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La Fata G, van Vliet N, Barnhoorn S, Brandt RMC, Etheve S, Chenal E, Grunenwald C, Seifert N, Weber P, Hoeijmakers JHJ, Mohajeri MH, Vermeij WP. Vitamin E Supplementation Reduces Cellular Loss in the Brain of a Premature Aging Mouse Model. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2018; 4:226-235. [PMID: 29181487 DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2017.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging is a highly complex biological process driven by multiple factors. Its progression can partially be influenced by nutritional interventions. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble anti-oxidant that is investigated as nutritional supplement for its ability to prevent or delay the onset of specific aging pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. PURPOSE We aimed here to investigate the effect of vitamin E during aging progression in a well characterized mouse model for premature aging. METHOD Xpg-/- animals received diets with low (~2.5 mg/kg feed), medium (75 mg/kg feed) or high (375 mg/kg feed) vitamin E concentration and their phenotype was monitored during aging progression. Vitamin E content was analyzed in the feed, for stability reasons, and in mouse plasma, brain, and liver, for effectiveness of the treatment. Subsequent age-related changes were monitored for improvement by increased vitamin E or worsening by depletion in both liver and nervous system, organs sensitive to oxidative stress. RESULTS Mice supplemented with high levels of vitamin E showed a delayed onset of age-related body weight decline and appearance of tremors when compared to mice with a low dietary vitamin E intake. DNA damage resulting in liver abnormalities such as changes in polyploidy, was considerably prevented by elevated amounts of vitamin E. Additionally, immunohistochemical analyses revealed that high intake of vitamin E, when compared with low and medium levels of vitamin E in the diet, reduces the number of p53-positive cells throughout the brain, indicative of a lower number of cells dying due to DNA damage accumulated over time. CONCLUSIONS Our data underline a neuroprotective role of vitamin E in the premature aging animal model used in this study, likely via a reduction of oxidative stress, and implies the importance of improved nutrition to sustain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- G La Fata
- M. Hasan Mohajeri, DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., P.O. Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland,
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van der Pluijm I, van Vliet N, von der Thusen JH, Robertus JL, Ridwan Y, van Heijningen PM, van Thiel BS, Vermeij M, Hoeks SE, Buijs-Offerman RMGB, Verhagen HJM, Kanaar R, Bertoli-Avella AM, Essers J. Defective Connective Tissue Remodeling in Smad3 Mice Leads to Accelerated Aneurysmal Growth Through Disturbed Downstream TGF-β Signaling. EBioMedicine 2016; 12:280-294. [PMID: 27688095 PMCID: PMC5078606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aneurysm-osteoarthritis syndrome characterized by unpredictable aortic aneurysm formation, is caused by SMAD3 mutations. SMAD3 is part of the SMAD2/3/4 transcription factor, essential for TGF-β-activated transcription. Although TGF-β-related gene mutations result in aneurysms, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we examined aneurysm formation and progression in Smad3-/- animals. Smad3-/- animals developed aortic aneurysms rapidly, resulting in premature death. Aortic wall immunohistochemistry showed no increase in extracellular matrix and collagen accumulation, nor loss of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) but instead revealed medial elastin disruption and adventitial inflammation. Remarkably, matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) were not activated in VSMCs, but rather specifically in inflammatory areas. Although Smad3-/- aortas showed increased nuclear pSmad2 and pErk, indicating TGF-β receptor activation, downstream TGF-β-activated target genes were not upregulated. Increased pSmad2 and pErk staining in pre-aneurysmal Smad3-/- aortas implied that aortic damage and TGF-β receptor-activated signaling precede aortic inflammation. Finally, impaired downstream TGF-β activated transcription resulted in increased Smad3-/- VSMC proliferation. Smad3 deficiency leads to imbalanced activation of downstream genes, no activation of MMPs in VSMCs, and immune responses resulting in rapid aortic wall dilatation and rupture. Our findings uncover new possibilities for treatment of SMAD3 patients; instead of targeting TGF-β signaling, immune suppression may be more beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- I van der Pluijm
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N van Vliet
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J H von der Thusen
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J L Robertus
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Y Ridwan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P M van Heijningen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B S van Thiel
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pharmacology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Vermeij
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S E Hoeks
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R M G B Buijs-Offerman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H J M Verhagen
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Kanaar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M Bertoli-Avella
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Essers
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Ntie S, Johnston AR, Mickala P, Bowkett AE, Jansen van Vuuren B, Colyn M, Telfer P, Maisels F, Hymas O, Rouyer RL, Wallace RA, LeBlanc K, van Vliet N, Sonet G, Verheyen E, Pires D, Wickings EJ, Lahm SA, Anthony NM. A molecular diagnostic for identifying central African forest artiodactyls from faecal pellets. Anim Conserv 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00303.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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