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- Gandaglia, G., et al.
(author)
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The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor oleoyl ethyl amide counteracts bladder overactivity in female rats
- 2014
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In: Neurourology and Urodynamics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0733-2467 .- 1520-6777. ; 33:8, s. 1251-1258
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS:To study micturition and bladder overactivity in female rats after chronic treatment with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor oleoyl ethyl amide (OEtA).METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats received daily subcutaneous injections of OEtA (0.3 mg/kg), or vehicle for 2 weeks. Cystometries, organ bath studies, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were then used. Expressions of FAAH, cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors (CB1 and CB2), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), vesicular acetyl choline-transporter protein (VAChT), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were evaluated.RESULTS:At baseline, OEtA-treated rats had higher values (P < 0.05) of micturition intervals (MI) and volumes (MV), bladder capacity (BC), threshold pressure, and flow pressure than vehicle controls. Intravesical PGE2 reduced MI, MV, and BC, and increased basal pressure and the area under the curve in all rats. However, these urodynamic parameters were altered less by intravesical PGE2 in OEtA-treated rats (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle controls). Compared to vehicle controls, detrusor from OEtA-treated rats had larger contractions to carbachol at 10-0.1 µM, but no difference in Emax was recorded. FAAH, CB1, CB2, VAChT, or CGRP was similarly expressed in bladders from all rats. In separate experiments, intravesical OEtA increased mucosal expression of phosphorylated MAPK.CONCLUSIONS:Chronic FAAH inhibition altered sensory urodynamic parameters and reduced bladder overactivity. Even if it cannot be excluded that OEtA may act on central nervous sensory pathways to contribute to these effects, the presence of FAAH and CB receptors in the bladder and activation of intracellular signals for CB receptors by intravesical OEtA suggest a local role for FAAH in micturition control. Neurourol. Urodynam
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- Strittmatter, F., et al.
(author)
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Expression of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in human, mouse, and rat urinary bladder and effects of FAAH inhibition on bladder function in awake rats
- 2012
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In: European Urology. - : Elsevier. - 0302-2838 .- 1873-7560. ; 61:1, s. 98-106
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Cannabinoid receptor (CB)-mediated functions may be involved in the regulation of bladder function, but information on endocannabinoid signals during micturition is scarce.OBJECTIVE:Investigate the expression of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in human, rat, and mouse bladders and study the effects of inhibition of FAAH during urodynamics in awake rats.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:Bladder tissue from humans, mice, and rats was used for measurements. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered the FAAH inhibitor oleoyl ethyl amide (OEtA) or vehicle intravenously (IV) or intravesically (IVES) with or without rimonabant (CB1 antagonist) or SR144528 (CB2 antagonist).MEASUREMENTS:Real-time transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and cystometry in awake rats.RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS:Messenger RNA and protein for FAAH was expressed in the mucosa of human, mouse, and rat urinary bladders. Immunoreactivities for FAAH and CB2 were codistributed in rat and human urothelium. IV OEtA (0.3mg/kg) to rats increased intercontraction intervals (ICIs), micturition volume (MV), bladder capacity (BC), and threshold pressure (TP) by 17±1%, 16±1%, 17±1%, and 19±5%, respectively (all p<0.05 vs baseline). IVES OEtA (1 and 10mg/l) in rats dose-dependently increased (p<0.05 vs baseline) ICI (19±2% and 35±5%), MV (15±3% and 32±4%), BC (16±2% and 34±4%), and TP (15±1%, 21±3%). SR144528 (IVES 5mg/l) abolished all effects of OEtA, whereas rimonabant only counteracted effects of OEtA on TP.CONCLUSIONS:Bladder mucosa of all species expressed FAAH. Rat and human urothelium coexpressed FAAH and CB2. The FAAH inhibitor OEtA altered urodynamic parameters that reflect sensory functions of micturition in rats. Suggesting a role for the endocannabinoid system in bladder mechanoafferent functions of rats, effects of IVES OEtA were abolished by an IVES CB2 antagonist and partly counteracted by an IVES CB1 antagonist.
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- Villa, L, et al.
(author)
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Effects by silodosin on the partially obstructed rat ureter in vivo and on human and rat isolated ureters
- 2013
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In: British Journal of Pharmacology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0007-1188 .- 1476-5381. ; 169:1, s. 230-238
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Purpose 1-adrenoceptor (-AR) antagonists may facilitate ureter stone passage in humans. We aimed to study effects by the 1A-AR selective antagonist silodosin (compared to tamsulosin and prazosin) on ureter pressures in a rat model of ureter obstruction, and on contractions of human and rat isolated ureters. Experimental Approach After ethical approval, ureters of male rats were cannulated beneath the kidney pelvis for in vivo ureteral intraluminal recording of autonomous peristaltic pressure waves. A partial ureter obstruction was applied to the distal ureter. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was recorded. Approximate clinical and triple clinical doses of the 1-AR antagonists were given intravenously. Effects by the 1-AR antagonists on isolated human and rat ureters were studied in organ baths. Key Results Intravenous silodosin (0.10.3mgkg1) or prazosin (0.030.1mgkg1) reduced obstruction-induced increases in intraluminal ureter pressures by 2137% or 1840% respectively. Corresponding effects by tamsulosin (0.01 or 0.03mgkg1) were 920%. Silodosin, prazosin and tamsulosin reduced MAP by 1012%, 2526% (P andlt; 0.05), or 1825% (P andlt; 0.05) respectively. When effects by the 1A-AR antagonists on obstruction-induced ureter pressures were expressed as a function of MAP, silodosin had six- to eightfold and 2.5- to eightfold better efficacy than tamsulosin or prazosin respectively. Silodosin effectively reduced contractions of both human and rat isolated ureters. Conclusions and Implications Silodosin inhibits contractions of the rat and human isolated ureters and has excellent functional selectivity in vivo to relieve pressure-load of the rat obstructed ureter. Silodosin as pharmacological ureter stone expulsive therapy should be clinically further explored.
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5. |
- Benigni, F, et al.
(author)
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Oral treatment with a vitamin D3 analogue (BXL628) has anti-inflammatory effects in rodent model of interstitial cystitis
- 2006
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In: BJU International. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 1464-4096 .- 1464-410X. ; 97:3, s. 617-624
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate the effects of a vitamin D3 analogue (BXL628) in a model of chronic cystitis, as calcitriol analogues might be an interesting new therapeutic option for interstitial cystitis, for although the cause of the disease remains unclear, the increase in mast cells in the mucosa and detrusor muscle are significant. We devised a mouse model of allergen-induced allergic cystitis that is associated with the up-regulation of genes for interleukin-13, Fc epsilon RI alpha and mast cells-derived proteases, a massive inflammatory reaction in the bladder tissue, and augmented levels of mast cell-derived protease 1 (MMCP1) detected in mouse sera. Oral administration of BXL628 significantly reduced the expression of interleukin-13, Fc epsilon RI alpha and MMCP1 in the bladder. Furthermore, histological analysis showed a decrease in oedema and leukocyte infiltration in the bladder wall. BXL628 treatment reduced serum MMCP1 levels, indicating an effect on mast cell degranulation in vivo. Vitamin D3 analogues may successfully be used as anti-inflammatory agents in allergen-mediated inflammatory reactions. Moreover, the modulatory effect shown on mast cell activation by the BXL628 analogue strongly supports its potential therapeutic use in a possibly mast cell-dependent disease such as human interstitial cystitis.
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6. |
- Casiraghi, F, et al.
(author)
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Amnion epithelial cells are an effective source of factor H and prevent kidney complement deposition in factor H-deficient mice
- 2021
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In: Stem cell research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-6512. ; 12:1, s. 332-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Complement factor H (FH) is the main plasma regulator of the alternative pathway of complement. Genetic and acquired abnormalities in FH cause uncontrolled complement activation amplifying, with the consequent accumulation of complement components on the renal glomeruli. This leads to conditions such as C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). There is no effective therapy for these diseases. Half of the patients progress to end-stage renal disease and the condition recurs frequently in transplanted kidneys. Combined liver/kidney transplantation is a valid option for these patients, but the risks of the procedure and donor organ shortages hamper its clinical application. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative strategies for providing a normal FH supply. Human amnion epithelial cells (hAEC) have stem cell characteristics, including the capability to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vivo.Here, we administered hAEC into the livers of newborn Cfh−/− mice, which spontaneously developed glomerular complement deposition and renal lesions resembling human C3G. hAEC engrafted at low levels in the livers of Cfh−/− mice and produced sufficient human FH to prevent complement activation and glomerular C3 and C9 deposition. However, long-term engraftment was not achieved, and eventually hAEC elicited a humoral immune response in immunocompetent Cfh−/− mice.hAEC cell therapy could be a valuable therapeutic option for patients undergoing kidney transplantation in whom post-transplant immunosuppression may protect allogeneic hAEC from rejection, while allogeneic cells provide normal FH to prevent disease recurrence.
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7. |
- Ückert, S., et al.
(author)
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Expression and distribution of key proteins of the endocannabinoid system in the human seminal vesicles
- 2018
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In: Andrologia. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0303-4569. ; 50:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The endocannabinoid system (ECS), comprising the cannabinoid receptors (CBR), their ligands, and enzymes controlling the turnover of endocannabinoids, has been suggested to be involved in male reproductive function. As information is scarce on the expression of the ECS in human male reproductive tissues, this study aimed to investigate by means of molecular biology (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence the expression and distribution of CB1 and CB2, GPR55 (an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that recognises cannabinoid ligands) and FAAH (isoforms 1 and 2) in the human seminal vesicles (SV). The specimens expressed PCR products corresponding to CB1 (66 bp), CB2 (141 bp), GPR55 (112 bp), FAAH1 (260 bp) and FAAH2 (387 bp). Immumohistochemistry revealed dense expression of CB1, CB2 and GPR55 located to the pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium and varicose nerves (also characterised by the expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide). Cytosolic staining for FAAH1 and FAAH2 was seen in cuboidal cells of all layers of the epithelium. No immunoreactivity was detected in the smooth musculature or nerve fibres. CB1, CB2, GPR55, FAAH1 and FAAH2 are highly expressed in the human SV. Considering their localisation, the ECS may be involved in epithelial homeostasis, secretory function or autonomic mechano-afferent signalling.
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