Diet and primary prevention of stroke: Systematic review and dietary recommendations by the ad hoc Working Group of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To systematically review the latest evidence on established and emerging nutrition-related risk factors for incidence of and mortality from total, ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes. The present review was conducted in the framework of the work carried out through 2015 and 2016 for the preparation of the Italian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke, 8th Edition, by ISO-SPREAD (Italian Stroke Organization and the Stroke Prevention and Educational Awareness Diffusion). METHODS AND RESULTS: Systematic review of articles focused on primary prevention of stroke published between January 2013 to May 2016 through an extensive search of the literature using MEDLINE/PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Articles were ranked according to the SIGN methodology while the GRADE system was used to establish the strength of recommendations. As a result of our literature search, we examined 87 meta-analyses overall (mainly of prospective studies), a few isolated more recent prospective studies not included in the meta-analyses, and a smaller number of available randomized controlled trials and case-control studies. Based on the analysis of the above articles, 36 Syntheses of the available evidence and 36 Recommendations were eventually prepared. The present document was developed by organizing the available evidence into three individual areas (nutrients, food groups and dietary patterns) to provide a systematic and user-friendly overview of the available evidence on the relationship between nutrition and primary prevention of stroke. Yet analysis of foods and food patterns allowed translating the information about nutrients in a tool more amenable to use in daily life also in the light of the argument that people eat foods rather than nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: The present literature review and dietary recommendations provide healthcare professionals and all interested readers with a useful overview for the reduction of the risk of total, ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke through dietary modifications.

Trans-plasma membrane electron transport in human blood platelets.

The plasma membrane redox (PMR) system is important for cell metabolism and survival; it is also crucial for blood coagulation and thrombosis. This review will give an update on the PMR system, with a particular regard to platelets, and on the role of antioxidant vitamins belonging to this system.

SVCT1 and SVCT2: key proteins for vitamin C uptake.

Vitamin C is accumulated in mammalian cells by two types of proteins: sodium-ascorbate co-transporters (SVCTs) and hexose transporters (GLUTs); in particular, SVCTs actively import ascorbate, the reduced form of this vitamin. SVCTs are surface glycoproteins encoded by two different genes, very similar in structure. They show distinct tissue distribution and functional characteristics, which indicate different physiological roles. SVCT1 is involved in whole-body homeostasis of vitamin C, while SVCT2 protects metabolically active cells against oxidative stress. Regulation at mRNA or protein level may serve for preferential accumulation of ascorbic acid at sites where it is needed. This review will summarize the present knowledge on structure, function and regulation of the SVCT transporters. Understanding the physiological role of SVCT1 and SVCT2 may lead to develop new therapeutic strategies to control intracellular vitamin C content or to promote tissue-specific delivery of vitamin C-drug conjugates.

Differential roles of p63 isoforms in epidermal development: selective genetic complementation in p63 null mice.

Epidermal development requires the transcription factor p63, as p63-/- mice are born dead, without skin. The gene expresses two proteins, one with an amino-terminal transactivation domain (TAp63) and one without (deltaNp63), although their relative contribution to epidermal development is unknown. To address this issue, we reintroduced TAp63alpha and/or deltaNp63alpha under the K5 promoter into p63-/- mice by in vivo genetic complementation. Whereas p63-/- and p63-/-;TA mice showed extremely rare patches of poorly differentiated keratinocytes, p63-/-;deltaN mice showed significant epidermal basal layer formation. Double TAp63alpha/deltaNp63alpha complementation showed greater patches of differentiated skin; at the ultrastructural level, there was clear reformation of a distinct basal membrane and hemidesmosomes. At the molecular level, deltaNp63 regulated expression of genes characteristic of the basal layer (K14), interacting (by Chip, luc assay) with the third p53 consensus site. Conversely, TAp63 transcribed the upper layer's genes (Ets-1, K1, transglutaminases, involucrin). Therefore, the two p63 isoforms appear to play distinct cooperative roles in epidermal formation.

Nitric oxide inhibits apoptosis via AP-1-dependent CD95L transactivation.

Several inducers of cytotoxic stress promote apoptotic cell death, which, at least in some cases, involves the CD95/CD95 ligand (CD95L) pathway. The induction of the CD95/CD95L pathway can be activated by the activator protein-1 (AP-1)-mediated up-regulation of the CD95L promoter, which is responsible for the induction of apoptosis elicited by stimuli such as etoposide. We show that nitric oxide (NO) represents a regulatory element able to block apoptosis by interfering with this loop. Etoposide- and C6-ceramide-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells with different kinetics. Cell death was accompanied by an increase in DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor AP-1, transactivation of the AP-1 site-containing CD95L promoter, and caspase 3-like protease activation. Using different NO-releasing compounds, we found that apoptosis was prevented in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, in both models of apoptosis, NO-releasing compounds dose-dependently reduced: (a) the number of the titratable thiol groups (cysteine residues) of c-Jun; (b) induction of AP-1 DNA-binding activity; (c) AP-1-driven transactivation of the CD95L promoter; and (d) caspase activation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that NO can modulate cell death at an upstream level, by interfering with the ability of AP-1 to induce CD95L expression.

Involvement of 5-lipoxygenase in programmed cell death of cancer cells.

We investigated the involvement of 5-lipoxygenase activity in the early phases of programmed cell death (PCD) induced by H2O2 or retinoids in different human tumour cells (erythroleukaemia, neuroblastoma, melanoma). Apoptotic cells showed enhanced 5-lipoxygenase activity which was paralleled by decreased superoxide dismutase activity and increased light emission. Ultraweak luminescence, mainly due to membrane lipid peroxidation by lipoxygenase activation, increased in all cell lines tested within 10-15 min after induction of PCD, in a concentration and time-dependent manner. At the same time, we observed a significant increase in the intracellular steady state level of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite leukotriene B4. Furthermore, 5-lipoxygenase metabolite 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was able to induce PCD in all cell lines tested. Conversely, the general lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid and the selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor caffeic acid protected the different tumour cells from H2O2-induced PCD to a similar extent. These results show the activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in PCD of three different cancer cell lines.

Nitric oxide inhibits cornified envelope formation in human keratinocytes by inactivating transglutaminases and activating protein 1.

Epidermal keratinocytes undergo terminal differentiation to form the stratum corneum, which consists of many layers of flat dead cells. These cells assemble an insoluble cornified envelope composed of specific proteins deposited on the intracellular surface of the cell membrane. The proteins are crosslinked by the action of transglutaminases, which catalyze the formation of isodipeptide bonds between the epsilon-NH2 side chain of a lysine residue and the gamma-amide side chain of a glutamine residue. Transglutaminases share a conserved, highly reactive cysteine in their active site. In this study, we found that nitric-oxide-releasing compounds inhibited cornified envelope formation in cultured keratinocytes and the in vitro crosslinking of loricrin, a natural substrate of transglutaminases. The NO donors inhibited transglutaminase catalytic activity in a dose-dependent manner, in both purified enzymes and keratinocyte extracts. Titration of thiol groups of transglutaminases indicated that NO regulates their enzymatic activity by chemically modifying a cysteine residue, possibly by S-nitrosylation. NO was also found to inhibit DNA-binding activity of activating protein 1 in keratinocyte nuclear extracts, and to interfere with the transactivation of activating protein 1 responsive genes such as transglutaminase 1, involucrin, and loricrin, whose expression is regulated during epidermal differentiation. In conclusion, we propose that NO may inhibit keratinocyte differentiation, acting both at transcriptional level (inactivation of activating protein 1) and at post-translational level (inhibition of transglutaminase activity).

Human platelets express authentic CB1 and CB2 receptors.

In the last decade, the neurovascular effects exerted by endocannabinoids (eCBs) have attracted growing interest, because they hold the promise to open new avenues of therapeutic intervention against major causes of death in Western society. Several actions of eCBs are mediated by type-1 (CB1) or type-2 (CB2) cannabinoid receptors, yet there is no clear evidence of the presence of these proteins in platelets. To demonstrate that CB1 and CB2 are expressed in human platelets, we analyzed their protein level by Western blotting and ELISA, visualized their cellular localization by confocal microscopy, and ascertained their functionality by binding assays. We found that CB1, and to a lesser extent CB2, are expressed in highly purified human platelets. Both receptor subtypes were predominantly localized inside the cell, thus explaining why they might remain undetected in preparations of plasma membranes. The identification of authentic CB1 and CB2 in human platelets supports the potential exploitation of selective agonists or antagonists of these receptors as novel therapeutics to combat neurovascular disorders. It seems remarkable that some of these substances have been already used in humans to treat disease states.

The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol activates human platelets through non-CB1/CB2 receptors.

BACKGROUND: The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous lipid that acts through the activation of G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors and plays essential roles in many physiological contexts. In the cardiovascular system 2-AG is generated by both activated endothelial cells and platelets, and participates in the regulation of inflammation and thrombosis. Although human platelets actively metabolize endocannabinoids, 2-AG also binds to platelet surface and leads to cell activation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological consequence of 2-AG interactions with human platelets and to clarify the role of cannabinoid receptors. METHODS: Gel-filtered platelets were stimulated with 2-AG in the presence or absence of various inhibitors. Platelet aggregation and secretion were measured in a lumiaggregometer. Calcium ion movements were measured in FURA-2 loaded platelets. Thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) generation was evaluated as Thromboxane B(2) accumulation with a commercial EIA assay. RESULTS: 2-AG induced platelet shape change, aggregation and secretion with a dose-dependent mechanism that required engagement of platelet TxA(2) receptors. 2-AG caused also cytosolic calcium increase; however, it was totally dependent on availability of TxA(2). Indeed 2-AG was able to induce a robust generation of TxA(2) through the cyclooxygenase pathway. Treatment of platelets with inhibitors of monoacylglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydrolase did not affect the activation induced by 2-AG. Moreover, neither CB(1) and CB(2) proteins nor CB(1)/CB(2) mRNAs were detected in platelets. CONCLUSIONS: 2-AG can be considered a new physiologic platelet agonist able to induce full platelet activation and aggregation with a non-CB(1)/CB(2) receptor-mediated mechanism.

Inhibition of clotting factor XIII activity by nitric oxide.

The plasma factor XIII (FXIII) is a transglutaminase which catalyzes the cross-linking of fibrin monomers during blood coagulation. S-nitrosylation of protein sulfhydryl groups has been shown to regulate protein function. Therefore, to establish whether nitric oxide (NO) affects the enzymatic activity of FXIII, we studied the effect of the NO-donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) in a blood coagulation test in vitro. High concentrations of SNAP were found to have inhibitory effects on clot formation. Moreover, specific formation of gamma-dimers through the action of FXIII is selectively inhibited by high concentrations of SNAP, as revealed by Western blot. Purified activated FXIII and plasma preparations were then exposed to NO-donor compounds and the enzyme activity was assayed by measuring the incorporation of [3H] putrescine into dimethylcasein. The NO donors, SNAP, spermine-NO (SPER-NO) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), and the NO-carrier, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), inhibited FXIII activity in a dose-dependent manner, in both purified enzyme and plasma preparations. Titration of -SH groups of FXIII with [14C] iodoacetamide has shown that the number of titratable cysteines per monomer of FXIII decreased from 1 (in absence of NO donors) to 0 (in the presence of NO donors). These results demonstrate that blood coagulation FXIII is a target for NO both in vitro and in vivo, and that inhibition occurs by S-nitrosylation of a highly reactive cysteine residue. In conclusion, we show that inhibition of FXIII activity by NO may represent an additional regulatory mechanism for the formation of blood clot with physio-pathological implications.

Nitric oxide can inhibit apoptosis or switch it into necrosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) and its related molecules are important messengers that play central roles in pathophysiology. Redox modulation of thiol groups on protein cysteine residues by S-nitrosylation can modulate protein function. NO has emerged as a potent regulator of apoptosis in many cell types, either preventing cell death or driving an apoptotic response into a necrotic one. NO protects neuroblastoma cells from retinoid- and cisplatin-induced apoptosis, without significantly increasing necrotic cell damage. Nitrosylation of thiol groups of several critical factors may be important for cell survival. Indeed, S-nitrosylation of the active-site cysteine residue of apoptotic molecules, such as caspases and tissue transglutaminase, results in the inhibition of their catalytic activities and has important implications for the regulation of apoptosis by NO. On the other hand, NO is able to shift the anti-CD95- and ceramide-triggered apoptotic response of Jurkat T cells into necrotic cell death. In these apoptotic models, NO is therefore unable to solely inhibit cell death, indicating that it may act below the point of no return elicited by CD95-ligation and ceramide stimulation.

Inactivation of multiple targets by nitric oxide in CD95-triggered apoptosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important anti-apoptotic role by inactivating both upstream and downstream apoptotic molecules. We now report that exogenously supplied NO protected Jurkat T cells from anti-CD95-stimulated apoptosis. We have recently shown that nitrosation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional factor is crucial for NO-mediated inhibition of cell death triggered by etoposide or ceramide. Since the inhibition of apoptosis by NO has been reported to involve AP-1, we evaluated its involvement in in CD95-mediated cell death. Cross-linking of CD95 enhanced AP-1 DNA binding activity and AP-1-dependent CD95L transactivation, which were both significantly reduced by different NO-donors compounds. However, AP-1 induction does not seem to significantly contribute to anti-CD95-triggered apoptosis, as cell death could not be prevented by using the recombinant Fas-Fc fusion protein which inhibits the CD95/CD95L interaction. We observed that caspase 3-like activity was negatively modulated by several NO-donors in vitro and that titratable thiol groups of purified caspases 3, 7, and 9 decreased in the presence of NO-releasing compounds. In conclusion, we demonstrated that NO-mediated inhibition of other targets, possibly caspases, but not AP-1, is a crucial event responsible for protection against anti-CD95-stimulated apoptosis. Even though NO affects multiple molecular mechanisms, the relevant target for exerting the cellular effects, may vary among different models.

NMDA and HIV-1 coat protein, GP120, produce necrotic but not apoptotic cell death in human CHP100 neuroblastoma cultures via a mechanism involving calpain.

Treatment of neuroblastoma cultures with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coat protein, gp120, induces significant cytotoxic effects which are reduced by leupeptin, E-64, N-Ac-Leu-Leu-norleucinal (ALLnL) as well as by N-Ac-Leu-Leu-normethioninal (ALLnM) and this suggests that activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent protease, calpain, is involved. The cell death induced by NMDA and gp120 appears to be of the necrotic type; in fact, analysis of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry or agarose gel electrophoresis failed to demonstrate signs of apoptosis, such as the presence of apoptotic bodies or internucleosomal cleavage. Similar negative results were also obtained by studying the nuclear morphology of the cells with Hoechst 33258 staining. Altogether the data indicate that neuroblastoma cell death induced by NMDA and gp120 is of the necrotic type and this implicates calpain protease.

gp120 induces cell death in human neuroblastoma cells through the CXCR4 and CCR5 chemokine receptors.

To infect target cells, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type I (HIV-1) must engage not only the well-known CD4 molecule, but it also requires one of several recently described coreceptors. In particular, the CXCR4 (LESTR/fusin) receptor allows fusion and entry of T-tropic strains of HIV, whereas CCR5 is the major coreceptor used by primary HIV-1 strains that infect macrophages and CD4(+) T-helper cells (M-tropic viruses). In addition, the alpha chemokine SDF1alpha and the beta chemokines MIP1alpha, MIP1beta, and RANTES, natural ligands of CXCR4 and CCR5, respectively, are potent soluble inhibitors of HIV infection by blocking the binding between the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the coreceptors. Approximately two-thirds of individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) show neurologic complications, which are referred to a syndrome called AIDS dementia complex or HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex. The HIV-1 coat glycoprotein gp120 has been proposed as the major etiologic agent for neuronal damage, mediating both direct and indirect effects on the CNS. Furthermore, recent findings showing the presence of chemokine receptors on the surface of different cell types resident in the CNS raise the possibility that the association of gp120 with these receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurological dysfunction. Here, we address the possible role of alpha and beta chemokines in inhibiting gp120-mediated neurotoxicity using the human neuroblastoma CHP100 cell line as an experimental model. We have previously shown that, in CHP100 cells, picomolar concentrations of gp120 produce a significant increase in cell death, which seems to proceed through a Ca(2+) - and NMDA receptor-dependent cascade. In this study, we gained insight into the mechanism(s) of neurotoxicity elicited by the viral glycoprotein. We found that CHP100 cells constitutively express both CXCR4 and CCR5 receptors and that stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate down-regulates their expression, thus preventing gp120-induced cell death. Furthermore, all the natural ligands of these receptors exerted protective effects against gp120-mediated neuronal damage, although with different efficiencies. These findings, together with our previous reports, suggest that the neuronal injury observed in HIV-1 infection could be due to direct (or indirect) interactions between the viral protein gp120 and chemokine and/or NMDA receptors.

Induction of gene expression via activator protein-1 in the ascorbate protection against UV-induced damage.

UV irradiation is a major insult to the skin. We have shown previously that exogenous vitamin C (ascorbate) accumulates in HaCaT keratinocytes, thus conferring the ability to prevent radical formation and cell death elicited by UV-B. Here, we have investigated the potential mechanisms accounting for the cytoprotective effects exerted by this antioxidant. Using a cDNA microarray hybridization, we identified several genes whose expression was up-regulated by ascorbate. We focused on the fra-1 gene, a member of the Fos family of transcription factors that down-regulates activator protein-1 (AP-1) target genes. Both in HaCaT and in normal human epidermal keratinocytes, we found Fra-1 mRNA induction as early as 2 h after ascorbate loading. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay and antibody supershift analysis revealed that ascorbate modulates AP-1 DNA-binding activity and that Fra-1 is in AP-1 complexes in treated cells. Furthermore, transient-transfection studies, using an AP-1 reporter construct, showed that ascorbate was able to inhibit both basal and UV-B-induced AP-1-dependent transcription. Ascorbate also modulates UV-B-induced AP-1 activity by preventing the phosphorylation and activation of the upstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), thus inhibiting phosphorylation of the endogenous c-Jun protein. These data suggest that ascorbate mediates cellular responses aimed at counteracting UV-mediated cell damage and cell death by interfering at multiple levels with the activity of the JNK/AP-1 pathway and modulating the expression of AP-1-regulated genes.

Albumin-containing sol-gel glasses: chemical and biological study.

Glasses incorporating increasing amounts of bovine serum albumin were prepared by sol-gel techniques from a tetra methoxy silane precursor. The surface of the glass samples was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealing that the protein is present also in the superficial layer of the silica network. Moreover, the protein is distributed in a dose-dependent way, since the N/Si atomic ratio increases linearly with the albumin concentration in the reaction mixture. Angle-dependent measurements show that the protein distribution occurs homogeneously and is the same at different sampling depths. Protein incorporation in the bulk SiO2 network, with a uniform protein distribution between bulk and surface, is confirmed by infrared spectroscopy measurements, performed both in reflectance and transmittance mode. The reaction with a specific antibody and the adhesivity assay of osteoblastic cells show that embedded albumin present on the glass surface is able to interact with other proteins.

Membrane modifications in human erythroleukemia K562 cells during induction of programmed cell death by transforming growth factor beta 1 or cisplatin.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and cisplatin induce apoptosis (programmed cell death, PCD) in human erythroleukemia K562 cells in an additive manner. After PCD was induced in K562 cells, analysis of phospholipid composition, fatty acids and cholesterol content in their membranes showed a decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine and an increase in phosphatidylserine, cardiolipin and phosphatidic acid. Moreover, cisplatin but not TGF beta 1 enhanced sphingomyeline levels in apoptotic cells, whereas TGF beta 1 increased the amount of linoleic acid and, more remarkably, of cholesterol. The combination TGF beta 1 + cisplatin produced membrane changes similar to those provoked by each inducer individually. Furthermore, the specific activities of 5-lipoxygenase and cytosolic phospholipase A2, both modulating the physical properties of membranes and membrane-lipid-mediated intracellular signalling, were enhanced by treatment with TGF beta 1 or TGF beta 1 + cisplatin. These findings highlight the profound changes in cell membranes during the biochemical events of the apoptotic pathway.

Induction of neuronal differentiation by p73 in a neuroblastoma cell line.

The p53-related p73 and p63 genes encode proteins that share considerable structural and functional homology with p53. Despite similarities, their deletion in mice has different outcomes, implying that the three genes may play distinct roles in vivo. Here we show that endogenous p73 levels increase in neuroblastoma cells induced to differentiate by retinoic acid and that exogenously expressed p73, but not p53, is sufficient to induce both morphological (neurite outgrowth) and biochemical (expression of neurofilaments and neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM); down-regulation of N-MYC and up-regulation of pRB) markers of neuronal differentiation. This activity is shared, to different extents, by all p73 isoforms, whereas the transcriptionally inactive mutants of p73 isoforms are ineffective. Conversely, blockage of endogenous p73 isoforms with a dominant negative p73 results in the abrogation of retinoid-induced N-CAM promoter-driven transcription. Our results indicate that the p73 isoforms activate a pathway that is not shared by p53 and that is required for neuroblastoma cell differentiation in vitro.

Accumulation of human apolipoprotein-E in rat plasma after in vivo intramuscular injection of naked DNA.

Naked DNA was found to be incorporated and consistently expressed after in vivo direct injection into striated muscle. In addition to the local expression of muscle-related or exogenous proteins, intramuscular direct gene transfer may be a useful tool to deliver recombinant proteins into the blood stream. However, no direct demonstration of recombinant protein secretion from muscle to the circulation has been reported thus far. We have injected a naked plasmid DNA containing the human receptor-binding defective apo-E2 cDNA, under the control of CMV promoter, into the quadriceps of Yoshida rats, affected by hereditary hypercholesterolemia and altered LDL-receptor activity. Plasma accumulation of human apo-E2 was demonstrated for at least 45 days after injection. On the contrary, the expression of the normal human apo-E3, injected into the muscle of normal Wistar rats, was demonstrated only in the area of muscular injection and not in the blood plasma. Endogenous rat apo-E expression was not affected by the exogenous human apo-E2 production. Our results demonstrate the availability of intramuscular direct gene transfer as a safe and simple method for the chronic systemic delivery of recombinant proteins to the circulation, although further improvements are needed in order to enhance the efficiency and stability of expression.