Association between interleukin 6 -174 G/C promoter gene polymorphism and runners' responses to the dietary ingestion of antioxidant supplementation based on pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) oil: a before-after study.

Exercise is a double-edged sword: when practiced in moderation, it increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes, but when practiced strenuously it causes oxidative stress and cell damage. In this context, polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-6 gene should be investigated better because they can influence performance, at least in exercise that generates oxidative stress and leads to muscular injuries with consequent inflammation. In this work, we investigated the influence of IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism on tissue damage and inflammation markers, lipid peroxidation, hemogram and lipid profile of runners before and after ingestion of 400 mg of pequi oil in capsules supplied daily for 14 consecutive days. The IL-6 genotypes were associated with significant differences in lipid peroxidation, with the CC mutant having lower values. There were also significant differences among these genotypes in the response to supplementation with pequi oil, exercise-induced damage and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The best protection against damage was observed with the heterozygous genotype. Although the CC genotype showed an increase in CRP levels after supplementation, the lack of a positive correlation between triglycerides and high-sensitivity CRP in this mutant genotype after supplementation indicated a protective effect of pequi. These findings deserve further investigation, particularly with regard to the quantification of circulating IL-6 concentrations.

Total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and antioxidant activity of lima beans conserved in a Brazilian Genebank / Fenólicos, flavonoides, taninos totais e atividade antioxidante de fava conservada em banco de germoplasma

The objective of this study was to characterize for the first time polyphenols and DPPH (2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical) antioxidant activity in commonly cultivated accessions of Phaseolus lunatus from an ex situ germplasm collection maintained by Embrapa, in Brazil. Furthermore, the study aimed to detect changes in total polyphenols, total flavonoids and condensed tannin for the same accessions after regeneration in a greenhouse. The results showed the diversity of the lima bean collection for phenolic compounds, which were strongly correlated with antioxidant activity. Lima beans accessions with the highest polyphenols and antioxidant activity were those with colored seeds. Conservation through cold storage of P. lunatus seeds in a cold chamber in the germplasm collection did not necessarily affect phenolic compounds. Variations observed in values after regeneration seeds may be mainly results of biotic and abiotic factors, including not only cultivar, but also environmental conditions. This study suggests that polyphenols in the lima beans present antioxidant activity, with possible beneficial effects for human health. It was expected that the potential of this tasty legume can be also used as a functional food crop and/or as a new ingredient in gastronomy.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar, pela primeira vez, os polifenois totais e a atividade antioxidante por DPPH (2- difenil-1- picryhydrazyl radical) em acessos cultivados de Phaseolus lunatus L., provenientes de uma coleção de germoplasma mantida pela Embrapa, no Brasil, e detectar mudanças nos teores de polifenóis totais, flavonoides e taninos condensados, após a regeneração dos acessos em casa de vegetação. Os resultados mostraram a diversidade da coleção de fava para compostos fenólicos, que foram fortemente correlacionados com a atividade antioxidante. Os acessos de fava com os teores mais elevados de polifenóis e de atividade antioxidante foram aqueles com sementes coloridas. A conservação das sementes de P. lunatus na câmara fria da coleção de germoplasma não afetou, necessariamente, os polifenois, sendo que as variações após a regeneração das sementes parecem resultar principalmente de fatores bióticos e abióticos, incluindo não apenas cultivar, mas também condições ambientais. Este estudo sugeriu que os polifenóis da fava apresentam atividade antioxidante, com possíveis efeitos benéficos para a saúde humana. Esperamos que o potencial deste apetitoso legume também possa ser aplicado como alimento funcional e/ou como um novo ingrediente na gastronomia.

Haptoglobin and myeloperoxidase (- G463A) gene polymorphisms in Brazilian sickle cell patients with and without secondary iron overload.

We aimed to investigate the influence of haptoglobin (Hp) and myeloperoxidase (MPO - G463A; dbSNP rs2333227) gene polymorphisms on 78 sickle cell patients of a public hospital in the Federal District/Brazil with and without iron overload, to evaluate a possible association between these polymorphisms and clinical variability, response to treatment and prognosis. Data were obtained through laboratory tests, questionnaires, research in medical records and analyses of polymorphisms using PCR-based methods. Positive correlations were found between Hp and ferritin levels, hydroxyurea treatment, hospitalisation for and sequelae from stroke; and between MPO and number of hospitalizations in the past 12 months and splenectomy. Significant associations of specific Hp genotypes with comorbidities were also found, while results suggested that MPO AA homozygosis could increase effects of asplenia. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, compatible with heterozygous deficit, was observed for Hp polymorphism. Odds ratio suggested the possibility that increased chance of hospitalisation for stroke (OR = 6.346; IC 95% = 1.56-25.79; p = 0.005) and sequelae of stroke (OR = 6.556; IC 95% = 1.578-27.237; p = 0.005) could be associated with lower frequency of 1S-2 than expected. In the interaction analyses, significant effects between subjects were shown only in the group without overload for Hp polymorphism in hs-CRP levels (p = 0.000) and number of transfusions (p = 0.018), and for MPO polymorphism (p = 0.000) and the interaction Hp/MPO (p = 0.000) in hs-CRP values. Results corroborate others indicating biological differences between Hp*1 alleles and highlight the importance of this study in understanding the biological significance of Hp and MPO polymorphisms in clinical variability and response to treatment of sickle cell patients.

Leishmanicidal activity of amphotericin B encapsulated in PLGA-DMSA nanoparticles to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in C57BL/6 mice.

The major goal of this work was to design a new nanoparticle drug delivery system for desoxycholate amphotericin B (D-AMB), based on controlled particle size, looking for the most successful release of the active agents in order to achieve the best site-specific action of the drug at the therapeutically optimal rate and dose regimen. For this, AMB nanoencapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) nanoparticles (Nano-D-AMB) has been developed, and its efficacy was evaluated in the treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis in C57BL/6 mice, to test if our nano-drug delivery system could favor the reduction of the dose frequency required to achieve the same therapeutic level of free D-AMB, and so, an extended dosing interval. Magnetic citrate-coated maghemite nanoparticles were added to this nanosystem (Nano-D-AMB-MG) aiming to increase controlled release of AMB by magnetohyperthermia. Female mice (N=6/group) were infected intradermally in the right footpad with promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis in the metacyclic phase, receiving the following intraperitoneal treatments: 1% PBS for 10 consecutive days; D-AMB at 2 mg/kg/day for 10 days (totalizing 20 mg/kg/animal); Nano-D-AMB and Nano-D-AMB-MG at 6 mg/kg on the 1st, 4th and 7th days and at 2 mg/kg on the 10th day, also totalizing 20 mg/kg/animal by treatment end. The Nano-D-AMB-MG group was submitted to an AC magnetic field, allowing the induction of magnetohyperthermia. The evaluations were through paw diameter measurements; parasite number and cell viability were investigated by limiting dilution assay. D-AMB-coated PLGA-DMSA nanoparticles showed the same efficacy as free D-AMB to reduce paw diameter; however, the Nano-D-AMB treatment also promoted a significantly greater reduction in parasite number and cell viability compared with free D-AMB. The nano-drug AMB delivery system appeared more effective than free D-AMB therapy to reduce the dose frequency required to achieve the same therapeutic level. It thus favors a longer interval between doses, as expected with development of a new nano drug delivery system, and may be useful in the treatment of many different pathologies, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases.

The influence of erythropoietin (EPO T → G) and α-actinin-3 (ACTN3 R577X) polymorphisms on runners' responses to the dietary ingestion of antioxidant supplementation based on pequi oil ( Caryocar brasiliense Camb.): a before-after study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As diet can affect an individual's genes and these can affect response to supplementation, we aimed to investigate the influence of erythropoietin (EPO T→G) and α-actinin-3 (ACTN3 R577X) polymorphisms on plasma lipid peroxidation, hemogram and biochemical dosages of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and C-reactive protein (including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) of runners (n = 123) before and after 14 days of 400 mg pequi oil supplementation, a natural carotenoid-rich oil, after races under closely comparable conditions. METHODS/RESULTS: Blood samples were taken immediately after racing to perform the tests. Before pequi oil supplementation, EPO polymorphism influenced erythrogram and plateletgram results, suggesting an aerobic advantage for the TG genotype and a disadvantage for the GG genotype as regards possible microvascular complications, while no association was found for ACTN3 polymorphism with endurance performance. Both polymorphisms influenced the runners' response to pequi oil: significant responses were observed for the EPO TT genotype in erythrocyte, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration values, and for the TT and TG genotypes in red blood cell distribution width values. Significant differences were also observed in the plateletgram for the TT and TG genotypes. ACTN3 mainly influenced aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase values: heterozygotes had a significant reduction in aspartate aminotransferase values and homozygous individuals (XX) in creatine kinase values after pequi oil supplementation. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize the importance of studying nutrigenomic effects on athletes' performance.