Evidence that AKT and GSK‐3β pathway are involved in acute hyperhomocysteinemia

Arsenic-induced uterine apoptotic damage is protected by ethyl acetate fraction of Camellia sinensis (green tea) via Bcl-2-BAX through NF-κB regulations in Wistar rats

The non-invasive treatment strategy is indispensable to overcome the side effects of conventional treatment with chelating agents against arsenic. Presence of catechins and flavonoids in Camellia sinensis have potential antioxidant properties and other beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to explore the curative potential role of Camellia sinensis against uterine damages produced by sodium arsenite in mature albino rats. A dose of 10 mg of Camellia sinensis ethyl acetate (CS-EA) fraction/100 gm body weight was provided to the sodium arsenite-treated rats (10 mg/Kg body weight). LC-MS analysis was used for the detection of active component in CS-EA fraction. Enzymatic antioxidants analysis carried out by reproducible native gel technique. Hormones and some pro and anti-inflammatory markers were detected by ELISA, PCR, and western blot techniques respectively. Immunostaining was performed for the detection of estradiol receptor alpha. LC-MS analysis of CS-EA fraction ensured the presence of active tea polyphenol and tea catechin of which highest peak of epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) was obtained in this study. Significant elevations of lipid peroxidation end products followed by the diminution of antioxidant enzymes activities were noted in arsenicated rats which were capably retrieved by the treatment of CS-EA fraction. Post-treatment with CS-EA fraction meaningfully improved gonadotrophins and estradiol signalling in association with a highly expressing estradiol receptor-α (ERα) in the ovary and uterus followed by the maintenance of normal utero-ovarian histoarchitecture in arsenic fed rats. CS-EA fractioned treated group overturned the sodium arsenite driven higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and proapoptotic markers along with a low level of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and comparatively lower NF-κB signalling in the uterus via regulating IKK β kinase mostly by EGCG of CS-EA fraction. However, ethyl acetate fraction of Camellia sinensis played a critical role in minimizing arsenic-mediated uterine hypo-function.

Involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and metallothionein in the repairing of arsenic-mediated uterine tissue damage by curcumin

Background Curcumin is extensively used as a therapeutic intervention for treating several ailments. The antioxidant curcumin has an anti-inflammatory and chelating property with arsenic to exhibit a strong therapeutic effect on reproductive organs. This study was undertaken to describe the protective effect of noninvasive administration of curcumin against sodium-arsenite-mediated uterine hazards in female Wistar rats. Methods Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The treatment was continued for 8 days and given orally sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg body weight) in combination with curcumin (20 mg/kg body weight). Results Our evaluation revealed that 8 days of sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg body weight) treatment reduced the activities of the uterine enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. Blood levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid decreased followed by an increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, homocysteine level, and hepatic metallothionein-1 in arsenic-treated rats. Necrosis of uterine tissue along with the disruption of ovarian steroidogenesis was marked in arsenic-treated rats with an upregulation of uterine NF-κB and IL-6 along with a raised level of serum TNF-α. Oral administration of curcumin (20 mg/kg body weight/day) in arsenic-treated rats significantly reinstated these alterations of the antioxidant system followed by an improvement of ovarian steroidogenesis and the circulating level of B12 and folate along with the downregulation of serum homocysteine, metallothionein-1, and cytokines. Conclusions The findings of this study clearly and strongly elucidated that arsenic-induced oxidative stress in uterus is linked to an alteration of inflammation-signaling biomarkers and these have been protected through the co-administration of curcumin due to its anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant activity by the possible regulation of an S-adenosine methionine pool.

The potential physiological crosstalk and interrelationship between two sovereign endogenous amines, melatonin and homocysteine

The antioxidant melatonin and the non-proteinogenic excitotoxic amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) are very distinct but related reciprocally to each other in their mode of action. The elevated Hcy level has been implicated in several disease pathologies ranging from cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases to neurodegeneration owing largely to its free radical generating potency. Interestingly, melatonin administration potentially normalizes the elevated Hcy level, thereby protecting the cells from the undesired Hcy-induced excitotoxicity and cell death. However, the exact mechanism and between them remain obscure. Through literature survey we have found an indistinct but a vital link between melatonin and Hcy i.e., the existence of reciprocal regulation between them, and this aspect has been thoroughly described herein. In this review, we focus on all the possibilities of co-regulation of melatonin and Hcy at the level of their production and metabolism both in basal and in pathological conditions, and appraised the potential of melatonin in ameliorating homocysteinemia-induced cellular stresses. Also, we have summarized the differential mode of action of melatonin and Hcy on health and disease states.

Pathological concentrations of homocysteine increases IL-1β production in macrophages in a P2X7, NF-ĸB, and erk-dependent manner

Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular disease, and atherosclerosis. Hyperhomocysteinemia is likely related to the enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of Hcy in immune cells are not completely understood. Recent studies have established a link between macrophage accumulation, cytokine IL-1β, and the advance of vascular diseases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of Hcy on IL-1β secretion by murine macrophages. Hcy (100 μM) increases IL-1β synthesis via enhancement of P2X7 expression and NF-ĸB and ERK activation in murine macrophages. In addition, the antioxidant agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces NF-κB activation, ERK phosphorylation, and IL-1β production in Hcy-exposed macrophages, indicating the importance of ROS in this pro-inflammatory process. In summary, our results show that Hcy may be involved in the synthesis and secretion of IL-1β via NF-ĸB, ERK, and P2X7 stimulation in murine macrophages.

Effects of direct Renin inhibition on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac fibroblast function

Myocardial fibrosis, a major pathophysiologic substrate of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), is modulated by multiple pathways including the renin-angiotensin system. Direct renin inhibition is a promising anti-fibrotic therapy since it attenuates the pro-fibrotic effects of renin in addition to that of other effectors of the renin-angiotensin cascade. Here we show that the oral renin inhibitor aliskiren has direct effects on collagen metabolism in cardiac fibroblasts and prevented myocardial collagen deposition in a non-hypertrophic mouse model of myocardial fibrosis. Adult mice were fed hyperhomocysteinemia-inducing diet to induce myocardial fibrosis and treated concomitantly with either vehicle or aliskiren for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and plasma angiotensin II levels were normal in control and hyperhomocysteinemic mice and reduced to levels lower than observed in the control group in the groups treated with aliskiren. Homocysteine-induced myocardial matrix gene expression and fibrosis were also prevented by aliskiren. In vitro studies using adult rat cardiac fibroblasts also showed that aliskiren attenuated the pro-fibrotic pattern of matrix gene and protein expression induced by D,L, homocysteine. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the Akt pathway was activated by homocysteine, and that treatment with aliskiren attenuated Akt activation. In conclusion, aliskiren as mono-therapy has potent and direct effects on myocardial matrix turnover and beneficial effects on diastolic function.