Implication of vitamin A deficiency on vascular injury related to inflammation and oxidative stress. Effects on the ultrastructure of rat aorta

Physiologic and epigenetic effects of nutrients on disease pathways

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Epigenetic regulation by nutrients can influence the development of specific diseases. This study sought to examine the effect of individual nutrients and nutrient families in the context of preventing chronic metabolic diseases via epigenetic regulation. The inhibition of lipid accumulation and inflammation by nutrients including proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals were observed, and histone acetylation by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) was measured. Correlative analyses were also performed.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Nutrients were selected according to information from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Selected nutrient functionalities, including the attenuation of fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation and lipopolysaccharide-mediated acute inflammation were evaluated in mouse macrophage Raw264.7 and mouse hepatocyte AML-12 cells. Effects of the selected nutrients on in vitro HAT inhibition were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Nitric oxide (NO) production correlated with HAT activity, which was regulated by the amino acids group, suggesting that amino acids potentially contribute to the attenuation of NO production via the inhibition of HAT activity. Unsaturated fatty acids tended to attenuate inflammation by inhibiting NO production, which may be attributable to the inhibition of in vitro HAT activity. In contrast to water-soluble vitamins, the lipid-soluble vitamins significantly decreased NO production. Water- and lipid-soluble vitamins both exhibited significant inhibitory activities against HAT. In addition, calcium and manganese significantly inhibited lipid accumulation, NO production, and HAT activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Several candidate nutrients and their family members may have roles in the prevention of diseases, including hepatic steatosis and inflammation-related diseases (i.e., nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) via epigenetic regulation. Further studies are warranted to determine which specific amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids and lipid-soluble vitamins or specific minerals influence the development of steatosis and inflammatory-related diseases.

Relevance of control diet choice in metabolic studies: impact in glucose homeostasis and vascular function

The experimental approach for the study of cardiometabolic disorders requires the use of animal models fed with commercial diets whose composition differs notably, even between diets used for control groups. While chow diets are usually made of agricultural by-products, purified low-fat diets (LF) contain a higher percentage of easy metabolizable carbohydrates, together with a reduced amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, micronutrients and fiber, all associated with metabolic and vascular dysfunction. We hypothesize that the LF diet, commonly used in control animals, could promote adverse vascular and metabolic outcomes. To address this issue, 5-week-old male C57BL6J mice were fed with a standard (Chow) or a LF diet for 6 weeks. Changes in body weight, adiposity, biochemical parameters, systemic and aortic insulin sensitivity and endothelial function were recorded. LF diet did not modify body weight but significantly impaired systemic glucose tolerance and increased triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Endothelial function and aortic insulin sensitivity were significantly impaired in the LF group, due to a reduction of NO availability. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the proper control diet in metabolic studies. It may also suggest that some cardiometabolic alterations obtained in experimental studies using LF as a control diet may be underestimated.

All-trans retinoic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in bovine adipocytes via TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Dairy cows with metabolic disorder in peripartal period display high inflammatory levels. Adipose tissue is a major endocrine organ, which is closely related to systemic inflammation. Retinoic acid (RA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has shown potential therapeutic immunomodulatory properties. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of all-trans-RA (ATRA), the biologically most active metabolite of vitamin A, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bovine adipocytes inflammatory responses and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Primary cultured bovine adipocytes were treated with ATRA in the presence or absence of LPS. The treated cells were examined for the inflammatory responses and the activity of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) /Smad3 signaling pathway.

RESULTS

LPS treatment significantly decreased the expression levels of TGFβ1/Smad3 components and increased the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Treatment with ATRA could over-activate TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling pathway in bovine adipocytes and reversed the over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of anti-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. Importantly, inhibition of TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling diminished the effects of ATRA on suppressing the proinflammatory responses induced by LPS. Furthermore, activation of TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling further extended the effects of ATRA on suppressing the proinflammatory responses on LPS stimulation.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ATRA stimulates TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling pathway and further suppresses bovine adipocytes inflammatory responses induced by LPS.

Vitamin A Deficiency and the Lung

Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) is a fat-soluble micronutrient which together with its natural derivatives and synthetic analogues constitutes the group of retinoids. They are involved in a wide range of physiological processes such as embryonic development, vision, immunity and cellular differentiation and proliferation. Retinoic acid (RA) is the main active form of vitamin A and multiple genes respond to RA signalling through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a remarkable public health problem. An adequate vitamin A intake is required in early lung development, alveolar formation, tissue maintenance and regeneration. In fact, chronic VAD has been associated with histopathological changes in the pulmonary epithelial lining that disrupt the normal lung physiology predisposing to severe tissue dysfunction and respiratory diseases. In addition, there are important alterations of the structure and composition of extracellular matrix with thickening of the alveolar basement membrane and ectopic deposition of collagen I. In this review, we show our recent findings on the modification of cell-junction proteins in VAD lungs, summarize up-to-date information related to the effects of chronic VAD in the impairment of lung physiology and pulmonary disease which represent a major global health problem and provide an overview of possible pathways involved.

Vitamin A deficiency induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in pancreatic islet cells: Implications of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1-mediated oleic acid synthesis

Previously, we reported that vitamin A deficiency resulted in the reduction of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels, which corroborated with attenuation of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. Here, we aimed at assessing the effect of vitamin A deficiency on SCD1, MUFA levels and their impact on pancreas' structure and functions. Male weanling Wistar rats fed one of the four diets, namely control (Con), vitamin A-deficient (VAD), highfructose (HFr) and vitamin A-deficient diet with highfructose (VADHFr) for 16 weeks period. Compared to the control, feeding of VAD diet (alone or with HFr) resulted in pancreatic intra-islet vessel dilation and reduced plasma insulin, glucagon and C-peptide levels, however, glucose levels decreased only in VADHFr group. In line with plasma levels, VAD diet-fed animals displayed lower immunostaining for insulin and glucagon, which corroborated with increased apoptotic staining observed in the islet regions, possibly due to increased cellular stress, as indicated by high immunostaining for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein homologues protein (CHOP). On the other hand, it significantly decreased the SCD1 protein, which corroborated with reduced MUFA levels, particularly, oleic acid (C18:1), when compared to the control and HFr groups. In conclusion, chronic vitamin A deficiency altered the structure and functions of pancreas by diminishing the islet cells, possibly by inducing cellular stress-mediated apoptosis and decreasing SCD1-mediated oleic acid (C18:1) synthesis. Thus, the data suggest that unlike liver, the reduction in SCD1 and MUFA levels in the pancreas exerts deleterious effects on its functions and perturb the overall cellular metabolism.

Neonatal aortic dilatation secondary to vitamin A deficiency

We report on a term neonate with unexplained respiratory distress, dilatation of the descending aorta, and low serum retinol concentration. The respiratory distress did not respond to conventional medical management and persisted for 22 days requiring an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.4 to 0.5 to maintain adequate arterial oxygen saturation. One week after intramuscular vitamin A therapy, the respiratory distress and requirement for supplementary oxygen resolved. Dilatation of the distal aorta resolved at 7 weeks of age. An association between vitamin A deficiency and aortic dilatation has previously been described in rats, but the association in humans has rarely been reported. We suggest that unexplained neonatal respiratory distress and a dilated aorta should prompt suspicion of vitamin A deficiency. An underlying infective or inflammatory process may give rise to a falsely low serum retinol concentration. Serum retinol and retinol binding protein concentrations in both the mother and infant should be used to guide vitamin A status, treatment, and subsequent response.

Vitamin a deficiency and alterations in the extracellular matrix

Vitamin A or retinol which is the natural precursor of several biologically active metabolites can be considered the most multifunctional vitamin in mammals. Its deficiency is currently, along with protein malnutrition, the most serious and common nutritional disorder worldwide. It is necessary for normal embryonic development and postnatal tissue homeostasis, and exerts important effects on cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. These actions are produced mainly by regulating the expression of a variety of proteins through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms. Extracellular matrix proteins are among those whose synthesis is known to be modulated by vitamin A. Retinoic acid, the main biologically active form of vitamin A, influences the expression of collagens, laminins, entactin, fibronectin, elastin and proteoglycans, which are the major components of the extracellular matrix. Consequently, the structure and macromolecular composition of this extracellular compartment is profoundly altered as a result of vitamin A deficiency. As cell behavior, differentiation and apoptosis, and tissue mechanics are influenced by the extracellular matrix, its modifications potentially compromise organ function and may lead to disease. This review focuses on the effects of lack of vitamin A in the extracellular matrix of several organs and discusses possible molecular mechanisms and pathologic implications.