M. Aris Widodo

The Effects of Eucheuma cottonii on Signaling Pathway Inducing Mucin Synthesis in Rat Lungs Chronically Exposed to Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) Coal Dust

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of Eucheuma cottonii (EC) in oxidative stress and the signaling for mucin synthesis in rat lungs chronically exposed to coal dust. Coal dust with concomitant oral administration of ethanolic extract of EC at doses of 150 (EC150) or 300 mg/kg BW (EC300) compared to exposed to PM10 coal dust at doses of 6.25 (CD6.25), 12.5 (CD12.5), or 25 mg/m3 (CD25) (an hour daily for 6 months) and nonexposure group (control). The malondialdehyde (MDA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and MUC5AC levels were determined in the lung. The administration of EC300 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the MDA levels in groups exposed to all doses of coal dust compared to the respective coal dust-exposed nonsupplemented groups. Although not statistically significant,EC reduced the EGF levels and EGFR expressions in CD12.5 and CD25 groups and decreased the TGF-α, level and MUC5AC expression in CD25 group compared to the respective coal dust-exposed nonsupplemented groups. EC was able to decrease oxidative stress and was also able to decrease signaling for mucin synthesis, at least a part, via reducing the ligand in chronic coal dust exposure.

Subchronic inhalation of coal dust particulate matter 10 induces bronchoalveolar hyperplasia and decreases MUC5AC expression in male Wistar rats

Coal dust is a pollutant found in coal mines that are capable of inducing oxidative stress and inflammation, but the effects on lung metaplasia as an early step of carcinogenesis remain unknown. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PM10 coal dust on lung histology, MUC5AC expression, epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. An experimental study was done on male Wistar rats, which were divided into the following groups: control groups exposed to coal dust for 14 days (at doses of 6.25 mg/m(3), 12.5 mg/m(3), and 25 mg/m(3)), and the groups exposed to coal dust for 28 days (at doses of 6.25 mg/m(3), 12.5 mg/m(3), and 25 mg/m(3)). EGF expressions in rat lungs were measured by ELISA. EGFR and MUC5AC were measured by a confocal laser scanning microscope. The bronchoalveolar epithelial image of the group exposed to coal dust for 14 and 28 days showed a epithelial rearrangement, hyperplastic (metaplastic) goblet cells, and scattered massive inflammatory cells. The pulmonary parenchymal image of the group of exposed to coal dust for 14 and 28 days showed scattered inflammatory cells filling up the pulmonary alveolar networks, leading to an appearance of thickened parenchymal alveoli until emphysema-like structure. There was no significant difference in MUC5AC, EGF, and EGFR expressions for 14-d exposure (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in EGF and EGFR expressions for 28-d exposure (p>0.05), but there was a significant difference in MUC5AC expression (p<0.05). We concluded that subchronic inhalation of coal dust particulate matter 10 induces bronchoalveolar reactive hyperplasia and rearrangement of epithelial cells which accompanied by decrease expression MUC5AC in male rats.

Combined effects of shear stress and glucose on the morphology, actin filaments, and VE-cadherin of endothelial cells in vitro

Objective The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of glucose and shear stress on the morphology and density of endothelial cells, actin filamen, and the expression of VE-cadherin. Methods After confluency of endothelial cells (3–4 days), 22 mM of d-glucose was administered for 7 days. Endothelial cells were exposed to shear stress of 10 dyne/cm2 for varied durations of 5, 8, 12, and 15 min. Morphology of ECs was observed using an inverted microscope before and after shear stress exposure. VE-cadherin and actin filament were analyzed immunohistochemically. Results Exposure to high glucose induces more shrinkage and the cell density decreased at 15 min. High glucose reduced actin filaments and the more globular ones, especially around the nuclei. There was a decline in VE-cadherin scores with significant differences between treatments with 5 mM and 22 mM of glucose. Conclusion Combination exposure of shear stress and high glucose changes morphology, reduces actin filament and VE-cadherin, of endothelial cells.

EMSA Eritin Drives Expansion of Regulatory T Cells and Promotes T Cells Differentiation in Irradiated Mice

Sublethal irradiation therapy in cancer treatment causes generalized immunosuppression, which results in a range of DNA damage. We examined the significance of a polyherbal medicine called “EMSA Eritin” on immunological responses in sublethally irradiated mice focusing on the involvement of Treg, naïve T cell, and also the development and differentiation of T cells in thymus. Normal BALB/c mice were sublethally irradiated with dose of 600 rad. The irradiated mice were then orally administered by EMSA Eritin once a day at different doses: 1.04, 3.12, 9.37 mg/g body weight. The treatment was performed for 14 days. On day 15, immunological responses were observed by analyzing the status of Treg and differentiation of T cells in thymus. The administration of EMSA Eritin to irradiated mice resulted in a significant increase of pre T cells, Treg cells, and naïve T cells, which in general could maintain and normalize healthy condition in mice.

Anti-inflammation Effect of Polysaccharide Peptide (Ganodermalucidum)in Diabetes Mellitus

Background: High prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the world is one of the leading cardiovascular risk factor that associated with high morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerotic heart disease is one of the major cardiovascular disease related to DM from the current study. Polysaccharide peptide, extract from Ganodermalucidum, a popular medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine, has anti-inflammatory effect in several studies. In this study, we investigated alteration of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels as risk factors for cardiovascular disease bypolysaccharide peptide indiabetes mellitus. Methods: Diabetes mellitus rat models which induced by high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotozin (STZ)were randomly divided into five groups, diabetes mellitus models with high fat diet, low-dose PsP (SLH, Indonesia) treatment group [50 mg/kgBW], medium-dose PsP treatment group [150 mg/kgBW], high-dose PsP treatment group [300 mg/kgBW], and normal rats as negative control group respectively. Results: After 5 weeks of treatment, we found significantly higher level of IL-10 in diabetes mellitus rat models with increasing dose of PsP (95% CI, p = 0.027). On the other hand, TNF-&agr; level not significantly lowered with increasing dose of PsP (95% CI, p = 0.066). Conclusion: Polysaccharide peptideiseffective in reducingcardiovascular disease risk factors in diabetes mellitus rat models, thus potential to be developed as anti-inflammatory in diabetes mellitus.