Antioxidant status in hyperthyroid cats before and after radioiodine treatment

Serum metabolome analysis in hyperthyroid cats before and after radioactive iodine therapy

Hyperthyroidism is the most common feline endocrinopathy. In hyperthyroid humans, untargeted metabolomic analysis identified persistent metabolic derangements despite achieving a euthyroid state. Therefore, we sought to define the metabolome of hyperthyroid cats and identify ongoing metabolic changes after treatment. We prospectively compared privately-owned hyperthyroid cats (n = 7) admitted for radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment and euthyroid privately-owned control (CON) cats (n = 12). Serum samples were collected before (T0), 1-month (T1), and three months after (T3) I-131 therapy for untargeted metabolomic analysis by MS/MS. Hyperthyroid cats (T0) had a distinct metabolic signature with 277 significantly different metabolites than controls (70 increased, 207 decreased). After treatment, 66 (T1 vs. CON) and 64 (T3 vs. CON) metabolite differences persisted. Clustering and data reduction analysis revealed separate clustering of hyperthyroid (T0) and CON cats with intermediate phenotypes after treatment (T1 & T3). Mevalonate/mevalonolactone and creatine phosphate were candidate biomarkers with excellent discrimination between hyperthyroid and healthy cats. We found several metabolic derangements (e.g., decreased carnitine and α-tocopherol) do not entirely resolve after achieving a euthyroid state after treating hyperthyroid cats with I-131. Further investigation is warranted to determine diagnostic and therapeutic implications for candidate biomarkers and persistent metabolic abnormalities.

Dietary Strategies for Relieving Stress in Pet Dogs and Cats

A variety of physical, emotional, and mental factors can induce a stress response in pet dogs and cats. During this process, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenal medulla (SAM) axes are activated to produce a series of adaptive short-term reactions to the aversive situations. Meanwhile, oxidative stress is induced where there is an imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage is also incorporated in sustained stress response causing a series of chronic problems, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, immune dysfunction, and development of abnormal behaviors. In this review, the effects and mechanisms of dietary regulation strategies (e.g., antioxidants, anxiolytic agents, and probiotics) on relieving stress in pet dogs and cats are summarized and discussed. We aim to shed light on future studies in the field of pet food and nutrition.

Renal biomarkers in cats: A review of the current status in chronic kidney disease

Serum creatinine concentration, the classical biomarker of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, has important limitations that decrease its value as a biomarker of early CKD. Recently, serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration was introduced as a novel glomerular filtration rate biomarker for the early detection of CKD in cats. However, data on its specificity are still limited. The limitations of conventional biomarkers and the desire for early therapeutic intervention in cats with CKD to improve outcomes have prompted the discovery and validation of novel renal biomarkers to detect glomerular or tubular dysfunction. Changes in the serum or urinary concentrations of these biomarkers may indicate early kidney damage or predict the progression of kidney before changes in conventional biomarkers are detectable. This review summarizes current knowledge on renal biomarkers in CKD in cats, a field that has progressed substantially over the last 5 years.

Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism and the Need to Prevent Oxidative Stress: What Can We Learn from Human Research?

Feline hyperthyroidism is a clinical syndrome related to an excessive production of thyroid hormones, and it is considered as a spontaneous animal model for human thyrotoxicosis. Many shared features between the feline and the human disease have been identified so far, including pathogenesis, clinical signs, and treatment options. Although methimazole is considered the first-choice drug in both species, several side effects have been described. Furthermore, methimazole could interfere with the oxidative status, already perturbated by the disease. It has been reported in humans that dietary management, mainly through antioxidant supplementation, could mitigate this oxidative burden. The purpose of the review is to describe current therapeutic options in the course of feline hyperthyroidism and to summarize the state of the art relationship between dietary antioxidants administration and the reduction of methimazole side-effects in humans to support the use of this approach also in cats.

Feline urinary F2-isoprostanes measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy are poorly correlated

15-F_2T-isoprostanes are byproducts of lipid peroxidation and were determined to be the best marker of oxidative injury in a rodent model of oxidative stress. A previous study compared methods for measurement of urinary F₂-isoprostanes (gas chromatography and negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry, GC-NICI-MS; and ELISA) and found poor agreement in dogs, horses, and cows. Surprisingly, fair agreement between these methods was identified in a small population of cats. We evaluated the agreement between GC-NICI-MS and ELISA of urinary F₂-isoprostanes in the urine of 50 mature cats ranging from healthy to systemically ill. All urine samples had detectable levels of F₂-isoprostanes by both methods. Significant proportional bias and poor agreement were identified between the 2 methods (ρ = 0.364, p = 0.009) for all cats, and in subgroup analysis based on health status. The concentration of urinary F₂-isoprostanes was significantly lower in systemically ill cats compared to healthy cats when measured by ELISA (p = 0.002) but not by GC-NICI-MS (p = 0.068). Our results indicate that GC-NICI-MS and ELISA have poor agreement when measuring urinary F₂-isoprostanes in cats.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Supplementation on Redox Unbalance in Hyperthyroid Cats Treated with Methimazole: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Methimazole (MMI) is often the selected medical treatment for feline hyperthyroidism. However, the onset of MMI-related side effects (MMI-SE) is likely caused by oxidative stress. This study evaluated the dietary supplementation of selected antioxidants in hyperthyroid cats receiving MMI, to reduce MMI-SE. Thirty hyperthyroid client-owned cats were randomly allocated in group M (MMI + placebo) or group M+A (MMI + antioxidants). At different time-points from the enrolment (ET) to the end of the trial (FT), the following information was recorded: clinical findings, complete blood count, serum biochemical parameters, urinalysis, total plasma thyroxine concentrations, determinable reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs), OXY-adsorbent test values, and oxidative stress index (OSi) values, and MMI-SE. dROMs and OSi values significantly increased from ET to FT in group M and were significantly higher in group M than in group M+A at FT. Likewise, OXY-absorbent test values were significantly higher in group M+A than in group M at FT. Moreover, the occurrence rate of MMI-SE in group M+A was lower than in group M. In conclusion, our results show that the dietary supplementation of antioxidants in hyperthyroid cats receiving MMI exerts a protective effect against oxidative stress, likely contributing to the reduction of MMI-SE.

Redox unbalance in the hyperthyroid cat: a comparison with healthy and non-thyroidal diseased cats

Background

Feline hyperthyroidism, the most common endocrinopathy in older cats, provides a spontaneous model for human thyrotoxicosis. Human thyrotoxicosis is associated with redox unbalance, which may result in organ damage. The redox status of hyperthyroid cats is largely unknown. The aims of the present study were to compare the redox status of cats with hyperthyroidism with that of healthy cats and cats with chronic non-thyroidal illness.

Results

Forty cats with untreated hyperthyroidism (group H), 45 chronically ill cats with non-thyroidal illness (group I), and 39 healthy cats (group C) were recruited for this observational cross-sectional study. All cats were screened for redox status markers. Determinable reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) were used as oxidative stress markers. Antioxidant status was determined using the OXY-Adsorbent test to quantify the plasma barrier to oxidation. The Oxidative Stress index (OSi) was calculated as the ratio of d-ROMs and OXY-Adsorbent test values. Data were compared by ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons post-hoc test. The dROMs of group H (193 ± 47 CarrU) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those of the healthy cats (103 ± 17 CarrU). The OXY-Adsorbent test results in group H (265 ± 68 μmol HClO/ml) were significantly lower than those in healthy cats (390 ± 83 μmol HClO/ml; p < 0.01) and chronically ill cats (306 ± 45 μmol HClO/ml, p < 0.05). Moreover, the Osi value in group H (0.8 ± 0.2 CarrU/μmol HClO/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of the healthy cats (0.3 ± 0.1 CarrU/μmol HClO/ml).

Conclusions

As described in humans with hyperthyroidism, feline hyperthyroidism is associated with redox unbalance. Free radical production is increased in hyperthyroid cats and their antioxidant depletion seems to be more severe than in cats with non-thyroidal illnesses. Our results support the rationale for a clinical trial investigating the potential positive effects of antioxidant supplementation to cats with hyperthyroidism.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-1896-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Acute phase proteins and antioxidant responses in queens with pyometra

Acute phase proteins (APP) and biomarkers of oxidative status have proved to be clinically useful biomarkers of pyometra in different species. Despite pyometra is considered one of the most important feline reproductive diseases, information about the APP response and the oxidative status in queens with pyometra is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the APP and the antioxidant responses at diagnosis and in the post-operative period in feline pyometra. Serum concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), albumin, total serum thiols (Thiol) and total antioxidant capacity determined by different assays, including trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assessed by two different methodologies (TEAC1 and TEAC2), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), were determined in 23 queens with pyometra at diagnosis and in 13 healthy control queens submitted to elective ovariohysterectomy. The APP and antioxidants were also evaluated in 11 queens of the pyometra group at days two and 10 after surgery. At diagnosis, queens with pyometra had serum concentrations of SAA, Hp, and FRAP significantly higher (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), and of albumin, Thiol, CUPRAC and TEAC2 significantly lower (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) than controls. Moreover, concentrations of APP and antioxidants were significantly different (with a tendency to return to physiologic levels) at day 10 after surgery than before surgery. Significant associations were found between APP and antioxidants. According to these results, an APP response and the development of oxidative stress were detected in queens with pyometra. In addition, APP and antioxidants tended to return to physiologic values after surgery in the queens that recovered from the disease. Therefore, our results suggest that APP and selected antioxidants, such as Thiol and CUPRAC, could be potentially useful biomarkers in diagnosis and assessment of the post-operative period in feline pyometra.

Urinary F2 -Isoprostanes in Cats with International Renal Interest Society Stage 1-4 Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

F₂ -isoprostanes, a biomarker of oxidant injury, increase with advancing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. In cats, the relationship between CKD and oxidative stress is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether cats with advancing CKD have increasing urinary F₂ -isoprostanes.

ANIMALS

Control cats without evidence of CKD (≥6 years old; n = 11), and cats with IRIS stage 1 (n = 8), 2 (n = 38), 3 (n = 21), and 4 (n = 10) CKD.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study. Urinary F₂ -isoprostanes (specifically free 15-F_2t -isoprostanes) normalized to urine creatinine (IsoPs) were compared among groups and tested for correlations with blood pressure, proteinuria, serum creatinine concentration, and urine specific gravity. The IsoPs also were compared between cats with and without hypertension or proteinuria, and in cats fed predominantly standard versus renal diets.

RESULTS

Urinary IsoPs were increased, but not significantly, in cats with stage 1 CKD (median 263 pg/mg creatinine; range, 211-380) compared to controls (182 pg/mg; range, 80-348) and decreased significantly from stage 1 through advancing CKD (stage 2, 144 pg/mg; range, 49-608; stage 3, 102 pg/mg; range, 25-158; stage 4, 67 pg/mg; range, 26-117; P < .01). Urinary IsoPs were inversely correlated with serum creatinine (r = -0.66, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Urinary IsoPs are significantly higher in early CKD (stage 1) compared to cats with more advanced CKD. Additional studies are warranted to characterize oxidative stress in cats with stage 1 CKD and determine whether early antioxidant treatments have a protective effect on CKD progression.

Characterization of feline serum-cobalt binding

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress inhibits albumin's ability to complex with cobalt. Feline serum-cobalt binding has not been described.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to develop a cobalt binding test for use with feline serum, and correlate the results with other biochemical and cellular constituents in blood, and with clinical diseases of cats.

METHODS

A colorimetric test of cobalt binding, based on the oxidation-reduction reaction of Co(+2) and dithiothreitol, was developed using feline serum. The test was used to measure cobalt binding in stored serum from 176 cats presented to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a variety of disease conditions. Time-matched hematology and biochemical data, and clinical information, were obtained from the medical record of each cat and correlated with the serum-cobalt binding results.

RESULTS

Serial dilution of feline serum with phosphate-buffered saline resulted in a highly linear decrease in serum-cobalt binding (r(2)  = .9984). Serum-cobalt binding of the clinical samples also correlated with albumin concentrations in a stepwise linear regression model (r(2)  = .425), and both cobalt binding and albumin were significantly decreased in cases of inflammation. Albumin and cobalt binding also shared significant correlations with several erythron variables, and serum concentration of total calcium and bilirubin.

CONCLUSIONS

The correlation of cobalt binding measured by a colorimetric test with albumin concentration in the clinical samples and with serum dilution is consistent with feline albumin-cobalt complex formation. Hypoalbuminemia is the likely cause of reduced serum-cobalt binding in inflammation and the correlations observed between cobalt binding and other variables.

The role of thyroid hormones as inductors of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are oxidizing agents amply implicated in tissue damage. ROS production is inevitably linked to ATP synthesis in most cells, and the rate of production is related to the rate of cell respiration. Multiple antioxidant mechanisms limit ROS dispersion and interaction with cell components, but, when the balance between ROS production and scavenging is lost, oxidative damage develops. Many traits of aging are related to oxidative damage by ROS, including neurodegenerative diseases. Thyroid hormones (THs) are a major factor controlling metabolic and respiratory rates in virtually all cell types in mammals. The general metabolic effect of THs is a relative acceleration of the basal metabolism that includes an increase of the rate of both catabolic and anabolic reactions. THs are related to oxidative stress not only by their stimulation of metabolism but also by their effects on antioxidant mechanisms. Thyroid dysfunction increases with age, so changes in THs levels in the elderly could be a factor affecting the development of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the relationship is not always clear. In this review, we analyze the participation of thyroid hormones on ROS production and oxidative stress, and the way the changes in thyroid status in aging are involved in neurodegenerative diseases.