Maternal Eicosapentaenoic Acid Feeding Decreases Placental Lipid Deposition and Improves the Homeostasis of Oxidative Stress Through a Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) Independent Manner

Allicin in pregnancy diets modulates steroid metabolism in pregnant sows and placental sulphate metabolism promoting placental angiogenesis and foetal development

The low-birth-weight of piglets is an important factor affecting pig enterprises. The placenta, as a key organ for material exchange between mother and foetus, directly influences the growth and development of the foetus. Allicin exhibits various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It may also play a crucial role in enhancing sow reproductive performance and placental angiogenesis. In this study, we used 70 lactating Landrace × Yorkshire binary heterozygous sows to explore the effect of allicin on the reproductive performance of sows and placental development. The sows were randomly assigned into the Allicin group (Allicin), which was fed with a diet containing 0.25% allicin, and the negative control group, which was fed with basal feed. The experimental period lasted for 114 d from the date of mating to the end of farrowing. The results showed that the addition of allicin to the gestation diets increased the number of total born piglets, born alive piglets, and high-birth-weight piglets, reduced peripartum oxidative stress, alleviated dysregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism in sows, and increased the levels of antioxidant markers in the placenta. Differential analysis of metabolites in maternal plasma and placenta samples by non-targeted metabolomics revealed that allicin improved cholesterol metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and increased plasma progesterone levels in sows. Allicin promoted sulphur metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism in placental samples and increased the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) content in the placenta. In addition, Quantitative Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that allicin upregulated the expression of angiogenesis-related genes, VEGF-A, FLK 1 and Ang 1, in the placenta, implying that it promoted placental angiogenesis. These results indicate that supplementing the diet of pregnant sows with allicin reduces oxidative stress, alleviates dysregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism during the periparturient period, and promotes placental angiogenesis and foetal development by increasing plasma progesterone level and placental H2S content.

Effects of palmitic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid on angiogenesis of porcine vascular endothelial cells

Restricted placental angiogenesis is an important cause of intrauterine growth retardation in piglets. During pregnancy, sow obesity can result in an increase in placental lipid deposition, subsequently inhibiting placental angiogenesis and fetal development. However, the effect of different types of fatty acids on placental angiogenesis is still unclear. Trophoblast cells and vascular endothelial cells constitute two important types of placental tissue. In this study, we used palmitic acid (C16:0) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5, n-3), respectively, to treat porcine trophectoderm cells (pTr2) and porcine iliac artery endothelial cells (PIEC) to study the effects of saturated fatty acids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on placental angiogenesis in vitro. We found that C16:0 caused significant cytotoxicity in pTr2 and PIEC (p < 0.01) and inhibited the proliferation and migration of PIEC (p < 0.01), whereas C20:5 treatment exhibited very low cytotoxicity and minimal inhibition of cellular proliferation. Meanwhile, a low concentration of C16:0 had no effect on the tube formation in PIEC, whereas C20:5 significantly promoted tube formation of PIEC (p < 0.01). These results suggested that saturated fatty acids and n-3 PUFAs had different effects on placental angiogenesis. As essential functional fatty acid, n-3 PUFA might be effective measure in alleviating the placental lipotoxicity caused by sow obesity during pregnancy.

Quantitative Profiling of Oxylipin Reveals the Mechanism of Pien-Tze-Huang on Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a liver disease caused by long-term alcohol consumption. ROS-mediated oxidative stress is the leading cause of ALD. Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH), a traditional formula, is famous in China. This study was designed to evaluate the effects and explore the potential mechanisms of PZH in ALD. Forty mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group (normal diet + vehicle), model group (ethanol diet + vehicle), PZH-L group (ethanol diet + PZH (0.125 g/kg)), PZH-M group (ethanol diet + PZH (0.25 g/kg)), and PZH-H group (ethanol diet + PZH (0.5 g/kg)). The mice were sacrificed, and their liver and blood samples were preserved. Liver steatosis, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were assayed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and total superoxide dismutase were identified using commercial kits. Oxylipins were profiled, and the data were analyzed. The AMPK/ACC/CPT1A pathway was identified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The PZH-H intervention significantly alleviated hepatic steatosis and injury and reduced the levels of liver TG and serum ALT and AST. In addition, MDA levels were markedly reduced, and GSH-PX activity significantly increased after PZH-H intervention. Finally, PZH-H increased the levels of 17-HETE, 15-HEPE, 9-HOTrE, 13-HOTrE, and 5,6-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid, and reduced PGE2 levels. PZH-H intervention also promoted the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC, and the expression of CPT1A. In conclusion, PZH reduced oxidative stress and alleviated hepatic steatosis and injury. The mechanism was correlated with the oxylipin metabolites/AMPK/ACC/CPT1A axis.

Combined intake of blueberry juice and probiotics ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction by activating SIRT1 in alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated as a significant factor in the liver disease process. Blueberry juice and probiotics (BP) synergistically improve liver function in alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), although the mechanism for this effect was unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect and specific mechanisms of BP on AFLD.

Methods

C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into seven groups: CG (control), MG (AFLD model), BJ (MG mice treated with blueberry), BJB (MG mice treated with BP), SI (AFLD mice treated with SIRT1 siRNA), BJSI (SI mice treated with blueberry), and BJBSI (SI mice treated with BP). The mice were fed an alcohol liquid diet for 10 days to establish the AFLD model, and subjected to BP and SIRT1 siRNA intervention for 10 days. Liver pathology was performed on day 11, and biochemical and molecular analyses of liver mitochondria were employed on day 12.

Results

BP significantly ameliorated hepatic mitochondrial injury, mitochondrial swelling, and hepatic necrosis in AFLD. BP alleviated hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing the expression of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase, increasing respiratory control rate and the ADP/O ratio, and facilitating the synthesis of energy-related molecules. Besides, BP increased the expression of glutathione and superoxide dismutase, and inhibited malondialdehyde expression and reactive oxygen species activity. BP-induced sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, both of which mediate mitochondrial homeostasis. SIRT1 silencing suppressed the BP-induced changes in liver mitochondria, blunting its efficacy.

Conclusions

The ingredients of BP ameliorate hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction in AFLD mice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12986-021-00554-3.

Urinary and Plasma Antioxidants in Behavioral Symptoms of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The balance between antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress-induced free radicals may be crucial in the pathophysiological development factor of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We measured the following urinary and plasma biomarker levels of oxidative stress and antioxidants. As urinary biomarkers, (1) hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), which is a new biomarker of oxidative stress, (2) the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and (3) 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as a product of oxidative modifications to DNA; and the plasma levels of (4) the antioxidant protein superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is the crucial defense again oxygen reactive species, and (5) transferrin and (6) ceruloplasmin, which are biomarkers of iron and copper neurotransmission and oxidant-antioxidant systems. We examined the relationship between these urinary and plasma biomarkers and behavioral symptoms in 19 individuals with ASD (mean age, 10.8 ± 5.2 years) and 10 age-matched healthy controls (mean age, 14.2 ± 7.0 years). Behavioral symptoms were estimated using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Urinary TAC levels were significantly lower, whereas urinary HEL levels were significantly increased in the ASD group as compared with the control group. The five ABC subscale and total scores were significantly raised in the autism group than in the control group. The results of a linear regression analysis revealed that plasma SOD levels may be a more accurate predictor of differences in ABC scores between individuals with ASD and control individuals. The present study firstly revealed the important findings that the cooperation between the urinary antioxidant TAC and plasma SOD levels may contribute to the ABC subscale scores of stereotypy. Urinary TAC activity and antioxidant protein SOD may be associated with incomplete mineral body store and antioxidant-related transcription factor and browning reactions. Consequently, a critical imbalance between TAC urinary levels and plasma SOD levels may be an important contributor to autistic behavioral symptoms.

Placental Impact of Dietary Supplements: More Than Micronutrients

PURPOSE

Maternal nutrition is a key modifier of fetal growth and development. However, many maternal diets in the United States do not meet nutritional recommendations. Dietary supplementation is therefore necessary to meet nutritional goals. The effects of many supplements on placental development and function are poorly understood. In this review, we address the therapeutic potential of maternal dietary supplementation on placental development and function in both healthy and complicated pregnancies.

METHODS

This is a narrative review of original research articles published between February 1970 and July 2020 on dietary supplements consumed during pregnancy and placental outcomes (including nutrient uptake, metabolism and delivery, as well as growth and efficiency). Impacts of placental changes on fetal outcomes were also reviewed. Both human and animal studies were included.

FINDINGS

We found evidence of a potential therapeutic benefit of several supplements on maternal and fetal outcomes via their placental impacts. Our review supports a role for probiotics as a placental therapeutic, with effects that include improved inflammation and lipid metabolism, which may prevent preterm birth and poor placental efficiency. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (as found in fish oil) during pregnancy tempers the negative effects of maternal obesity but may have little placental impact in healthy lean women. The beneficial effects of choline supplementation on maternal health and fetal growth are largely attributable to its placental impacts. l-arginine supplementation has a potent provascularization effect on the placenta, which may underlie its fetal growth-promoting properties.

IMPLICATIONS

The placenta is exquisitely sensitive to dietary supplements. Pregnant women should consult their health care practitioner before continuing or initiating use of a dietary supplement. Because little is known about impacts of many supplements on placental and long-term offspring health, more research is required before robust clinical recommendations can be made.