The crucial role of vitamin C and its transporter (SVCT2) in bone marrow stromal cell autophagy and apoptosis

Fabrication and characterization of cocoa butter-based caffeine fast-melting tablets

Aim: The objective of this study was to develop and characterize the physical properties of fast-melting tablets (FMTs) using cocoa butter as the base and caffeine as the model drug. Method: The simple refrigerator freezing method was employed to prepare caffeine-loaded, FMTs from cocoa butter bases. Results: The F3 chosen formulation achieved a disintegration time of 1.20 min ± 0.035, which falls within the specified limit set by the European Pharmacopoeia. The cumulative drug release data of F3, was 88.52 and 94.08% within 60 and 75 min, respectively (NLT 85% as per US FDA requirement). All the other physical test standards for FMTs met the pharmacopeial specifications. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the simple refrigerator freezing method could be used to formulate FMTs.

Exosomes isolated from citrus lemon: a promising candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of exosome-like nanovesicles from citrus lemon (EXO-CLs) in combating oxidative stress associated with Alzheimer's disease. Materials & methods: EXO-CLs were isolated through differential ultracentrifugation, characterized for particle size and evaluated for antioxidant activity. Results: EXO-CLs exhibited a mean size of 93.77 ± 12.31 nm, demonstrated permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and displayed antioxidant activity comparable to ascorbic acid. Additionally, they were found to be non-toxic, with over 80% cell viability observed in SH-SY5Y cells. Conclusion: The study proposes that EXO-CLs could serve as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. This suggests a promising approach for targeted interventions in brain-related disorders, owing to the antioxidant properties and BBB permeability exhibited by EXO-CLs.

How vitamins act as novel agents for ameliorating diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A comprehensive overview

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a pervasive and incapacitating sequela of diabetes, affecting a significant proportion of those diagnosed with the disease, yet an effective treatment remains elusive. Vitamins have been extensively studied, emerging as a promising target for diagnosing and treating various systemic diseases, but their role in DPN is not known. This review collates and synthesizes knowledge regarding the interplay between vitamins and DPN, drawing on bibliographies from prior studies and relevant articles, and stratifying the therapeutic strategies from prophylactic to interventional. In addition, the clinical evidence supporting the use of vitamins to ameliorate DPN is also evaluated, underscoring the potential of vitamins as putative therapeutic agents. We anticipate that this review will offer novel insights for developing and applying vitamin-based therapies for DPN.

Unlocking the potential of Mesenchymal stem cells in liver Fibrosis: Insights into the impact of autophagy and aging

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by extracellular matrix protein accumulation, potentially leading to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver cell damage, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis due to various reasons induce liver fibrosis. Although several treatments, such as antiviral drugs and immunosuppressive therapies, are available for liver fibrosis, they only provide limited efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising therapeutic option for liver fibrosis, because they can modulate the immune response, promote liver regeneration, and inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells that contribute to disease development. Recent studies have suggested that the mechanisms through which MSCs gain their antifibrotic properties involve autophagy and senescence. Autophagy, a vital cellular self-degradation process, is critical for maintaining homeostasis and protecting against nutritional, metabolic, and infection-mediated stress. The therapeutic effects of MSCs depend on appropriate autophagy levels, which can improve the fibrotic process. Nonetheless, aging-related autophagic damage is associated with a decline in MSC number and function, which play a crucial role in liver fibrosis development. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the understanding of autophagy and senescence in MSC-based liver fibrosis treatment, presenting the key findings from relevant studies.

Anti-Alzheimer Activity of Combinations of Cocoa with Vinpocetine or Other Nutraceuticals in Rat Model: Modulation of Wnt3/β-Catenin/GSK-3β/Nrf2/HO-1 and PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2 Pathways

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating illness with limited therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD and explore the potential neuroprotective effects of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, in an animal model of aluminum-induced AD. Rats were divided into nine groups: control, aluminum chloride (AlCl3) alone, AlCl3 with cocoa alone, AlCl3 with vinpocetine (VIN), AlCl3 with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), AlCl3 with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), AlCl3 with wheatgrass (WG), AlCl3 with vitamin (Vit) B complex, and AlCl3 with a combination of Vit C, Vit E, and selenium (Se). The animals were treated for five weeks, and we assessed behavioral, histopathological, and biochemical changes, focusing on oxidative stress, inflammation, Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis. AlCl3 administration induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and downregulation of cellular antioxidants (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, and TAC). AlCl3 also upregulated inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α and IL-1β) and GSK-3β, leading to increased tau phosphorylation, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, AlCl3 intensified C/EBP, p-PERK, GRP-78, and CHOP, indicating sustained ER stress, and decreased Beclin-1 and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions. These alterations contributed to the observed behavioral and histological changes in the AlCl3-induced AD model. Administration of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, particularly VIN or EGCG, demonstrated remarkable amelioration of all assessed parameters. The combination of cocoa with nutraceuticals attenuated the AD-mediated deterioration by modulating interrelated pathophysiological pathways, including inflammation, antioxidant responses, GSK-3β-Wnt/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, and apoptosis. These findings provide insights into the intricate pathogenesis of AD and highlight the neuroprotective effects of nutraceuticals through multiple signaling pathways.

Ultraviolet B radiation induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lens epithelium cells by activating NF-κB signaling to down-regulate sodium vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) expression

Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is reported to cause cataract formation by inducing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). Sodium-dependent Vitamin C transports-2 (SVCT2) is a ascorbic acid (AsA) transporter for that can protect cells and tissues from oxidative stress. Here, we focus on the functional characterization and mechanism analysis of SVCT2 in UVB-treated HLECs. The results showed a significant reduction of SVCT2 expression in HLECs treated with UVB. SVCT2 abated apoptosis and Bax expression and increased Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, SVCT2 decreased ROS accumulation and MDA level, but increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH-PX). NF-κB inhibitor (PDTC) alleviated ROS production and apoptosis, and promoted SVCT2 expression in UVB-treated HLECs. Additionally, ROS inhibitor (NAC) suppressed oxidative stress, apoptosis, and induced SVCT2 expression in UVB-treated HLECs, while these effects were significantly abated due to the activation of NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, SVCT2 facilitated 14C-AsA absorption in UVB-treated HLECs. Together, our findings demonstrated that UVB exposure-induced ROS generation, which further activated NF-κB signaling to down-regulate SVCT2 expression in HLECs. Then, downregulated SVCT2 promoted ROS accumulation and induced apoptosis by decreasing AsA uptake. Our data reveal a novel NF-κB/SVCT2/AsA regulatory pathway and suggest the therapeutic potential of SVCT2 in UVB-induced cataract.

Vitamin C Promotes Muscle Development Mediated by the Interaction of CSRP3 with MyoD and MyoG

Previous studies have reported that vitamin C (VC), an essential nutrient, exerts beneficial effects on muscle health. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the VC-mediated regulation of muscle development is still unclear. The roles of VC in muscle development and the underlying molecular mechanisms were examined using cell and molecular biology, transcriptomics, proteomics, and animal experiments in this study. VC upregulated the expression of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) and cysteine rich protein 3 (CSRP3). Additionally, VC promoted the differentiation of C2C12 cells and the repair of mouse muscle injury by upregulating the nuclear translocation of CSRP3, which subsequently interacted with MyoD and MyoG. This study provided a theoretical basis for elucidating the mechanism underlying the VC-mediated regulation of muscle development, as well as for developing animal nutritional supplements and therapeutic drugs for muscle diseases.

Nutraceuticals as Modulators of Autophagy: Relevance in Parkinson’s Disease

Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals have entered the mainstream. Especially in the media, they are strongly advertised as safe and even recommended for certain diseases. Although they may support conventional therapy, sometimes these substances can have unexpected side effects. This review is particularly focused on the modulation of autophagy by selected vitamins and nutraceuticals, and their relevance in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson’s disease (PD). Autophagy is crucial in PD; thus, the induction of autophagy may alleviate the course of the disease by reducing the so-called Lewy bodies. Hence, we believe that those substances could be used in prevention and support of conventional therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. This review will shed some light on their ability to modulate the autophagy.

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Treatment of a Complex Abdominal Wound with Vitamin C and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

ABSTRACT

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDSv) can present with life-threatening surgical complications. The article describes the case of a patient with EDSv who developed total abdominal wound dehiscence and multiple enterocutaneous fistulas. Treatment with IV allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and high-dose vitamin C was trialed with success. Near-complete wound healing of the abdominal dehiscence with a 94% reduction in the size of the wound bed occurred. Maturation of the enterocutaneous fistulas also ensued.There is no current consensus on the management of large cutaneous wounds in EDSv. This article discusses the pathophysiology of wound healing with regard to nutrition requirements and growth factors with special reference to collagen deficits in EDSv. A potential therapy with IV vitamin C supplementation and MSCs is proposed following the patient's positive outcome. Medium-dose MSCs and high-dose IV vitamin C may offer significant benefits to complex and problematic wounds.

Archetypal autophagic players through new lenses for bone marrow stem/mature cells regulation

The bone marrow landscape consists of specialized and stem/progenitor cells, which coordinate important tissue-related and systemic physiological features. Within the marrow cavity, stem/progenitor and differentiated hematopoietic and skeletal cells congregate into dynamic functional assemblies throughout specific anatomical regions, termed niches. There is a need for better understanding of the bone marrow microareas, through exploration of the intramural physical and molecular interactions of the distinctive cell populations. The elective liaisons established among the mesenchymal/stromal stem cell and hematopoietic stem cell lineage trees play a key role in orchestrating the stem/mature cell behavior and customized hierarchies within bone marrow cell populations. Recently, the autophagic apparatus has been discovered to be an important feature of bone marrow homeostasis. Autophagy-related factors involved in the labyrinthic and highly dynamic bone marrow workshop redesign the niche framework by coordinating the operational schedule of pluripotent stem and mature cells. The following report summarizes the most recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the intramural relationships between bone marrow cells and key autophagic mediators. Doubtless, the consideration of the autophagy-related and unrelated functions of main players, such as p62, Atg7, Atg5, and Beclin-1 remains a compelling task to thoroughly understand the complex relations between the heterogenic cell types that populate bone marrow.

Repositioning Vitamin C as a Promising Option to Alleviate Complications associated with COVID-19

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin with pleiotropic functions, ranging from antioxidant to anti-microbial functions. Evidence suggests that vitamin C acts against inflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy chaos, and immune dysfunction. The ability to activate and enhance the immune system makes this versatile vitamin a prospective therapeutic agent amid the current situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Being highly effective against the influenza virus, causing the common cold, vitamin C may also function against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its associated complications. Severe infections need higher doses of the vitamin to compensate for the augmented inflammatory response and metabolic demand that commonly occur during COVID-19. Compelling evidence also suggests that a high dose of vitamin C (1.5 g/kg body weight) in inflammatory conditions can result in effective clinical outcomes and thus can be employed to combat COVID-19. However, further studies are crucial to delineate the mechanism underlying the action of vitamin C against COVID-19. The current review aims to reposition vitamin C as an alternative approach for alleviating COVID-19-associated complications.

Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Effects of Vitamin C-Treated Donor Cells on Cloned Bovine Embryo Development

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a very powerful technique used to produce genetically identical or modified animals. However, the cloning efficiency in mammals remains low. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of vitamin C (Vc)-treated donor cells on cloned embryos. As a result, Vc treatment relaxed the chromatin of donor cells and improved cloned embryo development. RNA sequencing was adopted to investigate the changes in the transcriptional profiles in early embryos. We found that Vc treatment increased the expression of genes involved in the cell–substrate adherens junction. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that Vc treatment facilitated the activation of autophagy, which was deficient in cloned two-cell embryos. Rapamycin, an effective autophagy activator, increased the formation of cloned blastocysts (36.0% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.05). Abnormal expression of some coding genes and long non-coding RNAs in cloned embryos was restored by Vc treatment, including the zinc-finger protein 641 (ZNF641). ZNF641 compensation by means of mRNA microinjection improved the developmental potential of cloned embryos. Moreover, Vc treatment rescued some deficient RNA-editing sites in cloned two-cell embryos. Collectively, Vc-treated donor cells improved the development of the cloned embryo by affecting embryonic transcription. This study provided useful resources for future work to promote the reprogramming process in SCNT embryos.

Age-Dependent Oxidative Stress Elevates Arginase 1 and Uncoupled Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle of Aged Mice

Aging is associated with reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) and poor bone quality (osteoporosis), which together increase the incidence of falls and bone fractures. It is widely appreciated that aging triggers systemic oxidative stress, which can impair myoblast cell survival and differentiation. We previously reported that arginase plays an important role in oxidative stress-dependent bone loss. We hypothesized that arginase activity is dysregulated with aging in muscles and may be involved in muscle pathophysiology. To investigate this, we analyzed arginase activity and its expression in skeletal muscles of young and aged mice. We found that arginase activity and arginase 1 expression were significantly elevated in aged muscles. We also demonstrated that SOD2, GPx1, and NOX2 increased with age in skeletal muscle. Most importantly, we also demonstrated elevated levels of peroxynitrite formation and uncoupling of eNOS in aged muscles. Our in vitro studies using C2C12 myoblasts showed that the oxidative stress treatment increased arginase activity, decreased cell survival, and increased apoptotic markers. These effects were reversed by treatment with an arginase inhibitor, 2(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH). Our study provides strong evidence that L-arginine metabolism is altered in aged muscle and that arginase inhibition could be used as a novel therapeutic target for age-related muscle complications.

Modulating autophagy in mesenchymal stem cells effectively protects against hypoxia- or ischemia-induced injury

In mammals, a basal level of autophagy, a self-eating cellular process, degrades cytosolic proteins and subcellular organelles in lysosomes to provide energy, recycles the cytoplasmic components, and regenerates cellular building blocks; thus, autophagy maintains cellular and tissue homeostasis in all eukaryotic cells. In general, adaptive autophagy increases when cells confront stressful conditions to improve the survival rate of the cells, while destructive autophagy is activated when the cellular stress is not manageable and elicits the regenerative capacity. Hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury initiate excessive autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and consequently induce a string of damage in mammalian tissues or organs. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy has yielded promising results in repairing H/R- or I/R-induced injury in various tissues. However, MSC transplantation in vivo must overcome the barriers including the low survival rate of transplanted stem cells, limited targeting capacity, and low grafting potency; therefore, much effort is needed to increase the survival and activity of MSCs in vivo. Modulating autophagy regulates the stemness and the anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, and pro-survival capacity of MSCs and can be applied to MSC-based therapy for repairing H/R- or I/R-induced cellular or tissue injury.

The positive effect of chick embryo and nutrient mixture on bone marrow- derived mesenchymal stem cells from aging rats

The aging of many mammalian tissues is associated with loss of functional adult stem cells, especially bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). This study was aimed to analyze the biological effect of chick embryo (CE) and nutrient mixture (NM) on the BMSCs of aging rats. The aging rat model was established to be induced by D-galactose (500 mg/kg/d) for 90 days. Meanwhile, aging rats were fed with CE and NM in different dose manner by intragastric administration. At the end of the experimental period, serum was collected from rats and used for BMSCs culture. Flow cytometric analysis was used to investigate the BMSCs surface markers. Alizarin Red and oil red O staining were performed to evaluate the multi-lineage differentiation of BMSCs. The results showed that CE plus NM increased the telomere length of BMSCs and promoted BMSCs proliferation. Moreover, CE plus NM administration promoted BMSCs differentiation into osteoblasts and suppressed differentiation into adipocytes. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that there were 326 genes were up-regulated and 59 genes were down-regulated in BMSCs of aging rats treated with CE plus NM. In conclusion, CE plus NM supplement had potential to delay aging through the recovery of BMSCs senescence and could be used as a safe effective approach for nutritional therapy of anti-aging.

Modulation of miRNAs by Vitamin C in Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (18–25 nucleotides), noncoding RNAs that have been identified as potential regulators of bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) proliferation, differentiation, and musculoskeletal development. Vitamin C is known to play a vital role in such types of biological processes through various different mechanisms by altering mRNA expression. We hypothesized that vitamin C mediates these biological processes partially through miRNA regulation. We performed global miRNA expression analysis on human BMSCs following vitamin C treatment using microarrays containing human precursor and mature miRNA probes. Bioinformatics analyses were performed on differentially expressed miRNAs to identify novel target genes and signaling pathways. Our bioinformatics analysis suggested that the miRNAs may regulate multiple stem cell-specific signaling pathways such as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), fatty acid biosynthesis and hormone signaling pathways. Furthermore, our analysis predicted novel stem cell proliferation and differentiation gene targets. The findings of the present study demonstrate that vitamin C can have positive effects on BMSCs in part by regulating miRNA expression.

Vitamin C mitigates oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy

Increase in oxidative/nitrosative stress is one of the mechanisms associated with the development of cardiotoxicity due to doxorubicin (Dox), a potent chemotherapy drug. Previously, we reported mitigation of Dox-induced oxidative/nitrosative stress and apoptosis by vitamin C (Vit C) in isolated cardiomyocytes. In the present in vivo study in rats, we investigated the effect of prophylactic treatment with Vit C on Dox-induced apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress, cardiac dysfunction, and Vit C transporter proteins. Dox (cumulative dose: 15 mg/kg) in rats reduced systolic and diastolic cardiac function and caused structural damage. These changes were associated with a myocardial increase in reactive oxygen species, reduction in antioxidant enzyme activities, increased expression of apoptotic proteins, and inflammation. Dox also caused an increase in the expression of proapoptotic proteins Bax, Bnip-3, Bak, and caspase-3. An increase in oxidative/nitrosative stress attributable to Dox was indicated by an increase in superoxide, protein carbonyl formation, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO), NO synthase (NOS) activity, protein nitrosylation, and inducible NOS protein expression. Dox increased the levels of cardiac proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas the expression of Vit C transporter proteins (sodium-ascorbate cotransporter 2 and glucose transporter 4) was reduced. Prophylactic and concurrent treatment with Vit C prevented all these changes and improved survival in the Vit C + Dox group. Vit C also improved Dox-mediated systolic and diastolic dysfunctions and structural damage. These results suggest a cardioprotective role of Vit C in Dox-induced cardiomyopathy by reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, as well as improving Vit C transporter proteins.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This in vivo study provides novel data that vitamin C improves cardiac structure and function in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation along with upregulation of cardiac vitamin C transporter proteins. The latter may have a crucial role in improving antioxidant status in this cardiomyopathy.

Gender-specific differential expression of exosomal miRNA in synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis

The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is poorly understood, and therapeutic approaches are limited to preventing progression of the disease. Recent studies have shown that exosomes play a vital role in cell-to-cell communication, and pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. Molecular profiling of synovial fluid derived exosomal miRNAs may increase our understanding of OA progression and may lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this article we report the first characterization of exosomes miRNAs from human synovial fluid. The synovial fluid exosomes share similar characteristics (size, surface marker, miRNA content) with previously described exosomes in other body fluids. MiRNA microarray analysis showed OA specific exosomal miRNA of male and female OA. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis identified gender-specific target genes/signaling pathways. These pathway analyses showed that female OA specific miRNAs are estrogen responsive and target TLR (toll-like receptor) signaling pathways. Furthermore, articular chondrocytes treated with OA derived extracellular vesicles had decreased expression of anabolic genes and elevated expression of catabolic and inflammatory genes. In conclusion, synovial fluid exosomal miRNA content is altered in patients with OA and these changes are gender specific.

L-Ascorbate Protects Against Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity of Cortical Cells via Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Autophagy, and Apoptosis

Methamphetamine (METH)-induced cell death contributes to the pathogenesis of neurotoxicity; however, the relative roles of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy remain unclear. L-Ascorbate, also called vitamin (Vit.) C, confers partial protection against METH neurotoxicity via induction of heme oxygenase-1. We further investigated the role of Vit. C in METH-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy in cortical cells. Exposure to lower concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1 mM) of METH had insignificant effects on ROS production, whereas cells exposed to 5 mM METH exhibited ROS production in a time-dependent manner. We confirmed METH-induced apoptosis (by nuclear morphology revealed by Hoechst 33258 staining and Western blot showing the protein levels of pro-caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 3) and autophagy (by Western blot showing the protein levels of Belin-1 and conversion of microtubule-associated light chain (LC)3-I to LC3-II and autophagosome staining by monodansylcadaverine). The apoptosis as revealed by cleaved caspase-3 expression marked an increase at 18 h after METH exposure while both autophagic markers, Beclin 1 and LC3-II, marked an increase in cells exposed to METH for 6 and 24 h, respectively. Treating cells with Vit. C 30 min before METH exposure time-dependently attenuated the production of ROS. Vitamin C also attenuated METH-induced Beclin 1 and LC3-II expression and METH toxicity. Treatment of cells with Vit. C before METH exposure attenuated the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and reduced the number of METH-induced apoptotic cells. We suggest that the protective effect of Vit. C against METH toxicity might be through attenuation of ROS production, autophagy, and apoptosis.