High-resolution 1H NMR investigations of the oxidative consumption of salivary biomolecules by oral rinse peroxides.

BACKGROUND: A multicomponent evaluation of the oxidative consumption of salivary biomolecules by a tooth-whitening oral rinse preparation has been performed using high-resolution proton ((1)H) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). METHODS: Unstimulated human saliva samples (n = 12) were treated with aliquots of the oral rinse tested and 600 MHz (1)H NMR spectra acquired on these samples demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and/or peroxodisulphate (S(2)O(8) (2-)) present in this product gave rise to the oxidative decarboxylation of the salivary electron-donor pyruvate (to acetate and CO(2)), and also oxidized methionine (a precursor to volatile sulphur compounds responsible for oral malodour), and malodourous trimethylamine to methionine sulphoxide and trimethylamine-N-oxide, respectively (reductions observed in the salivary concentrations of each biomolecular peroxide-scavenging agent were all extremely statistically significant, p < 0.005). RESULTS: Experiments conducted on chemical model systems confirmed the consumption of pyruvate by this product, and also revealed that the amino acids cysteine and methionine were oxidatively transformed to cystine and methionine sulphoxide, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High-field (1)H NMR analysis provides much valuable molecular information regarding the fate of tooth-whitening oxidants in human saliva and permits an assessment of the mechanisms of action of oral healthcare products containing these agents. The biochemical and potential therapeutic significance of the results obtained are discussed.

1H NMR investigations of the molecular nature of cobalt(II) ions in human saliva.

High-resolution (1)H NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that addition of Co(II) ions to isolated human salivary supernatants (HSSs) gave rise to its complexation by a variety of biomolecules. The relative efficacies of these complexants/chelators in this context were classifiable by the influence of added Co(II) on their line-widths and chemical shift values, and also the added Co(II) concentration-dependence of these spectral modifications. Those which were most affected by the addition of this metal ion were lactate > formate ≈histidinate > succinate, this order reflecting the ability of these complexants to compete for the available Co(II) in terms of (1) thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the formation of their complexes and (2) their HSS concentrations. Since many of these HSS Co(II) complexants (particularly lactate, formate and histidine) serve as powerful ()OH scavengers, the results acquired indicate that any of this radical generated from the Co(II) source in such complexes via pseudo-Fenton reactions may be 'site-specifically' scavenged. The significance of these observations regarding the in vivo corrosion of cobalt-containing metal alloy dental prostheses (e.g., Co-Cr alloys), the availability of trace levels of this metal ion in human saliva, and cobalt toxicity, is discussed.

Supervised self organizing maps for classification and determination of potentially discriminatory variables: illustrated by application to nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic profiling.

The article describes the extension of the self organizing maps discrimination index (SOMDI) for cases where there are more than two classes and more than one factor that may influence the group of samples by using supervised SOMs to determine which variables and how many are responsible for the different types of separation. The methods are illustrated by an application in the area of metabolic profiling, consisting of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data set of 96 samples of human saliva, which is characterized by three factors, namely, whether the sample has been treated or not, 16 donors, and 3 sampling days, differing for each donor. The sampling days can be considered a null factor as they should have no significant influence on the metabolic profile. Methods for supervised SOMs involve including a classifier for organizing the map, and we report a method for optimizing this by using an additional weight that determines the relative importance of the classifier relative to the overall experimental data set in order to avoid overfitting. Supervised SOMs can be obtained for each of the three factors, and we develop a multiclass SOM discrimination index (SOMDI) to determine which variables (or regions of the NMR spectra) are considered significant for each of the three potential factors. By dividing the data iteratively into training and test sets 100 times, we define variables as significant for a given factor if they have a positive SOMDI in the training set for the factor and class of interest over all iterations.

High extracellular glucose inhibits exocytosis through disruption of syntaxin 1A-containing lipid rafts.

Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose which eventually impairs the secretion of insulin. Glucose directly affects cholesterol biosynthesis and may in turn affect cellular structures that depend on the sterol, including lipid rafts that help organize the secretory apparatus. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of glucose upon lipid rafts and secretory granule dynamics in pancreatic beta-cells. Raft fractions, identified by the presence of GM1 and flotillin, contained characteristically high levels of cholesterol and syntaxin 1A, the t-SNARE which tethers granules to the plasma membrane. Seventy-two hours exposure to 28mM glucose resulted in approximately 30% reduction in membrane cholesterol, with consequent redistribution of raft markers and syntaxin 1A throughout the plasma membrane. Live cell imaging indicated loss of syntaxin 1A from granule docking sites, and fewer docked granules. In conclusion, glucose-mediated inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis perturbs lipid raft stability, resulting in a loss of syntaxin 1A from granule docking sites and inhibition of insulin secretion.

High-resolution (1)H NMR investigations of the capacity of dentifrices containing a "smart" bioactive glass to influence the metabolic profile of and deliver calcium ions to human saliva.

Dentifrices containing H(2)O-reactive bioactive glasses alleviate hypersensitivity in teeth via the blockage of open dentinal tubules. Here, the ability of two such products to release Ca(2+) ions into human saliva was investigated, together with their influence on the status of this biofluid's (1)H NMR-detectable biomolecules. Human salivary supernatants were equilibrated with increasing volumes of those derived from each dentifrice (5.00 min at 37 degrees C). These biofluids were also equilibrated at 37 degrees C with a preselected quantity of the intact products (samples were collected at increasing timepoints). Salivary Ca(2+) concentrations were monitored by a (1)H NMR technique involving ethylenediamine tetra-acetate addition and/or atomic absorption spectrometry. Added Ca(2+)- and dentifrice supernatant volume (DSV)-induced modifications to the salivary (1)H NMR profile were explored by spectral titration. Data acquired demonstrated added DSV-dependent increases in salivary Ca(2+) concentrations and (Ca(2+)-independent) modifications to the intensities of selected salivary (1)H NMR signals, particularly those of the malodorous amines methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethylamines, which were diminished by up to 80% of their prior values. Time-dependent elevations in salivary Ca(2+) level were observed on equilibration with the intact dentifrices. Added Ca(2+) ions exerted a concentration-dependent influence on a range of resonances (including those of citrate, succinate, pyruvate, and lactate). These data provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms of action of the products tested.

1H and 51V NMR investigations of the molecular nature of implant-derived vanadium ions in osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid.

BACKGROUND: High field (1)H and (51)V NMR spectroscopies were employed to determine the oxidation state and complexation status of vanadium ions in intact osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid (OA SF) when pre-added as V(III)((aq.)), V(IV)((aq.)) and V(V)((aq.)). METHODS: Aliquots of each vanadium solution were added to the SF samples and their (1)H NMR spectra recorded. (51)V NMR spectra were also recorded for the samples to which V(III)((aq.)) had been added. Theoretical computer simulations of the competitive complexation of vanadium ions by a range of low-molecular-mass biomolecules were also performed. RESULTS: The spectroscopic results demonstrated that addition of vanadium ions to intact OA SF gave rise to their complexation by a range of low-molecular-mass biomolecules. The results indicated the physiologically-significant complexing abilities of histidine, threonine, glycine, tyrosine and citrate for each of the added metal ions. The computer simulations revealed that the relative capacity of OA SF complexants to compete for available V(III), V(IV) and V(V) ions reflected the thermodynamic stability constants for such complexes and their available concentrations in this biofluid. CONCLUSIONS: Since comparatively low concentrations of added metal ion are required to selectively influence spectral properties, the "speciation" of prostheses-derived metal ions in biofluids and tissues can be ascertained through the facile employment of high resolution NMR spectroscopy.

High resolution 1H NMR investigations of the oxidative consumption of salivary biomolecules by ozone: relevance to the therapeutic applications of this agent in clinical dentistry.

High resolution proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to simultaneously evaluate the oxidising actions of ozone (O3) towards a wide range of salivary biomolecules in view of its applications in dental practices, which may serve as a viable and convenient means for the treatment of dental caries. Treatment of supernatants derived from unstimulated human saliva specimens (n=12) with O3 (4.48 mmol) revealed that this reactive oxygen species gave rise to the oxidative consumption of pyruvate (generating acetate and CO2 as products), lactate (to pyruvate and sequentially acetate and CO2), carbohydrates in general (a process generating formate), methionine (giving rise to its corresponding sulphoxide), and urate (to allantoin). Further, minor O3-induced modifications included the oxidation of trimethylamine and 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, the fragmentation of salivary glycosaminoglycans to NMR-detectable saccharide fragments, and the conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids to their ozonides. Moreover, evidence for the ability of O3 to induce the release of selected low-molecular-mass salivary biomolecules from macromolecular binding-sites was also obtained. Since many of the oxidation products detectable in O3-treated samples are identical to those arising from the attack of *OH radical on biofluid components, it appears that at least some of the modifications observed here are attributable to the latter oxidant (derived from O3*- generated from the single electron reduction of O3).

Determination of the illicit drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in human saliva and beverages by 1H NMR analysis.

High resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the detection and quantification of the illicit "date-rape" drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in both human saliva and a commonly-consumed low-alcohol beer product. Data acquired revealed that this multicomponent analytical technique provided unequivocal evidence for the detection of this agent by this technique in both of these matrices, i.e., all three of its resonances [those ascribable to the alpha-CH2 (t, delta=2.25 ppm), beta-CH2 (tt, delta=1.81 ppm) and gamma-CH2 (t, delta=3.61 ppm) group protons] were present in spectra acquired on human saliva, and two of these (the alpha- and beta-CH2 group signals) in the beverage product examined, the latter observation attributable to overlap of the gamma-CH2 1H resonance with those of carbohydrates. Since good linear calibration relationships between the intensities of each of the NMR-visible signals and added GHB concentration (the former normalised to that of an external 3-trimethylsilyl [2,2,3,3-2H4]- propionate standard present in a coaxial NMR tube insert) were observed, this illicit drug is also readily quantifiable in such multicomponent samples. Our data demonstrate the advantages offered by this technique when applied to the analysis of illicit drugs in multicomponent sample matrices such as human biofluids and beverage products.

Evaluation of the speciation status of aluminium(III) ions in isolated osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid.

High field 1H NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the equilibration of added Al(III) ions in osteoarthritic (OA) knee-joint synovial fluid (SF) resulted in its complexation by citrate and, to a much lesser extent, tyrosine and histidine. The ability of these ligands, together with inorganic phosphate, to compete for the available Al(III) in terms of (1) thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the formation of their complexes and (2) their SF concentrations was probed through the use of computer speciation calculations, which considered low-molecular-mass binary and ternary Al(III) species, the predominant Al(III) plasma transport protein transferrin, and also relevant hydrolysis and precipitation processes. It was found that, at relatively low added Al(III) concentrations, citrate species were more favoured, whilst phosphate species became dominant at higher levels. The significance of these findings with regard to the in vivo corrosion of aluminium-containing metal alloy joint prostheses (e.g., TiAlV alloys) is discussed.

Examination of the molecular nature of low-molecular-mass chromium(III) ions in isolated osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid.

High field (1)H NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that equilibration of added Cr(III) ions in osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid (SF) resulted in its complexation by a range of biomolecules, the relative efficacies of these complexants/chelators being threonine approximately alanine>glycine>glutamine>citrate>histidine approximately phenylalanine approximately tyrosine>valine approximately isoleucine approximately leucine>glutamate>lactate approximately acetate approximately formate approximately pyruvate, this order reflecting the ability of these ligands to compete for the available Cr(III) in terms of (1) thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the formation of their complexes and (2) their SF concentrations. The significance of these observations with regard to the in vivo corrosion of chromium-containing metal alloy joint prostheses (e.g., CoCr alloys) is discussed.

Chemical nature of implant-derived titanium(IV) ions in synovial fluid.

Previous investigations have indicated a deleterious leakage of Ti(III) and/or Ti(IV) species from Ti-Al-V alloy joint prostheses into adjacent tissue, synovium or synovial fluid (SF) in vivo. In view of the importance of the particular chemical nature of such complexes in determining their biological activity, we have employed high field proton (1H) NMR spectroscopy to "speciate" Ti(IV) in inflammatory SF. Treatment of osteoarthritic SF samples with increasing concentrations of Ti(IV) (0.10-1.03 mM [TiO(C2O4)2]2-) gave rise to a specific broadening of the citrate proton resonances, indicating that this bioavailable oxygen-donor ligand plays an important role in complexing implant-derived Ti(IV). 1H NMR analysis of Ti(IV)-loaded SF samples subsequently treated with a large excess of ascorbate (0.05 M) showed that this added Ti(IV) chelator was only poorly effective in removing this metal ion from Ti(IV)-citrate/Ti(IV)-oxycitrate complexes. The results obtained here provide evidence for complexation of the low-molecular-mass (non-protein-bound) fraction of implant-derived Ti(IV) by citrate in vivo.

1H NMR analysis as a diagnostic probe for human saliva.

The applications of high resolution (1)H NMR analysis as a diagnostic probe for human saliva are reviewed with special reference to diabetes mellitus, and a recently published report regarding the ability of this technique to detect advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in this biofluid [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 323 (2004) 377-381]. We also demonstrate that hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCl/OCl(-))-induced modifications to the (1)H NMR profiles of human salivary supernatants arise from the chlorination and, where appropriate, oxidation of amino acids and malodorous amines, together with the oxidation of carbohydrates and alpha-keto acid anions. The attack of HOCl/OCl(-) on carbohydrates yields formate (singlet, delta = 8.46 ppm), the (1)H NMR signal of which was erroneously assigned to AGE species by the authors of [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 323 (2004) 377-381].

Investigation of the molecular nature of low-molecular-mass cobalt(II) ions in isolated osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid.

High field 1H NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that addition of Co(II) ions to osteoarthritic knee-joint synovial fluid (SF) resulted in its complexation by a range of biomolecules, the relative efficacies of these complexants/chelators being citrate >> histidine - threonine >> glycine - glutamate - glutamine - phenylalanine tyrosine > formate > lactate >> alanine > valine > acetate > pyruvate > creatinine, this order reflecting the ability of these ligands to compete for the available Co(II) in terms of (1) thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the formation of their complexes and (2) their SF concentrations. Since many of these SF Co(II) complexants (e.g. histidinate) serve as powerful *OH scavengers, the results acquired indicate that any of this radical generated from the Co(II) source in such complexes via Fenton or pseudo-Fenton reaction systems will be "site-specifically" scavenged. The significance of these observations with regard to cobalt toxicity and the in vivo corrosion of cobalt-containing metal alloy joint prostheses (e.g. CoCr alloys) is discussed.

Multicomponent analysis of encapsulated marine oil supplements using high-resolution 1H and 13C NMR techniques.

Multicomponent high-resolution 1H and 13C NMR analysis has been employed for the purpose of detecting and quantifying a wide range of fatty acids (as triacylglycerols or otherwise) in encapsulated marine cod liver oil supplements. The 1H NMR technique provided quantitative data regarding the docosahexaenoic acid content of these products, which serves as a valuable index of fish oil quality, and a combination of both 1H and 13C spectroscopies permitted the analysis of many further components therein, including sn-1 monoacylglycerols, sn-1,2 and -1,3 diacylglycerol adducts, together with a range of minor components, such as trans-fatty acids, free glycerol and cholesterol, and added vitamins A and E. The identities of each of the above agents were confirmed by the application of two-dimensional 1H-1H spectroscopies. The NMR techniques employed also uniquely permitted determinations of the content of nonacylglycerol forms of highly unsaturated (or other) fatty acids in these products (i.e., ethyl esters), and therefore served as a means of distinguishing "natural" sources of cod liver oils from those subjected to chemical modification to and/or supplementation with synthetic derivatives such as ethyl docosahexaenoate or eicosopentaenoate. The analytical significance and putative health effects of the results acquired are discussed.

Teratogenic actions of thermally-stressed culinary oils in rats.

Lipid oxidation products (LOPs), generated in culinary oils during episodes of thermal stressing can give rise to cellular damage. The aims of this study were to determine whether orally-administered, LOP-containing thermally-stressed safflower oil exerts teratogenic actions in rats, and whether this effect could be prevented by co-administration of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH). Safflower oil was heated for a period of 20 min according to standard frying practices and stored at -20 degrees C under N2. Four experimental groups of pregnant Wistar rats were employed; two received 0.30 ml of pre-heated oil (HO), one of which was also supplemented with 150 mg of alpha-TOH (HOE), and two served as controls, one treated with the non-heated oil (O) and the other without any treatment (C). The oil was administered daily by gavage from day 1 of pregnancy to day 11.5, when the animals were killed and the embryos examined. LOPs and alpha-TOH were determined both in the heated and non-heated oils. The percentage of embryo malformations and reabsorptions were determined in the above four experimental groups. Heating the oil substantially increased its concentration of LOPs and decreased its alpha-TOH content. The percentage of embryo malformations in the HO group was 21.73%, compared with 5.6 and 7% in the O and C groups, respectively. Supplementation of the pre-heated oil with alpha-TOH was found to decrease the percentage of malformations to 7%. The results obtained from these investigations indicate that LOPs detectable at millimolar levels in the heated cooking oils administered (e.g. saturated and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, and/or their conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors) exert potent teratogenic actions in experimental animals which are at least partially circumventable by co-administration of the chain-breaking antioxidant alpha-TOH. Plausible mechanisms for these processes and their health relevance to humans regarding diet and methods of frying/cooking are discussed.