BMP-4 impedes endothelial cell migration in neointimal hyperplasia via FoXO-3 specific modulation of reactive oxygen species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endothelial cell injury causes vascular barrier dysfunction and leukocyte recruitment to the underlying tissue. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) is a transforming growth factor that exerts pro-inflammatory effects on the endothelium. Here, we investigated the effects of BMP-4 on endothelial cell (EC) migration following balloon injury in SD rats. METHODS: An intimal hyperplasia model was established using balloon injury. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and silver staining were used to detect the alteration of endothelial cells recovery after balloon injury. Serum BMP-4 levels were assessed by ELISA. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured. MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Protein expression was detected by Western blot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). HUVECs migration was measured via transwell assay and scratch wound assay. RESULTS: The results indicated that BMP-4 inhibition significantly decreased total plasma activity of BMP-4 and reduced neointimal hyperplasia by stimulating endothelial cell migration, but did not affect the medial area following balloon injury. BMP-4 suppressed the formation of ROS via forkhead box O3 (FoXO-3)/superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1). In vitro, a high level of ROS induced by BMP-4 impeded HUVECs migration. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that BMP-4 inhibition is a potential means of preventing intimal hyperplasia formation after balloon injury.

Nanoliposomes Reduce Stroke Injury Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroprotective strategies for stroke remain inadequate. Nanoliposomes comprised of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and monosialogangliosides (nanoliposomes) induced an antioxidant protective response in endothelial cells exposed to amyloid insults. We tested the hypotheses that nanoliposomes will preserve human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells viability following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-reoxygenation and will reduce injury in mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion. METHODS: SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (3 hours 0.5%-1% oxygen and glucose-free media followed by 20-hour ambient air/regular media) without or with nanoliposomes (300 µg/mL). Viability was measured (calcein-acetoxymethyl fluorescence) and protein expression of antioxidant proteins HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1), NQO1 (NAD[P]H quinone dehydrogenase 1), and SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) were measured by Western blot. C57BL/6J mice were treated with saline (n=8) or nanoliposomes (10 mg/mL lipid, 200 µL, n=7) while undergoing 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Day 2 postinjury neurological impairment score and infarction size were compared. RESULTS: SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells showed reduced viability post-oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation that was reversed by nanoliposomes. Nanoliposomes increased protein expressions of HO-1, NQO1 in both cell types and SOD1 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Nanoliposomes-treated mice showed reduced neurological impairment and brain infarct size (18.8±2% versus 27.3±2.3%, P=0.017) versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: Nanoliposomes reduced stroke injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion likely through induction of an antioxidant protective response. Nanoliposome is a candidate novel agent for stroke.

Pubertal LPS treatment selectively alters PSD-95 expression in male CD-1 mice.

Puberty includes a highly stress-sensitive period with significant sex differences in the neurophysiological and behavioural outcomes of a peripheral immune challenge. Sex differences in the pubertal neuroimmune network's responses to systemic LPS may explain some of these enduring sex-specific outcomes of a pubertal immune challenge. However, the functional implications of these sex-specific neuroimmune responses on the local microenvironment are unclear. Western blots were used to examine treatment- and sex-related changes in expression of regulatory proteins in inflammation (NFκB), cell death (AIF), oxidative stress (SOD-1), and synaptic plasticity (PSD-95) following symptomatic recovery (i.e., one week post-treatment) from pubertal immune challenge. Across the four examined brain regions (i.e., hippocampus, PFC, hypothalamus, and cerebellum), only PSD-95 levels were altered one week post-treatment by the pubertal LPS treatment. Unlike their female counterparts, seven-week-old males showed increased PSD-95 expression in the hippocampus (p < .05). AIF, SOD-1, and NFκB levels in both sexes were unaffected by treatment (all p > .05), which suggests appropriate resolution of NFκB-mediated immune responses to pubertal LPS without stimulating AIF-mediated apoptosis and oxidative stress. We also report a significant male-biased sex difference in PSD-95 levels in the PFC and in cerebellar expression of SOD-1 during puberty (all p < .05). These findings highlight the sex-specific vulnerability of the pubertal hippocampus to systemic LPS and suggest that a pubertal immune challenge may expedite neurodevelopment in the hippocampus in a sex-specific manner.

Inhibition of heat shock proteins increases autophagosome formation, and reduces the expression of APP, Tau, SOD1 G93A and TDP-43.

Aberrant expression and denaturation of Tau, amyloid-beta and TDP-43 can lead to cell death and is a major component of pathologies such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD neurons exhibit a reduced ability to form autophagosomes and degrade proteins via autophagy. Using genetically manipulated colon cancer cells we determined whether drugs that directly inhibit the chaperone ATPase activity or cause chaperone degradation and endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling leading to macroautophagy could reduce the levels of these proteins. The antiviral chaperone ATPase inhibitor AR12 reduced the ATPase activities and total expression of GRP78, HSP90, and HSP70, and of Tau, Tau 301L, APP, APP692, APP715, SOD1 G93A and TDP-43. In parallel, it increased the phosphorylation of ATG13 S318 and eIF2A S51 and caused eIF2A-dependent autophagosome formation and autophagic flux. Knock down of Beclin1 or ATG5 prevented chaperone, APP and Tau degradation. Neratinib, used to treat HER2+ breast cancer, reduced chaperone levels and expression of Tau and APP via macroautophagy, and neratinib interacted with AR12 to cause further reductions in protein levels. The autophagy-regulatory protein ATG16L1 is expressed as two isoforms, T300 or A300: Africans trend to express T300 and Europeans A300. We observed higher basal expression of Tau in T300 cells when compared to isogenic A300 cells. ATG16L1 isoform expression did not alter basal levels of HSP90, HSP70 or HSP27, however, basal levels of GRP78 were reduced in A300 cells. The abilities of both AR12 and neratinib to stimulate ATG13 S318 and eIF2A S51 phosphorylation and autophagic flux was also reduced in A300 cells. Our data support further evaluation of AR12 and neratinib in neuronal cells as repurposed treatments for AD.

Reduction of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Delays Regeneration of Cardiotoxin-Injured Skeletal Muscle in KK/Ta-Ins2Akita Mice with Progressive Diabetic Nephropathy.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a major antioxidant enzyme for superoxide removal, and cytoplasmic SOD (SOD1) is expressed as a predominant isoform in all cells. We previously reported that renal SOD1 deficiency accelerates the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) via increasing renal oxidative stress. To evaluate whether the degree of SOD1 expression determines regeneration capacity and sarcopenic phenotypes of skeletal muscles under incipient and advanced DN conditions, we investigated the alterations of SOD1 expression, oxidative stress marker, inflammation, fibrosis, and regeneration capacity in cardiotoxin (CTX)-injured tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of two Akita diabetic mouse models with different susceptibility to DN, DN-resistant C57BL/6-Ins2Akita and DN-prone KK/Ta-Ins2Akita mice. Here, we report that KK/Ta-Ins2Akita mice, but not C57BL/6-Ins2Akita mice, exhibit delayed muscle regeneration after CTX injection, as demonstrated by the finding indicating significantly smaller average cross-sectional areas of regenerating TA muscle myofibers relative to KK/Ta-wild-type mice. Furthermore, we observed markedly reduced SOD1 expression in CTX-injected TA muscles of KK/Ta-Ins2Akita mice, but not C57BL/6-Ins2Akita mice, along with increased inflammatory cell infiltration, prominent fibrosis and superoxide overproduction. Our study provides the first evidence that SOD1 reduction and the following superoxide overproduction delay skeletal muscle regeneration through induction of overt inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of progressive DN.

Variation in the vulnerability of mice expressing human superoxide dismutase 1 to prion-like seeding: a study of the influence of primary amino acid sequence.

Misfolded forms of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) with mutations associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) exhibit prion characteristics, including the ability to act as seeds to accelerate motor neuron disease in mouse models. A key feature of infectious prion seeding is that the efficiency of transmission is governed by the primary sequence of prion protein (PrP). Isologous seeding, where the sequence of the PrP in the seed matches that of the host, is generally much more efficient than when there is a sequence mis-match. Here, we used paradigms in which mutant SOD1 seeding homogenates were injected intraspinally in newborn mice or into the sciatic nerve of adult mice, to assess the influence of SOD1 primary sequence on seeding efficiency. We observed a spectrum of seeding efficiencies depending upon both the SOD1 expressed by mice injected with seeds and the origin of the seed preparations. Mice expressing WT human SOD1 or the disease variant G37R were resistant to isologous seeding. Mice expressing G93A SOD1 were also largely resistant to isologous seeding, with limited success in one line of mice that express at low levels. By contrast, mice expressing human G85R-SOD1 were highly susceptible to isologous seeding but resistant to heterologous seeding by homogenates from paralyzed mice over-expressing mouse SOD1-G86R. In other seeding experiments with G85R SOD1:YFP mice, we observed that homogenates from paralyzed animals expressing the H46R or G37R variants of human SOD1 were less effective than seeds prepared from mice expressing the human G93A variant. These sequence mis-match effects were less pronounced when we used purified recombinant SOD1 that had been fibrilized in vitro as the seeding preparation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate diversity in the abilities of ALS variants of SOD1 to initiate or sustain prion-like propagation of misfolded conformations that produce motor neuron disease.

The protective effect of hydroxylated fullerene pretreatment on pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency. The pathological hallmark of neuronal damage after epileptic seizures could be the chain reaction of oxygen free radicals. Hydroxylated fullerenes (HFs) are novel and effective free radical scavengers, which play an important role in various neurological diseases. However, whether they have a protective effect against epileptic seizures remains elusive. Our study explores the effect of pretreatment with HFs in different doses (0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) on SEmodels induced by pilocarpine (PILO). The results suggest that HFs have a protective effect on SE in a dose-dependent manner. HFs significantly reduce the incidence of SE, prolong the latency to SE, reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increase the glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. In addition, HFs significantly raise the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and reduce the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). We found that expressions of nuclear NF-E2-related factor 2 (nNrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADPH: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) were upregulated 24 h after the onset of SE, but the increase was not enough to combat oxidative stress damage, nor to attenuate lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. The expressions of these proteins in HFs pretreatment groups increased more significantly than those in the epilepsy (EP) group, which effectively reduced lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in the hippocampus. In summary, these findings highlight that HFs pretreatment has a protective effect against PILO-induced SE in rats. It may relieve oxidative stress damage by activating the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway. It provides evidence that fullerene derivatives may have therapeutic potential for epileptic seizures.

Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and cadmium: A three models approach to the comprehension of its neurotoxic effects.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread toxic environmental contaminant, released by anthropogenic activities. It interferes with essential metal ions homeostasis and affects protein structures and functions by substituting zinc, copper and iron. In this study, the effect of cadmium on SOD1, a CuZn metalloenzyme catalyzing superoxide conversion into hydrogen peroxide, has been investigated in three different biological models. We first evaluated the effects of cadmium combined with copper and/or zinc on the recombinant GST-SOD1, expressed in E. coli BL21. The enzyme activity and expression were investigated in the presence of fixed copper and/or zinc doses with different cadmium concentrations, in the cellular medium. Cadmium caused a dose-dependent reduction in SOD1 activity, while the expression remains constant. Similar results were obtained in the cellular model represented by the human SH-SY5Y neuronal cell line. After cadmium treatment for 24 and 48 h, SOD1 enzymatic activity decreased in a dose- and time-dependent way, while the protein expression remained constant. Finally, a 16 h cadmium treatment caused a 25 % reduction of CuZn-SOD activity without affecting the protein expression in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. Taken together our results show an inhibitory effect of cadmium on SOD1 enzymatic activity, without affecting the protein expression, in all the biological models used, suggesting that cadmium can displace zinc from the enzyme catalytic site.

Exosome-mediated radiosensitizing effect on neighboring cancer cells via increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species.

The precise mechanism of intercellular communication between cancer cells following radiation exposure is unclear. Exosomes are membrane­enclosed small vesicles comprising lipid bilayers and are mediators of intercellular communication that transport a variety of intracellular components, including microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). The present study aimed to identify novel roles of exosomes released from irradiated cells to neighboring cancer cells. In order to confirm the presence of exosomes in the human pancreatic cancer cell line MIAPaCa­2, ultracentrifugation was performed followed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NanoSight) using the exosome­specific surface markers CD9 and CD63. Subsequent endocytosis of exosomes was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Cell survival following irradiation and the addition of exosomes was evaluated by colony forming assay. Expression levels of miRNAs in exosomes were then quantified by microarray analysis, while protein expression levels of Cu/Zn­ and Mn­superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and 2, respectively) enzymes in MIAPaCa­2 cells were evaluated by western blotting. Results showed that the uptake of irradiated exosomes was significantly higher than that of non­irradiated exosomes. Notably, irradiated exosomes induced higher intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a higher frequency of DNA damage in MIAPaCa­2 cells, as determined by fluorescent microscopy and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Moreover, six up­ and five downregulated miRNAs were identified in 5 and 8 Gy­irradiated cells using miRNA microarray analyses. Further analysis using miRNA mimics and reverse transcription­quantitative PCR identified miR­6823­5p as a potential candidate to inhibit SOD1, leading to increased intracellular ROS levels and DNA damage. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that irradiated exosomes enhance the radiation effect via increasing intracellular ROS levels in cancer cells. This contributes to improved understanding of the bystander effect of neighboring cancer cells.

Nmnat1 Modulates Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting Caspase-3 Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease.

Nigrostriatal pathway disturbance is one of the major pathogenic factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dopaminergic neuron dysfunction results in bradykinesia and akinesia (inability to initiate movement), indicating a significant risk factor for substantia nigra pars compacta lesions. Furthermore, the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is associated with Aß toxicity decline in AD therapy. Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (Nmnat1) is an essential enzyme that preserves normal neuronal function and protects neurons from insult. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of Nmnat1 and its underlying mechanisms in a triple-transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTgAD). Results showed that Nmnat1 improved the substantial behavioral measures of cognitive impairments compared with the 3xTgAD control. Additionally, Nmnat1 overexpression significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 and caspase-3 expression levels in 3xTgAD mice. Nmnat1 also effectively controlled SOD1 activation. In conclusion, Nmnat1 substantially decreases multiple AD-associated pathological characteristics at least partially by the increase of caspase-3 activation.

Human superoxide dismutase 1 attenuates quinoneimine metabolite formation from mefenamic acid.

Mefenamic acid (MFA), one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sometimes causes liver injury. Quinoneimines formed by cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated oxidation of MFA are considered to be causal metabolites of the toxicity and are detoxified by glutathione conjugation. A previous study reported that NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) can reduce the quinoneimines, but NQO1 is scarcely expressed in the human liver. The purpose is to identify enzyme(s) responsible for the decrease in MFA-quinoneimine formation in the human liver. The formation of MFA-quinoneimine by recombinant CYP1A2 and CYP2C9 was significantly decreased by the addition of human liver cytosol, and the extent of the decrease in the metabolite formed by CYP1A2 was larger than that by CYP2C9. By column chromatography, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was identified from the human liver cytosol as an enzyme decreasing MFA-quinoneimine formation. Addition of recombinant SOD1 into the reaction mixture decreased the formation of MFA-quinoneimine from MFA by recombinant CYP1A2. By a structure-activity relationship study, we found that SOD1 decreased the formation of quinoneimines from flufenamic acid and tolfenamic acid, but did not affect those produced from acetaminophen, amodiaquine, diclofenac, and lapatinib. Thus, SOD1 may selectively decrease the quinoneimine formation from fenamate-class NSAIDs. To examine whether SOD1 can attenuate cytotoxicity caused by MFA, siRNA for SOD1 was transfected into CYP1A2-overexpressed HepG2 cells. The leakage of lactate dehydrogenase caused by MFA treatment was significantly increased by knockdown of SOD1. In conclusion, we found that SOD1 can serve as a detoxification enzyme for quinoneimines to protect from drug-induced toxicity.

Tetramethylpyrazine nitrone improves motor dysfunction and pathological manifestations by activating the PGC-1α/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in ALS mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons that results in skeletal muscle atrophy, weakness and paralysis. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of ALS, including familial forms of the disease arising from mutation of the gene coding for superoxide dismutase (SOD1). We have used the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model to investigate the efficacy of 2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)oxidoimino]-methyl]-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine (TBN), a novel tetramethylpyrazine derivative armed with a powerful free-radical scavenging nitrone moiety. TBN was administered to mice by intraperitoneal or intragastric injection after the onset of motor deficits. TBN slowed the progression of motor neuron disease as evidenced by improved motor performance, reduced spinal motor neuron loss and the associated glial response, and decreased skeletal muscle fiber denervation and fibrosis. TBN treatment activated mitochondrial antioxidant activity through the PGC-1α/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and decreased the expression of human SOD1. These findings suggest that TBN holds promise as a therapeutic agent for ALS.

Survivin in breast cancer-derived exosomes activates fibroblasts by up-regulating SOD1, whose feedback promotes cancer proliferation and metastasis.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in the coevolution of breast tumor cells and their microenvironment by modifying cellular compartments and regulating cancer cell functions via stromal-epithelial dialogue. However, the relationship and interaction between stromal and epithelial cells is still poorly understood. Herein, we revealed that breast cancer cells have a stronger ability to activate fibroblasts and transform them into myofibroblasts (CAF-like) than normal breast epithelial cells, and this stronger ability occurs through paracrine signaling. In turn, myofibroblasts promote the proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness of breast cancer cells. Detailed regulatory mechanisms showed that, compared with normal cells, Survivin is overexpressed in breast cancer cells and secreted extracellularly in the form of exosomes, which are then internalized by fibroblasts. Breast cancer cell-derived survivin up-regulates SOD1 expression in fibroblasts and then converts them into myofibroblasts, conversely inducing breast cancer progression in vitro and in vivo Thus, our results indicate that survivin acts as an activator of the tumor microenvironment and that SOD1 up-regulation in fibroblasts can promote breast cancer progression. These results suggest that targeting survivin and SOD1 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.

Antioxidant enzymes expression in lymphocytes of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

To remedy carotid artery stenosis and prevent stroke surgical intervention is commonly used, and the gold standard being carotid endarterectomy (CEA). During CEA cerebrovascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation decreases and when this decrease reaches critical levels it leads to cerebral hypoxia that causes neuronal damage. One of the proposed mechanism that affects changes during CEA and contribute to acute brain ischemia (ABI) is oxidative stress. The increased production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species during ABI may cause an unregulated inflammatory response and further lead to structural and functional injury of neurons. Antioxidant activity are involved in the protection against neuronal damage after cerebral ischemia. We hypothesized that neuronal injury and poor outcomes in patients undergoing CEA may be results of oxidative stress that disturbed function of antioxidant enzymes and contributed to the DNA damage in lymphocytes.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) activation in the rat hippocampus.

Recently we found that acute treatment with Oxotremorine (Oxo), a non-selective mAChRs agonist, up-regulates heat shock proteins and activates their transcription factor heat shock factor 1 in the rat hippocampus. Here we aimed to investigate: a) if acute treatment with Oxo may regulate pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus; b) if chronic restraint stress (CRS) induces inflammatory or oxidative alterations in the hippocampus and whether such alterations may be affected by chronic treatment with Oxo. In the acute experiment, rats were injected with single dose of Oxo (0.4 mg/kg) and sacrificed at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. In the CRS experiment, the rats were exposed for 21 days to the CRS and then were treated with Oxo (0.2 mg/kg) for further 10 days. The acute Oxo treatment showed an ability to significantly reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), singlet oxygen (1O2), pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (IL-1ß and IL-6) and phosphorylated NF-κB-p65. Acute Oxo treatment also increased superoxide dismutase (SOD)-2 protein levels and stimulated SOD activity. No differences were detected in the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, including IL-10 and TGF-ß1. In the group of rats exposed to the CRS were found increased hippocampal IL-1ß and IL-6 levels, together with a reduction of SOD activity level. These changes produced by CRS were counteracted by chronic Oxo treatment. In contrast, the upregulation of ROS and 1O2 levels in the CRS group was not counteracted by chronic Oxo treatment. The results revealed a hippocampal anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of Oxo treatment in both basal conditions and anti-inflammatory in the CRS rat model.

Oxidative Stress Produced by Hyperthyroidism Status Induces the Antioxidant Enzyme Transcription through the Activation of the Nrf-2 Factor in Lymphoid Tissues of Balb/c Mice.

Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterized by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Thyroid hormones exert pleiotropic actions on numerous tissues and induce an overall increase in metabolism, with an increase in energy demand and oxygen consumption. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hyperthyroidism on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lymph node and spleen cells of euthyroid and hyperthyroid mice, analyzing antioxidant mechanisms involved in the restitution of the cellular redox state. For this, thirty female Balb/c (H-2d) mice were randomly divided into two groups: euthyroid (by treatment with placebo) and hyperthyroid (by treatment with 12 mg/l of T4 in drinking water for 30 days). We found a significant increase in ROS and an increase in the genomic and protein expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) in lymph node and spleen cells of hyperthyroid mice. In vitro treatment with H2O2 (250 µM) of the lymphoid cells of euthyroid mice increased the expression levels of CAT and GPx-1. The hyperthyroidism increased the phosphorylation levels of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor) and the kinase activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Additionally, we found an increase in the expression of the classic isoenzymes of PKCα, ß and γ. In conclusion, these results indicated that the increase in ROS found in the hyperthyroid state induces the antioxidant enzyme transcription through the activation of the Nrf-2 factor in lymphoid tissues. This shows the influence of hyperthyroidism on the regulation of the cellular antioxidant system.

microRNA-378a Regulates the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)/Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (PI3K)/AKT Signaling Pathway in Human Lens Epithelial Cells and Cataract.

BACKGROUND Cataract is associated with increased apoptosis of the epithelial cells of the ocular lens. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-378a (miR-378a) has a role in the development of cataract, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-378a in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) in vitro and normal lens tissues and cataract tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS HLECs were grown in culture. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to examine gene expression levels. The MTT and TUNEL assay measured cell growth and apoptosis. Changes in the fluorescence ratio of ethidium to dihydroethidium (E: DHE) and in 6-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (C-H2DCFDA) were used to detect superoxide (O2⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The expression levels of miR-378a and the superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1) were measured in normal human lens tissues and cataract tissues. RESULTS Upregulation of miR-378a reduced the expression of SOD1. Levels of O2⁻ were upregulated and H2O2 was slightly down-regulated by miR-378a. The use of a miR-378a mimic suppressed cell growth and enhanced apoptosis of HLECs, which were reversed by the use of a miR-378a inhibitor. SOD1 overexpression rescued the miR-378a-induced phenotypes of HLEC cells. Treatment with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, reversed miR-378a and ROS-regulated proliferation and apoptosis of HLEC cells. Also, miR-378a was upregulated, and SOD1 was down-regulated in human cataract tissues. CONCLUSIONS In HLECs, expression of miR-378a regulated ROS and PI3K/AKT signaling, and miR-378a was upregulated, and SOD1 was down-regulated in human cataract tissue.

Defective daily temperature regulation in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Current understanding of the pathogenesis of the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been aided by the study of transgenic mice that over-express mutated forms of the human CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. While mutant SOD1 in motor neurons determines disease onset, other non-cell autonomous factors are critical for disease progression, and altered energy metabolism has been implicated as a contributing factor. Since most energy expended by laboratory mice is utilized to defend body temperature (Tb), we analyzed thermoregulation in transgenic mice carrying the G93A mutation of the human SOD1 gene, using implantable temperature data loggers to continuously record Tb for up to 85 days. At room (22 °C) ambient temperature, G93A mice exhibited a diminished amplitude of the daily Tb rhythm compared to C57BL/6J controls, secondary to decreased Tb values during the dark (behaviorally active) phase of the light-dark cycle. The defect arose at 85-99 days of age, around the age of symptom onset (as assessed by grip strength), well before observable weakness and weight loss, and could not be accounted for by decreased levels of locomotor activity or food consumption. Housing under thermoneutral (29 °C) ambient temperature partially rescued the defect, but age-dependently (only in animals >100 days of age), suggesting that the deficit in older mice was due in part to inadequate thermogenesis by "peripheral" thermogenic organs as the disease progressed. In younger mice, we found that cold-induced thermogenesis and energy expenditure were intact, hinting that an initial "central" defect might localize to the subparaventricular zone, involving neural output pathways from the circadian clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus to forebrain thermoregulatory circuitry.

The relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia turicatae persists in the highly oxidative environment of its soft-bodied tick vector.

The relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia turicatae possesses a complex life cycle in its soft-bodied tick vector, Ornithodoros turicata. Spirochetes enter the tick midgut during a blood meal, and, during the following weeks, spirochetes disseminate throughout O. turicata. A population persists in the salivary glands allowing for rapid transmission to the mammalian hosts during tick feeding. Little is known about the physiological environment within the salivary glands acini in which B. turicatae persists. In this study, we examined the salivary gland transcriptome of O. turicata ticks and detected the expression of 57 genes involved in oxidant metabolism or antioxidant defences. We confirmed the expression of five of the most highly expressed genes, including glutathione peroxidase (gpx), thioredoxin peroxidase (tpx), manganese superoxide dismutase (sod-1), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (sod-2), and catalase (cat) by reverse-transcriptase droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-ddPCR). We also found distinct differences in the expression of these genes when comparing the salivary glands and midguts of unfed O. turicata ticks. Our results indicate that the salivary glands of unfed O. turicata nymphs are highly oxidative environments where reactive oxygen species (ROS) predominate, whereas midgut tissues comprise a primarily nitrosative environment where nitric oxide synthase is highly expressed. Additionally, B. turicatae was found to be hyperresistant to ROS compared with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, suggesting it is uniquely adapted to the highly oxidative environment of O. turicata salivary gland acini.