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Okafor IA, Mbagwu SI, Okafor US, Nweke JO, Ibeabuchi KC, Ogbonna SN. The methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa downregulates the relative expression of Kiss1 gene in the hypothalamus of Wistar rats: A preliminary report. Avicenna J Phytomed 2023; 13:575-584. [PMID: 38106630 PMCID: PMC10719723 DOI: 10.22038/ajp.2023.22692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Objective Kiss1 gene expression in the rat hypothalamus was investigated following administration of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (MEHS) to provide mechanistic evidence for the reproductive effect of the MEHS as a potential regulator of Kiss1 gene (which directly controls the hypogonadal axis). Materials and Methods This experiment was done using fifteen (15) male rats with average weight of 148 g, randomly grouped into three (3) groups (A-C). Group A was the control group and received no treatment. Group B and C were orally administered with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of MEHS, respectively. The animals received the extract once a day for twenty-one (21) days. The hypothalamus was harvested on the last day of administration to investigate antioxidant levels, histopathology, and Kiss1 gene expression. Results The relative expression of Kiss1 gene in the group C was downregulated compared to the control group (p=0.023). No significant changes were seen in the antioxidant levels of the groups treated with MEHS when compared to the control. MEHS had no histopathological effects in the hypothalamus at both low (200 mg/kg) and high (400 mg/kg) doses. Conclusion High-dose MEHS lowers the expression of the Kiss1 gene in the hypothalamus. However, this effect could not be explained by the oxidative profile or histology of the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izuchukwu Azuka Okafor
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Nigeria
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Pan African University of Life and Earth Science Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), PAULESI, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Smart Ikechukwu Mbagwu
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Nigeria
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Johnson Okwudili Nweke
- Diagnostic Laboratory Unit, Medical Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
| | | | - Samuel Nduka Ogbonna
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Nigeria
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Okafor IA, Mbagwu SI, Chia T, Hasim Z, Udokanma EE, Chandran K. Institutionalizing Open Science in Africa: Limitations and Prospects. Front Res Metr Anal 2022; 7:855198. [PMID: 35494419 PMCID: PMC9051436 DOI: 10.3389/frma.2022.855198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The advancement of scientific research and raising the next-generation scientists in Africa depend largely on science access. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused discussions around open science (OS) to reemerge globally, especially in resource-poor settings like Africa, where the practice of OS is low. The authors highlighted the elements, benefits, and existing initiatives of OS in Africa. More importantly, the article critically appraised the challenges, opportunities, and future considerations of OS in Africa. Addressing challenges of funding and leadership at different levels of educational, research, and government parastatals may be pivotal in charting a new course for OS in Africa. This review serves as an advocacy strategy and an informative guide to policymaking and institutionalization of OS in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izuchukwu Azuka Okafor
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Pan African University of Life and Earth Science Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- *Correspondence: Izuchukwu Azuka Okafor ;
| | - Smart Ikechukwu Mbagwu
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Terkuma Chia
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, College of Health Sciences, Nile University, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Zuwati Hasim
- Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Karthik Chandran
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Mbagwu SI, Filgueira L. Differential Expression of CD31 and Von Willebrand Factor on Endothelial Cells in Different Regions of the Human Brain: Potential Implications for Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E31. [PMID: 31935960 PMCID: PMC7016814 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs) line the vascular system of the brain and are the chief cells in the formation and function of the blood brain barrier (BBB). These cells are heterogeneous along the cerebral vasculature and any dysfunctional state in these cells can result in a local loss of function of the BBB in any region of the brain. There is currently no report on the distribution and variation of the CMVECs in different brain regions in humans. This study investigated microcirculation in the adult human brain by the characterization of the expression pattern of brain endothelial cell markers in different brain regions. Five different brain regions consisting of the visual cortex, the hippocampus, the precentral gyrus, the postcentral gyrus, and the rhinal cortex obtained from three normal adult human brain specimens were studied and analyzed for the expression of the endothelial cell markers: cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) and von-Willebrand-Factor (vWF) through immunohistochemistry. We observed differences in the expression pattern of CD31 and vWF between the gray matter and the white matter in the brain regions. Furthermore, there were also regional variations in the pattern of expression of the endothelial cell biomarkers. Thus, this suggests differences in the nature of vascularization in various regions of the human brain. These observations also suggest the existence of variation in structure and function of different brain regions, which could reflect in the pathophysiological outcomes in a diseased state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smart Ikechukwu Mbagwu
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, 435101 Nnewi Campus, Nigeria
| | - Luis Filgueira
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Mbagwu SI, Lannes N, Walch M, Filgueira L, Mantel PY. Human Microglia Respond to Malaria-Induced Extracellular Vesicles. Pathogens 2019; 9:pathogens9010021. [PMID: 31878288 PMCID: PMC7168629 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the chief immune cells of the brain and have been reported to be activated in severe malaria. Their activation may drive towards neuroinflammation in cerebral malaria. Malaria-infected red blood cell derived-extracellular vesicles (MiREVs) are produced during the blood stage of malaria infection. They mediate intercellular communication and immune regulation, among other functions. During cerebral malaria, the breakdown of the blood–brain barrier can promote the migration of substances such as MiREVs from the periphery into the brain, targeting cells such as microglia. Microglia and extracellular vesicle interactions in different pathological conditions have been reported to induce neuroinflammation. Unlike in astrocytes, microglia–extracellular vesicle interaction has not yet been described in malaria infection. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the uptake of MiREVs by human microglia cells and their cytokine response. Human blood monocyte-derived microglia (MoMi) were generated from buffy coats of anonymous healthy donors using Ficoll-Paque density gradient centrifugation. The MiREVs were isolated from the Plasmodium falciparum cultures. They were purified by ultracentrifugation and labeled with PKH67 green fluorescent dye. The internalization of MiREVs by MoMi was observed after 4 h of co-incubation on coverslips placed in a 24-well plate at 37 °C using confocal microscopy. Cytokine-gene expression was investigated using rt-qPCR, following the stimulation of the MoMi cells with supernatants from the parasite cultures at 2, 4, and 24 h, respectively. MiREVs were internalized by the microglia and accumulated in the perinuclear region. MiREVs-treated cells increased gene expression of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα and reduced gene expression of the immune suppressive IL-10. Overall, the results indicate that MiREVs may act on microglia, which would contribute to enhanced inflammation in cerebral malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smart Ikechukwu Mbagwu
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi 435101, Nigeria
- Correspondence: (S.I.M.); (L.F.)
| | - Nils Lannes
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Walch
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Luis Filgueira
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (S.I.M.); (L.F.)
| | - Pierre-Yves Mantel
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Ogunmodede OS, Oseni SO, Adenmosun OO, Mbagwu SI. Invitro insulinotropic actions of various extracts of
Calosia argentea
leaves. FASEB J 2019. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.610.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Smart Ikechukwu Mbagwu
- Department of Oncology, Microbiology, ImmunologyUniversity of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
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