Single injection of naked plasmid encoding α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone protects against thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure in mice

The diminishment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) therapy

“…Therapeutic α-MSH-treatments have been tried in animal models of septic shock, contact dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pancreatitis, toxin-induced liver failure, allergic airway inflammation, endotoxin induce uveitis, and experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (Ceriani et al, 1994;Grabbe et al, 1996;Jahovic et al, 2004;Martin and Lipton, 1990;Nishida et al, 2004;Raap et al, 2003;Shiratori et al, 2004;Taylor et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2004). In addition, two other groups of researchers have attempted to use different forms of gene therapy to see if delivering α-MSH into the immune response of EAE will suppress the onset and subsequent pathology of EAE.…”

Adipokines and melanocortins in the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…Another interesting consequence of α-MSH signaling is the suppression of the collagen synthesis and deposition [83]. Furthermore, in fibrotic tissues, α-MSH treatment modulates the balance between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-8 and their inhibitors (TIMPs) [84].…”

“…α-MSH reduces endotoxin-induced liver inflammation in the mouse model [92], protects against thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure [84] and attenuates carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver fibrosis [93]. The most likely mechanisms for this protection include α-MSH-dependent inhibition of cell adhesion molecules and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, as well as the collagenolytic effects exerted through MMP and TIMP modulation [84]. Since hepatic fibrosis may progress in patients with NASH (as with patients with other chronic liver diseases), the anticollagenic effects of α-MSH may be beneficial.…”

“…Another interesting consequence of α-MSH signaling is the suppression of the collagen synthesis and deposition [83]. Furthermore, in fibrotic tissues, α-MSH treatment modulates the balance between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-8 and their inhibitors (TIMPs) [84].In adipose tissue, α-MSH inhibits leptin secretion in differentiated rat adipocytes cultured in vitro. In turn, leptin administered to ob/ob mice increases the release of α-MSH into the circulation, suggesting a possible feedback loop between the sites of α-MSH release and the release of leptin from the adipose tissue [85,86].…”

A membrane antibody receptor for noninvasive imaging of gene expression

“…The vectors were injected in 2 ml PBS in less than 8 s to promote hydrodynamic-based gene transfer. 39,40 Serum samples were collected 10 days later. Preimmune and immune serum samples (diluted 1:200 in PBS) were added to the wells of microtiter plates coated with 293 cells transiently transfected with pLNCX, pLNCX-DNSeB7 or pLNCX-LacZ-eB7.…”