Sumerianz Journal of Medical and Healthcare

    
Online ISSN: 2663-421X
Print ISSN: 2706-8404

Quarterly Published (4 Issues Per Year)

Journal Website: https://www.sumerianz.com/?ic=journal-home&journal=31

Archive

Volume 3 Issue 11 (2020)

Network-Centric Identification of Disease Co-Occurrences: A Systems Biology Approach

Authors : Tammanna R. Sahrawat ; Devika Talwar
DOI : doi.org/10.47752/sjmh.311.103.110
Abstract:
Complex diseases that occur by perturbations of molecular pathways and genetic factors result in pathophysiology of diseases. Network-centric systems biology approaches play an important role in understanding disease complexity. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression are such complex diseases that have been reported to be comorbid in various epidemiological studies but there are no reports of the genetic and underlying factors which may be responsible for their reported co-occurrences. The present study was undertaken to investigate the molecular factors responsible for co-occurrence of diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease using in-silico network systems biology approach. Genes common amongst these three diseases were retrieved from DisGeNET, a database of human diseases and their interactions were retrieved from STRING database. The resulting network containing 99 nodes (which represent genes) and 1252 edges (which represent various interactions between nodes) was analyzed using Cytoscape v: 3.7.2 and its various plug-ins i.e. ClusterONE, Cytohubba, ClueGO and Cluepedia. The hub genes identified in the present study namely IL1B, VEGFA, LEP, CAT, CXCL8, PLG, IL6, IL10, PTGS2, TLR4 and AKT1 were found to be enriched in various metabolic pathways and several mechanisms such as inflammation. These genes and their protein products may act as potential biomarkers for early detection of predisposition to diseases and potential therapeutic targets based on the common molecular underpinnings of co-occurrence of diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease.

Pages: 103-110

Role of Vernonia Amygdalina on Plasma Lipid Profile, Liver and Kidney Enzymes in Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Authors : Gabriel Olukayode Ajayi ; Elvis Uchechukwu Obi ; Elizabeth Namesegua Elegbeleye ; Precious Titilayo Obayemi ; Oyindamola Mary Edamisan
DOI : doi.org/10.47752/sjmh.311.93.102
Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease which has been associated with liver and kidney injuries, and at the same time affects lipid profiles. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Vernonia amygdalina (VAM) on plasma lipid profile, liver and kidney enzymes in rats with streptozotocin -induced diabetes. Twenty-five male albino wistar rats weighing between 137 and 223 g were randomly grouped into five of five rats per group as follows: control, diabetic, diabetic + metformin (MET), diabetic + VAM at 150, 300 mg/kg. Diabetes was induced by administration of 45 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in citrate buffer (0.01 M, pH 4.5) by single intraperitoneal injection. Three days after, when diabetes was confirmed, MET and VAM were administered daily by oral gavage for 7 days. Animals were fasted overnight after the last administration of MET and VAM, sacrificed, blood was collected and plasma prepared for lipid profile estimation. Liver and kidney were collected, weighed, homogenized and supernatants obtained for enzymes and biochemical assays. There were no significant (p>0.05) change in the weights of animal, liver and kidney, liver/rat and kidney/rat ratios, plasma cholesterol (CHOL) concentration, activities of liver and kidney aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and liver and kidney total protein (TPRO) concentrations; significant (p<0.05) decrease in triglyceride (TRIG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL); and significant (p<0.05) increase in fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, kidney GGT, LDH activities, liver and kidney creatinine (CREA) and total bilirubin (TBIL) concentrations of diabetic (STZ) rats compared with normal control. The treatment of the diabetic rats with MET and VAM significantly modulated positively these parameters compared with the diabetic rats. This study further explains the protective role played by VAM in dyslipidaemia, liver and kidney injuries resulting from diabetes.

Pages: 93-102