Alcohol-induced pancreatic oxidative stress: protection by phospholipid repletion

Soybean polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) is beneficial in liver and extrahepatic tissue injury: An update in experimental research

Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) is a purified polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine extract of soybeans. This article updates PPC's beneficial effects on various forms of liver cell injury and other tissues in experimental research. PPC downregulates hepatocyte CYP2E1 expression and associated hepatotoxicity, as well as attenuates oxidative stress, apoptosis, lipoprotein oxidation and steatosis in alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver injury. PPC inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production, while stimulating anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion in ethanol or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Kupffer cells/macrophages. It promotes M2-type macrophage polarization and metabolic reprogramming of glucose and lipid metabolism. PPC mitigates steatosis in NAFLD through inhibiting polarization of pro-inflammatory M1-type Kupffer cells, alleviating metabolic inflammation, remodeling hepatic lipid metabolism, correcting imbalances between lipogenesis and lipolysis and enhancing lipoprotein secretion from hepatocytes. PPC is antifibrotic by preventing progression of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis in baboons and also prevents CCl4-induced fibrosis in rats. PPC supplementation replenishes the phosphatidylcholine content of damaged cell membranes, resulting in increased membrane fluidity and functioning. Phosphatidylcholine repletion prevents increased membrane curvature of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi and decreases sterol regulatory element binding protein-1-mediated lipogenesis, reducing steatosis. PPC remodels gut microbiota and affects hepatic lipid metabolism via the gut-hepatic-axis and also alleviates brain inflammatory responses and cognitive impairment via the gut-brain-axis. Additionally, PPC protects extrahepatic tissues from injury caused by various toxic compounds by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and membrane damage. It also stimulates liver regeneration, enhances sensitivity of cancer cells to radiotherapy/chemotherapy, and inhibits experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. PPC's beneficial effects justify it as a supportive treatment of liver disease.

Hydroxynonenal causes Langerhans cell degeneration in the pancreas of Japanese macaque monkeys

Background

For their functions of insulin biosynthesis and glucose- and fatty acid- mediated insulin secretion, Langerhans β-cells require an intracellular milieu rich in oxygen. This requirement makes β-cells, with their constitutively low antioxidative defense, susceptible to the oxidative stress. Although much progress has been made in identifying its molecular basis in experimental systems, whether the oxidative stress due to excessive fatty acids plays a crucial role in the Langerhans cell degeneration in primates is still debated.

Methods

Focusing on Hsp70.1, which has dual functions as molecular chaperone and lysosomal stabilizer, the mechanism of lipotoxicity to Langerhans cells was studied using macaque monkeys after the consecutive injections of the lipid peroxidation product ‘hydroxynonenal’. Based on the ‘calpain-cathepsin hypothesis’ formulated in 1998, calpain activation, Hsp70.1 cleavage, and lysosomal integrity were studied by immunofluorescence histochemistry, electron microscopy, and Western blotting.

Results

Light microscopy showed more abundant vacuole formation in the hydroxynonenal-treated islet cells than the control cells. Electron microscopy showed that vacuolar changes, which were identified as enlarged rough ER, occurred mainly in β-cells followed by δ-cells. Intriguingly, both cell types showed a marked decrease in insulin and somatostatin granules. Furthermore, they exhibited marked increases in peroxisomes, autophagosomes/autolysosomes, lysosomal and peroxisomal membrane rupture/permeabilization, and mitochondrial degeneration. Disrupted peroxisomes were often localized in the close vicinity of degenerating mitochondria or autolysosomes. Immunofluorescence histochemical analysis showed an increased co-localization of activated μ-calpain and Hsp70.1 with the extralysosomal release of cathepsin B. Western blotting showed increases in μ-calpain activation, Hsp70.1 cleavage, and expression of the hydroxynonenal receptor GPR109A.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data implicate hydroxynonenal in both oxidation of Hsp70.1 and activation of μ-calpain. The calpain-mediated cleavage of the carbonylated Hsp70.1, may cause lysosomal membrane rupture/permeabilization. The low defense of primate Langerhans cells against hydroxynonenal and peroxisomally-generated hydrogen peroxide, was presumably overwhelmed to facilitate cell degeneration.

Intake of ω-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Vegetable Oils and Risk of Lifestyle Diseases

Although excessive consumption of deep-fried foods is regarded as 1 of the most important epidemiological factors of lifestyle diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, the exact mechanism remains unknown. This review aims to discuss whether heated cooking oil-derived peroxidation products cause cell degeneration/death for the occurrence of lifestyle diseases. Deep-fried foods cooked in ω-6 PUFA-rich vegetable oils such as rapeseed (canola), soybean, sunflower, and corn oils, already contain or intrinsically generate "hydroxynonenal" by peroxidation. As demonstrated previously, hydroxynonenal promotes carbonylation of heat-shock protein 70.1 (Hsp70.1), with the resultant impaired ability of cells to recycle damaged proteins and stabilize the lysosomal membrane. Until now, the implication of lysosomal/autophagy failure due to the daily consumption of ω-6 PUFA-rich vegetable oils in the progression of cell degeneration/death has not been reported. Since the "calpain-cathepsin hypothesis" was formulated as a cause of ischemic neuronal death in 1998, its relevance to Alzheimer's neuronal death has been suggested with particular attention to hydroxynonenal. However, its relevance to cell death of the hypothalamus, liver, and pancreas, especially related to appetite/energy control, is unknown. The hypothalamus senses information from both adipocyte-derived leptin and circulating free fatty acids. Concentrations of circulating fatty acid and its oxidized form, especially hydroxynonenal, are increased in obese and/or aged subjects. As overactivation of the fatty acid receptor G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) in response to excessive or oxidized fatty acids in these subjects may lead to the disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis, it should be evaluated whether GPR40 overactivation contributes to diverse cell death. Here, we describe the molecular implication of ω-6 PUFA-rich vegetable oil-derived hydroxynonenal in lysosomal destabilization leading to cell death. By oxidizing Hsp70.1, both the dietary PUFA- (exogenous) and the membrane phospholipid- (intrinsic) peroxidation product "hydroxynonenal," when combined, may play crucial roles in the occurrence of diverse lifestyle diseases including Alzheimer's disease.

Current development in non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation products, isoprostanoids and isofuranoids, in novel biological samples

Isoprostanoids and isofuranoids are lipid mediators that can be formed from omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). F2-isoprostanes formed from arachidonic acid, especially 15-F2t-isoprostane, are commonly measured in biological tissues for decades as the biomarker for oxidative stress and diseases. Recently, other forms of isoprostanoids derived from adrenic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids namely F2-dihomo-isoprostanes, F3-isoprostanes, and F4-neuroprostanes respectively, and isofuranoids including isofurans, dihomo-isofurans, and neurofurans are reported as oxidative damage markers for different metabolisms. The most widely used samples in measuring lipid peroxidation products include but not limited to the blood and urine; other biological fluids, specialized tissues, and cells can also be determined. In this review, measurement of isoprostanoids and isofuranoids in novel biological samples by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS), GC-MS/MS, liquid chromatography (LC)-MS, and LC-MS/MS will be discussed.

Metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde by rat uterine horn subcellular fractions

Controversial studies from others suggested that alcohol intake could be associated with some deleterious effects in the uterus. Not all the effects of alcohol drinking on female reproductive organs can be explained in terms of endocrine disturbances. Deleterious effect of alcohol or its metabolites in situ could also play a role. Accordingly, we found a metabolism of alcohol to acetaldehyde in the rat uterine horn tissue cytosolic fraction mediated by xanthine oxidoreductase, requiring a purine cosubstrate and inhibited by allopurinol. This activity was detected by histochemistry in the epithelium and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was detected in the muscular layer and in the serosa. There was a microsomal process, not requiring NADPH and of enzymatic nature, oxygen-dependent and inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, diphenyleneiodonium and partially sensitive to esculetin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The presence of metabolic pathways in the uterine horn able to generate acetaldehyde, accompanied by a low capacity to destroy it through aldehyde dehydrogenase, led to acetaldehyde accumulation in the uterus during ethanol exposure. Results suggest that any acetaldehyde produced in situ or arriving to the uterine horn via blood would remain in this organ sufficiently to have the opportunity to react with critical molecules to cause deleterious effects.

Activity of essential phospholipids (EPL) from soybean in liver diseases

Essential phospholipids (EPL) contain a highly purified extract of polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) molecules from soybean. The main active ingredient is 1,2-dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC), which differentiates it from other phospholipids, lecithins, or extracts from other sources. Although EPLis widely used in liver diseases of various origins, its mode of action and pharmacological and clinical evidence of its efficacy have not yet been concisely reviewed. This paper critically summarizes experimental and clinical results. With regard to in-vitro and animal tests, EPL influenced membrane-dependent cellular functions and showed anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, apoptosis-modulating, regenerative, membrane-repairing and -protective, cell-signaling and receptor-influencing, as well as lipid-regulating effects in intoxication models with chemicals or drugs. Clinical studies, primarily from European and Asian countries, have shown improvement in subjective symptoms; clinical, biochemical and imaging findings; and histology in liver indications such as fatty liver of different origin, drug hepatotoxicity, and adjuvant in chronic viral hepatitis and hepatic coma. The available studies characterize EPL as evidence-based medicine, although further long-term controlled clinical trials are required to precisely determine its benefit for alleviating symptoms, improving well-being, inducing histological changes and slowing the progression of liver disease. EPL-related relevant side effects were not observed.

Transient receptor potential ion channels V4 and A1 contribute to pancreatitis pain in mice

The mechanisms of pancreatic pain, a cardinal symptom of pancreatitis, are unknown. Proinflammatory agents that activate transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in nociceptive neurons can cause neurogenic inflammation and pain. We report a major role for TRPV4, which detects osmotic pressure and arachidonic acid metabolites, and TRPA1, which responds to 4-hydroxynonenal and cyclopentenone prostaglandins, in pancreatic inflammation and pain in mice. Immunoreactive TRPV4 and TRPA1 were detected in pancreatic nerve fibers and in dorsal root ganglia neurons innervating the pancreas, which were identified by retrograde tracing. Agonists of TRPV4 and TRPA1 increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in these neurons in culture, and neurons also responded to the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin and are thus nociceptors. Intraductal injection of TRPV4 and TRPA1 agonists increased c-Fos expression in spinal neurons, indicative of nociceptor activation, and intraductal TRPA1 agonists also caused pancreatic inflammation. The effects of TRPV4 and TRPA1 agonists on [Ca(2+)](i), pain and inflammation were markedly diminished or abolished in trpv4 and trpa1 knockout mice. The secretagogue cerulein induced pancreatitis, c-Fos expression in spinal neurons, and pain behavior in wild-type mice. Deletion of trpv4 or trpa1 suppressed c-Fos expression and pain behavior, and deletion of trpa1 attenuated pancreatitis. Thus TRPV4 and TRPA1 contribute to pancreatic pain, and TRPA1 also mediates pancreatic inflammation. Our results provide new information about the contributions of TRPV4 and TRPA1 to inflammatory pain and suggest that channel antagonists are an effective therapy for pancreatitis, when multiple proinflammatory agents are generated that can activate and sensitize these channels.

Metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress could play a role in the ovarian tissue cell injury promoted by alcohol drinking

It is known that drinking alcohol can lead to reproductive problems in women. In this study, we analyzed the possibility that part of those effects were mediated through alterations of ovarian function related to ethanol oxidation to acetaldehyde occurring in situ. Biotransformation in the rat ovary cytosolic fraction was partially inhibited by allopurinol, suggesting the participation of xanthine oxidoreductase in the process. Microsomal pathway was of enzymatic nature, requiring nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH), sensitive to oxygen and significantly inhibited by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, 4-methylpyrazole and diphenyleneiodonium. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was detected by histochemistry in the ovarian tissue, in the strome surrounding the follicle while no alcohol dehydrogenase was detected. However, biochemical determination of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in rat ovarian tissue revealed the presence of some activity of both enzymes but significantly lower than those found in the liver. By repetitive exposure of animals to ethanol, the microsomal metabolism to acetaldehyde was increased but not in the case of the cytosolic fraction. In these animals, t-butylhydroperoxyde-promoted chemiluminiscence was increased in comparison to control, revealing an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress due to alcohol drinking. Ultrastructure of ovarian tissue from rats exposed chronically to alcohol revealed alterations at the level of the granulosa; theca interna and pellucida zones. In the secondary follicle, alterations consisted of marked condensation of chromatin attached to the nuclear inner membrane. Intense dilatation of the outer perinuclear space could be observed. There was a marked dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum accompanied of significant detachment of ribosomes from their membranes. Mitochondria appeared swollen. In the zona pellucida, most of the cell processes from oocyte and corona radiata cells were absent or broken totally or in part. Results suggest that in the rat ovary, metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde may play a role in alcohol effects on female reproductive function.

Roles of the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal in obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and associated vascular and neurodegenerative disorders

A rising tide of obesity and type 2 diabetes has resulted from the development of technologies that have made inexpensive high calorie foods readily available and exercise unnecessary for many people. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, visceral adiposity and dyslipidemia) wreak havoc on cells throughout the body thereby promoting cardiovascular and kidney disease, and degenerative diseases of the brain and body. Obesity and insulin resistance promote disease by increasing oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA as the result of a combination of increased free radical production and an impaired ability of cells to detoxify the radicals and repair damaged molecules. By covalently modifying membrane-associated proteins, the membrane lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) may play particularly sinister roles in the metabolic syndrome and associated disease processes. HNE can damage pancreatic beta cells and can impair the ability of muscle and liver cells to respond to insulin. HNE may promote atherosclerosis by modifying lipoproteins and can cause cardiac cell damage by impairing metabolic enzymes. An adverse role for HNE in the brain in obesity and the metabolic syndrome is suggested by studies showing that HNE levels are increased in brain cells with aging and Alzheimer's disease. HNE can cause the dysfunction and degeneration of neurons by modifying membrane-associated glucose and glutamate transporters, ion-motive ATPases, enzymes involved in amyloid metabolism, and cytoskeletal proteins. Exercise and dietary energy restriction reduce HNE production and may also increase cellular systems for HNE detoxification including glutathione and oxidoreductases. The recent development of low molecular weight molecules that scavenge HNE suggests that HNE can be targeted in the design of drugs for the treatment of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and associated disorders.

Herbal mixtures consisting of puerarin and either polyenylphosphatidylcholine or curcumin provide comprehensive protection against alcohol-related disorders in P rats receiving free choice water and 15% ethanol in pure water

Chronic alcohol drinking has been associated with the development of a number of abnormalities, including neuron-behavioral disorders, liver, pancreas, and heart-related diseases and inflammation and immune disorders. Because diverse mechanisms are involved in the development of these disorders, the commonly used receptor- or enzyme-specific drugs do not provide comprehensive protection against the adverse effects of alcoholism. This study describes possible therapeutic potency of puerarin (PU) from kudzu root, polyenylphosphatidylcholine from soy (SPCh), and curcumin (CU) from turmeric against alcohol's addiction-related and inflammatory-related abnormalities in alcohol-preferring P rats receiving free choice water and 15% ethanol in water. P-rats were fed once daily either the vehicle (for control) or different doses of PU, SPCh, CU, PU + SPCh, or PU + CU. The rats were divided in two groups: one received water alone, and the other free choice water and ethanol. Four rats from each group were fitted with electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes for EEG recording. After 70 days of alcohol drinking, alcohol was withdrawn for 2 weeks, and the withdrawal symptoms were assessed. This study showed that alcohol drinking for 70 days (1) caused liver inflammation characterized by elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and (2) dysregulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pleurisy. Alcohol withdrawal after 70 days of drinking generated severe withdrawal symptoms including seizure-type EEG activity. PU suppressed the addiction-mediated abnormalities but did not affect the inflammation-related abnormalities, while SPCh or CU suppressed only the inflammation-related abnormalities in alcohol-drinking rats subjected to LPS-induced pleurisy. A combination of PU with SPCh or CU suppressed both the addiction-related and inflammation-related abnormalities of alcohol drinking. Therefore, a mixture consisting of PU and either SPCh or CU may provide alternative therapy for alcohol-related disorders.

Assessment of oxidative stress in chronic pancreatitis patients

AIM: To assess the levels of antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage in blood of chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients in comparison with those in healthy control subjects, by using several different analytical techniques.

METHODS: Thirty-five CP patients and 35 healthy control subjects were investigated prospectively with respect to plasma levels of thiols, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP, i.e. antioxidant capacity), levels of protein carbonyls and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, we evaluated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in whole blood.

RESULTS: The antioxidative thiols including cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione were significantly lower in CP patients. In addition, the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in CP patients, which correlated with the amount of oxidative protein (protein carbonyls) and the extent of lipid damage (TBARS), both were significantly higher in CP patients. The ROS production in whole blood after stimulation with phorbol 12-myritate 13-acetaat, demonstrated a strong tendency to produce more ROS in CP patients.

CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis by decreasing antioxidant capacity and increasing oxidative damage in CP patients may be a rationale for intervention with antioxidant therapy.

Aqueous extract of black tea (Camellia sinensis) prevents ethanol+cholecystokinin-induced pancreatitis in a rat model

Black Tea Extract (BTE), a phytocompound has been attributed with a plethora of health-promoting actions. We have previously demonstrated that BTE inhibits chronic hepatitis in a rat model induced with high-fat and ethanol (EtOH). This study reports that BTE prevents altered pancreatic acinar cell functions, oxidative stress, inflammatory changes and DNA damage in the EtOH+cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced model of pancreatitis. The EtOH+CCK model rats were administered with BTE, and were examined the activity of pancreatic digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha), oxidative and antioxidative enzymes (nitric oxide, NO; malondialdehyde, MDA; superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT), antioxidant level (glutathione, GSH), histopathological changes and the integrity of genomic DNA. Results show that because of chronic EtOH treatment, serum level of amylase and lipase (two biomarkers for pancreatitis) and pancreatic levels of MDA and NO (two biomarkers of oxidative stress) increased significantly, which could be effectively blunted by BTE. BTE could normalize EtOH+CCK-induced suppressed activities of SOD and CAT, and GSH content of pancreatic tissue. Also, histopathological and inflammatory changes during EtOH+CCK-induced pancreatitis could be blunted by BTE. Furthermore, BTE could effectively reduce EtOH+CCK-induced increase in DNA fragmentation and damage. These findings suggest that BTE prevents pancreatitis caused by chronic EtOH+CCK toxicity presumably by enhancing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activity in rats.

Blood plasma antioxidant defense in patients with pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to establish the main determinants of plasma antioxidant potential in different types of human pancreatitis: chronic pancreatitis (CP, n = 19), chronic pancreatitis exacerbated (CPE, n = 16), and acute pancreatitis (AP, n = 8).

METHODS

We measured the plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total peroxyl radical trapping potential (TRAP), and the levels of antioxidants such as uric acid (UA), SH groups (SH), ascorbic acid (AA), and bilirubin (BIL).

RESULTS

In comparison to healthy volunteers (HV, n = 22) the average levels of TBARS in all types of pancreatitis were significantly higher (by 50%-90%), and plasma SH groups were lower (approximately 30%). In the multivariate regression models, the variability of plasma TRAP was explained in the HV group through UA only (36%), in the CP group through UA, AA, and BIL together (75%), and in CPE group through UA and AA together (81%). Plasma SH concentration did not enter the regression models in all groups. The AP group revealed "paradoxically" high concentrations of AA and TRAP and a negative, linear correlation between the level of TRAP versus UA concentration (R = -0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

The multivariate regression analysis points to different structures of antioxidant defense in healthy people and those with pancreatitis: they were much the same in the CP and CPE groups but fundamentally different in the AP group. AP may activate unidentified antioxidant defenses as an adaptive response against oxidative stress.

Oral acute toxicity of polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) in rats

Endogen phospholipids play a major role in determining the structure and nature of cell membranes. A deficiency of phospholipids in cellular membranes makes it almost impossible for the cell membrane to perform its function as a selective barrier between what passes in and out of the cell. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine chemical structure corresponds to that of endogen phospholipids, but it possesses functional superiority because of its content of unsaturated fatty acids. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine integrates in the cell membrane and organelle systems while becoming their constitutive elements. A healthy cell membrane leads to healthy cells and then healthy tissue and then to healthy organs or body systems and finally, healthy bodies and minds. For a long time, polyenylphosphatidylcholine in combination with vitamins has been used in the treatment of numerous health problems such as liver diseases, dyslipoproteinaemias and different intoxications with consequent liver failure. The main aim of toxicology studies is evaluation of the toxic potential and risks of human exposition to the substance. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) acute oral toxicity refers to those adverse effects occurring following oral administration of a single dose of a substance or multiple doses given within 24 hours. LD50 (median lethal dose), oral, is a statistically derived single dose of a substance that can be expected to cause death in 50 per cent of animals when administered by the oral route. Our acute toxicity study was performed on albino Wistar rats. Animals were randomised in three experimental and one control group, each of 5 males and 5 females. Study was based on the administration of a single oral dose of the test substance (polyenylphosphatidylcholine) to each experimental animal. There were three dose-levels of the test substance: 300, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Test substance administration day was the first day of the observation period that lasted 14 days. Control animals were given milk vehicle. At the end of the study, no statistically significant differences between experimental and control animals were observed concerning the recorded parameters: body weight, respiratory rate, tremor, faeces and phonation quality, indicating the absence of the test substance acute toxicity.

Especies reactivas de oxígeno en las enfermedades inflamatorias del páncreas: ¿una posible diana terapéutica?

Chronic and acute pancreatitis can be understood as distinct stages of an inflammatory spectrum in the pancreas. Although its pathogenesis is not well defined, oxidative stress seems to be clearly involved in its development. During acute pancreatitis, there is an extraordinary and rapid formation of reactive oxygen species that leads to the extinction of pancreatic antioxidant reserves, causes direct tissue damage and activates oxidative cellular mediators, giving rise to the lesion. However, classical antioxidants have not been shown to have clear benefits in patients with acute pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis seems to be the result of a recurrent lesion and defective repair, leading to pancreatic atrophy and fibrosis. In this process, oxidative stress is an efficient stimulus to maintain pancreatic stellar cells active, the fibrogenic motor of chronic pancreatitis. Although antioxidant supplements relieve abdominal pain in these patients, the direction of future antioxidant therapies lies in identifying oxidative mechanisms with the potential for intervention.

Kudzu Root Extract Suppresses Voluntary Alcohol Intake and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in P Rats Receiving Free Access to Water and Alcohol

Alcohol-preferring (P) rats, given free choice to drink water or 15% alcohol, drank 7-10 g of alcohol/kg/day, giving blood alcohol values ranging from 16 to 24 mg/dL. Body weight and food and total fluid intake values in control and alcohol-drinking P rats did not differ significantly, while water intake was inversely related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol withdrawal after 50 days of alcohol drinking caused withdrawal symptoms such as hypersensitivity, poor landing coordination, and tremors. A daily 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/kg dose of kudzu root (KdR) did not affect body weight and food and water intake values in control (no alcohol) P rats. Subchronic feeding of relatively higher KdR doses (0.75 and 1.0 g/kg) caused a 25-30% reduction in weight gain. The 0.5 g/kg KdR dose caused a 50-60% reduction in alcohol consumption, abolished the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but did not affect blood alcohol levels. The higher KdR doses did not further reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol suppressed the weight-reducing effects of KdR. The KdR extract used in this study contained 150 mg/g of puerarin, 13 mg/g of daidzin, 4 mg/g of daidzein, 3 mg/g of genistin, 0.2 mg/g of genistein, and 1 mg/g of glycetin. Blood and liver samples contained mostly puerarin and a trace amount of daidzein that may have been formed by the hydrolysis of daidzin by liver enzymes. An important observation was that brain samples obtained from KdR-fed or alcohol + KdR-fed rats did not contain any of the KdR isoflavones. Thus, KdR isoflavones suppressed alcohol drinking and withdrawal symptoms without entering the brain.

Role of PGE2 in the development of pancreatic injury induced by chronic alcohol feeding in rats

BACKGROUND

Eicosanoids are known to modulate inflammation. Moreover, some studies report that endogenous prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) protects the pancreas against injury. Therefore, we investigated its role in a rat model of chronic alcohol consumption.

METHODS

Rats were fed with 20% ethanol and a corn oil-supplemented diet using the interrupted alcohol feeding regimen (EI). Controls received water instead of ethanol (WI) or uninterruptedly ethanol (EU). After 13 mo, pancreas tissue was investigated morphologically, immunohistochemically and biochemically.

RESULTS

Pancreatic tissue was more severely injured in EI than in WI and EU (p < 0.05). Fibrogenesis (alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells, collagen types I and III) was increased in EI compared to WI (p < 0.05). In EI, mast cell numbers were increased, compared to WI, but decreased, compared to EU (p < 0.05). EI showed decreased PGE(2) and malondialdehyde contents compared to EU (p < 0.05) and decreased glutathione concentrations compared to WI (p < 0.05). PGE(2) content and fibrogenesis were inversely correlated in EU. The same correlation was detectable as a trend in all alcohol-fed rats.

CONCLUSION

The decrease in PGE(2) together with the increase in tissue damage and the inverse correlation between PGE(2) and fibrogenesis led us to suggest that endogenous PGE(2) plays a protective role in alcohol-induced injury in the pancreas.

Effects of ethanol and folic acid consumption during pregnancy and lactation on basal enzymatic secretion in the duodenal juice of offspring rats

OBJECTIVES

Studies on duodenal juice enzyme activities were carried out on suckling Wistar rats born to dams given ethanol during gestation and suckling. The results were compared with offspring of dams given diets containing no ethanol. Comparisons were also made with offspring of dams given ethanol and folic acid supplementation to observe whether a folate supplement could sufficiently reverse the negative effect of ethanol consumption.

METHODS

The dams were fed increased amounts of ethanol (5% to 20%, vol/vol) in tap water for 4 wk. The maximum quantity, 20% ethanol, was given to the dams during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring animals were randomized into three groups: control (CG), ethanol treated (EG), and ethanol plus folic acid (EFG).

RESULTS

Body weight at birth and at 21 d after birth and pancreatic weight were lower in offspring after ethanol treatment. Folic acid supplement increased these parameters in the EFG. Under basal conditions, decreases in amylase, lipase, and chymotrypsin activities in the duodenal juice after ethanol treatment were detected. Serum and urine amylase activities also decreased in the EG and EFG. These changes were different in the ethanol-treated progenitors. In these progenitors, ethanol treatment increased serum amylase levels. In the offspring, amylase activities in the EFG decreased with respect to the CG; however, an increase in the EG was observed. In dams the folic acid supplement did not significantly alter the serum amylase activities. Lipase and chymotrypsin activities in the EFG were similar to those in the EG. An increase of serum and urine amylase in the EFG with respect to the EG was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that, under basal conditions, ethanol treatment during gestation and lactation negatively affects the digestive function in offspring. The effects of ethanol were slightly attenuated in rats supplemented with folic acid for amylase activities. Although extrapolation from animal studies can be tenuous, the present findings may explain the use of folic acid in the prevention of damage induced by ethanol to increase the amylase levels to physiologic concentrations.

Composition, red blood cell uptake, and serum protein binding of phytoestrogens extracted from commercial kudzu-root and soy preparations

Kudzu-root and soy phytoestrogens have been associated with anti-cancer and anti-intoxication activities. Sales of capsules containing kudzu-root and soy extracts through health food stores and the Internet are unregulated. To compare efficacy, the amount of phytoestrogens present in commercial preparations and their fate in biological samples must be determined. In this study, the levels and composition of phytoestrogens in kudzu-root and soy extracts were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet light detection. The bioavailability of phytoestrogens was studied by measuring red blood cell (RBC) uptake and serum protein binding ability. Phytoestrogen levels in acidified kudzu-root samples were 5- to 10-fold greater than those in nonacidified samples. Puerarin accounted for 80% of total phytoestrogens in kudzu-root. In soy extract, puerarin was absent while genistin, glycetein, and daidzin or daidzein were the major phytoestrogens. The RBC uptake depended on the phytoestrogen's polarity and molecular length. When serum was dialyzed with phytoestrogen standards in a buffer, the protein binding of phytoestrogens correlated negatively with their polarity. However, when serum was dialyzed with kudzu-root or soy extract, almost all of the phytoestrogens present in the extract bound to serum protein. Therefore, this study suggests differences in the bioavailability of phytoestrogens when they are ingested as purified compounds compared with crude plant extract. The differential composition of phytoestrogens in kudzu-root and soy may account for the differences in their therapeutic activities.

Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine decreases ethanol-induced cytochrome P4502E1

Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) induction by ethanol contributes to alcoholic liver disease and we found that a mixture of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PPC), which protects against alcohol-induced liver injury, also decreases CYP2E1. Since dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) is the major component of PPC, we assessed here whether it is responsible for the protection of PPC by feeding rats for 8 weeks our liquid diet containing ethanol (36% of energy) or isocaloric carbohydrates, with either DLPC (1.5 g/1000 cal), PPC (3 g/1000 cal), or linoleate. CYP2E1 was assessed by Western blots and by two of its enzyme activities: the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) and p-nitrophenolhydroxylase (PNP). With ethanol, CYP2E1 increased 10-fold, with corresponding rises in PNP and MEOS activities. Compared to linoleate, DLPC significantly decreased cytochrome b(5), total cytochromes P450, CYP2E1 content and its corresponding activities. DLPC decreases ethanol-induced CYP2E1 and should be considered for the prevention of alcoholic liver disease.

Oxidative stress in blood of patients with alcohol-related pancreatitis

To determine the possible role of oxidative stress in alcoholic pancreatitis, the authors measured the ability of blood neutrophils of 22 patients with acute and 20 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis to produce superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), spontaneously and after in vitro stimulation with phorbol ester and compared it with that of neutrophils isolated from the blood of 16 healthy controls. In addition, they measured serum activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and the serum concentration of glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Phorbol ester-induced O2- and H2O2 production in neutrophils of patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis was greater than in controls, but these differences, except of superoxide anion production by neutrophils of patients with chronic pancreatitis, were not statistically significant because of large individual differences. Spontaneous resting production of O2- and H2O2 by neutrophils of patients with chronic pancreatitis was significantly greater than in the controls. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity was greater in sera of both groups of patients with acute and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis than in controls, but GPx concentration was significantly less in the sera of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Impaired GPx production and increased production of O2- and H2O2 by neutrophils may result in increased lipid peroxidation and could play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.

Protective effect of folic acid against oxidative stress produced in 21-day postpartum rats by maternal-ethanol chronic consumption during pregnancy and lactation period

In this paper we show the protective effect of folic acid on oxidative stress in offspring caused by chronic maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy and the lactation period. Glutathione reductase (GR) specific activity was assayed in liver and pancreas of offspring and mothers. In the offspring, these tissues were also assayed for markers of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. The results show that ethanol exposure during pregnancy and lactation increased the specific activity of GR in tissues of the mothers (32-34% increase) as well as in the liver of their progeny (24%). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were also increased in the liver and pancreas of 21-day-old rats (37- and 54%, respectively). Alcohol also increased the amount of carbonyl groups in proteins in both tissues. These measures of ethanol-mediated oxidative stress were mitigated when pregnant rats were treated with folic acid concomitantly to ethanol administration. The antioxidant capacity of folic acid seems to be involved in its protective effect. The results obtained in the present work suggest that folic acid may be useful in the prevention of damage and promotion of health of the progeny of ethanol-treated rats.