Amin, S. N., "Platelets: the peripheral donor of mitochondria for diabetes-induced cognitive impairment.", Clinical science (London, England : 1979), vol. 135, issue 4, pp. 593-595, 2021. Abstract

This commentary highlights the research entitled: Transplantation of platelet-derived mitochondria alleviates cognitive impairment and mitochondrial dysfunction in db/db mice, presented by Ma et al. appearing in Clinical Science (2020) 134(16), https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20200530. The authors evaluated the effect of xenograft transplantation of mitochondria isolated from peripheral blood platelets in an animal model of type II diabetes and evaluated the effects of transplantation on diabetes-associated cognitive impairment (DACI). They showed cognitive and molecular improvement in response to mitochondrial transplantation to db/db mice brains. Besides, they showed better internalization of the transplanted mitochondria into the diseased animals' hippocampal cells compared with the healthy normal control.

Al-Hashem, F., S. Al-Humayed, S. N. Amin, S. S. Kamar, S. S. Mansy, S. Hassan, L. O. Abdel-Salam, M. Abd Ellatif, M. Alfaifi, M. A. Haidara, et al., "Metformin inhibits mTOR-HIF-1α axis and profibrogenic and inflammatory biomarkers in thioacetamide-induced hepatic tissue alterations.", Journal of cellular physiology, vol. 234, issue 6, pp. 9328-9337, 2019. Abstract

The potential inhibitory effect of the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory drug, metformin on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity associated with the inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) axis has not been investigated before. Therefore, we tested whether metformin can protect against liver injuries including fibrosis induced by TAA possibly via the downregulation of mTOR-HIF-1α axis and profibrogenic and inflammatory biomarkers. Rats either injected with TAA (200 mg/kg; twice a week for 8 weeks) before being killed after 10 weeks (model group) or were pretreated with metformin (200 mg/kg) daily for 2 weeks before TAA injections and continued receiving both agents until the end of the experiment, at Week 10 (protective group). Using light and electron microscopy examinations, we observed in the model group substantial damage to the hepatocytes and liver tissue such as collagen deposition, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and degenerative cellular changes with ballooned mitochondria that were substantially ameliorated by metformin. Metformin also significantly ( p < 0.05) inhibited TAA-induced HIF-1α, mTOR, the profibrogenic biomarker α-smooth muscle actin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase in harvested liver homogenates and blood samples. In addition, a significant ( p < 0.01) positive correlation between hypoxia scoring (HIF-1α) and the serum levels of TNF-α ( r = 0.797), IL-6 ( r = 0.859), and ALT ( r = 0.760) was observed. We conclude that metformin protects against TAA-induced hepatic injuries in rats, which is associated with the inhibition of mTOR-HIF-1α axis and profibrogenic and inflammatory biomarkers; thus, may offer therapeutic potential in humans.

Dallak, M., M. A. Haidara, I. Bin-Jaliah, R. A. Eid, S. N. Amin, N. S. Abdel Latif, and B. Al-Ani, "Metformin suppresses aortic ultrastrucural damage and hypertension induced by diabetes: a potential role of advanced glycation end products.", Ultrastructural pathology, vol. 43, issue 4-5, pp. 190-198, 2019. Abstract

Cardiovascular disease secondary to diabetes represents a significant challenge to the health community. The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in diabetes-mediated vascular injury. We tested whether metformin can suppress aortic AGEs production and protect against aortic injuries (aortopathy) and hypertension in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) animal model. T2DM was induced in rats two weeks after being fed on a high carbohydrate and fat diet (HCFD), and continued on a HCFD until being sacrificed at week 12 (model group). The protective group was put on metformin two weeks before diabetic induction and continued on metformin and HCFD until the end of the experiment, at week 12. Using electron microscopy examinations, we observed in the model group substantial damage to the ultrastructure of aortic endothelial and vascular smooth muscle layers as demonstrated by markedly distorted vacuolated endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells with pyknotic nuclei detached from the underlying basement membrane, which were protected by metformin. Also, metformin significantly ( < .05) decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aortic levels of AGEs, and blood levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. We conclude that metformin protects against T2DM-induced aortopathy and hypertension, possibly via the inhibition of AGEs, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

AlOkda, A. M., M. M. Nasr, and S. N. Amin, "Between an ugly truth and a perfect lie: Wiping off fearful memories using beta-adrenergic receptors antagonists.", Journal of cellular physiology, vol. 234, issue 5, pp. 5722-5727, 2019. Abstract

Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder are considered of high global prevalence. Currently, a therapeutic approach to treat these disorders using beta-blockers, which antagonize the beta-adrenergic receptors (B1, B2, and B3) is being studied. This approach claims that beta-blockers, such as propranolol, inhibit fear memory reconsolidation. However, there are several studies refuting such claims by discrediting their experimental design and pointing out both the drugs pharmacokinetic properties and confounding factors. In this review, we explore the different effects of central beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the fear memory consolidation providing mixed-evidence, limitations, and future directions.

, "Metformin Protects Against Thioacetamide Induced Liver injury in Rats", Int. J. Morphol, vol. 36, issue 3, pp. 984-990, 2018.
Hassan SS1, 2, R. A. P. A. S. N. 6.A. 3 Z. 4 V. 5, "Does posttreatment thymoquinone reverse high-dose atorvastatin-induced hepatic oxidative injury in rats?", Can J Physiol Pharmacol. , vol. 96, issue 1, pp. 51-59, 2018.
Amin SN1, Hussein UK2, Y. H. D. 4 H. S. S. 5 R. L. A. 7.3 6, "Synergistic actions of vitamin D and metformin on skeletal muscles and insulin resistance of type 2 diabetic rats.", J Cell Physiol., vol. 233, issue 8, pp. 5768-5779, 2018.
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