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Liu WN, Huang HL, Lan Y, Li L, Yang ZL, Jiang L. Hyperhomocysteine promotes cataract development through mTOR-mediated inhibition of autophagy and connexins expression. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112827. [PMID: 39116497 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112827] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
AIM Hyperhomocysteine has been recognized as an independent risk factor of multiple diseases, including several eye diseases. In this study, we aim to investigate whether increased homocysteine (Hcy) is related to cataracts, and to explore whether dysregulation of mTOR-mediated autophagy and connexin expression are underlying mechanisms. METHOD We first developed a method of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to accurately measure serum concentrations of Hcy in 287 cataract patients and 334 healthy controls. Next, we treated human lens epithelial (HLC-B3) cells with Hcy at different concentrations and durations, and then analyzed expression of autophagy-related markers and connexins, as well as phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) in these cells by Western blotting. Formation of autophagic vacuoles and intracellular Ca2+ in the Hcy-treated cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy. Further, we performed a rescue experiment in the Hcy-treated HLC-B3 cells by pre-incubation with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor. RESULTS The serum levels of Hcy in patients with cataracts were significantly increased compared to those in healthy controls. In cultured HLC-B3 cells, expression of autophagy related markers (LC3B and Beclin1) and connexins (Cx43 and Cx50) was inhibited by Hcy treatment in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. Accumulation of Ca2+ in the Hcy-treated lens epithelial cells was observed as a consequence of reduced connexin expression. Meanwhile, expression of p-mTOR increased, representing up-regulation of the mTOR pathway. Importantly, inhibition of autophagy and connexin expression due to hyperhomocysteine was rescued via mTOR suppression by pretreatment with rapamycin in HLC-B3 cells. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that hyperhomocysteine might promote cataract development through two mTOR-mediated pathways in the lens epithelial cells: 1) dysregulation of autophagy and 2) accumulation of intracellular calcium via decreased connexin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Na Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong-Lang Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sinopharm Dongfeng General Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442008 China
| | - Yu Lan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng-Lin Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China.
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Zhou Y, Xie P, Cao G, Ran J, Xu S, Xia W, Cai Z. Metabolic signatures of prenatal exposure to 'Cocktails' of benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles and its health implications. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134717. [PMID: 38795493 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles (collectively as BTs) was associated with pregnancy complications. Identifying the metabolites associated with prenatal BTs exposure may help elucidate the mechanism and characterize the exposure risk. In this prospective study of 158 pregnant women from Wuhan, China, urinary BTs were repeatedly measured across three trimesters to provide an accurate estimation of exposure during pregnancy. We conducted high-throughput targeted metabolomics with great coverage and high accuracy to characterize the urinary metabolic profile in late pregnancy. We first identified the perturbed metabolites of cocktail BTs exposure and then pinned down to the pairwise associations between individual BTs and the identified metabolites. A total of 44 metabolites were identified as perturbed biomarkers of cocktail BTs exposure based on the variable influence on projection (VIP > 1.2) score. Further pairwise associations analysis showed positive association of BTs with oxidative stress related biomarkers and negative association of BTs with neuronal function metabolites. The shared metabolic signatures among BTs in the co-occurrence network of pairwise association analysis may partially be attributed to the correlation among cocktail BTs exposure. The findings provide the potential mechanisms of BTs-associated pregnancy complications and offer insight into the health implications for prenatal BTs exposure. Furthermore, the framework we employed, which integrates both cocktail exposure and individual exposure, may illuminate future epidemiological research that seeks to incorporate exposure to mixtures and omics scale data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China
| | - Peisi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guodong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinjun Ran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (HUST), Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (HUST), Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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Dhillon VS, Deo P, Fenech M. Low magnesium in conjunction with high homocysteine increases DNA damage in healthy middle aged Australians. Eur J Nutr 2024:10.1007/s00394-024-03449-0. [PMID: 38864865 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03449-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Magnesium is one of the most common elements in the human body and plays an important role as a cofactor of enzymes required for DNA replication and repair and many other biochemical mechanisms including sensing and regulating one-carbon metabolism deficiencies. Low intake of magnesium can increase the risk of many diseases, in particular, chronic degenerative disorders. However, its role in prevention of DNA damage has not been studied fully in humans so far. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency either on its own or in conjunction with high homocysteine (Hcy) induces DNA damage in vivo in humans. METHODS The present study was carried out in 172 healthy middle aged subjects from South Australia. Blood levels of magnesium, Hcy, folate and vitamin B12 were measured. Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus cytome assay was performed to measure three DNA damage biomarkers: micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBuds) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. RESULTS Data showed that magnesium and Hcy are significantly inversely correlated with each other (r = - 0.299, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, magnesium is positively correlated both with folate (p = 0.002) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.007). Magnesium is also significantly inversely correlated with MN (p < 0.0001) and NPB (p < 0.0001). Individuals with low magnesium and high Hcy exhibited significantly higher frequency of MN and NPBs compared to those with high magnesium and low Hcy (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was an interactive effect between these two factors as well in inducing MN (p = 0.01) and NPB (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in the present study indicate for the first time that low in vivo levels of magnesium either on its own or in the presence of high Hcy increases DNA damage as evident by higher frequencies of MN and NPBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varinderpal S Dhillon
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
| | - Permal Deo
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Michael Fenech
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Genome Health Foundation, North Brighton, 5048, Australia
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Zhou D, Sun Y, Dong C, Wang Z, Zhao J, Li Z, Huang G, Li W. Folic acid alleviated oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition and inhibited apoptosis of neurocytes in old rats. Eur J Nutr 2024; 63:291-302. [PMID: 37870657 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03266-x] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oxidative stress has been reported to cause telomere attrition, which triggers cell apoptosis. Apoptosis of neurocytes may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This study hypothesized that folic acid (FA) supplementation decreased neurocyte apoptosis by alleviating oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition in 25-month-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS Three-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into four diet groups by different concentrations of folic acid in equal numbers, with intervention for 22 months. Folate, homocysteine (Hcy), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, antioxidant activities, and telomere length in the brain tissues were tested at 11, 18, and 22 months of intervention, and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, neurocyte apoptosis and telomere length in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions were tested during the 22-month intervention. An automated chemiluminescence system, auto-chemistry analyzer, Q-FISH, qPCR, and TUNEL assay were used in this study. RESULTS The rats had lower folate concentrations and higher Hcy, ROS, and 8-OHdG concentrations in brain tissue with aging. However, FA supplementation increased folate concentrations and antioxidant activities while decreasing Hcy, ROS, and 8-OHdG levels in rat brain tissue after 11, 18, and 22 months of intervention. Furthermore, FA supplementation alleviated telomere length shortening and inhibited neurocyte apoptosis during the 22-month intervention. CONCLUSION FA supplementation alleviated oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition and inhibited apoptosis of neurocytes in 25-month-old rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezheng Zhou
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yue Sun
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Cuixia Dong
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Zehao Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Zhenshu Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Guowei Huang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China.
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Zhou Y, Wang T, Fan H, Liu S, Teng X, Shao L, Shen Z. Research Progress on the Pathogenesis of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection in Metabolism. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102040. [PMID: 37595858 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm and dissection are complicated diseases having both high prevalence and mortality. It is usually diagnosed at advanced stages and posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to the limitations of current detecting methods for aortic dissection used in clinics. Metabonomics demonstrated its great potential capability in the early diagnosis and personalized treatment of several diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic disorders including amino acid metabolism, glycometabolism, and lipid metabolism disturbance are involved in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm and dissection by affecting multiple functional aortic cells. The purpose of this review is to provide new insights into the metabolism alterations and their related regulatory mechanisms with a focus on recent advances and findings and provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis, prevention, and drug development for aortic aneurysm and dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tingyu Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongyou Fan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Teng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lianbo Shao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhenya Shen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Petrović DJ, Jagečić D, Krasić J, Sinčić N, Mitrečić D. Effect of Fetal Bovine Serum or Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Cell Survival and the Proliferation of Neural Stem Cells: The Influence of Homocysteine Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14161. [PMID: 37762465 PMCID: PMC10531752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814161] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro cell culture is a routinely used method which is also applied for in vitro modeling of various neurological diseases. On the other hand, media used for cell culture are often not strictly standardized between laboratories, which hinders the comparison of the obtained results. Here, we compared the effects of homocysteine (Hcy), a molecule involved in neurodegeneration, on immature cells of the nervous system cultivated in basal medium or media supplemented by either fetal bovine serum or basic fibroblast growth factor. The number of cells in basal media supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was 2.5 times higher in comparison to the number of cells in basal media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). We also found that the neuron-specific β-3-tubulin protein expression dose dependently decreased with increasing Hcy exposure. Interestingly, bFGF exerts a protective effect on β-3-tubulin protein expression at a concentration of 1000 µM Hcy compared to FBS-treated neural stem cells on Day 7. Supplementation with bFGF increased SOX2 protein expression two-fold compared to FBS supplementation. GFAP protein expression increased five-fold on Day 3 in FBS-treated neural stem cells, whereas on Day 7, bFGF increased GFAP expression two-fold compared to FBS-treated neural stem cells. Here, we have clearly shown that the selection of culturing media significantly influences various cellular parameters, which, in turn, can lead to different conclusions in experiments based on in vitro models of pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dražen Juraj Petrović
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Genos Ltd., 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Denis Jagečić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jure Krasić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Laboratory for Neurogenomics and In Situ Hybridization, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nino Sinčić
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers (epiMark), Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dinko Mitrečić
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.J.P.); (D.J.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- BIMIS—Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Álvarez-Armenta A, Corona-Martínez DO, Pacheco-Aguilar R, López-Zavala AA, Sotelo-Mundo RR, García-Sánchez G, Ramírez-Suárez JC. Sulfmyoglobin production by free cysteine during thermal treatment: Involvement of heme iron in the production of free radicals. Food Chem 2023; 408:135165. [PMID: 36527926 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.135165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The meat greening is an abnormal pigmentation related to microbiological contamination and lipid oxidation during storage. This color change results from sulfmyoglobin (SulfMb) production promoted by the reaction between metmyoglobin (MetMb), H2O2, and thiol compounds. Spectral studies on cooked meat suggested the production of SulfMb, probably due to the increment of free radicals during thermal treatment. Thus, we evaluated the involvement of free radicals and heme iron in the SulfMb production from horse MetMb and free cysteine (Cys) during thermal treatment. The results confirm that the reaction of SulfMb production at meat muscle pH (5.7-7.2) during heat treatment is a product of free radicals formed from Cys oxidation (SH) and reactive oxygen species (O2-, H2O2). This is catalyzed by the release of heme iron, thus promoting a consecutive reaction having MbFe(IV)O as a reaction intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Álvarez-Armenta
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Calidad de Productos Pesqueros, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - David O Corona-Martínez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Ramón Pacheco-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Calidad de Productos Pesqueros, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Alonso A López-Zavala
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Rogerio R Sotelo-Mundo
- Laboratorio de Estructura Molecular, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C, 83304 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Guillermina García-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Calidad de Productos Pesqueros, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Ramírez-Suárez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Calidad de Productos Pesqueros, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., 83304 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
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Kumari K, Sharma GS, Gupta A, Singh KS, Singh LR. Functionally active cross-linked protein oligomers formed by homocysteine thiolactone. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5620. [PMID: 37024663 PMCID: PMC10079695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32694-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deposition of high-order protein oligomers is a common hallmark of a large number of human diseases and therefore, has been of immense medical interest. From the past several decades, efforts are being made to characterize protein oligomers and explore how they are linked with the disease pathologies. In general, oligomers are non-functional, rather cytotoxic in nature while the functional (non-cytotoxic) oligomers are quite rare. In the present study, we identified new protein oligomers of Ribonuclease-A and Lysozyme that contain functionally active fractions. These functional oligomers are disulfide cross-linked, native-like, and obtained as a result of the covalent modification of the proteins by the toxic metabolite, homocysteine thiolactone accumulated under hyperhomocysteinemia (a condition responsible for cardiovascular complications including atherosclerosis). These results have been obtained from the extensive analysis of the nature of oligomers, functional status, and structural integrity of the proteins using orthogonal techniques. The study implicates the existence of such oligomers as protein sinks that may sequester toxic homocysteines in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Kumari
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Gurumayum Suraj Sharma
- Department of Botany, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110075, India
| | - Akshita Gupta
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
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Huang Y, Tan Y, Wang L, Lan L, Luo J, Wang J, Zeng H, Shu W. Consumption of very low-mineral water may threaten cardiovascular health by increasing homocysteine in children. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1133488. [PMID: 36969809 PMCID: PMC10034051 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1133488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionHomocysteine (Hcy) is a critical factor for cardiovascular injury, and the elevation of Hcy in children will inevitably increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. This study explored the effect of very low-mineral water on children’s Hcy and cardiovascular health.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective cohort study that recruited two groups of 10–13-year-old children who had consumed direct drinking water (DDW) in school for 4 years. The control group (NW) (119 boys, 110 girls) consumed normal DDW (conductivity 345 μs/cm). The very low-mineral water consumption group (VLW) (223 boys, 208 girls) consumed very low-mineral DDW (conductivity 40.0 μs/cm). Serum Hcy, Hcy metabolites, cofactors of Hcy metabolism, and cardiovascular biomarkers were assessed and standardized by age- and sex-specific Z-scores, and the differences between the two groups were analyzed with independent t-test. The relationships between Hcy metabolism biomarkers and key factors, cardiovascular biomarkers, serum Ca, and mineral intake were analyzed with linear regression.ResultsCompared with the NW group, the VLW group had significantly higher serum Hcy, Apo-B, Apo-B/A1, and oxLDL, and lower serum 1,25,(OH)2D3, vitamin B6 and B12, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and Apo-A1. Serum Hcy was positively associated with serum Apo-B and Apo-B/A1, and negatively associated with Ca intake from water and serum 1,25,(OH)2D3.ConclusionThis study suggested that drinking very low-mineral water may increase Hcy level and oxidative stress, worsen lipid profile, and threaten the cardiovascular system in children. Reducing 1,25,(OH)2D3, and disordering of calcium metabolism might play important roles. This study first established an association between demineralized drinking water and cardiovascular health in children, suggesting a new environmental concern risk to cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Huang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Tan
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Lingqiao Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Lan Lan
- Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Management, Chongqing Municipal Corps of Integrated Health Administrative Law Enforcement, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiaohua Luo
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Weiqun Shu
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Weiqun Shu,
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Ye M, Li H, Luo H, Zhou Y, Luo W, Lin Z. Potential Antioxidative Activity of Homocysteine in Erythrocytes under Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12010202. [PMID: 36671064 PMCID: PMC9855177 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12010202] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Homocysteine is an amino acid containing a free sulfhydryl group, making it probably contribute to the antioxidative capacity in the body. We recently found that plasma total homocysteine (total-Hcy) concentration increased with time when whole blood samples were kept at room temperature. The present study was to elucidate how increased plasma total-Hcy is produced and explore the potential physiological role of homocysteine. Erythrocytes and leukocytes were separated and incubated in vitro; the amount of total-Hcy released by these two kinds of cells was then determined by HPLC-MS. The effects of homocysteine and methionine on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, osmotic fragility, and methemoglobin formation in erythrocytes under oxidative stress were studied. The reducing activities of homocysteine and methionine were tested by ferryl hemoglobin (Hb) decay assay. As a result, it was discovered that erythrocytes metabolized methionine to homocysteine, which was then oxidized within the cells and released to the plasma. Homocysteine and its precursor methionine could significantly decrease Rosup-induced ROS production in erythrocytes and inhibit Rosup-induced erythrocyte's osmotic fragility increase and methemoglobin formation. Homocysteine (but not methionine) was demonstrated to enhance ferryl Hb reduction. In conclusion, erythrocytes metabolize methionine to homocysteine, which contributes to the antioxidative capability under oxidative stress and might be a supplementary protective factor for erythrocytes against ROS damage.
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Homocysteine as a Predictor of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation-Related Events: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12092192. [PMID: 36140593 PMCID: PMC9498051 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
High levels of homocysteine (Hcy) have been linked with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as arrhythmias and stroke. In the context of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), hyperhomocysteinemia has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of future events. The aim of this report was to address the potential value of Hcy levels in predicting future paroxysms of atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as to identify the potential mechanisms of action. We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Database on 16 January 2022. Keywords used were homocysteine or hyperhomocysteinemia paired with a total of 67 different keywords or phrases that have been implicated with the pathogenesis of AF. We included primary reports of clinical and non-clinical data in the English language, as well as systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses. We placed no time constraints on our search strategy, which yielded 3748 results. Following title review, 3293 reports were excluded and 455 reports were used for title and abstract review, after which 109 reports were finally used for full-text review. Our review indicates that Hcy levels seem to hold a predictive value in PAF. Herein, potential mechanisms of action are presented and special considerations are made for clinically relevant diagnostic procedures that could complement plasma levels in the prediction of future PAF events. Finally, gaps of evidence are identified and considerations for future clinical trial design are presented.
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TMAO to the rescue of pathogenic protein variants. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2022; 1866:130214. [PMID: 35902028 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2022.130214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a chemical chaperone found in various organisms including humans. Various studies unveiled that it is an excellent protein-stabilizing agent, and induces folding of unstructured proteins. It is also well established that it can counteract the deleterious effects of urea, salt, and hydrostatic pressure on macromolecular integrity. There is also existence of large body of data regarding its ability to restore functional deficiency of various mutant proteins or pathogenic variants by correcting misfolding defects and inhibiting the formation of high-order toxic protein oligomers. Since an important class of human disease called "protein conformational disorders" is due to protein misfolding and/or formation of high-order oligomers, TMAO stands as a promising molecule for the therapeutic intervention of such diseases. The present review has been designed to gather a comprehensive knowledge of the TMAO's effect on the functional restoration of various mutants, identify its shortcomings and explore its potentiality as a lead molecule. Future prospects have also been suitably incorporated.
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Teng Z, Feng J, Liu R, Ji Y, Xu J, Jiang X, Chen H, Dong Y, Meng N, Xiao Y, Xie X, Lv P. Cerebral small vessel disease mediates the association between homocysteine and cognitive function. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:868777. [PMID: 35912072 PMCID: PMC9335204 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.868777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the relations of serum total homocysteine (tHcy) with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and cognitive function and evaluate whether CSVD mediates the effect of serum tHcy on cognitive function. Methods A total of 1,033 consecutive eligible participants who received serum tHcy, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychological assessment were included in this retrospective study. White matter hyperintensity, lacune, cerebral microbleed, and enlarged perivascular space were evaluated based on brain MRI. We used multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, and mediation analyses to assess the relations of serum tHcy with CSVD and cognitive function. Results Serum tHcy levels were higher in patients with cognitive impairment than those with no cognitive impairment. Logistic regression analyses showed elevated serum tHcy was associated with cognitive impairment [odds ratio (OR): 10.475; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.522 to 24.264; p < 0.001] and a higher CSVD burden score (OR: 17.151; 95% CI: 8.785 to 33.921; p < 0.001) after adjusting potential confounders. Compared with the lowest tHcy quartile, the multivariable-adjusted OR of the highest quartile was 4.851 (95% CI: 3.152 to 7.466; p for the trend < 0.001) for cognitive impairment, 3.862 (95% CI: 2.467 to 6.047; p for the trend < 0.001) for a severe CSVD burden score. Mediation analyses showed significant moderating effects (9.3–23.6%) by different imaging markers of CSVD on the association between higher serum tHcy levels and cognitive impairment. Conclusion Elevated serum tHcy is associated with cognitive impairment and the development of CSVD. A proportion of the association between elevated serum tHcy and cognitive impairment may be attributed to the presence of different imaging markers of CSVD, especially the severe CSVD burden score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Teng
- Department of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ronghui Liu
- Department of Radiology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yifan Ji
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huifang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanhong Dong
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Nan Meng
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yining Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaohua Xie
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Peiyuan Lv
- Department of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Peiyuan Lv,
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Effect of Iron Depletion by Bloodletting vs. Observation on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers of Women with Functional Hyperandrogenism Taking a Combined Oral Contraceptive: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11133864. [PMID: 35807149 PMCID: PMC9267723 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11133864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Women with functional hyperandrogenism show both increased markers of oxidative stress and a mild iron overload. Combined oral contraceptives (COC) may worsen redox status in the general population. Since iron depletion ameliorates oxidative stress in other iron overload states, we aimed to address the changes in the redox status of these women as a consequence of COC therapy and of bloodletting, conducting a randomized, controlled, parallel, open-label clinical trial in 33 adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hyperandrogenism. After three months of treatment with a COC, participants were randomized (1:1) to three scheduled bloodlettings or observation for another nine months. After taking a COC, participants showed a mild decrease in their plasma electrochemical antioxidant capacity, considering fast-acting antioxidants [MD: −1.51 (−2.43 to −0.60) μC, p = 0.002], and slow-acting antioxidants [MD: −1.90 (−2.66 to −1.14) μC, p < 0.001]. Women submitted to bloodletting showed a decrease in their non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity levels (NEAC) throughout the trial, whereas those individuals in the control arm showed a mild increase in these levels at the end of the study (Wilks’ λ: 0.802, F: 3.572, p = 0.041). Decreasing ferritin and plasma hemoglobin during the trial were associated with worse NEAC levels. COC may impair redox status in women with functional hyperandrogenism. Decreasing iron stores by scheduled bloodletting does not override this impairment.
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