NRF2, a Transcription Factor for Stress Response and Beyond

Transcriptional and biochemical changes in mouse liver following exposure to a metal/drug cocktail. Attenuating effect of a selenium-enriched diet

Real-life pollution usually involves simultaneous co-exposure to different chemicals. Metals and drugs are frequently and abundantly released into the environment, where they interact and bioaccumulate. Few studies analyze potential interactions between metals and pharmaceuticals in these mixtures, although their joint effects cannot be inferred from their individual properties. We have previously demonstrated that the mixture (PC) of the metals Cd and Hg, the metalloid As and the pharmaceuticals diclofenac (DCF) and flumequine (FLQ) impairs hepatic proteostasis. To gain a deeper vision of how PC affects mouse liver homeostasis, we evaluated here the effects of PC exposure upon some biochemical and morphometric parameters, and on the transcriptional profiles of selected group of genes. We found that exposure to PC caused oxidative damage that exceeded the antioxidant capacity of cells. The excessive oxidative stress response resulted in an overabundance of reducing equivalents, which hindered the metabolism and transport of metabolites, including cholesterol and bile acids, between organs. These processes have been linked to metabolic and inflammatory disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, our findings suggest that unintended exposure to mixtures of environmental pollutants may underlie the etiology of many human diseases. Fortunately, we also found that a diet enriched with selenium mitigated the harmful effects of this combination of toxicants.

Network pharmacology and in vivo experimental studies reveal the protective effects of 6-hydroxygenistein against hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain injury

Hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain injury (HHBI) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has still not been effectively treated. There are several different mechanisms involved in HHBI. Among them, oxidative stress and inflammation response predominate. 6-hydroxygenistein (4',5,6,7-tetrahydroxyisoflavone, 6-OHG) is a hydroxylated derivative of genistein with excellent antioxidant activity, however, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms against HHBI have not been clarified. In the present study, we aimed to explore the mechanisms of action of 6-OHG on HHBI using network pharmacology and experimental validation. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 186 candidate targets through the intersection of the targets of 6-OHG and related genes in HHBI, which were mainly enriched in oxidative stress and inflammation response. Moreover, key targets of 6-OHG against HHBI, namely Nrf2 and NF-κB, were screened and found to be closely related to oxidative stress and inflammation response. Subsequent in vivo experiments revealed that 6-OHG treatment attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation response, prevented energy disorder and apoptosis as well as maintained the BBB integrity in HHBI mice. In addition, 6-OHG administration up-regulated the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 and down-regulated the expressions of NF-κB and NLRP3, thereby inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation response. Hence, the present study demonstrates that 6-OHG protects against HHBI by stimulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and suppressing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Investigating the mechanism of ferroptosis induction by sappanone A in hepatocellular carcinoma: NRF2/xCT/GPX4 axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and lethal malignancy with significant global impact, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies and drugs. Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of iron-dependent programmed cell death, has emerged as a promising strategy to combat HCC. Sappanone A, an isoflavone compound derived from the heartwood of Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod., is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its anti-HCC effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study is the first time to demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of Sappanone A on HCC both in vitro and in vivo, through the assessment of cell viability and apoptosis following Sappanone A treatment. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy revealed that Sappanone A induced ferroptosis in HCC cells by increasing Fe2+ accumulation, reactive oxygen (ROS) level, and lipid peroxidation, specifically targeting inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase-2 (IMPDH2). Additionally, Western blot analysis suggested that the anti-HCC effects of Sappanone A were mediated through the regulation of the NRF2/xCT/GPX4 axis, highlighting its potential to enhance ferroptosis in HCC cells and underscoring the critical role of IMPDH2 in HCC treatment.

Alantolactone improves cognitive impairment in rats with Porphyromonas gingivalis infection by inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and reducing Aβ levels

Neuroinflammation caused by the chronic periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is growing regarded as as a key factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alantolactone (AL), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the root of Inula racemosa Hook. f, has been proven to provide various neuroprotective effects. However, whether AL can improve cognitive impairment caused by P. gingivalis infection remains unclear. In this research, a rat model of P. gingivalis infection was used to examine the neuroprotective benefits of AL. The results revealed that 6 weeks of AL treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg) shortened escape latency and increased the number of crossings over the platform location and time spent in the target quadrant of P. gingivalis-infected rats in the Morris water maze experiment. By activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, AL suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and simultaneously increased the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). Furthermore, AL lowered the presence of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the hippocampal and cortical tissues of P. gingivalis-infected rats by inhibiting astrocyte and microglial activation and NF-κB phosphorylation. AL also significantly reduced Aβ levels in the cortical and hippocampus tissues of rats infected with P. gingivalis. In conclusion, AL improved cognitive impairment in P. gingivalis-infected rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation, reducing Aβ1-42 level, and exerting antioxidative stress effects.

Tamoxifen metabolites treatment promotes ERα+ transition to triple negative phenotype in vitro, effects of LDL in chemoresistance

OBJECTIVE

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer represents about 80% of cases, tamoxifen is the election neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, a large percentage of patients develop chemoresistance, compromising recovery. Clinical evidence suggests that high plasmatic levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) could promote cancer progression. The present study analyzed the effect of LDL on the primary plasmatic active Tamoxifen's metabolites resistance acquisition, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OH-Tam) and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (endoxifen), in breast cancer ERα + cells (MCF-7).

METHODS

Two resistant cellular variants, MCF-7Var-H and MCF-7Var-I, were generated by a novel strategy and their phenotype features were evaluated. Phenotypic assessment was performed by MTT assays, cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, zymography and protein expression analysis.

RESULTS

MCF-7Var-H, generated only with tamoxifen metabolites, showed a critical down-regulation in hormone receptors, augmented migration capacity, metalloprotease 9 extracellular medium excretion, and a mesenchymal morphology in contrast with native MCF-7, suggesting the transition towards Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) phenotype. In contrast, MCF-7Var-I which was generated in a high LDL media, showed only a slight upregulation in ER and other less noticeable metabolic adaptations. Results suggest a potential role of transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in phenotypic differences observed among variants.

CONCLUSION

LDL high or low concentrations during Tamoxifen´s metabolites chemoresistance acquisition leads to different cellular mechanisms related to chemoresistance. A novel adaptative cellular response associated with Nrf2 activity could be implicated.

Caffeic acid ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via alleviating oxidative damage and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes through activating Nrf2 via targeting Keap1

Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the past, encompasses a range of liver pathological conditions marked by the excessive lipid accumulation. Consumption of coffee is closely associated with the reduced risk of MASLD. Caffeic acid (CA), a key active ingredient in coffee, exhibits notable hepatoprotective properties. This study aims to investigate the improvement of CA on MASLD and the engaged mechanism. Mice underwent a 12-week high-fat diet (HFD) regimen to induce MASLD, and liver pathology was assessed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and oil red O (ORO) staining. Hepatic inflammation was evaluated by F4/80 and Ly6G immunohistochemistry (IHC) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) measurement. Pathways and transcription factors relevant to MASLD were analyzed by using microarray data from patients' livers. Oxidative damage was evaluated by detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were used to validate the binding between CA and its target protein. CA significantly alleviated liver damage, steatosis and inflammatory injury, and reduced the elevated NAFLD activity score (NAS) in HFD-fed mice. Clinical data indicate that fatty acid metabolism and ROS generation are pivotal in MASLD progression. CA increased the expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and β-Klotho (KLB), and promoted fatty acid consumption. Additionally, CA mitigated oxidative stress injury and activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). In primary hepatocytes isolated from Nrf2 knockout mice, CA's promotion on FGF21 release and inhibition on oxidative stress and lipotoxicity was disappeared. CA could directly bind to kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) that is an Nrf2 inhibitor protein. This study suggests that CA alleviates MASLD by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, lipotoxicity and oxidative damage through activating Nrf2 via binding to Keap1.

Sufentanil-induced Nrf2 protein ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through suppressing neural ferroptosis

As an oxidative stress and inflammation-related disease, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a prevalent pathogenic factor of ischemic stroke (IS) and seriously degrades the life quality of human beings. As an opioid analgesic for anesthesia, Sufentanil (SUF) can activate the Nrf2 protein-induced anti-oxidant effects, which indicate that SUF may be used as alternative drug for CIRI therapy, but little is known regarding to its molecular mechanisms. Thus, this research aimed to examine whether SUF pre-treatment alleviated CIRI through the modulation of Nrf2 protein-mediated antioxidant activity. Our research revealed that middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R)-treated rats exhibited apparent CIRI-related symptoms and induced damages in rats' brain, which were all notably mitigated in the MCAO/R rats. The subsequent in vitro cellular experiments verified that oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced cytotoxicity were apparently reversed by SUF co-treatment in HT22 and BV2 cells, and it was also validated that SUF was capable of suppressing inflammation and ferroptosis in CIRI models by inhibiting oxidative stress-related damages. Mechanistically, the Akt/GSK-3β pathway was excessively activated by SUF to promote Nrf2 protein expressions and enhance Nrf2-meidated anti-oxidant effects, and it was found that SUF-induced protective effects during CIRI progression were all abrogated by co-treating cells with MK2206 (Akt inhibitor), NP-12 (GSK-3β inhibitor), or ML385 (Nrf2 inhibitor). In conclusion, SUF activated the Akt/GSK-3β pathway to initiate Nrf2 protein-mediated antioxidant effects, which further suppressed oxidative stress-related inflammation and ferroptosis to ameliorate CIRI progression, and SUF could potentially be used as novel therapeutic agent for CIRI treatment in clinic.

Heme Oxygenase-1 and Prostate Cancer: Function, Regulation, and Implication in Cancer Therapy

Prostate cancer (PC) is a significant cause of mortality in men worldwide, hence the need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its progression and resistance to treatment. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme involved in heme catabolism, has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, including PC. This review explores the multifaceted role of HO-1 in PC, encompassing its function, regulation, and implications in cancer therapy. HO-1 influences cell proliferation, anti-apoptotic pathways, angiogenesis, and the tumor microenvironment, thereby influencing tumor growth and metastasis. HO-1 has also been associated with therapy resistance, affecting response to standard treatments. Moreover, HO-1 plays a significant role in immune modulation, affecting the tumor immune microenvironment and potentially influencing therapy outcomes. Understanding the intricate balance of HO-1 in PC is vital for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This review further explores the potential of targeting HO-1 as a therapeutic approach, highlighting challenges and opportunities. Additionally, clinical implications are discussed, focusing on the prognostic value of HO-1 expression and the development of novel combined therapies to augment PC sensitivity to standard treatment strategies. Ultimately, unraveling the complexities of HO-1 in PC biology will provide critical insights into personalized treatment approaches for PC patients.

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen Identifies KEAP1 Perturbation as a Vulnerability of ARID1A-Deficient Cells

ARID1A is the core DNA-binding subunit of the BAF chromatin remodeling complex and is mutated in about 8% of all cancers. The frequency of ARID1A loss varies between cancer subtypes, with clear cell ovarian carcinoma (CCOC) presenting the highest incidence at > 50% of cases. Despite a growing understanding of the consequences of ARID1A loss in cancer, there remains limited targeted therapeutic options for ARID1A-deficient cancers. Using a genome-wide CRISPR screening approach, we identify KEAP1 as a genetic dependency of ARID1A in CCOC. Depletion or chemical perturbation of KEAP1 results in selective growth inhibition of ARID1A-KO cell lines and edited primary endometrial epithelial cells. While we confirm that KEAP1-NRF2 signalling is dysregulated in ARID1A-KO cells, we suggest that this synthetic lethality is not due to aberrant NRF2 signalling. Rather, we find that KEAP1 perturbation exacerbates genome instability phenotypes associated with ARID1A deficiency. Together, our findings identify a potentially novel synthetic lethal interaction of ARID1A-deficient cells.

MitoTam induces ferroptosis and increases radiosensitivity in head and neck cancer cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral treatment part for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but radioresistance remains a major issue. Here, we use MitoTam, a mitochondrially targeted analogue of tamoxifen, which we aim to stimulate ferroptotic cell death with, and sensitize radioresistant cells to RT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation in radiosensitive (UT-SCC-40) and radioresistant (UT-SCC-5) HNSCC cells following MitoTam treatment. To assess ferroptosis specificity, we used the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (fer-1). Also, total antioxidant capacity and sensitivity to tert-butyl hydroperoxide were evaluated to assess ROS-responses. 53BP1 staining was used to assess radiosensitivity after MitoTam treatment.

RESULTS

Our data revealed increased ROS, cell death, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation following MitoTam treatment in both cell lines. Adverse effects of MitoTam on cell death, membrane potential and lipid peroxidation were prevented by fer-1, indicating induction of ferroptosis. Radioresistant HNSCC cells were less sensitive to the effects of MitoTam due to intrinsic higher antioxidant capacity. MitoTam treatment prior to RT led to superadditive residual DNA damage expressed by 53BP1 foci compared to RT or MitoTam alone.

CONCLUSION

MitoTam induced ferroptosis in HNSCC cells, which could be used to overcome the elevated antioxidant capacity of radioresistant cells and sensitize such cells to RT. Treatment with MitoTam followed by RT could therefore present a promising effective therapy of radioresistant cancers.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Radiotherapy is applied in the treatment of a majority of cancer patients. Radioresistance due to elevated antioxidant levels can be overcome by promoting ferroptotic cell death combining ROS-inducing drug MitoTam with radiotherapy.

Interactions between Gut Microbiota and Natural Bioactive Polysaccharides in Metabolic Diseases: Review

The gut microbiota constitutes a complex ecosystem, comprising trillions of microbes that have co-evolved with their host over hundreds of millions of years. Over the past decade, a growing body of knowledge has underscored the intricate connections among diet, gut microbiota, and human health. Bioactive polysaccharides (BPs) from natural sources like medicinal plants, seaweeds, and fungi have diverse biological functions including antioxidant, immunoregulatory, and metabolic activities. Their effects are closely tied to the gut microbiota, which metabolizes BPs into health-influencing compounds. Understanding how BPs and gut microbiota interact is critical for harnessing their potential health benefits. This review provides an overview of the human gut microbiota, focusing on its role in metabolic diseases like obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases. It explores the basic characteristics of several BPs and their impact on gut microbiota. Given their significance for human health, we summarize the biological functions of these BPs, particularly in terms of immunoregulatory activities, blood sugar, and hypolipidemic effect, thus providing a valuable reference for understanding the potential benefits of natural BPs in treating metabolic diseases. These properties make BPs promising agents for preventing and treating metabolic diseases. The comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which BPs exert their effects through gut microbiota opens new avenues for developing targeted therapies to improve metabolic health.

Furoxan-piplartine hybrids as effective NO donors and ROS inducers in PC3 cancer cells: design, synthesis, and biological evaluation

Conjugation of the naturally occurring product piplartine (PPT, 1), which is a potent cytotoxic compound and ROS inducer, with a diphenyl sulfonyl-substituted furoxan moiety (namely, 3,4-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide), an important type of NO donor, via an ether linker of different chain lengths is described, characterized and screened for the anticancer potential. The cytotoxicity of the new hybrids was evaluated on a panel of human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, PC3 and OVCAR-3) and two non-cancer human cells (MCF10A and PNT2). In general, the synthesized hybrids were more cytotoxic and selective compared to their furoxan precursors 4-6 and PPT in the above cancer cells. Particularly, PC3 cells are the most sensitive to hybrids 7 and 9 (IC50 values of 240 nM and 50 nM, respectively), while a lower potency was found for the prostate normal cells (IC50 = 17.8 μM and 14.1 μM, respectively), corresponding to selectivity indices of ca. 75 and 280, respectively. NO generation by the PPT-furoxan compounds in PC3 cells was confirmed using the Griess reaction. Furthermore, the cell growth inhibitory effect of 9 was significantly attenuated by the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO. The intracellular ROS generation by 7 and 9 was also verified, and different assays showed that co-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) provided protection against PPT-induced ROS generation. Further mechanistic studies revealed that 7 and 9 had strong cytotoxicity to induce apoptosis in PC3 cells, being mediated, at least in part, by the NO-release and increase in ROS production. Notably, the ability of 9 to induce apoptosis was stronger than that of 7, which may be attributed to higher levels of NO released by 9. Compounds 7 and 9 modulated the expression profiles of critical regulators of cell cycle, such as CDKN1A (p21), c-MYC, and CCND1 (cyclin D1), as well as induced DNA damage. Overall, tethering the furoxan NO-releasing moiety to the cytotoxic natural product PPT had significant impact on the potential anticancer activity and selectivity of the novel hybrid drug candidates, especially 9, as a result of synergistic effects of both furoxan and PPT's ability to release NO, generate ROS, induce DNA damage, and trigger apoptosis.

Targeting ROS-sensing Nrf2 potentiates anti-tumor immunity of intratumoral CD8+ T and CAR-T cells

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a crucial role in cancer rejection. However, CTLs encounter dysfunction and exhaustion in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Although the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-rich TME attenuates CTL function, the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related 2 (Nrf2) is the ROS-responsible factor implicated in increasing susceptibility to cancer progression. Therefore, we examined how Nrf2 is involved in anti-tumor responses of CD8+ T and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in the ROS-rich TME. Here, we demonstrated that tumor growth in Nrf2-/- mice was significantly controlled and was reversed by T cell depletion and further confirmed that Nrf2 deficiency in T cells promotes anti-tumor responses using an adoptive transfer model of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Nrf2-deficient CTLs are resistant to ROS, and their effector functions are sustained in the TME. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown in human CAR-T cells enhanced the survival and function of intratumoral CAR-T cells in a solid tumor xenograft model and effectively controlled tumor growth. ROS-sensing Nrf2 inhibits the anti-tumor T cell responses, indicating that Nrf2 may be a potential target for T cell immunotherapy strategies against solid tumors.

Regulation of NLRPs by reactive oxygen species: A story of crosstalk

The nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors containing pyrin (NLRP) family of cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors play an integral role in host defense following exposure to a diverse set of pathogenic and sterile threats. The canonical event following ligand recognition is the formation of a heterooligomeric signaling complex termed the inflammasome that produces pro-inflammatory cytokines. Dysregulation of this process is associated with many autoimmune, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the range of activating stimuli which affect varied cell types, recent literature makes evident that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are integral to the initiation and propagation of inflammasome signaling. Notably, ROS production and inflammasome activation act in a positive feedback loop to promote this potent immune response. While NLRP3 is by far the most extensively studied NLRP, there is also sufficient literature to make these conclusions for other NLRPs family members. In all cases, a knowledge gap exists regarding the molecular targets and effects of ROS. Future research to define these targets and to parse the order and timing of ROS-mediated NLRP activation will provide meaningful insights into inflammasome biology. This will create novel therapeutic opportunities for the numerous illnesses that are impacted by inflammasome activity.

Pharmacological profile of dicaffeoylquinic acids and their role in the treatment of respiratory diseases

Dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) are polyphenolic compounds found in various medicinal plants such as Echinacea species and Hedera helix, whose multi-constituent extracts are used worldwide to treat respiratory diseases. Besides triterpenes, saponins, alkamides, and other constituents, DCQAs are an important group of substances for the pharmacological activity of plant-derived extracts. Therefore, the pharmacological properties of DCQAs have been studied over the last decades, suggesting antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the beneficial pharmacological profile of DCQAs has not yet been linked to their use in treating respiratory diseases such as acute or even chronic bronchitis. The aim of this review was to assess the potential of DCQAs for respiratory indications based on published in vitro and in vivo pharmacological and pre-clinical data, with particular focus on antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and respiratory-related effects such as antitussive or antispasmodic properties. A respective literature search revealed a large number of publications on the six DCQA isoforms. Based on this search, a focus was placed on 1,3-, 3,4-, 3,5-, and 4,5-DCQA, as the publications focused mainly on these isomers. Based on the available pre-clinical data, DCQAs trigger cellular mechanisms that are important in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as decreasing NF-κB activation, reducing oxidative stress, or activating the Nrf2 pathway. Taken together, these data suggest an essential role for DCQAs within herbal medicines used for the treatment of respiratory diseases and highlights the need for the identifications of DCQAs as lead substances within such extracts.

Impact of a tailored exercise regimen on physical capacity and plasma proteome profile in post-COVID-19 condition

Background

Individuals affected by the post-covid condition (PCC) show an increased fatigue and the so-called post-exertion malaise (PEM) that led health professionals to advise against exercise although accumulating evidence indicates the contrary. The goal of this study is to determine the impact of a closely monitored 8-week mixed exercise program on physical capacity, symptoms, fatigue, systemic oxidative stress and plasma proteomic profiles of PCC cases.

Methods

Twenty-five women and men with PCC were assigned sequentially to exercise (n = 15) and non-exercise (n = 10) groups. Individuals with no PCC served as a control group. The exercise program included cardiovascular and resistance exercises. Physical capacity, physical activity level and the presence of common PCC symptoms were measured before and after the intervention. Fatigue was measured the day following each exercise session. Plasma and PBMC samples were collected at the beginning and end of the training program. Glutathione and deoxyguanosine levels in PBMC and plasma proteomic profiles were evaluated.

Results

Bicep Curl (+15% vs 4%; p = 0.040) and Sit-to-Stand test (STS-30 (+31% vs +11%; p = 0.043)) showed improvement in the exercise group when compared to the non-exercise group. An interaction effect was also observed for the level of physical activity (p =0.007) with a positive effect of the program on their daily functioning and without any adverse effects on general or post-effort fatigue. After exercise, glutathione levels in PBMCs increased in women but remained unchanged in men. Discernable changes were observed in the plasma proteomics profile with certain proteins involved in inflammatory response decreasing in the exercise group.

Conclusions

Supervised exercise adapted to the level of fatigue and ability is safe and effective in PCC patients in improving their general physical capacity and wellbeing. Systemic molecular markers that accompany physical improvement can be monitored by analyzing plasma proteomics and markers of oxidative stress. Large-scale studies will help identify promising molecular markers to objectively monitor patient improvement.

The mechanism of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α enhancing the transcriptional activity of transferrin ferroportin 1 and regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in ferroptosis after cerebral ischemic injury

Cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury has high disability and morbidity. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) may enhance the transcriptional activity of transferrin ferroportin 1 (FPN1) in regulating ferroptosis after cerebral ischemia injury (CII). In this study, cerebral I/R injury rat models were established and treated with pcDNA3.1-HIF-1α, pcDNA3.1-NC lentiviral plasmid, or ML385 (a specific Nrf2 inhibitor). Additionally, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) exposed PC12 cells were used as an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia and treated with pcDNA3.1-HIF-1α, si-FPN1, or ML385. The results elicited that cerebral I/R injury rats exhibited increased Longa scores, TUNEL and NeuN co-positive cells, Fe2+ concentration, ROS and HIF-1α levels, and MDA content, while reduced cell density and number, GSH content, and GPX4 protein level. Morphologically abnormal and disordered hippocampal neurons were also observed in CII rats. HIF-1α inhibited brain neuron ferroptosis and ameliorated I/R injury. HIF-1α alleviated OGD-induced PC12 cell ferroptosis. OGD/R decreased FPN1 protein level in PC12 cells, and HIF-1α enhanced FPN1 transcriptional activity. FPN1 knockdown reversed HIF-1α-mediated alleviation of OGD/R-induced ferroptosis. HIF-1α activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway by enhancing FPN1 expression and alleviating OGD/R-induced ferroptosis. Conjointly, HIF-1α enhanced the transcriptional activity of FPN1, activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and inhibited ferroptosis of brain neurons, thereby improving I/R injury in CII rats.

The SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin ameliorates renal fibrosis in hyperuricemic nephropathy

Hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) is a global metabolic disorder characterized by uric acid (UA) metabolism dysfunction, resulting in hyperuricemia (HUA) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF). Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, has shown potential in reducing serum UA levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), though its protective effects against HN remain uncertain. This study investigates the functional, pathological, and molecular changes in HN through histological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses in patients, HN mice, and UA-stimulated HK-2 cells. Findings indicate UA-induced tubular dysfunction and fibrotic activation, which dapagliflozin significantly mitigates. Transcriptomic analysis identifies estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), a downregulated transcription factor in HN. ERRα knockin mice and ERRα-overexpressed HK-2 cells demonstrate UA resistance, while ERRα inhibition exacerbates UA effects. Dapagliflozin targets ERRα, activating the ERRα-organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) axis to enhance UA excretion and reduce TIF. Furthermore, dapagliflozin ameliorates renal fibrosis in non-HN CKD models, underscoring the therapeutic significance of the ERRα-OAT1 axis in HN and CKD.

Vorinostat Treatment of Gastric Cancer Cells Leads to ROS-Induced Cell Inhibition and a Complex Pattern of Molecular Alterations in Nrf2-Dependent Genes

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) show high antineoplastic potential in preclinical studies in various solid tumors, including gastric carcinoma; however, their use in clinical studies has not yet yielded convincing efficacies. Thus, further studies on cellular/molecular effects of HDACi are needed, for improving clinical efficacy and identifying suitable combination partners. Here, we investigated the role of oxidative stress in gastric cancer cells upon treatment with HDACi. A particular focus was laid on the role of the Nrf2 pathway, which can mediate resistance to cell-inhibitory effects of reactive oxidative species (ROS). Using fluorescence-based ROS sensors, oxidative stress was measured in human gastric cancer cell lines. Activation of the Nrf2 pathway was monitored in luciferase reporter assays as well as by mRNA and proteomic expression analyses of Nrf2 regulators and Nrf2-induced genes. Furthermore, the effects of ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and Nrf2-knockdown on HDACi-dependent antiproliferative effects were investigated in colorimetric formazan-based and clonogenic survival assays. HDACi treatment led to increased oxidative stress levels and consequently, treatment with NAC reduced cytotoxicity of HDACi. In addition, vorinostat treatment stimulated expression of a luciferase reporter under the control of an antioxidative response element, indicating activation of the Nrf2 system. This Nrf2 activation was only partially reversible by treatment with NAC, suggesting ROS independent pathways to contribute to HDACi-promoted Nrf2 activation. In line with its cytoprotective role, Nrf2 knockdown led to a sensitization against HDACi. Accordingly, the expression of antioxidant and detoxifying Nrf2 target genes was upregulated upon HDACi treatment. In conclusion, oxidative stress induction upon HDAC inhibition contributes to the antitumor effects of HDAC inhibitors, and activation of Nrf2 represents a potentially important adaptive response of gastric cancer cells in this context.

The Antinociceptive Role of Nrf2 in Neuropathic Pain: From Mechanisms to Clinical Perspectives

Neuropathic pain, a chronic condition resulting from nerve injury or dysfunction, presents significant therapeutic challenges and is closely associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, a critical cellular defense mechanism against oxidative stress, has emerged as a promising target for neuropathic pain management. Nrf2 modulators enhance the expression of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, thereby reducing oxidative damage, inflammation, and mitochondrial impairment. This review explores the antinociceptive effects of Nrf2, highlighting how pharmacological agents and natural compounds may be used as potential therapeutic strategies against neuropathic pain. Although preclinical studies demonstrate significant pain reduction and improved nerve function through Nrf2 activation, several clinical challenges need to be addressed. However, emerging clinical evidence suggests potential benefits of Nrf2 modulators in several conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. Future research should focus on further elucidating the molecular role of Nrf2 in neuropathic pain to optimize its modulation efficacy and maximize clinical utility.

Time of day differences in the regulation of glutathione levels in the rat lens

Introduction

Evidence in non-ocular tissues indicate that the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) may be regulated in a circadian manner leading to the idea that GSH levels in the lens may also be controlled in a circadian manner to anticipate periods of oxidative stress.

Methods

Male rat Wistar lenses (6 weeks) were collected every 4 hours over a 24-hour period at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm and 2am and quantitative-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry performed to examine the expression of core clock genes and proteins (BMAL1, CLOCK, CRY1-2, PER 1-3) and their subcellular localisation over a 24-hour period. Western blotting of lenses was also performed to examine the expression of NRF2, a transcription factor involved in regulating genes involved in GSH homeostasis and GSH related enzymes (GCLC, GS and GR) over the 24-hour period. Finally, HLPC was used to measure GSH levels in the aqueous humour and lenses every 4 hours over a 24-hour period.

Results

The rat lens contains the core molecular components of a circadian clock with the expression of core clock proteins, NRF2 and GSH related enzymes fluctuating over a 24-hour period. BMAL1 expression was highest during the day, with BMAL1 localised to the nuclei at 10am. NRF2 expression remained constant over the 24-hour period, although appeared to move in and out of the nuclei every 4 hours. GSH related enzyme expression tended to peak at the start of night which correlated with high levels of GSH in the lens and lower levels of GSH in the aqueous humour.

Conclusion

The lens contains the key components of a circadian clock, and time-of-day differences exist in the expression of GSH and GSH related enzymes involved in maintaining GSH homeostasis. GSH levels in the rat lens were highest at the start of night which represents the active phase of the rat when high GSH levels may be required to counteract oxidative stress induced by cellular metabolism. Future work to directly link the clock to regulation of GSH levels in the lens will be important in determining whether the clock can be used to help restore GSH levels in the lens.

Progress on the Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Structure-Efficacy Relationship of Polysaccharides from Medical and Edible Homologous Traditional Chinese Medicines

Medicinal food varieties developed according to the theory of medical and edible homologues are effective at preventing and treating chronic diseases and in health care. As of 2022, 110 types of traditional Chinese medicines from the same source of medicine and food have been published by the National Health Commission. Inflammation is the immune system's first response to injury, infection, and stress. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Therefore, timely intervention for inflammation is the mainstay treatment for other complex diseases. However, some traditional anti-inflammatory drugs on the market are commonly associated with a number of adverse effects, which seriously affect the health and safety of patients. Therefore, the in-depth development of new safe, harmless, and effective anti-inflammatory drugs has become a hot topic of research and an urgent clinical need. Polysaccharides, one of the main active ingredients of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines (MEHTCMs), have been confirmed by a large number of studies to exert anti-inflammatory effects through multiple targets and are considered potential natural anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the structure of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines' polysaccharides (MEHTCMPs) may be the key factor determining their anti-inflammatory activity, which makes the underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides and their structure-efficacy relationship hot topics of domestic and international research. However, due to the limitations of the current analytical techniques and tools, the structures have not been fully elucidated and the structure-efficacy relationship is relatively ambiguous, which are some of the difficulties in the process of developing and utilizing MEHTCMPs as novel anti-inflammatory drugs in the future. For this reason, this paper summarizes the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MEHTCMPs, such as the regulation of the Toll-like receptor-related signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NLRP3 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR-γ signaling pathway, Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway, and the regulation of intestinal flora, and it systematically analyzes and evaluates the relationships between the anti-inflammatory activity of MEHTCMPs and their structures.

Protective function of albiflorin against ferroptosis in exhaustive exerciseinduced myocardial injury via the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling

PURPOSE

It has been reported that exhaustive exercise (EE) causes myocyte injury, and eventually damages the function of the myocardia. Albiflorin (AF) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptosis effects. In this study, we determined whether AF could mitigate the EE-induced myocardial injury and research the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

The rat model of EE was built by forced treadmill running method. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with AF before EE once daily for one week. The relative factors levels were examined by commercial kits. The apoptosis was appraised using a TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay kit. The ACSL4, GPX4, Nrf2, pAKT/AKT, and HO-1 contents were assessed by western blot.

RESULTS

AF lessened EE-induced cardiac myocytes ischemic/hypoxic injury and reduced the contents of myocardial injury biomarkers in the serum. AF lessened EE-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in myocardial tissues. However, the influences of AF were overturned by the co-treatment of AF and LY294002. AF activated the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in myocardial tissues in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

AF could curb cardiac myocytes ferroptosis, thus diminishing the EE-induced myocardial injury through activating the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 cascade.

Preclinical efficacy of oral and nasal rivastigmine-loaded chitosan nano-particles on AlCl3-induced Alzheimer's-like disease in rats

The successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still a big challenge. Rivastigmine is one of the most used drugs for the treatment of AD. The short half-life, lower bioavailability, and less concentration of the drug in the brain after oral delivery are considered the main drawbacks of rivastigmine. To improve these drawbacks, nanostructure-mediated drug delivery has gained more attention. This study investigates the effect of rivastigmine-loaded in optimized chitosan nano-particles (RS-CSNPs) as polymeric nano-carriers by different administration routes (oral and intranasal) on aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer-like disease in rat. The model was established by giving rats 100 mg/kg/b.wt of AlCl3 orally for 3 months. Then the experimental rats were treated with RS-CSNPs either orally or intranasally for 75 days. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry of Tau expression in brain tissue, and gene expression of Caspase-3, NF-κB, and Nrf-2 were carried out. The therapeutic agents used decreased the alterations observed in AlCl3 group with improvement in the neuronal viability. In addition to low expression of tau protein, down-regulation of caspase-3 and NF-κB genes and up-regulation of Nrf-2. RS-CSNPs alleviated the progression of AD presumably via blocking the inflammatory cascade and decreasing the oxidative stress process. The intranasal route is superior to the oral one and promising in AD management.

Xanthoxylin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury through Modulation of Akt/HIF-1α/NF-κB and Nrf2 Pathways

Xanthoxylin, a bioactive phenolic compound extracted from the traditional herbal medicine Penthorum Chinense Pursh, is renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects. While previous studies have highlighted the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Xanthoxylin, its precise mechanisms, particularly concerning immune response and organ protection, remain underexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Xanthoxylin on inflammation and associated signaling pathways in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). ALI was induced via intratracheal administration of LPS, followed by intraperitoneal injections of Xanthoxylin at doses of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, administered 30 min post-LPS exposure. Lung tissues were harvested for analysis 6 h after LPS challenge. Xanthoxylin treatment significantly mitigated lung tissue damage, pathological alterations, immune cell infiltration, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, Xanthoxylin modulated the expression of key proteins in the protein kinase B (Akt)/hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, as well as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and oxidative markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the context of LPS-induced injury. This study demonstrates that Xanthoxylin exerts protective and anti-inflammatory effects by down-regulating and inhibiting the Akt/HIF-1α/NF-κB pathways, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of ALI or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The Bioactive Gamma-Oryzanol from Oryza sativa L. Promotes Neuronal Differentiation in Different In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Gamma-oryzanol (ORY), found in rice (Oryza sativa L.), is a mixture of ferulic acid esters with triterpene alcohols, well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Our past research demonstrated its positive impact on cognitive function in adult mice, influencing synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection. In this study, we explored whether ORY can exert neuro-differentiating effects by using different experimental models. For this purpose, chemical characterization identified four components that are most abundant in ORY. In human neuroblastoma cells, we showed ORY's ability to stimulate neurite outgrowth, upregulating the expression of GAP43, BDNF, and TrkB genes. In addition, ORY was found to guide adult mouse hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) toward a neuronal commitment. Microinjection of ORY in zebrafish Tg (-3.1 neurog1:GFP) amplified neurog1-GFP signal, islet1, and bdnf mRNA levels. Zebrafish nrf2a and nrf2b morphants (MOs) were utilized to assess ORY effects in the presence or absence of Nrf2. Notably, ORY's ability to activate bdnf was nullified in nrf2a-MO and nrf2b-MO. Furthermore, computational analysis suggested ORY's single components have different affinities for the Keap1-Kelch domain. In conclusion, although more in-depth studies are needed, our findings position ORY as a potential source of bioactive molecules with neuro-differentiating potential involving the Nrf2 pathway.

Identification of a novel aromatic-turmerone analog that activates chaperone-mediated autophagy through the persistent activation of p38

Introduction: Aromatic (Ar)-turmerone is a bioactive component of turmeric oil obtained from Curcuma longa. We recently identified a novel analog (A2) of ar-turmerone that protects dopaminergic neurons from toxic stimuli by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). D-cysteine increases Nrf2, leading to the activation of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a pathway in the autophagy-lysosome protein degradation system, in primary cultured cerebellar Purkinje cells. In this study, we attempted to identify novel analogs of ar-turmerone that activate Nrf2 more potently and investigated whether these analogs activate CMA. Methods: Four novel analogs (A4-A7) from A2 were synthesized. We investigated the effects of A2 and novel 4 analogs on Nrf2 expression via immunoblotting and CMA activity via fluorescence observation. Results: Although all analogs, including A2, increased Nrf2 expression, only A4 activated CMA in SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, A4-mediated CMA activation was not reversed by Nrf2 inhibition, indicating that A4 activated CMA via mechanisms other than Nrf2 activation. We focused on p38, which participates in CMA activation. Inhibition of p38 significantly prevented A4-mediated activation of CMA. Although all novel analogs significantly increased the phosphorylation of p38 6 h after drug treatment, only A4 significantly increased phosphorylation 24 h after treatment. Finally, we revealed that A4 protected SH-SY5Y cells from the cytotoxicity of rotenone, and that this protection was reversed by inhibiting p38. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the novel ar-turmerone analog, A4, activates CMA and protects SH-SY5Y cells through the persistent activation of p38.

Mechanisms of mitophagy and oxidative stress in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease

Neurological diseases have consistently represented a significant challenge in both clinical treatment and scientific research. As research has progressed, the significance of mitochondria in the pathogenesis and progression of neurological diseases has become increasingly prominent. Mitochondria serve not only as a source of energy, but also as regulators of cellular growth and death. Both oxidative stress and mitophagy are intimately associated with mitochondria, and there is mounting evidence that mitophagy and oxidative stress exert a pivotal regulatory influence on the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the prevalence of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI), vascular dementia (VaD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), which collectively represent a significant public health concern. Reduced levels of mitophagy have been observed in CI/RI, VaD and AD. The improvement of associated pathology has been demonstrated through the increase of mitophagy levels. CI/RI results in cerebral tissue ischemia and hypoxia, which causes oxidative stress, disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and damage to the cerebral vasculature. The BBB disruption and cerebral vascular injury may induce or exacerbate VaD to some extent. In addition, inadequate cerebral perfusion due to vascular injury or altered function may exacerbate the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) thereby contributing to or exacerbating AD pathology. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA; alteplase) and endovascular thrombectomy are effective treatments for stroke. However, there is a narrow window of opportunity for the administration of tPA and thrombectomy, which results in a markedly elevated incidence of disability among patients with CI/RI. It is regrettable that there are currently no there are still no specific drugs for VaD and AD. Despite the availability of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinical first-line drugs for AD, including memantine, donepezil hydrochloride, and galantamine, these agents do not fundamentally block the pathological process of AD. In this paper, we undertake a review of the mechanisms of mitophagy and oxidative stress in neurological disorders, a summary of the clinical trials conducted in recent years, and a proposal for a new strategy for targeted treatment of neurological disorders based on both mitophagy and oxidative stress.

Metabolic and Oxidative Stress Management Heterogeneity in a Panel of Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Metabolic alterations are recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer. Among these, alterations in mitochondrial function have been associated with an enhanced production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which activate ROS-regulated cancer cell signaling pathways. Breast cancer is the main cancer-related cause of death for women globally. It is a heterogeneous disease with subtypes characterized by specific molecular features and patient outcomes. With the purpose of identifying differences in energy metabolism and the oxidative stress management system in non-tumorigenic, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and triple negative (TN) breast cancer cells, we evaluated ROS production, protein enzyme levels and activities and profiled energy metabolism. We found differences in energetic metabolism and ROS management systems between non-tumorigenic and cancer cells and between ER+ and TN breast cancer cells. Our results indicate a dependence on glycolysis despite different glycolytic ATP levels in all cancer cell lines tested. In addition, our data show that high levels of ROS in TN cells are a result of limited antioxidant capacity in the NADPH producing and GSH systems, mitochondrial dysfunction and non-mitochondrial ROS production, making them more sensitive to GSH synthesis inhibitors. Our data suggest that metabolic and antioxidant profiling of breast cancer will provide important targets for metabolic inhibitors or antioxidant treatments for breast cancer therapy.

Proximate Composition, Health Benefits, and Food Applications in Bakery Products of Purple-Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) and Its By-Products: A Comprehensive Review

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam is a dicotyledonous plant originally from tropical regions, with China and Spain acting as the main producers from outside and within the EU, respectively. The root, including only flesh, is the edible part, and the peel, leaves, stems, or shoots are considered by-products, which are generated due to being discarded in the field and during processing. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a comprehensive review of the nutritional value, phytochemical composition, and health-promoting activities of purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products, which lead to its potential applications in bakery products for the development of functional foods. The methodology is applied to the selected topic and is used to conduct the search, review abstracts and full texts, and discuss the results using different general databases. The studies suggested that purple-fleshed sweet potato parts are characterized by a high content of essential minerals and bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins belonging to the cyanidin or the peonidin type. The flesh and leaves are also high in phenolic compounds and carotenoids such as lutein and β-carotene. The high content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins provides the purple-fleshed sweet potato with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power due to the modulation effect of the transcription factor Nrf2 and NF-kB translocation, which may lead to protection against hepatic and neurological disorders, among others. Furthermore, purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products can play a dual role in food applications due to its attractive color and wide range of biological activities which enhance its nutritional profile. As a result, it is essential to harness the potential of the purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products that are generated during its processing through an appropriate agro-industrial valorization system.

Disentangling cell-intrinsic and extrinsic factors underlying evolution

A key goal of developmental biology is to determine the extent to which cells and organs develop autonomously, as opposed to requiring interactions with other cells or environmental factors. Chimeras have played a foundational role in this by enabling qualitative classification of cell-intrinsically vs. extrinsically driven processes. Here, we extend this framework to precisely decompose evolutionary divergence in any quantitative trait into cell-intrinsic, extrinsic, and intrinsic-extrinsic interaction components. Applying this framework to thousands of gene expression levels in reciprocal rat-mouse chimeras, we found that the majority of their divergence is attributable to cell-intrinsic factors, though extrinsic factors also play an integral role. For example, a rat-like extracellular environment extrinsically up-regulates the expression of a key transcriptional regulator of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in some but not all cell types, which in turn strongly predicts extrinsic up-regulation of its target genes and of the ER stress response pathway as a whole. This effect is also seen at the protein level, suggesting propagation through multiple regulatory levels. Applying our framework to a cellular trait, neuronal differentiation, revealed a complex interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Finally, we show that imprinted genes are dramatically mis-expressed in species-mismatched environments, suggesting that mismatch between rapidly evolving intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms controlling gene imprinting may contribute to barriers to interspecies chimerism. Overall, our conceptual framework opens new avenues to investigate the mechanistic basis of developmental processes and evolutionary divergence across myriad quantitative traits in any multicellular organism.

Nrf2 Signaling Pathway: Focus on Oxidative Stress in Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious, disabling injury to the central nervous system that can lead to motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction below the injury plane. SCI can be divided into primary injury and secondary injury according to its pathophysiological process. Primary injury is irreversible in most cases, while secondary injury is a dynamic regulatory process. Secondary injury involves a series of pathological events, such as ischemia, oxidative stress, inflammatory events, apoptotic pathways, and motor dysfunction. Among them, oxidative stress is an important pathological event of secondary injury. Oxidative stress causes a series of destructive events such as lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, inflammation, and cell death, which further worsens the microenvironment of the injured site and leads to neurological dysfunction. The nuclear factor erythrocyte 2-associated factor 2 (Nrf2) is considered to be a key pathway of antioxidative stress and is closely related to the pathological process of SCI. Activation of this pathway can effectively inhibit the oxidative stress process and promote the recovery of nerve function after SCI. Therefore, the Nrf2 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for SCI. This review deeply analyzed the generation of oxidative stress in SCI, the role and mechanism of Nrf2 as the main regulator of antioxidant stress in SCI, and the influence of cross-talk between Nrf2 and related pathways that may be involved in the pathological regulation of SCI on oxidative stress, and summarized the drugs and other treatment methods based on Nrf2 pathway regulation. The objective of this paper is to provide evidence for the role of Nrf2 activation in SCI and to highlight the important role of Nrf2 in alleviating SCI by elucidating the mechanism, so as to provide a theoretical basis for targeting Nrf2 pathway as a therapy for SCI.

Inhibition of FSP1: A new strategy for the treatment of tumors (Review)

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, is intricately linked to iron‑dependent lipid peroxidation. Recent evidence strongly supports the induction of ferroptosis as a promising strategy for treating cancers resistant to conventional therapies. A key player in ferroptosis regulation is ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1), which promotes cancer cell resistance by promoting the production of the antioxidant form of coenzyme Q10. Of note, FSP1 confers resistance to ferroptosis independently of the glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase‑4 pathway. Therefore, targeting FSP1 to weaken its inhibition of ferroptosis may be a viable strategy for treating refractory cancer. This review aims to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis, the specific pathway by which FSP1 suppresses ferroptosis and the effect of FSP1 inhibitors on cancer cells.

Exploring the therapeutic effects of sulforaphane: an in-depth review on endoplasmic reticulum stress modulation across different disease contexts

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an intracellular organelle that contributes to the folding of proteins and calcium homeostasis. Numerous elements can disrupt its function, leading to the accumulation of proteins that are unfolded or misfolded in the lumen of the ER, a condition that is known as ER stress. This phenomenon can trigger cell death through the activation of apoptosis and inflammation. Glucoraphanin (GRA) is the predominant glucosinolate found in cruciferous vegetables. Various mechanical and biochemical processes activate the enzyme myrosinase, leading to the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin into the bioactive compound sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is an organosulfur compound that belongs to the isothiocyanate group. It possesses a wide range of activities and has shown remarkable potential as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-angiogenic substance. Additionally, sulforaphane is resistant to oxidation, has been demonstrated to have low toxicity, and is considered well-tolerable in individuals. These properties make it a valuable natural dietary supplement for research purposes. Sulforaphane has been demonstrated as a potential candidate drug molecule for managing a range of diseases, primarily because of its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, which can be mediated by modulation of ER stress pathways. This review seeks to cover a wealth of data supporting the broad range of protective functions of sulforaphane, improving various diseases, such as cardiovascular, central nervous system, liver, eye, and reproductive diseases, as well as diabetes, cancer, gastroenteritis, and osteoarthritis, through the amelioration of ER stress in both in vivo and in vitro studies.

Unraveling the mechanistic interplay of mediators orchestrating the neuroprotective potential of harmine

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) encompass a range of conditions characterized by the specific dysfunction and continual decline of neurons, glial cells, and neural networks within the brain and spinal cord. The majority of NDDs exhibit similar underlying causes, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and malfunctioning of mitochondria. Elevated levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), alongside decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glutamate transporter subtype 1 (GLT-1), constitute significant factors contributing to the pathogenesis of NDDs. Additionally, the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1 A (DYRK1A) gene has emerged as a significant target for the treatment of NDDs at the preclinical level. It significantly contributes to developmental brain defects, early onset neurodegeneration, neuronal loss, and dementia in Down syndrome. Moreover, an impaired ubiquitin-proteosome system (UPS) also plays a pathological role in NDDs. Malfunctioning of UPS leads to abnormal protein buildup or aggregation of α-synuclein. α-Synuclein is a highly soluble unfolded protein that accumulates in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. Recent research highlights the promising potential of natural products in combating NDDs relative to conventional therapies. Alkaloids have emerged as promising candidates in the fight against NDDs. Harmine is a tricyclic β-carboline alkaloid (harmala alkaloid) with one indole nucleus and a six-membered pyrrole ring. It is extracted from Banisteria caapi and Peganum harmala L. and exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, encompassing neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, etc. Harmine has been reported to mediate its neuroprotective via reducing the level of inflammatory mediators, NADPH oxidase, AChE, BChE and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, it has been observed to increase the levels of BDNF, GLT-1 and anti-oxidant enzymes, along with protein kinase-A (PKA)-mediated UPS activation. This review aims to discuss the mechanistic interplay of various mediators involved in the neuroprotective effect of harmine.

Mitochondria in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Mitophagy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid β and phosphorylated τ protein aggregates in the brain, which leads to the loss of neurons. Under the microscope, the function of mitochondria is uniquely primed to play a pivotal role in neuronal cell survival, energy metabolism, and cell death. Research studies indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction, excessive oxidative damage, and defective mitophagy in neurons are early indicators of AD. This review article summarizes the latest development of mitochondria in AD: 1) disease mechanism pathways, 2) the importance of mitochondria in neuronal functions, 3) metabolic pathways and functions, 4) the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy mechanisms in AD, and 5) the development of potential mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics and interventions to treat patients with AD.

Oxidative Stress-induced Hormonal Disruption in Male Reproduction

Research into the impacts of oxidative stress (OS), and hormonal balance on reproductive potential has increased over the last 40 years possibly due to rising male infertility. Decreased antioxidant levels and increased OS in tissues result from hormonal imbalance, which in turn leads to male infertility. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in seminal plasma has been linked to many lifestyle factors such as alcohol and tobacco use, toxicant exposure, obesity, varicocele, stress, and aging. This article provides an overview of the crosslink between OS and gonadal hormone disruption, as well as a potential mode of action in male infertility. Disrupting the equilibrium between ROS generation and the antioxidant defense mechanism in the male reproductive system may affect key hormonal regulators of male reproductive activities. Unchecked ROS production may cause direct injury on reproductive tissues or could disrupt normal regulatory mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and its interaction with other endocrine axes, both of which have negative effects on male reproductive health and can lead to male infertility.

Uncovering the impact of alcohol on internal organs and reproductive health: Exploring TLR4/NF-kB and CYP2E1/ROS/Nrf2 pathways

This review delves into the detrimental impact of alcohol consumption on internal organs and reproductive health, elucidating the underlying mechanisms involving the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) pathway and the Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)/reactive oxygen species (ROS)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways. The TLR4/NF-kB pathway, crucial for inflammatory and immune responses, triggers the production of pro-inflammatory agents and type-1 interferon, disrupting the balance between inflammatory and antioxidant responses when tissues are chronically exposed to alcohol. Alcohol-induced dysbiosis in gut microbes heightens gut wall permeability to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), leading to liver cell infection and subsequent inflammation. Concurrently, CYP2E1-mediated alcohol metabolism generates ROS, causing oxidative stress and damaging cells, lipids, proteins, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). To counteract this inflammatory imbalance, Nrf2 regulates gene expression, inhibiting inflammatory progression and promoting antioxidant responses. Excessive alcohol intake results in elevated liver enzymes (ADH, CYP2E1, and catalase), ROS, NADH, acetaldehyde, and acetate, leading to damage in vital organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs. Moreover, alcohol negatively affects reproductive health by inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, causing infertility in both men and women. These findings underscore the profound health concerns associated with alcohol-induced damage, emphasizing the need for public awareness regarding the intricate interplay between immune responses and the multi-organ impacts of alcohol consumption.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency mouse model by suppressing ferritinophagy-mediated ferroptosis in granulosa cells

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in younger women (under 40) manifests as irregular periods, high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and low estradiol (E2), often triggered by chemotherapy. Though mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy shows promise in treating POI, its exact mechanism remains unclear. This study reveals that human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) can protect ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) from cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by iron accumulation. CTX, commonly used to induce POI animal model, triggered ferroptosis in GCs, while hUC-MSCs treatment mitigated this effect, both in vivo and in vitro. Further investigations using ferroptosis and autophagy inhibitors suggest that hUC-MSCs act by suppressing ferroptosis in GCs. Interestingly, hUC-MSCs activate a protective antioxidant pathway in GCs via NRF2, a stress-response regulator. Overall, our findings suggest that hUC-MSCs improve ovarian function in CTX-induced POI by reducing ferroptosis in GCs. This study not only clarifies the mechanism behind the benefits of hUC-MSCs but also strengthens the case for their clinical use in treating POI. Additionally, it opens up a new avenue for protecting ovaries from chemotherapy-induced damage by regulating ferroptosis.

Transgenerational hormesis in healthy aging and antiaging medicine from bench to clinics: Role of food components

Neurodegenerative diseases have multifactorial pathogenesis, mainly involving neuroinflammatory processes. Finding drugs able to treat these diseases, expecially because for most of these diseases there are no effective drugs, and the current drugs cause undesired side effects, represent a crucial point. Most in vivo and in vitro studies have been concentrated on various aspects related to neurons (e.g. neuroprotection), however, there has not been focus on the prevention of early stages involving glial cell activation and neuroinflammation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that nutritional phytochemicals including polyphenols, the main active constituents of the Mediterranean diet, maintain redox balance and neuroprotection through the activation of hormetic vitagene pathway. Recent lipidomics data from our laboratory indicate mushrooms as strong nutritional neuronutrients with strongly activity against neuroinflammation in Meniere' diseaseas, a model of cochleovestibular neural degeneration, as well as in animal model of traumatic brain injury, or rotenone induced parkinson's disease. Moreover, Hidrox®, an aqueous extract of olive containing hydroxytyrosol, and Boswellia, acting as Nrf2 activators, promote resilience by enhancing the redox potential, and thus, regulate through hormetic mechanisms, cellular stress response mechanisms., Thus, modulation of cellular stress pathways, in particular vitagenes system, may be an innovative approach for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders.

Penfluridol regulates p62 / Keap1 / Nrf2 signaling pathway to induce ferroptosis in osteosarcoma cells

The cure rate for patients with osteosarcoma (OS) has stagnated over the past few decades. Penfluridol, a first-generation antipsychotic, has demonstrated to prevent lung and esophageal malignancies from proliferation and metastasis. However, the effect of penfluridol on OS and its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study revealed that penfluridol effectively inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and induced G2/M phase arrest in OS cells. In addition, penfluridol treatment was found to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in OS cells. Combined with the RNA-Seq results, the anti-OS effect of penfluridol was hypothesized to be attributed to the induction of ferroptosis. Western blot results showed that penfluridol promoted intracellular Fe2+ concentration, membrane lipid peroxidation, and decreased intracellular GSH level to induce ferroptosis. Further studies showed that p62/Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway was implicated in penfluridol-induced ferroptosis in OS cells. Overexpression of p62 effectively reversed penfluridol-induced ferroptosis. In vivo, penfluridol effectively inhibited proliferation and prolonged survival in xenograft tumor model. Therefore, penfluridol is a promising drug targeting OS in the future.

High-fat diet elicits sex-based differences in liver inflammatory cytokines and redox homeostasis

Sex differences in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have been reported. Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the progression of MASLD. Thus, we aimed to evaluate liver redox homeostasis and inflammation in male and female rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male and female Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: standard chow diet (SCD) or HFD during 12 weeks. HFD groups of both sexes had higher hepatocyte injury, with no differences between the sexes. Portal space liver inflammation was higher in females-HFD compared to females-SCD, whereas no differences were observed in males. Lobular inflammation and overall liver inflammation were higher in HFD groups, regardless of sex. TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels were higher in males-HFD compared to males-SCD, but no differences were observed in females. Catalase activity was higher in males compared to females, with no differences between the SCD and HFD groups of both sexes. Glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in females compared to males, with no differences between the SCD and HFD groups in both sexes. Lipid peroxidation was higher in female-SCD when compared to male-SCD, and in both male- and female-HFD compared to SCD groups. Furthermore, both cytoplasmic and nuclear NRF2 staining were lower in the HFD group compared to the SCD group in males. However, female-HFD exhibited reduced nuclear NRF2 staining compared to the female-SCD group. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that while both male and female rats developed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis after 12 weeks of HFD, the alterations in inflammatory cytokines and redox balance were sexually dimorphic.

Molecular mechanisms underlying cyclophosphamide-induced cognitive impairment and strategies for neuroprotection in preclinical models

Cyclophosphamide has drastically enhanced the expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. However, it is accompanied by diverse neurological complications which are considered a dose-limiting adverse effect. Neurotoxicity caused by cyclophosphamide can manifest in numerous manners including anxiety, depression, motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits. This review article offers an overview on cyclophosphamide-induced neurotoxicity, providing a unified point of view on the possible underlying molecular mechanisms including oxidative brain damage, neuroinflammation, apoptotic neuronal cell death as well as disruption of the balance of brain neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors. Besides, this review sheds light on the promising protective agents that have been investigated using preclinical animal models as well as their biological targets and protection mechanisms. Despite promising results in experimental models, none of these agents has been studied in clinical trials. Thus, there is lack of evidence to advocate the use of any neuroprotective agent in the clinical setting. Furthermore, none of the protective agents has been evaluated for its effect on the anticancer activity of cyclophosphamide in tumor-bearing animals. Therefore, there is a great necessity for adequate well-designed clinical studies for evaluation of the therapeutic values of these candidates. Conclusively, this review summarizes the molecular mechanisms accounting for cyclophosphamide-induced neurotoxicity together with the potential protective strategies seeking for downgrading this neurological complication, thus enhancing the quality of life and well-being of cancer patients treated with cyclophosphamide.

The effect of Fernblock® in preventing blue-light-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells is associated with NRF2 induction

Blue light exposure of the ocular apparatus is currently rising. This has motivated a growing concern about potential deleterious effects on different eye structures. To address this, ARPE-19 cells were used as a model of the retinal pigment epithelium and subjected to cumulative expositions of blue light. The most relevant cellular events previously associated with blue-light-induced damage were assessed, including alterations in cell morphology, viability, cell proliferation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the induction of DNA repair cellular mechanisms. Consistent with previous reports, our results provide evidence of cellular alterations resulting from repeated exposure to blue light irradiation. In this context, we explored the potential protective properties of the vegetal extract from Polypodium leucotomos, Fernblock® (FB), using the widely known treatment with lutein as a reference for comparison. The only changes observed as a result of the sole treatment with either FB or lutein were a slight but significant increase in γH2AX+ cells and the raise in the nuclear levels of NRF2. Overall, our findings indicate that the treatment with FB (similarly to lutein) prior to blue light irradiation can alleviate blue-light-induced deleterious effects in RPE cells, specifically preventing the drop in both cell viability and percentage of EdU+ cells, as well as the increase in ROS generation, percentage of γH2AX+ nuclei (more efficiently with FB), and TNF-α secretion (the latter restored only by FB to similar levels to those of the control). On the contrary, the induction in the P21 expression upon blue light irradiation was not prevented neither by FB nor by lutein. Notably, the nuclear translocation of NRF2 induced by blue light was similar to that observed in cells pre-treated with FB, while lutein pre-treatment resulted in nuclear NRF2 levels similar to control cells, suggesting key differences in the mechanism of cellular protection exerted by these compounds. These results may represent the foundation ground for the use of FB as a new ingredient in the development of alternative prophylactic strategies for blue-light-associated diseases, a currently rising medical interest.

Silymarin effectively prevents and treats Eimeria tenella infection in chicks

Silymarin, a botanical medicine derived from milk thistle seeds and is known to improve chicken growth and gut health when added to the feed. However, its role in the prevention and treatment of chicken coccidiosis remains unclear. This study investigated the efficacy of various doses of silymarin in preventing and treating Eimeria tenella infection in chicks. A total of 180 one-day-old specific pathogen-free chicks were randomized into six groups of 30 chicks each, no treatment (NC group); E. tenella infection (CC group); diclazuril medication during d 14 to 21 and E. tenella infection (DC group); and three groups infected with E. tenella and administered low, medium, or high doses of silymarin during d 12 to 21. All groups except NC were infected with E. tenella on d 14, with indicators observed on d 21. The growth performance was higher in the silymarin treated groups than that in the CC group, and the oocyst count per gram of manure, blood stool, and cecal lesion scores decreased. The medium-dose silymarin group exhibited the best treatment effect. Additionally, the silymarin groups displayed improved histological, morphology, and intestinal barrier integrity. The amounts of proinflammatory factors and harmful bacteria in the cecum were also reduced. Additionally, the activity of serum and cecal antioxidant enzymes, as well as the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota, increased in the cecum. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that silymarin can prevent and treat E. tenella infections. These data provide a scientific and conceptual basis for the development of a botanical dietary supplement from silymarin for the treatment and control of coccidiosis in chicks.

Deletion of Dux ameliorates muscular dystrophy in mdx mice by attenuating oxidative stress via Nrf2

DUX4 has been widely reported in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, but its role in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is unclear. Dux is the mouse paralog of DUX4. In Dux-/- mdx mice, forelimb grip strength test and treadmill test were performed, and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) contraction properties were measured to assess skeletal muscle function. Pathological changes in mice were determined by serum CK and LDH levels and muscle Masson staining. Inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function indicators were detected using kits. Primary muscle satellite cells were isolated, and the antioxidant molecule Nrf2 was detected. MTT assay and Edu assay were used to evaluate proliferation and TUNEL assay for cell death. The results show that the deletion of Dux enhanced forelimb grip strength and EDL contractility, prolonged running time and distance in mdx mice. Deleting Dux also attenuated muscle fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in mdx mice. Furthermore, Dux deficiency promoted proliferation and survival of muscle satellite cells by increasing Nrf2 levels in mdx mice.

Whole-Exome Sequencing of Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinomas Reveals an Impaired Prognosis in Patients With TP53 Mutations and Concurrent CCND1 Gains

Very little information is available on the mutational landscape of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC), a disease that mainly affects older women. Studies focusing on the mutational patterns of the currently recognized etiopathogenic types of this tumor (human papillomavirus [HPV]-associated [HPV-A], HPV-independent [HPV-I] with TP53 mutation [HPV-I/TP53mut], and HPV-I with wild-type TP53 [HPV-I/TP53wt]) are particularly rare, and there is almost no information on the prognostic implications of these abnormalities.Whole-exome DNA sequencing of 60 VSCC and matched normal tissues from each patient was performed. HPV detection, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16, p53, and mismatch repair proteins were also performed. Ten tumors (16.7%) were classified as HPV-A, 37 (61.7%) as HPV-I/TP53mut, and 13 (21.6%) as HPV-I/TP53wt. TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene (66.7%), followed by FAT1 (28.3%), CDKN2A (25.0%), RNF213 (23.3%), NFE2L2 (20%) and PIK3CA (20%). All the 60 tumors (100%) were DNA mismatch repair proficient. Seventeen tumors (28.3%) showed CCND1 gain. Bivariate analysis, adjusted for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, revealed that TP53 mutation, CCND1 gain, and the combination of the 2 alterations were strongly associated with impaired recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 4.4; P < .001) and disease-specific survival (hazard ratio, 6.1; P = .002). Similar results were obtained when p53 IHC status was used instead of TP53 status and when considering only HPV-I VSCC. However, in the latter category, p53 IHC maintained its prognostic impact only in combination with CCND1 gains. All tumors carried at least one potentially actionable genomic alteration. In conclusion, VSCCs with CCND1 gain represent a prognostically adverse category among HPV-I/TP53mut tumors. All patients with VSCCs are potential candidates for targeted therapy.

Para-Hydroxycinnamic Acid Mitigates Senescence and Inflammaging in Human Skin Models

Para-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA) is one of the most abundant naturally occurring hydroxycinnamic acids, a class of chemistries known for their antioxidant properties. In this study, we evaluated the impact of pHCA on different parameters of skin aging in in vitro skin models after H2O2 and UV exposure. These parameters include keratinocyte senescence and differentiation, inflammation, and energy metabolism, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that pHCA prevents oxidative stress-induced premature senescence of human primary keratinocytes in both 2D and 3D skin models, while improving clonogenicity in 2D. As aging is linked to inflammation, referred to as inflammaging, we analyzed the release of IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2, known to be associated with senescence. All of them were downregulated by pHCA in both normal and oxidative stress conditions. Mechanistically, DNA damage induced by oxidative stress is prevented by pHCA, while pHCA also exerts a positive effect on the mitochondrial and glycolytic functions under stress. Altogether, these results highlight the protective effects of pHCA against inflammaging, and importantly, help to elucidate its potential mechanisms of action.

Fe3O4-Coated CNTs-Gum Arabic Nano-Hybrid Composites Exhibit Enhanced Anti-Leukemia Potency Against AML Cells via ROS-Mediated Signaling

Background

Prior studies on magnetite (Fe3O4) NPs and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) cytotoxic effects against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are inconclusive rather than definitive.

Purpose

Investigation of the effects of Gum Arabic (GA)-stabilized/destabilized Fe3O4 NPs and CNTs, alone or in combination, on AML cell proliferation.

Methods

Hybrid NPs were synthesized, characterized, and assessed for their cytotoxicity against Kasumi-1, HL-60, and THP-1 in comparison to normal primary bone marrow CD34+ cells. The molecular pathways of nanostructures' cytotoxicity were also investigated.

Results

The Fe3O4 NPs were effectively synthesized and attached to the surface of the CNTs, resulting in the formation of a novel hybrid through their interaction with the GA colloidal solution in an aqueous media. Although the evaluated nanostructured nanoparticles had significant growth suppression ability against the leukemia cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 42.437 to 189.842 μg/mL, they exhibited comparatively modest toxicity towards normal hematopoietic cells (IC50: 113.529‒162.656 μg/mL). The incorporation of Fe3O4 NPs with CNTs in a hybrid nanocomposite significantly improved their effectiveness against leukemia cells, with the extent of improvement varying depending on the specific cell type. The nanostructured particles were stabilized by GA, which enhances their ability to inhibit cell proliferation in a manner that depends on the specific cell type. Also, nanoparticles exhibit cytotoxicity due to their capacity to stimulate the production of intracellular ROS, halt the cell cycle at the G1 phase, and induce apoptosis. This is supported by the activation of p53, BAX, cytochrome C, and caspase-3, which are triggered by ROS. The nanostructures lead to an increase in the expression of genes encoding proteins related to oxidative stress (SIRT1, FOXO3, NFE2L2, and MAP3K5) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKN1A and CDKN1B) in response to ROS.

Conclusion

We provide an effective Fe3O4 NPs/CNTs nano-hybrid composite that induces apoptosis and has strong anti-leukemic capabilities. This hybrid nanocomposite is promising for in vivo testing and validation.

Optimization of Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Rosemary Essential Oil Using Response Surface Methodology and Its Antioxidant Activity by Activating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

Rosemary essential oil (REO) is widely recognized as a food flavoring and traditional herb and possesses potential antioxidant activity. However, its low yield rate and unclarified antioxidant mechanism warrant further investigation. In this study, an enzyme pretreatment-assisted extraction method with Box-Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM) models was employed to optimize the main factors of REO, and its antioxidant molecular mechanism under oxidative stress was elucidated in hydrogen peroxide-induced human lung carcinoma (A549) cells. The optimized yield (4.10%) of REO was recorded with the following optimum conditions: enzyme amount 1.60%, enzyme digestion pH 5.0, enzyme digestion temperature 46.50 °C, and enzyme digestion time 1.7 h. Meanwhile, 1.8-cineole (53.48%) and β-pinene (20.23%) exhibited radical scavenging activity higher than that of BHA and BHT. At the cellular level, REO (12.5-50 µg/mL) increased the levels of cell viability, CAT, SOD, and GSH significantly while reducing the contents of ROS, MDA, and GSSG, when compared to H2O2 exposure. Mechanically, REO relieved oxidative stress via activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and enhancing the protein expression of Nrf2, NQO-1, and HO-1, which was further verified by molecular docking between the main component 1.8-cineole and the Kelch domain of KEAP1. Therefore, REO could be considered as a potent natural antioxidant with a potential strategy in the food and pharmaceutical industries.