Comment on the: Molecular mechanism of CAT and SOD activity change under MPA-CdTe quantum dots induced oxidative stress in the mouse primary hepatocytes (Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2019 Sep 5; 220:117104)

Hexavalent-Chromium-Induced Disruption of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Apoptosis in the Liver via the AMPK-PGC-1α Pathway in Ducks

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a hazardous substance that poses significant risks to environmental ecosystems and animal organisms. However, the specific consequences of Cr(VI) exposure in terms of liver damage remain incompletely understood. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which Cr(VI) disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, leading to hepatic injury in ducks. Forty-eight healthy 8-day-old ducks were divided into four groups and subjected to diets containing varying doses of Cr(VI) (0, 9.28, 46.4, and 232 mg/kg) for 49 days. Our results demonstrated that Cr(VI) exposure resulted in disarranged liver lobular vacuolation, along with increasing the serum levels of ALT, AST, and AKP in a dose-dependent manner, which indicated liver damage. Furthermore, Cr(VI) exposure induced oxidative stress by reducing the activities of T-SOD, SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and CAT, while increasing the contents of MDA and H2O2. Moreover, Cr(VI) exposure downregulated the activities of CS and MDH, resulting in energy disturbance, as evidenced by the reduced AMPK/p-AMPK ratio and PGC-1α protein expression. Additionally, Cr(VI) exposure disrupted mitochondrial dynamics through decreased expression of OPA1, Mfn1, and Mfn2 and increased expression of Drp-1, Fis1, and MFF proteins. This disruption ultimately triggered mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by elevated levels of caspase-3, Cyt C, and Bax, along with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, at both the protein and mRNA levels. In summary, this study highlights that Cr(VI) exposure induces oxidative stress, inhibits the AMPK-PGC-1α pathway, disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, and triggers liver cell apoptosis in ducks.

Targeted intracellular delivery of antitubercular bioactive(s) to Mtb infected macrophages via transferrin functionalized nanoliposomes

The packaging of antimicrobials/chemotherapeutics into nanoliposomes can enhance their activity while minimizing toxicity. However, their use is still limited owing to inefficient/inadequate loading strategies. Several bioactive(s) which are non ionizable, and poorly aqueous soluble cannot be easily encapsulated into aqueous core of liposomes by using conventional means. Such bioactive(s) however could be encapsulated in the liposomes by forming their water soluble molecular inclusion complex with cyclodextrins. In this study, we developed Rifampicin (RIF) - 2-hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) molecular inclusion complex. The HP-β-CD-RIF complex interaction was assessed by using computational analysis (molecular modeling). The HP-β-CD-RIF complex and Isoniazid were co-loaded in the small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs). Further, the developed system was functionalized with transferrin, a targeting moiety. Transferrin functionalized SUVs (Tf-SUVs) could preferentially deliver their payload intracellularly in the endosomal compartment of macrophages. In in vitro study on infected Raw 264.7 macrophage cells revealed that the encapsulated bioactive(s) could eradicate the pathogen more efficiently than free bioactive(s). In vivo studies further revealed that the Tf-SUVs could accumulate and maintain intracellular bioactive(s) concentrations in macrophages. The study suggests Tf-SUVs as a promising module for targeted delivery of a drug combination with improved/optimal therapeutic index and effective clinical outcomes.

Effects of the in-utero dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-n-hexyl phthalate administration on the oxidative stress-induced histopathological changes in the rat liver tissue correlated with serum biochemistry and hematological parameters

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in the industry and are found in cosmetics, food and drink packaging, drugs, toys, households, medical devices, pesticides, personal care products, and paints. Phthalates exert endocrine disrupting and peroxisome proliferator effects in humans and wildlife associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, including diabetes, obesity, infertility, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Since phthalates are metabolized in the liver, which regulates the body's energy metabolism, long or short-term exposure to the phthalates is associated with impaired glucose, lipid, and oxidative stress metabolisms contributing to liver toxicity. However, the impact of in-utero exposure to DHP and DCHP on liver metabolism has not been studied previously. Thus, in this study, we evaluated serum biochemistry parameters, hematological markers, histopathological changes, and oxidative and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) metabolisms in the liver following in-utero DHP and DCHP administration, respectively, in male and female rats. We found increased relative and absolute liver weights and impaired triglyceride, alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels upon dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) and di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP). Histopathological changes, including congestion, sinusoidal dilatation, inflammatory cell infiltration, cells with a pyknotic nucleus, lysis of hepatocytes, and degeneration of hepatic parenchyma have been observed in the liver samples of DHP and DCHP dose groups. Moreover, increased glutathione s-transferase (GST), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities have been found in the liver samples of DHP and DCHP-treated rats associated with impaired pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and oxidative stress metabolism. First time in the literature, we showed that in-utero exposure to DHP and DCHP causes liver damage associated with impaired oxidative stress metabolism in male and female rats. Our data may guide researchers and governments to regulate and restrict phthalates in industrial products.

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.

Combined resveratrol and vitamin D treatment ameliorate inflammation-related liver fibrosis, ER stress, and apoptosis in a high-fructose diet/streptozotocin-induced T2DM model

A high fructose diet is a major cause of diabetes and various metabolic disorders, including fatty liver. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol and vitamin D (VitD) treatments on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and liver regeneration in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, namely, T2DM Sprague-Dawley rats. This T2DM rat model was created through a combination treatment of a 10% fructose diet and 40 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Resveratrol (1 mg/kg/day) and VitD (170/IU/week) were administered alone and in combination to both the diabetic and control groups. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate PCNA, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, GRP78, and active caspase-3 in liver tissue. The TUNEL method and Sirius red staining were used to determine apoptosis and fibrosis, respectively. G6PD, 6-PGD, GR, and GST activities were measured to determine oxidative stress status. We found that the expressions of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) correlated with NF-κB activation and were significantly increased in the T2DM rats. Increased GRP78 expression, indicating ER stress, increased in apoptotic cells, enhanced caspase-3 activation, and collagen accumulation surrounding the central vein were observed in the T2DM group compared with the other groups. The combination VitD + resveratrol treatment improved antioxidant defense via increasing G6PD, 6-PGD, GR, and GST activities compared to the diabetic groups. We concluded that the combined administration of resveratrol with VitD ameliorates the adverse effects of T2DM by regulating blood glucose levels, increasing antioxidant defense mechanisms, controlling ER stress, enhancing tissue regeneration, improving inflammation, and reducing apoptosis in liver cells. In conclusion, this study indicates that the combination treatment of resveratrol + VitD can be a beneficial option for preventing liver damage in fructose-induced T2DM.

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.

Study on the regulation mechanism of lipopolysaccharide on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism of bovine mammary epithelial cells

The long-term feeding of a high-concentrate diet (the concentrate ratio is greater than 60 %) leads to mammary gland inflammatory response in ruminants and decreased quality in dairy cows and affects the robust development of the dairy industry. The main reason is closely related to elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the body. In this experiment, a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) was used as a model, and LPS at different concentrations (0 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml, 10000 ng/ml) was added to the cells. The cell survival rate, oxidative stress indicators, total lipid droplet area, triglyceride content and key genes regulating lipid metabolism were detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), assay kit, microscope observation and RT-PCR methods to explore the regulatory mechanism of mammary health and milk fat synthesis. The results showed that compared with those of the control group, the survival rates of cells were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.01). The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that of the control group, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells was significantly increased (P<0.05) after stimulation with 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h. After 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS, the total lipid drop area and triglyceride (TG) content of MAC-T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression levels of fatty acid synthesis-related genes Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Fatty Acid synthetase (FAS) were significantly decreased after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05). TG synthesis by the related gene Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) was significantly lower than that of the control group after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h (P<0.05), and Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2) also showed a significant decrease after 10000 ng/ml LPS stimulation (P<0.05). In conclusion, adding different concentrations of LPS to MAC-T cells not only led to a decrease in cell activity, resulting in oxidative damage, but also affected fatty acid and TG synthesis, which may ultimately be closely related to the decrease in milk fat synthesis.

Study on the Regulation Mechanism of Lipopolysaccharide on Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

The long-term feeding of a high-concentrate diet (the concentrate ratio is greater than 60 %) leads to mammary gland inflammatory response in ruminants and decreased quality in dairy cows and affects the robust development of the dairy industry. The main reason is closely related to elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the body. In this experiment, a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) was used as a model, and LPS at different concentrations (0 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml, 10000 ng/ml) was added to the cells. The cell survival rate, oxidative stress indicators, total lipid droplet area, triglyceride content and key genes regulating lipid metabolism were detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), assay kit, microscope observation and RT-PCR methods to explore the regulatory mechanism of mammary health and milk fat synthesis. The results showed that compared with those of the control group, the survival rates of cells were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.01). The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that of the control group, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells was significantly increased (P<0.05) after stimulation with 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h. After 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS, the total lipid drop area and triglyceride (TG) content of MAC-T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression levels of fatty acid synthesis-related genes Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Fatty Acid synthetase (FAS) were significantly decreased after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05). TG synthesis by the related gene Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) was significantly lower than that of the control group after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h (P<0.05), and Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2) also showed a significant decrease after 10000 ng/ml LPS stimulation (P<0.05). In conclusion, adding different concentrations of LPS to MAC-T cells not only led to a decrease in cell activity, resulting in oxidative damage, but also affected fatty acid and TG synthesis, which may ultimately be closely related to the decrease in milk fat synthesis.

People with blood disorders can be more vulnerable during COVID-19 pandemic: A hypothesis paper

The world has been encountered with COVID-19 pandemic since at the beginning of 2020 and the number of infected people by COVID-19 is increasing every day. Despite various studies conducted by researchers and doctors, no treatment has been developed until now, therefore self-protection and isolation are strongly recommended to stop the spread of the virus. The elderly population and people with chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer are categorized as risk groups, however, we suggest that people with hemoglobinopathies or porphyria can be described as risk groups as well. Current in silico studies have revealed that the COVID-19 virus can attack heme and hemoglobin metabolisms which are responsible for the oxygen transport to the tissues, iron metabolism, elevated levels of oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Data of the in silico study have been supported with the biochemistry and hemogram results of the COVID-19 patients, for instance hemoglobin levels decreased and serum ferritin and C-reactive protein levels increased. Indicated biochemistry biomarkers are tightly associated with inflammation, iron overload, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, since people with hemoglobinopathies or porphyria have already impaired heme and hemoglobin metabolism, COVID-19 infection can enhance the adverse effects of impaired hemoglobin metabolism and accelerate the progression of severe symptoms in patients with hemoglobinopathies or porphyria compared to the normal individuals. Thus those people can be considered as a risk group and extra precautions should be applied for them to protect them.

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.