Reduced coenzyme Q(10) in female smokers and its association with lipid profile in a young healthy adult population

Coenzyme Q10 amends testicular function and spermatogenesis in male mice exposed to cigarette smoke by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation

This study explored the effects of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) on the testicular functions of male mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Eight-week-old BALB/c male mice were divided into the following groups: the AV group (air with a vehicle), the AQ group (air with CoQ₁₀), the SV group (smoke with a vehicle), and the SQ group (smoke with CoQ₁₀). The results showed that the CoQ₁₀ concentrations in the sera and testes were decreased in the groups subjected to smoke but they were improved after the administration of CoQ₁₀. Neither smoke nor CoQ₁₀ supplementation affected the serum or testis testosterone concentrations. Regarding the antioxidant system in the testis, the exposure to smoke induced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide production and decreased the catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Oral CoQ₁₀ administration reversed the oxidative damage. In apoptosis, the cytochrome c, c-caspase 9, and c-caspase 3 proteins were increased in the groups exposed to smoke but they were decreased after the CoQ₁₀ administration. In mitochondrial biogenesis, smoke exposure led to decreases in the PGC1-α, NRF1, and NRF2 levels, but CoQ₁₀ increased the expressions of these proteins. Additionally, oral CoQ₁₀ administration improved the mitochondrial copy numbers that were reduced following the exposure to smoke. In summary, CoQ₁₀ administration reduces smoke-induced testicular damage by regulating the antioxidant capacity, the cell apoptosis, the mitochondrial biogenesis, and the copy numbers in the testes.

Coenzyme Q10 in COPD: An Unexplored Opportunity?

COPD represents a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is linked to systemic inflammation and tends to coexist with a variety of comorbidities. Inflammation, oxidative stress and protease-antiprotease imbalance represent the pathogenic triad of COPD. Even though oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-studied phenomenon in COPD and there is a variety of studies that aim to counteract its effect, there is limited data available on the use of coenzyme Q10 in COPD. The aim of the current review is to analyze the current data on the use of coenzyme Q10 in the management of COPD and frequently encountered comorbidities.

A Mitochondrial Specific Antioxidant Reverses Metabolic Dysfunction and Fatty Liver Induced by Maternal Cigarette Smoke in Mice

Maternal smoking leads to glucose and lipid metabolic disorders and hepatic damage in the offspring, potentially due to mitochondrial oxidative stress. Mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ) is a mitochondrial targeted antioxidant with high bioavailability. This study aimed to examine the impact of maternal cigarette smoke exposure (SE) on offspring’s metabolic profile and hepatic damage, and whether maternal MitoQ supplementation during gestation can affect these changes. Female Balb/c mice (eight weeks) were either exposed to air or SE for six weeks prior to mating and throughout gestation and lactation. A subset of the SE dams were supplied with MitoQ in the drinking water (500 µmol/L) during gestation and lactation. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed in the male offspring at 12 weeks and the livers and plasma were collected at 13 weeks. Maternal SE induced glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis, mitochondrial oxidative stress and related damage in the adult offspring. Maternal MitoQ supplementation reduced hepatic mitochondrial oxidative stress and improved markers of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. This may restore hepatic mitochondrial health and was associated with an amelioration of glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis and pathological changes induced by maternal SE. MitoQ supplementation may potentially prevent metabolic dysfunction and hepatic pathology induced by intrauterine SE.

MitoQ supplementation prevent long-term impact of maternal smoking on renal development, oxidative stress and mitochondrial density in male mice offspring

To investigate the effect of maternal MitoQ treatment on renal disorders caused by maternal cigarette smoke exposure (SE). We have demonstrated that maternal SE during pregnancy increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult offspring. Mitochondrial oxidative damage contributes to the adverse effects of maternal smoking on renal disorders. MitoQ is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant that has been shown to protect against oxidative damage-related pathologies in many diseases. Female Balb/c mice (8 weeks) were divided into Sham (exposed to air), SE (exposed to cigarette smoke) and SEMQ (exposed to cigarette smoke with MitoQ supplemented from mating) groups. Kidneys from the mothers were collected when the pups weaned and those from the offspring were collected at 13 weeks. Maternal MitoQ supplementation during gestation and lactation significantly reversed the adverse impact of maternal SE on offspring’s body weight, kidney mass and renal pathology. MitoQ administration also significantly reversed the impact of SE on the renal cellular mitochondrial density and renal total reactive oxygen species in both the mothers and their offspring in adulthood. Our results suggested that MitoQ supplementation can mitigate the adverse impact of maternal SE on offspring’s renal pathology, renal oxidative stress and mitochondrial density in mice offspring.

Effect of long-term maternal smoking on the offspring's lung health

Maternal smoking during pregnancy contributes to long-term health problems in offspring, especially respiratory disorders that can manifest in either childhood or adulthood. Receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) are multiligand receptors abundantly localized in the lung, capable of responding to by-products of reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory responses. RAGE signaling is a key regulator of inflammation in cigarette smoking-related pulmonary diseases. However, the impact of maternal cigarette smoke exposure on lung RAGE signaling in the offspring is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of maternal cigarette smoke exposure (SE), as well as mitochondria-targeted antioxidant [mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ)] treatment, during pregnancy on the RAGE-mediated signaling pathway in the lung of male offspring. Female Balb/c mice (8 wk) were divided into a sham group (exposed to air), an SE group (exposed to cigarette smoke), and an SE + MQ group (exposed to cigarette smoke with MitoQ supplement from mating). The lungs from male offspring were collected at 13 wk. RAGE and its downstream signaling, including nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase family consisting of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1, ERK2, c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and phosphorylated JNK, in the lung were significantly increased in the SE offspring. Mitochondrial antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase was reduced, whereas IL-1β and oxidative stress response nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 were significantly increased in the SE offspring. Maternal MitoQ treatment normalized RAGE, IL-1β, and Nrf-2 levels in the SE + MQ offspring. Maternal SE increased RAGE and its signaling elements associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in offspring lungs, whereas maternal MitoQ treatment can partially normalize these changes.

Smoking habits and coenzyme Q10 status in healthy European adults

INTRODUCTION

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipophilic endogenously synthesised antioxidant that is present in nearly all human tissues and plays an important role in mitochondrial energy production. It has been postulated that smoking has a consumptive effect on CoQ10.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To further define the relation between smoking and the serum CoQ10 status, 276 healthy volunteers aged 19 to 62 years were grouped into non-smokers (n = 113; 77 male, 36 female) and smokers (n = 163; 102 male, 61 female). Serum lipid profile was analysed by standard clinical chemistry. Coenzyme Q10 concentration and redox status were analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

RESULTS

Male smokers showed higher serum CoQ10 levels than female smokers. This sex-related difference was accounted for when CoQ10 was related to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as the main carrier of CoQ10 in the circulation. Neither LDL-adjusted CoQ10 concentration nor redox status significantly differed when smokers and non-smokers were compared. Regarding the smoking history, the number of cigarettes consumed per day did not significantly affect the CoQ10 status. Interestingly, with increasing time of smoking habit we observed increasing levels of LDL-adjusted serum CoQ10 concentration (Spearman's p < 0.002) and of the reduced form of CoQ10 (Spearman's p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

As an adaptive response to oxidative stress in long-term smokers an increased demand for antioxidant capacity may be covered by increasing levels of LDL-adjusted CoQ10 serum concentrations and by a concomitantly increased availability of the reduced, active form of CoQ10, possibly by induction of enzymes that are involved in converting CoQ10ox to CoQ10red.

Metabolomics reveals effects of maternal smoking on endogenous metabolites from lipid metabolism in cord blood of newborns

INTRODUCTION

A general detrimental effect of smoking during pregnancy on the health of newborn children is well-documented, but the detailed mechanisms remain elusive.

OBJECTIVES

Beside the specific influence of environmental tobacco smoke derived toxicants on developmental regulation the impact on the metabolism of newborn children is of particular interest, first as a general marker of foetal development and second due to its potential predictive value for the later occurrence of metabolic diseases.

METHODS

Tobacco smoke exposure information from a questionnaire was confirmed by measuring the smoking related metabolites S-Phenyl mercapturic acid, S-Benzyl mercapturic acid and cotinine in maternal urine by LC-MS/MS. The impact of smoking on maternal endogenous serum metabolome and children's cord blood metabolome was assessed in a targeted analysis of 163 metabolites by an LC-MS/MS based assay. The anti-oxidative status of maternal serum samples was analysed by chemoluminiscence based method.

RESULTS

Here we present for the first time results of a metabolomic assessment of the cordblood of 40 children and their mothers. Several analytes from the group of phosphatidylcholines, namely PCaaC28:1, PCaaC32:3, PCaeC30:1, PCaeC32:2, PCaeC40:1, and sphingomyelin SM C26:0, differed significantly in mothers and children's sera depending on smoking status. In serum of smoking mothers the antioxidative capacity of water soluble compounds was not significantly changed while there was a significant decrease in the lipid fraction.

CONCLUSION

Our data give evidence that smoking during pregnancy alters both the maternal and children's metabolome. Whether the different pattern found in adults compared to newborn children could be related to different disease outcomes should be in the focus of future studies.

The combination of the ankle brachial index and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity exhibits a superior association with outcomes in diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and peripheral arterial disease are classified as having very high cardiovascular risks. We therefore sought to determine whether assessments of the ankle brachial index (ABI) and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) together exhibited a superior association with the outcomes of T2DM.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients receiving ABI and baPWV during the period 2005-2007 was performed. Patients A total of 452 subjects were enrolled and followed-up for a mean 5.8 years after being grouped according to the ABI (<0.9 vs. ≥0.9) and baPWV (<1,700 cm/s vs. ≥1,700 cm/s).

RESULTS

The outcomes were all-cause mortality and composite events (all-cause mortality, hospitalization for coronary artery disease, stroke, re-vascularization, amputation and diabetic foot). Inter-group differences in the smoking rate, duration of diabetes, systolic and pulse blood pressure, anti-platelet drugs, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urine albumin excretion were significant. During the follow-up period, 17 (3.7%) individuals died and composite events were recorded in 64 cases (14.1%). A low ABI plus high baPWV was found be associated with poor outcomes compared with a normal ABI plus low baPWV (p<0.001). Meanwhile, a low ABI plus high baPWV was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 17.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-183.73, p=0.019] and composite events (HR 8.53, 95% CI 3.31-21.99, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, the outcomes of patients with a low ABI plus high baPWV were the worst, while the subjects with a low ABI plus low baPWV or normal ABI exhibited similar outcomes. Therefore, the ABI plus baPWV exhibits a better association with the outcomes of T2DM.

Current cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for subacute stent thrombosis in acute myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is prevalent and has serious consequences including re-infarction and death. Cigarette smoking is a coronary risk factor for AMI, although a "smoker's paradox" for AMI has been reported in Western countries. On the other hand, some researchers have reported that smoking is associated with subacute stent thrombosis (SAST) after AMI. However, the occurrence of this condition is not well documented in Japan. The aim of this study was to clarify how prior smoking status may affect prognosis, including SAST, in Japanese patients with AMI.

METHODS

A total of 266 consecutive patients with AMI were enrolled retrospectively in the study if they had undergone emergency coronary intervention (bare metal stent) within 24h of symptom onset, and had a 5-10 month follow-up examination. The patients were divided into three groups based on their cigarette smoking status (non-smokers, past smokers, and current smokers).

RESULTS

Current smokers were significantly younger than the other two groups, although their levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly higher. White blood cell count and hemoglobin level on admission were also significantly higher in current smokers compared with the other two groups. The incidence of SAST was significantly higher in current smokers than in the other groups, although the occurrence of heart failure after AMI was similar in the three groups. On the other hand, improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction was observed in non-smokers and past smokers, but not in current smokers. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that current smoking was an independent risk factor for SAST (odds ratio 5.4; p<0.05). Current smokers were about five times more likely to have a SAST compared with non-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that current cigarette smoking predicts SAST after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for AMI in Japanese patients.