ROS-challenged keratinocytes as a new model for oxidative stress-mediated skin diseases.

In the current study, the effects of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) on extracellular and intracellular ROS production in human keratinocytes (HACAT) were studied. AAPH is a water-soluble compound able to generate ROS at known and constant rates at 37°C. The short treatment (2 h) with AAPH brought a significant dose-dependent increase in NADPH oxidase activity in intact keratinocytes. The long-term treatment (24 h) with AAPH led to a persistent increase in NADPH oxidase activity for up to 48 hour following the AAPH removal from cell incubation medium. ROS and nitric oxide levels, lipoperoxidation, intracellular calcium, mitochondrial superoxide production, and membrane potential were significantly modified in AAPH-treated HACAT. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and/or catalase addition to HACAT revealed that untreated keratinocytes produce mostly superoxide anion (O 2- ), while AAPH-treated keratinocytes overproduce hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in extracellular medium. H 2 O 2 is particularly stable and plays important roles in several cell signaling pathways. Taken together, our findings suggest a cost-effective and easily reproducible in vitro model of stressed human keratinocytes releasing significantly elevated ROS amounts in extracellular medium with respect to control keratinocytes. The possible application of the proposed model for keratinocytes-melanocytes cross-talk studies is also suggested. The model of AAPH-stressed human keratinocytes described here can represent a useful tool for redox cross-talk studies between keratinocytes and other skin cell types, and applied for researches regarding skin pathologies associated with oxidative stress.

Functional nutrition as integrated approach in vitiligo management.

Vitiligo is a common disease of unknown cause that produces disfiguring white patches of depigmentation that can be treated using various new and experimental therapies, such as narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) microphototherapy, NB-UVB excimer laser, and monochromatic excimer light. Medical treatments include topical corticosteroids and other topical treatments, such as antioxidants, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, prostaglandin E, and vitamin D derivatives (Lotti, Berti, & Moretti, 2009). The goal of treating vitiligo is to make it less noticeable either by restoring lost pigment or by eliminating remaining pigment. Functional foods and healthy diet, with nutrients, form a variety of sources, could be considered an integral part, as well as helpful, of vitiligo's medical therapy.

Sirt1 Protects against Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Fibroblasts from Psoriatic Patients: A New Insight into the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis, a multisystem chronic disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation, has an unclear pathogenesis where systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play mutual roles. Dermal fibroblasts, which are known to provide a crucial microenvironment for epidermal keratinocyte function, represented the selected experimental model in our study which aimed to clarify the potential role of SIRT1 in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. We firstly detected the presence of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity), significantly reduced SIRT1 expression level and activity, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis (caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities) in psoriatic fibroblasts. Upon SIRT1 activation, redox balance was re-established, mitochondrial function was restored and apoptosis was no longer evident. Furthermore, we examined p38, ERK and JNK activation, which was strongly altered in psoriatic fibroblasts, in response to SIRT1 activation and we measured caspase-3 activity in the presence of specific MAPK inhibitors demonstrating the key role of the SIRT1 pathway against apoptotic cell death via MAPK modulation. Our results clearly demonstrate the involvement of SIRT1 in the protective mechanisms related to fibroblast injury in psoriasis. SIRT1 activation exerts an active role in restoring both mitochondrial function and redox balance via modulation of MAPK signaling. Hence, SIRT1 can be proposed as a specific tool for the treatment of psoriasis.

A Biochemical Approach to Detect Oxidative Stress in Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in critical biological processes in human reproduction. However, a reliable and biologically accurate indicator of this condition does not yet exist. On these bases, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the blood and follicular fluid (FF) redox status of 45 infertile subjects (and 45 age-matched controls) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), and explore possible relationships between the assessed redox parameters and IVF outcomes. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, assessed by flow cytometry analysis in blood leukocytes and granulosa cells, significantly increased (p < 0.05) in infertile patients. Also, oxidative stress markers-ThioBarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid peroxidation, and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) to account for total antioxidant capacity, both assayed by fluorometric procedures-in blood and FF were significantly (p < 0.001) modified in infertile patients compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant correlation between blood redox markers and FF redox markers was evident. An ORAC/TBARS ratio, defined as the redox index (RI), was obtained in the plasma and FF of the patients and controls. In the patients, the plasma RI was about 3.4-fold (p < 0.0001) lower than the control, and the FF RI was about six-fold (p < 0.0001) lower than the control. Interestingly, both the plasma RI and FF RI results were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) to the considered outcome parameters (metaphase II, fertilization rate, and ongoing pregnancies). Given the reported findings, a strict monitoring of redox parameters in assisted reproductive techniques and infertility management is recommended.

SIRT1 regulates MAPK pathways in vitiligo skin: insight into the molecular pathways of cell survival.

Vitiligo is an acquired and progressive hypomelanotic disease that manifests as circumscribed depigmented patches on the skin. The aetiology of vitiligo remains unclear, but recent experimental data underline the interactions between melanocytes and other typical skin cells, particularly keratinocytes. Our previous results indicate that keratinocytes from perilesional skin show the features of damaged cells. Sirtuins (silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog) 1, well-known modulators of lifespan in many species, have a role in gene repression, metabolic control, apoptosis and cell survival, DNA repair, development, inflammation, neuroprotection and healthy ageing. In the literature there is no evidence for SIRT1 signalling in vitiligo and its possible involvement in disease progression. Here, biopsies were taken from the perilesional skin of 16 patients suffering from non-segmental vitiligo and SIRT1 signalling was investigated in these cells. For the first time, a new SIRT1/Akt, also known as Protein Kinase B (PKB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling has been revealed in vitiligo. SIRT1 regulates MAPK pathway via Akt-apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 and down-regulates pro-apoptotic molecules, leading to decreased oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in perilesional vitiligo keratinocytes. We therefore propose SIRT1 activation as a novel way of protecting perilesional vitiligo keratinocytes from damage.

Fibroblasts to Keratinocytes Redox Signaling: The Possible Role of ROS in Psoriatic Plaque Formation.

Although the role of reactive oxygen species-mediated (ROS-mediated) signalling in physiologic and pathologic skin conditions has been proven, no data exist on the skin cells ROS-mediated communication. Primary fibroblasts were obtained from lesional and non-lesional skin of psoriatic patients. ROS, superoxide anion, calcium and nitric oxide levels and lipoperoxidation markers and total antioxidant content were measured in fibroblasts. NADPH oxidase activity and NOX1, 2 and 4 expressions were assayed and NOX4 silencing was performed. Fibroblasts and healthy keratinocytes co-culture was performed. MAPK pathways activation was studied in fibroblasts and in co-cultured healthy keratinocytes. Increased intracellular calcium, •NO and ROS levels as well as an enhanced NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated extracellular ROS release was shown in lesional psoriatic vs. control fibroblasts. Upon co-culture with lesional fibroblasts, keratinocytes showed p38 and ERK MAPKs pathways activation, ROS, Ca2+ and •NO increase and cell cycle acceleration. Notably, NOX4 knockdown significantly reduced the observed effects of lesional fibroblasts on keratinocyte cell cycle progression. Co-culture with non-lesional psoriatic and control fibroblasts induced slight cell cycle acceleration, but notable intracellular ROS accumulation and ERK MAPK activation in keratinocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrate that NOX4 expressed in dermal fibroblasts is essential for the redox paracrine regulation of epidermal keratinocytes proliferation.

Clinical Applications of System Regulation Medicine.

Increasing incidence and poor outcome of chronic non-communicable diseases in western population would require a paradigm shift in the treatments. Guidelines-based medical approaches continue to be the standard rule in clinical practice, although only less than 15% of them are based on high-quality research. For each person who benefits from the 10 best-selling drugs in the USA, a number between 4 and 25 has no one beneficial effect. The reductionist linear medicine method does not offer solutions in the non-manifest preclinical stage of the disease when it would still be possible to reverse the pathological progression and the axiom "a drug, a target, a symptom" are still inconclusive. Needs additional tools to address these challenges. System Medicine considers the disease as a dysregulation of the biological networks that changes throughout the evolution of the pathological process and with the comorbidities development. The strength of the networks indicates their ability to withstand dysregulations during the perturbation phases, returning to the state of stability. The treatment of dysregulated networks before the symptomatological manifestation emerges offers the possibility of treating and preventing pathologies in the preclinical phase and potentially reversing the pathological process, stopping it or preventing comorbidities. Furthermore, treating shared networks instead of individual phenotypic symptoms can reduce drug use, offering a solution to the problem of ineffective drug use.

A Black Hole at the Center of Earth Plays the Role of the Biggest System of Telecommunication for Connecting DNAs, Dark DNAs and Molecules of Water on 4+N- Dimensional Manifold.

Recently, some scientists from NASA have claimed that there may be a black hole like structure at the centre of the earth. We show that the existence of life on the earth may be a reason that this black hole like object is a black brane that has been formed from biological materials like DNA. Size of this DNA black brane is 109 times longer than the size of the earth's core and compacted interior it. By compacting this long object, a curved space-time emerges, and some properties of black holes emerge. This structure is the main cause of the emergence of the large temperature of the core, magnetic field around the earth and gravitational field for moving around the sun. Also, this structure produces some waves which act like topoisomerase in biology and read the information on DNAs. However, on the four-dimensional manifold, DNAs are contracted at least four times around various axis's and waves of earth couldn't read their information. While, by adding extra dimensions on 4 +n-dimensional manifold, the separation distance between particles increases and all of the information could be recovered by waves. For this reason, each DNA has two parts which one can be seen on the four-dimensional universe, and another one has existed in extra dimensions, and only it's e_ects is observed. This dark part of DNA called as a dark DNA in an extra dimension. These dark DNAs not only exchange information with DNAs but also are connected with some of the molecules of water and helps them to store information and have memory. Thus, the earth is the biggest system of telecommunication which connects DNAs, dark DNAs and molecules of water.

Recovery of Brain in Chick Embryos by Growing Second Heart and Brain.

To recover chick embryos damaged the brain, two methods are presented. In both of them, somatic cells of an embryo introduced into an egg cell and an embryo have emerged. In one method, injured a part of the brain in the head of an embryo is replaced with a healthy part of the brain. In the second method, the heart of brain embryo dead is transplanted with the embryo heart. In this mechanism, new blood cells are emerged in the bone marrow and transmit information of transplantation to subventricular zone (SVZ) of the brain through the circulatory system. Then, SVZ produces new neural stem cells by a subsequent dividing into neurons. These neurons produce new neural circuits within the brain and recover the injured brain. To examine the model, two hearts of two embryos are connected, and their effects on neural circuits are observed.

Formation of Neural Circuits in an Expanded Version of Darwin's Theory: Effects of DNAs in Extra Dimensions and within the Earth's Core on Neural Networks.

AIM: In this paper, inspiring Darwin's theory, we propose a model which connects evolutions of neural circuits with evolutions of cosmos. In this model, in the beginning, there are some closed strings which decay into two groups of open strings. METHODS: First group couple to our universe from one side and produce matters like some genes of DNAs and couple to an anti-universe from another side with opposite sign and create anti-matters like some anti-genes of anti-DNAs. Second group couple to the star and planet's cores like the earth's core from one side and produce anti-matters like stringy black anti-DNA and couple to outer layers of stars and planets like the earth from other side and produce matters like some genes of DNAs on the earth. Each DNA or anti-DNA contains some genetic circuits which act like the circuits of receiver or sender of radio waves. To transfer waves of these circuits, some neurons emerge which some of them are related to genetic circuits of anti-DNAs in anti-universe, and some are related to genetic circuits of stringy black anti-DNA within the earth's core. A collection of these neural circuits forms the little brain on the heart at first and main brain after some time. RESULTS: To examine the model, we remove effects of matters in outer layers of earth in the conditions of microgravity and consider radiated signals of neural circuits in a chick embryo. We observe that in microgravity, more signals are emitted by neural circuits respect to normal conditions. This is a signature of exchanged waves between neural circuits and structures within the earth's core. CONCLUSION: These communications help some animals to predict the time and place of an earthquake.

In Ovo Sexing of Chicken Eggs by Virus Spectroscopy.

Recently, some new methods for sexing of chicken eggs by fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy through the shell membrane have been proposed. On the other hand, in another investigation, a new virus medical imaging has been suggested. In this research, summing over these considerations, a new technique for sexing of chicken eggs by virus spectroscopy through the shell membrane is proposed. It is shown that viruses outside the shell of egg can communicate with materials inside it and determine the gender of chick embryo and it's evolutions.

DNA Waves and Their Applications in Biology.

AIM: In this research, we show that DNA waves have many applications in biology. DNA is formed by the joining of quantum particles like electrons and charged atoms. DNA has different motions during transcription, translation, and replication, in which the charged particles move, accelerate, and emit waves. Thus, DNA could emit quantum waves. METHODS: Two methods are proposed to observe the effect of DNA waves. The first proposed method measures DNA waves emitted by bacteria suspended in the milk. The vessel of milk is placed in the interior of an inductor. One side of the vessel is connected to a generator and another side to a scope. By sending a current to the inductor, an input electromagnetic field is produced. Bacteria interact with the input field, change it and produce new output signals. Using the scope, the output signals are observed and compared with the input signals. The number of DNA waves produced also depends on temperature. RESULTS: At lower temperatures, bacterial replication is less, and fewer DNA waves are produced. Conversely, more bacteria are generated at higher temperatures, and more DNA waves are produced. The second proposed method acquires and images of DNA signals of chick embryos. In this method, a circuit is constructed that consists of a graphene or metal tube, generator, inductor, scope, DNA in the interior of eggs and DNA exterior to the eggs. Magnetic waves pass the interior and exterior DNA as well as the graphene. The DNA is excited and the exciting interior/exterior DNA exchanges waves. Some of these waves interact with electrons in the graphene tube, and a current is generated. Properties of the chick embryo DNA can be explored by analysing changes in the waves that emerge from the eggs. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that DNA waves could be used extensively in imaging and provide for us the exact information about evolutions of DNAs interior of biological systems.

A Mathematical Model for the Signal of Death and Emergence of Mind Out of Brain in Izhikevich Neuron Model.

AIM: In this paper, using a mathematical model, we will show that for special exchanged photons, the Hamiltonian of a collection of neurons tends to a constant number and all activities is stopped. These photons could be called as the dead photons. To this aim, we use concepts of Bio-BIon in Izhikevich Neuron model. METHODS: In a neuron, there is a page of Dendrite, a page of axon's terminals and a tube of Schwann cells, axon and Myelin Sheath that connects them. These two pages and tube form a Bio-Bion. In a Bio-Bion, exchanging photons and some charged particles between terminals of dendrite and terminals of axon leads to the oscillation of neurons and transferring information. This Bion produces the Hamiltonian, wave equation and action potential of Izhikevich Neuron model. Also, this Bion determines the type of dependency of parameters of Izhikevich model on temperature and frequency and obtains the exact shape of membrane capacitance, resting membrane potential and instantaneous threshold potential. RESULTS: Under some conditions, waves of neurons in this BIon join to each other and potential shrinks to a delta function. Consequently, total Hamiltonian of the system tends to a constant number and system of neuron act like a dead system. Finally, this model indicates that all neurons have the ability to produce similar waves and signals like waves of the mind. CONCLUSION: Generalizing this to biology, we can claim that neurons out of the brain can produce signals of minding and imaging and thus mind isn't confined to the brain.

Use of Curcumin in Psoriasis.

Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the golden spice turmeric, which is widely used for different purposes, such as culinary spice and alimentary addictive, make - up and, finally, as a natural product for the treatment of different diseases, especially for the chronic inflammatory ones. Recently, curcumin has been proposed as a valid and safe therapeutic option for psoriasis.

Redox status alterations during the competitive season in élite soccer players: focus on peripheral leukocyte-derived ROS.

It is well known that exercise training can deeply affect redox homeostasis by enhancing antioxidant defenses. However, exhaustive exercise can induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to oxidative stress-related tissue injury and impaired muscle contractility. Hence, ROS represent important signaling molecules whose level has to be maintained to preserve normal cellular function, but which can also accumulate in response to repetitive muscle contraction. In fact, low levels of oxidants have been suggested to be essential for muscle contraction. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise induce ROS production from several sources (mitochondria, NADPH oxidases and xanthine oxidases); however, the exact mechanisms underlying exercise-induced oxidative stress remain undefined. Professional athletes show a high risk for oxidative stress, and consequently muscle injury or decreased performance. Based on this background, we investigated leukocyte redox homeostasis alterations during the soccer season in élite soccer players. Overall blood redox status was investigated in twenty-seven male soccer players from primary division (Italian "Serie A" team) at four critical time points during the soccer season: T0: just before the first team training session; T1: at the beginning of the season; T2: in the middle of the season and T3: at the end of the season. The main markers of muscular damage (CK, myoglobin, LDH), assessed by standard routine methods, are significantly altered at the considered time points (T0 vs T1 P < 0.01). In peripheral leukocyte subpopulations, ROS production shows significant alterations at the considered time points during the soccer season, and strictly and significantly correlates with CK values at every considered time point. Our experimental data indicate that deep redox homeostasis alterations are evident during the soccer season in élite soccer players, and that oxidative stress can be easily monitored, besides using the standard plasma biochemical parameters, by leukocyte ROS production analysis.

Treatment with low-dose cytokines reduces oxidative-mediated injury in perilesional keratinocytes from vitiligo skin.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a systemic dermatological disorder characterized by the loss of skin pigmentation due to melanocyte injury or aberrant functioning. Recent data underline its multifactorial etiology with significant involvement of autoimmune and redox alterations. The major role in vitiligo cellular immunity is displayed by augmented Th1 and Th17 and suppressed TREGs and Th2 lymphocyte populations. Our previous studies indicate a marked redox imbalance in perilesional ("PL", i.e. obtained from visibly unaffected skin surrounding the depigmented area in vitiligo patients) keratinocytes where the massive infiltration of inflammatory cells takes place. No defined therapy exists for vitiligo. Although a number of approaches have been used for the induction of TREGs and Th2 cells, they may be associated with significant off-target effects. OBJECTIVE: In order to identify a targeted approach for vitiligo treatment we, first, aimed to investigate the possible source of ROS overproduction in PL keratinocytes. Second, we tested the effect of low-dose selected cytokines, on intra- and extracellular ROS production, cell viability and cell cycle of PL keratinocytes. METHODS: The in vitro study was conducted on primary PL keratinocytes obtained from the skin of vitiligo patients in our previous studies. The activity of NADPH oxidase was measured on intact PL and control keratinocytes, treated or not with cytokines, by luminometric assay. The following cytokines were selected for PL keratinocytes treatment: IL-10 and IL-4 (produced by TREGs and Th2, respectively), basic fibroblasts growth factor (bFGF) and neuropeptide ß-endorphin (modulating the cellular resistance to oxidative stress and the immune response, respectively). All cytokines were used at concentration of 10fg/ml and were prepared by sequential-kinetic-activation (SKA). Intracellular ROS production and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry using H2DCFDA and propidium iodide dyes, respectively. Cell viability was measured by fluorometric resazurin reduction method. RESULTS: Our results suggest that NADPH oxidase represents one of the main sources of ROS overproduction by PL keratinocytes. Further, SKA low-dose IL-10, ß-endorphin and, particularly, IL-4 and bFGF display a positive effect on redox dyshomeostasis and viability and, in our experimental conditions, don't affect the cell cycle of PL keratinocytes. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data suggest that low-dose IL-10, IL-4, ß-endorphin and bFGF can be proposed as a new therapeutic tool for vitiligo treatment.