Impact of Physical Activity on DNA Methylation Signatures in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review with Bioinformatic Analysis.

Breast cancer (BC) continues to significantly impact women worldwide. Numerous studies show that physical activity (PA) significantly enhances the quality of life, aids recovery, and improves survival rates in BC patients. PA's influence extends to altering DNA methylation patterns on both a global and gene-specific scale, potentially reverting abnormal DNA methylation, associated with carcinogenesis and various pathologies. This review consolidates the findings of the current literature, highlighting PA's impact on DNA methylation in BC patients. Our systematic analysis indicates that PA may elevate global DNA methylation within tumour tissues. Furthermore, it appears to modify gene-specific promoter methylation across a wide spectrum of genes in various tissues. Through bioinformatic analysis, to investigate the functional enrichment of these affected genes, we identified a predominant enrichment in metabolic pathways, cell cycle regulation, cell cycle checkpoints, mitosis, cellular stress responses, and molecular functions governing diverse binding processes. The Human Protein Atlas corroborates this enrichment, indicating gene functionality across 266 tissues, notably within various breast tissues. This systematic review unveils PA's capacity to systematically alter DNA methylation patterns across multiple tissues, particularly in BC patients. Emphasising its influence on crucial biological processes and functions, this alteration holds potential for restoring normal cellular functionality and the cell cycle. This reversal of cancer-associated patterns could potentially enhance recovery and improve survival outcomes.

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis of Moringa oleifera Leaves of Different Geographical Origins and Their Antioxidant Effects on C2C12 Myotubes.

Moringa oleifera is widely grown throughout the tropics and increasingly used for its therapeutic and nutraceutical properties. These properties are attributed to potent antioxidant and metabolism regulators, including glucosinolates/isothiocyanates as well as flavonoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids. Research to date largely consists of geographically limited studies that only examine material available locally. These practices make it unclear as to whether moringa samples from one area are superior to another, which would require identifying superior variants and distributing them globally. Alternatively, the finding that globally cultivated moringa material is essentially functionally equivalent means that users can easily sample material available locally. We brought together accessions of Moringa oleifera from four continents and nine countries and grew them together in a common garden. We performed a metabolomic analysis of leaf extracts (MOLE) using an LC-MSMS ZenoTOF 7600 mass spectrometry system. The antioxidant capacity of leaf samples evaluated using the Total Antioxidant Capacity assay did not show any significant difference between extracts. MOLE samples were then tested for their antioxidant activity on C2C12 myotubes challenged with an oxidative insult. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was added to the myotubes after pretreatment with different extracts. H2O2 exposure caused an increase in cell death that was diminished in all samples pretreated with moringa extracts. Our results show that Moringa oleifera leaf extract is effective in reducing the damaging effect of H2O2 in C2C12 myotubes irrespective of geographical origin. These results are encouraging because they suggest that the use of moringa for its therapeutic benefits can proceed without the need for the lengthy and complex global exchange of materials between regions.

The impact of physical activity on promoter-specific methylation of genes involved in the redox-status and disease progression: A longitudinal study on post-surgery female breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment.

Most anticancer treatments act on oxidative-stress pathways by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells, commonly resulting in consequential drug-induced systemic cytotoxicity. Physical activity (PA) has arisen as an integrative cancer therapy, having positive health effects, including in redox-homeostasis. Here, we investigated the impact of an online supervised PA program on promoter-specific DNA methylation, and corresponding gene expression/activity, in 3 antioxidants- (SOD1, SOD2, and CAT) and 3 breast cancer (BC)-related genes (BRCA1, L3MBTL1 and RASSF1A) in a population-based sample of women diagnosed with primary BC, undergoing medical treatment. We further examined mechanisms involved in methylating and demethylating pathways, predicted biological pathways and interactions of exercise-modulated molecules, and the functional relevance of modulated antioxidant markers on parameters related to aerobic capacity/endurance, physical fatigue and quality of life (QoL). PA maintained levels of SOD activity in blood plasma, and at the cellular level significantly increased SOD2 mRNA (≈+77 %), contrary to their depletion due to medical treatment. This change was inversely correlated with DNA methylation in SOD2 promoter (≈-20 %). Similarly, we found a significant effect of PA only on L3MBTL1 promoter methylation (≈-25 %), which was inversely correlated with its mRNA (≈+43 %). Finally, PA increased TET1 mRNA levels (≈+15 %) and decreased expression of DNMT3B mRNA (≈-28 %). Our results suggest that PA-modulated DNA methylation affects several signalling pathways/biological activities involved in the cellular oxidative stress response, chromatin organization/regulation, antioxidant activity and DNA/protein binding. These changes may positively impact clinical outcomes and improve the response to cancer treatment in post-surgery BC patients.

Online Home-Based Physical Activity Counteracts Changes of Redox-Status Biomarkers and Fitness Profiles during Treatment Programs in Postsurgery Female Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in women. Oxidative stress may contribute to cancer etiology through several mechanisms. A large body of evidence indicates that physical activity (PA) has positive effects on different aspects of BC evolution, including mitigation of negative effects induced by medical treatment. With the aim to verify the capacity of PA to counteract negative effects of BC treatment on systemic redox homeostasis in postsurgery female BC patients, we have examined the modulation of circulating levels of oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Moreover, we evaluated the impacts on physical fitness and mental well-being by measuring functional parameters, body mass index, body composition, health-related quality of life (QoL), and fatigue. Our investigation revealed that PA was effective in maintaining plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and tGSH, as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells' (PBMCs) mRNA levels of SOD1 and heat-shock protein 27. Moreover, we found a significant decrease in plasma interleukin-6 (≈0.57 ± 0.23-fold change, p < 0.05) and increases in both interleukin-10 (≈1.15 ± 0.35-fold change, p < 0.05) and PBMCs' mRNA level of SOD2 (≈1.87 ± 0.36-fold change, p < 0.05). Finally, PA improves functional parameters (6 min walking test, ≈+6.50%, p < 0.01; Borg, ≈-58.18%, p < 0.01; sit-and-reach, ≈+250.00%, p < 0.01; scratch right, ≈-24.12%, and left, ≈-18.81%, p < 0.01) and body composition (free fat mass, ≈+2.80%, p < 0.05; fat mass, ≈-6.93%, p < 0.05) as well as the QoL (physical function, ≈+5.78%, p < 0.05) and fatigue (cognitive fatigue, ≈-60%, p < 0.05) parameters. These results suggest that a specific PA program not only is effective in improving functional and anthropometric parameters but may also activate cellular responses through a multitude of actions in postsurgery BC patients undergoing adjuvant therapy. These may include modulation of gene expression and protein activity and impacting several signaling pathways/biological activities involved in tumor-cell growth; metastasis; and inflammation, as well as moderating distress symptoms known to negatively affect QoL.

The Beneficial Role of Physical Exercise on Anthracyclines Induced Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer Patients.

The increase in breast cancer (BC) survival has determined a growing survivor population that seems to develop several comorbidities and, specifically, treatment-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially those patients treated with anthracyclines. Indeed, it is known that these compounds act through the induction of supraphysiological production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which appear to be central mediators of numerous direct and indirect cardiac adverse consequences. Evidence suggests that physical exercise (PE) practised before, during or after BC treatments could represent a viable non-pharmacological strategy as it increases heart tolerance against many cardiotoxic agents, and therefore improves several functional, subclinical, and clinical parameters. At molecular level, the cardioprotective effects are mainly associated with an exercise-induced increase of stress response proteins (HSP60 and HSP70) and antioxidant (SOD activity, GSH), as well as a decrease in lipid peroxidation, and pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, this protection can potentially be explained by a preservation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution. Despite this knowledge, it is not clear which type of exercise should be suggested in BC patient undergoing anthracycline treatment. This highlights the lack of special guidelines on how affected patients should be managed more efficiently. This review offers a general framework for the role of anthracyclines in the physio-pathological mechanisms of cardiotoxicity and the potential protective role of PE. Finally, potential exercise-based strategies are discussed on the basis of scientific findings.

Effect of Tadalafil Administration on Redox Homeostasis and Polyamine Levels in Healthy Men with High Level of Physical Activity.

Background: The phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) tadalafil, in addition to its therapeutic role, has shown antioxidant effects in different in vivo models. Supplementation with antioxidants has received interest as a suitable tool for preventing or reducing exercise-related oxidative stress, possibly leading to the improvement of sport performance in athletes. However, the use/abuse of these substances must be evaluated not only within the context of amateur sport, but especially in competitions where elite athletes are more exposed to stressful physical practice. To date, very few human studies have addressed the influence of the administration of PDE5Is on redox balance in subjects with a fitness level comparable to elite athletes; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate for the first time whether acute ingestion of tadalafil could affect plasma markers related to cellular damage, redox homeostasis, and blood polyamines levels in healthy subjects with an elevated cardiorespiratory fitness level. Methods: Healthy male volunteers (n = 12), with a VO2max range of 40.1-56.0 mL/(kg × min), were administered with a single dose of tadalafil (20 mg). Plasma molecules related to muscle damage and redox-homeostasis, such as creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), free thiols (FTH), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), protein carbonyls (PrCAR), and polyamine levels (spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd)) were evaluated immediately before and 2, 6 and 24 hours after the acute tadalafil administration. Results: A single tadalafil administration induced an increase in CK and LDH plasma levels 24 after consumption. No effects were observed on redox homeostasis or antioxidant enzyme activities, and neither were they observed on the oxidation target molecules or polyamines levels. Conclusion: Our results show that in subjects with an elevated fitness level, a single administration of tadalafil induced a significant increase in muscle damage target without affecting plasma antioxidant status.

Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Upregulates Nrf2/HO-1 Expression and Ameliorates Redox Status in C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant with numerous health benefits. In skeletal muscle cells, Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) acts by increasing the oxidative metabolism through the SIRT1-PPARα pathway. SIRT1, besides being a critical energy sensor, is involved in the activation related to redox homeostasis of transcription factors such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the capacity of MOLE to influence the redox status in C2C12 myotubes through the modulation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione levels, Nrf2 and its target gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST). Moreover, the impact of MOLE supplementation on lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage (i.e., TBARS and protein carbonyls) was evaluated. Our results highlight for the first time that MOLE increased not only Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, but also improved glutathione redox homeostasis and the enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and GST. Therefore, it is intriguing to speculate that MOLE supplementation could represent a valuable nutrition for the health of skeletal muscles.

Can Physical Activity Influence Human Gut Microbiota Composition Independently of Diet? A Systematic Review.

Evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) influences the human gut microbiota composition, but its role is unclear because of dietary interference. The aim of this review is to clarify this issue from this new perspective in healthy individuals. Articles analyzing intestinal microbiota from fecal samples by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were selected by searching the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2020. For each study, methodological quality was assessed, and results about microbiota biodiversity indices, phylum and genus composition, and information on PA and diet were considered. From 997 potentially relevant articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Five studies involved athletes, three were performed on active people classified on the basis of habitual PA level, and two among sedentary subjects undergoing exercise interventions. The majority of the studies reported higher variability and prevalence of the phylum Firmicutes (genera Ruminococcaceae or Fecalibacteria) in active compared to inactive individuals, especially in athletes. The assessment of diet as a possible confounder of PA/exercise effects was completed only in four studies. They reported a similar abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Paraprevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Veillonellaceae, which are involved in metabolic, protective, structural, and histological functions. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Emerging Role for Linear and Circular Spermine Oxidase RNAs in Skeletal Muscle Physiopathology.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a pathological condition so far without effective treatment and poorly understood at a molecular level. Emerging evidence suggest a key role for circular RNAs (circRNA) during myogenesis and their deregulation has been reported to be associated with muscle diseases. Spermine oxidase (SMOX), a polyamine catabolic enzyme plays a critical role in muscle differentiation and the existence of a circRNA arising from SMOX gene has been recently identified. In this study, we evaluated the expression profile of circular and linear SMOX in both C2C12 differentiation and dexamethasone-induced myotubes atrophy. To validate our findings in vivo their expression levels were also tested in two murine models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: SOD1G93A and hFUS+/+, characterized by progressive muscle atrophy. During C2C12 differentiation, linear and circular SMOX show the same trend of expression. Interestingly, in atrophy circSMOX levels significantly increased compared to the physiological state, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our study demonstrates that SMOX represents a new player in muscle physiopathology and provides a scientific basis for further investigation on circSMOX RNA as a possible new therapeutic target for the treatment of muscle atrophy.

Chronic consumption of quercetin reduces erythrocytes oxidative damage: Evaluation at resting and after eccentric exercise in humans.

The polyphenolic flavonoid quercetin has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant, in vitro and in murine models. However, its effect on redox status has been poorly examined in humans, particularly in combination with strenuous exercise. We hypothesized that quercetin supplementation would beneficially affect redox homeostasis in healthy individuals undergoing eccentric exercise. To test this hypothesis, the effects of chronic consumption of quercetin on glutathione system (reduced, oxidized, and reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio), oxidative damage [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs)], antioxidant enzymatic network (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and resistance to lysis, were investigated in erythrocytes, a traditional model widely used to study the effects of oxidative stress as well as the protective effects of antioxidants. In a two weeks controlled, randomized, crossover, intervention trial, 14 individuals ingested 2 caps (1 g/d) of quercetin or placebo. Blood samples were collected before, after 2 weeks of supplementation and after a bout of eccentric exercise. Quercetin, reduced significantly erythrocytes lipid peroxidation levels and the susceptibility to hemolysis induced by the free radical generator AAPH, while no differences in antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione homeostasis were found between the two groups. After a single bout of eccentric exercise, quercetin supplementation improved redox status as assessed by reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio analysis and reduced TBARs levels both in erythrocytes and plasma. In conclusion, our study provides evidences that chronic quercetin supplementation has antioxidant potential prior to and after a strenuous eccentric exercise thus making the erythrocytes capable to better cope with an oxidative insult.

Skeletal Muscle Pathophysiology: The Emerging Role of Spermine Oxidase and Spermidine.

Skeletal muscle comprises approximately 40% of the total body mass. Preserving muscle health and function is essential for the entire body in order to counteract chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Prolonged physical inactivity, particularly among the elderly, causes muscle atrophy, a pathological state with adverse outcomes such as poor quality of life, physical disability, and high mortality. In murine skeletal muscle C2C12 cells, increased expression of the spermine oxidase (SMOX) enzyme has been found during cell differentiation. Notably, SMOX overexpression increases muscle fiber size, while SMOX reduction was enough to induce muscle atrophy in multiple murine models. Of note, the SMOX reaction product spermidine appears to be involved in skeletal muscle atrophy/hypertrophy. It is effective in reactivating autophagy, ameliorating the myopathic defects of collagen VI-null mice. Moreover, spermidine treatment, if combined with exercise, can affect D-gal-induced aging-related skeletal muscle atrophy. This review hypothesizes a role for SMOX during skeletal muscle differentiation and outlines its role and that of spermidine in muscle atrophy. The identification of new molecular pathways involved in the maintenance of skeletal muscle health could be beneficial in developing novel therapeutic lead compounds to treat muscle atrophy.

A multi-biomarker analysis of the antioxidant efficacy of Parkinson's disease therapy.

Substantial evidences suggest that reactive oxygen species participate in the normal aging process and in cancer and neurodegenerative age-related diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most common oxidative stress-associated pathology in aging people, is treated with a standard pharmacological protocol consisting in a combined therapy l-dopa plus an inhibitor of dopa-decarboxylase, such as carbidopa. The therapy is well validated for the ability to restoring dopaminergic neurotransmission in PD patients, while l-dopa and carbidopa ability in modulating oxidative stress is currently under discussion. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of l-dopa and carbidopa on several biomarkers of exogenously-induced oxidative stress to validate the overall antioxidant effectiveness of the therapy. For this purpose we used peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors treated in vitro with l-dopa and carbidopa and then challenged by different concentrations of H2O2. Glutathione (GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG), malondialdehyde (TBARs), protein carbonyls as well as DNA damage (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and micronuclei (MN)), modulation was evaluated. Our results show that l-dopa, but not carbidopa, decreases the markers of lipid and protein oxidation and increases the total content of glutathione. Both l-dopa and carbidopa (alone or in combination) are able to counteract the formation of 8-oxodG and to reduce H2O2-induced micronuclei.

Acute tadalafil administration increases plasma fatty acids without changes in the inflammatory response in healthy men.

PURPOSE: Tadalafil, the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I), has been shown to reduce visceral adipose tissue in rabbit and to improve lean mass content in non-obese men. In order to clarify this effect in humans, in the present study we determined the impact of an acute oral tadalafil administration on lipolysis by evaluating plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) and glycerol. FFAs are potential modulator of inflammation response that we evaluated through tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin 8 (IL8) and interleukin 10 (IL10) plasma levels. Moreover, we determined whether the effects of tadalafil would be reflected in variation of plasma levels of cGMP and NO, two important molecules involved in PDE5Is signaling. METHODS: Twelve healthy subjects were supplemented with 20 mg of tadalafil or a placebo, in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design. Blood samples were collected immediately before, and at 2, 6, and 24 hours post ingestion, and assayed for biochemical analysis. RESULTS: A condition effect was noted for FFAs and glycerol, with values higher for tadalafil when compared to the placebo group, at 2 and 6 hours post ingestion. No statistically significant effects were noted for glucose, cGMP, nitrate and nitrite. No inflammatory response was induced by tadalafil. CONCLUSION: Tadalafil, in human subjects, increases lipolysis as evidenced by a significant increase in circulating FFAs and glycerol, without affecting the plasma cGMP and NO levels; noticeably, the increase in FFAs did not develop an inflammatory response. Further well-controlled studies are warranted to assess the impact of tadalafil administration on weight/fat loss.

Influence of the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil on redox status and antioxidant defense system in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), widely known for their beneficial effects onto male erectile dysfunction, seem to exert favorable effects onto metabolism as well. Tadalafil exposure increases oxidative metabolism of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. A rise in fatty acid (FA) metabolism, requiring more oxygen, could induce a larger reactive oxygen species (ROS) release as a byproduct thus leading to a redox imbalance. The aim of this study was to determine how PDE5I tadalafil influences redox status in skeletal muscle cells to match the increasing oxidative metabolism. To this purpose, differentiated C2C12 skeletal muscle cells were treated with tadalafil and analyzed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione levels as marker of redox status; enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) engaged in antioxidant defense; and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (PrCar) as markers of oxidative damage. Tadalafil increased total intracellular glutathione (tGSH), CAT, SOD, and GPx enzymatic activities while no changes were found in TAC. A perturbation of redox status, as showed by the decrease in the ratio between reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), was observed. Nevertheless, it did not cause any change in TBARS and PrCar levels probably due to the enhancement in the antioxidant enzymatic network. Taken together, these data indicate that tadalafil, besides improving oxidative metabolism, may be beneficial to skeletal muscle cells by enhancing the enzymatic antioxidant system capacity.

Adaptive responses of heart and skeletal muscle to spermine oxidase overexpression: Evaluation of a new transgenic mouse model.

Spermine oxidase oxidizes spermine to produce H2O2, spermidine, and 3-aminopropanal. It is involved in cell drug response, apoptosis, and in the etiology of several pathologies, including cancer. Spermine oxidase is an important positive regulator of muscle gene expression and fiber size and, when repressed, leads to muscle atrophy. We have generated a transgenic mouse line overexpressing Smox gene in all organs, named Total-Smox. The spermine oxidase overexpression was revealed by ß-Gal staining and reverse-transcriptase/PCR analysis, in all tissues analysed. Spermine oxidase activity resulted higher in Total-Smox than controls. Considering the important role of this enzyme in muscle physiology, we have focused our study on skeletal muscle and heart of Total-Smox mice by measuring redox status and oxidative damage. We assessed the redox homeostasis through the analysis of the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio. Chronic H2O2 production induced by spermine oxidase overexpression leads to a cellular redox state imbalance in both tissues, although they show different redox adaptation. In skeletal muscle, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities were significantly increased in Total-Smox mice compared to controls. In the heart, no differences were found in CAT activity level, while GST activity decreased compared to controls. The skeletal muscle showed a lower oxidative damage than in the heart, evaluated by lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation. Altogether, our findings illustrate that skeletal muscle adapts more efficiently than heart to oxidative stress H2O2-induced. The Total-Smox line is a new genetic model useful to deepen our knowledge on the role of spermine oxidase in muscle atrophy and muscular pathological conditions like dystrophy.

Evaluation of levodopa and carbidopa antioxidant activity in normal human lymphocytes in vitro: implication for oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease.

The main pathochemical hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the loss of dopamine in the striatum of the brain, and the oral administration of levodopa (L-dopa) is a treatment that partially restores the dopaminergic transmission. In vitro assays have demonstrated both toxic and protective effects of L-dopa on dopaminergic cells, while in vivo studies have not provided any convincing data. The peripheral metabolic pathways significantly decrease the amount of L-dopa reaching the brain; therefore, all of the current commercial formulations require an association with an inhibitor of dopa-decarboxylase, such as carbidopa. However, the dosage and the actual effectiveness of carbidopa have not yet been well defined. PD patients exhibit a reduced efficiency of the endogenous antioxidant system, and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) represent a dopaminergic system for use as a cellular model to study the pharmacological treatments of neurodegenerative disorders in addition to analysing the systemic oxidative stress. According to our previous studies demonstrating a protective effect of both L-dopa and carbidopa on neuroblastoma cells in vitro, we used the PBLs of healthy donors to evaluate the modulation of DNA damage by different concentrations of L-dopa and carbidopa in the presence of oxidative stress that was exogenously induced by H2O2. We utilised a TAS assay to evaluate the in vitro direct scavenging activity of L-dopa and carbidopa and analysed the expression of genes that were involved in cellular oxidative metabolism. Our data demonstrate the antioxidant capacity of L-dopa and carbidopa and their ability to protect DNA against oxidative-induced damage that derives from different mechanisms of action.

Effects of tadalafil administration on plasma markers of exercise-induced muscle damage, IL6 and antioxidant status capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Physical exercise is associated with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, which if uncontrolled can result in tissue injury. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) exhibit protective effect against oxidative stress, both in animals and healthy/unhealthy humans. However, the effect of a chronic administration of PDE5i, particularly combined with physical exercise, has never been investigated. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the long-acting PDE5i tadalafil on oxidative status and muscle damage after exhaustive exercise in healthy males included in a double-blind crossover trial. HYPOTHESIS: Tadalafil, having a putative antioxidant activity, may reduce oxidative damage after strenuous exercise. METHODS: Each volunteer randomly received two tablets of placebo or tadalafil (20 mg/day) with 36 h of interval before performing exhaustive exercise. After 2 weeks of washout, the volunteers were crossed over. Blood samples were collected immediately before exercise, immediately after, and during recovery (15, 30, 60 min). Plasma total antioxidant status, glutathione homeostasis (GSH/GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 were assessed. RESULTS: Tadalafil administration per se affected redox homeostasis (GSH/GSSG -36%; p < 0.05), cellular (CK +75% and LDH +36%; p < 0.05) and oxidative damage (MDA +41% and protein carbonyls +50%; p < 0.05) markers. The exhaustive exercise increased all the above-reported biochemical parameters, with subjects from the tadalafil group showing significantly higher values with respect to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged exposure to tadalafil decreases antioxidant capacity at resting condition, therefore making subjects more susceptible to the oxidative stress induced by an exhaustive bout of exercise.

Oxidative stress responses to a graded maximal exercise test in older adults following explosive-type resistance training.

We recently demonstrated that low frequency, moderate intensity, explosive-type resistance training (EMRT) is highly beneficial in elderly subjects towards muscle strength and power, with a systemic adaptive response of anti-oxidant and stress-induced markers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of EMRT on oxidative stress biomarkers induced in old people (70-75 years) by a single bout of acute, intense exercise. Sixteen subjects randomly assigned to either a control, not exercising group (n=8) or a trained group performing EMRT protocol for 12-weeks (n=8), were submitted to a graded maximal exercise stress test (GXT) at baseline and after the 12-weeks of EMRT protocol, with blood samples collected before, immediately after, 1 and 24h post-GXT test. Blood glutathione (GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG), plasma malonaldehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls and creatine kinase (CK) levels, as well as PBMCs cellular damage (Comet assay, apoptosis) and stress-protein response (Hsp70 and Hsp27 expression) were evaluated. The use of multiple biomarkers allowed us to confirm that EMRT per se neither affected redox homeostasis nor induced any cellular and oxidative damage. Following the GXT, the EMRT group displayed a higher GSH/GSSG ratio and a less pronounced increase in MDA, protein carbonyls and CK levels compared to control group. Moreover, we found that Hsp70 and Hsp27 proteins were induced after GXT only in EMRT group, while any significant modification within 24h was detected in untrained group. Apoptosis rates and DNA damage did not show any significant variation in relation to EMRT and/or GXT. In conclusion, the adherence to an EMRT protocol is able to induce a cellular adaptation allowing healthy elderly trained subjects to cope with the oxidative stress induced by an acute exercise more effectively than the aged-matched sedentary subjects.

Dioxins levels in breast milk of women living in Caserta and Naples: assessment of environmental risk factors.

Naples and Caserta provinces are extensively affected by the illegal dumping of hazardous and urban wastes, which were periodically set to fire. Several studies were made on the possible health impact of this illegal waste management. The aim of the study was to detect dioxins levels in breast milk of volunteer primiparae and to assess the possible source of dioxins in the affected areas. The authors determined dioxins levels in breast milk from 100 primiparae from the study area and collected anamnestic information on donors. We determined dioxins levels in breast milk from 100 primiparae from the study area and collected anamnestic information on donors. As a measure of environmental risk of dioxins (EDR) we used the interpolated values of dioxins concentration in buffalo milk samples collected in the study area. Correlations between the EDR, age of the mother, smoking habit, cheese consumption, occupation in activity at risk, presence of plants for the disposal of toxic waste or illegal burning of solid waste near the residence of the donor and dioxin level in breast milk were investigated. The dioxin level in breast milk is significantly correlated to the EDR, the age of the sampled women and the presence of illegal burning of solid waste.

The fatty acid amide hydrolase in lymphocytes from sedentary and active subjects.

PURPOSE: Endocannabinoids (eCB) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels change during physical activity, thus suggesting their involvement in the modulation of exercise-related processes like inflammation and energy homeostasis. To investigate whether lifestyle might affect the activity of the eCB-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), active and sedentary subjects were enrolled. METHODS: Plasma IL-6 levels and lymphocyte FAAH activity of eight physically active male subjects (mean ± SEM; age = 39.3 ± 2.9 yr, body mass index = 21.1 ± 0.4 kg·m), usually practicing aerobic exercise (8.1 ± 1.2 h·wk), and eight sedentary subjects (38.8 ± 3.7 yr, body mass index = 23.1 ± 0.8 kg·m) were measured. Also, in vitro effect of IL-6 was tested on FAAH expression and activity and on FAAH promoter activity in lymphocytes from sedentary subjects. RESULTS: Under resting conditions (at least 12 h from the last exercise), the active group showed plasma IL-6 levels (2.74 ± 0.73 pg·mL) and lymphocyte FAAH activity (215.7 ± 38.5 pmol·min·mg protein) significantly higher than those measured in the sedentary group (0.20 ± 0.02 pg·mL, and 42.0 ± 4.2 pmol·min·mg protein). Increased IL-6 levels paralleled increased FAAH activity, and consistently, the in vitro treatment of lymphocytes from sedentary individuals with 10 ng·mL IL-6 for 48 h significantly increased FAAH expression and activity. Transient transfection experiments showed that IL-6 induced the expression of a reporter gene under the control of a cAMP response element-like region in the human FAAH promoter. A mutation in the same element abolished IL-6 up-regulation, demonstrating that this cytokine regulates FAAH activity at the transcriptional level. CONCLUSION: IL-6 leads to activation of the FAAH promoter, thus enhancing FAAH activity that modulates the eCB tone in physically active people.