Does treatment with the immunomodulator FTY720 ( fingolimod ) significantly reduce renal inflammation in murine unilateral ureteral obstruction?
This study suggests that in a murine ureteral obstruction model FTY720 significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines and factors regulating interstitial fibrosis and extracellular matrix accumulation. These findings were associated with decreased evidence of renal injury on pathological examination, suggesting that FTY720 or related compounds may be valuable modulators of obstruction induced renal injury.
We have demonstrated intraclonal mating during fly transmission of T. b. brucei, contrary to previous findings that recombination occurs only when another strain is present. It is thus no longer possible to assume that T. b. brucei remains genetically unaltered after fly transmission.