Cafeteria diet increases prostaglandin E2 levels in rat prostate, kidney and testis

Phenolic Content and Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Solidago virga-aurea, Phyllanthus niruri, Epilobium angustifolium, Peumus boldus, and Ononis spinosa Extracts

Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition that is related to multiple infectious agents, including bacteria and fungi. Traditional herbal extracts proved efficacious in controlling clinical symptoms associated with prostatitis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to explore the efficacy of extracts from Solidago virga-aurea, Ononis spinosa, Peumus boldus, Epilobium angustifolium, and Phyllanthus niruri against bacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) and fungi strains (Candida albicans; C. tropicalis) involved in prostatitis. Additionally, anti-mycotic effects were tested against multiple species of dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, T. tonsurans, T. erinacei, Arthroderma crocatum, A. quadrifidum, A. gypseum, A. currey, and A. insingulare). Antioxidant effects were also evaluated in isolated rat prostates challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and phytochemical analyses were conducted to identify and quantify selected phenolic compounds, in the extracts. Finally, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict putative human and microbial enzymes targeted by extracts’ phytocompounds and underlying the observed bio-pharmacological effects. The phytochemical analysis highlighted that rutin levels could be crucial for explaining the highest antibacterial activity of P. boldus extract, especially against E. coli and B. cereus. On the other hand, in the E. angustifolium extract, catechin concentration could partially explain the highest efficacy of this extract in reducing lipid peroxidation, in isolated rat prostates stimulated with LPS. Concluding, the results of the present study showed moderate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects induced by water extracts of S. virga-aurea, P. boldus, E. angustifolium, P. niruri, and O. spinosa that could be related, at least partially, to the phenolic composition of the phytocomplex.

Eucalyptus Globulus protects against diclofenac sodium induced hepatorenal and testicular toxicity in male rats

The current study was conducted to investigate the protective properties of Eucalyptus globulus leaves methanolic extract (EGLME) against diclofenac sodium (DS) induced hepatorenal and testicular toxicity in male rats. A total of 40 rats were equally divided into 4 groups, Control, Diclofenac sodium (DS), EGLME and DS + EGLME groups, respectively. DS and EGLME were administered orally at dose rate 2.5 and 100 mg/kg BW, 4 times/week for 8 weeks, respectively. Administration of DS distorted hepatorenal functions manifested by alteration of serum levels of ALT, AST, total protein and albumin, creatinine and urea with changes of histological architectures. DS caused reproductive toxicity represented by minimized sperm count, individual sperm motility and viability; depleted concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in testicular tissue; and decreased testosterone level with alteration in testicular histological features. In contrast, co-treatment of DS intoxicated rats with EGLME protected rats against the adverse effects of DS revealing enhancing properties of EGLME on rats' liver, kidney and testes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that EGLME had a potent protecting property against DS induced hepatic, renal and testicular toxicity in male rats, with special concern to testicular tissue via modulation of GSH as an oxidant marker.

TAXONOMY

(classification by EVISE): Diclofenac sodium toxicity (hepatorenal and testicular toxicity), co-treatment with natural herbal extract, blood biochemical assays, tissue anti-oxidants assay, histopathology and reproductive indices analyses.

Resveratrol attenuates metabolic, sperm, and testicular changes in adult Wistar rats fed a diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates

High-fat diets affect male reproduction and sexual function. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of prolonged resveratrol administration on the metabolic, sperm, and testicular parameters of rats fed a cafeteria diet. Male Wistar rats were divided at weaning into control (C, n = 20) and cafeteria (CAF, n = 16) groups. At 3 months, half of them were given daily supplementations of resveratrol (C-R, n = 10; CAF-R, n = 8) at a dosage of 30 mg kg^-1 body mass for 2 months. Animals were killed at 5 months of age, and blood, spermatozoa, and testes were collected for further analysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The CAF diet promoted hyperglycemia (P < 0.0001), and treatment with resveratrol reversed this condition (P < 0.0001). The CAF diet reduced sperm viability and motility, while resveratrol improved these parameters (P < 0.05). Regarding testicular morphology, the height of the seminiferous epithelium was reduced in the CAF group compared with that of the C group (P = 0.0007). Spermatogenic cell proliferation was also reduced in the CAF group compared with that of the C group. However, the CAF-R showed an increase in cell proliferation rate compared with that of the untreated CAF group (P = 0.0024). Although it did not modify body mass, the consumption of a CAF diet promoted hyperglycemia, adverse testicular morphology remodeling, and abnormal sperm, which were attenuated by treatment with resveratrol, thus suggesting a protective effect of this antioxidant on spermatogenesis.

Physiological and pathological levels of prostaglandin E2 in renal parenchyma and neoplastic renal tissue

Prostaglandin (PG)E₂ seems to promote tumor proliferation by regulating cell growth, inhibiting apoptosis, promoting angiogenesis, and suppressing host immune surveillance of cancer cells. The suppression of prostaglandins biosynthesis is thought to be the main molecular mechanism for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs antineoplastic effect. Yet the relationship between PGE₂ and human renal cell carcinoma remains unclear. The aim of our study is to evaluate the PGE₂ content in human renal parenchyma and Renal Cell Carcinoma. The study was conducted on 20 consecutive patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma. In the normal renal parenchyma and in the neoplastic renal tissue the PGE₂ level was 83.43 ± 5.89 pg/mg and 289.67 ± 22.2 pg/mg, respectively (P < 0.0001). There was no relationship between PGE₂ content and Renal Cell Carcinoma dimension, Fuhrman grade, pathological-Tumor-Node and Metastasis (pTNM) stage and histological subtype. The PGE₂ over-content in neoplastic renal tissue suggests a role of PGE₂ in development and progression of renal carcinoma.

Ageing: Is there a role for arachidonic acid and other bioactive lipids? A review

Ageing is inevitable. Recent studies suggest that it could be delayed. Low-grade systemic inflammation is seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and endothelial dysfunction that are common with increasing age. In all these conditions, an alteration in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism is seen in the form of increased formation of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and decreased production of anti-inflammatory lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins and decreased activity of desaturases. Calorie restriction, exercise and parabiosis delay age-related changes that could be related to enhanced proliferation of stem cells, decrease in inflammation and transfer of GDF-11 (growth differentiation factor-11) and other related molecules from the young to the old, increase in the formation of lipoxin A4, resolvins, protectins and maresins, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO); inhibition of ageing-related hypothalamic or brain IKK-β and NF-kB activation, decreased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release resulting in increased neurogenesis and consequent decelerated ageing. This suggests that hypothalamus participates in ageing process. N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and lipid-derived signalling molecules can be tuned favorably under dietary restriction to extend lifespan and/or prevent advanced age associated diseases in an mTOR dependent pathway manner. Sulfur amino acid (SAA) restriction increased hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production and protected tissues from hypoxia and tissue damage. Anti-inflammatory metabolites formed from AA such as LXA4, resolvins, protectins and maresins enhance production of NO, CO, H2S; suppress NF-kB expression and alter mTOR expression and thus, may aid in delaying ageing process. Dietary restriction and exercise enhance AA metabolism to form LXA4, resolvins, protectins and maresins that have anti-inflammatory actions. AA and their metabolites also influence stem cell biology, enhance neurogenesis to improve memory and augment autophagy to prolong life span. Thus, AA and other PUFAs and their anti-inflammatory metabolites inhibit inflammation, augment stem cell proliferation, restore to normal lipid-derived signaling molecules and NO and H2S production, enhance autophagy and prolong life span.

Is There a Role for Bioactive Lipids in the Pathobiology of Diabetes Mellitus?

Inflammation, decreased levels of circulating endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), altered activity of hypothalamic neurotransmitters (including serotonin and vagal tone) and gut hormones, increased concentrations of free radicals, and imbalance in the levels of bioactive lipids and their pro- and anti-inflammatory metabolites have been suggested to play a role in diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) is due to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells because of enhanced production of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines released by immunocytes infiltrating the pancreas in response to unknown exogenous and endogenous toxin(s). On the other hand, type 2 DM is due to increased peripheral insulin resistance secondary to enhanced production of IL-6 and TNF-α in response to high-fat and/or calorie-rich diet (rich in saturated and trans fats). Type 2 DM is also associated with significant alterations in the production and action of hypothalamic neurotransmitters, eNO, BDNF, free radicals, gut hormones, and vagus nerve activity. Thus, type 1 DM is because of excess production of pro-inflammatory cytokines close to β cells, whereas type 2 DM is due to excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation. Hence, methods designed to suppress excess production of pro-inflammatory cytokines may form a new approach to prevent both type 1 and type 2 DM. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and similar surgeries ameliorate type 2 DM, partly by restoring to normal: gut hormones, hypothalamic neurotransmitters, eNO, vagal activity, gut microbiota, bioactive lipids, BDNF production in the gut and hypothalamus, concentrations of cytokines and free radicals that results in resetting glucose-stimulated insulin production by pancreatic β cells. Our recent studies suggested that bioactive lipids, such as arachidonic acid, eicosapentaneoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (which are unsaturated fatty acids) and their anti-inflammatory metabolites: lipoxin A4, resolvins, protectins, and maresins, may have antidiabetic actions. These bioactive lipids have anti-inflammatory actions, enhance eNO, BDNF production, restore hypothalamic dysfunction, enhance vagal tone, modulate production and action of ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin, and influence gut microbiota that may explain their antidiabetic action. These pieces of evidence suggest that methods designed to selectively deliver bioactive lipids to pancreatic β cells, gut, liver, and muscle may prevent type 1 and type 2 DM.

Obesity promotes aerobic glycolysis in prostate cancer cells

Obesity is the leading preventable comorbidity associated with increased prostate cancer-related recurrence and mortality. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that a body mass index >30 is associated with increased oxidative DNA damage within the prostate gland and increased prostate cancer-related mortality. Here we provide evidence that obesity promotes worse clinical outcome through induction of metabolic abnormalities known to promote genotoxic stress. We have previously reported that blood serum derived from obese mice may enhance the proliferative and invasive potential of human prostate cancer cell lines ex vivo. Here we show that a 1-h exposure of LNCaP or PacMetUT1 prostate cancer cell lines and nonmalignant RWPE-1 prostate epithelial cells to 2% serum from obese mice induces markers of aerobic glycolysis relative to those exposed to serum from nonobese mice. This metabolic change was correlated with accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased frequency of DNA double-strand breaks. Interestingly, N-tert-Butylhydroxylamine, an antioxidant, significantly suppressed markers of aerobic glycolysis in the cells exposed to the blood serum of obese mice, suggesting that ROS contributes to a metabolic shift toward aerobic glycolysis. Here we describe obesity-induced changes in key metabolic markers that impact prostate cancer cell progression and explore the role of antioxidants in ameliorating these effects.