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Investigation of the hepatic mTOR/S6K1/SREBP1 signalling pathway in rats at different ages: from neonates to adults. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:7415-7422. [PMID: 34655015 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06757-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunctions in the lipogenic process controlled by the hepatic mTOR/S6K1/SREBP-1c signaling pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine age-related changes in the mTOR/S6K1/SREBP1 pathway in rat liver tissues. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed Western Blot analysis to determine age-related changes in the mTOR/S6K1/SREBP1 pathway in Sprague Dawley male rats liver tissues of six different age groups representing neonatal, infant, weaning, puberty, young adult, adult life periods, and Oil Red O staining to evaluate age-related lipid accumulation. We observed an increase in Akt and p-Akt levels with age in compared to the 0-day-old group. Total mTOR and SREBP1 expression increased from the 0-day-old to the 28-day-old group but decreased in the following age groups. p-mTOR and p-S6K1 levels in the 0-day-old group were higher than the other groups. S6K1 expression was lowest in the 0-day-old group and showed changes among the age groups. Lipid accumulation was seen in liver sections taken from the 12-month-old group. mTOR/S6K1/SREBP1 pathway expression showed changes with age during the neonatal-adult life cycle stages in rat liver tissues. CONCLUSION We suggest that understanding the molecular mechanisms age-related changes of lipogenesis function is necessary to contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches.
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Reproductive Effects of Nicotinamide on Testicular Function and Structure in Old Male Rats: Oxidative, Apoptotic, Hormonal, and Morphological Analyses. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:3352-3360. [PMID: 34101148 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00647-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a natural process in which morphological and functional abnormalities in living organisms increase irreversibly. Nicotinamide (NAM) acts both as a precursor of many metabolites and as a cofactor of many enzymes involved in cell energy metabolism, homeostasis of redox balance, and regulation of signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the effects of NAM treatment on morphological and biochemical changes in testis of old rats. The rats were treated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg NAM doses as a gavage for 1 month. As a result, we determined the dose-dependent therapeutic effects of NAM on testicular tissues of aged rats. We found that NAM treatment decreased total oxidant status (TOS), caspase 3 (CASP3) and cytochrome c (CYC) levels and increased total antioxidant status (TAS), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels (P<0.05). NAM treatment significantly reduced the age-related histopathological parameters such as cellular loss, necrotic tissue, interstitial edema, tubular damage, and vascular congestion in aged rat testicular tissue compared to the control group. Moreover, based on histomorphological analysis, we detected that NAM treatment resulted in a dose-dependent improvement in testicular tissue damage of old rats. Consequently, the results showed that the reproductive decline caused by aging could be ameliorated with NAM treatment.
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Szlęzak D, Bronowicka-Adamska P, Hutsch T, Ufnal M, Wróbel M. Hypertension and Aging Affect Liver Sulfur Metabolism in Rats. Cells 2021; 10:1238. [PMID: 34069923 PMCID: PMC8157544 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertension and age are key risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous transmitter, contributes significantly to regulating arterial blood pressure and aging processes. This study evaluated the effects of hypertension and aging on the hepatic metabolism of sulfur-containing compounds, the activity of the enzymes involved in sulfur homeostasis, and the liver's ability to generate H2S. Livers isolated from 16- and 60-week-old normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) were used to evaluate gene expression using RT-PCR, and the activity of enzymes participating in H2S metabolism, including thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese; TST), cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST). The levels of cysteine, cystine, reduced and oxidized glutathione were measured using RP-HPLC. SHR livers from both age groups showed a higher capacity to generate H2S than livers from WKY. The gene expression and activity of enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism differed between WKY and SHR, and between the age groups. For example, 16-week-old SHR had significantly higher activity of TST than 16-week-old WKY. Furthermore, differences between younger and older WKY rats in the expression and/or activity of TST and MPST were present. In conclusion, our study shows that arterial hypertension and aging affect hepatic sulfur metabolism and H2S production in rats. These findings pave the way for interventional studies evaluating a potential causal relation between liver sulfur metabolism, hypertension and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Szlęzak
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Medical Biochemistry, 7 Kopernika St., 31-034 Kraków, Poland
| | - Patrycja Bronowicka-Adamska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Medical Biochemistry, 7 Kopernika St., 31-034 Kraków, Poland
| | - Tomasz Hutsch
- Laboratory of the Centre for Preclinical Research, Department of Physiology and Experimental Pathophysiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha St., 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory ALAB Bioscience, ALAB Plus Sp. z o.o., 13 Krucza St., 05-090 Rybie, Poland
| | - Marcin Ufnal
- Laboratory of the Centre for Preclinical Research, Department of Physiology and Experimental Pathophysiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha St., 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Wróbel
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Medical Biochemistry, 7 Kopernika St., 31-034 Kraków, Poland
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Zhang G, Cui R, Kang Y, Qi C, Ji X, Zhang T, Guo Q, Cui H, Shi G. Testosterone propionate activated the Nrf2-ARE pathway in ageing rats and ameliorated the age-related changes in liver. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18619. [PMID: 31819135 PMCID: PMC6901587 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55148-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of testosterone propionate (TP) on age-related liver changes via activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) pathway in aged rats. Aged rats received subcutaneous injections of TP (2 mg/kg/d, 84 days). Oxidative stress parameters and the expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b), Kelch-like ECH associating protein-1 (Keap1), Nrf2, haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in liver tissues were examined to check whether the Nrf2-ARE pathway was involved in the age-related changes in liver. Our results showed that TP supplementation alleviated liver morphology, liver function and liver fibrosis; improved oxidative stress parameters; and increased the expression of STAT5b, Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 and decreased the expression of Keap1 in the liver tissues of aged rats. These results suggested that TP increased the expression of STAT5b, and then activated the Nrf2-ARE pathway and promoted antioxidant mechanisms in aged rats. These findings may provide new therapeutic uses for TP in patients with age-related liver changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China.,Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Rui Cui
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Yunxiao Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Chunxiao Qi
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Ji
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Tianyun Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Qiqing Guo
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China
| | - Geming Shi
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China. .,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China. .,Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, P.R. China.
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Nicotine and Cotinine Inhibit Catalase and Glutathione Reductase Activity Contributing to the Impaired Osteogenesis of SCP-1 Cells Exposed to Cigarette Smoke. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:3172480. [PMID: 30533170 PMCID: PMC6250005 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3172480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking has been identified as a major risk factor for osteoporosis decades ago. Several studies have shown a direct relationship between cigarette smoking, decreased bone mineral density, and impaired fracture healing. However, the mechanisms behind impaired fracture healing and cigarette smoking are yet to be elucidated. Migration and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) into the fracture site play a vital role in the process of fracture healing. In human nicotine, the most pharmacologically active and major addictive component present in tobacco gets rapidly metabolized to the more stable cotinine. This study demonstrates that physiological concentrations of both nicotine and cotinine do not affect the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. However, cigarette smoke exposure induces oxidative stress by increasing superoxide radicals and reducing intracellular glutathione in MSCs, negatively affecting osteogenic differentiation. Although, not actively producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) nicotine and cotinine inhibit catalase and glutathione reductase activity, contributing to an accumulation of ROS by cigarette smoke exposure. Coincubation with N-acetylcysteine or L-ascorbate improves impaired osteogenesis caused by cigarette smoke exposure by both activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling and scavenging of ROS, which thus might represent therapeutic targets to support fracture healing in smokers.
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