Dietary biotin supplementation increases proliferation pathways in mice testes without affecting serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels and stem cell factor expression.

Supplements containing pharmacological concentrations of biotin are commercially available. The mechanisms by which biotin at pharmacological concentrations exerts its action have been the subject of multiple investigations, particularly for biotin's medicinal potential and wide use for cosmetic purposes. Several studies have reported that biotin supplementation increases cell proliferation; however, the mechanisms involved in this effect have not yet been characterized. In a previous study, we found that a biotin-supplemented diet increased spermatogonia proliferation. The present study was focused on investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in biotin-induced testis cell proliferation. Male BALB/cAnNHsd mice were fed a control or a biotin-supplemented diet (1.76 or 97.7 mg biotin/kg diet) for eight weeks. Compared with the control group, the biotin-supplemented mice presented augmented protein abundance of the c-kit-receptor and pERK1/2Tyr204 and pAKTSer473, the active forms of ERK/AKT proliferation signaling pathways. No changes were observed in the testis expression of the stem cell factor and in the serum levels of the follicle-stimulating hormone. Analysis of mRNA abundance found an increase in cyclins Ccnd3, Ccne1, Ccna2; Kinases Cdk4, Cdk2; and E2F; and Sp1 & Sp3 transcription factors. Decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1a (p21) was observed but not of Cdkn2a inhibitor (p16). The results of the present study identifies, for the first time, the mechanisms associated with biotin supplementation-induced cell proliferation, which raises concerns about the effects of biotin on male reproductive health because of its capacity to cause hyperplasia, especially because this vitamin is available in large amounts without regulation.

Trypanosoma cruzi: seroprevalence detected in the blood bank of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, in the period 2004 through 2009.

BACKGROUND: The second most common mode of Trypanosoma cruzi or Chagas disease transmission is via therapeutic blood transfusion. In Mexico, control of T. cruzi is still in its initial phase; in fact, there are only 14 studies published covering 10 states on T. cruzi seroprevalence in donated blood in Mexico. Here we present the results of 5 years of trypanosomiasis screening in the blood bank of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Samples from all blood donated in the period from 2004 to 2009 were analyzed. We screened for T. cruzi using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Seropositive samples were then processed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect a nuclear gene segment. RESULTS: A total of 37,333 samples were analyzed and a 0.17% (64 samples) T. cruzi seroprevalence was found. Donors were mostly from Mexico State and Mexico City, which is considered nonendemic for T. cruzi area. Of 64 seropositive samples, only two tested positive by PCR (3.12%), which amplified a 189-bp product from nuclear gene from the parasite. CONCLUSION: Although the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was low, this surveillance program prevented the infection of more than 100 children because each unit of blood provides 2.6 to 3.5 blood products. The majority of the donors were from Mexico State and Mexico City, which is a nonendemic area. The serodetection of T. cruzi in this region is evidence that is necessary to increase our understanding of its distribution in the Mexico City and surrounding places.

Detection of cytotoxic activity of lectin on human colon adenocarcinoma (Sw480) and epithelial cervical carcinoma (C33-A).

Lectins comprise a heterogeneous class of proteins that recognize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoconjugates with high specificity. Numerous studies have shown that lectins are capable of recognizing specific carbohydrate moieties displayed by malignant cells or tissues. The present work was performed to investigate the effects of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) lectins on proliferation, colony formation, and alteration of DNA synthesis of human malignant cells. Tepary bean lectin showed dose dependent  effects on the inhibition of viability as well as on colony formation in two human malignant cells lines (C33-A, Sw480); By contrast, tepary bean lectin only showed significant effects on DNA synthesis on Sw480 cells. Our results provide evidence of the anti- proliferative and cytotoxic effects of the tepary bean lectins on C33-A and Sw480 cells lines.

Maternal adaptations of pancreatic islets and glucose metabolism after lactation.

Pancreatic islets adapt to metabolic requirements and the hormonal milieu by modifying their size and hormone secretions. Maternal glucose demands and hormonal changes occur after weaning, to rapidly re-establish bone mineralization. Minimal information exists about glucose metabolism and pancreatic islets after lactation. This study investigated islet morphology and glucose homeostasis for 14 days after lactation in C57BL/6NHHsd mice. Compared to the day of weaning, rapid increases in the islets' area and number of beta cells were found from the first day post-lactation, attaining maximum values on the third day post-weaning. These changes were accompanied by modifications in glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Islet-cell proliferation was already augmented before lactation ceased. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin concentrations increased significantly post-lactation; however, it is unlikely that this enhancement participates in earlier cell proliferation augmentation or in decreasing insulin sensitivity. Islet serotonin content was barely expressed, and serum calcium concentrations decreased. By the 14th day post-weaning, islets' area and glucose homeostasis returned to age-matched virgin mice levels. These findings recognize for the first time that increases in islet area and insulin secretion occur during physiological post-weaning conditions. These results open up new opportunities to identify molecules and mechanisms participating in these processes, which will help in developing strategies to combat diabetes.

Dietary Biotin Supplementation Impairs Testis Morphology and Sperm Quality.

Supplements containing pharmacological concentrations of biotin are commercially available over the counter. Classical toxicity studies have considered biotin administration as harmless; however, recent investigations have shown that biotin supplementation modifies tissue morphology without changes in toxicity markers, raising concerns about the consequences of morphological changes on tissues' functions and the safety of pharmacological concentrations of the vitamin. Testes are very sensitive to toxicants, and testicular histology is a reliable method to study its function. In this work, we investigated the effects of dietary biotin supplementation on testis morphology and spermatogenesis function using an experimental model, in which we have not observed unfavorable effects on other tissue functions or toxicity markers. Male BALB/cAnNHsd mice were fed a control or a biotin-supplemented diet (1.76 or 97.7 mg biotin/kg diet) for 8 weeks. Compared to the control group, the biotin-supplemented mice presented remarkable testis morphology changes, including increased spermatogonia layers; the cellular mechanism involved is related to increased proliferation. Sperm count and serum testosterone levels were not affected, but spermatozoa motility and morphology were significantly impaired in the biotin-supplemented mice. These results caution against the use of supplements with high concentrations of biotin and indicate that biotin's pharmacological effects on morphology need to be considered in toxicological studies.

Cytotoxicity of the beta-carboline alkaloids harmine and harmaline in human cell assays in vitro.

beta-Carboline alkaloids are natural products widely distributed in plants and also found in alcoholic beverages, well-cooked foods and tobacco smoke. Various authors have reported genotoxic activities of several carboline in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that have been attributed to their abilities to intercalate into DNA. But studies on the genotoxic and on the cytotoxic potencies in human cells in vitro are not found in the literature. In the present study the toxicities of one full aromatic beta-carboline alkaloid (harmine) and one dihydro-beta-carboline alkaloid (harmaline) were evaluated by means of two in vitro human cell assays: the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay and the viability/colony formation assay with four different human cultured non-transformed (CCD18Lu) and transformed (HeLa, C33A and SW480) cells. Neither alkaloid was able to induce micronuclei levels above that of control levels in a wide range of doses tested; although, harmine at the highest concentrations assayed induced apoptotic as well as necrotic cells. Harmine produced a good viability of all cell lines assayed (control and tumor) while harmaline significantly reduced the viability of transformed and non-transformed cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Harmine displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell proliferation against all human carcinoma cells, but the SW480 transformed cell line showed a higher sensitivity. These results suggested that harmine was identified as a useful inhibitor of tumor development.

Pharmacological Effects of Biotin in Animals.

In recent decades, it was found that vitamins affect biological functions in ways other than their long-known functions; niacin is the best example of a water-soluble vitamin known to possess multiple actions. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that serves as a covalently-bound coenzyme of carboxylases. It is now well documented that biotin has actions other than participating in classical enzyme catalysis reactions. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that pharmacological concentrations of biotin affect glucose and lipid metabolism, hypertension, reproduction, development, and immunity. The effect of biotin on these functions is related to its actions at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. The bestsupported mechanism involved in the genetic effects of biotin is the soluble guanylate cyclase/protein kinase G (PKG) signaling cascade. Although there are commercially-available products containing pharmacological concentrations of biotin, the toxic effects of biotin have been poorly studied. This review summarizes the known actions and molecular mechanisms of pharmacological doses of biotin in animals and current information regarding biotin toxicity.

Dietary Biotin Supplementation Modifies Hepatic Morphology without Changes in Liver Toxicity Markers.

Pharmacological concentrations of biotin have pleiotropic effects. Several reports have documented that biotin supplementation decreases hyperglycemia. We have shown that a biotin-supplemented diet increased insulin secretion and the mRNA abundance of proteins regulating insulin transcription and secretion. We also found enlarged pancreatic islets and modified islet morphology. Other studies have shown that pharmacological concentrations of biotin modify tissue structure. Although biotin administration is considered safe, little attention has been given to its effect on tissue structure. In this study, we investigated the effect of biotin supplementation on hepatic morphology and liver toxicity markers. Male BALB/cAnN Hsd mice were fed a control or a biotin-supplemented diet for 8 weeks. Versus the control mice, biotin-supplemented mice had an altered portal triad with dilated sinusoids, increased vascularity, and bile conducts. Furthermore, we observed an increased proportion of nucleomegaly and binucleated hepatocytes. In spite of the liver morphological changes, no differences were observed in the serum liver damage indicators, oxidative stress markers, or antioxidant enzymes. Our data demonstrate for the first time that biotin supplementation affects liver morphology in normal mice, and that these modifications are not paralleled with damage markers.

[In vitro evaluation of the chemopreventive potential of saffron]. / Evaluación in vitro del potencial quimiopreventivo del azafrán.

UNLABELLED: Cancer is a very important national health problem in Mexico, while a significant increase in the total and childhood cancer mortality has been recorded during the last decades. Chemoprevention, defined as the use of natural or synthetic agents to prevent or to block the development of cancer in human beings, is a new and promising strategy in the battle against cancer. Saffron, obtained from the dried red-dark stigmas of Crocus sativus L., an important spice rich in carotenoids, is commonly consumed in different parts of the world and used as a medical drug to treat numerous diseases. OBJECTIVE: To test the toxicity of saffron extract in vivo; to separate different ingredients in saffron extracts; to examine the cytotoxic effect of saffron and its main components on the growth of different human malignant cells in vitro; to evaluate the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of saffron extract. METHODS: HPLC with photodiode-array detection was used for semi-preparative separation of different ingredients of saffron crude extract. Colony formation assay was used to determinate the cytotoxic activity of saffron extract and its components on human tumor cells in vitro. Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity assays were performed by the Ames method. RESULTS: Saffron is not toxic, non-mutagenic, non-antimutagenic and non-comutagenic. Twelve components were isolated: crocin-1, crocin-2, crocin-3, picrocroein, acid form of picrocrocin, HTCC-diglycosil-kaempferol trans-crocin-4, trans-crocin-2, trans-crocin-3, safranal, crocetin and cis-crocin-3. Saffron extract itself and some of its ingredients displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory activity against different types of human malignant cells in vitro. HeLa cells were more susceptible to saffron than other tested cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results and literature data indicate that saffron could be used as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent in clinical trials.