Free radicals in aging: causal complexity and its biomedical implications

PLGA-Based Curcumin Delivery System: An Interesting Therapeutic Approach in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Progressive degeneration and dysfunction of the nervous system because of oxidative stress, aggregations of misfolded proteins, and neuroinflammation are the key pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder driven by uncontrolled extracellular deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the amyloid plaques and intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol with noticeable neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it is widely studied for the alleviation of inflammatory and neurological disorders. However, the clinical application of curcumin is limited due to its low aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Recently, nano-based curcumin delivery systems are developed to overcome these limitations effectively. This review article discusses the effects and potential mechanisms of curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles in Alzheimer's disease.

Gender specific differences in oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling in healthy term neonates and their mothers

BACKGROUND

Gender is a crucial determinant of life span, but little is known about gender differences in free radical homeostasis and inflammatory signaling. The aim of the study was to determine gender-related differences concerning oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling of healthy neonates and mothers.

METHODS

Fifty-six mothers with normal gestational course and spontaneous delivery were selected. Blood samples were collected from the mother (at the beginning of delivery and start of expulsive period) and from neonate (from umbilical cord vein and artery).

RESULTS

The mothers of girls featured a higher total antioxidant status and lower plasma hydroperoxides than the mother of boys. Regarding the neonates, the girls featured a higher total antioxidant status and lower plasma membrane hydroperoxides in umbilical cord artery together with higher catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities. Lower levels of interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and prostaglandin E2 were observed in the mothers of girls and higher level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II. In the neonates, lower levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed in umbilical artery and higher soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II in umbilical cord vein and artery of girls.

CONCLUSION

An association between gender, oxidative stress, and inflammation signaling exists, leading to a renewed interest in the neonate's sex as a potential risk factor to several alterations.

Apigenin induces the apoptosis and regulates MAPK signaling pathways in mouse macrophage ANA-1 cells

Apigenin is a naturally occurring plant flavonoid that possesses antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there are few reports has been done on the ability of apigenin to induce apoptosis in macrophages. In this study, mouse macrophage ANA-1 cells were incubated with different concentrations of apigenin. The cell viability was determined by an MTT assay. The cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis were also analyzed using a TUNEL assay and a DNA ladder. The level of intracellular ROS was detected using a dichlorofluorescein -diacetate probe. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that apigenin decreased the viability of ANA-1 cells and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apigenin increased the level of intracellular ROS, downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in ANA-1 cells. Furthermore, apigenin downregulated the expression of phospho-ERK and phospho-JNK, upregulated the expression of phospho-p38 and had no significant effect on the expression of Bax, ERK, JNK and p38. The results suggested that apigenin induced cell apoptosis in mouse macrophage ANA-1 cells may via increasing intracellular ROS, regulating the MAPK pathway, and then inhibiting Bcl-2 expression.

Reactive oxygen species, ageing and the hormesis police

For more than 50 years, the free radical theory served as the paradigm guiding most investigations of ageing. However, recent studies in a variety of organisms have identified conceptual and practical limitations to this theory. Some of these limitations are related to the recent discovery that caloric restriction and other experimental manipulations promote longevity by inducing hormesis effects in association with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). The beneficial role of ROS in lifespan extension is consistent with the essential role of these molecules in cell signalling. However, the identity of specific forms of ROS that promote longevity remains unclear. In this article, we argue that in several model systems, hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in the induction of hormesis.

Early alterations in mitochondrial reserve capacity; a means to predict subsequent photoreceptor cell death

Although genetic and environmental factors contribute to neurodegenerative disease, the underlying etiology common to many diseases might be based on metabolic demand. Mitochondria are the main producer of ATP, but are also the major source of reactive oxygen species. Under normal conditions, these oxidants are neutralized; however, under environmental insult or genetic susceptibility conditions, oxidative stress may exceed cellular antioxidant capacities, leading to degeneration. We tested the hypothesis that loss in mitochondrial reserve capacity plays a causative role in neuronal degeneration and chose a cone photoreceptor cell line as our model. 661W cells were exposed to agents that mimic oxidant stress or calcium overload. Real-time changes in cellular metabolism were assessed using the multi-well Seahorse Biosciences XF24 analyzer that measures oxygen consumption (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR). Cellular stress resulted in an early loss of mitochondrial reserve capacity, without affecting basal respiration; and ECAR was increased, representing a compensatory shift of ATP productions toward glycolysis. The degree of change in energy metabolism was correlated with the amount of subsequent cell death 24-hours post-treatment, the concentration-dependent loss in mitochondrial reserve capacity correlated with the number of live cells. Our data suggested first, that loss in mitochondrial reserve capacity is a major contributor in disease pathogenesis; and second, that the XF24 assay might represent a useful surrogate assay amenable to the screening of agents that protect against loss of mitochondrial reserve capacity. In future experiments, we will explore these concepts for the development of neuroprotective agents.

Molecular, genetic and epigenetic pathways of peroxynitrite-induced cellular toxicity

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer and many metabolic diseases; therefore, an effective antioxidant therapy would be of great importance in these circumstances. Nevertheless, convincing randomized clinical trials revealed that antioxidant supplementations were not associated with significant reduction in incidence of cancer, chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. As oxidation of essential molecules continues, it turns to nitro-oxidative stress because of the involvement of nitric oxide in pathogenesis processes. Peroxynitrite damages via several distinctive mechanisms; first, it has direct toxic effects on all biomolecules and causes lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA damage. The second mechanism involves the induction of several transcription factors leading to cytokine-induced chronic inflammation. Finally, it causes epigenetic perturbations that exaggerate nuclear factor kappa-B mediated inflammatory gene expression. Lessons-learned from the treatment of several chronic disorders including pulmonary diseases suggest that, chronic inflammation and glucocorticoid resistance are regulated by prolonged peroxynitrite production.

Gender-dependent oxidative variations in liver of aged rats

A shift from redox regulation to oxidative damage is known to contribute organ dysfunction and aging-related disorders. Exposure to reactive oxygen species throughout the life-span increases the incidence of several liver diseases. A redox basis of the loss of antioxidant capacity of aged livers has not been fully elucidated in both genders. In the current study, we investigated the gender-dependent relations between protein carbonyl (PCO), a commonly used marker of protein oxidation and other protein oxidation parameters such as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total thiol (T-SH). Our study also covered other oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LHP), and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue of the male and female aged rats. PCO and AOPP levels in old male and female rats were significantly higher than those in the young control groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively for male rats; P < 0.001 for both parameters in female rats). On the other hand, T-SH levels were not found to be different between young and old rat groups. Plasma MDA levels of old male and female rats were significantly higher compared to those of the young control groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). LHP levels were only found out to be significantly higher in old female rats when compared to those in young male rats. GSH levels in old male and female rats were significantly lower than in the corresponding young control groups (P < 0.01 for male rats; P < 0.05 for female rats). Our results demonstrated greater susceptibility to hepatic oxidative damage in females than in males. This appears to contradict the general assumption that females are less susceptible to oxidative injury than males are.

Melatonin: an established antioxidant worthy of use in clinical trials

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of aging and many metabolic diseases; therefore, an effective antioxidant therapy would be of great importance in these circumstances. Nutritional, environmental, and chemical factors can induce the overproduction of the superoxide anion radical in both the cytosol and mitochondria. This is the first and key event that leads to the activation of pathways involved in the development of several metabolic diseases that are related to oxidative stress. As oxidation of essential molecules continues, it turns to nitrooxidative stress because of the involvement of nitric oxide in pathogenic processes. Once peroxynitrite forms, it damages via two distinctive mechanisms. First, it has direct toxic effects leading to lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage. This mechanism involves the induction of several transcription factors leading to cytokine-induced chronic inflammation. Classic antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, have often failed to exhibit beneficial effects in metabolic diseases and aging. Melatonin is a multifunctional indolamine that counteracts virtually all pathophysiologic steps and displays significant beneficial actions against peroxynitrite-induced cellular toxicity. This protection is related to melatonin's antioxidative and antiinflammatory properties. Melatonin has the capability of scavenging both oxygen- and nitrogen-based reactants, including those formed from peroxynitrite, and blocking transcriptional factors, which induce proinflammatory cytokines. Accumulating evidence suggests that this nontoxic indolamine may be useful either as a sole treatment or in conjunction with other treatments for inhibiting the biohazardous actions of nitrooxidative stress.

Role of nitrosative stress in early neuropathy and vascular dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Evidence for important roles of the highly reactive oxidant peroxynitrite in diabetic complications is emerging. We evaluated the role of peroxynitrite in early peripheral neuropathy and vascular dysfunction in STZ-diabetic rats. In the first dose-finding study, control and STZ-diabetic rats were maintained with or without the potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III)tetrakis-2-(N-triethylene glycol monomethyl ether) pyridyl porphyrin (FP15) at 3, 5, or 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) in the drinking water for 4 wk after an initial 2 wk without treatment for assessment of early neuropathy. In the second study with similar experimental design, control and STZ-diabetic rats were maintained with or without FP15, 5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), for vascular studies. Rats with 6-wk duration of diabetes developed motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity deficits, mechanical hyperalgesia, and tactile allodynia in the absence of small sensory nerve fiber degeneration. They also had increased nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia. All these variables were dose-dependently corrected by FP15, with minimal differences between the 5 and 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) doses. FP15, 5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), also corrected endoneurial nutritive blood flow and nitrotyrosine, but not superoxide, fluorescence in aorta and epineurial arterioles. Diabetes-induced decreases in acetylcholine-mediated relaxation by epineurial arterioles and coronary and mesenteric arteries, as well as bradykinin-induced relaxation by coronary and mesenteric arteries, were alleviated by FP15 treatment. The findings reveal the important role of nitrosative stress in early neuropathy and vasculopathy and provide the rationale for further studies of peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts in long-term diabetic models.

Use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate the redox state in vivo

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of how electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) can be used to measure redox-related parameters in vivo. The values of this approach include that the measurements are made under fully physiological conditions, and some of the measurements cannot be made by other means. Three complementary approaches are used with in vivo EPR: the rate of reduction or reactions of nitroxides, spin trapping of free radicals, and measurements of thiols. All three approaches already have produced unique and useful information. The measurement of the rate of decrease of nitroxides technically is the simplest, but difficult to interpret because the measured parameter, reduction in the intensity of the nitroxide signal, can occur by several different mechanisms. In vivo spin trapping can provide direct evidence for the occurrence of specific free radicals in vivo and reflect relative changes, but accurate absolute quantification remains challenging. The measurement of thiols in vivo also appears likely to be useful, but its development as an in vivo technique is at an early stage. It seems likely that the use of in vivo EPR to measure redox processes will become an increasingly utilized and valuable tool.

Heavy isotopes to avert ageing?

Oxidative modifications of cellular components by free radicals are thought to be the cause of ageing and age-associated diseases. Extensive prior research has aimed to lessen such damage by counteracting the free-radical oxidizers with antioxidants, but there have been no attempts to protect the oxidizer-targeted biomolecules by making them more stable against oxidation. A recent paper describes an original and promising method based on the use of non-radioactive heavy isotopes, which might enable living cells to resist the free-radical oxidation and consequently allow us to live a healthier, longer life.