Inhaled molecular hydrogen attenuates intense acute exercise-induced hippocampal inflammation in sedentary rats.

Physical exercise-induced inflammation may be beneficial when exercise is regular but it may be harmful when exercise is intense and performed by unaccustomed individuals/rats. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has recently emerged as a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic molecule in a number of pathological conditions, but little is known about its putative role under physiological conditions such as physical exercise. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that H2 decreases intense acute exercise-induced inflammation in the hippocampus, since it is a brain region particularly susceptible to inflammation. Moreover, we also assessed hippocampus oxidative status. Rats ran on a sealed treadmill inhaling either the H2 (2% H2, 21% O2, balanced with N2) or the control gas (0% H2, 21% O2, balanced with N2) and hippocampal samples were collected immediately or 3 h after exercise. We measured hippocampal levels of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10] and oxidative markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and nitrite/nitrate (NOx)]. Exercise increased TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 immediately after the session, whereas no change in IL-1ß levels was observed. Conversely, exercise did not cause any change in SOD activity, TBARS and NOx levels. H2 inhibited the exercise-induced surges in TNF-α and IL-6, and potentiated the IL-10 surge, immediately after the exercise. Moreover, no change in IL1-ß levels of rats inhaling H2 was observed. Regarding the oxidative stress markers, H2 failed to cause any change in SOD activity, TBARS and NOx levels. No significant change was observed in any of the assessed parameters 3 h after the exercise bout. These data are consistent with the notion that H2 acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent not only down-modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) but also upregulating an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) production without affecting the local oxidative stress status. These data indicate that H2 effectively decreases exercise-induced inflammation in the hippocampus, despite the fact that this region is particularly prone to inflammatory insults.

Molecular hydrogen reduces acute exercise-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress status.

Physical exercise induces inflammatory and oxidative markers production in the skeletal muscle and this process is under the control of both endogenous and exogenous modulators. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2) has been described as a therapeutic gas able to reduced oxidative stress in a number of conditions. However, nothing is known about its putative role in the inflammatory and oxidative status during a session of acute physical exercise in sedentary rats. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that H2 attenuates both inflammation and oxidative stress induced by acute physical exercise. Rats ran at 80% of their maximum running velocity on a closed treadmill inhaling either the H2 gas (2% H2, 21% O2, balanced with N2) or the control gas (0% H2, 21% O2, balanced with N2) and were euthanized immediately or 3 h after exercise. We assessed plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6] and oxidative markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and nitrite/nitrate (NOx)]. In addition, we evaluated the phosphorylation status of intracellular signaling proteins [glycogen synthase kinase type 3 (GSK3α/ß) and the cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB)] that modulate several processes in the skeletal muscle during exercise, including changes in exercise-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. As expected, physical exercise increased virtually all the analyzed parameters. In the running rats, H2 blunted exercise-induced plasma inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) surges. Regarding the oxidative stress markers, H2 caused further increases in exercise-induced SOD activity and attenuated the exercise-induced increases in TBARS 3 h after exercise. Moreover, GSK3α/ß phosphorylation was not affected by exercise or H2 inhalation. Otherwise, exercise caused an increased CREB phosphorylation which was attenuated by H2. These data are consistent with the notion that H2 plays a key role in decreasing exercise-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular stress.

Mechanisms underlying the vascular and hypotensive actions of the labdane ent-3-acetoxy-labda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid.

We investigated the mechanisms underlying the vasorelaxant and hypotensive actions of the labdane-type diterpene ent-3-acetoxy-labda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid (labda-15-oic acid). Vascular reactivity experiments were performed in aortic rings isolated from male Wistar rats. cAMP and cGMP were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) whereas nitrate measurement was performed by chemiluminescence. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration ([NO]c) was measured in endothelial cells by flow cytometry. The cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was measured by confocal microscopy. Blood pressure measurements were performed in conscious rats. Labda-15-oic acid inhibited the contraction induced by phenylephrine and serotonin in either endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings. The labdane significantly reduced CaCl2-induced contraction in a Ca2+-free solution containing KCl or phenylephrine. Labda-15-oic acid (0.1­300 µmol/l) concentration-dependently relaxed endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortas pre-contracted with either phenylephrine or KCl. In endothelium-intact rings, the relaxation induced by labda-15-oic acid was affected by L-NAME, 7-nitroindazole, ODQ, hemoglobin, Rp-8-Br-Pet-cGMPS and thapsigargin. Blockade of K+ channels with 4-aminopyridine, apamin, charybdotoxin and glibenclamide affected the relaxation induced by labda-15-oic acid. The labdane increased cGMP and nitrate levels but did not affect cAMP levels in endothelium-intact aortas. Labda-15-oic acid increased [NO]c in endothelial cells and decreased [Ca2+]c in VSMC. The hypotension induced by intravenous administration of labda-15-oic acid (0.3­3 mg/kg) was partially reduced by L-NAME. In conclusion, the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular actions of the labdane involve the activation of the endothelial NO-cGMP pathway, the opening of K+ channels and the alteration on Ca2+ mobilization.

Hydrogen sulfide inhibits preoptic prostaglandin E2 production during endotoxemia.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is a gaseous neuromodulator endogenously produced in the brain by the enzyme cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS). We tested the hypothesis that H(2)S acts within the anteroventral preoptic region of the hypothalamus (AVPO) modulating the production of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) (the proximal mediator of fever) and cyclic AMP (cAMP). To this end, we recorded deep body temperature (Tb) of rats before and after pharmacological modulation of the CBS-H(2)S system combined or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure, and measured the levels of H(2)S, cAMP, and PGE(2) in the AVPO during systemic inflammation. Intracerebroventricular (icv) microinjection of aminooxyacetate (AOA, a CBS inhibitor; 100 pmol) did not affect basal PGE(2) production and Tb, but enhanced LPS-induced PGE(2) production and fever, indicating that endogenous H(2)S plays an antipyretic role. In agreement, icv microinjection of a H(2)S donor (Na(2)S; 260 nmol) reduced the LPS-induced PGE(2) production and fever. Interestingly, we observed that the AVPO levels of H(2)S were decreased following the immunoinflammatory challenge. Furthermore, fever was associated with decreased levels of AVPO cAMP and increased levels of AVPO PGE(2). The LPS-induced decreased levels of cAMP were reduced to a lesser extent by the H(2)S donor. The LPS-induced PGE(2) production was potentiated by AOA (the CBS inhibitor) and inhibited by the H(2)S donor. Our data are consistent with the notion that the gaseous messenger H(2)S synthesis is downregulated during endotoxemia favoring PGE(2) synthesis and lowering cAMP levels in the preoptic hypothalamus.

Low-dose plasmid DNA treatment increases plasma vasopressin and regulates blood pressure in experimental endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND: Although plasmid DNA encoding an antigen from pathogens or tumor cells has been widely studied as vaccine, the use of plasmid vector (without insert) as therapeutic agent requires further investigation. RESULTS: Here, we showed that plasmid DNA (pcDNA3) at low doses inhibits the production of IL-6 and TNF-α by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cell line J774. These findings led us to evaluate whether plasmid DNA could act as an anti-inflammatory agent in a Wistar rat endotoxemia model. Rats injected simultaneously with 1.5 mg/kg of LPS and 10 or 20 µg of plasmid DNA had a remarkable attenuation of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) drop at 2 hours after treatment when compared with rats injected with LPS only. The beneficial effect of the plasmid DNA on MAP was associated with decreased expression of IL-6 in liver and increased concentration of plasma vasopressin (AVP), a known vasoconstrictor that has been investigated in hemorrhagic shock management. No difference was observed in relation to nitric oxide (NO) production. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate for the first time that plasmid DNA vector at low doses presents anti-inflammatory property and constitutes a novel approach with therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases.