Soy-Based Multiple Amino Acid Oral Supplementation Increases the Anti-Sarcoma Effect of Cyclophosphamide

A new era of radiation resistance bacteria in bioremediation and production of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential and other aspects: An in-perspective review

Microorganisms that survive in extreme environmental conditions are known as 'extremophiles'. Recently, extremophiles draw an impression in biotechnology/pharmaceutical researches/industries because of their novel molecules, known as 'extremolytes'. The intriguing phenomenon of microbial radiation resistance probably arose independently throughout their evolution of selective pressures (e.g. UV, X-ray, Gamma radiation etc.). Radiation produces multiple types of damage/oxidation to nucleic acids, proteins and other crucial cellular components. Most of the literature on microbial radiation resistance is based on acute γ-irradiation experiments performed in the laboratory, typically involving pure cultures isolation and their application on bioremediation/therapeutic field. There is much less information other than bioremediation and therapeutic application of such promising microbes we called as 'new era'. Here we discus origin and diversity of radiation resistance bacteria as well as selective mechanisms by which microorganisms can sustain in radiation rich environment. Potential uses of these radiations resistant microbes in the field of bioremediation, bioactive compounds and therapeutic industry. Last but not the least, which is the new aspect of radiation resistance microbes. Our review suggest that resistance to chronic radiation is not limited to rare specialized strains from extreme environments, but can occur among common microbial taxa, perhaps due to overlap molecular mechanisms of resistance to radiation and other stressors. These stress tolerance potential make them potential for radionuclides remediation, their extremolytes can be useful as anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative agents. In current scenario they can be useful in various fields from natural dye synthesis to nanoparticles production and anti-cancer treatment.

Neuroprotective Role of Quercetin on Rotenone-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Cell Line Through Modulation of Apoptotic and Autophagic Pathways

The detrimental impact on the food chain due to the overuse of rotenone is partly responsible for alpha-synuclein (α-syn) mediated neurotoxicity. It is hypothesized that rotenone overdose leads to cytosolic proteopathy resulting in modulation of apoptosis and autophagic pathways. The aim of our study is to explore the neuroprotective role of quercetin, a beneficial polyphenol against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic human SH-SY5Y cell lines. In our study we demonstrated the correlation of rotenone-induced neurotoxicity through elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and imbalance in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Moreover, the morphological distortion of cell, condensation of nuclei, externalization of the inner phosphatidylserine, cleavage of caspase 3, and Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) confirmed apoptosis. However, all these lethal effects were ameliorated by treatment of quercetin to the cells. On the other hand rotenone has a strong effect on autophagy which is a regulated degrading and recycling cellular process to remove dysfunctional proteins. Indeed, rotenone-mediated autophagy resulted in the enhancement of autophagosome-bound microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 (LC3-II) expression. Furthermore, excess accumulation of acidic vesicles was detected in presence of rotenone. Lysosome associated membrane protein (LAMP-2A) is yet another crucial protein that recruits overexpressed or misfolded proteins into the lumen of lysosome to trigger autophagy. In all cases the impact of rotenone on the cells acquired significant protection through quercetin treatment. In the present work we therefore opine the prospects of quercetin as a therapeutic candidate against neurotoxicity.

Effect of glutamate and aspartate on ischemic heart disease, blood pressure, and diabetes: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Evolutionary biology suggests reproduction trades off against longevity. Genetic selection in favor of fertility and ischemic heart disease (IHD) exists in humans. Observationally, soy protects against IHD. Soy amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, may lower androgens. No large randomized controlled trials testing their health effects exist.

OBJECTIVE

Using Mendelian randomization, we assessed how genetically predicted glutamate and aspartate affected IHD, blood pressure, and diabetes.

METHODS

A separate sample instrumental variable analysis with genetic instruments was used to obtain unconfounded estimates using genetic variants strongly (P < 5 × 10(-8)) and solely associated with glutamate or aspartate applied to an IHD case (n ≤76,014)-control (n ≤ 264,785) study (based on a meta-analysis of CARDIoGRAMplusC4D 1000 Genomes, UK Biobank CAD SOFT GWAS and Myocardial Infarction Genetics and CARDIoGRAM Exome), blood pressure from the UK Biobank (n ≤ 361,194), and the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis diabetes case (n = 26,676)-control (n = 132,532) study. A weighted median and MR-Egger were used for a sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Glutamate was not associated with IHD, blood pressure, or diabetes after correction for multiple comparisons. Aspartate was inversely associated with IHD (odds ratio (OR) 0.92 per log-transformed standard deviation (SD); 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88, 0.96) and diastolic blood pressure (-0.03; 95% CI -0.04, -0.02) using inverse variance weighting, but not diabetes (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.91, 1.09). Associations were robust to the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest aspartate may play a role in IHD and blood pressure, potentially underlying cardiovascular benefits of soy. Clarifying the mechanisms would be valuable for IHD prevention and for defining a healthy diet.

Quercetin Attenuates Adhesion Molecule Expression in Intestinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells by Modulating Multiple Pathways

BACKGROUND

In inflammatory bowel disease, activation of microvascular endothelial cells and adhesion of immune cells are required for the initiation and maintenance of inflammation. We evaluated the effects and mechanisms of quercetin, a flavone identified in a wide variety of dietary sources, in LPS-induced rat intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (RIMVECs).

METHODS

RIMVECs were pretreated with quercetin of various concentrations (20, 40 and 80 μM) followed by LPS (10 μg/ml) stimulation. ELISA was used to examine protein levels of intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the supernatant. Protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, inhibitors of NF-κB (IκB-α), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) in cells were measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

Quercetin significantly suppressed protein levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 induced by LPS. Quercetin also inhibited TLR4 expression, NF-κB p65, ERK, JNK and STAT phosphorylation and decreased IκB-α degradation. Moreover, the MAPK p38 signal does not contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects on RIMVECs, although LPS significantly increases its phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that quercetin may have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in RIMVECs by suppressing TLR4, NF-κB, ERK, JNK and STAT but not the p38 signaling pathway.

Effects of Deinococcus spp. supplement on egg quality traits in laying hens

To counter the ill effects of synthetic dyes, bacterial pigment production as an alternative is now one of the promising and emerging fields of research. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of Deinococcus genus on the egg quality traits in laying hens. In study I, 24 single comb White Leghorn layers were fed with various 1 wt % Deinococcus bacterial strains for 10 d. In study II, 84 brown Hendrix layers were fed with one of 4 diets containing 0, 0.2, 1, or 5 wt % Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995 powder for 12 wk. In study III, 60 White Leghorn laying hens were fed either with or without 1 wt % Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995 powder, 1 wt % Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995 granules, or 1 wt % Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995 oily granules for 10 successive d. In all of the experiments, feeding Deinococcus powder did not affect egg quality traits except for the yolk color. In particular, supplementation with all Deinococcus powder treatments changed the yolk color (P < 0.05) in study I, with the best pigmentation score obtained by D. grandis and Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995. Moreover, longer supplementation of Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995 in study II had a significant effect on feed conversion ratio. With these findings under consideration, the present study suggests that the Deinococcus species, especially Deinococcus sp. GKB-Aid 1995, can be an excellent candidate for improving egg yolk color in laying hens.

Synthetic nickel-containing superoxide dismutase attenuates para-phenylenediamine-induced bladder dysfunction in rats

Para (p)-phenylenediamine and its toxic metabolites induce excess reactive oxygen species formation that results in bladder voiding dysfunction. We determined the effects of synthetic Ni-containing superoxide dismutase mimics and the role of oxidative stress in p-phenylenediamine-induced urinary bladder dysfunction. P-phenylenediamine (60 μg/kg/day) was intraperitoneally administered for 4 weeks to induce bladder injury in female Wistar rats. Synthetic Ni-containing superoxide dismutase mimics, WCT003 (1.5 mg/kg) and WCT006 (1.5 mg/kg), were then intraperitoneally administered for 2 weeks. Transcystometrograms were performed in urethane-anesthetized rats. The in vitro and in vivo reactive oxygen species levels and pathological changes in formalin-fixed bladder sections were evaluated. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry elucidated the pathophysiological mechanisms of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. P-phenylenediamine increased voiding frequency, blood and urinary bladder levels of reactive oxygen species, and neutrophil and mast cell infiltration. It also upregulated biomarkers of autophagy (LC3 II), apoptosis (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and pyroptosis (Caspase 1). WCT003 and WCT006 ameliorated reactive oxygen species production, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and bladder hyperactivity. P-phenylenediamine increased oxidative stress, inflammatory leukocytosis, autophagy, apoptosis, and pyroptosis formation within the urinary bladder. Novel synthetic nickel-containing superoxide dismutase mimics relieved p-phenylenediamine-induced bladder inflammation and voiding dysfunction.