Ubiquinol (Reduced Coenzyme Q10) and Cellular Oxygen Consumption in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Coenzyme Q10 protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy via antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pathway

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic that treats a variety of malignancies. Unfortunately, its cardiotoxicity limits its therapeutic usefulness. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has effectively treated and prevented various cardiac diseases and toxicities. This study aimed to evaluate the possible antioxidative and anti-apoptotic cardioprotective effects of CoQ10 against doxorubicin-induced histopathological and molecular changes in cardiomyocytes. Twenty-eight adult Wistar rats were divided into positive control, negative control, Dox-treated group, and Dox+CoQ10-treated. On the 16th day after the start of treatment, the hearts of all rats were dissected, and the left ventricles were processed for histological evaluation; immunohistochemical staining with caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); ultrastructural examination of cardiomyocytes; molecular assessment of proapoptotic gene Bax and anti-apoptotic gene expression Bcl-2; and biochemical study of malondialdehyde (MDA). The Dox-treated group had disorganized cardiomyocytes with increased interstitial space, vacuolated cytoplasm, and multiple small-sized pyknotic nuclei. A significant increase in caspase-3 and iNOS immunoexpression was observed. Ultrastructurally, the mitochondria were large with abnormal shapes, vacuolated cytoplasm, multiple vacuoles and autophagosomes, collagen fibril accumulation, and multiple small hyperchromatic nuclei. The intercalated discs were disorganized with loss of desmosome junction. The cardiomyocytes also showed significantly increased MDA levels and upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression ratio. Co-administration of CoQ10 resulted in significant improvement in the histopathological picture, with a significant decrease in caspase-3 and iNOS immunoexpression and downregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression ratio. In conclusion, CoQ10 protects against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity through the regulation of proapoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene expression.

Blockade of PGK1 and ALDOA enhances bilirubin control of Th17 cells in Crohn's disease

Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) confers Th17-cells immunosuppressive features by activating aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor, a modulator of toxin and adaptive immune responses. In Crohn's disease, Th17-cells fail to acquire regulatory properties in response to UCB, remaining at an inflammatory/pathogenic state. Here we show that UCB modulates Th17-cell metabolism by limiting glycolysis and through downregulation of glycolysis-related genes, namely phosphoglycerate-kinase-1 (PGK1) and aldolase-A (ALDOA). Th17-cells of Crohn's disease patients display heightened PGK1 and ALDOA and defective response to UCB. Silencing of PGK1 or ALDOA restores Th17-cell response to UCB, as reflected by increase in immunoregulatory markers like FOXP3, IL-10 and CD39. In vivo, PGK1 and ALDOA silencing enhances UCB salutary effects in trinitro-benzene-sulfonic-acid-induced colitis in NOD/scid/gamma humanized mice where control over disease activity and enhanced immunoregulatory phenotypes are achieved. PGK1 and/or ALDOA blockade might have therapeutic effects in Crohn's disease by favoring acquisition of regulatory properties by Th17-cells along with control over their pathogenic potential.