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Theodosis-Nobelos P, Rekka EA. The Antioxidant Potential of Vitamins and Their Implication in Metabolic Abnormalities. Nutrients 2024; 16:2740. [PMID: 39203876 PMCID: PMC11356998 DOI: 10.3390/nu16162740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamins are micronutrients necessary for the normal function of the body. Although each vitamin has different physicochemical properties and a specific role in maintaining life, they may also possess a common characteristic, i.e., antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress can harm all the main biological structures leading to protein, DNA and lipid oxidation, with concomitant impairment of the cell. It has been established that oxidative stress is implicated in several pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, inflammation and metabolic syndrome. In this review we investigate the influence of oxidative stress on the above conditions, examine the interrelation between oxidative stress and inflammation and point out the importance of vitamins in these processes, especially in oxidative load manipulation and metabolic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleni A. Rekka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Zhao Y, Deng S, Li C, Cao J, Wu A, Chen M, Ma X, Wu S, Lian Z. The Role of Retinoic Acid in Spermatogenesis and Its Application in Male Reproduction. Cells 2024; 13:1092. [PMID: 38994945 PMCID: PMC11240464 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in mammalian testes is essential for male fertility, ensuring a continuous supply of mature sperm. The testicular microenvironment finely tunes this process, with retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, serving a pivotal role. Retinoic acid is critical for various stages, including the differentiation of spermatogonia, meiosis in spermatogenic cells, and the production of mature spermatozoa. Vitamin A deficiency halts spermatogenesis, leading to the degeneration of numerous germ cells, a condition reversible with retinoic acid supplementation. Although retinoic acid can restore fertility in some males with reproductive disorders, it does not work universally. Furthermore, high doses may adversely affect reproduction. The inconsistent outcomes of retinoid treatments in addressing infertility are linked to the incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which retinoid signaling governs spermatogenesis. In addition to the treatment of male reproductive disorders, the role of retinoic acid in spermatogenesis also provides new ideas for the development of male non-hormone contraceptives. This paper will explore three facets: the synthesis and breakdown of retinoic acid in the testes, its role in spermatogenesis, and its application in male reproduction. Our discussion aims to provide a comprehensive reference for studying the regulatory effects of retinoic acid signaling on spermatogenesis and offer insights into its use in treating male reproductive issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shoulong Deng
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal Model, National Health Commission of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Chongyang Li
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingchao Cao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Aowu Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mingming Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuehai Ma
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Mental Development and Learning Science, College of Psychology, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Sen Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Deng R, Huang Y, Tian Z, Zeng Q. Association between gut microbiota and male infertility: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00512-y. [PMID: 38489097 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00512-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Previous research has confirmed the significant association between gut microbiota (GM) and male infertility (MI), but the causality between them remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between GM and MI using Mendelian randomization (MR) and provide supplementary information for the optimization of future randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Instrumental variables for 211 GM taxa were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main analysis method for two-sample MR analysis to assess the impact of GM on the risk of MI. Four methods were used to test for horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity of MR results to ensure the reliability of the MR findings. A total of 50 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) closely related to GM were included, and ultimately identified 1 family and 4 general are causally associated with MI. Among them, Anaerotruncus (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.31-3.40, P = 0.016) is significantly associated with increased MI risk. Furthermore, we used four MR methods to evaluate the causality, and the results supported these findings. The leave-one-out analysis showed stable results with no instrumental variables exerting strong influence on the results. The causal direction indicated a positive effect, and the effects of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy on the estimation of causal effect were minimized. We confirmed a causal relationship between GM taxa and MI, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying GM-mediated MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runpei Deng
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yebao Huang
- Liuzhou People's Hospital, Wenchang Road Number 8, Liuzhou Guangxi, Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhaohui Tian
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qingqi Zeng
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Huangshanling Road Number 69, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Gurel A, Gurel G, Fırat F, Ozgul E, Turkoglu IND, Aladag T, Duran IB, Baylan B. Effect of systemic isotretinoin therapy on semen parameters. Ann Med 2023; 55:2207038. [PMID: 37162375 PMCID: PMC10173790 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2207038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Vitamin A has multiple functions in the human body, being involved in growth, epithelial differentiation, vision, immune function and reproduction. While normal spermatogenesis is influenced by several factors, it requires vitamin A. Systemic isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that is used in the treatment of many dermatological diseases, especially acne vulgaris (AV). There is limited research on the changes in semen parameters after systemic isotretinoin therapy in humans. Our study investigates the presence of varicoceles in patients undergoing systemic isotretinoin therapy for AV and examines whether there were any changes in the semen parameters before and after treatment. METHODS Included in the study were 46 men patients who were scheduled for systemic isotretinoin therapy for AV. Before treatment, the patients underwent a physical examination and ultrasonography for varicoceles assessment. The patients underwent spermiogram before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. The spermiogram assessments included semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility, viability and sperm morphology. RESULTS After treatment, there was an increase in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility and vitality from the pre-treatment values, but a deterioration in the sperm morphology (p < .05). Comparing patients with and without varicoceles revealed more changes in semen parameters after treatment in those with varicoceles. There was a statistically significant difference in sperm concentration (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Systemic isotretinoin therapy negatively affects sperm morphology, but has positive effect on other semen parameters, and these changes in semen parameters occur more frequently in patients with varicoceles.KEY MESSAGESAcne vulgaris is a very common disease and systemic isotretinoin is used as the most effective agent in its treatment.Systemic isotretinoin positively affects semen parameters except sperm morphology.Changes in semen parameters are more common in patients with varicocele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Gurel
- Department of Urology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Gulhan Gurel
- Department of Dermatology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Fatma Fırat
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Esra Ozgul
- Department of Radiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | | | - Tugce Aladag
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Baran Duran
- Department of Radiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Burhan Baylan
- Department of Urology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Turkey
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Cao KX, Deng ZC, Liu M, Huang YX, Yang JC, Sun LH. Heat Stress Impairs Male Reproductive System with Potential Disruption of Retinol Metabolism and Microbial Balance in the Testis of Mice. J Nutr 2023; 153:3373-3381. [PMID: 37923224 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heat stress (HS) has a harmful impact on the male reproductive system, primarily by reducing the sperm quality. The testicular microenvironment plays an important role in sperm quality. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism by which HS impairs the male reproductive system through the testicular microenvironment. METHODS Ten-week-old male mice (n = 8 mice/group) were maintained at a normal temperature (25°C, control) or subjected to HS (38°C for 2 h each day, HS) for 2 wk. The epididymides and testes were collected at week 2 to determine sperm quality, histopathology, retinol concentration, the expression of retinol metabolism-related genes, and the testicular microbiome. The testicular microbiome profiles were analyzed using biostatistics and bioinformatics; other data were analyzed using a 2-sided Student's t test. RESULTS Compared with the control, HS reduced (P < 0.05) sperm count (42.4%) and motility (97.7%) and disrupted the integrity of the blood-testis barrier. Testicular microbial profiling analysis revealed that HS increased the abundance of the genera Asticcacaulis, Enhydrobacter, and Stenotrophomonas (P < 0.05) and decreased the abundance of the genera Enterococcus and Pleomorphomonas (P < 0.05). Notably, the abundance of Asticcacaulis spp. showed a significant negative correlation with sperm count (P < 0.001) and sperm motility (P < 0.001). Moreover, Asticcacaulis spp. correlated significantly with most blood differential metabolites, particularly retinol (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, HS increased serum retinol concentrations (25.3%) but decreased the testis retinol concentration by 23.7%. Meanwhile, HS downregulated (P < 0.05) the expression of 2 genes (STRA6 and RDH10) and a protein (RDH10) involved in retinol metabolism by 27.3%-36.6% in the testis compared with the control. CONCLUSIONS HS reduced sperm quality, mainly because of an imbalance in the testicular microenvironment potentially caused by an increase in Asticcacaulis spp. and disturbed retinol metabolism. These findings may offer new strategies for improving male reproductive capacity under HS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Xin Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhang-Chao Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jia-Cheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Lv-Hui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Abrego-Guandique DM, Bonet ML, Caroleo MC, Cannataro R, Tucci P, Ribot J, Cione E. The Effect of Beta-Carotene on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1468. [PMID: 37891835 PMCID: PMC10605009 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
β-carotene is a powerful antioxidant and dietary precursor of vitamin A whose role in maintaining mental health and cognitive performance, either alone or in combination with other dietary compounds, has been a topic of recent research. However, its effectiveness is still unclear. This systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA guideline and assisted by the MySLR platform, addressed this issue. A total of 16 eligible original research articles were identified. Dietary intake or β-carotene serum levels were associated with improved measures of cognitive function in 7 out of 10 epidemiological studies included. In intervention studies, β-carotene consumption alone did not promote better cognitive function in the short term, but only in a long-term intervention with a mean duration of 18 years. However, all but one intervention study suggested the beneficial effects of β-carotene supplementation at doses ranging from 6 mg to 50 mg per day in combination with a multicomplex such as vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, or selenium for a period of 16 weeks to 20 years. Despite the current limitations, the available evidence suggests a potential association between β-carotene dietary/supplementary intake and the maintenance of cognitive function. The β-carotene most probably does not act alone but in synergy with other micronutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Marisol Abrego-Guandique
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Magna Graecia Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.M.A.-G.); (M.C.C.)
- Galascreen Laboratories, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Maria Luisa Bonet
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition, and Biotechnology (LBNB), Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Spain; (M.L.B.); (J.R.)
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Magna Graecia Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (D.M.A.-G.); (M.C.C.)
- Galascreen Laboratories, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Roberto Cannataro
- Galascreen Laboratories, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
- Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society, DBSS International SAS, Bogota 110311, Colombia
| | - Paola Tucci
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Joan Ribot
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition, and Biotechnology (LBNB), Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Spain; (M.L.B.); (J.R.)
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Erika Cione
- Galascreen Laboratories, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
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Houle E, Li Y, Schroder M, McRitchie SL, Rahil T, Sites CK, Sumner SJ, Pilsner JR. Exploring the internal exposome of seminal plasma with semen quality and live birth: A Pilot Study. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2023; 69:296-309. [PMID: 37098216 PMCID: PMC11144350 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2023.2195964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Infertility is clinically defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy within 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse and affects 15% of couples worldwide. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers that can accurately predict male reproductive health and couples' reproductive success is of major public health significance. The objective of this pilot study is to test whether untargeted metabolomics is capable of discriminating reproductive outcomes and understand associations between the internal exposome of seminal plasma and the reproductive outcomes of semen quality and live birth among ten participants undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Springfield, MA. We hypothesize that seminal plasma offers a novel biological matrix by which untargeted metabolomics is able to discern male reproductive status and predict reproductive success. The internal exposome data was acquired using UHPLC-HR-MS on randomized seminal plasma samples at UNC at Chapel Hill. Unsupervised and supervised multivariate analyses were used to visualize the differentiation of phenotypic groups classified by men with normal or low semen quality based on World Health Organization guidelines as well as by successful ART: live birth or no live birth. Over 100 exogenous metabolites, including environmentally relevant metabolites, ingested food components, drugs and medications, and metabolites relevant to microbiome-xenobiotic interaction, were identified and annotated from the seminal plasma samples, through matching against the NC HHEAR hub in-house experimental standard library. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, vitamin A metabolism, and histidine metabolism were associated sperm quality; while pathways involving vitamin A metabolism, C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and Omega-3 fatty acid metabolism distinguished live birth groups. Taken together, these pilot results suggest that seminal plasma is a novel matrix to study the influence of the internal exposome on reproductive health outcomes. Future research aims to increase the sample size to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Houle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock Street, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - YuanYuan Li
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Kannapolis, NC 28010, USA
| | - Madison Schroder
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Kannapolis, NC 28010, USA
| | - Susan L McRitchie
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Kannapolis, NC 28010, USA
| | - Tayyab Rahil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia K Sites
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Susan Jenkins Sumner
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Kannapolis, NC 28010, USA
| | - J. Richard Pilsner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock Street, Detroit, MI, USA
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Gòdia M, Lian Y, Naval-Sanchez M, Ponte I, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Sanchez A, Clop A. Micrococcal nuclease sequencing of porcine sperm suggests enriched co-location between retained histones and genomic regions related to semen quality and early embryo development. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15520. [PMID: 37361042 PMCID: PMC10290446 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian spermatozoon has a unique chromatin structure in which the majority of histones are replaced by protamines during spermatogenesis and a small fraction of nucleosomes are retained at specific locations of the genome. The sperm's chromatin structure remains unresolved in most animal species, including the pig. However, mapping the genomic locations of retained nucleosomes in sperm could help understanding the molecular basis of both sperm development and function as well as embryo development. This information could then be useful to identify molecular markers for sperm quality and fertility traits. Here, micrococcal nuclease digestion coupled with high throughput sequencing was performed on pig sperm to map the genomic location of mono- and sub-nucleosomal chromatin fractions in relation to a set of diverse functional elements of the genome, some of which were related to semen quality and early embryogenesis. In particular, the investigated elements were promoters, the different sections of the gene body, coding and non-coding RNAs present in the pig sperm, potential transcription factor binding sites, genomic regions associated to semen quality traits and repeat elements. The analysis yielded 25,293 and 4,239 peaks in the mono- and sub-nucleosomal fractions, covering 0.3% and 0.02% of the porcine genome, respectively. A cross-species comparison revealed positional conservation of the nucleosome retention in sperm between the pig data and a human dataset that found nucleosome enrichment in genomic regions of importance in development. Both gene ontology analysis of the genes mapping nearby the mono-nucleosomal peaks and the identification of putative transcription factor binding motifs within the mono- and the sub- nucleosomal peaks showed enrichment for processes related to sperm function and embryo development. There was significant motif enrichment for Znf263, which in humans was suggested to be a key regulator of genes with paternal preferential expression during early embryogenesis. Moreover, enriched positional intersection was found in the genome between the mono-nucleosomal peaks and both the RNAs present in pig sperm and the RNAs related to sperm quality. There was no co-location between GWAS hits for semen quality in swine and the nucleosomal sites. Finally, the data evidenced depletion of mono-nucleosomes in long interspersed nuclear elements and enrichment of sub-nucleosomes in short interspersed repeat elements.These results suggest that retained nucleosomes in sperm could both mark regulatory elements or genes expressed during spermatogenesis linked to semen quality and fertility and act as transcriptional guides during early embryogenesis. The results of this study support the undertaking of ambitious research using a larger number of samples to robustly assess the positional relationship between histone retention in sperm and the reproductive ability of boars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gòdia
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageninger, Netherlands
| | - Yu Lian
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Inma Ponte
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Enric Rodríguez-Gil
- Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Armand Sanchez
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
- Animal and food sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alex Clop
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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9
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Saleh SR, Zaki R, Hassan R, El-Kersh MA, El-Sayed MM, Abd Elmoneam AA. The impact of vitamin A supplementation on thyroid function and insulin sensitivity: implication of deiodinases and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in male Wistar rats. Eur J Nutr 2022; 61:4091-4105. [PMID: 35804266 PMCID: PMC9596568 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-022-02945-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Vitamin A is an essential nutrient with vital biological functions. The present study investigated the effect of different doses of vitamin A palmitate at different time intervals on thyroid hormones and glycemic markers. METHODS Male rats were administrated vitamin A palmitate at different doses (0, 0.7, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg, oral) and samples were collected at different time intervals of 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The levels of vitamin A, thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and TSH), deiodinases (Dio1 and Dio3), glycemic markers (blood insulin and fasting glucose levels, HOMA IR and HOMA β), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were measured. RESULTS The findings demonstrated that long-term supplementation with high doses of vitamin A palmitate resulted in hypothyroidism (lower T3 and T4 levels and elevated TSH levels) as well as upregulation of Dio1 and Dio3 expression levels. This effect was associated with elevated glucose and insulin levels, enhanced HOMA IR, and decreased HOMA B index. In addition, prolonged vitamin A supplementation significantly increased RBP4 levels that upregulated the expression of PEPCK. CONCLUSION High doses of vitamin A supplementation increased the risk of hypothyroidism, modulated insulin sensitivity, and over a long period, increased the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with oxidative stress and hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar R Saleh
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Rania Zaki
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Radwa Hassan
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A El-Kersh
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M El-Sayed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Zhang R, Guo X, Liang C, Pei J, Bao P, Yin M, Wu F, Chu M, Yan P. Identification and Validation of Yak ( Bos grunniens) Frozen-Thawed Sperm Proteins Associated with Capacitation and the Acrosome Reaction. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:2754-2770. [PMID: 36251486 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To achieve fertilization, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo capacitation and the acrosome reaction (AR) within the female reproductive tract. However, the effects of cryopreservation on sperm maturation and fertilizing potential have yet to be established. To gain insight into changes in protein levels within sperm cells prepared for use in the context of fertilization, a comprehensive quantitative proteomic profiling approach was used to analyze frozen-thawed Ashidan yak spermatozoa under three sequential conditions: density gradient centrifugation-based purification, incubation in a capacitation medium, and treatment with the calcium ionophore A23187 to facilitate AR induction. In total, 3280 proteins were detected in these yak sperm samples, of which 3074 were quantified, with 68 and 32 being significantly altered following sperm capacitation and AR induction. Differentially abundant capacitation-related proteins were enriched in the metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways, while differentially abundant AR-related proteins were enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway. These data confirmed a role for superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) as a regulator of sperm capacitation while also offering indirect evidence that heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90AA1) regulates the AR. Together, these findings offer a means whereby sperm fertility-related marker proteins can be effectively identified. Data are available via Proteome Xchange with identifier PXD035038.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xian Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Chunnian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Jie Pei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Pengjia Bao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Mancai Yin
- Yak Breeding and Extension Service Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810000, China
| | - Fude Wu
- Yak Breeding and Extension Service Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810000, China
| | - Min Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Ping Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
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11
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Margiana R, Pakpahan C, Pangestu M. A systematic review of retinoic acid in the journey of spermatogonium to spermatozoa: From basic to clinical application. F1000Res 2022; 11:552. [PMID: 35967975 PMCID: PMC9345263 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110510.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Retinoic acid plays an essential role in testicular development and functions, especially spermatogenesis. We have reviewed the role of retinoic acid from basic (molecular) to clinical application. Methods: A search was conducted in the online database including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus for English studies published in the last eight years about this issue. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in assessing the studies we are going to investigate. Results: Studies indicated that retinoic acid plays an essential role during pluripotent stem cell migration and lineage commitment, cell differentiation, apoptosis, stem cell number regulation, and maturation arrest in spermatogenic cells. Retinoic acid can also affect related protein expression and signaling pathways at different stages of spermatogenesis. Four studies have applied retinoic acid to humans, all of them in the single-arm observational study. The results look promising but need further research with more controlled study methods, randomization, and large samples. Conclusions: This current systematic review emphasizes a novel retinoic acid mechanism that has not been well described in the literature previously on its functions during the first seven days of spermatogenesis, leading to new directions or explanations of male infertility cause and treatments as a part of reproductive health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Margiana
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Master's Programme Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Andrology Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Cennikon Pakpahan
- Andrology Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Mulyoto Pangestu
- Education Program in Reproduction and Development (EPRD), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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12
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Lai TCT, Roychoudhury S, Cho CL. Oxidative Stress and Varicocele-Associated Male Infertility. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1358:205-235. [PMID: 35641872 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-89340-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite being regarded as one of the most common causes of male subfertility, the pathophysiology of varicocele remains largely unknown. Recently, oxidative stress (OS) is proposed to be the mediator in how varicocele may negatively impact fertility. The imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and seminal antioxidants results in damage to sperm DNA and lipid membrane. There is evidence demonstrating higher OS level in men with varicocele which is also positively correlated with clinical grading of varicocele. Moreover, a number of studies have revealed the negative correlation between OS and conventional semen parameters. Furthermore, various interventions have shown their potential in alleviating OS in men with varicocele-associated infertility. Although direct evidence on improving pregnancy rate is not available at the moment, varicocelectomy has demonstrated promising results in relieving OS. Oral antioxidants represent another option with a favourable safety profile. The supplement can be used alone or as adjunct to varicocelectomy. However, most of the studies are hampered by heterogenous dose regime and high-level evidence is lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence Chun-Ting Lai
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Chak-Lam Cho
- S. H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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13
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Action and Interaction between Retinoic Acid Signaling and Blood–Testis Barrier Function in the Spermatogenesis Cycle. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030352. [PMID: 35159162 PMCID: PMC8834282 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex process occurring in mammalian testes, and constant sperm production depends on the exact regulation of the microenvironment in the testes. Many studies have indicated the crucial role of blood–testis barrier (BTB) junctions and retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the spermatogenesis process. The BTB consists of junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells, comprised mainly of tight junctions and gap junctions. In vitamin A-deficient mice, halted spermatogenesis could be rebooted by RA or vitamin A administration, indicating that RA is absolutely required for spermatogenesis. Accordingly, this manuscript will review and discuss how RA and the BTB regulate spermatogenesis and the interaction between RA signaling and BTB function.
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15
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Tsampoukas G, Gkeka K, Dellis A, Brown D, Katsouri A, Alneshawy A, Moussa M, Papatsoris A, Buchholz N. Vitamins as primary or adjunctive treatment in infertile men with varicocele: A systematic review. Arab J Urol 2021; 19:264-273. [PMID: 34552778 PMCID: PMC8451598 DOI: 10.1080/2090598x.2021.1932124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the usage and the efficacy of vitamins as primary or adjuvant treatment in infertile men with varicocele. METHODS A systematic search in PubMed, the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Cochrane Library with the terms (varicocele) AND (vitamins) was performed. We searched for studies: a) reporting the administration of vitamins (individually or as part of a complex) in men with varicocele and infertility, b) primarily or adjuvant to invasive treatment, and c) reporting the impact on semen parameters and/or pregnancy rates. Exclusion criteria were animal, adolescent and non-English studies, grey literature and trials reporting abstracts only. RESULTS Seven studies were identified eligible for qualitative analysis. All studies were randomised except one (case series). Vitamins were administered dominantly as part of antioxidant complex and only two studies used vitamins (C and E, respectively) as sole agent. In two studies, vitamin monotherapy resulted in improvement in semen quality, but the effect on pregnancy rates is unknown. One study reported no efficacy of adjuvant multivitamin treatment after embolisation in terms of both semen quality and pregnancy rates. Finally, four studies reported a positive effect of vitamins on semen parameters after varicocelectomy, but the effect on pregnancy rates is conflicting; one study reported improved pregnancy rates with adjuvant treatment, two studies did not evaluate the pregnancy rates, and in one study the outcome was unclear due to missing data. CONCLUSIONS Vitamins have been used mostly as part of an antioxidant panel for the management of infertile men with varicocele. Most studies have found a positive impact on semen parameters in selected men with varicocele and infertility, as primary or adjuvant treatment. However, the clinical benefit of vitamins administration on pregnancy rate is under-evaluated and should be the target of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Tsampoukas
- U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, UK
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK
| | - Kristiana Gkeka
- Department of Urology, General Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Athanasios Dellis
- U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, UK
- Department of Urology, Aretaieion Academic Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dominic Brown
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK
| | | | - Ahmed Alneshawy
- U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, UK
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK
| | - Mohamad Moussa
- Al Zahraa Hospital, University Medical Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Athanasios Papatsoris
- U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, UK
- Second Department of Urology, University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Noor Buchholz
- U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, UK
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16
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Merlotti D, Cosso R, Eller-Vainicher C, Vescini F, Chiodini I, Gennari L, Falchetti A. Energy Metabolism and Ketogenic Diets: What about the Skeletal Health? A Narrative Review and a Prospective Vision for Planning Clinical Trials on this Issue. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010435. [PMID: 33406758 PMCID: PMC7796307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of a common mesenchymal cell progenitor shared by bone, skeletal muscle, and adipocytes cell progenitors, makes the role of the skeleton in energy metabolism no longer surprising. Thus, bone fragility could also be seen as a consequence of a “poor” quality in nutrition. Ketogenic diet was originally proven to be effective in epilepsy, and long-term follow-up studies on epileptic children undergoing a ketogenic diet reported an increased incidence of bone fractures and decreased bone mineral density. However, the causes of such negative impacts on bone health have to be better defined. In these subjects, the concomitant use of antiepileptic drugs and the reduced mobilization may partly explain the negative effects on bone health, but little is known about the effects of diet itself, and/or generic alterations in vitamin D and/or impaired growth factor production. Despite these remarks, clinical studies were adequately designed to investigate bone health are scarce and bone health related aspects are not included among the various metabolic pathologies positively influenced by ketogenic diets. Here, we provide not only a narrative review on this issue, but also practical advice to design and implement clinical studies on ketogenic nutritional regimens and bone health outcomes. Perspectives on ketogenic regimens, microbiota, microRNAs, and bone health are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Merlotti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (D.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Roberta Cosso
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano “Scientific Institute for Hospitalisation and Care”, 20100 Milano, Italy; (R.C.); (I.C.)
| | - Cristina Eller-Vainicher
- Unit of Endocrinology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy;
| | - Fabio Vescini
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Iacopo Chiodini
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano “Scientific Institute for Hospitalisation and Care”, 20100 Milano, Italy; (R.C.); (I.C.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Luigi Gennari
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (D.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Alberto Falchetti
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano “Scientific Institute for Hospitalisation and Care”, 20100 Milano, Italy; (R.C.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Soriano JL, Calpena AC, Rodríguez-Lagunas MJ, Domènech Ò, Bozal-de Febrer N, Garduño-Ramírez ML, Clares B. Endogenous Antioxidant Cocktail Loaded Hydrogel for Topical Wound Healing of Burns. Pharmaceutics 2020; 13:pharmaceutics13010008. [PMID: 33375069 PMCID: PMC7822007 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The main goal of this work is the study of the skin wound healing efficacy of an antioxidant cocktail consisting of vitamins A, D, E and the endogenous pineal hormone melatonin (MLT), with all of these loaded into a thermosensitive hydrogel delivery system. The resulting formulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The antioxidant efficacy and microbiological activity against Gram positive and Gram negative strains were also assayed. The skin healing efficacy was tested using an in vivo model which included histological evaluation. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy was employed to evaluate the wound healing efficacy of rat skin burns through the determination of its elasticity at the nanoscale using force spectroscopy analysis. The resulting hydrogel exhibited sol state at low temperature and turned into a gel at 30 ± 0.2 °C. The hydrogel containing the antioxidant cocktail showed higher scavenging activity than the hydrogel containing vitamins or MLT, separately. The formulation showed optimal antimicrobial activity. It was comparable to a commercial reference. It was also evidenced that the hydrogel containing the antioxidant cocktail exhibited the strongest healing process in the skin burns of rats, similar to the assayed commercial reference containing silver sulfadiazine. Histological studies confirmed the observed results. Finally, atomic force microscopy demonstrated a similar distribution of Young's modulus values between burned skin treated with the commercial reference and burned skin treated with hydrogel containing the antioxidant cocktail, and all these with healthy skin. The use of an antioxidant cocktail of vitamins and MLT might be a promising treatment for skin wounds for future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L. Soriano
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Ana C. Calpena
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.C.C.); (B.C.); Tel.: +34-934-024-560 (A.C.C.); +34-958-246-664 (B.C.)
| | - María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Òscar Domènech
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Bozal-de Febrer
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 27-31 Joan XXIII Ave., 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - María L. Garduño-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad No. 1001, Col Chamilpa, 62209 Cuernavaca, Mexico;
| | - Beatriz Clares
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.C.C.); (B.C.); Tel.: +34-934-024-560 (A.C.C.); +34-958-246-664 (B.C.)
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18
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Razi M, Tavalaee M, Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei F, Moazamian A, Gharagozloo P, Drevet JR, Nasr-Eshafani MH. Varicocoele and oxidative stress: New perspectives from animal and human studies. Andrology 2020; 9:546-558. [PMID: 33145958 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Varicocoele (VCL), one of the main causes of male subfertility, negatively affects testicular function. Due to limited access to human testicular tissue, animal model studies have been used to evaluate molecular and, recently, epigenetic changes attributed to pathophysiology induced by VCL. OBJECTIVES This review aims to provide an update on the latest findings regarding the link between VCL-induced biochemical stress and molecular changes in germ cells and spermatozoa. Endocrine and antioxidant status, testicular chaperone-specific hemostasis failure, altered testicular ion balance, metabolic disorders, and altered carbon cycling during spermatogenesis are among the many features that will be presented. DISCUSSION Literature review coupled with our own findings suggests that ionic imbalance, hypoxia, hyperthermia, and altered blood flow could lead to severe chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress in patients with VCL leading to defective spermatogenesis and impairment of the integrity of all sperm cell components and compartments down to the epigenetic information they carry. CONCLUSION Since oxidative stress is an important feature of the reproductive pathology of VCL, therapeutic strategies such as the administration of appropriate antioxidants could be undertaken as a complementary non-invasive treatment line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazdak Razi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farshid Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | | | | | - Joël R Drevet
- Faculty of Medicine, GReD Institute, INSERM U1103, CNRS UMR6293, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Mohammad-Hossein Nasr-Eshafani
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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Amjad S, Rahman MS, Pang MG. Role of Antioxidants in Alleviating Bisphenol A Toxicity. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10081105. [PMID: 32722388 PMCID: PMC7465987 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an oestrogenic endocrine disruptor widely used in the production of certain plastics, e.g., polycarbonate, hard and clear plastics, and epoxy resins that act as protective coating for food and beverage cans. Human exposure to this chemical is thought to be ubiquitous. BPA alters endocrine function, thereby causing many diseases in human and animals. In the last few decades, studies exploring the mechanism of BPA activity revealed a direct link between BPA-induced oxidative stress and disease pathogenesis. Antioxidants, reducing agents that prevent cellular oxidation reactions, can protect BPA toxicity. Although the important role of antioxidants in minimizing BPA stress has been demonstrated in many studies, a clear consensus on the associated mechanisms is needed, as well as the directives on their efficacy and safety. Herein, considering the distinct biochemical properties of BPA and antioxidants, we provide a framework for understanding how antioxidants alleviate BPA-associated stress. We summarize the current knowledge on the biological function of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and discuss their practical potential as BPA-detoxifying agents.
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20
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Meli R, Monnolo A, Annunziata C, Pirozzi C, Ferrante MC. Oxidative Stress and BPA Toxicity: An Antioxidant Approach for Male and Female Reproductive Dysfunction. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:E405. [PMID: 32397641 PMCID: PMC7278868 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9050405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent anthropic and environmentally ubiquitous compound widely employed and detected in many consumer products and food items; thus, human exposure is prolonged. Over the last ten years, many studies have examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPA toxicity and revealed links among BPA-induced oxidative stress, male and female reproductive defects, and human disease. Because of its hormone-like feature, BPA shows tissue effects on specific hormone receptors in target cells, triggering noxious cellular responses associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. As a metabolic and endocrine disruptor, BPA impairs redox homeostasis via the increase of oxidative mediators and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in cell signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis. This review aims to examine the scenery of the current BPA literature on understanding how the induction of oxidative stress can be considered the "fil rouge" of BPA's toxic mechanisms of action with pleiotropic outcomes on reproduction. Here, we focus on the protective effects of five classes of antioxidants-vitamins and co-factors, natural products (herbals and phytochemicals), melatonin, selenium, and methyl donors (used alone or in combination)-that have been found useful to counteract BPA toxicity in male and female reproductive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Meli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (C.A.)
| | - Anna Monnolo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Federico II University of Naples, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy;
| | - Chiara Annunziata
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (C.A.)
| | - Claudio Pirozzi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (C.A.)
| | - Maria Carmela Ferrante
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Federico II University of Naples, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy;
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Rago V, De Rose D, Santoro M, Panza S, Malivindi R, Andò S, D'Agata R, Aquila S. Human Sperm Express the Receptor for Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), Which Affects Sperm Function and Metabolism. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5802751. [PMID: 32157297 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIM Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) produces pleiotropic effects binding to the GLP-1 receptor (GLP1-R), potentiating insulin secretion in the pancreas. GLP1-R is expressed in peripheral tissues and evidence for its role in reproduction has come from knockout mice, although the relationship between GLP-1 and male fertility needs to be clarified. Given that human sperm is an insulin-sensitive and insulin-secreting cell, we hypothesized that the GLP-1/GLP1-R axis may be expressed and functional in these cells. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We revealed the presence of GLP1-R by Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses. Because Exendin-4 (Ex-4) displays similar functional properties to native GLP-1, we used this agonist to perform a dose-response study on progressive motility and cholesterol efflux, showing that 300 pM Ex-4 was the most effective treatment. These actions are mediated by GLP1-R and independent from sperm-secreted insulin. The exposure to Ex-4 fueled phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling and was reversed by H89, indicating a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependence of GLP-1/GLP1-R signaling. It emerged that in sperm, insulin secretion regulated by Ex-4 did not occur in a strictly glucose-dependent manner. A stimulatory action of Ex-4/GLP1-R on lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activities was observed. Ex-4/GLP1-R decreased triglycerides content concomitantly to enhanced lipase and acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) dehydrogenase activities, addressing a lipolytic effect. CONCLUSION Collectively, we discovered that human sperm is a new GLP1 incretin target, broadening our knowledge about the effects of the GLP1-R agonist in the male reproductive field. Further findings in humans should be conducted in the future to confirm it and to improve the translational aspect of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Rago
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Daniela De Rose
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
- Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Marta Santoro
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
- Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Salvatore Panza
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
- Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Rocco Malivindi
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Andò
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
- Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
| | - Rosario D'Agata
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Saveria Aquila
- Department of Pharmacy and Sciences of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
- Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria Cosenza, Italy
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22
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Cannataro R, Caroleo MC, Fazio A, La Torre C, Plastina P, Gallelli L, Lauria G, Cione E. Ketogenic Diet and microRNAs Linked to Antioxidant Biochemical Homeostasis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2019; 8:antiox8080269. [PMID: 31382449 PMCID: PMC6719224 DOI: 10.3390/antiox8080269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, we demonstrated the capability of the ketogenic diet (KD) to influence the microRNA (miR) expression profile. Here, we report that KD is able to normalize miR expression in obese subjects when compared with lean subjects. By applying two different bioinformatics tools, we found that, amongst the miRs returning to comparable levels in lean subjects, four of them are linked to antioxidant biochemical pathways specifically, and the others are linked to both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biochemical pathways. Of particular interest is the upregulation of hsa-miR-30a-5p, which correlates with the decrease of catalase expression protein in red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cannataro
- GalaScreen Laboratories, Mater Domini Hospital 88100 Catanzaro and Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Alessia Fazio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Chiara La Torre
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Pierluigi Plastina
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Operative Unit, Department of Health Science, University of Magna Graecia, Mater Domini Hospital Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Graziantonio Lauria
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Erika Cione
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy.
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23
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Li X, Long XY, Xie YJ, Zeng X, Chen X, Mo ZC. The roles of retinoic acid in the differentiation of spermatogonia and spermatogenic disorders. Clin Chim Acta 2019; 497:54-60. [PMID: 31302099 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Male fertility depends on the regulatory balance between germ cell self-renewal and differentiation, and the spatial and temporal patterns of this balance must be maintained throughout the life cycle. Retinoic acid and its receptors are important factors in spermatogenesis. Spermatogonia cells can self-proliferate and differentiate and have unique meiotic capabilities; they halve their genetic material and produce monomorphic sperm to pass genetic material to the next generation. A number of studies have found that the spermatogenesis process is halted in animals with vitamin A deficiency and that most germ cells are degraded, but they tend to recover after treatment with RA or vitamin A. This literature review discusses our understanding of how RA regulates sperm cell differentiation and meiosis and also reviews the functional information and details of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Long
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yuan-Jie Xie
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Zhong-Cheng Mo
- Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
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