Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia caused by mutations in endoglin (ENG; HHT1) or activin receptor-like kinase (ALK1; HHT2) genes, coding for transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) superfamily receptors. We demonstrated previously that endoglin and ALK1 interact with endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and affect its activation. Endothelial cells deficient in endoglin or ALK1 proteins show eNOS uncoupling, reduced NO, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we measured NO and H₂O₂levels in several organs of adultEngandAlk1heterozygous mice, to ascertain whether decreased NO and increased ROS production is a generalized manifestation of HHT. A significant reduction in NO and increase in ROS production were found in several organs, known to be affected in patients. ROS overproduction in mutant mice was attributed to eNOS, as it was L-NAME inhibitable. Mitochondrial ROS contribution, blocked by antimycin, was highest in liver while NADPH oxidase, inhibited by apocynin, was a major source of ROS in the other tissues. However, there was no difference in antimycin- and apocynin-inhibitable ROS production between mutant and control mice. Our results indicate that eNOS-derived ROS contributes to endothelial dysfunction and likely predisposes to disease manifestations in several organs of HHT patients.

Objective. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The role of the nitrovasodilator pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) on endothelial function and oxidative stress in PAH has not yet been defined. Methods and Results. PAH was induced by monocrotaline (MCT, i.v.) in Wistar rats. Low (30 mg/kg; MCT30), middle (40 mg/kg; MCT40), or high (60 mg/kg; MCT60) dose of MCT for 14, 28, and 42 d was used. MCT induced endothelial dysfunction, pulmonary vascular wall thickening, and fibrosis, as well as protein tyrosine nitration. Pulmonary arterial pressure and heart/body and lung/body weight ratio were increased in MCT40 rats (28 d) and reduced by oral PETN (10 mg/kg, 24 d) therapy. Oxidative stress in the vascular wall, in the heart, and in whole blood as well as vascular endothelin‐1 signaling was increased in MCT40‐treated rats and normalized by PETN therapy, likely by upregulation of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). PETN therapy improved endothelium‐dependent relaxation in pulmonary arteries and inhibited endothelin‐1‐induced oxidative burst in whole blood and the expression of adhesion molecule (ICAM‐1) in endothelial cells. Conclusion. MCT‐induced PAH impairs endothelial function (aorta and pulmonary arteries) and increases oxidative stress whereas PETN markedly attenuates these adverse effects. Thus, PETN therapy improves pulmonary hypertension beyond its known cardiac preload reducing ability.

The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension that is occurring in increasing frequency across the global population. Although there is some controversy about its diagnostic criteria, oxidative stress, which is defined as imbalance between the production and inactivation of reactive oxygen species, has a major pathophysiological role in all the components of this disease. Oxidative stress and consequent inflammation induce insulin resistance, which likely links the various components of this disease. We briefly review the role of oxidative stress as a major component of the metabolic syndrome and then discuss the impact of exercise on these pathophysiological pathways. Included in this paper is the effect of exercise in reducing fat-induced inflammation, blood pressure, and improving muscular metabolism.

Heart failure (HF) is frequently the consequence of sustained, abnormal neurohormonal, and mechanical stress and remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The key pathophysiological process leading to HF is cardiac remodeling, a term referring to maladaptation to cardiac stress at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ levels. HF and many of the conditions that predispose one to HF are associated with oxidative stress. Increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart can directly lead to increased necrosis and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes which subsequently induce cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Nuclear factor-erythroid-2- (NF-E2-) related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that controls the basal and inducible expression of a battery of antioxidant genes and other cytoprotective phase II detoxifying enzymes that are ubiquitously expressed in the cardiovascular system. Emerging evidence has revealed that Nrf2 and its target genes are critical regulators of cardiovascular homeostasis via the suppression of oxidative stress, which is the key player in the development and progression of HF. The purpose of this review is to summarize evidence that activation of Nrf2 enhances endogenous antioxidant defenses and counteracts oxidative stress-associated cardiac remodeling and HF.

The nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐ (NF‐E2‐) related factor 2 (Nrf2) is abated and its ability to reduce oxidative stress is impaired in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore if polymorphisms in Nrf2 and target genes are associated with diabetes and obesity in Mexican mestizo subjects. The rs1800566 of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) gene, rs7211 of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) gene, rs2071749 of heme oxygenase‐1 (HMOX1) gene, and the rs6721961 and the rs2364723 from Nrf2 gene were genotyped in 627 diabetic subjects and 1020 controls. The results showed that the rs7211 polymorphism is a protective factor against obesity in nondiabetic subjects (CC + CT versus TT, OR = 0.40, P = 0.005) and in women (CC versus CT + TT, OR = 0.7, P = 0.016). TT carriers had lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower body mass index. The rs2071749 was positively associated with obesity (AA versus AG + GG, OR = 1.25, P = 0.026). Finally, the rs6721961 was negatively associated with diabetes in men (CC versus CA + AA, OR = 0.62, P = 0.003). AA carriers showed lower glucose concentrations. No association was found for rs1800566 and rs2364723 polymorphisms. In conclusion, the presence of Nrf2 and related genes polymorphisms are associated with diabetes and obesity in Mexican patients.

Quá trình oxi hóa lipid có thể được mô tả chung là một quá trình mà các chất oxi hóa như các gốc tự do tấn công các lipid có chứa liên kết đôi carbon-carbon, đặc biệt là các axit béo không bão hòa đa (PUFAs). Trong bốn thập kỷ qua, một lượng lớn tư liệu về quá trình oxi hóa lipid đã cho thấy vai trò quan trọng của nó trong sinh học tế bào và sức khỏe con người. Từ đầu những năm 1970, tổng số bài báo nghiên cứu được công bố về chủ đề oxi hóa lipid chỉ là 98 (1970–1974) và đã tăng gần 135 lần, lên tới 13165 trong 4 năm qua (2010–2013). Những phát hiện mới về sự tham gia vào sinh lý và bệnh lý tế bào, cũng như việc kiểm soát quá trình oxi hóa lipid, tiếp tục xuất hiện mỗi ngày. Với sự rộng lớn của lĩnh vực này, bài tổng quan này tập trung vào các khái niệm hóa sinh của quá trình oxi hóa lipid, sản sinh, chuyển hóa, và cơ chế tín hiệu của hai sản phẩm oxi hóa lipid thuộc nhóm axit béo omega-6 chính: malondialdehyde (MDA) và đặc biệt là 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), tổng hợp không chỉ về chức năng sinh lý và bảo vệ của nó như một phân tử tín hiệu kích thích sự biểu hiện gen và sự sống sót của tế bào, mà còn vai trò gây độc tế bào của nó khi ức chế biểu hiện gen và thúc đẩy cái chết tế bào. Cuối cùng, các tổng quan về các hệ thống mô hình động vật có vú in vivo được sử dụng để nghiên cứu quá trình oxi hóa lipid và các quy trình bệnh lý phổ biến liên quan đến MDA và 4-HNE được trình bày.

Polyphenol là các chất chuyển hóa thứ cấp của thực vật và thường tham gia vào việc bảo vệ chống lại tia cực tím hoặc sự xâm nhập của các tác nhân gây bệnh. Trong thập kỷ qua, đã có nhiều quan tâm về tiềm năng lợi ích sức khỏe từ polyphenol thực vật trong chế độ ăn uống như một chất chống oxy hoá. Các nghiên cứu dịch tễ học và phân tích tổng hợp liên quan mạnh mẽ đến việc tiêu thụ lâu dài các chế độ ăn uống giàu polyphenol thực vật có thể cung cấp sự bảo vệ chống lại sự phát triển của ung thư, bệnh tim mạch, tiểu đường, loãng xương và các bệnh thoái hóa thần kinh. Tại đây, chúng tôi trình bày kiến thức về các tác động sinh học của polyphenol thực vật trong bối cảnh liên quan đến sức khỏe con người.

Arsenic poisoning is a geochemical disease that seriously endangers human health. The liver is one of the important target organs for arsenic poisoning, several studies have shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in arsenic-induced liver damage. However, the specific mechanism of arsenic-induced oxidative stress has not yet been fully elucidated, and currently, there are no effective intervention measures for the prevention and treatment of arsenic-induced liver damage. In this study, the effect of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and oxidative stress in the arsenic-induced liver damage was first evaluated. The results show that arsenic can activate the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and increase the oxidative stress, which in turn promotes arsenic-induced liver damage in MIHA cells. Moreover, when we applied the Nrf2 inhibitor, the promoting effect of arsenic on liver damage was alleviated by inhibiting the activation of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway. Subsequently, the Rosa roxburghii Tratt [Rosaceae] (RRT) intervention experiments in cells and arsenic poisoning population were designed. The results revealed that RRT can inhibit Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway to reduce oxidative stress, thereby alleviates arsenic-induced liver damage. This study provides some limited evidence that arsenite can activate Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway to induce oxidative stress, which in turn promotes arsenic-induced liver damage in MIHA cells. The second major finding was that Kaji-ichigoside F1 may be a potential bioactive compound of RRT, which can inhibit Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway to reduce oxidative stress, thereby alleviates arsenic-induced liver damage. Our study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms in arsenic-induced liver damage, these findings will identify a possible natural medicinal food dual-purpose fruit, RRT, as a more effective prevention and control strategies for arsenic poisoning.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associated chronic kidney disease is mainly caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) triggered tissue damage. Receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) and its ligand high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) are expressed on renal cells and mediate inflammatory responses in OSA‐related diseases. To determine their roles in CIH‐induced renal injury, soluble RAGE (sRAGE), the RAGE neutralizing antibody, was intravenously administered in a CIH model. We also evaluated the effect of sRAGE on inflammation and apoptosis. Rats were divided into four groups: (1) normal air (NA), (2) CIH, (3) CIH+sRAGE, and (4) NA+sRAGE. Our results showed that CIH accelerated renal histological injury and upregulated RAGE‐HMGB1 levels involving inflammatory (NF‐κB, TNF‐α, and IL‐6), apoptotic (Bcl‐2/Bax), and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (phosphorylation of P38, ERK, and JNK) signal transduction pathways, which were abolished by sRAGE but p‐ERK. Furthermore, sRAGE ameliorated renal dysfunction by attenuating tubular endothelial apoptosis determined by immunofluorescence staining of CD31 and TUNEL. These findings suggested that RAGE‐HMGB1 activated chronic inflammatory transduction cascades that contributed to the pathogenesis of the CIH‐induced renal injury. Inhibition of RAGE ligand interaction by sRAGE provided a therapeutic potential for CIH‐induced renal injury, inflammation, and apoptosis through P38 and JNK pathways.