Synaptic mitochondria glycation contributes to mitochondrial stress and cognitive dysfunction.

Mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction are pathological features of brain aging and cognitive decline. Synaptic mitochondria are vital for meeting the high energy demands of synaptic transmission. However, little is known about the link between age-related metabolic changes and the integrity of synaptic mitochondria. To this end, we investigate the mechanisms of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs)-mediated mitochondrial and synaptic stress and evaluate the strategies to eliminate these toxic metabolites. Using aged brain and novel transgenic mice overexpressing neuronal glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), we comprehensively analyzed alterations in accumulation/buildup of AGEs and related metabolites in synaptic mitochondria and the association of AGE levels with mitochondrial function. We demonstrate for the first time that synaptic mitochondria are an early and major target of AGEs and the related toxic metabolite methylglyoxal (MG), a precursor of AGEs. MG/AGEs-insulted synaptic mitochondria exhibit deterioration of mitochondrial and synaptic function. Such accumulation of MG/AGEs positively correlated with mitochondrial perturbation and oxidative stress in aging brain. Importantly, clearance of AGEs-related metabolites by enhancing neuronal GLO1, a key enzyme for detoxification/of AGEs, reduces synaptic mitochondrial AGEs accumulation and improves mitochondrial and cognitive function in aging and AGE-challenged mice. Furthermore, we evaluated the direct effect of AGEs on synaptic function in hippocampal neurons in live brain slices as an ex-vivo model and in vitro cultured hippocampal neurons by recording long-term potentiation (LTP) and measuring spontaneously occurring miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). Neuronal GLO1 rescues deficits in AGEs-induced synaptic plasticity and transmission by fully recovery of decline in LTP or frequency of mEPSC. These studies explore crosstalk between synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction and age-related metabolic changes relevant to brain aging and cognitive decline. Synaptic mitochondria are particularly susceptible to AGEs-induced damage, highlighting the central importance of synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction in synaptic degeneration in age-related cognitive decline. Thus, augmenting GLO1 function to scavenge toxic metabolites represents a therapeutic approach to reduce age-related AGEs accumulation and to improve mitochondrial function and learning and memory.

New cyclophilin D inhibitor rescues mitochondrial and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early pathological feature of Alzheimer disease and plays a crucial role in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Strategies to rescue mitochondrial function and cognition remain to be explored. Cyclophilin D (CypD), the peptidylprolyl isomerase F (PPIase), is a key component in opening the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Blocking membrane permeability transition pore opening by inhibiting CypD activity is a promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. However, there is currently no effective CypD inhibitor for Alzheimer's disease, with previous candidates demonstrating high toxicity, poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, compromised biocompatibility and low selectivity. Here, we report a new class of non-toxic and biocompatible CypD inhibitor, ebselen, using a conventional PPIase assay to screen a library of ∼2000 FDA-approved drugs with crystallographic analysis of the CypD-ebselen crystal structure (PDB code: 8EJX). More importantly, we assessed the effects of genetic and pharmacological blockade of CypD on Alzheimer's disease mitochondrial and glycolytic bioenergetics in Alzheimer's disease-derived mitochondrial cybrid cells, an ex vivo human sporadic Alzheimer's disease mitochondrial model, and on synaptic function, inflammatory response and learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease mouse models. Inhibition of CypD by ebselen protects against sporadic Alzheimer's disease- and amyloid-ß-induced mitochondrial and glycolytic perturbation, synaptic and cognitive dysfunction, together with suppressing neuroinflammation in the brain of Alzheimer's disease mouse models, which is linked to CypD-related membrane permeability transition pore formation. Thus, CypD inhibitors have the potential to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, by boosting mitochondrial bioenergetics and improving synaptic and cognitive function.

Vitamin D supplementation modulates glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is a metabolic illness that increases protein glycosylation in hyperglycemic conditions, which can have an impact on almost every organ system in the body. The role of vitamin D in the etiology of diabetes under RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) stress has recently received some attention on a global scale. Vitamin D's other skeletal benefits have generated a great deal of research. Vitamin D's function in the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is supported by the discovery of 1,25 (OH)2D3 and 1-Alpha-Hydroylase expression in immune cells, pancreatic beta cells, and several other organs besides the bone system. A lower HBA1c level, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus all seems to be associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Most of the cross-sectional and prospective observational studies that were used to gather human evidence revealed an inverse relationship between vitamin D level and the prevalence or incidence of elevated HBA1c in type 2 diabetes. Several trials have reported on the impact of vitamin D supplementation for glycemia or incidence of type 2 diabetes, with varying degrees of success. The current paper examines the available data for a relationship between vitamin D supplementation and HBA1c level in diabetes and discusses the biological plausibility of such a relationship.

Physicochemical characterization of C-phycocyanin from Plectonema sp. and elucidation of its bioactive potential through in silico approach.

C-phycocyanin (C-PC), the integral blue-green algae (BGA) constituent has been substantially delineated for its biological attributes. Numerous reports have illustrated differential extraction and purification techniques for C-PC, however, there exists paucity in a broadly accepted process of its isolation. In the present study, we reported a highly selective C-PC purification and characterization method from nontoxic, filamentous and non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Plectonema sp. C-PC was extracted by freeze-thawing, desalted and purified using ion-exchange chromatography. The purity of C-PC along with its concentration was found to be 4.12 and 245 µg/ml respectively.  Comparative characterization of standard and purified C-PC was performed using diverse spectroscopic techniques namely Ultra Violet-visible, fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Sharp peaks at 620 nm and 350 nm with UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy respectively, confirmed amide I bands at around 1638 cm-1 (C=O stretching) whereas circular dichroism (CD) spectra exhibited α-helix content of secondary structure of standard 80.59% and 84.59% of column purified C-PC. SDS-PAGE exhibited two bands of α and ß subunits 17 and 19 kDa respectively. HPLC evaluation of purified C-PC also indicated a close resemblance of retention peak time (1.465 min, 1.234 min, 1.097 min and 0.905 min) with standard C-PC having retention peak timing of 1.448 min, 1.233 min and 0.925 min. As a cautious approach, the purified C-PC was further lyophilized to extend its shelf life as compared to its liquid isoform. To evaluate the bioactive potential of the purified C-PC in silico approach was attempted. The molecular docking technique was carried out of C-PC as a ligand-protein with free radicals and α-amylase, α-glucosidase, glycogen synthase kinase-3 and glycogen phosphorylase enzymes as receptors to predict the free radical scavenging (antioxidant) and to target antidiabetic property of C-PC. In both receptors free radicals and enzymes, ligand C-PC plays an important role in establishing interactions within the cavity of active sites. These results established the antioxidant potential of C-PC and also give a clue towards its antidiabetic potential warranting further research.

The neoepitopes on methylglyoxal (MG) glycated LDL create autoimmune response; autoimmunity detection in T2DM patients with varying disease duration.

AIMS: Non-enzymatic reaction of biomolecules leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs plays significant role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methylglyoxal (MG) is a highly reactive carbonyl compound which causes formation of early (ketoamines), intermediate (dicarbonyls) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Glycation also results in the generation of free radicals causing structural perturbations which leads to the generation of neoantigenic epitopes on LDL molecules. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the modification of LDL results in auto-antibodies generation in type 2 diabetes patients'. METHODS: The binding affinity of circulating autoantibodies in patients against native and MG modified LDL were assessed as compared with healthy and age-matched controls (n = 50) and T2DM patients with disease duration (DD) 5-15 yrs (n = 80) and DD > 15 yrs (n = 50) were examined by direct binding ELISA. KEYFINDINGS: The high affinity binding were observed in 50% of T2DM with DD 5-15 and 62% of T2DM with DD > 15 of patient's sera antibodies to MG-LDL antigen, in comparison to its native analog (P < 0.05). NHS sera showed negligible binding with both native and glycated LDL. Competitive inhibition ELISA results exhibit greater affinity sera IgG than the direct binding ELISA results. The increase in glycation intermediate and ends product were also observed in T2DM patient's sera and NHS sera. SIGNIFICANCE: There might be the generation of neoantigenic epitopes on LDL macromoleucle which results in generation of antibodies in T2DM. The prevalence of antibodies was dependent on disease duration.

Do all roads lead to the Rome? The glycation perspective!

Oxidative, carbonyl, and glycative stress have gained substantial attention recently for their alleged influence on cancer progression. Oxidative stress can trigger variable transcription factors, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), protein-53 (p-53), activating protein-1 (AP-1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), ß-catenin/Wnt and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Activated transcription factors can lead to approximately 500 different alterations in gene expression, and can alter expression patterns of inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, regulatory cell cycle molecules, and anti-inflammatory molecules. These alterations of gene expression can induce a normal cell to become a tumor cell. Glycative stress resulting from advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive dicarbonyls can significantly affect cancer progression. AGEs are fashioned from the multifaceted chemical reaction of reducing sugars with a compound containing an amino group. AGEs bind to and trigger the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) through AGE-RAGE interaction, which is a major modulator of inflammation allied tumors. Dicarbonyls like, GO (glyoxal), MG (methylglyoxal) and 3-DG (3-deoxyglucosone) fashioned throughout lipid peroxidation, glycolysis, and protein degradation are viewed as key precursors of AGEs. These dicarbonyls lead to the carbonyl stress in living organisms, possibly resulting in carbonyl impairment of proteins, carbohydrates, DNA, and lipoproteins. The damage caused by carbonyls results in numerous lesions, some of which are involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this review, the effects of oxidative, carbonyl and glycative stress on cancer initiation and progression are thoroughly discussed, including probable signaling pathways and the effects on tumorigenesis.

Detection of Circulating Auto-Antibodies Against Ribosylated-LDL in Diabetes Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzes effect of glycation on ApoB-100 residues by D-ribose as D-ribosylated-glycated LDL might be responsible for the cause of diabetes mellitus because of its far higher antigenic ability. The binding characteristics of circulating auto-antibodies in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients against native and modified LDL were assessed. METHODS: T1 Diabetes (n = 43), T2 diabetes patients (n = 100) were examined by direct binding ELISA as well as inhibition ELISA, were compared with healthy age-matched controls (n = 50). RESULTS: High degree of specific binding was observed by 74.42% of T1 diabetes and 45.0% of T2 diabetes patient's sera toward glycated LDL, in comparison to its native analog. Competitive inhibition ELISA reiterates the direct binding results. Furthermore, ketoamine content, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content and carbonyl content were also estimated in patient's sera healthy subjects. The increase in total serum protein carbonyl levels in the diabetes patients was largely due to an increase in oxidative stress. The increase in ketoamine as well as HMF content inpatients sera than healthy subjects is an agreement of induced glycation reaction in patients than healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: D-ribosylated-LDL has resulted in structural perturbation causing generation of neo-antigenic epitopes that are better antigens for antibodies in T1 and T2 diabetes patients.

Glycoxidation of biological macromolecules: a critical approach to halt the menace of glycation.

Glycation is the result of covalent bonding of a free amino group of biological macromolecules with a reducing sugar, which results in the formation of a Schiff base that undergoes rearrangement, dehydration and cyclization to form a more stable Amadori product. The final products of nonenzymatic glycation of biomacromolecules like DNA, proteins and lipids are known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs may be generated rapidly or over long times stimulated by distinct triggering mechanisms, thereby accounting for their roles in multiple settings and disease states. Both Schiff base and Amadori glycation products generate free radicals resulting in decline of antioxidant defense mechanisms and can damage cellular organelles and enzymes. This critical review primarily focuses on the mechanistic insight of glycation and the most probable route for the formation of glycation products and their therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, the prevention of glycation reaction using therapeutic drugs such as metformin, pyridoxamine and aminoguanidine (AG) are discussed with special emphasis on the novel concept of the bioconjugation of these drugs like, AG with gold nanoparticles (GNPs). At or above 10 mM concentration, AG is found to be toxic and therefore has serious health concerns, and the study warrants doing this novel bioconjugation of AG with GNPs. This approach might increase the efficacy of the AG at a reduced concentration with low or no toxicity. Using the concept of synthesis of GNPs with abovementioned drugs, it is assumed that toxicity of various drugs which are used at high doses can be minimized more effectively.

Impairment of cerebral vascular reactivity and resting blood flow in early-staged transgenic AD mice: in vivo optical imaging studies.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive cognitive decline in aging individuals that poses a significant challenge to patients due to an incomplete understanding of its etiology and lack of effective interventions. While "the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis," the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-ß in the brain, has been the most prevalent theory for AD, mounting evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that defects in cerebral vessels and hypoperfusion appear prior to other pathological manifestations and might contribute to AD, leading to "the Vascular Hypothesis." However, assessment of structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature in vivo in the brain from AD rodent models has been challenging owing to the limited spatiotemporal resolution of conventional imaging technologies. Methods: We employed two in vivo imaging technologies, i.e., Dual-Wavelength Imaging (DWI) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR; responsiveness of blood vessels to vasoconstriction as triggered by cocaine) in a relatively large field of view of the cortex in vivo, and 3D quantitative cerebrovascular blood flow (CBF) imaging in living transgenic AD mice at single vessel resolution. Results: Our results showed significantly impaired CVR and reduced CBF in basal state in transgenic AD mice compared to non-transgenic littermates in an early stage of AD progression. Changes in total hemoglobin (Δ[HbT]) in response to vasoconstriction were significantly attenuated in AD mice, especially in arteries and tissue, and the recovery time of Δ[HbT] after vasoconstriction was shorter for AD than WT in all types of vessels and cortical tissue, thereby indicating hypoperfusion and reduced vascular flexibility. Additionally, our 3D OCT images revealed that CBF velocities in arteries were slower and that the microvascular network was severely disrupted in the brain of AD mice. Conclusions: These results suggest significant vascular impairment in basal CBF and dynamic CVR in the neurovascular network in a rodent model of AD at an early stage of the disease. These cutting-edge in vivo optical imaging tools offer an innovative venue for detecting early neurovascular dysfunction in relation to AD pathology and pave the way for clinical translation of early diagnosis and elucidation of AD pathogenesis in the future.

Inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes by a potential probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49 isolated from fermented Ananas comosus.

The research aimed to explore the potential probiotic characteristics of Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, a strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented pineapple, specifically focusing on its antidiabetic effects. The importance of probiotics in maintaining a balanced gut microbiota and supporting human physiology and metabolism motivated this research. All collected isolates underwent microscopic and biochemical screenings, and those exhibiting Gram-positive characteristics, negative catalase activity, phenol tolerance, gastrointestinal conditions, and adhesion capabilities were selected. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed, along with safety evaluations encompassing hemolytic and DNase enzyme activity tests. The isolate's antioxidant activity and its ability to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes were examined. Additionally, organic acid profiling (LC-MS) and in silico studies were conducted on the tested extracts. Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49 demonstrated desired characteristics such as Gram-positive, negative catalase activity, phenol tolerance, gastrointestinal conditions, hydrophobicity (65.71%), and autoaggregation (77.76%). Coaggregation activity against Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was observed. Molecular characterization revealed significant antioxidant activity in Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, with ABTS and DPPH inhibition rates of 74.85% and 60.51%, respectively, at a bacterial cell concentration of 109 CFU/mL. The cell-free supernatant exhibited substantial inhibition of α-amylase (56.19%) and α-glucosidase (55.69%) in vitro. In silico studies supported these findings, highlighting the inhibitory effects of specific organic acids such as citric acid, hydroxycitric acid, and malic acid, which displayed higher Pa values compared to other compounds. These outcomes underscore the promising antidiabetic potential of Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, isolated from fermented pineapple. Its probiotic properties, including antimicrobial activity, autoaggregation, and gastrointestinal conditions, contribute to its potential therapeutic application. The inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities further support its anti-diabetic properties. In silico analysis identified specific organic acids that may contribute to the observed antidiabetic effects. Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, as a probiotic isolate derived from fermented pineapple, holds promise as an agent for managing diabetes. Further investigations should focus on evaluating its efficacy and safety in vivo to consider its potential therapeutic application in diabetes management.

Cyclic microchip assay for measurement of hundreds of functional proteins in single neurons.

Despite the fact that proteins carry out nearly all cellular functions and mark the differences of cells, the existing single-cell tools can only analyze dozens of proteins, a scale far from full characterization of cells and tissue yet. Herein, we present a single-cell cyclic multiplex in situ tagging (CycMIST) technology that affords the comprehensive functional proteome profiling of single cells. We demonstrate the technology by detecting 182 proteins that include surface markers, neuron function proteins, neurodegeneration markers, signaling pathway proteins, and transcription factors. Further studies on cells derived from the 5XFAD mice, an Alzheimer's Disease (AD) model, validate the utility of our technology and reveal the deep heterogeneity of brain cells. Through comparison with control mouse cells, we have identified differentially expressed proteins in AD pathology. Our technology could offer new insights into cell machinery and thus may advance many fields including drug discovery, molecular diagnostics, and clinical studies.

Vascular Dementia and Underlying Sex Differences.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD); where Alzheimer's accounts for 60-70% of cases of dementia and VaD accounts for 20% of all dementia cases. VaD is defined as a reduced or lack of blood flow to the brain that causes dementia. VaD is also known occasionally as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) or multi-infarct dementia (MID). VCID is the condition arising from stroke and other vascular brain injuries that cause significant changes to memory, thinking, and behavior, and VaD is the most severe stage while MID is produced by the synergistic effects caused by multiple mini strokes in the brain irrespective of specific location or volume. There are also subtle differences in the presentation of VaD in males and females, but they are often overlooked. Since 1672 when the first case of VaD was reported until now, sex and gender differences have had little to no research done when it comes to the umbrella term of dementia in general. This review summarizes the fundamentals of VaD followed by a focus on the differences between sex and gender when an individual is diagnosed. In addition, we provide critical evidence concerning sex and gender differences with a few of the main risk factors of VaD including pre-existing health conditions and family history, gene variants, aging, hormone fluctuations, and environmental risk factors. Additionally, the pharmaceutical treatments and possible mitigation of risk factors is explored.

Glycyrrhizic Acid Scavenges Reactive Carbonyl Species and Attenuates Glycation-Induced Multiple Protein Modification: An In Vitro and In Silico Study.

The current study is aimed at studying the inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on D-ribose-mediated protein glycation via various physicochemical analyses and in silico approaches. Being a potent free radical scavenger and a triterpenoid saponin, GA plays a vital role in diminishing the oxidative stress and thus could be an effective inhibitor of the nonenzymatic glycation process. Our data showed that varying concentrations of GA inhibited the in vitro BSA-AGEs via inhibiting the formation of fructosamines, fluorescent AGEs, scavenging protein carbonyl and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) content, and protection against D-ribose-induced modification of BSA as evident by increased free Arg and Lys residues in GA-treated Gly-BSA samples. Moreover, GA also attenuated D-ribose-induced alterations in the secondary structure of BSA by protecting the α-helix and ß-sheet conformers and amide-I band delocalization. In addition, GA attenuated the modification in ß-cross amyloid structures of BSA and in silico molecular interaction study too showed strong binding of GA with higher number of Lys and Arg residues of BSA and binding energy (ΔG) of -8.8 Kcal/mol, when compared either to reference standard aminoguanidine (AG)-BSA complex (ΔG: -4.3 Kcal/mol) or D-ribose-BSA complex (ΔG: -5.2 Kcal/mol). Therefore, GA could be a new and favorable inhibitor of the nonenzymatic glycation process that ameliorates AGEs-related complications via attenuating the AGE formation and glycation-induced multiple protein modifications with a reduced risk of adverse effects on protein structure and functionality; hence, it could be investigated at further preclinical settings for the treatment and management of diabetes and age-associated complications.

Age-dependent accumulation of dicarbonyls and advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) associates with mitochondrial stress.

Aging is a strong risk factor for brain dementia and cognitive decline. Age-related accumulation of metabolites such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) could serve as danger signals to initiate and accelerate disease process and neurodegeneration. The underlying causes and consequences of cerebral AGEs accumulation remain largely unknown. Here, we comprehensively investigate age-related accumulation of AGEs and dicarbonyls, including methylglyoxal (MG), glyoxal (GO), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), and the effects of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) on cerebral AGEs accumulation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in the aging human and mouse brain. We demonstrate that AGEs, including arginine and lysine derived N(6)-carboxymethyl lysine (CML), Nε-(1-Carboxyethyl)-l-lysine (CEL), and methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-1 (MG-H1), were significantly elevated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus with advanced age in mice. Accordingly, aging mouse and human brains revealed decrease in activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I & IV and ATP levels, and increased ROS. Notably, administration of mitoTEMPO (2-(2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-4-ylamino)-2-oxoethyl)triphenylphosphonium chloride (mTEMPO), a scavenger of mitochondrial ROS, not only suppressed ROS production but also reduced aged-induced accumulation of AGEs and dicarbonyls. mTEMPO treatment improved mitochondrial respiratory function and restored ATP levels. Our findings provide evidence linking age-related accumulation of toxic metabolites (AGEs) to mitochondrial oxidative stress. This highlights a novel mechanism by which AGEs-dependent signaling promotes carbonyl stress and sustained mitochondrial dysfunction. Eliminating formation and accumulation of AGEs may represent a new therapeutic avenue for combating cognitive decline and mitochondrial degeneration relevant to aging and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease.

The Neoepitopes on Methylglyoxal- (MG-) Glycated Fibrinogen Generate Autoimmune Response: Its Role in Diabetes, Atherosclerosis, and Diabetic Atherosclerosis Subjects.

OBJECTIVES: In diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia-mediated nonenzymatic glycosylation of fibrinogen protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of micro- and macrovascular complications especially atherosclerosis via the generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Methylglyoxal (MG) induces glycation of fibrinogen, resulting in structural alterations that lead to autoimmune response via the generation of neoepitopes on protein molecules. The present study was designed to probe the prevalence of autoantibodies against MG-glycated fibrinogen (MG-Fib) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), atherosclerosis (ATH), and diabetic atherosclerosis (T2DM-ATH) patients. Design and Methods. The binding affinity of autoantibodies in patients' sera (T2DM, n = 100; ATH, n = 100; and T2DM-ATH, n = 100) and isolated immunoglobulin G (IgG) against native fibrinogen (N-Fib) and MG-Fib to healthy subjects (HS, n = 50) was accessed by direct binding ELISA. The results of direct binding were further validated by competitive/inhibition ELISA. Moreover, AGE detection, ketoamines, protein carbonyls, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and carboxymethyllysine (CML) concentrations in patients' sera were also determined. Furthermore, free lysine and free arginine residues were also estimated. RESULTS: The high binding affinity was observed in 54% of T2DM, 33% of ATH, and 65% of T2DM-ATH patients' samples with respect to healthy subjects against MG-Fib antigen in comparison to N-Fib (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). HS sera showed nonsignificant binding (p > 0.05) with N-Fib and MG-Fib. Other biochemical parameters were also found to be significant (p < 0.05) in the patient groups with respect to the HS group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings in the future might pave a way to authenticate fibrinogen as a biomarker for the early detection of diabetes-associated micro- and macrovascular complications.

Modulation of Cellular Redox Status and Antioxidant Defense System after Synergistic Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Salicylic Acid in Rice (Oryza sativa) Plant under Arsenic Stress.

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and/or salicylic acid (SA) under arsenic (As) stress on rice (Oryza sativa). ZnONPs are analyzed for various techniques viz., X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All of these tests established that ZnONPs are pure with no internal defects, and can be potentially used in plant applications. Hence, we further investigated for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the extent of ZnONPs and SA induced oxidative stress damages. More restricted plant growth, gas exchange indices, significant reduction in the SPAD index and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and brutal decline in protein content were noticed in As-applied plants. In contrast, foliar fertigation of ZnONPs and/or SA to As-stressed rice plants lessens the oxidative stress, as exposed by subordinate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis. Improved enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), proline and total soluble protein contents under ZnONPs and SA treatment plays an excellent role in the regulation of various transcriptional pathways participated in oxidative stress tolerance. Higher content of nitrogen (N; 13%), phosphorus (P; 10%), potassium (K; 13%), zinc (Zn; 68%), manganese (Mn; 14%), and iron (Fe; 19) in ZnONPs and SA treated plants under As-stress, thus hampered growth and photosynthetic efficiency of rice plants. Our findings suggest that toxicity of As was conquering by the application of ZnONPs and SA in rice plants.

High Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products Impair Mitochondrial and Cognitive Function.

BACKGROUND: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are an important risk factor for the development of cognitive decline in aging and late-onset neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. However, whether and how dietary AGEs exacerbate cognitive impairment and brain mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging process remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the direct effects of dietary AGEs on AGE adducts accumulation, mitochondrial function, and cognitive performance in mice. METHODS: Mice were fed the AGE+ diet or AGE- diet. We examined levels of AGE adducts in serum and cerebral cortexes by immunodetection and immunohistochemistry, determined levels of reactive oxygen species by biochemical analysis, detected enzyme activity associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I & IV and ATP levels, and assessed learning and memory ability by Morris Water Maze and nesting behavior. RESULTS: Levels of AGE adducts (MG-H1 and CEL) were robustly increased in the serum and brain of AGE+ diet fed mice compared to the AGE- group. Furthermore, greatly elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, decreased activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I & IV, reduced ATP levels, and impaired learning and memory were evident in AGE+ diet fed mice compared to the AGE- group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that dietary AGEs are important sources of AGE accumulation in vivo, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction, impairment of energy metabolism, and subsequent cognitive impairment. Thus, reducing AGEs intake to lower accumulation of AGEs could hold therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of AGEs-induced mitochondrial dysfunction linked to cognitive decline.

The non-enzymatic glycation of LDL proteins results in biochemical alterations - A correlation study of Apo B100-AGE with obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) can aggregate amid incessant inflammation, as may be available in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. d-Ribose reacts more promptly than glucose monosaccharide to the proteins and forms heterogeneous group of products known as AGEs. Obesity includes persons with provocative joint inflammation with increased lipid profile. Immunogenic evidences recommend a cross-sectional relationship between glycated LDL-Apo B100 and inflammation. The point of this examination was to look at the connection between d-ribose glycated ApoB100 (ApoB100-AGE) with obesity and rheumatoid arthritis. The binding specificity of auto-antibodies against ApoB100-AGE antigen present in obesity and rheumatoid arthritis patient's serum were inspected by direct binding and was further established by competitive inhibition ELISA. In the present study, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, ketoamine moieties, hydroxyl-methyl furfural (HMF) and carbonyl substances were evaluated in the patients' serum via respective specific methods. The prevalence of auto-antibodies against ApoB100-AGE antigen was recorded to be 58% and 52.86% from obese and rheumatoid arthritis patient respectively in contrast to its native analogue (P < 0.001). Moreover, the autoantibodies present in obese and arthritis patients were found to be highly specific towards ApoB100-AGE as confirmed by inhibition ELISA.

Identification and Characterization of Amyloid-ß Accumulation in Synaptic Mitochondria.

Mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulation of amyloid beta-peptide (Aß) in mitochondria, particularly in synaptic mitochondria, potentiates and amplifies synaptic injury and disruption of synaptic transmission, leading to synaptic dysfunction and ultimately to synaptic failure. Thus, determination of the presence and levels of Aß in synaptic mitochondria associated with amyloid pathology is important for studying mitochondrial amyloid pathology. Here, we present a detailed methodology for the isolation of synaptic mitochondria from brain tissues and the determination of Aß levels in the isolated mitochondria as well as ultrastructural localization of synaptic mitochondrial Aß. These methods have been used successfully for the identification and characterization of Aß accumulation in synaptic mitochondria from mouse brains derived from transgenic AD mouse model. Additionally, we comprehensively discuss the sample preparation, experimental details, our unique procedures, optimization of parameters, and troubleshooting.