How Does Pyridoxamine Inhibit the Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products? The Role of Its Primary Antioxidant Activity

Natural product-based treatment potential for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disease of impaired glucose utilization and a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The pathogenesis of both diseases shares common risk factors and mechanisms, and both are significant contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Supplements of natural products for T2D mellitus (T2DM) and CVD can be seen as a potential preventive and effective therapeutic strategy.

AIM

To critically evaluate the therapeutic potential of natural products in T2D and coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

By using specific keywords, we strategically searched the PubMed database. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched as the primary focus that examined the effect of natural products on glycemic control, oxidative stress, and antioxidant levels. We focused on outcomes such as low blood glucose levels, adjustment on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants. After screening full-length papers, we included 9 RCTs in our review that met our inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

In the literature search on the database, we found that various natural products like plant secondary metabolites play a diverse role in the management of CAD. American ginseng, sesame oil and cocoa flavanols proved effective in lowering blood glucose levels and controlling blood pressure, which are key factors in managing T2DM and CVD. In diabetic patients Melissa officinalis effectively reduce inflammation and shows diabetes prevention. Both fish oil and flaxseed oil reduced insulin levels and inflammatory markers, suggesting benefits for both conditions. The lipid profile and endothelial function were enhanced by Nigella sativa oil and Terminalia chebula, which is significant for the management of cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM. Additionally Bilberry extract also showed promise for improving glycemic control in patients with T2DM.

CONCLUSION

The high level of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties found in natural products makes them promising therapeutic options for the management of CAD, with the potential benefit of lowering the risk of CAD.

Inhibition of polyphenols on Maillard reaction products and their induction of related diseases: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Food products undergo a pronounced Maillard reaction (MR) during the cooking process, leading to the generation of substantial quantities of Maillard reaction products (MRPs). Within this category, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), acrylamide (AA), and heterocyclic amines (HAs) have been implicated as potential risk factors associated with the development of diseases.

PURPOSE

To explore the effects of polyphenols, a class of bioactive compounds found in plants, on the inhibition of MRPs and related diseases. Previous research has mainly focused on their interactions with proteins and their effects on the gastrointestinal tract and other diseases, while fewer studies have examined their inhibitory effects on MRPs. The aim is to offer a scientific reference for future research investigating the inhibitory role of polyphenols in the MR.

METHODS

The databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched for appropriate research.

RESULTS

Polyphenols have the potential to inhibit the formation of harmful MRPs and prevent related diseases. The inhibition of MRPs by polyphenols primarily occurs through the following mechanisms: trapping α-dicarbonyl compounds, scavenging free radicals, chelating metal ions, and preserving protein structure. Simultaneously, polyphenols exhibit the ability to impede the onset and progression of related diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease through diverse pathways.

CONCLUSION

This review presents that inhibition of polyphenols on Maillard reaction products and their induction of related diseases. Further research is imperative to enhance our comprehension of additional pathways affected by polyphenols and to fully uncover their potential application value in inhibiting MRPs.

Mitigating diabetes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein aggregation through pharmacological interventions

Diabetes mellitus, a complex metabolic disorder, presents a growing global health challenge. In 2021, there were 529 million diabetics worldwide. At the super-regional level, Oceania, the Middle East, and North Africa had the highest age-standardized rates. The majority of cases of diabetes in 2021 (>90.0%) were type 2 diabetes, which is largely indicative of the prevalence of diabetes in general, particularly in older adults (K. L. Ong, et al., Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, Lancet, 2023, 402(10397), 203-234). Nowadays, slowing the progression of diabetic complications is the only effective way to manage diabetes with the available therapeutic options. However, novel biomarkers and treatments are urgently needed to control cytokine secretion, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) production, vascular inflammatory effects, and cellular death. Emerging research has highlighted the intricate interplay between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein aggregation in the pathogenesis of diabetes. In this scenario, the main aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ROS-induced cellular damage and protein aggregation, specifically focusing on their contribution to diabetes development. The role of ROS as key mediators of oxidative stress in diabetes is discussed, emphasizing their impact on cellular components and signaling. Additionally, the involvement of protein aggregation in impairing cellular function and insulin signaling is explored. The synergistic effects of ROS and protein aggregation in promoting β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are examined, shedding light on potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Diabetic retinopathy: emerging concepts of current and potential therapy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of permanent central blindness worldwide. Despite the complexity and inadequate understanding of DR pathogenesis, many of the underlying pathways are currently partially understood and may offer potential targets for future treatments. Anti-VEGF medications are currently the main medication for this problem. This article provides an overview of the established pharmacological treatments and those that are being developed to cure DR. We firstly reviewed the widely utilized approaches including pan-retinal photocoagulation therapy, anti-VEGF therapy, corticosteroid therapy, and surgical management of DR. Next, we discussed the mechanisms of action and prospective benefits of novel candidate medications. Current management are far from being a perfect treatment for DR, despite mild-term favorable efficiency and safety profiles. Pharmacological research should work toward developing longer-lasting treatments or new drug delivery systems, as well as on identifying new molecular targets in the pathogenetical mechanism for DR. In order to find a treatment that is specifically designed for each patient, it is also necessary to properly characterize patients, taking into account elements like hereditary factors and intraretinal neovascularization stages for effective utilization of drugs. The current and potential approaches for diabetic retinopathy. Image was constructed using Biorender.com.

Methylglyoxal in Cardiometabolic Disorders: Routes Leading to Pathology Counterbalanced by Treatment Strategies

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the major compound belonging to reactive carbonyl species (RCS) responsible for the generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Its upregulation, followed by deleterious effects at the cellular and systemic levels, is associated with metabolic disturbances (hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance/hyperlipidemia/inflammatory processes/carbonyl stress/oxidative stress/hypoxia). Therefore, it is implicated in a variety of disorders, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, an interplay between pathways leading to MGO generation and scavenging is addressed in regard to this system's impairment in pathology. The issues associated with mechanistic MGO involvement in pathological processes, as well as the discussion on its possible causative role in cardiometabolic diseases, are enclosed. Finally, the main strategies aimed at MGO and its AGEs downregulation with respect to cardiometabolic disorders treatment are addressed. Potential glycation inhibitors and MGO scavengers are discussed, as well as the mechanisms of their action.

Effect of miR-27b-3p and Nrf2 in human retinal pigment epithelial cell induced by high-glucose

AIM

To determine whether the microRNA-27b-3p (miR-27b-3p)/NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway plays a role in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cell response to high glucose, how miR-27b-3p and Nrf2 expression are regulated, and whether this pathway could be specifically targeted.

METHODS

hRPE cells were cultured in normal glucose or high glucose for 1, 3, or 6d before measuring cellular proliferation rates using cell counting kit-8 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels using a dihydroethidium kit. miR-27b-3p, Nrf2, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunocytofluorescence (ICF), respectively. Western blot analyses were performed to determine nuclear and total Nrf2 protein levels. Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 expression levels by RT-qPCR, ICF, or Western blot were further tested after miR-27b-3p overexpression or inhibitor lentiviral transfection. Finally, the expression level of those target genes was analyzed after treating hRPE cells with pyridoxamine.

RESULTS

Persistent exposure to high glucose gradually suppressed hRPE Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 mRNA and protein levels and increased miR-27b-3p mRNA levels. High glucose also promoted ROS release and inhibited cellular proliferation. Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 mRNA levels decreased after miR-27b-3p overexpression and, conversely, both mRNA and protein levels increased after expressing a miR-27b-3p inhibitor. After treating hRPE cells exposed to high glucose with pyridoxamine, ROS levels tended to decreased, proliferation rate increased, Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated, and miR-27b-3p mRNA levels were suppressed.

CONCLUSION

Nrf2 is a downstream target of miR-27b-3p. Furthermore, the miR-27b-3p inhibitor pyridoxamine can alleviate high glucose injury by regulating the miR-27b-3p/Nrf2 axis.

Pyridoxamine protects human granulosa cells against advanced glycation end-products-induced steroidogenesis disturbances

BACKGROUND

Ovarian advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) accumulation is associated with ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) dysfunction. Vitamin B6 derivatives positively affected reproduction. The current study was conducted to elucidate the AGEs effects on human luteinized mural GCs steroidogenesis in the presence or absence of pyridoxamine (PM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Isolated GCs of 50 healthy women were divided into four parts and treated with media alone (Control), PM alone, or human glycated albumin (HGA) with/without PM. Main steroidogenic enzymes and hormones were assessed by qRT-PCR and ELISA. The AGE receptor (RAGE) protein was also determined using Western blotting. The non-toxic concentration of HGA increased the expression of RAGE, StAR, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD (P < 0.0001 for all) but decreased the expression of CYP19A1 at mRNA levels. The increased RAGE protein expression was also confirmed by western blot analysis. These effects resulted in declined estradiol (E2), slightly, and a sharp rise in progesterone (P4) and testosterone (T) levels, respectively. PM, on its own, ameliorated the HGA-altered enzyme expression and, thereby, corrected the aberrant levels of E2, P4, and T. These effects are likely mediated by regulating the RAGE gene and protein expression.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that hormonal dysfunctions induced by the AGEs-RAGE axis in luteinized GCs are likely rectified by PM treatment. This effect is likely acquired by reduced expression of RAGE. A better understanding of how AGEs and PM interact in ovarian physiology and pathology may lead to more targeted therapy for treating ovarian dysfunction.

A Citrus and Pomegranate Complex Reduces Methylglyoxal in Healthy Elderly Subjects: Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Clinical Trial

Reactive α-dicarbonyls (α-DCs), such as methylglyoxal (MGO), glyoxal (GO), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), are potent precursors in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In particular, MGO and MGO-derived AGEs are thought to be involved in the development of vascular complications in diabetes. Experimental studies showed that citrus and pomegranate polyphenols can scavenge α-DCs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a citrus and pomegranate complex (CPC) on the α-DCs plasma levels in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial, where thirty-six elderly subjects were enrolled. They received either 500 mg of Citrus sinensis peel extract and 200 mg of Punica granatum concentrate in CPC capsules or placebo capsules for 4 weeks, with a 4-week washout period in between. For the determination of α-DCs concentrations, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used. Following four weeks of CPC supplementation, plasma levels of MGO decreased by 9.8% (-18.7 nmol/L; 95% CI: -36.7, -0.7 nmol/L; p = 0.042). Our findings suggest that CPC supplementation may represent a promising strategy for mitigating the conditions associated with MGO involvement. This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03781999.

Flaxseed Reduces Cancer Risk by Altering Bioenergetic Pathways in Liver: Connecting SAM Biosynthesis to Cellular Energy

This article illustrates how dietary flaxseed can be used to reduce cancer risk, specifically by attenuating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We utilize a targeted metabolomics dataset in combination with a reanalysis of past work to investigate the "metabo-bioenergetic" adaptations that occur in White Leghorn laying hens while consuming dietary flaxseed. Recently, we revealed how the anti-vitamin B6 effects of flaxseed augment one-carbon metabolism in a manner that accelerates S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) biosynthesis. Researchers recently showed that accelerated SAM biosynthesis activates the cell's master energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Our paper provides evidence that flaxseed upregulates mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and glycolysis in liver, concomitant with the attenuation of lipogenesis and polyamine biosynthesis. Defatted flaxseed likely functions as a metformin homologue by upregulating hepatic glucose uptake and pyruvate flux through the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in laying hens. In contrast, whole flaxseed appears to attenuate liver steatosis and body mass by modifying mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. Several acylcarnitine moieties indicate Randle cycle adaptations that protect mitochondria from metabolic overload when hens consume flaxseed. We also discuss a paradoxical finding whereby flaxseed induces the highest glycated hemoglobin percentage (HbA1c%) ever recorded in birds, and we suspect that hyperglycemia is not the cause. In conclusion, flaxseed modifies bioenergetic pathways to attenuate the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD, possibly downstream of SAM biosynthesis. These findings, if reproducible in humans, can be used to lower cancer risk within the general population.

Broad responses to chemical adducts shape the natural antibody repertoire in early infancy

Natural antibodies are an integral part of innate humoral immunity yet their development and polyreactive nature are still enigmatic. Here, we show that characteristic monoclonal natural antibodies recognize common chemical moieties or adducts, supporting the view that polyreactive antibodies may often correspond to anti-adduct antibodies. We next examined the development of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG to 81 ubiquitous adducts from birth to old age. Newborn IgM only reacted to a limited number of consensus determinants. This highly restricted neonatal repertoire abruptly diversified around 6 months of age through the development of antibodies to environmental antigens and age-driven epigenetic modifications. In contrast, the IgG repertoire was diverse across the entire life span. Our studies reveal an unrecognized component of humoral immunity directed to common adducts. These findings set the ground for further investigations into the role of anti-adduct B cell responses in homeostatic functions and pathological conditions.

Advanced Glycation End-Products and Diabetic Neuropathy of the Retina

Diabetic retinopathy is a tissue-specific neurovascular impairment of the retina in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Several pathological factors are involved in the progressive impairment of the interdependence between cells that consist of the neurovascular units (NVUs). The advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are one of the major pathological factors that cause the impairments of neurovascular coupling in diabetic retinopathy. Although the exact mechanisms for the toxicities of the AGEs in diabetic retinopathy have not been definitively determined, the AGE-receptor of the AGE (RAGE) axis, production of reactive oxygen species, inflammatory reactions, and the activation of the cell death pathways are associated with the impairment of the NVUs in diabetic retinopathy. More specifically, neuronal cell death is an irreversible change that is directly associated with vision reduction in diabetic patients. Thus, neuroprotective therapies must be established for diabetic retinopathy. The AGEs are one of the therapeutic targets to examine to ameliorate the pathological changes in the NVUs in diabetic retinopathy. This review focuses on the basic and pathological findings of AGE-induced neurovascular abnormalities and the potential therapeutic approaches, including the use of anti-glycated drugs to protect the AGE-induced impairments of the NVUs in diabetic retinopathy.

Pyridoxamine treatment ameliorates large artery stiffening and cerebral artery endothelial dysfunction in old mice

Age-related increases in large artery stiffness are associated with cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Pyridoxamine treatment prevents large artery stiffening with advancing age, but the effects of pyridoxamine treatment on the cerebral vasculature or cognition is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pyridoxamine on blood pressure, large artery stiffness, cerebral artery function, and cognitive function in old mice. Old male C57BL/6 mice consumed either pyridoxamine (2 g/L) or vehicle control in drinking water for ∼7.5 months and were compared with young male C57BL/6 mice. From pre- to post-treatment, systolic blood pressure increased in old control mice, but was maintained in pyridoxamine treated mice. Large artery stiffness decreased in pyridoxamine-treated mice but was unaffected in control mice. Pyridoxamine-treated mice had greater cerebral artery endothelium-dependent dilation compared with old control mice, and not different from young mice. Old control mice had impaired cognitive function; however, pyridoxamine only partially preserved cognitive function in old mice. In summary, pyridoxamine treatment in old mice prevented age-related increases in blood pressure, reduced large artery stiffness, preserved cerebral artery endothelial function, and partially preserved cognitive function. Taken together, these results suggest that pyridoxamine treatment may limit vascular aging.

Research Advances on the Damage Mechanism of Skin Glycation and Related Inhibitors

Our skin is an organ with the largest contact area between the human body and the external environment. Skin aging is affected directly by both endogenous factors and exogenous factors (e.g., UV exposure). Skin saccharification, a non-enzymatic reaction between proteins, e.g., dermal collagen and naturally occurring reducing sugars, is one of the basic root causes of endogenous skin aging. During the reaction, a series of complicated glycation products produced at different reaction stages and pathways are usually collectively referred to as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs cause cellular dysfunction through the modification of intracellular molecules and accumulate in tissues with aging. AGEs are also associated with a variety of age-related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal failure (uremia), and Alzheimer's disease. AGEs accumulate in the skin with age and are amplified through exogenous factors, e.g., ultraviolet radiation, resulting in wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dull yellowing, and other skin problems. This article focuses on the damage mechanism of glucose and its glycation products on the skin by summarizing the biochemical characteristics, compositions, as well as processes of the production and elimination of AGEs. One of the important parts of this article would be to summarize the current AGEs inhibitors to gain insight into the anti-glycation mechanism of the skin and the development of promising natural products with anti-glycation effects.

On the free radical scavenging and metallic ion chelating activities of pyridoxal - Could the pro-oxidant risk be competitive?

Primary and secondary antioxidant activities of pyridoxal have been investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) at the M05-2X level combined with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set for non-metallic atoms and LanL2DZ for metallic ions. The former has been examined by its free radical scavenging activity towards HOO^●, HO^●, and NO₂^●via different mechanisms including formal hydrogen transfer (FHT), proton transfer (PT), single electron transfer (SET), and radical adduct formation (RAF). The latter has been accomplished through its transition metal-chelating ability with Fe(III)/Fe(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(I) ions. The results show that pyridoxal illustrates as an efficient radical scavenger, especially, for HO^● and NO₂^● in water. The overall rate constants (k_overall) for the reactions with HOO^●, HO^●, and NO₂^● radicals are 1.30 × 10⁴, 5.76 × 10⁹, and 1.43 × 10⁹ M^-1s^-1, respectively. The SET from the anionic state is the most dominant for the HOO^● and NO₂^● scavenging reactions, while both RAF and SET contribute largely to the reaction with highly reactive HO^● radicals. Moreover, the anionic form of pyridoxal demonstrates a better role as a metal chelator than the neutral. However, the pro-oxidant risks of the formed complexes could be observed if there are superoxide radical anion (O₂^●-) and ascorbate (Asc^-) in aqueous media.

A promising antifibrotic drug, pyridoxamine attenuates thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis by combating oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products, and balancing matrix metalloproteinases

Liver fibrosis is a common chronic hepatic disease. This study was done to examine the effect of pyridoxamine against thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis. Animals were divided into four groups (1) control group; (2) Thioacetamide group (200 mg/kg, i.p.) twice a week for eight weeks; (3) Pyridoxamine-treated group treated with pyridoxamine (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for eight weeks; (4) Thioacetamide and pyridoxamine group, in which pyridoxamine was given (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) during thioacetamide injections. Thioacetamide treatment resulted in hepatic dysfunction manifested by increased serum levels of bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Oxidative stress was noted by increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione (GSH). Increased concentrations of total nitrite/nitrate, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2&9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were noticed in hepatic tissues. Immunostaining sections also revealed overexpression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and collagen IV. Liver fibrosis was confirmed by severe histopathological changes. Pyridoxamine improved the assessed parameters. Moreover, histopathological and immunohistological studies supported the ability of pyridoxamine to reduce liver fibrosis. The findings of the present study provide evidence that pyridoxamine is a novel target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Pharmacotherapy to delay the progression of diabetic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes: past, present and future

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with diabetes, and is one of the most important causes of end stage renal disease worldwide. In order to reduce progression of DKD, important management goals include treatment of hypertension, glycaemia and control of cardiovascular risk factors such as lipids, diet, smoking and exercise. Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers has an established role in prevention of progression of DKD. A number of other agents such as endothelin-1 receptor antagonists and bardoxolone have had disappointing results. Recent studies have, however, suggested that newer antidiabetic agents such as sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues have specific beneficial effects in patients with DKD. Indeed most recent guidance suggest that SGLT-2i drugs should be used early in DKD, irrespective of glucose control. A number of pathways are hypothesised for the development and progression of DKD, and have opened up a number of newer potential therapeutic targets. This article aims to discuss management of DKD with respect to seminal trials from the past, more recent trials informing the present and potential new therapeutic options that may be available in the future.

Dietary polyphenols inhibit plasma protein arabinosylation: Biomolecular interaction of genistein and ellagic acid with serum albumins

The mode of interaction of polyphenolic compounds like genistein (GTN) and ellagic acid (EGA) with human and bovine serum albumin (HSA and BSA, respectively) was found to differ significantly. Stern-Volmer (SV) analysis of the fluorescence quenching data revealed that the binding strength of EGA (1.9 ± 0.09 × 105 M-1) to HSA is about one order of magnitude higher than GTN (2.24 ± 0.06 × 104 M-1). While the static quenching of HSA fluorescence was found to proceed through simple Stern-Volmer (SV) mechanism, a quenching sphere-of-action model was indispensable for BSA. Temperature dependent fluorescence along with a series of other biophysical experiments and ensemble docking calculation revealed that EGA and GTN bind to the serum proteins primarily through the entropy driven process. The α-helical content and the microenvironment near Trp residue of HSA and BSA did not show any appreciable change due to the binding of either GTN or EGA. Interestingly, both GTN and EGA were found to inhibit the formation of advanced glycated end (AGE) product of serum proteins up to the extent of 70-90% within 12-24 h. Relatively moderate binding propensity along with the anti-glycation ability of the polyphenols confirmed that GTN and EGA can be used either as an alternative or towards development of suitable drugs in the prevention of many diabetic-related complications.

Combinational Therapy of Cardiac Atrial Appendage Stem Cells and Pyridoxamine: The Road to Cardiac Repair?

Myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when the coronary blood supply is interrupted. As a consequence, cardiomyocytes are irreversibly damaged and lost. Unfortunately, current therapies for MI are unable to prevent progression towards heart failure. As the renewal rate of cardiomyocytes is minimal, the optimal treatment should achieve effective cardiac regeneration, possibly with stem cells transplantation. In that context, our research group identified the cardiac atrial appendage stem cells (CASCs) as a new cellular therapy. However, CASCs are transplanted into a hostile environment, with elevated levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which may affect their regenerative potential. In this study, we hypothesize that pyridoxamine (PM), a vitamin B6 derivative, could further enhance the regenerative capacities of CASCs transplanted after MI by reducing AGEs’ formation. Methods and Results: MI was induced in rats by ligation of the left anterior descending artery. Animals were assigned to either no therapy (MI), CASCs transplantation (MI + CASCs), or CASCs transplantation supplemented with PM treatment (MI + CASCs + PM). Four weeks post-surgery, global cardiac function and infarct size were improved upon CASCs transplantation. Interstitial collagen deposition, evaluated on cryosections, was decreased in the MI animals transplanted with CASCs. Contractile properties of resident left ventricular cardiomyocytes were assessed by unloaded cell shortening. CASCs transplantation prevented cardiomyocyte shortening deterioration. Even if PM significantly reduced cardiac levels of AGEs, cardiac outcome was not further improved. Conclusion: Limiting AGEs’ formation with PM during an ischemic injury in vivo did not further enhance the improved cardiac phenotype obtained with CASCs transplantation. Whether AGEs play an important deleterious role in the setting of stem cell therapy after MI warrants further examination.

Acetaminophen degradation by hydroxyl and organic radicals in the peracetic acid-based advanced oxidation processes: Theoretical calculation and toxicity assessment

The research on the mechanisms and kinetics of radical oxidation in peracetic acid-based advanced oxidation processes was relatively limited. In this work, HO^• and organic radicals mediated reactions of acetaminophen (ACT) were investigated, and the reactivities of important organic radicals (CH₃COO^• and CH₃COOO^•) were calculated. The results showed that initiated reaction rate constants of ACT are in the order: CH₃COO^• (5.44 × 10¹⁰ M^-1 s^-1) > HO^• (7.07 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1) > CH₃O^{• (}1.57 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1) > CH₃COOO^• (3.65 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1) >> ^•CH₃ (5.17 × 10² M^-1 s^-1) > CH₃C^•O (1.17 × 10² M^-1 s^-1) > CH₃OO^• (11.80 M^-1 s^-1). HO^•, CH₃COO^• and CH₃COOO^• play important roles in ACT degradation. CH₃COO^• is another important radical in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds in addition to HO^•. Reaction rate constants of CH₃COO^• and aromatic compounds are 1.40 × 10⁶ - 6.25 × 10¹⁰ M^-1 s^-1 with addition as the dominant pathway. CH₃COOO^• has high reactivity to phenolate and aniline only among the studied aromatic compounds, and it was more selective than CH₃COO^•. CH₃COO^•-mediated hydroxylation of aromatic compounds could produce their hydroxylated products with higher toxicity.

Complexes of Copper and Iron with Pyridoxamine, Ascorbic Acid, and a Model Amadori Compound: Exploring Pyridoxamine's Secondary Antioxidant Activity

The thermodynamic stability of 11 complexes of Cu(II) and 26 complexes of Fe(III) is studied, comprising the ligands pyridoxamine (PM), ascorbic acid (ASC), and a model Amadori compound (AMD). In addition, the secondary antioxidant activity of PM is analyzed when chelating both Cu(II) and Fe(III), relative to the rate constant of the first step of the Haber-Weiss cycle, in the presence of the superoxide radical anion (O2•-) or ascorbate (ASC^-). Calculations are performed at the M05(SMD)/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The aqueous environment is modeled by making use of the SMD solvation method in all calculations. This level of theory accurately reproduces the experimental data available. When put in perspective with the stability of various complexes of aminoguanidine (AG) (which we have previously studied), the following stability trends can be found for the Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes, respectively: ASC < AG < AMD < PM and AG < ASC < AMD < PM. The most stable complex of Cu(II) with PM (with two bidentate ligands) presents a ΔGf0 value of -35.8 kcal/mol, whereas the Fe(III) complex with the highest stability (with three bidentate ligands) possesses a ΔGf0 of -58.9 kcal/mol. These complexes can significantly reduce the rate constant of the first step of the Haber-Weiss cycle with both O2•- and ASC^-. In the case of the copper-containing reaction, the rates are reduced up to 9.70 × 10³ and 4.09 × 10¹³ times, respectively. With iron, the rates become 1.78 × 10³ and 4.45 × 10¹⁵ times smaller, respectively. Thus, PM presents significant secondary antioxidant activity since it is able to inhibit the production of ·OH radicals. This work concludes a series of studies on secondary antioxidant activity and allows potentially new glycation inhibitors to be investigated and compared relative to both PM and AG.

Challenging microalgal vitamins for human health

BACKGROUND

Vitamins' deficiency in humans is an important threat worldwide and requires solutions. In the concept of natural biofactory for bioactive compounds production, microalgae represent one of the most promising targets filling many biotechnological applications, and allowing the development of an eco-sustainable production of natural bioactive metabolites. Vitamins are probably one of the cutting edges of microalgal diversity compounds.

MAIN TEXT

Microalgae can usefully provide many of the required vitamins in humans, more than terrestrial plants, for instance. Indeed, vitamins D and K, little present in many plants or fruits, are instead available from microalgae. The same occurs for some vitamins B (B12, B9, B6), while the other vitamins (A, C, D, E) are also provided by microalgae. This large panel of vitamins diversity in microalgal cells represents an exploitable platform in order to use them as natural vitamins' producers for human consumption. This study aims to provide an integrative overview on vitamins content in the microalgal realm, and discuss on the great potential of microalgae as sources of different forms of vitamins to be included as functional ingredients in food or nutraceuticals for the human health. We report on the biological roles of vitamins in microalgae, the current knowledge on their modulation by environmental or biological forcing and on the biological activity of the different vitamins in human metabolism and health protection.

CONCLUSION

Finally, we critically discuss the challenges for promoting microalgae as a relevant source of vitamins, further enhancing the interests of microalgal "biofactory" for biotechnological applications, such as in nutraceuticals or cosmeceuticals.

A Comprehensive Review on Source, Types, Effects, Nanotechnology, Detection, and Therapeutic Management of Reactive Carbonyl Species Associated with Various Chronic Diseases

Continuous oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids generate extremely reactive carbonyl species (RCS). Human body comprises some important RCS namely hexanal, acrolein, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, methylglyoxal, malondialdehyde, isolevuglandins, and 4-oxo-2- nonenal etc. These RCS damage important cellular components including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which manifests cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, multitude of adducts and crosslinks that are connected to ageing and various chronic diseases like inflammatory disease, atherosclerosis, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease. The constant prevalence of RCS in living cells suggests their importance in signal transduction and gene expression. Extensive knowledge of RCS properties, metabolism and relation with metabolic diseases would assist in development of effective approach to prevent numerous chronic diseases. Treatment approaches for RCS associated diseases involve endogenous RCS metabolizers, carbonyl metabolizing enzyme inducers, and RCS scavengers. Limited bioavailability and bio efficacy of RCS sequesters suggest importance of nanoparticles and nanocarriers. Identification of RCS and screening of compounds ability to sequester RCS employ several bioassays and analytical techniques. Present review describes in-depth study of RCS sources, types, properties, identification techniques, therapeutic approaches, nanocarriers, and their role in various diseases. This study will give an idea for therapeutic development to combat the RCS associated chronic diseases.

Antioxidative Action of Ellagic Acid-A Kinetic DFT Study

Although one can find numerous studies devoted to the investigation of antioxidative activity of ellagic acid (EA) in the scientific literature, the mechanisms of its action have not yet been fully clarified. Therefore, further kinetic studies are needed to understand its antioxidative capacity completely. This work aims to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the antioxidative action of EA. For this purpose, its reactions with HO^• and CCl₃OO^• radicals were simulated at physiological conditions using the quantum mechanics-based test for overall free-radical scavenging activity. The density functional theory in combination with the conductor-like polarizable continuum solvation model was utilized. With HO^• radical EA conforms to the hydrogen atom transfer and radical adduct formation mechanisms, whereas sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism is responsible for scavenging of CCl₃OO^• radical. In addition, compared to trolox, EA was found more reactive toward HO^•, but less reactive toward CCl₃OO^•. The calculated rate constants for the reactions of EA with both free radicals are in a very good agreement with the corresponding experimental values.

Vitamin B6 and Diabetes: Relationship and Molecular Mechanisms

Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for approximately 150 reactions that regulate the metabolism of glucose, lipids, amino acids, DNA, and neurotransmitters. In addition, it plays the role of antioxidant by counteracting the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Epidemiological and experimental studies indicated an evident inverse association between vitamin B6 levels and diabetes, as well as a clear protective effect of vitamin B6 on diabetic complications. Interestingly, by exploring the mechanisms that govern the relationship between this vitamin and diabetes, vitamin B6 can be considered both a cause and effect of diabetes. This review aims to report the main evidence concerning the role of vitamin B6 in diabetes and to examine the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. In addition, the relationship between vitamin B6, genome integrity, and diabetes is examined. The protective role of this vitamin against diabetes and cancer is discussed.

The multifaceted role of vitamin B6 in cancer: Drosophila as a model system to investigate DNA damage

A perturbed uptake of micronutrients, such as minerals and vitamins, impacts on different human diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Several data converge towards a crucial role played by many micronutrients in genome integrity maintenance and in the establishment of a correct DNA methylation pattern. Failure in the proper accomplishment of these processes accelerates senescence and increases the risk of developing cancer, by promoting the formation of chromosome aberrations and deregulating the expression of oncogenes. Here, the main recent evidence regarding the impact of some B vitamins on DNA damage and cancer is summarized, providing an integrated and updated analysis, mainly centred on vitamin B₆. In many cases, it is difficult to finely predict the optimal vitamin rate that is able to protect against DNA damage, as this can be influenced by a given individual's genotype. For this purpose, a precious resort is represented by model organisms which allow limitations imposed by more complex systems to be overcome. In this review, we show that Drosophila can be a useful model to deeply understand mechanisms underlying the relationship between vitamin B₆ and genome integrity.