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Recent progress in multi-scale models of the human atria
This article presents a review of recent advances in modelling of the human atria and their application to understanding AF. (Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models)
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Animal models of regression/progression of kidney disease
Publication date: Available online 22 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Beom Jin Lim , Hai-Chun Yang , Agnes B. Fogo Current medical therapies may delay chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, increasing experimental evidence indicates remission or even regression can be achieved. To study mechanisms progression versus regression by different interventions, appropriate animal models and research design must be implemented. We review key information of selected models, including etiology, pathogenesis, procedure, time course and assessment of potential regression. (Source: ...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

The epigenomic tool kit
Publication date: Available online 22 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Matthew Mingay , Martin Hirst A paradigm shift in nucleic acid sequencing has spurred the development of molecular and computational techniques for the quantitative detection of epigenetic modifications genome-wide. Collectively, these methods provide researchers with an epigenomic ‘tool kit’ to engage in the molecular characterization of epigenetic states at a scale not imagined only a few years ago. This review provides a description of the current state of the massively parallel sequencing based epigenomic ...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Evolution of cancer cell resistance versus intelligent design of epigenetic drugs
Publication date: Available online 23 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Isaia Barbieri , Andrew J. Bannister Cancer cells commonly develop resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In this short review we highlight epigenetic factors as important players in acquired drug resistance. We discuss the development of new drugs that are specifically targeted to these epigenetic factors. These compounds have the potential to be highly specific, with fewer side effects, and a lower tendency to generate resistance. These drugs also have the potential to reverse resistance acquired against other n...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Current technological advances in mapping new DNA modifications
Publication date: Available online 23 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Rachel Amouroux , Kirsten R. McEwen , Petra Hajkova The recent discovery of Tet (Ten eleven translocation) family of enzymes implicated in the chemical conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxycytosine (5caC) has significantly enlarged the repertoire of known modifications present in the genomic DNA of higher eukaryotes. Considered as new epigenetic marks but also as DNA demethylation intermediates, intense research efforts have been directed t...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

The social honey bee in biomedical research: realities and expectations
This article outlines the anticipated benefits flowing from the epigenome-inspired projects in honey bees and draws attention to the most promising avenues that are likely to strengthen the value of this organism in biomedical research. (Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models)
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Development of animal models of human IgA nephropathy
Publication date: Available online 23 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Hitoshi Suzuki , Yusuke Suzuki , Jan Novak , Yasuhiko Tomino IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis in the world. IgAN is characterized by the mesangial accumulation of immune complexes containing IgA1, usually with co-deposits of complement C3 and variable IgG and/or IgM. Although more than 40 years have passed since IgAN was first described, the mechanisms underlying the disease development are not fully understood. Small-animal experimental models of IgAN can be very help...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Animal models of kidney inflammation in translational medicine
Publication date: Available online 26 August 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Alexander Holderied , Hans-Joachim Anders Animal models remain an important experimental tool in translational medicine albeit being often criticized for their poor value to mimic human pathophysiology and to predict treatment efficacy. Translational medicine is a multistep process and choosing animal models follows different criteria at each of these stages. Initially, target expression and function are tested in simple models of kidney injury that may or may not mimic any corresponding human disorder. Inappropri...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Ischemic heart disease and coronary flow
Publication date: Available online 5 September 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Ghassan S. Kassab Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. The use of mathematical models allows the integration of the structural/mechanical/biochemical determinants of coronary flow for understanding coronary physiology/pathophysiology as well as to provide avenues for diagnosis and therapy of IHD. This review provides an overview of coronary flow models in the deep layers of the heart that are vulnerable to ischemia and models for non-invasive determination of isch...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Fish: a suitable system to model human bone disorders and discover drugs with osteogenic or osteotoxic activities
Publication date: Available online 15 September 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Vincent Laizé , Paulo J. Gavaia , M. Leonor Cancela This review discusses the suitability and advantages of teleost fish for studying underlying mechanisms of normal and pathological development and mineralization of vertebrate skeleton, presents a selection of zebrafish mutants and transgenic lines modeling human skeletal diseases and highlights currently available fish systems for identifying and characterizing novel osteogenic and osteotoxic molecules. (Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models)
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Disorders of complement regulation
Publication date: Available online 15 September 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Thomas D. Barbour , Matthew C. Pickering , H. Terence Cook Experiments in genetically engineered mice have elucidated the key role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of several renal disorders. This has led to the clinical evaluation of agents that inhibit complement activation in patients with complement-mediated kidney disease. Here we discuss the mouse models of lupus nephritis, C3 glomerulopathy and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, together with an inducible model of antiphospholipid syndrome....
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

New insights into disorders of basement membranes and integrins of the kidney
Publication date: Available online 3 October 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Ambra Pozzi , Roy Zent Cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions control many key aspects of kidney cell function, including proliferation, survival, migration and matrix homeostasis. Deregulation of ECM components, such as collagens and laminins, and their integrin receptors can result in kidney damage and failure. The development of mouse models overexpressing and/or lacking specific matrix components and integrins in selective areas of the kidney has improved our understanding of molecular mechanisms and pat...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Lupus nephritis: animal modeling of a complex disease syndrome pathology
Publication date: Available online 30 October 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Tracy L. McGaha , Michael P. Madaio Nephritis as a result of autoimmunity is a common morbidity associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is substantial clinical and industry interest in medicinal intervention in the SLE nephritic process; however, clinical trials to specifically treat lupus nephritis have not resulted in complete and sustained remission in all patients. Multiple mouse models have been used to investigate the pathologic interactions between autoimmune reactivity and SLE pathology....
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Osteoporosis – fracture healing and osseointegration
Publication date: Available online 7 November 2014 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models Author(s): Hamdan S. Alghamdi , Jeroen J.J.P. van den Beucken , John A. Jansen Osteoporosis is a highly relevant disease and associated with an increased risk of fragility fracture. Also, in patients with osteoporotic condition, unfavorable osseointegration of bone implants remains an issue of concern. Consequently, research in biomaterials is focusing on the therapeutic potential of locally released bioactive, anti-osteoporotic and anabolic drug-loaded implant coatings for osseointegration in osteoporotic conditions. For ...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 14, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Modeling cancer patient populations in mice: Complex genetic and environmental factors
Publication date: Summer 2007 Source:Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models, Volume 4, Issue 2 Author(s): Daniel R. Radiloff , Erica S. Rinella , David W. Threadgill Genetic differences among individuals contribute to differential susceptibility to cancer and, undoubtedly, to variable efficacy and toxicity of pharmacological-based therapeutics. Many of the specific molecular processes involved in human tumorigenesis have been elucidated and accurately modeled in mice. However, the current models used for drug testing do not accurately predict how new treatments will fare in clinical trials. More sophisticated models t...
Source: Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models - November 1, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research