Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

The Potential Application Of Clitoria Ternatea For Cancer Treatment, Anita Purnamayanti, Krisyanti Budipramana, Marisca Evalina Gondokesumo

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

The Clitoria ternatea flower, known as bunga telang in Indonesia, is commonly mixed with food and beverages to provide a natural blue colour. Aside from its popular culinary use, it is a traditional medicine in Indonesia for diseases in the eyes, urinary tract and skin, as well as functioning as an anti-toxin. Furthermore, recent advances in science and technology have revealed that the C. ternatea flower contains a high level of polyphenol compounds that possess anticancer activity, including saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, kaempferol, and quercetin. This review aims to identify and analyse recent articles regarding the phytochemical activities of C. …

Formulation Of Pectin-Based Double Layer-Coated Tablets Containing Dexamethasone And Probiotics For Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Erny Sagita, Ronaldo Ongki Winata, Raditya Iswandana

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition in the colon that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Dexamethasone is a steroid anti-inflammatory drug that can be used in IBD therapy. This study aims to obtain an optimum formulation of a dexamethasone drug delivery system for IBD treatment and to investigate its release profile based on an in vitro dissolution test. Dexamethasone was formulated as a double-coated tablet in combination with a probiotic L. acidophilus and B. longum mixture (1:1). The core tablets were produced using the wet granulation method, after which they were coated with pectin 4% b/v …

Characterisation And Antibacterial Activity Of Green Tea Extract-Enriched Solid Goat’S Milk Soap, Uswatun Chasanah, Dian Ermawati, Dwi Putri Utami, Angela Nora Hayati

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Solid goat’s milk soap is organic and beneficial for the health and appearance of the skin. One of the components in green tea known to display antibacterial activities is epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). In this study, the effects of solid goat’s milk soap containing 1%, 2%, and 4% green tea extract on the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were examined. The soap was characterized for its organoleptic, pH, free fatty acid, alkalinity, water content, foam stability, and hardness. In addition, an in vitro antimicrobial test was performed utilising the well-diffusion method. The findings revealed that all the …

Antiproliferative Activity Of Philippine Marine Sediment-Derived Actinomycetes, Jon Ray M. Maglonzo, Edna M. Sabido, Cristina C. Salibay, Doralyn S. Dalisay, Jonel P. Saludes

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

The Philippine archipelago is rich in marine biodiversity and resources that are widely unexplored. Its marine sediments harbor marine microbes that possess secondary metabolites with potent bioactivities. This study aims to determine the antiproliferative activity of the crude extracts of selected Actinomycete isolates (DSD011, DSD017, and DSD042) from Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo. The antiproliferative screening was done using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. Crude extracts of isolates that are active in inhibiting the growth of S. cerevisiae were determined using the broth microdilution method. Afterward, the active extract was tested using antiproliferative and budding yeast assays. With the …

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant And Cytotoxic Activity Of Lannea Egregia Engl. & K. Krause Stem Bark Extracts, Seide M. Akoro, Mutiat A. Omotayo, Oyinlade C. Ogundare, Stemon A. Akpovwovwo, Gbemileke P. Bello

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

This study investigates the phytochemical contents, antioxidants and cytotoxic activities of Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause stem bark extracts. Secondary metabolites were extracted using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol by successive maceration. The concentrated extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening using standard procedures. The crude flavonoid was obtained from the plant material using Harborne’s method and then profiled using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of the plant extract were assessed using reducing power assay and DPPH scavenging activity, while the cytotoxic activity was determined using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The crude extract of n-hexane or …

Pneumococcal Vaccine Guidance 2022, Bona Shin, Michael Do, Elaina Lioudis

Transformative Medicine

PCV15 and PCV20 received FDA approval in 2021. This article provides an overview of all pneumococcal vaccines - PPSV23, PCV13, PCV15, and PCV20 and their place in therapy. It provides a summary of pneumococcal disease burden in the U.S., vaccine spectrum of activity, indications, adult/pediatric dosing schedules, efficacy, and common adverse drug reactions.

Structure-Based Rational Design Of Small Α-Helical Peptides With Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens, Sandeep Lohan, Anastasia G. Konshina, Roman G. Efremov, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of small (7–12 mer) amphipathic cationic peptides were designed and synthesized to create short helical peptides with broad-range bactericidal activity and selectivity toward the bacterial cells. The analysis identified a lead 12-mer peptide 8b with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive (MIC = 3.1–6.2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 6.2–12.5 μg/mL) bacteria and selectivity toward prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells (HC50 = 280 μg/mL, >75% cell viability at 150 μg/mL). The rapid membranolytic action of 8b was demonstrated by a calcein dye leakage assay and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. According to circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy, the peptides have an …

Polymeric Chloroquine In Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Therapy, Rubayat Islam Khan

Theses & Dissertations

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an established drug that has been used for the treatment of multiple diseases, including malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus. Several recently published studies have highlighted its beneficial use in various types of cancers, and a plethora of clinical trials are currently evaluating its use in cancer therapies, wherein some of the results look promising. The preclinical studies to date suggest HCQ can work effectively in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments, as it has been shown to sensitize tumor cells to a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents. Polymeric HCQ (PCQ), a macromolecular multivalent version of HCQ, has …

Editorial: Adenylyl Cyclase Isoforms As Potential Drug Targets, Tarsis F. Brust, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Val J. Watts

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Editorial on the Research Topic Adenylyl cyclase isoforms as potential drug targets

Unraveling The Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms And Efficacy Of Cannabidiol On The Progression Of A Murine Model Of Multiple Sclerosis From The Innate To The Adaptive Immune System To Clinical Symptoms, Christa Marie Frodella

Theses and Dissertations

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid with structural similarity to Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is currently being investigated as a therapeutic for its immunosuppressive effects. One disease for which CBD is extensively researched is multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating, autoimmune disorder, and its murine model counterpart, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The focus of this dissertation aimed to analyze the transcriptomic brain pathways in EAE and its comparison to MS in addition to CBD’s immunosuppressive mechanisms in the innate and adaptive immune systems. Evidence presented here showed that transcriptomic signaling pathways in the EAE brain of mice with clinical symptoms were similar …

Il-21 Signaling Promotes The Establishment Of Kshv Infection In Human Tonsil Lymphocytes By Increasing Differentiation And Targeting Of Plasma Cells, Nedaa Alomari, Jennifer Totonchy

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Factors influencing Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transmission and the early stages of KSHV infection in the human immune system remain poorly characterized. KSHV is known to extensively manipulate the host immune system and the cytokine milieu, and cytokines are known to influence the progression of KSHV-associated diseases. Our previous work identified the early targeting of plasma cells for KSHV infection. In this study, we examine whether IL-21, a cytokine known to profoundly influence plasma cell fate, influences the early stages of KSHV infection in B lymphocytes.

Methods: Using our unique model of ex vivo KSHV infection in tonsil lymphocytes, …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of N-Methylated H2r2w4, Talal Alrubaie

Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential candidates for developing antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. We have recently developed a potent cyclic AMP containing histidine (H), arginine (R), and tryptophan (W) residues named [H₂R₂W₄]. This peptide showed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) with a minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) of 3.1 μg/mL and a MIC of 6.2 μg/mL for Escherichia coli (E. coli). However, it displayed a mild cytotoxicity with cell viability of approximately 80% against normal human lung cells (MRC-5) and ~60% against normal human kidney cells (HEK-293) at the …

The Development Of A Novel Peptide-Drug Conjugate For Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Phi-Phung Than

Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with poor prognosis and is difficult to treat. A diagnosis of TNBC means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and HER2– are not present in the cancer tumors. Since the tumor cells lack necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapies and targeted HER2 drugs are ineffective. The use of chemotherapies in treating TNBC is an effective option instead. However, chemotherapies are not selective, thus they cause severe side effects such as cardiotoxicity, myelosuppression, alopecia and gastrointestinal problems. A peptide-drug conjugate …

Role Of Macrophages In Ocular Surface Fibrosis, Alyanna Corpuz

Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses

The present study is designed to investigate whether irradiation as used for conditioning regimen to ablate recipient’s diseased bone marrow prior to transplantation could trigger macrophage activation and polarization and whether macrophages could cause the transdifferentiation of ocular surface fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, thus contributing to oGVHD-associated fibrosis.

Bone marrow cells were cultured in M-CSF to obtain M0 macrophages, which were subsequently polarized into M1 and M2 phenotypes using IFN-g + LPS and IL-4, respectively.

The macrophages were exposed to 7 Gy radiation. The effect of irradiation on macrophage activation markers, phagocytosis, and apoptosis was assessed using real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, …

Membrane-Active Cyclic Amphiphilic Peptides: Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity Alone And In Combination With Antibiotics, Eman H. M. Mohammed, Sandeep Lohan, Tarra Ghaffari, Shilpi Gupta, Rakesh K. Tiwari, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

We designed a library of 24 cyclic peptides containing arginine (R) and tryptophan (W) residues in a sequential manner [RnWn] (n = 2–7) to study the impact of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, charge, and ring size on the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Among peptides, 5a and 6a demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity. In combination with 11 commercially available antibiotics, 5a and 6a showed remarkable synergism against a large panel of resistant pathogens. Hemolysis (HC50 = 340 μg/mL) and cell viability against mammalian cells demonstrated the selective lethal action of 5a against bacteria over …

The Glycemic, Cholesterol, And Weight Effects Of L-Carnitine In Diabetes: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Jennifer Ko, Eva Y. Wong, Huyentran N. Tran, Rebecca J.C. Tran, Diana X. Cao

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

L-carnitine possibly impacts insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. However, its therapeutic role in diabetes is poorly understood.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception through June 30, 2021. Included studies evaluated the use of L-carnitine in diabetes on fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), weight, or body mass index (BMI). Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.

Results

Seventeen studies …

Protein Phosphatase 2a Regulates Xanthine Oxidase-Derived Ros Production In Macrophages And Influx Of Inflammatory Monocytes In A Murine Gout Model, Sandy Elsayed, Khaled A. Elsaid

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Gout is a common arthritis, due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals which results in IL-1β secretion by tissue-resident macrophages. Xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzes uric acid (UA) production and in the process, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated which contributes to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) may be involved in regulating inflammatory pathways in macrophages. The objective of this study was to investigate whether PP2A regulates gout inflammation, mediated by XO activity modulation. We studied UA and ROS generations in MSU stimulated murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) in response to fingolimod phosphate, a PP2A activator, …

Hypertrophic And Fibrotic Human Pkd Hearts Are Associated With Macrophage Infiltration And Abnormal Tgf-Β1 Signaling, Farideh Amirrad, Gregory A. Fishbein, Robert A. Edwards, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a hereditary kidney disorder which can affect cardiovascular system. Cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy in PKD have been reported by echocardiography analyses, but histopathology analyses of human PKD hearts have never been examined. The current studies evaluated human heart tissues from five subjects without PKD (non-PKD) and five subjects with PKD. Our histopathology data of human PKD hearts showed an increased extracellular matrix associated with cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Hypertrophy- and fibrosis-associated pathways involving abnormal cardiac structure were next analyzed. We found that human PKD myocardium was infiltrated by inflammatory macrophage M1 and M2; …

Effects Of Chronic Cirrhosis Induced By Intraperitoneal Thioacetamide Injection On The Protein Content And Michaelis–Menten Kinetics Of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes In The Rat Liver Microsomes, Devaraj Venkatapura Chandrashekar, Barent N. Dubois, Mamunur Rashid, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide (TAA) in rats has been used as an animal model of human cirrhosis to study the effects of the disease on drug metabolism. However, TAA inhibits P450 enzymes directly and independently of cirrhosis. We investigated the effects of chronic cirrhosis in rats, induced by 10 weeks of intraperitoneal TAA, on the P450 enzymes after a 10-day washout period to eliminate TAA. Liver histology and serum biomarkers of hepatic function confirmed cirrhosis in all animals. Microsomal total P450 content, P450 reductase activity and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity, a general marker of P450 activity, were significantly reduced by …

Evaluation Of Pharmaceutically Compounded Oral Caffeine On The Impact Of Medication Adherence And Risk Of Readmission Among Preterm Neonates: A Single-Center Quasi-Experimental Study, Gul Ambreen, Manoj Kumar, Amin Ali, Syed Akbar Ali Shah, Syed Muzaffar Saleem, Ayesha Tahir, Muhammad Sohail Salat, Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, Kashif Hussain

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Caffeine is available in an ampoule, used via parenteral and enteral routes in preterm neonates to treat apnea of prematurity (AOP) in neonates of gestational age ≥ 35-40 weeks. A longer duration of therapy has a higher risk of medication non-adherence due to higher costs and inappropriate dosage forms. Pharmaceutically compounded oral caffeine (PCC) could be an appropriate alternate dosage form. The researchers aimed to determine the impact of PCC on medication-related factors influencing medication adherence (MA) and the frequency of hospital readmission with apnea (HRA) in preterm neonates.
Methods: We conducted a single-center quasi-experimental study for this quality …

Differential Expression And Activities Of Cytochrome P450 3a In The Rat Brain Microsomes And Mitochondria, Nouf Alshammari, Devaraj Venkatapura Chandrashekar, Mamunur Rashid, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Midazolam (MDZ), a benzodiazepine derivative, is metabolized to 1′- and 4-hydroxylated metabolites (1′-OH-MDZ and 4-OH-MDZ, respectively) by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). The purpose of this study was to investigate the CYP3A-mediated hydroxylation of MDZ in the rat brain mitochondria (MT). Brain microsomes (MC) and MT fractions were prepared from rats (n = 8) using differential and density gradient centrifugations, and the purity of the fractions was evaluated using VDAC1 and calreticulin as markers of MT and MC, respectively. The formation rates of 1′-OH-MDZ and 4-OH-MDZ in the rat brain MC and MT samples were determined using an LC–MS/MS method …

Effects Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes And Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Michael S. Kelly, Jelena Lewis, Hindu Rao, Jessica Carter, Ivan Portillo, Richard Beuttler

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Aim

To evaluate the cardiovascular outcomes of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials and Methods

We searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled trials reporting event rates for a composite cardiovascular outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with T2DM and CKD receiving GLP1-RA or placebo. Studies were restricted to those reporting specific event rates for patients with CKD separately from the overall population. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. This meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022320157). …

Host-Level Susceptibility And Irf1 Expression Influence The Ability Of Ifn-Γ To Inhibit Kshv Infection In B Lymphocytes, Nedaa Alomari, Jennifer Totonchy

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with vascular endothelial cell tumor, Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorder, multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). Dysregulation of proinflammatory cytokines is found in most KSHV associated diseases. However, little is known about the role of host microenvironment in the regulation of KSHV establishment in B cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that IFN-γ has a strong inhibitory effect on KSHV infection but only in a subset of tonsil-derived lymphocyte samples that are intrinsically more susceptible to infection, contain higher proportions of naïve B cells, …

Efficacy And Safety Of A Brain-Penetrant Biologic Tnf-Α Inhibitor In Aged App/Ps1 Mice, Weijun Ou, Yuu Ohno, Joshua Yang, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, Tamara Abdullah, Jiahong Sun, Riley Murphy, Chuli Roules, Nataraj Jagadeesan, David H. Cribbs, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays a vital role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, and TNF-α inhibitors (TNFIs) modulate AD pathology. We fused the TNF-α receptor (TNFR), a biologic TNFI that sequesters TNF-α, to a transferrin receptor antibody (TfRMAb) to deliver the TNFI into the brain across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). TfRMAb-TNFR was protective in 6-month-old transgenic APP/PS1 mice in our previous work. However, the effects and safety following delayed chronic TfRMAb-TNFR treatment are unknown. Herein, we initiated the treatment when the male APP/PS1 mice were 10.7 months old (delayed treatment). Mice were injected intraperitoneally with saline, TfRMAb-TNFR, etanercept (non-BBB-penetrating …

The U.S. Travel Health Pharmacists’ Role In A Post-Covid-19 Pandemic Era, Keri Hurley-Kim, Karina Babish, Eva Chen, Alexis Diaz, Nathan Hahn, Derek Evans, Sheila M. Seed, Karl Hess

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Many countries have enforced strict regulations on travel since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019. However, with the development of several vaccines and tests to help identify it, international travel has mostly resumed in the United States (US). Community pharmacists have long been highly accessible to the public and are capable of providing travel health services and are in an optimal position to provide COVID-19 patient care services to those who are now starting to travel again. Objectives: (1) To discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the practice of travel health and …

Design, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Pharmacist-Led Outpatient Benzodiazepine-Tapering Clinic, Tania Gregorian, Kristin Bradley, Scott Campbell, Rachel Mashburn, Richard Beuttler, Michelle S. Keller

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Benzodiazepines are commonly used among older adults, despite well-known risks. Clinical pharmacists can lead tapering efforts, leveraging their clinical expertise and relieving time-pressured primary care providers.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of an outpatient pharmacist-led benzodiazepine-tapering clinic.

Practice description

The clinic is based within a community medical group associated with a large academic health system in Los Angeles, California.

Practice innovation

The clinic is staffed by clinical pharmacists and supervised by a psychiatrist. The initial visit consists of patient education, design of patient-driven tapering schedule, and medical history review. Follow-up …

Synthesis Of Alginate/Hydroxyapatite Beads For Acetaminophen Delivery, Anesylvia Angan, Nonni Soraya Sambudi

Makara Journal of Science

Conventional drug delivery systems usually involve the intake of multiple drugs, which could amplify the risk of overdosing. Acetaminophen is a widely used pain relief substance that is prone to accidental overdosing. Hence, a controlled drug delivery system is needed to ensure its efficacy. A nanocomposite hydroxyapatite/alginate system that was used as a drug carrier for acetaminophen was synthesized through the sol-gel method, and the mechanism underlying its controlled drug delivery was investigated. Spherical nanocomposite bead samples were synthesized by incorporating 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt% hydroxyapatite into mixtures containing alginate. The mixtures were then dropped into calcium …

Pharmacists’ Response To The Opioid Crisis: A California Naloxone Survey, Jerika T. Lam, Moom Roosan, Mary A. Gutierrez, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This study aimed to assess pharmacists’ response to the current opioid crisis in California, particularly regarding the prevalence of naloxone furnishing (or dispensing without a prescription) and prescriptions for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs for opioid use disorder (OUD) to patients and consumers.

Novel Drugs Approved In 2021-2022, Michael Do, Bona Shin, Elaina Lioudis, Emaleigh Munn

Transformative Medicine

This article provides an abbreviated overview of the newly Federal Drug Administration (FDA)approved novel drugs of 2021-2022 with their respective approved indication(s). The FDA serves as the governing body that regularly evaluates and approves medications that will eventually be introduced to the market for routine use. These medications include both drugs that are the same or related to previously approved products (e.g., Extended indications of priorly approved medications) and novel drugs. By definition, a novel drug is an innovative product which serves to improve quality care in patient populations with unmet or advanced medical needs to overall advance patient care …

Modulation Of Hepatic Amyloid Precursor Protein And Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 1 By Chronic Alcohol Intake: Potential Link Between Liver Steatosis And Amyloid-Β, Jerome Garcia, Rudy Chang, Ross A. Steinberg, Aldo Arce, Joshua Yang, Peter Van Der Eb, Tamara Abdullah, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, Syndey M. Eck, Pablo Meza, Zhang-Xu Liu, Enrique Cadenas, David H. Cribbs, Neil Kaplowitz, Rachita K. Sumbria, Derick Han

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Heavy alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for various forms of dementia and the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this work, we investigated how intragastric alcohol feeding may alter the liver-to-brain axis to induce and/or promote AD pathology. Four weeks of intragastric alcohol feeding to mice, which causes significant fatty liver (steatosis) and liver injury, caused no changes in AD pathology markers in the brain [amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin], except for a decrease in microglial cell number in the cortex of the brain. Interestingly, the decline in microglial numbers correlated with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, suggesting …