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de Munck E, Muñoz-Sáez E, Miguel BG, Solas MT, Martínez A, Arahuetes RM. Morphometric and neurochemical alterations found in l-BMAA treated rats. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2015; 39:1232-45. [PMID: 26002186 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2015.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive muscle paralysis that reflects the motoneurons' degeneration. Several studies support the relationship between β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (l-BMAA), a neurotoxic amino acid produced by cyanobacteria and diatoms, and the sporadic occurrence of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the study of its neurotoxicity mechanisms has assumed great relevance in recent years. Recently, our research team has proposed a sporadic ALS animal model by l-BMAA administration in rats, which displays many pathophysiological features of human ALS. In this paper, we deepen the characterization of this model corroborating the occurrence of alterations present in ALS patients such as decreased muscle volume, thinning of the motor cortex, enlarged brain's lateral ventricles, and alteration of both bulbar nuclei and neurotransmitters' levels. Therefore, we conclude that l-BMAA treated rats could be a good model which mimics degenerative features that ALS causes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía de Munck
- Departamento de Biología Animal II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Emma Muñoz-Sáez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Begoña G Miguel
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - M Teresa Solas
- Departamento de Biología Celular (Morfología Microscópica), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ana Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rosa M Arahuetes
- Departamento de Biología Animal II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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102
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Evaluation of sample preparation and chromatographic separation for the parallel determination of taurine and edaravone in rat tissues using HILIC-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 407:4143-53. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8635-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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103
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Liu Q, Lu Z, Wu H, Zheng L. Chondroprotective Effects of Taurine in Primary Cultures of Human Articular Chondrocytes. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2015; 235:201-13. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.235.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qin Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University
- The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Zhenhui Lu
- The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Huayu Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Premedical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Li Zheng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University
- The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University
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104
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Sirdah MM. Protective and therapeutic effectiveness of taurine in diabetes mellitus: a rationale for antioxidant supplementation. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2015; 9:55-64. [PMID: 25366895 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Taurine, 2-amino ethanesulfonic acid, is a conditionally essential β amino acid which is not utilized in protein synthesis. Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in mammals tissues and is one of the three well-known sulfur-containing amino acids; the others are methionine and cysteine which are considered as the precursors for taurine synthesis. Different scientific studies emphasize on the cytoprotective properties of taurine which included antioxidation, antiapoptosis, membrane stabilization, osmoregulation, and neurotransmission. Protective and therapeutic ameliorations of oxidative stress-induced pathologies were also attributed to taurine both in experimental and human models. Data demonstrating the beneficial effectiveness of taurine against type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and their complications are growing and providing a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Although the clinical studies are limited compared to the experimental ones, the present updated systematic review of the literature is set up to provide experimental and clinical evidences regarding the effectiveness of taurine in the context of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Gathering these scientific effects of taurine on diabetes mellitus could provide the physicians and specially the endocrinologists with a comprehensive overview on possible trends in the prevention and management of the disease and its complications through antioxidant supplementation.
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105
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Tian JS, Peng GJ, Gao XX, Zhou YZ, Xing J, Qin XM, Du GH. Dynamic analysis of the endogenous metabolites in depressed patients treated with TCM formula Xiaoyaosan using urinary (1)H NMR-based metabolomics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 158 Pt A:1-10. [PMID: 25448502 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHAMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Xiaoyaosan (XYS), one of the best-known traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions with a long history of use, is composed of Bupleurum chinense DC., Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Zingiber officinale Rosc., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and Mentha haplocalyx Briq. For centuries, XYS has been widely used in China for the treatment of mental disorders such as depression. However, the complicated mechanism underlying the antidepressant activity of XYS is not yet well-understood. This understanding is complicated by the sophisticated pathophysiology of depression and by the complexity of XYS, which has multiple constituents acting on different metabolic pathways. The variations of endogenous metabolites in depressed patients after administration of XYS may help elucidate the anti-depressant effect and mechanism of action of XYS. The aim of this study is to establish the metabolic profile of depressive disorder and to investigate the changes of endogenous metabolites in the depressed patients before and after the treatment of Xiaoyaosan using the dynamic analysis of urine metabolomics profiles based on (1)H NMR. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one depressed patients were recruited from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Small endogenous metabolites present in urine samples were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and analyzed by multivariate statistical methods. The patients then received XYS treatment for six weeks, after which their Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores were significantly decreased compared with their baseline scores (p≤0.01). Eight components in urine specimens were identified that enabled discrimination between the pre- and post-XYS-treated samples. RESULTS Urinary of creatinine, taurine, 2-oxoglutarate and xanthurenic acid increased significantly after XYS treatment (p≤0.05), while the urinary levels of citrate, lactate, alanine and dimethylamine decreased significantly (p≤0.05) compared with pre-treatment urine samples. These statistically significant perturbations are involved in energy metabolism, gut microbes, tryptophan metabolism and taurine metabolism. CONCLUSIONS The symptoms of depression had been improved after 6 weeks׳ treatment of XYS according to evaluation of HAMD scores. The dynamic tendency of the 8 metabolites that changed significantly during the treatment of XYS is consistent with the improvement in symptoms of depression. These metabolites may be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of depressive disorders or the evaluation of the antidepressant as well as the exploration of the mechanism of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-sheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China
| | - Guo-jiang Peng
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China
| | - Xiao-xia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China
| | - Yu-zhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China
| | - Jie Xing
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China
| | - Xue-mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
| | - Guan-hua Du
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
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106
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Schiroli D, Ronda L, Peracchi A. Kinetic characterization of the human O-phosphoethanolamine phospho-lyase reveals unconventional features of this specialized pyridoxal phosphate-dependent lyase. FEBS J 2014; 282:183-99. [PMID: 25327712 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human O-phosphoethanolamine (PEA) phospho-lyase is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of PEA to acetaldehyde, phosphate and ammonia. Physiologically, the enzyme is involved in phospholipid metabolism and is expressed mainly in the brain, where its expression becomes dysregulated in the course of neuropsychiatric diseases. Mechanistically, PEA phospho-lyase shows a remarkable substrate selectivity, strongly discriminating against other amino compounds structurally similar to PEA. Herein, we studied the enzyme under steady-state and pre-steady-state conditions, analyzing its kinetic features and getting insights into the factors that contribute to its specificity. The pH dependence of the catalytic parameters and the pattern of inhibition by the product phosphate and by other anionic compounds suggest that the active site of PEA phospho-lyase is optimized to bind dianionic groups and that this is a prime determinant of the enzyme specificity towards PEA. Single- and multiple-wavelength stopped-flow studies show that upon reaction with PEA the main absorption band of PLP (λmax = 412 nm) rapidly blue-shifts to ~ 400 nm. Further experiments suggest that the newly formed and rather stable 400-nm species most probably represents a Michaelis (noncovalent) complex of PEA with the enzyme. Accumulation of such an early intermediate during turnover is unusual for PLP-dependent enzymes and appears counterproductive for absolute catalytic performance, but it can contribute to optimize substrate specificity. PEA phospho-lyase may hence represent a case of selectivity-efficiency tradeoff. In turn, the strict specificity of the enzyme seems important to prevent inactivation by other amines, structurally resembling PEA, that occur in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Schiroli
- Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Parma, Italy
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107
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Tissue depletion of taurine accelerates skeletal muscle senescence and leads to early death in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107409. [PMID: 25229346 PMCID: PMC4167997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is found in milimolar concentrations in mammalian tissues. One of its main functions is osmoregulation; however, it also exhibits cytoprotective activity by diminishing injury caused by stress and disease. Taurine depletion is associated with several defects, many of which are found in the aging animal, suggesting that taurine might exert anti-aging actions. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the hypothesis that taurine depletion accelerates aging by reducing longevity and accelerating aging-associated tissue damage. Tissue taurine depletion in taurine transporter knockout (TauTKO) mouse was found to shorten lifespan and accelerate skeletal muscle histological and functional defects, including an increase in central nuclei containing myotubes, a reduction in mitochondrial complex 1 activity and an induction in an aging biomarker, Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitor A (p16INK4a). Tissue taurine depletion also enhances unfolded protein response (UPR), which may be associated with an improvement in protein folding by taurine. Our data reveal that tissue taurine depletion affects longevity and cellular senescence; an effect possibly linked to a disturbance in protein folding.
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108
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Wenting L, Ping L, Haitao J, Meng Q, Xiaofei R. Therapeutic effect of taurine against aluminum-induced impairment on learning, memory and brain neurotransmitters in rats. Neurol Sci 2014; 35:1579-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-014-1801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Arias N, Fidalgo C, Vallejo G, Arias JL. Brain network function during shifts in learning strategies in portal hypertension animals. Brain Res Bull 2014; 104:52-9. [PMID: 24742527 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy exhibit early impairments in their ability to shift attentional set. We employed a task-switching protocol to evaluate brain network changes. Strategy switching requires the modification of both the relevant stimulus dimension and the required memory system. Rats were trained in an allocentric (A) and a cue-guided (C) task using a four-arm maze. To examine priming, we changed the order in which the tasks were presented. Five groups of animals were used: a SHAM (sham-operated) A-C group (n=10), a SHAM C-A group (n=8), a PH (portal hypertension) A-C group (n=8), PH C-A group (n=8), and a naïve group (n=10). The triple portal vein ligation method was used to create an animal model of the early evolutive phase of PH. The animals were tested in the four-arm radial water maze in a single 10-trial session each day for six days (three days for the allocentric task and three days for the cue-guided task). The metabolic activities of the brains were studied with cytochrome oxidase histochemistry, and brain network changes were assessed with principal component analysis. The behavioural results revealed significant increases in the numbers of correct choices across training days in all groups studied, and facilitation of the acquisition of the second task was present in the C-A groups. Moreover, different brain network activities were found; in the experimental groups, the performance of A-C switch involved the prefrontal cortex, and the key structures involved in the C-A switch in the other groups were the dentate gyrus of the dorsal hippocampus and the basolateral and central amygdala. These networks have a common nucleus of structures (i.e., the parietal cortex and the dorsal and ventral striatum), whereas other structures were specifically involved in each type of strategy, suggesting that these regions are part of both circuits and may interact with one another during learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Arias
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Camino Fidalgo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain
| | - Guillermo Vallejo
- Laboratory of Methodology, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jorge L Arias
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain
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111
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Yuan YS, Zhou XJ, Tong Q, Zhang L, Zhang L, Qi ZQ, Ge S, Zhang KZ. Change in plasma levels of amino acid neurotransmitters and its correlation with clinical heterogeneity in early Parkinson's disease patients. CNS Neurosci Ther 2013; 19:889-96. [PMID: 23981689 PMCID: PMC6493594 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The correlation between plasma amino acid (AA) neurotransmitters and clinical heterogeneity in early patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is still poorly understood. AIMS To examine the plasma levels of AA neurotransmitters in early patients with PD and to evaluate their correlation with PD subtypes. METHODS Based on the predominant symptoms, fifty-one patients with PD were enrolled and divided into four subgroups: (1) akinetic-rigid type (ART), (2) tremor-dominant type (TDT), (3) postural instability/gait difficulty type (PIGD), and (4) mixed type (MT). Plasma levels of AA were measured by HPLC-RF, and their potential diagnostic practicality and their association with PD subtypes were evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and correlation analysis, respectively. RESULTS Patients with PD exhibited markedly lower levels of Asp, Glu, Tau, L-ser, and lower values of Glu/GABA ratio than healthy controls. The ROC analysis revealed their high sensitivity (77.1-87.5%) and specificity (58.8-88.2%). Furthermore, the glutamic acid (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level in the PIGD subtype was increased as compared with other subtypes and was negatively correlated with the ART/PIGD ratio. CONCLUSION The decrease in plasma Asp, Glu, Tau, L-ser levels, and the value of Glu/GABA ratio may be helpful for early PD diagnosis. The elevated GABA level may be the biochemical basis for the specific symptoms of PIGD PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Sheng Yuan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Menzie J, Prentice H, Wu JY. Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Taurine against Ischemic Stroke. Brain Sci 2013; 3:877-907. [PMID: 24961429 PMCID: PMC4061860 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci3020877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke exhibits a multiplicity of pathophysiological mechanisms. To address the diverse pathophysiological mechanisms observed in ischemic stroke investigators seek to find therapeutic strategies that are multifaceted in their action by either investigating multipotential compounds or by using a combination of compounds. Taurine, an endogenous amino acid, exhibits a plethora of physiological functions. It exhibits antioxidative properties, stabilizes membrane, functions as an osmoregulator, modulates ionic movements, reduces the level of pro-inflammators, regulates intracellular calcium concentration; all of which contributes to its neuroprotective effect. Data are accumulating that show the neuroprotective mechanisms of taurine against stroke pathophysiology. In this review, we describe the neuroprotective mechanisms employed by taurine against ischemic stroke and its use in clinical trial for ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Menzie
- Program in Integrative Biology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
| | - Howard Prentice
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
| | - Jang-Yen Wu
- Program in Integrative Biology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
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113
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Protein and amino acid supplementation in older humans. Amino Acids 2013; 44:1493-509. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1480-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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