Dataset of the analyzing trace elements and minerals via ICP-MS: Method validation for the mammalian tissue and serum samples

The impact of the vitamin D and resveratrol administration on the stiffness and elasticity of T2DM rat aorta associated with the trace element and mineral levels

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is directly associated with increased aortic stiffness, reduced aortic elasticity, and aortic dissection, which are independent risk factors for cardiovascular death. Since Vit D and resveratrol have been reported due to their cardioprotective effects, in this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of Vit D and resveratrol treatment alone or in combination on the aortic health associated with trace element and mineral levels in a high-fructose diet/streptozotocin-induced T2DM model.

METHODS

We investigated biomechanical changes of the aorta samples via a custom-built stretcher, where trace element and mineral levels in aorta samples were determined via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following acidic microwave digestion.

RESULTS

Vitamin D treatment ameliorated the adverse effects of T2DM on aortic stiffness, aortic elasticity, and relaxation modulus in diabetic rats. Trace element and mineral levels correlated with cardiovascular homeostasis, including Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Na, have been regulated upon Vit D treatment in diabetic and healthy rats. On the other hand, resveratrol treatment alone or in combination with Vit D did not show any positive effects on biomechanical properties and trace element metabolism of diabetic or healthy rats, according to our data.

CONCLUSION

Vit D can be used in T2DM patients to protect their cardiovascular health and should be considered a promising targeted therapy approach via nanoparticles to target cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Gemcitabine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles enhanced apoptotic and ferroptotic response of gemcitabine treatment alone in the pancreatic cancer cells in vitro

Gemcitabine (GEM) is a first-line treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, causing side effects and poor overall survival. Eighty percent of patients often develop resistance rapidly to GEM. Developing therapeutic approaches and increasing sensitivity to gemcitabine in PDAC has become one of the challenges in cancer research. We synthesized GEM-loaded NPs prepared with a method that combines ultrasonication and ionotropic gelation to overcome GEM-related limitations in PDAC. CFPAC-1 cells were treated with increased concentrations of GEM, empty chitosan, and GEM-loaded NPs (0.66, 1.32, 2.64, 5.32 µg/ml) for up to 48 h. Empty chitosan NPs did not show toxicity on L929 cells. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione s-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), significantly reduced in GEM-loaded NPs compared to the GEM associated with increased oxidative stress, PPP, and glycolysis. Bcl-xL, NOXA/mcl-1, and Ca2+ levels significantly increased in GEM-loaded NP-administered cells compared to the GEM and control groups. In contrast, JNK, p38, STAT3, Akt, and CREB levels significantly decreased in the GEM-loaded NP group, addressing enhanced apoptotic response compared to the GEM alone. Increased ferroptosis activity in GEM-loaded NP-administered groups has been validated via decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, increased cytosolic Fe, Zn, Mg, and Mn levels, and reduced GPx activity compared to the GEM and control groups. For the first time in the literature, we showed biocompatible GEM-loaded NPs enhanced apoptotic and ferroptotic response in CFPAC-1 cells via downregulation of antioxidant, glycolysis, and PPP metabolism compared to the GEM alone.

DNA fragmentation, antioxidant activity and histological structure of cryopreserved testicular tissue depending on sexual maturity and immunological status

The objective of this work was to determine a relationship between a frequency of DNA fragmentation, a level of antioxidant activity and a preservation of histological structure depending on initial status of fragments of seminiferous tubules of testes (FSTT) of rats at the stages of cryopreservation. FSTT of animals of different ages (immature, mature), as well as animals with changed immunological status (adjuvant arthritis) were cryopreserved. Slow uncontrolled freezing was used in a cryomedium of fibrin gel with 0.7 M glycerol. The results showed that viability, TAS, γGGT and G6PD activities had the highest values in the group of intact immature animals both in fresh FSTT and after exposure to cryomedium or cryopreservation, while the indexes of DNA fragmentation and ROS content had the lowest values. It was found that an increase in the DNA fragmentation rate occurred in parallel with a decrease in the values of antioxidant activity and membrane integrity. The spermatogenenic epithelium after cryopreservation differed between the groups in a relative number of cells with pathologically changed nuclei and the frequency of exfoliation of epithelial cells into the tubule cavity namely, there was a tendency to an increase in the damaging effects in the series, "Immature → Sexually mature → Autoimmune arthritis". The obtained data can be taken into account in the development of low-temperature preservation protocols using cryotechnologies, which will ensure the maintenance of the morphological and functional characteristics of FSTT depending on sexual maturity and immunological status.

Quality Evaluation of Asparagus officinalis by Profile of Amino Acids and Mineral Elements in Different Parts Combined with Chemometrics Methods

Asparagus officinalis has a homologous value in medicine and vegetables. Its immature stem, commonly called asparagus, is a central edible part. Asparagus skin and leaf also contain rich nutrients. However, these parts are often discarded. This study investigated amino acid and mineral elements in immature stem, skinless asparagus, asparagus skin, and leaf. Their quality was further evaluated by chemometrics methods such as principal component analysis and neural network analysis. The results showed amino acid content was high in immature stem and skinless asparagus and low in leaf, whereas the mineral elements were in four parts. Quality evaluation results showed four parts were divided into three grades. Immature stem and skinless asparagus were grouped into cluster 1 with the best quality as high-quality raw materials in food and health-care products. Meanwhile, three AA (Cys, His, Arg) and two mineral elements (Na, Cr) were identified as quality evaluation iconic substances.

Evaluation of the Hematological and Serum Biochemistry Parameters in the Pre-Symptomatic and Symptomatic Stages of ALS Disease to Support Early Diagnosis and Prognosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease. Since there are no pathognomonic tests for ALS prognoses; clinical diagnoses of the disease take time and are usually difficult. Prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed for rapid and effective ALS prognoses. Male albino rats were divided into ten groups based on age: 0 (40-45 days old), A (70-75 days old), B (90-95 days old), C (110-115 days old), and D (130-135 days old). Each group was divided into two subgroups according to its mutation status: wild type (SOD1^WT) or mutated (SOD1^G93A). Serum biochemistry and hematological parameters were measured in 90 rats to evaluate possible biomarkers for faster ALS diagnoses and prognoses. Weight loss, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, total bilirubin (TBIL), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), c-peptide, glucagon, PYY, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), monocyte (MID), granulocyte (GRAN), red cell distribution width with standard deviation (RDW-SD), red cell distribution width with the coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), platelet (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were changed in the SOD1^G93A rats compared to the SOD1^WT rats independently from aging. For the first time in the literature, we showed promising hematological and serum biochemistry parameters in the pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages of ALS by eliminating the effects of aging. Our results can be used for early diagnoses and prognoses of ALS, improving the quality of life and survival time of ALS patients.

Impact of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease on the Biomechanical Properties and Oxidative Stress Metabolism of the Lung Tissue Correlated With the Human Mutant SOD1G93A Protein Accumulation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease, and ALS incidence is increasing worldwide. Patients with ALS have respiratory failure at the disease’s end stages, leading to death; thus, the lung is one of the most affected organs during disease progression. Tissue stiffness increases in various lung diseases because of impaired extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis leading to tissue damage and dysfunction at the end. According to the literature, oxidative stress is the major contributor to ECM dysregulation, and mutant protein accumulation in ALS have been reported as causative to tissue damage and oxidative stress. In this study, we used SOD1^G93A and SOD1^WT rats and measured lung stiffness of rats by using a custom-built stretcher, where H&E staining is used to evaluate histopathological changes in the lung tissue. Oxidative stress status of lung tissues was assessed by measuring glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione s-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) levels. Western blot experiments were performed to evaluate the accumulation of the SOD1^G93A mutated protein. As a result, increased lung stiffness, decreased antioxidant status, elevated levels of oxidative stress, impaired mineral and trace element homeostasis, and mutated SOD1^G93A protein accumulation have been found in the mutated rats even at the earlier stages, which can be possible causative of increased lung stiffness and tissue damage in ALS. Since lung damage has altered at the very early stages, possible therapeutic approaches can be used to treat ALS or improve the life quality of patients with ALS.

Protective Effects of Antioxidant Chlorophyllin in Chemically Induced Breast Cancer Model In vivo

Glutathione-related enzymes belong to the protection mechanism of the cells against harmful oxidative damage and chemicals. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is frequently over-expressed in various cancer cells and is involved in drug resistance. Chlorophyllin is an antioxidant molecule interfering with the GST P1-1 activity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term protective effects of chlorophyllin as an antioxidant molecule on DNA damage, antioxidant enzyme activities, trace elements, and minerals in chemically induced breast cancer model in vivo. In our study, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was used for inducing breast carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 36 rats were divided into groups as short term and long term. Each group was divided into four sub-groups as control group received physiological saline solution (n = 3), Chl group (n = 5) received chlorophyllin, MNU group (n = 5) was administered MNU, and Chl + MNU group (n = 5) was treated with both chlorophyllin and MNU. Results illustrated that chlorophyllin had a significant anti-genotoxic effect in the short term, and glutathione-related enzyme activities were protected by chlorophyllin treatment in MNU-induced breast cancer model. Additionally, MNU administration impaired mineral and trace element levels including Na, Mg, K, Fe, Zn, and Co in the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and tumor tissues; however, adverse effects of MNU were recovered upon chlorophyllin treatment in the indicated tissues of the rats. In conclusion, chlorophyllin can be used as an antioxidant molecule to ameliorate adverse effects of MNU by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and regulating trace element and mineral balance in several organs and tumor tissue in the breast cancer model.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on OPG/RANKL signalling activities in endothelial tissue damage in diet-induced diabetic rat model

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that causes endothelial damage and is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. In the present study vitamin D3 supplementation in rats was used to determine the role of Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/Receptor activator kB ligand (RANKL) signalling in endothelial damage and changes in the expression levels of genes involved in this pathway. We hypothesized that vitamin D3 supplementation affects OPG and RANKL activity in the aorta.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced in rats via injections of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin followed by a high fructose (10%) diet. Group 2 (healthy) and 4 (diabetic) received 170 IU/kg of vitamin D3 weekly for 5 weeks, while Group 1 (healthy) and 2 (diabetic) received sterile saline. The aortas of each group were collected to analyse mRNA expression using the real-time PCR method and also to evaluate magnesium and calcium levels using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Opg and Il-1b expression levels were significantly associated with both diabetes and vitamin D3 supplementation in the aortas of the study groups (p ≤ 0.05). Opg mRNA expression was also found to correlate with both Icam-1 and Nos3 mRNA expression levels (r = 0.699, p = 0.001 and r = 0.622, p = 0.003, respectively). In addition, when mineral levels in the aortic tissues were compared among all groups, it was found that the interaction of diabetes and vitamin D3 supplementation significantly affected Mg levels and Mg/Ca ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that vitamin D3 supplementation has a modulatory effect on OPG/RANKL activity in the vessel wall by ameliorating endothelial damage in diabetes. This effect may contribute to the regulation of cytokine-mediated vascular homeostasis and mineral deposition in the aorta; therefore, further comprehensive studies are proposed to demonstrate this relationship.

Noble-metal nanoparticle labelling multiplex miRNAs by ICP-MS readout with internal standard isotopes of 115In and 209Bi

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is one of the most powerful techniques for multiplex nucleotide assay owing to the virtue of the high resolution of multiple-elements' mass to charge ratio, in a mass spectrum. Here, a small sized (less than 20 nm) noble-metal nanoparticle labelled ICP-MS (NP-ICP-MS) is proposed for high-throughput microRNA (miRNA) determination. Three miRNA targets - miR-486-5p, miR-221, and miR-21 - in serum, were distinguished by single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes labelled with a small sized noble-metal nanoparticle - silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The counting isotopes ion intensity per second (CPS) of the noble-metal label versus internal standard isotope intensity of ¹¹⁵In and ²⁰⁹Bi, exhibited good linearity in the range 0.25 pM to 100 pM with correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9680, 0.9305, and 0.9418. The specific sandwich-type miRNA assay using the sensitive NP-ICP-MS readout pushed the detection limits down to 0.18 pM for miR-221, 0.23 pM for miR-486-5p, and 0.22 pM for miR-21. And the relative standard deviations (RSDs) for 10 pM target miRNA were less than 3.7%. This work promises a potential ultrasensitive ICP-MS bioassay of multiplex miRNA biomarkers for clinical serum diagnosis.

Evaluation of the biocompatibility of the GSH-coated Ag2S quantum dots in vitro: a perfect example for the non-toxic optical probes

Near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) are promising candidate for the fluorescent probes due to their better penetration depth, long-lived luminescence with size-tunable photoluminescence wavelengths. Glutathione-coated silver sulfide quantum dots (GSH-Ag₂S QDs) were synthesized using AgNO₃ and Na₂S in the aqueous media and they can give reaction with glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-s transferase (GST) enzymes as acting substrate analogue in vitro. Investigation of the toxicity of the nanomaterials are necessary to use them in the medical field and biomedical applications. Thus, in this study we investigated biocompatibility of the GSH-Ag₂S QDs in vitro using 293 T and CFPAC-1 cell lines. Cell viability by MTT assay, light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, oxidative stress enzyme activities and ICP-MS analysis were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and internalization of the GSH-Ag₂S QDs. GSH-Ag₂S QDs showed great biocompatibility with both cell lines and did not cause imbalance in the oxidative stress metabolism. The ultralow solubility product constant of Ag₂S QDs (K_sp = 6.3 × 10^-50) prevents release of Ag ions into the biological systems that is in agreement with data obtained by ICP-MS. In conclusion, this data prove potential of GSH-Ag₂S QDs as a biocompatible optical probe to be used for the detection and/or targeting of GSH impaired diseases including cancer.