Malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, is mutagenic in human cells

Plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems: Current knowledge on impacts of micro and nano fragments on invertebrates

The increasing accumulation of small plastic particles, in particular microplastics (>1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 µm), in the environment is a hot topic in our rapidly changing world. Recently, studies were initiated to better understand the behavior of micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) within complex matrices like soil, as well as their characterization, incorporation and potential toxicity to terrestrial biota. However, there remains significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of the wide-extent impacts of MNP on terrestrial invertebrates. We first summarized facts on global plastic pollution and the generation of MNP. Then, we focused on compiling the existing literature examining the consequences of MNP exposure in terrestrial invertebrates. The diversity of investigated biological endpoints (from molecular to individual levels) were compiled to get a better comprehension of the effects of MNP according to different factors such as the shape, the polymer type, the organism, the concentration and the exposure duration. The sublethal effects of MNP are acknowledged in the literature, yet no general conclusion was drawn as their impacts are highly dependent on their characteristic and experimental design. Finally, the synthesis highlighted some research gaps and remediation strategies, as well as a protocol to standardize ecotoxicological studies.

Obesity-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects approximately 2 million people worldwide. Obesity is the major risk factor for CRC. In addition, obesity contributes to a chronic inflammatory stage that enhances tumor progression through the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. In addition to an increased inflammatory response, obesity-associated cancer presents accrued molecular factors related to cancer characteristics, such as genome instability, sustained cell proliferation, telomere dysfunctions, angiogenesis, and microbial alteration, among others. Despite the evidence accumulated over the last few years, the treatments for obesity-associated CRC do not differ from the CRC treatments in normal-weight individuals. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on obesity-associated cancer, including its epidemiology, risk factors, molecular factors, and current treatments. Finally, we enumerate possible new therapeutic targets that may improve the conditions of obese CRC patients. Obesity is key for the development of CRC, and treatments resulting in the reversal of obesity should be considered as a strategy for improving antineoplastic CRC therapies.

Direct and indirect toxicity mechanisms of the natural insecticide azadirachtin based on in-silico interactions with tubulin, topoisomerase and DNA

Natural pesticides, which attract attention with safe properties, pose a threat to many non-target organisms, so their toxic effects should be studied extensively. In this study, the toxic effects of Azadirachtin, a natural insecticide derived from Azadirachta indica, were investigated by in-vivo and in-silico methods. In-vivo toxic effects were determined using the Allium test and bulbs were treated with 5 mg/L (0.5x EC50), 10 mg/L (EC50), and 20 mg/L (2xEC50) Azadirachtin. In the groups treated with Azadirachtin, there was a decline in germination-related parameters and accordingly growth was delayed. This regression may be related to oxidative stress in the plant, and the increase in malondialdehyde and proline levels in Azadirachtin-applied groups confirms oxidative stress. Azadirachtin toxicity increased dose-dependently and the most significant toxic effect was observed in the group administered 20 mg/L Azadirachtin. In this group, the mitotic index decreased by 43.4% and sticky chromosomes, vagrant chromosomes and fragments were detected at rates of 83.1 ± 4.01, 72.7 ± 3.46 and 65.1 ± 3.51, respectively. By comet analysis, it was determined that Azadirachtin caused DNA fragmentation, and tail DNA, which was 0.10 ± 0.32% in the control group, increased to 34.5 ± 1.35% in the Azadirachtin -treated groups. These cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Azadirachtin may be due to direct interaction with macromolecules as well as induced oxidative stress. Azadirachtin has been found to interact in-silico with alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, topoisomerase I and II, and various DNA sequences. Possible deteriorations in macromolecular structure and functions as a result of these interactions may cause cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. These results suggest that natural insecticides may also be unreliable for non-target organisms, and the toxic effects of compounds presented as "natural" should also be investigated.

Effect of MDA-mediated oxidation on the protein structure and digestive properties of golden pomfret

In this study, golden pomfret myofibrillar protein (MP) was used as the research object, and the oxidation system of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an inducer and the static digestion model in vitro was established for the analysis of the changes in protein structure and molecular morphology during oxidation and digestion. Subsequently, the effects of MDA-mediated oxidation on the structure and digestive properties of golden pomfret myofibrillar fibrillar protein were determined. The results showed that the hydrolysis degree and digestion rate of MP were inhibited with the increase in MDA concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 mmol/L), and the carbonyl group, surface hydrophobicity, irregular curling, and MDA content increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the total sulfhydryl groups, α-helices, free amino groups, hydrolysis degree, and MDA incorporation decreased significantly (P < 0.05), The molecular particle size was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the molecular morphology and molecular structure were analyzed (P >0.05). Finally, the molecular size and cross-linking degree gradually increased. In conclusion, MDA can alter the structure and morphology of proteins, resulting in a decrease in hydrolysis and digestion rate. This study can provide theoretical support and reference for the regulation of protein digestion.

Low concentrations of soybean lecithin nanoparticles had a positive impact on Holstein bulls' cryopreserved semen

Spermatozoa can experience negative changes when subjected to freezing and thawing, including lowered motility, viability and acrosome response. Herein, the effects of different concentrations of soybean lecithin nanoparticles on cryopreserved Holstein bull semen were examined. Semen was collected, cryopreserved and utilized for sperm kinetic parameter analysis following dilution, equilibration and thawing with 0.5% soybean lecithin (E1), the control extender, and 0.75% (E2), 0.5% (E3), 0.25% (E4) and 0.125% (E5) of lecithin nanoparticles. Results revealed that following dilution, the progressive motility (PM) at E3, E4 and E5 of lecithin nanoparticles was higher (p < .05) than it was for E2. After equilibration, compared to the E1, E2, and E3 values, the PM, vitality, normal morphology, membrane integrity and intact acrosome values at the E5 were consistently greater (p < .05). Comparing the percentages of intact acrosome and membrane integrity at E2 and E3 to E4 and E5, a substantial decrease (p < .05) was seen. Following thawing, the percentage of PM improved at E2 and E5, even though their mean PM values were similar (p > .05) compared to E1, E3 and E4. Vigour and progression parameters of sperm (DAP, DCL, DSL, VAP, VCL, VSL and STR) at E5 were higher (p < .05) than those at E1, E2, E3 and E4. In conclusion, the cryopreserved sperm from Holstein bulls revealed outstanding properties both after equilibration and after thawing with 0.125% lecithin nanoparticles, and they were sensitive to high dosages.

Immunogenicity of ferroptosis in cancer: a matter of context?

Ferroptosis is a variant of regulated cell death (RCD) elicited by an imbalance of cellular redox homeostasis that culminates with extensive lipid peroxidation and rapid plasma membrane breakdown. Since other necrotic forms of RCD, such as necroptosis, are highly immunogenic, ferroptosis inducers have attracted considerable attention as potential tools to selectively kill malignant cells while eliciting therapeutically relevant tumor-targeting immune responses. However, rather than being consistently immunogenic, ferroptosis mediates context-dependent effects on anticancer immunity. The inability of ferroptotic cancer cells to elicit adaptive immune responses may arise from contextual deficiencies in intrinsic aspects of the process, such as adjuvanticity and antigenicity, or from microenvironmental defects imposed by ferroptotic cancer cells themselves or elicited by the induction of ferroptosis in immune cells.

Functional consequence of Iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its renal manifestation Lupus nephritis (LN) are characterized by a dysregulated immune system, autoantibodies, and injury to the renal parenchyma. Iron accumulation and ferroptosis in the immune effectors and renal tubules are recently identified pathological features in SLE and LN. Ferroptosis is an iron dependent non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death and ferroptosis inhibitors have improved disease outcomes in murine models of SLE, identifying it as a novel druggable target. In this review, we discuss novel mechanisms by which iron accumulation and ferroptosis perpetuate immune cell mediated pathology in SLE/LN. We highlight intra-renal dysregulation of iron metabolism and ferroptosis as an underlying pathogenic mechanism of renal tubular injury. The basic concepts of iron biology and ferroptosis are also discussed to expose the links between iron, cell metabolism and ferroptosis, that identify intracellular pro-ferroptotic enzymes and their protein conjugates as potential targets to improve SLE/LN outcomes.

Artesunate induces ferroptosis by regulating MT1G and has an additive effect with doxorubicin in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells

Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly aggressive disease with heterogeneous outcomes and marked variability in the response to chemotherapy. DLBCL comprises two major subtypes: germinal centre B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC). Our study highlights the extensive antitumour activity of artesunate (ART) against both major DLBCL subtypes. Transcriptome analysis suggests the potential involvement of ferroptosis in artesunate-induced cell death. Because of low glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels, along with the accumulation of free iron (Fe2+), artesunate induces the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by phospholipid peroxidation. A putative target of artesunate, metallothionein 1G (MT1G), was selected for further analysis. Subsequent studies revealed that inhibiting MT1G expression in vitro significantly impedes the ferroptosis-promoting activity of artesunate by reducing lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation. We also showed that the combination of artesunate and doxorubicin had a marked additive inhibitory effect on GCB and ABC DLBCL cells. In conclusion, artesunate induces ferroptotic death in GCB and ABC DLBCL cells by attenuating the GPX4/GSH antioxidant defence system and increasing intracellular iron levels, indicating its therapeutic potential for relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

Effect of an Airbag-selective Portal Vein Blood Arrester on the Liver after Hepatectomy: A New Technique for Selective Clamping of the Portal Vein

OBJECTIVE

A novel technique was explored using an airbag-selective portal vein blood arrester that circumvents the need for an intraoperative assessment of anatomical variations in patients with complex intrahepatic space-occupying lesions.

METHODS

Rabbits undergoing hepatectomy were randomly assigned to 4 groups: intermittent portal triad clamping (PTC), intermittent portal vein clamping (PVC), intermittent portal vein blocker with an airbag-selective portal vein blood arrester (APC), and without portal blood occlusion (control). Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury were assessed by measuring the 7-day survival rate, blood loss, liver function, hepatic pathology, hepatic inflammatory cytokine infiltration, hepatic malondialdehyde levels, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen levels.

RESULTS

Liver damage was substantially reduced in the APC and PVC groups. The APC animals exhibited transaminase levels similar to or less oxidative stress damage and inflammatory hepatocellular injury compared to those exhibited by the PVC animals. Bleeding was significantly higher in the control group than in the other groups. The APC group had less bleeding than the PVC group because of the avoidance of portal vein skeletonization during hepatectomy. Thus, more operative time was saved in the APC group than in the PVC group. Moreover, the total 7-day survival rate in the APC group was higher than that in the PTC group.

CONCLUSION

Airbag-selective portal vein blood arresters may help protect against hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury in rabbits undergoing partial hepatectomy. This technique may also help prevent liver damage in patients requiring hepatectomy.

Increased NAD+ levels protect female mouse reproductive system against zearalenone-impaired glycolysis, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity and inflammation

The reproductive system is a primary target organ for zearalenone (ZEN, a widespread fusarium mycotoxin) to exert its toxic effects, including decreased antioxidant capacity and aggravated inflammatory response. These ZEN-induced reproductive abnormalities are partially caused by the declining levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which results in an imbalance in lipid/glucose metabolism. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate whether supplements of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN, a NAD+ precursor) in female mice could protect against ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity. In this study, thirty female mice were randomly divided into three groups that were intragastrically administered with i) 0.5% DMSO (the Ctrl group), ii) 3 mg/(kg bw.d) ZEN (the ZEN group), or iii) ZEN + 500 mg/(kg bw.d) NMN (the ZEN/NMN group) for two weeks. The results revealed that, compared with the Ctrl group, animals exposed to ZEN exhibited reproductive toxicity, such as decreased antioxidant capacity and aggravated inflammatory response in reproductive tissues. These effects were strongly correlated with lower activities in key glycolytic enzymes (e.g., ALDOA and PGK), but increased expressions in key lipid-synthesis genes (e.g., LPIN1 and ATGL). These changes contribute to lipid accumulation, specifically for diacylglycerols (DAGs). Furthermore, these ZEN-induced changes were linked with disturbed NAD+ synthesis/degradation, and subsequently decreased NAD+ levels. Notably, NMN supplements in mice protected against these ZEN-induced reproductive abnormalities by boosting NAD+ levels. Herein, the present findings demonstrate that potential strategies to enhance NAD+ levels can protect against ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity.

The healing effect of Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) with co-infection of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A preclinical animal co-infection model

BACKGROUND

Because of the rise in antibiotic resistance and the control of pathogenicity, polymicrobial bacterial biofilms exacerbate wound infections. Since bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signals can dysregulate biofilm development, they are interesting therapeutic treatments. In this study, Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) was used to treat an animal model of a wound that had both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa co-infection.

METHODS

S. aureus and P. aeruginosa mono- and co-infection models were developed in vitro on the L-929 cell line and in an animal model of wound infection. Moreover, PQS was extracted and purified using liquid chromatography. Then, the mono- and co-infection models were treated by PQS in vitro and in vivo. RT-PCR analysis was used to look into changes in biofilm, QS, tissue regeneration, and apoptosis genes after the treatment.

RESULTS

PQS significantly disrupted established biofilm up to 90% in both in vitro and in vivo models. Moreover, a 93% reduction in the viability of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was detected during the 10 days of treatment in comparison to control groups. In addition, the biofilm-encoding and QS-regulating genes were down-regulated to 75% in both microorganisms. Also, fewer epithelial cells died when treated with PQS compared to control groups in both mono- and co-infection groups.

CONCLUSION

According to this study, PQS may facilitate wound healing by stimulating the immune system and reducing apoptosis. It seems to be a potential medication to use in conjunction with antibiotics to treat infections that are difficult to treat.

Genetic and epigenetic alterations in DNA repair genes and treatment outcome of chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CaCx) is the deadliest malignancy among women which is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and anthro-demographical/clinicopathological factors. HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 target p53 and RB (retinoblastoma) protein degradation, Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), ATM-RAD3-related (ATR) inactivation and subsequent impairment of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination, and base excision repair pathways. There is also an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in Tumor Growth Suppressors (TGS), oncogenes, and DNA repair genes leading to increased genome instability and CaCx development. These alterations might be responsible for differential clinical response to Cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients. This review explores HPV-mediated DNA damage as a risk factor in CaCx development, the mechanistic role of genetic and epigenetic alterations in DNA repair genes and their association with CRT and outcome, It also explores new possibilities for the development of genetic and epigenetic-based biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and molecular therapeutic interventions.

Lipid peroxidation: Reactive carbonyl species, protein/DNA adducts, and signaling switches in oxidative stress and cancer

Under the exposure of lipids to reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation proceeds non-enzymatically and generates an extremely heterogeneous mixture of reactive carbonyl species (RCS). Among them, HNE, HHE, MDA, methylglyoxal, glyoxal, and acrolein are the most studied and/or abundant ones. Over the last decades, significant progress has been achieved in understanding mechanisms of RCS generation, protein/DNA adduct formation, and their identification and quantification in biological samples. In our review, we critically discuss the advancements in understanding the roles of RCS-induced protein/DNA modifications in signaling switches to provide adaptive cell response under physiological and oxidative stress conditions. At non-toxic concentrations, RCS modify susceptible Cys residue in c-Src to activate MAPK signaling and Cys, Lys, and His residues in PTEN to cause its reversible inactivation, thereby stimulating PI3K/PKB(Akt) pathway. RCS toxic concentrations cause irreversible Cys modifications in Keap1 and IKKβ followed by stabilization of Nrf2 and activation of NF-κB, respectively, for their nuclear translocation and antioxidant gene expression. Dysregulation of these mechanisms causes diseases including cancer. Alterations in RCS, RCS detoxifying enzymes, RCS-modified protein/DNA adducts, and signaling pathways have been implicated in various cancer types.

Base-Displaced Intercalated Structure of the 3-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-pyrimido[1,2-f]purine-6,10(3H,5H)-dione (6-oxo-M1dG) Lesion in DNA

The genotoxic 3-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-α]purin-10(3H)-one (M1dG) DNA lesion arises from endogenous exposures to base propenals generated by oxidative damage and from exposures to malondialdehyde (MDA), produced by lipid peroxidation. Once formed, M1dG may oxidize, in vivo, to 3-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-pyrimido[1,2-f]purine-6,10(3H,5H)-dione (6-oxo-M1dG). The latter blocks DNA replication and is a substrate for error-prone mutagenic bypass by the Y-family DNA polymerase hpol η. To examine structural consequences of 6-oxo-M1dG damage in DNA, we conducted NMR studies of 6-oxo-M1dG incorporated site-specifically into 5' -d(C1A2T3X4A5T6G7A8C9G10C11T12)-3':5'-d(A13G14C15G16T17C18A19T20C21A22T23G24)-3' (X = 6-oxo-M1dG). NMR spectra afforded detailed resonance assignments. Chemical shift analyses revealed that nucleobase C21, complementary to 6-oxo-M1dG, was deshielded compared with the unmodified duplex. Sequential NOEs between 6-oxo-M1dG and A5 were disrupted, as well as NOEs between T20 and C21 in the complementary strand. The structure of the 6-oxo-M1dG modified DNA duplex was refined by using molecular dynamics (rMD) calculations restrained by NOE data. It revealed that 6-oxo-M1dG intercalated into the duplex and remained in the anti-conformation about the glycosyl bond. The complementary cytosine C21 extruded into the major groove, accommodating the intercalated 6-oxo-M1dG. The 6-oxo-M1dG H7 and H8 protons faced toward the major groove, while the 6-oxo-M1dG imidazole proton H2 faced into the major groove. Structural perturbations to dsDNA were limited to the 6-oxo-M1dG damaged base pair and the flanking T3:A22 and A5:T20 base pairs. Both neighboring base pairs remained within the Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding contact. The 6-oxo-M1dG did not stack well with the 5'-neighboring base pair T3:A22 but showed improved stacking with the 3'-neighboring base pair A5:T20. Overall, the base-displaced intercalated structure was consistent with thermal destabilization of the 6-oxo-M1dG damaged DNA duplex; thermal melting temperature data showed a 15 °C decrease in Tm compared to the unmodified duplex. The structural consequences of 6-oxo-M1dG formation in DNA are evaluated in the context of the chemical biology of this lesion.

Fermented Chinese Herbs Improve the Growth and Immunity of Growing Pigs through Regulating Colon Microbiota and Metabolites

(1) Background: the development of new antibiotic substitutes to promote pig growth and health has become an important way to solve the current dilemma and promote the pig industry. (2) Methods: to assess the effects of a fermented Chinese herbal (FCH) formula on the growth and immunity of growing pigs, 100 Duroc × Landrace × Yorshire three-way crossed growing pigs were randomly divided into control and treatment groups that were fed a basal diet, and a basal diet with 1% (group A), 2% (group B), and 3% (group C) FCH formulas, respectively. A sixty-day formal experiment was conducted, and their growth and serum indices, colonic microbiota, and metabolites were analyzed. (3) Results: the daily gain of growing pigs in groups A, B, and C increased by 7.93%, 17.68%, and 19.61%, respectively, and the feed-to-gain ratios decreased by 8.33%, 15.00%, and 14.58%, respectively. Serum immunity and antioxidant activities were significantly increased in all treatment groups. Particularly, adding a 2% FCH formula significantly changed the colon's microbial structure; the Proteobacteria significantly increased and Firmicutes significantly decreased, and the metabolite composition in the colon's contents significantly changed. (4) Conclusions: these results indicate that the FCH formula is a good feed additive for growing pigs, and the recommended addition ratio was 3%.

Iron metabolism in colorectal cancer: a balancing act

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second deadliest malignancy worldwide. Current dietary habits are associated with increased levels of iron and heme, both of which increase the risk of developing CRC. The harmful effects of iron overload are related to the induction of iron-mediated pro-tumorigenic pathways, including carcinogenesis and hyperproliferation. On the other hand, iron deficiency may also promote CRC development and progression by contributing to genome instability, therapy resistance, and diminished immune responses. In addition to the relevance of systemic iron levels, iron-regulatory mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment are also believed to play a significant role in CRC and to influence disease outcome. Furthermore, CRC cells are more prone to escape iron-dependent cell death (ferroptosis) than non-malignant cells due to the constitutive activation of antioxidant genes expression. There is wide evidence that inhibition of ferroptosis may contribute to the resistance of CRC to established chemotherapeutic regimens. As such, ferroptosis inducers represent promising therapeutic drugs for CRC.

CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

This review addresses the complex role of iron in CRC, particularly in what concerns the consequences of iron excess or deprivation in tumor development and progression. We also dissect the regulation of cellular iron metabolism in the CRC microenvironment and emphasize the role of hypoxia and of oxidative stress (e.g. ferroptosis) in CRC. Finally, we underline some iron-related players as potential therapeutic targets against CRC malignancy.

HELQ as a DNA helicase: Its novel role in normal cell function and tumorigenesis (Review)

Helicase POLQ‑like (HELQ or Hel308), is a highly conserved, 3'‑5' superfamily II DNA helicase that contributes to diverse DNA processes, including DNA repair, unwinding, and strand annealing. HELQ deficiency leads to subfertility, due to its critical role in germ cell stability. In addition, the abnormal expression of HELQ has been observed in multiple tumors and a number of molecular pathways, including the nucleotide excision repair, checkpoint kinase 1‑DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 1 and ATM/ATR pathways, have been shown to be involved in HELQ. In the present review, the structure and characteristics of HELQ, as well as its major functions in DNA processing, were described. Molecular mechanisms involving HELQ in the context of tumorigenesis were also described. It was deduced that HELQ biology warrants investigation, and that its critical roles in the regulation of various DNA processes and participation in tumorigenesis are clinically relevant.

Development of a Holistic In Vitro Cell-Free Approach to Determine the Redox Bioactivity of Agricultural Products

In recent years, there has been a strong consumer demand for food products that provide nutritional benefits to human health. Therefore, the assessment of the biological activity is considered as an important parameter for the promotion of high-quality food products. Herein, we introduce a novel methodology comprising a complete set of in vitro cell-free screening techniques for the evaluation of the bioactivity of various food products on the basis of their antioxidant capacity. These assays examine the free radical scavenging activities, the reducing properties, and the protective ability against oxidative damage to biomolecules. The adoption of the proposed battery of antioxidant assays is anticipated to contribute to the holistic characterization of the bioactivity of the food product under examination. Consumer motivations and expectations with respect to nutritious food products with bio-functional properties drive the global food market toward food certification. Therefore, the development and application of scientific methodologies that examine the quality characteristics of food products could increase consumers' trust and promote their beneficial properties for human health.

Lipid Peroxidation via Regulating the Metabolism of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid in Autistic Behavioral Symptoms

The association between the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unclear. This association was studied in 17 children with ASD and seven age-matched controls regarding autistic behaviors. Behavioral symptoms were assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). To compensate for the small sample size, adaptive Lasso was used to increase the likelihood of accurate prediction, and a coefficient of variation was calculated for suitable variable selection. Plasma MDA-LDL levels were significantly increased, and plasma SOD levels were significantly decreased in addition to significantly increased plasma docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and significantly decreased plasma arachidonic acid (ARA) levels in the 17 subjects with ASD as compared with those of the seven healthy controls. The total ABC scores were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. The results of multiple linear regression and adaptive Lasso analyses revealed an association between increased plasma DHA levels and decreased plasma ARA levels, which were significantly associated with total ABC score and increased plasma MDA-LDL levels. Therefore, an imbalance between plasma DHA and ARA levels induces ferroptosis via lipid peroxidation. Decreased levels of α-linolenic acid and γ-linolenic acid may be connected to the total ABC scores with regard to lipid peroxidation.

Unveiling Oxidative Stress-Induced Genotoxicity and Its Alleviation through Selenium and Vitamin E Therapy in Naturally Infected Cattle with Lumpy Skin Disease

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious infection of cattle caused by a virus of the Poxviridae family, genus Capripoxvirus. In Pakistan, recent outbreaks have resulted in significant nationwide mortality and economic losses. A 20-day prospective cohort study was performed on sixty infected cattle with the aim to evaluate LSD-induced oxidative stress's genotoxic role and to determine the ameliorative effect of antioxidant therapy using principal component analysis (PCA) and a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model. LSDV was identified from scab samples and nodular lesions using RPO30-specific gene primers. The infected cattle were divided into control and treated groups. The animals were observed initially and finally on day 20 to evaluate the homeostatic, oxidative, and genotoxic changes. The animals in the treated group were administered a combination of selenium (Se) and vitamin E at the standard dose rate for five consecutive days. A substantial (p < 0.05) improvement in the hematological indices was observed in the treated group. The treated group also showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in levels of serum nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) post-therapy. The PCA at the final sampling data of the treated group showed that Principal Component (PC1 eigenvalue 1.429) was influenced by superoxide dismutase (SOD; 0.3632), catalase (CAT; 0.2906), and glutathione (GSH; 0.0816) and PC2 (eigenvalue 1.200) was influenced by CAT (0.4362), MDA (0.2056), and NO (0.0693). A significant correlation between serum NO (76%) and MDA levels (80%) was observed with genetic damage index (GDI) scores. The ordinal logistic regression model regarding the use of antioxidant therapy revealed 73.95-times (95%CI; 17.36-314.96) improvement in the GDI in treated animals. The multivariable ordinal logistic regression showed that each unit increase in NO and MDA resulted in a 13% increase in genotoxicity in infected individuals. In conclusion, our study revealed that LSD-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation product causes genotoxicity in affected animals. Furthermore, the combined Se and vitamin E therapy significantly alleviated oxidative stress and genotoxicity in LSD-affected cattle.

Resveratrol improves emamectin benzoate-induced pyroptosis and inflammation of Ctenopharyngodon idellus hepatic cells by alleviating oxidative stress/endoplasmic reticulum stress

Emamectin benzoate (EMB) is the most widely used pesticide in the world and contributes to water pollution. Owing to the lack of a specific antidote, EMB has a severe negative impact on the health of aquatic organisms. Resveratrol (RES), a substance with antioxidant capacity, is secreted by the fruits of many plants. This study was to explore the protection of RES against EMB-induced pyroptosis and inflammatory response in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) hepatic liver (L8824) cells by oxidative stress/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The results showed that compared to the CON group, EMB induced oxidative stress in L8824 cells with the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents and the decrease of total superoxide dismutase (t-sod) and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) activities (P < 0.05). In addition, EMB triggered ERS, increasing the relative mRNA expression of protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (perk), inositol requiring enzyme 1 alpha (ire1α), glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78), activating transcription factor 4 (atf4), activating transcription factor 6 (atf6), and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (chop) and the protein expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eif2α), chop, atf6, and atf4. Meanwhile, EMB further induced pyroptosis by upregulating the mRNA and protein expression of nlrp3, aptamer protein (asc), caspase-1, gsdmd, interleukin-1β (il-1β), and interleukin-18 (il-18). EMB also induced inflammation in L8824 cells by increasing the mRNA expression of interleukin-2 (il-2), interleukin-6 (il-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α), and ifn-γ and decreasing the content of interleukin-10 (il-10). However, compared to the EMB group, the oxidant indices and expression of genes related to ER stress, pyroptosis, and pro-inflammatory factors were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05), whereas the antioxidant indicators and anti-inflammatory factor were significantly up-regulated in the EMB + RES group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, EMB caused hepatocytes pyroptosis and inflammation in grass carp, and RES could alleviate EMB-induced pyroptosis and inflammation in L8824 cells by ameliorating oxidative stress/ER stress.

High-pressure processing of beef increased the in vitro protein digestibility in an infant digestion model

Beef is an ideal protein source for use as a complementary food in infants. Considering the limited protein-digesting capacity of infants, it is required to enhance protein digestibility while minimizing the deterioration of beef quality. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of beef proteins in an infant digestion model. HPP at 200 and 300 MPa decreased the tryptophan fluorescence intensity of the myosin and actin fractions relative to that at 0.1 MPa (P < 0.05). Compared to treatment at 0.1 and 100 MPa, HPP at 300 MPa decreased α-helix and β-turn contents in the myosin and actin fractions (P < 0.05), whilst increasing the β-sheet content (P < 0.05). Beef actomyosin content decreased (P < 0.05) during HPP at 200 and 300 MPa (c.f., 0.1 and 100 MPa). After in vitro digestion of beef, HPP at 200 and 300 MPa increased the α-amino group content and the abundance of proteins below 3 kDa in the digesta (P < 0.05). However, due to the considerable lipid oxidation at 300 MPa, HPP at 200 MPa is ideal for improving the protein digestibility of beef when incorporated into complementary foods for infants.

The Interplay between Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Ferroptosis during Ischemia-Associated Central Nervous System Diseases

Cerebral ischemia, a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, triggers a cascade of molecular and cellular pathologies linked to several central nervous system (CNS) disorders. These disorders primarily encompass ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), epilepsy, and other CNS conditions. Despite substantial progress in understanding and treating the underlying pathological processes in various neurological diseases, there is still a notable absence of effective therapeutic approaches aimed specifically at mitigating the damage caused by these illnesses. Remarkably, ischemia causes severe damage to cells in ischemia-associated CNS diseases. Cerebral ischemia initiates oxygen and glucose deprivation, which subsequently promotes mitochondrial dysfunction, including mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, mitophagy dysfunction, and excessive mitochondrial fission, triggering various forms of cell death such as autophagy, apoptosis, as well as ferroptosis. Ferroptosis, a novel type of regulated cell death (RCD), is characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis both play critical roles in the pathogenic progression of ischemia-associated CNS diseases. In recent years, growing evidence has indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction interplays with ferroptosis to aggravate cerebral ischemia injury. However, the potential connections between mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis in cerebral ischemia have not yet been clarified. Thus, we analyzed the underlying mechanism between mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis in ischemia-associated CNS diseases. We also discovered that GSH depletion and GPX4 inactivation cause lipoxygenase activation and calcium influx following cerebral ischemia injury, resulting in MPTP opening and mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, dysfunction in mitochondrial electron transport and an imbalanced fusion-to-fission ratio can lead to the accumulation of ROS and iron overload, which further contribute to the occurrence of ferroptosis. This creates a vicious cycle that continuously worsens cerebral ischemia injury. In this study, our focus is on exploring the interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis, which may offer new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for the treatment of ischemia-associated CNS diseases.

In Situ Construction of Ferrocene-Containing Membrane-Bound Nanofibers for the Redox Control of Cancer Cell Death and Cancer Therapy

Precise manipulation of cancer cell death by harnessing reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a promising strategy to defeat malignant tumors. However, it is quite difficult to produce active ROS with spatial precision and regulate their biological outcomes. We succeed here in selectively generating short-lived and lipid-reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH) adjacent to cancer cell membranes, successively eliciting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. DiFc-K-pY, a phosphorylated self-assembling precursor that consists of two branched Fc moieties and interacts specifically with epidermal growth factor receptor, can in situ produce membrane-bound nanofibers and enrich ferrocene moieties on cancer cell membranes in response to alkaline phosphatase. Within the acidic tumor microenvironment, DiFc-K-pY nanofibers efficiently convert tumoral H2O2 to active •OH around the target cell membranes via Fenton-like reactions, leading to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis with good cellular selectivity. Our strategy successfully prevents tumor progression with acceptable biocompatibility through intratumoral administration.

Anti-oxidative and anti-aging effects of mannoprotein-rich yeast cell wall enzymatic hydrolysate by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans

In this study, antioxidant and anti-aging studies were carried out by mannoprotein-rich yeast cell wall enzymatic hydrolysate (MYH) obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of yeast cell wall through the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. It was found that MYH could improve the lifespan and anti-stress ability of C. elegans by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as T-SOD, GSH-PX and CAT, and reducing the levels of MDA, ROS and apoptosis. At the same time, through the verification expression of corresponding mRNA, it was found that MYH exerted antioxidant and anti-aging activities by up-regulating the translation of MTL-1, DAF-16, SKN-1 and SOD-3 mRNA, and down-regulating the translation of AGE-1 and DAF-2 mRNA. In addition, it was found that MYH could improve the composition and distribution of the gut microbiota of C. elegans, and significantly improve the level of metabolites through the sequencing of gut microbiota and untargeted metabolomic studies. It has contributed to studying the antioxidant and anti-aging activities of microorganisms such as yeast through the level of gut microbiota and metabolites and the development of related functional foods.

Evaluation of Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity, Oxidative Stress and Molecular Docking of Two Nitrofuranyl Amides as Promising Anti-Tuberculosis Agents

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a widespread infectious disease and one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Nevertheless, despite significant advances in the development of new drugs against tuberculosis, many therapies and preventive measures do not lead to the expected favorable health results for various reasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity and oxidative stress of two selected nitrofuranyl amides with high in vitro antimycobacterial activity. In addition, molecular docking studies were performed on both compounds to elucidate the possibilities for further development of new anti-tuberculosis candidates with improved efficacy, selectivity, and pharmacological parameters. Acute toxicity tests showed that no changes were observed in the skin, coat, eyes, mucous membranes, secretions, and vegetative activity in mice. The histological findings include features consistent with normal histological architecture without being associated with concomitant pathological conditions. The observed oxidative stress markers indicated that the studied compounds disturbed the oxidative balance in the mouse liver. Based on the molecular docking, compound DO-190 showed preferable binding energies compared to DO-209 in three out of four targets, while both compounds showed promising protein-ligand interactions. Thus, both studied compounds displayed promising activity with low toxicity and can be considered for further evaluation and/or lead optimization.

Study of novel bidentate heterocyclic amine-based metal complexes and their biological activities: cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity evaluation

Metallic antitumor drugs with heterocyclic ligands, such as novel AMI (amino methyl imidazole) complexes [Pd(AMI)Cl₂](1), [Cu(AMI)L¹](2), and [Cu(AMI)L²·2H₂O](3) where L¹ = oxalate and L² = malonate, were synthesized and characterized. Assessments included elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The cytotoxicity of AMI complexes compared to cisplatin was assessed using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] 2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay with breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. After treating these cells with the AMI complexes' IC₅₀ values for 48 h, malondialdehyde levels and catalase activity were used to assess oxidative stress, antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH radical scavenging method, comet assays assessed DNA damage, and DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the gel electrophoresis. In vitro, antimicrobial activity was assessed using a disc diffusion method. The anticancer activity results showed that IC₅₀ (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values of complex one, two, and three against MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cells are 0.156 ± 0.0006, 0.125 ± 0.001, 0.277 ± 0.002 μM respectively for MCF-7 cells and 0.222 ± 0.0005, 0.126 ± 0.0009, 0.152 ± 0.001 μM respectively for HeLa cells. Complex two demonstrated strong anticancer activity against MCF-7 and Hela cells. The study of oxidative stress parameters revealed that Malondialdehyde levels increased in cancer cell lines treated with complexes compared to untreated cells. Catalase activity decreased in cells treated with palladium chelate. The DPPH radical scavenging assay results identified that complex one was a more potent antioxidant in MCF-7 and Hela cells than other complexes with SC₅₀ values of 227.5 ± 0.28 and 361 ± 1.2 μL/mL, respectively. The comet assay results showed that complex two caused significant DNA damage in MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cells treated. Antimicrobial assays identified complex three as the most effective. Copper complexes give better antifungal activity against A. flavus than the palladium complex. We conclude that complex two is the most active in both cell types and might be assessed as a clinically useful drug for breast cancer treatment. The significance of the current study is the synthesis of antitumor drugs containing heterocyclic ligands, such as novel AMI complexes, and the study of their biological activities.

Kaempferide ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity via inhibiting oxidative stress and inducing autophagy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by anti-tumor drugs, such as cisplatin, is a severe complication with no effective treatment currently, leading to the reduction or discontinuation of chemotherapy. Natural products or herbal medicines are gradually considered as promising agents against cisplatin-induced AKI with the advantages of multi-targeting, multi-effects, and less resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of kaempferide, a natural flavonoid extracted from the rhizome of Kaempferia galanga, in experimental AKI models in vitro and in vivo. We first conducted pharmacokinetic study in mice and found a relative stable state of kaempferide with a small amount of conversion into kaempferol. We showed that both kaempferide (10 μM) and kaempferol (10 μM) significantly inhibited cisplatin-caused injuries in immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cell line HK-2. In AKI mice induced by injection of a single dose of cisplatin (15 mg/kg), oral administration of kaempferide (50 mg/kg) either before or after cisplatin injection markedly improved renal function, and ameliorated renal tissue damage. We demonstrated that kaempferide inhibited oxidative stress and induced autophagy in cisplatin-treated mice and HK-2 cells, thus increasing tubular cell viability and decreasing immune responses to attenuate the disease progression. In addition, treatment with kaempferide significantly ameliorated ischemia-reperfusion-induced renal injury in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that kaempferide is a promising natural product for treating various AKI. This study has great implications for promotion of its use in healthcare products, and help to break through the limited use of cisplatin in the clinic.

Aldehyde-Associated Mutagenesis─Current State of Knowledge

Aldehydes are widespread in the environment, with multiple sources such as food and beverages, industrial effluents, cigarette smoke, and additives. The toxic effects of exposure to several aldehydes have been observed in numerous studies. At the molecular level, aldehydes damage DNA, cross-link DNA and proteins, lead to lipid peroxidation, and are associated with increased disease risk including cancer. People genetically predisposed to aldehyde sensitivity exhibit severe health outcomes. In various diseases such as Fanconi's anemia and Cockayne syndrome, loss of aldehyde-metabolizing pathways in conjunction with defects in DNA repair leads to widespread DNA damage. Importantly, aldehyde-associated mutagenicity is being explored in a growing number of studies, which could offer key insights into how they potentially contribute to tumorigenesis. Here, we review the genotoxic effects of various aldehydes, focusing particularly on the DNA adducts underlying the mutagenicity of environmentally derived aldehydes. We summarize the chemical structures of the aldehydes and their predominant DNA adducts, discuss various methodologies, in vitro and in vivo, commonly used in measuring aldehyde-associated mutagenesis, and highlight some recent studies looking at aldehyde-associated mutation signatures and spectra. We conclude the Review with a discussion on the challenges and future perspectives of investigating aldehyde-associated mutagenesis.

The Role of Asiatic Acid in Preventing Dental Pulp Inflammation: An in-vivo Study

Purpose

Acute dental pulp inflammation necessitates early treatment to alleviate inflammation and pain. In the inflammatory phase, a substance is required to lower the inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species that play a crucial role in that phase. Asiatic acid is a natural triterpene obtained from the Centella asiatica plant with a high antioxidant value. This study examined the effect of Asiatic acid's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive properties on dental pulp inflammation.

Methods

The research is an experimental laboratory, with a post-test only with a control group design. The study utilised 40 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 grams and aged 8-10 weeks. Rats were divided into five groups (control, eugenol, Asiatic Acid 0.5%; 1%; 2% group). Dental pulp inflammation was created in the maxillary incisor after six hours of administration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The dental pulp treatment then continued with the administration of eugenol and three different Asiatic acid concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 2%). In the next 72 hours, the teeth were biopsied, and the dental pulp was analysed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the level of MDA, SOD, TNF-α, beta-endorphins and CGRP. Histopathological examination and the Rat Grimace Scale were utilised to determine the level of inflammation and pain, respectively.

Results

The effect of Asiatic Acid on MDA, TNF-α, and CGRP levels decreased significantly compared to the control group (p=<0.001). On the SOD and beta-endorphin levels, Asiatic acid treatment resulted in a considerable rise (p =<0.001).

Conclusion

Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive characteristics, Asiatic acid can reduce inflammation and pain in acute pulp inflammation due to its ability to decrease MDA, TNFα, and CGRP levels while raising SOD and beta-endorphin levels.

NF-κB-Inducing Kinase Provokes Insulin Resistance in Skeletal Muscle of Obese Mice

Skeletal muscle is crucial for preserving glucose homeostasis. Insulin resistance and abnormalities in glucose metabolism result from a range of pathogenic factors attacking skeletal muscle in obese individuals. To relieve insulin resistance and restore glucose homeostasis, blocking the cell signaling pathways induced by those pathogenic factors seems an attractive strategy. It has been discovered that insulin sensitivity in obese people is inversely linked with the activity of NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) in skeletal muscle. In order to evaluate NIK's pathological consequences, mechanism of action, and therapeutic values, an obese mouse model reproduced by feeding a high-fat diet was treated with a NIK inhibitor, B022. C2C12 myoblasts overexpressing NIK were utilized to assess insulin signaling and glucose uptake. B022 thus prevented high-fat diet-induced NIK activation and insulin desensitization in skeletal muscle. The insulin signaling in C2C12 myoblasts was compromised by the upregulation of NIK brought on by oxidative stress, lipid deposition, inflammation, or adenoviral vector. This inhibition of insulin action is mostly due to an inhibitory serine phosphorylation of IRS1 caused by ERK, JNK, and PKC that were activated by NIK. In summary, NIK integrates signals from several pathogenic factors to impair insulin signaling by igniting a number of IRS1-inhibiting kinases, and it also has significant therapeutic potential for treating insulin resistance.

Oxidative Stress Linking Obesity and Cancer: Is Obesity a 'Radical Trigger' to Cancer?

Obesity is on the rise worldwide, and consequently, obesity-related non-communicable diseases are as well. Nutritional overload induces metabolic adaptations in an attempt to restore the disturbed balance, and the byproducts of the mechanisms at hand include an increased generation of reactive species. Obesity-related oxidative stress causes damage to vulnerable systems and ultimately contributes to neoplastic transformation. Dysfunctional obese adipose tissue releases cytokines and induces changes in the cell microenvironment, promoting cell survival and progression of the transformed cancer cells. Other than the increased risk of cancer development, obese cancer patients experience higher mortality rates and reduced therapy efficiency as well. The fact that obesity is considered the second leading preventable cause of cancer prioritizes the research on the mechanisms connecting obesity to cancerogenesis and finding the solutions to break the link. Oxidative stress is integral at different stages of cancer development and advancement in obese patients. Hypocaloric, balanced nutrition, and structured physical activity are some tools for relieving this burden. However, the sensitivity of simultaneously treating cancer and obesity poses a challenge. Further research on the obesity-cancer liaison would offer new perspectives on prevention programs and treatment development.

The potential role of pumpkin seeds oil on methotrexate-induced lung toxicity

Many chemotherapeutic drugs cause adverse pulmonary reactions leading to severe pulmonary disease. Though methotrexate (MTX) is used for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, it is highly toxic with multiple adverse effects including pulmonary toxicity. Essential oils represent an open frontier for pharmaceutical sciences due to their wide range of pharmacological properties. Pumpkin seeds oil (PSO) was used to investigate its ability to alleviate methotrexate-induced lung toxicity in rats. Lung tissue from MTX-treated group revealed a decrease in malondialdehyde, glutathione, and nitric oxide accompanied by a marked inhibition in cholinesterase activity, and enhanced catalase activity, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Analysis of PSO revealed that the oil was rich in hexadecanoic acid, decane methyl esters, squalene, polydecane, docosane, and other derivatives. Administration of PSO ameliorated the oxidant/antioxidant and proinflammatory changes induced by MTX in the lung tissue. Histological examinations confirmed the potency of PSO in reducing the histopathological alterations induced by MTX. Immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased nuclear factor-kappa B and caspase 3 expression after PSO. The present data indicated the protective efficiency of PSO against MTX-induced lung injury by decreasing oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis and could thus be recommended as an adjuvant therapy.

Reuse of treated urban wastewater on the growth and physiology of Medicago sativa L. cv. Gea and Petroselinum crispum L. cv. Commun: correlation with oxydative stress and DNA damage

The freshwater scarcity is one of the major environmental problems, which is why the water reuse has become a possible remedy to cope with the shortage of water needed for agriculture irrigation. This study focuses on the evaluation of the irrigation effect with treated effluent from wastewater treatment plant in Tunisia on parsley (Petroselinum crispum L. cv. Commun) used as human food and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Gea) as animal food. In vitro germination test was conducted at different dilution levels of wastewater as rejected into the environment (25, 50, and 100%) and wastewater with further treatment (TWW). Results have shown that wastewater with dilution of 25% as well as TWW positively affected the physiological parameters in comparison with the dilutions 50 and 100%. However, the tap water (TW) applied as control treatment has shown the best effects. Oxidative stress evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) content was in agreement with the physiological results and showed that the most stressed seeds were those treated with the dilutions 50 and 100%. A pot trial was also conducted to evaluate the suitability of WW and TWW in comparison to TW. Results have shown that TWW is more adapted than WW for irrigation as an improvement of growth and physiological parameters was recorded. Oxidative stress assessed with MDA and proline content has shown that plants irrigated with WW significantly accumulate MDA and proline compared to TWW. The TW has shown the lowest values. DNA damage was evaluated by extraction and agarose gel electrophoresis. It has revealed degradation of DNA for plants irrigated with WW. According to these results, it can be concluded that TWW can be used for irrigation of plants destined for human or animal foods. So, it can be a hydric alternative to resolve the problem of water deficit in semi-arid countries.

Research progress on the interaction between oxidative stress and platelets: Another avenue for cancer?

Oxidative stress (OS) is a chemical imbalance between an oxidant and an antioxidant, causing damage to redox signaling and control or causing molecular damage. Unbalanced oxidative metabolism can produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). These excess ROS can cause drastic changes in platelet metabolism and further affect platelet function. It will also lead to an increase in platelet procoagulant phenotype and cell apoptosis, which will increase the risk of thrombosis. The creation of ROS and subsequent platelet activation, adhesion, and recruitment are then further encouraged in an auto-amplifying loop by ROS produced from platelets. Meanwhile, cancer cells produce a higher concentration of ROS due to their fast metabolism and high proliferation rate. However, excessive ROS can result in damage to and modification of cellular macromolecules. The formation of cancer and its progression is strongly associated with oxidative stress and the resulting oxidative damage. In addition, platelets are an important part of the tumor microenvironment, and there is a significant cross-communication between platelets and cancer cells. Cancer cells alter the activation status of platelets, their RNA spectrum, proteome, and other properties. The "cloaking" of cancer cells by platelets providing physical protection，avoiding destruction from shear stress and the attack of immune cells, promoting tumor cell invasion.We explored the vicious circle interaction between ROS, platelets, and cancer in this review, and we believe that ROS can play a stimulative role in tumor growth and metastasis through platelets.

The Role of Potential Oxidative Biomarkers in the Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke and the Exploration of Antioxidants as Possible Preventive and Treatment Options

Ischemic strokes occur when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced due to arterial blockage, and it often leads to damage to brain cells or death. According to a myriad of experimental studies, oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological mechanism of ischemic stroke. In this narrative review, we aimed to identify how the alterations of oxidative stress biomarkers could suggest a severity-reflecting diagnosis of ischemic stroke and how these interactions may provide new molecular targets for neuroprotective therapies. We performed an eligibility criteria-based search on three main scientific databases. We found that patients with acute ischemic stroke are characterized by increased oxidative stress markers levels, such as the total antioxidant capacity, F2-isoprostanes, hydroxynonenal, total and perchloric acid oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACTOT and ORACPCA), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase, and urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine. Thus, acute ischemic stroke is causing significant oxidative stress and associated molecular and cellular damage. The assessment of these molecular markers could be useful in diagnosing ischemic stroke, finding its causes, predicting its severity and outcomes, reducing its impact on the cellular structures of the brain, and guiding preventive treatment towards antioxidant-based therapy as novel therapeutic alternatives.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Drive Lipid Peroxidation during Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is intricately linked to cellular metabolism. In the forefront of research on ferroptosis, the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids has emerged as a key driver of oxidative damage to cellular membranes leading to cell death. Here, we review the involvement of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), lipid remodeling enzymes and lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis, highlighting studies revealing how using the multicellular model organism Caenorhabditis elegans contributes to the understanding of the roles of specific lipids and lipid mediators in ferroptosis.

SERS Determination of Oxidative Stress Markers in Saliva Using Substrates with Silver Nanoparticle-Decorated Silicon Nanowires

Glutathione and malondialdehyde are two compounds commonly used to evaluate the oxidative stress status of an organism. Although their determination is usually performed in blood serum, saliva is gaining ground as the biological fluid of choice for oxidative stress determination at the point of need. For this purpose, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which is a highly sensitive method for the detection of biomolecules, could offer additional advantages regarding the analysis of biological fluids at the point of need. In this work, silicon nanowires decorated with silver nanoparticles made by metal-assisted chemical etching were evaluated as substrates for the SERS determination of glutathione and malondialdehyde in water and saliva. In particular, glutathione was determined by monitoring the reduction in the Raman signal obtained from substrates modified with crystal violet upon incubation with aqueous glutathione solutions. On the other hand, malondialdehyde was detected after a reaction with thiobarbituric acid to produce a derivative with a strong Raman signal. The detection limits achieved after optimization of several assay parameters were 50 and 3.2 nM for aqueous solutions of glutathione and malondialdehyde, respectively. In artificial saliva, however, the detection limits were 2.0 and 0.32 μM for glutathione and malondialdehyde, respectively, which are, nonetheless, adequate for the determination of these two markers in saliva.

The therapeutic effect of co-administration of pentoxifylline and zinc in men with idiopathic infertility

Pentoxifylline is a derivative of methylxanthine that affects sperm motility. Also, zinc is an antioxidant that is involved in the activation of antioxidant enzymes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of co-administration of pentoxifylline, and zinc in men with idiopathic infertility. In the present study, men with idiopathic infertility were identified and randomly divided into four groups: pentoxifylline, zinc, pentoxifylline + zinc, and placebo. According to the grouping, the patients received pentoxifylline and zinc for 3 months. Then, sperm parameters, biochemical factors, reproductive hormones, inflammatory factors, and DNA damage were evaluated before and after intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Pentoxifylline and zinc were significantly effective in improving biochemical parameters, inflammatory factors, concentration, and motility of sperm. Pentoxifylline did not affect sperm morphology and reproductive hormones. However, in the zinc and zinc + pentoxifylline groups, a significant increase in normal morphology and reproductive hormones was observed. In the pentoxifylline group, sperm DNA fragmentation increased significantly, while in the zinc and zinc + pentoxifylline group, DNA fragmentation reduced significantly. Because of the role of zinc in protecting sperm chromatin, it is recommended that zinc and pentoxifyllinebe prescribed simultaneously. Clinical trial code: NCT05156684.

Comparative evaluation of gold nanoparticles and Alum as immune enhancers against rabies vaccine and related immune reactivity, physiological, and histopathological alterations: in vivo study

Purpose

The present study aimed to compare the immune-enhancing potential of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to Alum against rabies vaccine and the related immunological, physiological, and histopathological effects.

Materials and Methods

Alum and AuNPs sole and in combination with rabies vaccine were used at 0.35 mg/mL and 40 nM/mL, respectively. Rats used were categorized into six groups (20/each): control rats, rabies vaccine, aluminum phosphate gel, rabies vaccine adsorbed to Alum, AuNPs, and rabies vaccine adjuvant AuNPs.

Results

Liver and kidney functions were in the normal range after AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine compared to control. Interleukin-6 and interferon-γ levels were significantly increased in groups immunized with Alum and AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine, the peak level was in the case of AuNP adjuvanted vaccine on the 14th day. Ninety days post-vaccination, total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against adjuvanted rabies vaccine showed a significantly elevated anti-rabies IgG with AuNPs and Alum adsorbed vaccine compared with unadjuvanted one. The total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased post-adjuvanted AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine vaccination than in Alum adsorbed vaccine, while MDA was significantly decreased. The histopathological examination revealed detectable alterations post-AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine immunization compared with liver and kidney profiles post-administration of unadjuvanted and non-immunized groups, meanwhile, splenic tissue revealed hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles indicating increased immune reactivity.

Conclusion

The AuNPs are promising enhancers of the immune response as Alum, and the undesirable effects of AuNPs could be managed by using suitable sizes, shapes, and concentrations.

Biopharmaceutical, preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmaco-dynamic investigations of an orally administered novel 3-nbutylphthalide prodrug for ischemic stroke treatment

Ischemic stroke (IS) has been contributing in leading causes of disability and death worldwide and the cases are still increasing. In China, naturally sourced compound 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is widely applied in clinical practice for IS treatment with established evidences of efficacy and safety. However, NBP is an oily liquid at room temperature and has no active brain targeting ability, quite limiting its broader application in clinical practice. Via intravenous injection (i.v.) a prodrug compound (DB1) we previously developed deriving from NBP had dramatically enhanced the pharmacological effects, where however, this i.v. route still discount future patient compliance. As druggability of DB1 in oral administration has yet to be elaborated, the current study intended to systemically investigate its biopharmaceutical properties, so as to further consider clinical applicability of DB1 oral preparations. Additionally, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DB1 via oral administered route were also studied, illustrating broad potential of further DB1 medicine development. After the derivation, aqueous solubility of DB1 improved 3∼400 folds compared with NBP in various pH media, and n-octanol/water partition coefficient kept in the range of 0∼2. In situ single-pass intestinal perfusion on rats showed effective permeability coefficient of DB1 over 10^-2 cm/s. In contrast to NBP, oral administration of DB1 could display significant enhanced bioavailability in rats and achieve increased accumulation in brain tissues. As expected, DB1 effectively alleviated oxidative stress damage and reduced infarct volume on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) modeled rats, resulting in reduced mortality. Additionally, this new prodrug did not add any safety concerns based on NBP. Therefore, biopharmaceutical results and preclinical pharmacodynamic evidences support the conclusion that an oral administration of DB1 may have a good potential for clinical IS treatment.

Extensive Summary of the Important Roles of Indole Propionic Acid, a Gut Microbial Metabolite in Host Health and Disease

Increasing evidence suggests that metabolites produced by the gut microbiota play a crucial role in host-microbe interactions. Dietary tryptophan ingested by the host enters the gut, where indole-like metabolites such as indole propionic acid (IPA) are produced under deamination by commensal bacteria. Here, we summarize the IPA-producing bacteria, dietary patterns on IPA content, and functional roles of IPA in various diseases. IPA can not only stimulate the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins to enhance gut barrier function and inhibit the penetration of toxic factors, but also modulate the immune system to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects to synergistically regulate body physiology. Moreover, IPA can act on target organs through blood circulation to form the gut-organ axis, which helps maintain systemic homeostasis. IPA shows great potential for the diagnosis and treatment of various clinical diseases, such as NAFLD, Alzheimer's disease, and breast cancer. However, the therapeutic effect of IPA depends on dose, target organ, or time. In future studies, further work should be performed to explore the effects and mechanisms of IPA on host health and disease to further improve the existing treatment program.

Effects of dietary β-alanine supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, carnosine content, amino acid composition and muscular antioxidant capacity in Chinese indigenous Ningxiang pig

β-alanine has been demonstrated to improve carcass traits and meat quality of animals. However, no research has been found on the effects of dietary β-alanine in the meat quality control of finishing pigs, which are among the research focus. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary β-alanine supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, carnosine content, amino acid composition and muscular antioxidant capacity of Chinese indigenous Ningxiang pigs. The treatments contained a basal diet (control, CON) and a basal diet supplemented with 600 mg/kg β-alanine. Each treatment group consisted of five pens, with five pigs per pen. Results showed that compared with CON, supplemental β-alanine did not affect the final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and the feed-to-gain ratio of pigs. Dietary β-alanine supplementation tended to increase the pH_45 min (p = 0.071) while decreasing the shear force (p = 0.085) and the drip loss (p = 0.091). Moreover, it improved (p < 0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase and lessened (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde concentration. Added β-alanine in diets of finishing pigs could enhance the concentrations of arginine, alanine, and glutamate (p < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi muscle and tended to raise the levels of cysteine, glycine and anserine (p = 0.060, p = 0.098 and p = 0.091 respectively). Taken together, our results showed that dietary β-alanine supplementation contributed to the improvement of the carcass traits, meat quality and anserine content, the amelioration of muscle antioxidant capacity and the regulation of amino acid composition in Chinese indigenous Ningxiang pigs.

In Vivo Toxicity, Redox-Modulating Capacity and Intestinal Permeability of Novel Aroylhydrazone Derivatives as Anti-Tuberculosis Agents

The emergence and spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to many or all anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs require the development of new compounds both efficient and with minimal side effects. Structure-activity-toxicity relationships of such novel, structurally diverse compounds must be thoroughly elucidated before further development. Here, we present the aroylhydrazone compounds (3a and 3b) regarding their: (i) acute and subacute toxicity in mice; (ii) redox-modulating in vivo and in vitro capacity; (iii) pathomorphology in the liver, kidney, and small intestine tissue specimens; and (iv) intestinal permeability. The acute toxicity test showed that the two investigated compounds exhibited low toxicity by oral and intraperitoneal administration. Changes in behavior, food amount, and water intake were not observed during 14 days of the oral administration at two doses of 1/10 and 1/20 of the LD₅₀. The histological examination of the different tissue specimens did not show toxic changes. The in vitro antioxidant assays confirmed the ex vivo results. High gastrointestinal tract permeability at all tested pH values were demonstrated for both compounds. To conclude, both compounds 3a and 3b are highly permeable with low toxicity and can be considered for further evaluation and/or lead optimization.

Characterization of the Quality and Oxidative Stability of Hemp-Oil-Based Oleogels as an Animal Fat Substitute for Meat Patties

The effect of the incorporation of rice bran wax (5%; 7%) or candelilla wax (3%; 7%) for production of hemp-oil-based oleogels was analyzed in this study. The experiment was carried out to replace between 0 and 100% of animal fat in meat patties with oleogels. Free fatty acids (FFAs), acid value (AV), oxidative stability index (OSI), conjugated diene value, malondialdehyde value, physicochemical properties, and the sensory properties of oleogels and meat patties were studied. The results indicated that hemp oil had more polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower oxidative stability when compared to oleogels. The OSI for oil was 3.1 h, while for oleogels it was 3.4-3.6 (candelilla case) or 3.7-3.9 (rice bran). Oleogels were able to match pork fat texture properties such as spreadability and adhesiveness in meat patties. However, sensory data for cooked meat patties with animal fat fully replaced by oleogels revealed that samples with 100% pork fat had higher juiciness and taste intensity. Our results showed that a wax-based oleogel had a higher oxidative stability and nutritional profile, but further investigations to mimic pork fat properties in meat patties are necessary.

Gum Arabic nanoformulation rescues neuronal lesions in bromobenzene-challenged rats by its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective potentials

Bromobenzene (BB) is a hazardous environmental contaminant because of its multiple routes of exposure and the toxicity of its bio-derivates. It could elicit neuronal alterations by stimulating redox imbalance and apoptotic pathways. Gum Arabic (GA) protected the hippocampus of a type 2 diabetic rat model from cognitive decline. Whether gum Arabic nanoemulsion (GANE) can increase the neuroprotectant potency of GA in fighting BB-associated neurological lesions is the question to be answered. To accomplish this objective, 25 adult male Wistar rats were randomly and equally assigned into five groups. Control received olive oil (vehicle of BB). BB group received BB at a dose of 460 mg/kg BW. Blank nanoemulsion (BNE) group supplemented with BNE at 2 mL of 10% w/v aqueous suspension/kg BW. GANE group received GANE at a dose of 2 mL of 10% w/v aqueous suspension/kg BW. BB + GANE group exposed to BB in concomitant with GANE at the same previous doses. All interventions were carried out daily by oral gavage for ten consecutive days. BB caused a marked increase in malondialdehyde and succinate dehydrogenase together with a marked decrease in reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lactate dehydrogenase in the brain. BB was accompanied by pathological deteriorations, amyloidosis, and reduced immuno-expression of integrase interactor 1 in the hippocampal region. Administration of GANE was beneficial in reversing the aforementioned abnormalities. These results pave the road for further discovery of nano-formulated natural products to counter the threats of BB.

Malondialdehyde-Induced Post-translational Modifications in Hemoglobin of Smokers by NanoLC-NSI/MS/MS Analysis

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the most abundant α,β-unsaturated aldehyde generated from endogenous peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and is present in cigarette smoke. Post-translational modifications of blood hemoglobin can serve as biomarkers for exposure to chemicals. In this study, two types of MDA-induced modifications, the N-propenal and the dihydropyridine (DHP), were identified at multiple sites in human hemoglobin digest by the high-resolution mass spectrometry. The N-propenal and the DHP types of modification led to the increase of 54.0106 and 134.0368 amu, respectively, at the N-terminal and lysine residues. Among the 21 MDA-modified peptides, 14 with dose-response to MDA concentrations were simultaneously quantified in study subjects by the nanoflow liquid chromatography nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry under selected reaction monitoring (nanoLC-NSI-MS/MS-SRM) without prior enrichment. The results showed that the modifications of the N-propenal-type at α-Lys-11, α-Lys-16, α-Lys-61, β-Lys-8, and β-Lys-17, as well as the DHP-type at the α-N-terminal valine, are significantly higher in hemoglobin isolated from the blood of smokers than in nonsmoking individuals. This is the first report to identify and quantify multiple sites of MDA-induced modifications in human hemoglobin from peripheral blood. Our results suggest that the MDA-derived modifications on hemoglobin might represent valuable biomarkers for MDA-induced protein damage.

Anti-tumor and antioxidant activity of kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (Afzelin) isolated from Pithecellobium dulce leaves

Background

Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.), an evergreen medium-sized, spiny tree which have vast nutritional values and widely used in ayurvedic medicines and home remedies. The plant has also been a rich source of biologically active compounds. The present study was designed to isolate pure compound from ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of leaves and to know the efficacy as antioxidant as well as its anti-tumor activity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell (EAC). 

Methods

The leaves were extracted with methanol and fractionated with different solvents. The isolation of the compound was carried out by column chromatography from ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and structure was revealed by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C NMR. The antioxidant activity was investigated by the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals as well as the inhibition of oxidative damage of pUC19 plasmid DNA, hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by a water-soluble free radical initiator 2,2’-azo (2-asmidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in human erythrocytes. In vivo anti-tumor activity of the compound was also evaluated by determining the viable tumor cell count, hematological profiles of experimental mice along with observing morphological changes of EAC cells by fluorescence microscope.

Results

The isolated compound kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside effectively inhibited AAPH induced oxidation in DNA and human erythrocyte model and lipid per oxidation as well as a stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity. In anti-tumor assay, at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight exhibit about 70.89 ± 6.62% EAC cell growth inhibition, whereas standard anticancer drug vincristine showed 77.84 ± 6.69% growth inhibition.

Conclusion

The compound may have a great importance as a therapeutic agent in preventing oxidative damage of biomolecules and therapeutic use in chemotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03633-x.

Alfalfa saponins inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress could seriously affect the growth performance of piglets. As natural extracts of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), alfalfa saponins have been shown to function as antioxidants in piglets in vivo. However, few studies have investigated the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells in vitro. In the current study, piglets' small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was explored to investigate the protective effects of alfalfa saponins on injured cells induced by H2O2.

METHODS

To investigate the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells, the cell viability, activity of antioxidant enzymes, LDH and the amount of MDA were detected in H2O2-treated cells after the cells were pre-incubated with alfalfa saponins. The mechanism of alfalfa saponins against H2O2-induced oxidative cell damage was explored by detecting the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, the signaling pathway of alfalfa saponins in IPEC-J2 cells under oxidative stress was also investigated.

RESULTS

The results indicated that alfalfa saponins could rescue cell viability, elevate the activity of antioxidant enzymes and down-regulate the activity of LDH and the amount of MDA in H2O2-induced cells.

CONCLUSION

Alfalfa saponins could inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell mitochondrial apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby providing a new method for improving antioxidant stress ability by means of nutritional regulation.