Zinc alpha 2 glycoprotein (ZAG): A potential novel pharmacological target in diabetic retinopathy

Zinc alpha 2 glycoprotein (ZAG) is a 41 KDa secretory soluble glycoprotein found in different body fluids like the serum, saliva, sweat, breast milk, and urine. It is also found in tissues like the testis, epididymis, kidney, spleen, liver, lungs, heart, and brain. ZAG is an adipokine with multiple roles, including lipid mobilization, modulating glucose metabolisms, improving insulin sensitivity, inhibiting tumor proliferation through RNAse activity, and suppressing inflammation. Low levels of zinc and ZAG are linked to metabolic syndrome and are also reported as potential biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy. Interestingly zinc has been found to regulate the binding of ZAG to fatty acids. Based on very few reports on the vitreous ZAG and based on its known functions, we speculate that ZAG has a potential role in diabetic retinopathy. In this article, we discuss the structural component of the protein, its secretion from various tissues, and its distribution in multiple tissues in normal and disease conditions, especially in diabetes and its complications.     

Dental pulp stem cells and banking of teeth as a lifesaving therapeutic vista

Exfoliated deciduous or an extracted healthy adult tooth can be used to harvest, process, and cryogenically preserve dental pulp stem cells. Future stem cell-based regenerative medicine methods could benefit significantly from these mesenchymal stem cells. Teeth serve as a substantial source of mesenchymal stem cells, otherwise disposed of as medical waste. Care should be taken to store this treasure trove of stem cells. Collective responsibility of patients, dentists, and physicians is necessary to ensure that this valuable resource is not wasted and that every possible dental pulp stem cell is available for use in the future. The dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) inside teeth represent a significant future source of stem cells for regenerative medicine procedures. This review describes the ontogeny, the laboratory processing and collection, and isolation methods of DPSC. This review also discusses currently available stem cell banking facilities and their potential use in regenerative medicine procedures in dental and general medical applications in the future.