam, 2012). TGF-β1 is a major driver of fibrosis through its actions on various cell types and through various signaling pathways (Meng et al., 2016). Prolonged healing in extremely fibrotic tissue results in tissue/organ dysfunction. Fibrotic tissue remodeling, associated with high morbidity and mortality, is often the source of organ malfunction. Preclinical models and clinical research in many organ systems have shown that fibrosis, which was long thought to be an irreversible and continuously developing process, is Ávila-Martínez et al. summarized the crucial role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in resolving inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, offering insights into its different components as potential therapeutic options. The authors described the impact of different components of the counter-regulatory axis of the RAS on different pathologies. Moreover, the authors addressed the translational significance of using peptides of the renin-angiotensin system as anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic treatments and noted that studies addressing the role of peptides of the counterregulatory axis of the renin-angiotensin system in the control of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases remain limited. Finally, the authors described the challenges that remain before the use of peptides of the counterregulatory axis of the renin-angiotensin system as antiinflammatory and anti-fibrotic treatments to stop or reduce the progression of diseases.on inflammation and fibrosis in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting premature infants, and is pathologically characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. CTS reduced hyperoxia-induced pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation in Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats by regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors in macrophages.The authors concluded by highlighting the therapeutic potential of CTS in the treatment of BPD.By employing a new two-step workflow, Zhang et al. identified key matrisome components that affect liver stiffness. The authors used a new approach that combines their previously enhanced sodium dodecyl sulfate (ESDS) decellularization technique with the conventional SDS method. Using this method, they identified midly and highly insoluble matrisome members, including collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans and ECM regulators and associated proteins in the mouse liver. Subsequent regulatory network and functional enrichment analyses identified the pathways associated with highly insoluble matrisome members. This promising approach should be employed in future studies designed to identify midly and highly insoluble matrisome members and their associated pathways in liver (and other organs) fibrosis.The editors expect the articles published in this Research Topic to capture the interest of readers and believe that researchers will gain valuable insights, advancing their understanding of the mechanisms underlying fibrosis and fostering the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Anti-tumor effects of Soyasaponin IV as a natural product in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice: modulation of monocyte vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways Samar A. Antar, Ahmed Ashour, Walied Abdo, Ahmed E. Khodir, Asmaa E. Sherif, Longxin Qiu, Ahmed A. Zaki Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2024 Breast cancer stands as the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities among women globally, presenting a diverse landscape of histological and molecular c characteristics, treatment response, and prognosis. This investigation examined the impact of soyasaponin IV, a natural product, on mice carrying Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC), exploring its potential in blostering the hosts' defense against cancer. The isolated compounds underwent scrutiny for their cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell line, with Doxorubicin as the reference standard. Notably, Soyasaponin IV exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. Evaluation of its in vivo antitumor efficacy against EAC revealed a substantial reduction in tumor weight and volume, accompanied by improved histological features of tumor cells. EAC-induced abnormalities, including elevated levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-jB) were all shown to be upregulated by EAC, while glutathione (GSH), were mitigated in a dose-dependent manner by soyasaponin IV treatment. Soyasaponin IV emerged as a promising strategy for suppressing EAC by impeding the NF-jB and VEGF pathways.
Diabetes mellitus: Classification, mediators, and complications; A gate to identify potential targets for the development of new effective treatments Samar A. Antar, Nada A. Ashour, Marwa Sharaky, Muhammad Khattab, Naira A. Ashour, Roaa T. Zaid, Eun Joo Roh, Ahmed Elkamhawy, Ahmed A. Al-Karmalawy Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2023 Nowadays, diabetes mellitus has emerged as a significant global public health concern with a remarkable increase in its prevalence. This review article focuses on the definition of diabetes mellitus and its classification into different types, including type 1 diabetes (idiopathic and fulminant), type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, hybrid forms, slowly evolving immune-mediated diabetes, ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes, and other special types. Diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus are also discussed. The role of inflammation in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is explored, along with the mediators and potential anti-inflammatory treatments. Furthermore, the involvement of various organs in diabetes mellitus is highlighted, such as the role of adipose tissue and obesity, gut microbiota, and pancreatic β-cells. The manifestation of pancreatic Langerhans β-cell islet inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired insulin production and secretion are addressed. Additionally, the impact of diabetes mellitus on liver cirrhosis, acute kidney injury, immune system complications, and other diabetic complications like retinopathy and neuropathy is examined. Therefore, further research is required to enhance diagnosis, prevent chronic complications, and identify potential therapeutic targets for the management of diabetes mellitus and its associated dysfunctions.