Dietary supplementation with integral chia and flax flours ameliorates systemic inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Chia and flax seeds are rich in alphalinolenic acid (ALA), which is bioconverted into the active derivatives eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) having multiple beneficial effects. However, there is limited knowledge about the antiinflammatory effects of chia and flax integral flours diets rich in ALA. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of dietary supplementation with integral chia and flax flours in a murine model of LPSinduced systemic inflammation. METHODS: Balb/c mice were distributed into three groups: diet A (control), diet B (supplemented with integral chia flour), and diet C (supplemented with integral flax flour). Nutritional, hematological, and biochemical determinations were performed. ALA, EPA, and DHA were assessed by GC-MS in the liver, brain, cardiac and skeletal muscles. NF-kB immunoassays were performed in kidney, liver, and peritoneal macrophages, respectively. The phagocytic capacity was determined in peritoneal macrophages and the expression of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was assessed by RT-qPCR in the kidney, liver, and spleen. RESULTS: Diets B and C exhibited optimal nutritional adequacy and caused increased levels of ALA, EPA, and DHA in critical tissues compared to the control. The phagocytic capacity of murine peritoneal macrophages (p< 0.01) and IL-10 transcription increased, whereas the expression of NF-κB, IL-1Β, IL-6, and TNF-α decreased in animals fed both experimental diets. CONCLUSIONS: This work contributes to the current knowledge of the anti-inflammatory effects of chia and flax integral flours rich in ALA and reinforces the health advantages of their consumption.

Introducción: Las semillas de chía y lino son ricas en ácido alfa-linolénico (ALA), sus derivados activos eicosapentaenoico (EPA) y docosahexaenoico (DHA) ejercen probados efectos beneficiosos. Existe un conocimiento limitado sobre los efectos protectores de ambas semillas bajo la forma de harinas integrales, siendo de particular interés el efecto antiinflamatorio. OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto antiinflamatorio de la suplementación dietaria con harinas integrales de semillas de chía y lino en un modelo murino de inflamación sistémica inducido por LPS. Métodos: Ratones de la cepa Balb/c fueron distribuidos en tres grupos: dieta A (control), dieta B (suplementada con harina integral de chía) y dieta C (suplementada con harina integral de lino). Se efecturaron determinaciones nutricionales, hematológicas y bioquímicas. El contenido de ALA, EPA y DHA en hígado, cerebro, corazón y músculo esquelético se determinó por cromatografía GC-MS. Se realizó la inmunodetección de NF-kB en macrófagos peritoneales, riñón e hígado. Se determinó la capacidad fagocítica de macrófagos peritoneales y se evaluó la expresión de citoquinas pro y antiinflamatorias por RT-qPCR en riñón, hígado y bazo. RESULTADOS: Las dietas B y C mostraron una adecuación nutricional óptima y generaron niveles elevados de ALA, EPA y DHA en tejidos críticos. La capacidad fagocítica de los macrófagos peritoneales (p< 0.01) y la transcripción de IL-10 aumentó, mientras que la expresión de NF-κB, IL-1Β, IL-6 y TNF-α disminuyó en animales de los grupos B y C. CONCLUSIONES: Este trabajo contribuye al conocimiento actual de los efectos antiinflamatorios de ambas harinas integrales y refuerza los beneficios de su consumo.

Zinc complexation improves angiotensin II receptor type 1 blockade and in vivo antihypertensive activity of telmisartan.

Background: Angiotensin II receptor blockers were designed as therapeutic agents to block the binding site of the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R). Methodology: The structure of telmisartan was modified by coordination to the biometal Zn(II), resulting in the compound ZnTelm. Its antihypertensive activity and cellular mechanisms in comparison to telmisartan were studied. Results: Compared with telmisartan, ZnTelm displayed stronger binding to AT1R (binding studies on AT1R-transfected human embryonic kidney cells) and a greater reduction of reactive oxygen species and cytosolic calcium concentration induced by angiotensin II. The antihypertensive activity of the complex (assessed in an N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester-induced hypertension model) was significantly higher. ZnTelm also reduced hypertrophy in aortic artery rings and tubular collagen deposition. Conclusion: ZnTelm enhances the AT1R blockade and consequently its antihypertensive effect.

Improvement of the Anticancer Activities of Telmisartan by Zn(II) Complexation and Mechanisms of Action.

To improve the anticancer activity of telmisartan, its structure has been modified by Zn(II) complexation giving [Zn(Telm)2(H2O)2]·2H2O (ZnTelm). The cytotoxic effect was measured on the human lung cancer cells (A549) and on the lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). The complex markedly improved anticancer activity (IC50 75 µM) of telmisartan (IC50 125 µM) or ZnSO4 (IC50 225 µM) and did not show toxicity on non-cancer cells, inducing oxidative stress with cellular ROS generation and GSH/GSSG decrease. Apoptosis was the dominant form of cell death for the complex. The Bax/Bcl-XL ratio was significantly increased as well as caspase-3 activation. Both the complex and the ligand bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and can be stored and transported by the protein but the interaction with the complex is greater. Telmisartan binds BSA by hydrophobic interactions while the interaction of ZnTelm occurs through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. Therefore, it can be shown that the coordination complex ZnTelm improved the anticancer activity of the antihypertensive drug telmisartan (IC50 75 µM and 125 µM, respectively) and the interaction with BSA. Graphical Abstract Improvement of the anticancer activities of telmisartan by Zn(II) complexation and mechanisms of action. Intrinsic apoptotic pathway: induction ofoxidative stress and regulation of proteins related to apoptosis. The complex interacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and can be stored and transported by the protein.

Internal aeration and respiration of submerged tomato hypocotyls are enhanced by ethylene-mediated aerenchyma formation and hypertrophy.

With the impending threat that climate change is imposing on all terrestrial ecosystems, the ability of plants to adjust to changing environments is, more than ever, a very desirable trait. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants display a number of responses that allow them to survive under different abiotic stresses such as flooding. We focused on understanding the mechanism that facilitates oxygen diffusion to submerged tissues and the impact it has on sustaining respiration levels. We observed that, as flooding stress progresses, stems increase their diameter and internal porosity. Ethylene triggers stem hypertrophy by inducing cell wall loosening genes, and aerenchyma formation seems to involve programmed cell death mediated by hydrogen peroxide. We finally assessed whether these changes in stem morphology and anatomy are indeed effective to restore oxygen levels in submerged organs. We found that aerenchyma formation and hypertrophy not only increase oxygen diffusion toward the base of the plant, but also result in an augmented respiration rate. We consider that this response is crucial to maintain adventitious root development under such conditions and, therefore, making it possible for the plant to survive when the original roots die.

Interaction of Zn with Losartan. Activation of Intrinsic Apoptotic Signaling Pathway in Lung Cancer Cells and Effects on Alkaline and Acid Phosphatases.

A new losartan [2-butyl-5-chloro-3-[[4-[2-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl]phenyl]methyl]imidazol-4-yl]methanol zinc(II) complex [Zn(Los)Cl], was synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure was determined by x-ray diffraction methods. When aqueous solutions of the ligand and the metal were mixed, the known and more soluble powder [Zn(Los)2].3H2O (ZnLos) complex has been obtained. The interactions with phosphatases showed a concerted mechanism displayed by the Zn ions and ZnLos up to 500 µM concentration: a decrease of the acid phosphatase (AcP) associated with an increase in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. The complex and ZnSO4 showed a cytotoxic behavior on human lung A549 cancer cell line at concentrations higher than 75 µM with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and GSH (and GSH/GSSG ratio) depletion. Apoptotic cells were observed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method, a mechanism accompanied by upregulation of BAX protein, downregulation of Bcl-XL and release of caspase-3. The BAX/Bcl-XL ratio was found to be significantly higher in cells exposure to ZnLos than cells treated with ZnSO4, in agreement with the higher apoptotic percentage of cells found for the complex. Cell death was found to be produced by apoptosis and no necrosis has been observed. On the contrary, losartan exerted low effects on phosphatases, produced some reduction of cancer cell viability (concentrations > 250 µM, number of apoptotic cells similar to the basal) with low ROS depletion, without alteration of the GSH/GSSG and low BAX/Bcl-XL ratios. In the MRC-5, normal lung fibroblasts cell line only ZnSO4 at concentrations higher than 200 µM displays cytotoxic effects. Graphical abstract Interaction of Zn with losartan. Activation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in lung cancer cells and effects on alkaline and acid phosphatases.

Azilsartan and its Zn(II) complex. Synthesis, anticancer mechanisms of action and binding to bovine serum albumin.

Azilsartan is the eighth approved member of angiotensin II receptor blockers for hypertension treatment. Considering that some drugs have additional effects when administered, we studied its effects and mechanisms of action on a human lung cancer cell line A549. We have also modified the structure of the drug by complexation with Zn(II) cation and assayed the anticancer effect. The crystal structure of the new binuclear Zn(II) complex, for short [Zn2(azil)2(H2O)4]·2H2O (ZnAzil), was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The zinc ions are bridged by azilsartan ligands through their carboxylate oxygen and oxadiazol nitrogen atoms. The compounds were examined for their cytotoxic effects against human lung fibroblast (MRC5) and human lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Azilsartan displayed low cytotoxic effects at 150 µM concentrations in A549 human lung cancer cells but the higher effect measured for the Zn complex suggested that this compound may act as an anticancer agent. An apoptotic oxidative stress mechanism of action via the mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic pathway has been determined. Besides, the compounds exerted weak cytotoxic effects in the normal lung related cell line MRC5. Binding constants of the complex formed between each compound and bovine serum albumin (BSA) are in the intermediate range, hence suggesting that azilsartan and ZnAzil could be bonded and transported by BSA.

Expresión diferencial de isoformas del factor inducible por hipoxia (hif-1αy hif-2 α) en bazo y médula ósea en un modelo murino / Differential expression of hypoxia inducible factor isoforms (hif-1α and hif-2 α) in spleen and bone marrow in a murine model

Los factores inducibles por hipoxia (HIFs) regulan la adaptación a la hipoxia (H) y protegen a las células induciendo la transcripción de múltiples genes. Se propone estudiar la expresión de las isoformas HIF1αy HIF2αen tejidos hematopoyéticos MO y Bz durante 15 días de Hipoxia Hipobárica (HH) relacionarlos con la cinética de expresión de EPO-R y factores determinantes de la eritropoyesis GATA-1 y NFE2. Se utilizaron ratones CF1, sometidos a HH 0,4 atm de 0 a 15 días. A cada tiempo, se extrajeron fémures y Bz para la obtención de extractos, fraccionamiento proteico e inmunoblotting. Se determinaron parámetros hematológicos standard. La apoptosis fue cuantificada por TUNEL. HIFαfue evaluado en sus dos isoformas. En MO y Bz el factor de transcripción aumenta y es mayor desde el día 1 de HH en Bz. Niveles máximos de HIF1αse verifican al día 3 en MO y a partir del día 5 en Bz. HIF2αen MO presenta expresión máxima al día 2 con posterior descenso, donde la MO retoma el control de la eritropoyesis. En Bz, HIF2 exhibe patrón irregular, conservando aumentos de su inmunodetección en función de la H. Epo-R se expresa desde día 1 en MO y Bz en un patrón similar de comportamiento a GATA-1. NFE2 tiene una cinética diferencial con progresión de ascenso en MO conforme aumentan los días de H observándose un máximo al día 15 mientras que el Bz muestra paulatino descenso en función de la adaptación medular a la H. Esto sugiere que en el Bz y MO se verifican procesos adaptativos coexistentes de expansión/sobrevivencia y apoptosis de progenitores eritroides. En Bz predomina una eritropoyesis compensatoria. En MO por el contrario predomina apoptosis temprana con posterior recomposición y control de la expansión del compartimiento eritroideo. HIF1 y HIF2 se sobreexpresan en ambos tejidos, sin embargo la eritropoyesis esplénica está ligada al control de HIF1αya que aparentemente HIF2αestaría asociada a la supervivencia de otros tipos celulares esplénicos durante el estrés hipóxicoPalabras clave: Hipoxia hipobárica; Factores Inducibles por Hipoxia; Eritropoyesis

Neutralisation of the pharmacological activities of Bothrops alternatus venom by anti-PLA2 IgGs.

Basic phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are toxic and induce a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, although the acidic enzyme types are not lethal or cause low lethality. Therefore, it is challenging to elucidate the mechanism of action of acidic phospholipases. This study used the acidic non-toxic Ba SpII RP4 PLA2 from Bothrops alternatus as an antigen to develop anti-PLA2 IgG antibodies in rabbits and used in vivo assays to examine the changes in crude venom when pre-incubated with these antibodies. Using Ouchterlony and western blot analyses on B. alternatus venom, we examined the specificity and sensitivity of phospholipase A2 recognition by the specific antibodies (anti-PLA2 IgG). Neutralisation assays using a non-toxic PLA2 antigen revealed unexpected results. The (indirect) haemolytic activity of whole venom was completely inhibited, and all catalytically active phospholipases A2 were blocked. Myotoxicity and lethality were reduced when the crude venom was pre-incubated with anti-PLA2 immunoglobulins. CK levels in the skeletal muscle were significantly reduced at 6 h, and the muscular damage was more significant at this time-point compared to 3 and 12 h. When four times the LD50 was used (224 µg), half the animals treated with the venom-anti PLA2 IgG mixture survived after 48 h. All assays performed with the specific antibodies revealed that Ba SpII RP4 PLA2 had a synergistic effect on whole-venom toxicity. IgG antibodies against the venom of the Argentinean species B. alternatus represent a valuable tool for elucidation of the roles of acidic PLA2 that appear to have purely digestive roles and for further studies on immunotherapy and snake envenoming in affected areas in Argentina and Brazil.

Amelioration of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury by erythropoietin: involvement of mitochondria-regulated apoptosis.

Sepsis remains the most important cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients and is an independent predictor of poor outcome. The administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to animals reproduces most of the clinical features of sepsis, including AKI, a condition associated with renal cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a well known cytoprotective multifunctional hormone, which exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and angiogenic effects in several tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of EPO renoprotection through the expression of the EPO receptor (EPO-R) and the modulation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in LPS-induced AKI. Male inbred Balb/c mice were divided in four experimental groups: Control, LPS (8 mg/kg i.p.), EPO (3000 IU sc) and LPS+EPO. Assessment of renal function, histological examination, TUNEL in situ assay, immunohistochemistry and Western blottings of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-xL, EPO-R and Cytochrome c were performed at 24h post treatment. LPS+EPO treatment significantly improved renal function and ameliorated histopathological injury when compared to the LPS treated group. Results showed that EPO treatment attenuates renal tubular apoptosis through: (a) the overexpression of EPO-R in tubular interstitial cells, (b) the reduction of Bax/Bcl-xL ratio, (c) the inhibition Cytochrome c release into the cytosol and (d) the decrease of the active caspase-3 expression. This study suggests that EPO exerts renoprotection on an experimental model of LPS-induced AKI. EPO induced renoprotection involves an anti-apoptotic effect through the expression of EPO-R and the regulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.