Therapeutic Potential and Immunomodulatory Role of Coenzyme Q10 and Its Analogues in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Immunomodulatory activity of argentatins A and B isolated from guayule

Argentatins are secondary metabolites synthesized by guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) with numerous potential medical applications. In addition to inhibiting insect growth, they are endowed with several pharmacological properties including antimicrobial and antitumorigenic activity. However, their potential as immunomodulators remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether argentatins can modulate the function of the immune system. Human mesenchymal stem cells were treated with argentatins and the production of several anti- and proinflammatory cytokines was evaluated. The effect of argentatins on the polarization of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and macrophages was also assessed. Results demonstrated that argentatins can modulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines and the polarization of cellular phenotypes, including Th2 lymphocytes and M1 macrophages. These findings suggest that argentatins are promising therapeutic agents in autoimmune or allergic diseases, and open new perspectives for the investigation of argentatins in immune response and in the development of more targeted and effective immunomodulatory therapies.

Comprehensive analysis of lactate-related gene profiles and immune characteristics in lupus nephritis

Objectives

The most frequent cause of kidney damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is lupus nephritis (LN), which is also a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Lactate metabolism and protein lactylation might be related to the development of LN. However, there is still a lack of relative research to prove the hypothesis. Hence, this study was conducted to screen the lactate-related biomarkers for LN and analyze the underlying mechanism.

Methods

To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the training set (GSE32591, GSE127797), we conducted a differential expression analysis (LN samples versus normal samples). Then, module genes were mined using WGCNA concerning LN. The overlapping of DEGs, critical module genes, and lactate-related genes (LRGs) was used to create the lactate-related differentially expressed genes (LR-DEGs). By using a machine-learning algorithm, ROC, and expression levels, biomarkers were discovered. We also carried out an immune infiltration study based on biomarkers and GSEA.

Results

A sum of 1259 DEGs was obtained between LN and normal groups. Then, 3800 module genes in reference to LN were procured. 19 LR-DEGs were screened out by the intersection of DEGs, key module genes, and LRGs. Moreover, 8 pivotal genes were acquired via two machine-learning algorithms. Subsequently, 3 biomarkers related to lactate metabolism were obtained, including COQ2, COQ4, and NDUFV1. And these three biomarkers were enriched in pathways 'antigen processing and presentation' and 'NOD-like receptor signaling pathway'. We found that Macrophages M0 and T cells regulatory (Tregs) were associated with these three biomarkers as well.

Conclusion

Overall, the results indicated that lactate-related biomarkers COQ2, COQ4, and NDUFV1 were associated with LN, which laid a theoretical foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of LN.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance used to treat some rheumatic diseases. Our objective was to review the use of CoQ10 in rheumatic diseases. PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles on CoQ10 and rheumatic diseases between 1966 and April 2023. Twenty articles were found, including 483 patients. The investigated conditions were Fibromyalgia (FM) with 15 studies, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with 3 studies, and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) with 2 studies. After CoQ10 supplementation, RA patients observed improvements in disease activity index, inflammatory biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), cytokine levels, and a decrease in malondialdehyde. In APS, CoQ10 improved endothelial function and decreased prothrombotic and proinflammatory mediators. Regarding FM, in most of the studies, the patients observed improvements in pain, fatigue, sleep, tender points count, mood disorders, and scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The drug was well tolerated, with reports of minor side effects in two studies. CoQ10 supplementation seems to be efficacious as a complementary treatment for RA and FM. Upcoming studies with larger samples and including other rheumatic diseases are welcome.

Natural supplements in antiphospholipid syndrome: A case for further study

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombotic events and/or pregnancy complications in the presence of persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Although long-term anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists is considered standard of care, there is an unmet need for safe therapeutics as primary thromboprophylaxis or adjuncts to standard of care in APS. APS is driven by oxidative stress, procoagulant, proinflammatory and angiogenic pathways. For these reasons there has been an increased interest into the investigation of antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of natural supplements in APS. The objective of this review is to summarize the mechanistic, epidemiologic and clinical evidence behind the use of natural supplements in APS, with a specific focus on vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, gingerol, and isoquercetin. This review should serve as a compelling argument for the future study of natural supplements in APS.

The mechanism of ferroptosis and its related diseases

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cellular death characterized by the iron-mediated accumulation of lipid peroxides, provides a novel avenue for delving into the intersection of cellular metabolism, oxidative stress, and disease pathology. We have witnessed a mounting fascination with ferroptosis, attributed to its pivotal roles across diverse physiological and pathological conditions including developmental processes, metabolic dynamics, oncogenic pathways, neurodegenerative cascades, and traumatic tissue injuries. By unraveling the intricate underpinnings of the molecular machinery, pivotal contributors, intricate signaling conduits, and regulatory networks governing ferroptosis, researchers aim to bridge the gap between the intricacies of this unique mode of cellular death and its multifaceted implications for health and disease. In light of the rapidly advancing landscape of ferroptosis research, we present a comprehensive review aiming at the extensive implications of ferroptosis in the origins and progress of human diseases. This review concludes with a careful analysis of potential treatment approaches carefully designed to either inhibit or promote ferroptosis. Additionally, we have succinctly summarized the potential therapeutic targets and compounds that hold promise in targeting ferroptosis within various diseases. This pivotal facet underscores the burgeoning possibilities for manipulating ferroptosis as a therapeutic strategy. In summary, this review enriched the insights of both investigators and practitioners, while fostering an elevated comprehension of ferroptosis and its latent translational utilities. By revealing the basic processes and investigating treatment possibilities, this review provides a crucial resource for scientists and medical practitioners, aiding in a deep understanding of ferroptosis and its effects in various disease situations.

Augmented oxidative stress, accumulation of DNA damage and impaired DNA repair mechanisms in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder with complex pathogenesis. Studies have shown that oxidative stress may contribute to APS pathophysiology. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from thrombotic Primary APS (thrPAPS) patients and age/sex-matched healthy controls (HC), as well as a control group of asymptomatic antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) positive individuals without APS (aPL+/non-APS), we examined oxidative stress, abasic (apurinic/apyrimidinic) sites, and DNA damage response (DDR)-associated parameters, including endogenous DNA damage (single- and double-strand breaks) and DNA repair mechanisms, namely nucleotide excision repair (NER) and double-strand breaks repair (DSB/R). We found that thrPAPS patients exhibited significantly higher levels of endogenous DNA damage, increased oxidative stress and abasic sites, as well as lower NER and DSB/R capacities versus HC (all P < 0.001) and versus aPL+/non-APS subjects (all P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that oxidative stress and decreased DNA repair mechanisms contribute to the accumulation of endogenous DNA damage in PBMCs from thrPAPS patients and, if further validated, may be exploited as therapeutic targets and potential biomarkers.

Coenzyme Q10 Stimulate Reproductive Vatality

Female infertility and pregnancy maintenance are associate with various factors, including quantity and quality of oocytes, genital inflammation, endometriosis, and other diseases. Women are even diagnosed as unexplained infertility or unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion when failed to achieve pregnancy with current treatment, which are urgent clinical issues need to be addressed. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It is not only essential for the mitochondria to produce energy, but also function as an antioxidant to maintain redox homeostasis in the body. Recently, the capacity of CoQ10 to reduce oxidative stress (OS), enhance mitochondrial activity, regulate gene expression and inhibit inflammatory responses, has been discovered as a novel adjuvant in male reproductive performance enhancing in both animal and human studies. Furthermore, CoQ10 is also proved to regulate immune balance, antioxidant, promote glucose and lipid metabolism. These properties will bring highlight for ovarian dysfunction reversing, ovulation ameliorating, oocyte maturation/fertilization promoting, and embryonic development optimizing. In this review, we systematically discuss the pleiotropic effects of CoQ10 in female reproductive disorders to investigate the mechanism and therapeutic potential to provide a reference in subsequent studies.

Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants, an Innovative Class of Antioxidant Compounds for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Perspectives and Limitations

Neurodegenerative diseases comprise a wide spectrum of pathologies characterized by progressive loss of neuronal functions and structures. Despite having different genetic backgrounds and etiology, in recent years, many studies have highlighted a point of convergence in the mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration: mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been observed in different pathologies, and their detrimental effects on neurons contribute to the exacerbation of the pathological phenotype at various degrees. In this context, increasing relevance has been acquired by antioxidant therapies, with the purpose of restoring mitochondrial functions in order to revert the neuronal damage. However, conventional antioxidants were not able to specifically accumulate in diseased mitochondria, often eliciting harmful effects on the whole body. In the last decades, novel, precise, mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (MTA) compounds have been developed and studied, both in vitro and in vivo, to address the need to counter the oxidative stress in mitochondria and restore the energy supply and membrane potentials in neurons. In this review, we focus on the activity and therapeutic perspectives of MitoQ, SkQ1, MitoVitE and MitoTEMPO, the most studied compounds belonging to the class of MTA conjugated to lipophilic cations, in order to reach the mitochondrial compartment.

Oxidative Stress Contributes to Inflammatory and Cellular Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Cellular Markers and Molecular Mechanism

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease with complex pathogenesis, the treatment of which relies exclusively on the use of immunosuppressants. Increased oxidative stress is involved in causing inflammatory and cellular defects in the pathogenesis of SLE. Various inflammatory and cellular markers including oxidative modifications of proteins, lipids, and DNA contribute to immune system dysregulation and trigger an aggressive autoimmune attack through molecular mechanisms like enhanced NETosis, mTOR pathway activation, and imbalanced T-cell differentiation. Accordingly, the detection of inflammatory and cellular markers is important for providing an accurate assessment of the extent of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress also reduces DNA methylation, thus allowing the increased expression of affected genes. As a result, pharmacological approaches targeting oxidative stress yield promising results in treating patients with SLE. The purpose of this review is to examine the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and management of SLE.

Evaluation of Concomitant Use of Anticancer Drugs and Herbal Products: From Interactions to Synergic Activity

CAM is used by about 40% of cancer patients in Western Countries, with peaks of 80% for breast cancer patients. Cancer patients use CAM to boost immune function, to control cancer symptoms and treatment-related side effects, and to improve health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and survival. Unfortunately, self-prescription of natural remedies in cancer patients can lead to unexpected toxicities and can reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Although CAM usually refers to all the "natural or organic" products/methods that are generally considered less toxic, there are concerns about drug interactions, especially in patients participating in clinical trials with experimental agents. Despite the claims of the promising and potential benefits made by prescribers, many CAMs lack clear scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy. Given the widespread use of CAM-both clearly declared and overt-in this review, we focused on the most important known data on the risk of interactions between biologics and oncology drugs with the goal of opening up CAM in accordance with the meaning of integrative medicine.

Significance of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis and the complexity of its etiology and pathogenesis require further study of the factors underlying the progression of this disease. The prominent role of mitochondria in neurons makes this organelle a vulnerable target for CNS diseases. The purpose of this review is to consider the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, as well as to propose new promising therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring mitochondrial function in multiple sclerosis.

Combined Supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 and Other Nutrients in Specific Medical Conditions

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a compound with a crucial role in mitochondrial bioenergetics and membrane antioxidant protection. Despite the ubiquitous endogenous biosynthesis, specific medical conditions are associated with low circulating CoQ₁₀ levels. However, previous studies of oral CoQ₁₀ supplementation yielded inconsistent outcomes. In this article, we reviewed previous CoQ₁₀ trials, either single or in combination with other nutrients, and stratified the study participants according to their metabolic statuses and medical conditions. The CoQ₁₀ supplementation trials in elders reported many favorable outcomes. However, the single intervention was less promising when the host metabolic statuses were worsening with the likelihood of multiple nutrient insufficiencies, as in patients with an established diagnosis of metabolic or immune-related disorders. On the contrary, the mixed CoQ₁₀ supplementation with other interacting nutrients created more promising impacts in hosts with compromised nutrient reserves. Furthermore, the results of either single or combined intervention will be less promising in far-advanced conditions with established damage, such as neurodegenerative disorders or cancers. With the limited high-level evidence studies on each host metabolic category, we could only conclude that the considerations of whether to take supplementation varied by the individuals' metabolic status and their nutrient reserves. Further studies are warranted.

Mitochondrial impairment and repair in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Nucleic acid autoantibodies, increase type I interferon (IFN-α) levels, and immune cell hyperactivation are hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Notably, immune cell activation requires high level of cellular energy that is predominately generated by the mitochondria. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS), the byproduct of mitochondrial energy generation, serves as an essential mediator to control the activation and differentiation of cells and regulate the antigenicity of oxidized nucleoids within the mitochondria. Recently, clinical trials on normalization of mitochondrial redox imbalance by mROS scavengers and those investigating the recovery of defective mitophagy have provided novel insights into SLE prophylaxis and therapy. However, the precise mechanism underlying the role of oxidative stress-related mitochondrial molecules in skewing the cell fate at the molecular level remains unclear. This review outlines distinctive mitochondrial functions and pathways that are involved in immune responses and systematically delineates how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to SLE pathogenesis. In addition, we provide a comprehensive overview of damaged mitochondrial function and impaired metabolic pathways in adaptive and innate immune cells and lupus-induced organ tissues. Furthermore, we summarize the potential of current mitochondria-targeting drugs for SLE treatment. Developing novel therapeutic approaches to regulate mitochondrial oxidative stress is a promising endeavor in the search for effective treatments for systemic autoimmune diseases, particularly SLE.

The Potential Role of Ferroptosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that is accompanied with autoantibody production and inflammation. Other features of SLE pathogenesis include iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, which are also major biochemical characteristics of ferroptosis, a novel non-apoptotic regulated form of cell death. To date, ferroptosis has been demonstrated to be an important driver of lupus progression, and several ferroptosis inhibitors have therapeutic effect in lupus-prone mice. Given the emerging link between ferroptosis and SLE, it can be postulated that ferroptosis is an integral component in the vicious cycle of immune dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue damage in SLE pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the potential links between ferroptosis and SLE, with the aim of elucidating the underlying pathogenic mechanism of ferroptosis in lupus, and providing a new promising therapeutic strategy for SLE.

Exploring the Immune-Boosting Functions of Vitamins and Minerals as Nutritional Food Bioactive Compounds: A Comprehensive Review

Food components have long been recognized to play a fundamental role in the growth and development of the human body, conferring protective functionalities against foreign matter that can be severe public health problems. Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential to the human body, and individuals must meet their daily requirements through dietary sources. Micronutrients act as immunomodulators and protect the host immune response, thus preventing immune evasion by pathogenic organisms. Several experimental investigations have been undertaken to appraise the immunomodulatory functions of vitamins and minerals. Based on these experimental findings, this review describes the immune-boosting functionalities of micronutrients and the mechanisms of action through which these functions are mediated. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in plasma concentrations can lead to a reduction in the performance of the immune system functioning, representing a key contributor to unfavorable immunological states. This review provides a descriptive overview of the characteristics of the immune system and the utilization of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in preventative strategies designed to reduce morbidity and mortality among patients suffering from immune invasions or autoimmune disorders.

Coenzyme Q at the Hinge of Health and Metabolic Diseases

Coenzyme Q is a unique lipidic molecule highly conserved in evolution and essential to maintaining aerobic metabolism. It is endogenously synthesized in all cells by a very complex pathway involving a group of nuclear genes that share high homology among species. This pathway is tightly regulated at transcription and translation, but also by environment and energy requirements. Here, we review how coenzyme Q reacts within mitochondria to promote ATP synthesis and also integrates a plethora of metabolic pathways and regulates mitochondrial oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q is also located in all cellular membranes and plasma lipoproteins in which it exerts antioxidant function, and its reaction with different extramitochondrial oxidoreductases contributes to regulate the cellular redox homeostasis and cytosolic oxidative stress, providing a key factor in controlling various apoptosis mechanisms. Coenzyme Q levels can be decreased in humans by defects in the biosynthesis pathway or by mitochondrial or cytosolic dysfunctions, leading to a highly heterogeneous group of mitochondrial diseases included in the coenzyme Q deficiency syndrome. We also review the importance of coenzyme Q levels and its reactions involved in aging and age-associated metabolic disorders, and how the strategy of its supplementation has had benefits for combating these diseases and for physical performance in aging.