A mitochondria-targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging viscosity in living cells and a diabetic mice model

A mitochondria-targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe NIR-V with 700 nm emission was designed to monitor cell viscosity changes with high selectivity and sensitivity, which was applied to detect the intracellular viscosity and image pancreatic tissue in a diabetic mouse model. Probe NIR-V provides an effective way to diagnose viscosity related diseases.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and other adducts in aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated tissue injury

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are potentially harmful and heterogeneous molecules derived from nonenzymatic glycation. The pathological implications of AGEs are ascribed to their ability to promote oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent studies in basic and translational research have revealed the contributing roles of AGEs in the development and progression of various aging-related pathological conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular complications, gut microbiome-associated illnesses, liver or neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Excessive chronic and/or acute binge consumption of alcohol (ethanol), a widely consumed addictive substance, is known to cause more than 200 diseases, including alcohol use disorder (addiction), alcoholic liver disease, and brain damage. However, despite the considerable amount of research in this area, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which alcohol abuse causes cellular toxicity and organ damage remain to be further characterized. In this review, we first briefly describe the properties of AGEs: their formation, accumulation, and receptor interactions. We then focus on the causative functions of AGEs that impact various aging-related diseases. We also highlight the biological connection of AGE-alcohol-adduct formations to alcohol-mediated tissue injury. Finally, we describe the potential translational research opportunities for treatment of various AGE- and/or alcohol-related adduct-associated disorders according to the mechanistic insights presented.

The protective role of virgin coconut oil on the alloxan-induced oxidative stress in the liver, kidneys and heart of diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on oxidative stress parameters in the liver, kidneys and heart of alloxan-induced (150 mg kg^-1 i.p.^-1) diabetes in rats. Our results showed that daily supplementation of VCO (20% of food) for 16 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorates some deleterious effects caused by alloxan. VCO reduced the diabetes-related increase in food (82.15 ± 1.49 vs. 145.51 ± 4.81 g per kg b.m. per day) and water (305.49 ± 6.09 vs. 583.98 ± 14.80 mL per kg b.m. per day) intake, and the decrease in the body mass gain (0.56 ± 0.16 vs. -2.13 ± 0.49 g per 100 g b.m. per week). In all three tissues, diabetes caused an increase in the concentration of total glutathione and sulfhydryl groups, and catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities, without changes in superoxide dismutase activity. Glutathione peroxidase activity was increased in the kidneys and heart, but not in the liver of the diabetic animals, while glutathione reductase activity was increased in the liver and the kidneys, and not in the heart. The simultaneous VCO supplementation increased the concentration of the sulfhydryl group in all three tissues of diabetic animals and decreased the glutathione S-transferase activity and glutathione concentration, without affecting the glutathione reductase activity. In the liver of diabetic animals it decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, in the heart catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and in the kidney catalase activity only. The results of canonical discriminant analysis of oxidative stress parameters revealed that VCO exerts its effects in a tissue-specific manner.

Silver nanoparticles can attenuate nitrative stress

We have reported previously that glucose availability can modify toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via elevation of antioxidant defence triggered by increased mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we examined the effect of glucose availability on the production of reactive nitrogen species in HepG2 cells and modification of nitrative stress by AgNPs. We found that lowering the glucose concentration increased expression of genes coding for inducible nitric oxide syntheas, NOS2 and NOS2A resulting in enhanced production of nitric oxide. Surprisingly, AgNPs decreased the level of nitric oxide accelerated denitration of proteins nitrated by exogenous peroxynitrite in cells grown in the presence of lowered glucose concentration, apparently due to further induction of protective proteins.

Modulation of GSH with exogenous agents leads to changes in glyoxalase 1 enzyme activity in VL-17A cells exposed to chronic alcohol plus high glucose

Gluthathione (GSH) is a major cellular antioxidant. The present study utilizing VL-17A cells exposed to chronic alcohol plus high glucose investigated the changes in oxidative stress, toxicity, and glyoxalase 1 activity as a detoxification pathway due to changes in GSH level through GSH supplementation with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its depletion through buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or diethyl maleate (DEM). Glyoxalase 1 plays an important role in detoxification of methylglyoxal which is formed as a precursor of advanced glycated end products formed due to high glucose mediated oxidative stress. Significant changes in glyoxalase 1 activity utilizing methylglyoxal or glyoxal as substrates occurred with NAC or UDCA or BSO or DEM supplementation in chronic alcohol plus high glucose treated VL-17A cells. NAC or UDCA administration in chronic alcohol plus high glucose treated VL-17A cells increased viability and decreased ROS levels, lipid peroxidation and 3-nitrotyrosine adduct formation. Similarly, GSH depletion with BSO or DEM had an opposite effect on the parameters in chronic alcohol plus high glucose treated VL-17A cells. In conclusion, modulation of GSH with NAC or UDCA or BSO or DEM leads to significant changes in oxidative stress, glyoxalase 1 enzyme activity and toxicity in chronic alcohol plus high glucose treated VL-17A cells.

GSH protects against oxidative stress and toxicity in VL-17A cells exposed to high glucose

PURPOSE

The deficiency of glutathione (GSH) has been linked to several diseases. The study investigated the role of GSH as a protective factor against hyperglycemia-mediated injury in VL-17A cells treated with 50 mM glucose.

METHODS

The cell viability and different oxidative stress parameters including glyoxalase I activity were measured.

RESULTS

GSH supplementation with 2 mM N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or 0.1 mM ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) increased the viability, GSH level and the GSH-dependent glyoxalase I activity in 50 mM glucose-treated VL-17A cells. Further, pretreatment of 50 mM glucose-treated VL-17A cells with NAC or UDCA decreased oxidative stress (levels of reactive oxygen species and protein carbonylation), apoptosis (caspase 3 activity and annexin V-propidium iodide positive cells) and glutathionylated protein formation, a measure of oxidative stress. GSH depletion with 0.4 mM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or 1 mM diethyl maleate (DEM) potentiated the decrease in viability, glyoxalase I activity and increase in oxidative stress and apoptosis, with decreased GSH levels in 50 mM glucose-treated VL-17A cells.

CONCLUSION

Thus, changes in GSH levels with exogenous agents such as NAC, UDCA, BSO or DEM modulate hyperglycemia-mediated injury in a cell model of VL-17A liver cells.

The role of antioxidants and other agents in alleviating hyperglycemia mediated oxidative stress and injury in liver

Several antioxidants and agents having similar antioxidant effects are known to exert beneficial effects in ameliorating the injurious effects of hyperglycemia on liver in different diabetic in vitro and in vivo models. The review deals with some of the agents which have been shown to exert protective effects on liver against hyperglycemic insult and the various mechanisms involved. The different classes of agents which protect the diabetic liver or decrease the severity of hyperglycemia mediated injury include flavonoids, catechins, and other polyphenolic compounds, curcumin and its derivatives, certain vitamins, hormones and drugs, trace elements, prototypical antioxidants and amino acids. Some of the pronounced changes mediated by the antioxidants in liver exposed to hyperglycemia include decreased oxidative stress, and alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Other mechanisms through which the agents ameliorate hyperglycemia mediated liver injury include decrease in oxidative DNA and protein damage, restoration of mitochondrial structural and functional integrity, decrease in inflammation and improved insulin signaling. Thus, antioxidants may prove to be an important mode of defense in maintaining normal hepatic functions in diabetes.

Cytochrome P450 2E1: its clinical aspects and a brief perspective on the current research scenario

Research on Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), a key enzyme in alcohol metabolism has been very well documented in literature. Besides the involvement of CYP2E1 in alcohol metabolism as illustrated through the studies discussed in the chapter, recent studies have thrown light on several other aspects of CYP2E1 i.e. its extrahepatic expression, its involvement in several diseases and pathophysiological conditions; and CYP2E1 mediated carcinogenesis and modulation of drug efficacy. Studies involving these interesting facets of CYP2E1 have been discussed in the chapter focusing on the recent observations or ongoing studies illustrating the crucial role of CYP2E1 in disease development and drug metabolism.