Sulforaphane protected the injury of human vascular endothelial cell induced by LPC through up-regulating endogenous antioxidants and phase II enzymes

Marine Fish-Derived Lysophosphatidylcholine: Properties, Extraction, Quantification, and Brain Health Application

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids esterified in lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC-omega-3) are the most bioavailable omega-3 fatty acid form and are considered important for brain health. Lysophosphatidylcholine is a hydrolyzed phospholipid that is generated from the action of either phospholipase PLA1 or PLA2. There are two types of LPC; 1-LPC (where the omega-3 fatty acid at the sn-2 position is acylated) and 2-LPC (where the omega-3 fatty acid at the sn-1 position is acylated). The 2-LPC type is more highly bioavailable to the brain than the 1-LPC type. Given the biological and health aspects of LPC types, it is important to understand the structure, properties, extraction, quantification, functional role, and effect of the processing of LPC. This review examines various aspects involved in the extraction, characterization, and quantification of LPC. Further, the effects of processing methods on LPC and the potential biological roles of LPC in health and wellbeing are discussed. DHA-rich-LysoPLs, including LPC, can be enzymatically produced using lipases and phospholipases from wide microbial strains, and the highest yields were obtained by Lipozyme RM-IM®, Lipozyme TL-IM®, and Novozym 435®. Terrestrial-based phospholipids generally contain lower levels of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs, and therefore, they are considered less effective in providing the same health benefits as marine-based LPC. Processing (e.g., thermal, fermentation, and freezing) reduces the PL in fish. LPC containing omega-3 PUFA, mainly DHA (C22:6 omega-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid EPA (C20:5 omega-3) play important role in brain development and neuronal cell growth. Additionally, they have been implicated in supporting treatment programs for depression and Alzheimer’s. These activities appear to be facilitated by the acute function of a major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2 (Mfsd2a), expressed in BBB endothelium, as a chief transporter for LPC-DHA uptake to the brain. LPC-based delivery systems also provide the opportunity to improve the properties of some bioactive compounds during storage and absorption. Overall, LPCs have great potential for improving brain health, but their safety and potentially negative effects should also be taken into consideration.

Association of Vegetable and Fruit Consumption with Urinary Oxidative Biomarkers in Teenaged Girls: A School-Based Pilot Study in Japan

Hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and dityrosine (DT) have served as potential biomarkers for detecting oxidative modified lipids, DNA, and proteins in biological samples, respectively. Whether regular higher levels of consumption of vegetables/fruit (V/F) would decrease oxidative modification of these biomolecules in the body remain unelucidated. To examine the association of regular V/F consumption with the generation of these reactive oxygen species-induced biomarkers, this study evaluated V/F consumption in a school-based sample of teenaged girls (mean age 15.6 ± 1.7 years, n = 103), and quantified the formation of oxidative stress biomarkers in their urine. Only 19.4% and 23.3% of participants reported that they consumed the recommended daily amount of vegetables and fruits, respectively. Individuals who consumed lower levels of fruit (<100g/day) or vegetables (<250g/day) had significantly higher HEL excretion in their urine than those who consumed higher levels of fruit (≥100g/day) (p < 0.05) or vegetables (≥250g/day) (p = 0.057). The results of a multiple regression analysis showed that vegetable consumption was an important inhibiting factor of early lipid peroxidation measured as HEL in urine, independent of various confounders (β = - 0.332, p < 0.05). The findings suggest that relatively higher consumption of vegetables would help in the prevention of early lipid peroxidation in adolescents.

Longitudinal associations between blood lysophosphatidylcholines and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function

Lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) are phospholipids critical in the synthesis of cardiolipin, an essential component of mitochondrial membranes. Lower plasma LPCs have been cross-sectionally associated with lower skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, but whether lower LPCs and their decline over time are longitudinally associated with an accelerated decline of mitochondria function is unknown. We analyzed data from 184 participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (mean age: 74.5 years, 57% women, 25% black) who had repeated measures of plasma LPCs (16:0, 16:1, 17:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 20:3, 20:4, 24:0, and 28:1) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and repeated measures of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (k_PCr) assessed by ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy over an average of 2.4 years. Rates of change in k_PCr and each LPC were first estimated using simple linear regression. In multivariable linear regression models adjusted for baseline demographics and PCr % depletion, lower baseline LPC 16:1 and faster rates of decline in LPC 16:1 and 18:1 were significantly associated with a faster rate of decline in k_PCr (B =  - 0.169, 95% CI: - 0.328, - 0.010, p = 0.038; B = 0.209, 95% CI: 0.065, 0.352, p = 0.005; B = 0.156, 95% CI: 0.011, 0.301, p = 0.035, respectively). Rates of change in other LPCs were not significantly associated with change in k_PCr (all p > 0.05). Lower baseline concentrations and faster decline in selected plasma lysophosphatidylcholines over time are associated with faster decline in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Strategies to prevent the decline of plasma LPCs at an early stage may slow down mitochondrial function decline and impairment during aging.

Significant metabolic alterations in patients with hepatitis B virus replication observed via serum untargeted metabolomics shed new light on hepatitis B virus infection

Until now, the metabolic effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication on the progression of hepatic diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer) and liver functions have remained unexplored. Thus, a total of 199 hepatic disease patients with active and inactive HBV were enrolled in this study to explore serum metabolic characteristics using untargeted metabolomics. Multiple analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), volcano plot and pathway analysis, were used for metabolic data analysis. Additionally, differential metabolites were analysed by commercial databases. A decrease of approximately 0.8-fold in amino acids (L-glutamic acid, D-glutamine and L-tyrosine) and an increase of 2-fold in phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) were observed in hepatic disease patients with HBV replication. Moreover, downregulation of arachidonic acid, PC 34:2, sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine, 1-palmitoylglycerophosphoinositol, and 1-oleoylglycerophosphoinositol by 0.6-fold was also found in the serum of patients with HBV replication. In addition, liver function was significantly different between cirrhosis patients with or without HBV replication (p < .05). In summary, this is the first study to focus on the metabolic changes induced by HBV replication in patients and to compare metabolic alterations in the progression of hepatic disease induced by HBV infection. High levels of amino acid depletion and PC and LPC biosynthesis were primarily observed, which may shed new light on the pathogenesis and treatment of HBV infection.

Cytoprotection against Oxidative Stress by Methylnissolin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside from Astragalus membranaceus Mainly via the Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

Astragalus membranaceus is a famous herb found among medicinal and food plants in East and Southeastern Asia. The Nrf2-ARE assay-guided separation of an extract from Jing liqueur led to the identification of a nontoxic Nrf2 activator, methylnissolin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (MNG, a component of A. membranaceus). Nrf2 activation by MNG has not been reported before. Using Western Blot, RT-qPCR and imaging, we investigated the cytoprotective effect of MNG against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. MNG induced the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1, accelerated the translocation of Nrf2 into nuclei, and enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT. The MNG-induced expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 were abolished by Nrf2 siRNA, while the MNG-induced expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was abated and the AKT phosphorylation was blocked by LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor). MNG reduced intracellular ROS generation. However, the protection of MNG against the H₂O₂ insult was reversed by Nrf2 siRNA with decreased cell viability. The enhancement of Nrf2 and HO-1 by MNG upon H₂O₂ injury was reduced by LY294002. These data showed that MNG protected EA.hy926 cells against oxidative damage through the Nrf2/HO-1 and at least partially the PI3K/Akt pathways.

The Emerging Roles of Antioxidant Enzymes by Dietary Phytochemicals in Vascular Diseases

Vascular diseases are major causes of death worldwide, causing pathologies including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exposure of the vascular system to a variety of stressors and inducers has been implicated in the development of various human diseases, including chronic inflammatory diseases. In the vascular wall, antioxidant enzymes form the first line of defense against oxidative stress. Recently, extensive research into the beneficial effects of phytochemicals has been conducted; phytochemicals are found in commonly used spices, fruits, and herbs, and are used to prevent various pathologic conditions, including vascular diseases. The present review aims to highlight the effects of dietary phytochemicals role on antioxidant enzymes in vascular diseases.

Serum Metabolite Biomarkers for Predicting Residual Feed Intake (RFI) of Young Angus Bulls

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a feed efficiency measure commonly used in the livestock industry to identify animals that efficiently/inefficiently convert feed into meat or body mass. Selection for low-residual feed intake (LRFI), or feed efficient animals, is gaining popularity among beef producers due to the fact that LRFI cattle eat less and produce less methane per unit weight gain. RFI is a difficult and time-consuming measure to perform, and therefore a simple blood test that could distinguish high-RFI (HRFI) from LRFI animals (early on) would potentially benefit beef farmers in terms of optimizing production or selecting which animals to cull or breed. Using three different metabolomics platforms (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)) we successfully identified serum biomarkers for RFI that could potentially be translated to an RFI blood test. One set of predictive RFI biomarkers included formate and leucine (best for NMR), and another set included C4 (butyrylcarnitine) and LysoPC(28:0) (best for LC-MS/MS). These serum biomarkers have high sensitivity and specificity (AUROC > 0.85), for distinguishing HRFI from LRFI animals. These results suggest that serum metabolites could be used to inexpensively predict and categorize bovine RFI values. Further validation using a larger, more diverse cohort of cattle is required to confirm these findings.

Clinical Significance of Electronegative Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Atherothrombosis

Despite the numerous risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), cumulative evidence shows that electronegative low-density lipoprotein (L5 LDL) cholesterol is a promising biomarker. Its toxicity may contribute to atherothrombotic events. Notably, plasma L5 LDL levels positively correlate with the increasing severity of cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, traditional markers such as LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride are the therapeutic goals in secondary prevention for ASCVD, but that is controversial in primary prevention for patients with low risk. In this review, we point out the clinical significance and pathophysiological mechanisms of L5 LDL, and the clinical applications of L5 LDL levels in ASCVD can be confidently addressed. Based on the previously defined cut-off value by receiver operating characteristic curve, the acceptable physiological range of L5 concentration is proposed to be below 1.7 mg/dL. When L5 LDL level surpass this threshold, clinically relevant ASCVD might be present, and further exams such as carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, exercise stress test, or multidetector computed tomography are required. Notably, the ultimate goal of L5 LDL concentration is lower than 1.7 mg/dL. Instead, with L5 LDL greater than 1.7 mg/dL, lipid-lowering treatment may be required, including statin, ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitor, regardless of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level. Since L5 LDL could be a promising biomarker, we propose that a high throughput, clinically feasible methodology is urgently required not only for conducting a prospective, large population study but for developing therapeutics strategies to decrease L5 LDL in the blood.

An Updated Review of Lysophosphatidylcholine Metabolism in Human Diseases

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is increasingly recognized as a key marker/factor positively associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, findings from recent clinical lipidomic studies of LPC have been controversial. A key issue is the complexity of the enzymatic cascade involved in LPC metabolism. Here, we address the coordination of these enzymes and the derangement that may disrupt LPC homeostasis, leading to metabolic disorders. LPC is mainly derived from the turnover of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the circulation by phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂). In the presence of Acyl-CoA, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) converts LPC to PC, which rapidly gets recycled by the Lands cycle. However, overexpression or enhanced activity of PLA₂ increases the LPC content in modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL, which play significant roles in the development of atherosclerotic plaques and endothelial dysfunction. The intracellular enzyme LPCAT cannot directly remove LPC from circulation. Hydrolysis of LPC by autotaxin, an enzyme with lysophospholipase D activity, generates lysophosphatidic acid, which is highly associated with cancers. Although enzymes with lysophospholipase A₁ activity could theoretically degrade LPC into harmless metabolites, they have not been found in the circulation. In conclusion, understanding enzyme kinetics and LPC metabolism may help identify novel therapeutic targets in LPC-associated diseases.

Protective role of sulphoraphane against vascular complications in diabetes

Context Diabetes is a global health challenge. Although large prospective clinical trials have shown that intensive control of blood glucose or blood pressure reduces the risk for development and progression of vascular complications in diabetes, a substantial number of diabetic patients still experience renal failure and cardiovascular events, which could account for disabilities and high mortality rate in these subjects. Objective Sulphoraphane is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in widely consumed cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, and an inducer of phase II antioxidant and detoxification enzymes with anticancer properties. We reviewed here the protective role of sulphoraphane against diabetic vascular complications. Methods In this review, literature searches were undertaken in Medline and in CrossRef. Non-English language articles were excluded. Keywords [sulphoraphane and (diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic complications, vascular, cardiomyocytes, heart or glycation)] have been used to select the articles. Results There is accumulating evidence that sulphoraphane exerts beneficial effects on vascular damage in both cell culture and diabetic animal models via antioxidative properties. Furthermore, we have recently found that sulphoraphane inhibits in vitro formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), suppresses the AGE-induced inflammatory reactions in rat aorta by reducing receptor for AGEs (RAGE) expression and decreases serum levels of AGEs in humans. Conclusion These findings suggest that blockade of oxidative stress and/or the AGE-RAGE axis by sulphoraphane may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing vascular complications in diabetes.