Increased peripheral of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in phenylketonuric patients treated with l-carnitine

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inherited metabolic disorders caused by severe deficiency or absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity that converts phenylalanine (Phe) to tyrosine. PKU patients were treated with a Phe restricted diet supplemented with a special formula containing l-carnitine (L-car), well-known antioxidant compound. The lack of treatment can cause neurological and cognitive impairment, as severe mental retardation, neuronal cell loss and synaptic density reduction. Although Phe has been widely demonstrated to be involved in PKU neurotoxicity, the mechanisms responsible for the CNS injury are still not fully known. In this work, we evaluated markers of neurodegeneration, namely BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), PAI-1 total (Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 total), Cathepsin D, PDGF AB/BB (platelet-derived growth factor), and NCAM (neuronal adhesion molecule) in plasma of PKU patients at early and late diagnosis and under treatment. We found decreased Phe levels and increased L-car concentrations in PKU patients treated with L-car compared to the other groups, indicating that the proposed treatment was effective. Furthermore, we found increased BDNF levels in the patients under treatment compared to patients at early diagnosis, and a positive correlation between BDNF and L-car and a negative correlation between BDNF and Phe. Our results may indicate that in PKU patients treated with L-car there is an attempt to adjust neuronal plasticity and recover the damage suffered, reflecting a compensatory response to brain injury.

Increased cytokine levels induced by high phenylalanine concentrations in late diagnosis PKU patients compared to early diagnosis: Anti-inflammatory effect of L-carnitine

Phenylketonuria (PKU) was the first genetic disease to have an effective therapy, which consists of phenylalanine intake restriction. However, there are patients who do not adhere to treatment and/or are not submitted to neonatal screening. PKU patients present L-carnitine (L-car) deficiency, compound that has demonstrated an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role in metabolic diseases. This study evaluated the effect caused by exposure time to high Phe levels in PKU patients at early and late diagnosis, through pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the L-car effect in patients under treatment. It was observed that there was a decrease in phenylalanine levels in treated patients compared to patients at diagnosis, and an increase in L-car levels in the patients under treatment. Inverse correlation between Phe versus L-car and nitrate plus nitrite versus L-car in PKU patients was also showed. We found increased proinflammatory cytokines levels: interleukin (IL)-1β, interferons (IFN)-gamma, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-8 and IL-6 in the patients at late diagnosis compared to controls, and IL-8 in the patients at early diagnosis and treatment compared to controls. Increased IL-2, TNF-alpha, IL-6 levels in the patients at late diagnosis compared to early diagnosis were shown, and reduced IL-6 levels in the treated patients compared to patients at late diagnosis. Moreover, it verified a negative correlation between IFN-gamma and L-car in treated patients. Otherwise, it was observed that there were increased IL-4 levels in the patients at late diagnosis compared to early diagnosis, and reduction in treated patients compared to late diagnosed patients. In urine, there was an increase in 8-isoprostane levels in the patients at diagnosis compared to controls and a decrease in oxidized guanine species in the treated patients compared to the diagnosed patients. Our results demonstrate for the first time in literature that time exposure to high Phe concentrations generates a proinflammatory status, especially in PKU patients with late diagnosis. A pro-oxidant status was verified in not treated PKU patients. Our results demonstrate the importance of early diagnosis and prompt start of treatment, in addition to the importance of L-car supplementation, which can improve cellular defense against inflammation and oxidative damage in PKU patients.

Clinical findings of patients with hyperammonemia affected by urea cycle disorders with hepatic encephalopathy

Urea Cycle Disorders (UCD) are a group of genetic diseases caused by deficiencies in the enzymes and transporters involved in the urea cycle. The impairment of the cycle results in ammonia accumulation, leading to neurological dysfunctions and poor outcomes to affected patients. The aim of this study is to investigate and describe UCD patients principal clinical and biochemical presentations to support professionals on urgent diagnosis and quick management, aiming better outcomes for patients. We explored medical records of thirty patients diagnosed in a referral center from Brazil to delineate UCD clinical and biochemical profile. Patients demonstrated a range of signs and symptoms, such as altered levels of consciousness, acute encephalopathy, seizures, progressive loss of appetite, vomiting, coma, and respiratory distress, in most cases combined with high levels of ammonia, which is an immediate biomarker, leading to an UCD suspicion. The most prevalent UCD detected were ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (11), followed by citrullinemia type I (10), hyperargininemia (5), carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 deficiency (2) and argininosuccinic aciduria (2). Clinical symptoms were highly severe, being the majority developmental and neurological disabilities, with 20% of death rate. Laboratory analysis revealed high levels of ammonia (mean ± SD: 860 ± 470 μmol/L; reference value: ≤ 80 μmol/L), hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and high excretion of orotic acid in the urine (except in CPS1 deficiency). We emphasize the need of urgent identification of UCD clinical and biochemical conditions, and immediate measurement of ammonia, to enable the correct diagnosis and increase the chances of patients survival, minimizing neurological and psychomotor damage caused by hepatic encephalopathy.

L-carnitine protects DNA oxidative damage induced by phenylalanine and its keto acid derivatives in neural cells: a possible pathomechanism and adjuvant therapy for brain injury in phenylketonuria

Although phenylalanine (Phe) is known to be neurotoxic in phenylketonuria (PKU), its exact pathogenetic mechanisms of brain damage are still poorly known. Furthermore, much less is known about the role of the Phe derivatives phenylacetic (PAA), phenyllactic (PLA) and phenylpyruvic (PPA) acids that also accumulate in this this disorder on PKU neuropathology. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Phe elicits oxidative stress in brain of rodents and that this deleterious process also occurs in peripheral tissues of phenylketonuric patients. In the present study, we investigated whether Phe and its derivatives PAA, PLA and PPA separately or in combination could induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and provoke DNA damage in C6 glial cells. We also tested the role of L-carnitine (L-car), which has been recently considered an antioxidant agent and easily cross the blood brain barrier on the alterations of C6 redox status provoked by Phe and its metabolites. We first observed that cell viability was not changed by Phe and its metabolites. Furthermore, Phe, PAA, PLA and PPA, at concentrations found in plasma of PKU patients, provoked marked DNA damage in the glial cells separately and when combined. Of note, these effects were totally prevented (Phe, PAA and PPA) or attenuated (PLA) by L-car pre-treatment. In addition, a potent ROS formation also induced by Phe and PAA, whereas only moderate increases of ROS were caused by PPA and PLA. Pre-treatment with L-car also prevented Phe- and PAA-induced ROS generation, but not that provoked by PLA and PPA. Thus, our data show that Phe and its major metabolites accumulated in PKU provoke extensive DNA damage in glial cells probably by ROS formation and that L-car may potentially represent an adjuvant therapeutic agent in PKU treatment.

Preliminary results of PBA-loaded nanoparticles development and the effect on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in rats submitted to a chemically induced chronic model of MSUD

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a genetic disorder that leads the accumulation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine (Leu), isoleucine, valine and metabolites. The symptomatology includes psychomotor delay and mental retardation. MSUD therapy comprises a lifelong protein strict diet with low BCAA levels and is well established that high concentrations of Leu and/or its ketoacid are associated with neurological symptoms. Recently, it was demonstrated that the phenylbutyrate (PBA) have the ability to decrease BCAA concentrations. This work aimed the development of lipid-based nanoparticles loaded with PBA, capable of targeting to the central nervous system in order to verify its action mechanisms on oxidative stress and cell death in brain of rats subjected to a MSUD chronic model. PBA-loaded nanoparticles treatment was effective in significantly decreasing BCAA concentration in plasma and Leu in the cerebral cortex of MSUD animals. Furthermore, PBA modulate the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes, as well as preventing the oxidative damage to lipid membranes and proteins. PBA was also able to decrease the glial fibrillary acidic protein concentrations and partially decreased the reactive species production and caspase-3 activity in MSUD rats. Taken together, the data indicate that the PBA-loaded nanoparticles could be an efficient adjuvant in the MSUD therapy, protecting against oxidative brain damage and neuroinflammation.

Clinical, biochemical and molecular findings of 24 Brazilian patients with glutaric acidemia type 1: 4 novel mutations in the GCDH gene

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA-1) is a rare but treatable inherited disease caused by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity due to GCDH gene mutations. In this study, we report 24 symptomatic GA-1 Brazilian patients, and present their clinical, biochemical, and molecular findings. Patients were diagnosed by high levels of glutaric and/or 3-hydroxyglutaric and glutarylcarnitine. Diagnosis was confirmed by genetic analysis. Most patients had the early-onset severe form of the disease and the main features were neurological deterioration, seizures and dystonia, usually following an episode of metabolic decompensation. Despite the early symptomatology, diagnosis took a long time for most patients. We identified 13 variants in the GCDH gene, four of them were novel: c.91 + 5G > A, c.167T > G, c.257C > T, and c.10A > T. The most common mutation was c.1204C > T (p.R402W). Surprisingly, the second most frequent mutation was the new mutation c.91 + 5G > A (IVS1 ds G-A + 5). Our results allowed a complete characterization of the GA-1 Brazilian patients. Besides, they expand the mutational spectrum of GA-1, with the description of four new mutations. This work reinforces the importance of awareness of GA-1 among doctors in order to allow early diagnosis and treatment in countries like Brazil where the disease has not been included in newborn screening programs.

Oxidative damage in mitochondrial fatty acids oxidation disorders patients and the in vitro effect of l-carnitine on DNA damage induced by the accumulated metabolites

BACKGROUND

The mitochondrial fatty acids oxidation disorders (FAOD) are inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) characterized by the accumulation of fatty acids of different sizes of chain according to the affected enzyme.

METHODS

This study evaluated the lipid peroxidation by the measurement of 8-isoprostanes, nitrosative stress parameters by the measurement of nitrite and nitrate content and DNA and RNA oxidative damage by the measurement of oxidized guanine species in urine samples from long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHADD), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) and multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) patients. Also, we analyzed the in vitro DNA damage by comet assay induced by adipic acid, suberic acid, hexanoylglycine and suberylglycine, separated and in combination, as well as the effect of l-carnitine in human leukocytes.

RESULTS

An increase on 8-isoprostanes levels in all groups of patients was observed. The nitrite and nitrate levels were increased in LCHADD patients. DNA and RNA damage evaluation revealed increase on oxidized guanine species levels in LCHADD and MADD patients. The in vitro evaluation revealed an increase on the DNA damage induced by all metabolites, besides a potencialyzed effect. l-carnitine decreased the DNA damage induced by the metabolites.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that toxic metabolites accumulated could be related to the increased oxidative and nitrosative stress of FAOD patients and that the metabolites, separated and in combination, cause DNA damage, which was reduced by l-carnitine, demonstrating antioxidant protection.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

This work demonstrated oxidative stress in FAOD patients and the genotoxic potential of MCADD metabolites and the protective effect of l-carnitine.

Prevention by L-carnitine of DNA damage induced by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric and 3-methylglutaric acids and experimental evidence of lipid and DNA damage in patients with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria (HMGA) is an inherited disorder of the leucine catabolic pathway in which occurs a deficiency of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase enzyme. Therefore, the organic acids 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric (HMG) and 3-methylglutaric (MGA), mainly, accumulate in tissues of affected patients. Lately, much attention has been focused on free radicals as mediators of tissue damage in human diseases, causing lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA damage. The treatment of this disease is based in a restricted protein ingest and supplementation with l-carnitine (LC), an antioxidant and detoxifying agent. In the present work, we investigated the in vitro oxidative damage to DNA induced by the accumulation of organic acids and oxidative stress parameters in vivo of patients with 3-HMG, as well as the effect of the recommended therapy. The in vitro DNA damage was analyzed by the alkaline comet assay in leukocytes incubated with HMG and MGA (1 mM, 2.5 mM and 5 mM) and co-incubated with LC (90 μM and 150 μM). The in vivo urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane levels and urinary oxidized guanine species were measured by ELISA kits in patient's urine before and after the treatment with LC. HMG and MGA induced a DNA damage index (DI) significantly higher than that of the control group. The DI was significantly reduced in the presence of LC. It was also verified a significant increase of oxidized guanine species and urinary isoprostane levels, biomarker of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation respectively, in patients before treatment. After the treatment and supplementation with LC, patients presented significantly lower levels of those biomarkers. Analyzing the data together, we can conclude that HMGA patients present oxidative lipid and DNA damage, which is induced by HMG and MGA, and the antioxidant therapy with LC can prevent that kind of injuries.

Oxidative damage in glutaric aciduria type I patients and the protective effects of l-carnitine treatment

The deficiency of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase, known as glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I), leads to the accumulation of glutaric acid (GA) and glutarilcarnitine (C5DC) in the tissues and body fluids, unleashing important neurotoxic effects. l-carnitine (l-car) is recommended for the treatment of GA-I, aiming to induce the excretion of toxic metabolites. l-car has also demonstrated an important role as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in some neurometabolic diseases. This study evaluated GA-I patients at diagnosis moment and treated the oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and the inflammatory profile, as well as in vivo and in vitro DNA damage, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and antioxidant capacity, verifying if the actual treatment with l-car (100 mg kg^-1  day^-1 ) is able to protect the organism against these processes. Significant increases of GA and C5DC were observed in GA-I patients. A deficiency of carnitine in patients before the supplementation was found. GA-I patients presented significantly increased levels of isoprostanes, di-tyrosine, urinary oxidized guanine species, and the RNS, as well as a reduced antioxidant capacity. The l-car supplementation induced beneficial effects reducing these biomarkers levels and increasing the antioxidant capacity. GA, in three different concentrations, significantly induced DNA damage in vitro, and the l-car was able to prevent this damage. Significant increases of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and TNF-α were shown in patients. Thus, the beneficial effects of l-car presented in the treatment of GA-I are due not only by increasing the excretion of accumulated toxic metabolites, but also by preventing oxidative damage.

Selective Screening of Fatty Acids Oxidation Defects and Organic Acidemias by Liquid Chromatography/tandem Mass Spectrometry Acylcarnitine Analysis in Brazilian Patients

BACKGROUND

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are diseases which can lead to accumulation of toxic metabolites in the organism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate, by selective screening, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation defects (FAOD) and organic acidemias in Brazilian individuals with clinical suspicion of IEM.

METHODS

A total of 7,268 individuals, from different regions of Brazil, had whole blood samples impregnated on filter paper which were submitted to the acylcarnitines analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) at the Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, during July 2008-July 2016.

RESULTS

Our results showed that 68 patients (0.93%) were diagnosed with FAOD (19 cases) and organic acidemias (49 cases). The most prevalent FAOD was multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), whereas glutaric type I and 3-OH-3-methylglutaric acidemias were the most frequent disorders of organic acid metabolism. Neurologic symptoms and metabolic acidosis were the most common clinical and laboratory features, whereas the average age of the patients at diagnosis was 2.3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Results demonstrated a high incidence of glutaric acidemia type I and 3-OH-3- methylglutaric acidemia in Brazil and an unexpectedly low incidence of FAOD, particularly medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD).

Inflammatory profile in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients: Understanding disease progression

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited disease characterized by progressive inflammatory demyelization in the brain, adrenal insufficiency, and an abnormal accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in tissue and body fluids. Considering that inflammation might be involved in pathophysiology of X-ALD, we aimed to investigate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in plasma from three different male phenotypes (CCER, AMN, and asymptomatic individuals). Our results showed that asymptomatic patients presented increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, and TNF-α and the last one was also higher in AMN phenotype. Besides, asymptomatic patients presented higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. AMN patients presented higher levels of IL-2, IL-5, and IL-4. We might hypothesize that inflammation in X-ALD is related to plasmatic VLCFA concentration, since there were positive correlations between C26:0 plasmatic levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines in asymptomatic and AMN patients and negative correlation between anti-inflammatory cytokine and C24:0/C22:0 ratio in AMN patients. The present work yields experimental evidence that there is an inflammatory imbalance associated Th1, (IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10), and macrophages response (TNF-α and IL-1β) in the periphery of asymptomatic and AMN patients, and there is correlation between VLCFA plasmatic levels and inflammatory mediators in X-ALD. Furthermore, we might also speculate that the increase of plasmatic cytokines in asymptomatic patients could be considered an early biomarker of brain damage and maybe also a predictor of disease progression.

In vivo intracerebral administration of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid provokes oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in striatum and cerebellum of adolescent rats

Patients affected by L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA) are biochemically characterized by elevated L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid (L-2-HG) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and urine due to a blockage in the conversion of L-2-HG to α-ketoglutaric acid. Neurological symptoms associated with basal ganglia and cerebelar abnormalities whose pathophysiology is still unknown are typical of this neurometabolic disorder. In the present study we evaluated the early effects (30min after injection) of an acute in vivo intrastriatal and intracerebellar L-2-HG administration on redox homeostasis in rat striatum and cerebellum, respectively. Histological analyses of these brain structures were also carried out 7 days after L-2-HG treatment (long-term effects). L-2-HG significantly decreased the concentrations of reduced (GSH) and total glutathione (tGS), as well as of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GR) activities, but did not change the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in striatum. Furthermore, the concentrations of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, were increased, whereas carbonyl formation and nitrate plus nitrite concentrations were not altered by L-2-HG injection. It was also found that the melatonin, ascorbic acid plus α-tocopherol, and creatine totally prevented most of these effects, whereas N-acetylcysteine, the noncompetitive glutamate NMDA antagonist MK-801, and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME were not able to normalize the redox alterations elicited by L-2-HG in striatum. L-2-HG intracerebellar injection similarly provoked a decrease of antioxidant defenses (GSH, tGS, GPx, and GR) and an increase of the concentrations of GSSG, MDA, and H2O2 in cerebellum. These results strongly indicate that the major accumulating metabolite in L-2-HGA induce oxidative stress by decreasing the antioxidant defenses and enhancing reactive oxygen species in striatum and cerebellum of adolescent rats. Regarding the histopathological findings, L-2-HG caused intense vacuolation, lymphocyte and macrophage infiltrates, eosinophilic granular bodies, and necrosis in striatum. Immunohistochemistry revealed that L-2-HG treatment provoked an increase of GFAP and a decrease of NeuN immunostaining, indicating reactive astroglyosis and reduction of neuronal population, respectively, in striatum. Similar macrophage infiltrates, associated with less intense vacuolation and lymphocytic infiltration, were observed in cerebellum. However, we did not observe necrosis, eosinophilic granular bodies, and alteration of GFAP and NeuN content in L-2-HG-teated cerebellum. From the biochemical and histological findings, it is presumed that L-2-HG provokes striatal and cerebellar damage in vivo possibly through oxidative stress induction. Therefore, we postulate that antioxidants may serve as adjuvant therapy allied to the current treatment based on a protein-restricted diet and riboflavin and L-carnitine supplementation in patients affected by L-2-HGA.

L-Carnitine supplementation decreases DNA damage in treated MSUD patients

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inherited disorder caused by severe deficient activity of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex involved in the degradation pathway of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and their α-ketoacid derivatives. MSUD patients generally present ketoacidosis, poor feeding, ataxia, coma, psychomotor delay, mental retardation and brain abnormalites. Treatment consists of dietary restriction of the BCAA (low protein intake) supplemented by a BCAA-free amino acid mixture. Although the mechanisms of brain damage in MSUD are poorly known, previous studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in the neuropathology of this disorder. In this regard, it was recently reported that MSUD patients have deficiency of l-carnitine (l-car), a compound with antioxidant properties that is used as adjuvant therapy in various inborn errors of metabolism. In this work, we investigated DNA damage determined by the alkaline comet assay in peripheral whole blood leukocytes of MSUD patients submitted to a BCAA-restricted diet supplemented or not with l-car. We observed a significant increase of DNA damage index (DI) in leukocytes from MSUD patients under BCAA-restricted diet as compared to controls and that l-car supplementation significantly decreased DNA DI levels. It was also found a positive correlation between DI and MDA content, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and an inverse correlation between DI and l-car levels. Taken together, our present results suggest a role for reactive species and the involvement of oxidative stress in DNA damage in this disorder. Since l-car reduced DNA damage, it is presumed that dietary supplementation of this compound may serve as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy for MSUD patients in addition to other therapies.

Increased oxidative stress in patients with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria (HMGA; OMIM 246450) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, caused by the deficiency of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase (4.1.3.4), which results in the accumulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric (HMG) and 3-methylglutaric (MGA) acids in tissues and biological fluids of affected individuals. Recent in vivo and in vitro animal studies have demonstrated that the accumulation of these metabolites can disturb the cellular redox homeostasis, which can contribute to the neurological manifestations presented by the patients. So, in the present work, we investigated oxidative stress parameters in plasma and urine samples from HMGA patients, obtained at the moment of diagnosis of this disorder and during therapy with low-protein diet and L-carnitine supplementation. It was verified that untreated HMGA patients presented higher levels of urinary di-tyrosine and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), which are markers of protein and lipid oxidative damage, respectively, as well as a reduction of the urinary antioxidant capacity. Treated HMGA patients also presented an increased protein oxidative damage, as demonstrated by their higher concentrations of plasma protein carbonyl groups and urinary di-tyrosine, as well as by the reduction of total sulfhydryl groups in plasma, in relation to controls. On the other hand, HMGA patients under therapy presented normal levels of TBA-RS and urinary antioxidant capacity, which can be related, at least in part, to the antioxidant and antiperoxidative effects exerted by L-carnitine. The results of this work are the first report showing that a redox imbalance occurs in patients with HMGA what reinforces the importance of the antioxidant therapy in this disorder.

Acute administration of 5-oxoproline induces oxidative damage to lipids and proteins and impairs antioxidant defenses in cerebral cortex and cerebellum of young rats

5-Oxoproline accumulates in glutathione synthetase deficiency, an autossomic recessive inherited disorder clinically characterized by hemolytic anemia, metabolic acidosis, and severe neurological symptoms whose mechanisms are poorly known. In the present study we investigated the effects of acute subcutaneous administration of 5-oxoproline to verify whether oxidative stress is elicited by this metabolite in vivo in cerebral cortex and cerebellum of 14-day-old rats. Our results showed that the acute administration of 5-oxoproline is able to promote both lipid and protein oxidation, to impair brain antioxidant defenses, to alter SH/SS ratio and to enhance hydrogen peroxide content, thus promoting oxidative stress in vivo, a mechanism that may be involved in the neuropathology of gluthatione synthetase deficiency.

Effect of in vivo administration of ethylmalonic acid on energy metabolism in rat tissues

High concentrations of ethylmalonic acid (EMA) occur in tissues and biological fluids of patients affected by deficiency of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, as well as in other illnesses characterized by neurological and muscular symptoms. Considering that the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the clinical manifestations of these diseases are virtually unknown, in the present work we developed a chemical in vivo model of ethylmalonic acidemia in young Wistar rats for neurochemical and behavioral studies through subcutaneous administration of EMA to young rats. The doses of EMA administered subcutaneously varied according to the age of the animals, being injected 3, 4, and 6 micromol g(-1) of body weight in rats of 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. The concentrations of the acid were measured in blood and brain at regular intervals after a single injection (30-120 min) and reached the highest concentrations (3.0 mM and 0.5 micromol g(-1), approximately 0.5 mM), respectively, after 30 and 60 min of EMA injection. Next, we investigated the effects of acute EMA administration on the activities of complexes I-III, II, II-III, and IV of the respiratory chain in cerebral cortex and skeletal muscle, as well as on the activity of creatine kinase in cerebral cortex, striatum, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle of rats of 14 days of life. Control rats were treated with saline in the same volumes. We verified EMA administration did not change these enzymatic activities in all tissues studied. Although transient high concentrations of EMA did not alter important parameters of energy metabolism, it cannot be ruled out that chronic administration of this organic acid would disrupt energy metabolism.