PTEN inhibitor bpV(HOpic) confers protection against ionizing radiation.

Exposure to Ionizing radiation (IR) poses a severe threat to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop potent and safe radioprotective agents for radio-nuclear emergencies. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) mediates its cytoprotective signaling against IR by phosphorylating membrane phospholipids to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 triphosphate, PIP3, that serve as a docking site for AKT. Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN) antagonizes PI3K activity by dephosphorylating PIP3, thus suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling that could prevent IR induced cytotoxicity. The current study was undertaken to investigate the radioprotective potential of PTEN inhibitor (PTENi), bpV(HOpic). The cell cytotoxicity, proliferation index, and clonogenic survival assays were performed for assessing the radioprotective potential of bpV(HOpic). A safe dose of bpV(HOpic) was shown to be radioprotective in three radiosensitive tissue origin cells. Further, bpV(HOpic) significantly reduced the IR-induced apoptosis and associated pro-death signaling. A faster and better DNA repair kinetics was also observed in bpV(HOpic) pretreated cells exposed to IR. Additionally, bpV(HOpic) decreased the IR-induced oxidative stress and significantly enhanced the antioxidant defense mechanism in cells. The radioprotective effect of bpV(HOpic) was found to be AKT dependant and primarily regulated by the enhanced glycolysis and associated signaling. Furthermore, this in-vitro observation was verified in-vivo, where administration of bpV(HOpic) in C57BL/6 mice resulted in AKT activation and conferred survival advantage against IR-induced mortality. These results imply that bpV(HOpic) ameliorates IR-induced oxidative stress and cell death by inducing AKT signaling mediated antioxidant defense system and DNA repair pathways, thus strengthening its potential to be used as a radiation countermeasure.

The limitations of using the NTP chronic bioassay on vanadium pentoxide in risk assessments.

Regulatory interest in assessing the health effects of vanadium compounds is hindered by the limited chronic toxicity data available. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a robust chronic inhalation bioassay of crystalline vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), but this study has noteworthy limitations. Multiple dose range-finding studies were conducted at two separate laboratories that showed cross-laboratory differences in lung pathology (inflammation) in both species and likely complicated dose-selection. In mice, the only tissue pathology (inflammation and tumors) was at the site of entry, the respiratory system. Although significantly different from control, because lung tumor incidences were at a maximal level across all concentrations tested, the ability to extrapolate risks to the public is problematic. In rats, lung inflammation and vanadium lung burdens were comparable to those of mice, but lung tumorigenicity was not substantiated, further raising questions about appropriate species extrapolation. Open questions also exist regarding test material chemical characterization, as the laboratory relied on vanadium measurement in test chambers as a surrogate for V2O5. In sum, the NTP V2O5 study does not provide an appropriate dataset for purposes of classification and risk assessment. Additional repeat exposure studies of vanadium compounds are needed and recommendations for future studies are provided.

pH-activated heat shock protein inhibition and radical generation enhanced NIR luminescence imaging-guided photothermal tumour ablation.

Photothermal therapy had great potential in being a new approach of tumour ablation due to their high selectivity and low side effect. However, the shallow penetration depth of near-infrared (NIR) irradiation resulted in the limited curative effect. Herein, a novel nanomedicine was developed based on the indocyanine green-loaded vanadium oxide nanocomposites (VO2-ICG) for pH-activated NIR luminescence imaging-guided enhanced photothermal tumour ablation. In acidic tumour microenvironment, the VO2 NPs were decomposed and released VO2+, which could not only inhibit the function of 60 kDa heat shock protein (HSP60), but also generate hydroxyl radical (OH) by catalysing intratumoral H2O2. Furthermore, the ICG was also released in the decomposition process of VO2 NPs, allowing the pH-activated NIR luminescence imaging and photothermal therapy. The inhibition of HSP60 down-regulated the heat tolerance of cells and the generation of OH up-regulated the intracellular oxidative stress, which enhanced the photothermal therapeutic efficiency. Our work demonstrated a promised method to enhance photothermal therapeutic effect, highlighting the importance of HSP inhibition and OH generation in promoting cell apoptosis under mild hyperthermia.

A novel squaramide compound alleviates cognitive deficits through activation of Akt and Erk1/2 in a rat model of vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, yet no effective treatment for it exists. Akt and Erk1/2 signaling pathways are involved in neuronal survival. It has been reported that bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide), a novel squaramide compound, protects against cerebral ischemia injury via activation of Akt and Erk1/2. Here, the potential neuroprotective effect of bisperoxovanadium is shown for the first time in a model of vascular dementia induced in 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by two-vessel occlusion injury applied to 6-month-old. Following this lesion, bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide) (1 mg/kg/day) was intragastrically administered for four successive weeks. The Morris water maze test estimated cognitive function. The morphological examination was performed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Akt and Erk1/2 protein abundance were assessed by Western blot. Results showed that bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide) attenuated not only cognitive dysfunction but also alleviated histopathological changes in rats with vascular dementia. Moreover, bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide) ultimately reduced neuronal apoptosis represented by the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the CA1 (cornu ammonis 1) region of the hippocampus. Importantly, the levels of p-Akt(ser473) and p-Erk1/2(Thr202/Tyr204>) were increased after treatment with bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide). It is concluded that the novel squaramide compound bisperoxovanadium (pyridin-2-squaramide) might be effective in the treatment of vascular dementia by activation of Akt and Erk1/2.

Ameliorative effect of an oxovanadium (IV) complex against oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the chemoprotective efficacy of an L-cysteine-based oxovanadium (IV) complex, namely, oxovanadium (IV)-L-cysteine methyl ester complex (VC-IV) against cisplatin (CDDP)-induced renal injury in Swiss albino mice. METHODS: CDDP was administered intraperitoneally (5 mg/kg body weight) and VC-IV was administered orally (1 mg/kg body weight) in concomitant and 7 days pre-treatment schedule. RESULTS: CDDP-treated mice showed marked kidney damage and renal failure. Administration of VC-IV caused significant attenuation of renal oxidative stress and elevation of antioxidant status. VC-IV also significantly decreased serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and improved histopathological lesions. Western blot analysis of the kidneys showed that VC-IV treatment resulted in nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) through modulation of cytosolic Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1. Thus, VC-IV stimulated Nrf2-mediated activation of antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway and promoted expression of ARE-driven cytoprotective proteins, heme oxygenase 1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes. Interestingly, VC-IV did not alter the bioavailability and renal accumulation of CDDP in mice. DISCUSSION: In this study, VC-IV exhibited strong nephroprotective efficacy by restoring antioxidant defense mechanisms and hence may serve as a promising chemoprotectant in cancer chemotherapy.

Evaluation of cII mutations in lung of male Big Blue mice exposed by inhalation to vanadium pentoxide for up to 8 weeks.

Chronic inhalation of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) increases the incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar tumors in male and female B6C3F1 mice at 1, 2, or 4 mg/m(3). The genotoxicity of V2O5 has been extensively investigated in the literature with mixed results. In general, tests for gene mutations have been negative. Both positive and negative results were reported for clastogenicity in vitro with some reports suggesting aneugenic potential. In vivo, V2O5 was negative in the mouse micronucleus test (erythrocyte) and comet assay (lung). Previously, K-ras mutations have been detected in the lung tumors in mice exposed to V2O5. Recently, a short-term inhalation study in B6C3F1 mice reported slight induction of 8-oxodGuo DNA lesions in lungs. Because 8-oxodGuo DNA lesions can lead to gene mutations if not repaired or if misrepaired, we have used groups of transgenic Big Blue (BB) mice (B6C3F1) to test whether V2O5 has mutagenic potential in vivo in the tumor target tissue under the conditions of the bioassay. Groups of six male BB mice were exposed to particulate aerosols containing 0, 0.1, or 1 mg/m(3) (tumorigenic concentration) V2O5 for 4 or 8 weeks (6h/day, 5 days/week) and cII mutant frequencies (MFs) were evaluated in the right lungs. A significant increase in lung weight was noted in mice exposed to 1 mg/m(3) V2O5 (P ≤ 0.05) compared to sham control, confirming exposure to an inflammatory level of the test material. The mean MFs (× 10(-6)) of mice in the 4-week exposure groups were 30 (sham control), 39 (0.1 mg/m(3)), and 24 (1 mg/m(3)) while the corresponding values in the 8-week exposure groups were 29, 48, and 17, respectively. None of these cII MFs measured at any time point was significantly higher than the corresponding control MFs (P ≥ 0.1). Overall, these results suggest that mutagenicity is not likely to be an initial key event in the lung tumorigenicity of V2O5.

Quantification of Kras mutant fraction in the lung DNA of mice exposed to aerosolized particulate vanadium pentoxide by inhalation.

This study investigated whether Kras mutation is an early event in the development of lung tumors induced by inhalation of particulate vanadium pentoxide (VP) aerosols. A National Toxicology Program tumor bioassay of inhaled particulate VP aerosols established that VP-induced alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas of the B6C3F1 mouse lung carried Kras mutations at a higher frequency than observed in spontaneous mouse lung tumors. Therefore, this study sought to: (1) characterize any Kras mutational response with respect to VP exposure concentration, and (2) investigate the possibility that amplification of preexisting Kras mutation is an early event in VP-induced mouse lung tumorigenesis. Male Big Blue B6C3F1 mice (6 mice/group) were exposed to aerosolized particulate VP by inhalation, 6h/day, 5 days/week for 4 or 8 weeks, using VP exposure concentrations of 0, 0.1, and 1 mg/m(3). The levels of two different Kras codon 12 mutations [GGT → GAT (G12D) and GGT → GTT (G12V)] were measured in lung DNAs by Allele-specific Competitive Blocker PCR (ACB-PCR). For both exposure concentrations (0.1 and 1.0mg/m(3)) and both time points (4 and 8 weeks), the mutant fractions observed in VP-exposed mice were not significantly different from the concurrent controls. Given that 8 weeks of inhalation of a tumorigenic concentration of particulate aerosols of VP did not result in a significant change in levels of lung Kras mutation, the data do not support either a direct genotoxic effect of VP on Kras or early amplification of preexisting mutation as being involved in the genesis of VP-induced mouse lung tumors under the exposure conditions used. Rather, the data suggest that accumulation of Kras mutation occurs later with chronic VP exposure and is likely not an early event in VP-induced mouse lung carcinogenesis.

A comparative study of the toxicological aspects of vanadium pentoxide and vanadium oxide nanoparticles.

Indiscriminate use of vanadium oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in steel industries and their release during combustion of fossil fuels makes it essential to study their toxic potential. Herein, we assessed the toxicological effects of two types of in-house synthesized vanadium oxide NPs in Wistar rats exposed to NPs through inhalation route. V2O5 and VO2 NPs exhibited rod and spherical symmetry, respectively with a mean diameter of 50±20 and 30±10 nm. Assessment of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid parameters demonstrated that VO2 NP-exposed animals had higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase as compared to V2O5 NP-exposed animals. The levels of oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione also indicated higher toxic potential of VO2 NPs. Moreover, after 7-day recovery, the levels of the above parameters were closer to normal levels only in V2O5-exposed animals. Interestingly, histopathological and immune-histopathology analysis (TNF-α) of lung tissue showed higher damage and inflammatory response in VO2 NP-exposed animals, which persisted even after 7 days of recovery period. Surprisingly, the carcinogenic potential of vanadium oxide NPs came into light which was indicated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay as well as the decreased levels of p53 and Bax, in lung tissue of NP-exposed animals. Notably, the physiochemical characterization of NPs, especially the shape and the size, play a central role in shaping the toxicity of these NPs and thus should be extensively evaluated for outlining the regulatory guidelines.

The safe use of a PTEN inhibitor for the activation of dormant mouse primordial follicles and generation of fertilizable eggs.

BACKGROUND: Primordial ovarian follicles, which are often present in the ovaries of premature ovarian failure (POF) patients or are cryopreserved from the ovaries of young cancer patients who are undergoing gonadotoxic anticancer therapies, cannot be used to generate mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization (IVF). There has been very little success in triggering growth of primordial follicles to obtain fertilizable oocytes due to the poor understanding of the biology of primordial follicle activation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have recently reported that PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten) prevents primordial follicle activation in mice, and deletion of Pten from the oocytes of primordial follicles leads to follicular activation. Consequently, the PTEN inhibitor has been successfully used in vitro to activate primordial follicles in both mouse and human ovaries. These results suggest that PTEN inhibitors could be used in ovarian culture medium to trigger the activation of primordial follicle. To study the safety and efficacy of the use of such inhibitors, we activated primordial follicles from neonatal mouse ovaries by transient treatment with a PTEN inhibitor bpV(HOpic). These ovaries were then transplanted under the kidney capsules of recipient mice to generate mature oocytes. The mature oocytes were fertilized in vitro and progeny mice were obtained after embryo transfer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Long-term monitoring up to the second generation of progeny mice showed that the mice were reproductively active and were free from any overt signs or symptoms of chronic illnesses. Our results indicate that the use of PTEN inhibitors could be a safe and effective way of generating mature human oocytes for use in novel IVF techniques.

Inhalative exposure to vanadium pentoxide causes DNA damage in workers: results of a multiple end point study.

BACKGROUND: Inhalative exposure to vanadium pentoxide (V(2)O(5)) causes lung cancer in rodents. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of V(2)O(5) on DNA stability in workers from a V(2)O(5) factory. METHODS: We determined DNA strand breaks in leukocytes of 52 workers and controls using the alkaline comet assay. We also investigated different parameters of chromosomal instability in lymphocytes of 23 workers and 24 controls using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) cytome method. RESULTS: Seven of eight biomarkers were increased in blood cells of the workers, and vanadium plasma concentrations in plasma were 7-fold higher than in the controls (0.31 microg/L). We observed no difference in DNA migration under standard conditions, but we found increased tail lengths due to formation of oxidized purines (7%) and pyrimidines (30%) with lesion-specific enzymes (formamidopyrimidine glycosylase and endonuclease III) in the workers. Bleomycin-induced DNA migration was higher in the exposed group (25%), whereas the repair of bleomycin-induced lesions was reduced. Workers had a 2.5-fold higher MN frequency, and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (Nbuds) were increased 7-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Also, apoptosis and necrosis rates were higher, but only the latter parameter reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: V(2)O(5) causes oxidation of DNA bases, affects DNA repair, and induces formation of MNs, NPBs, and Nbuds in blood cells, suggesting that the workers are at increased risk for cancer and other diseases that are related to DNA instability.

Spleen and bone marrow megakaryocytes as targets for inhaled vanadium.

An increased incidence in ischemic and thromboembolic events in the population of cities with rising air suspended particle pollution has suggested the interaction of some of the components of these particles in the coagulation system. A previous report from our laboratory identified thrombocytosis as a consequence of the subacute and chronic inhalation of vanadium. With this preceding information we decided to evaluate the effects of this element in the spleen and bone marrow in a mouse experimental model. CD-1 male mice inhaled V2O5 0.02 M for one hour twice a week for twelve weeks. The spleen and bone marrow were processed for light microscopy. The increase in quantity and size of megakaryocytes (MKs) in the exposed group in both organs was striking. Also, modifications in the cytoplasm, granule content and nuclear ultrastructure were evident. Our results indicate the influence of vanadium on megakaryopoyesis, an effect which could be the onset of the thrombocytosis previously reported by our group. The modifications in MKs described here suggest that inhaled vanadium could induce megakaryocytic proliferation, which may result in increased production of platelets and increased risk for thromboembolic events.

Vanadyl sulfate protects against streptozotocin-induced morphological and biochemical changes in rat aorta.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of vanadyl sulfate on aorta tissue of normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, morphologically and biochemically. The animals were made diabetic by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and vanadyl sulfate (100 mg/kg) that was given every day for 60 days by gavage technique to rats. Under the light and transmission electron microscopes, hypertrophy of the vessel wall, focal disruption in the elastic lamellae, an increase in thickness of total aortic wall, tunica intima, subendothelial space and adventitial layer, and a disorganization in smooth muscular cells of the tunica media were observed in diabetic animals. The aorta lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were significantly increased and the aorta glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly reduced in STZ diabetic rats. In diabetic rats administered vanadyl sulfate for 60 days, aorta LPO levels significantly decreased and the aorta GSH level significantly increased. In conclusion, in vivo treatment with vanadyl sulfate of diabetic rats prevented the morphological and biochemical changes observed in thoracic aorta of diabetic animals.

Thrombocytosis induced in mice after subacute and subchronic V2O5 inhalation.

Reports about vanadium (V) inhalation toxicity on the hematopoietic system, specifically about coagulation are limited. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the effects of V with a complete blood count and morphologic analysis of platelets on blood smears. CD-1 male mice inhaled V2O5 0.02 M 1 h twice weekly over 12 weeks. Blood samples were obtained by direct heart puncture; Wright stained smears were used for platelet quantification. An increase in platelet count from the third week of exposure was observed, as well as the presence of megaplatelets. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that V induces thrombocytosis and it might correlate with some thromboembolic diseases. Further analysis is needed to evaluate the functionality of these platelets as well as the cause of its increase.

Vanadyl sulfate administration protects the streptozotocin-induced oxidative damage to brain tissue in rats.

Diabetes mellitus manifests itself in a wide variety of complications and the symptoms of the disease are multifactorial. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of vanadyl sulfate on biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and brain lipid peroxidation, glutathione and nonenzymatic glycosylation of normal- and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered as a single dose (65 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. A dose of 100 mg/kg vanadyl sulfate was orally administered daily to STZ-diabetic and normal rats, separately until the end of the experiment, at day 60. In STZ-diabetic group, blood glucose, serum sialic and uric acid levels, serum catalase (CAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, brain lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) increased, while brain glutathione (GSH) level and body weight decreased. In the diabetic group given vanadyl sulfate, blood glucose, serum sialic and uric acid levels, serum CAT and LDH activities and brain LPO and NEG levels decreased, but brain GSH and body weight increased. The present study showed that vanadyl sulfate exerted antioxidant effects and consequently may prevent brain damage caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Differences in plasma homocysteine levels between Zucker fatty and Zucker diabetic fatty rats following 3 weeks oral administration of organic vanadium compounds.

PURPOSE: Recently, our laboratory group has reported that rats with Type 1 diabetes have decreased plasma homocysteine and cysteine levels compared to non-diabetic controls and that organic vanadium treatment increased plasma homocysteine concentrations to non-diabetic concentrations. However, to date, no studies have been done investigating the effects of organic vanadium compounds on plasma homocysteine and its metabolites in Type 2 diabetic animal model. These studies examined the effect of organic vanadium compounds [bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) and bis(ethylmaltolato)oxovanadium(IV); BMOV and BEOV] administered orally on plasma concentrations of homocysteine and its metabolites (cysteine and cysteinylglycine) in lean, Zucker fatty (ZF) and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. ZF rats are a model of pre-diabetic Type 2 diabetes characterized by hyperinsulinemia and normoglycemia. The ZDF rat is a model of Type 2 diabetes characterized by relative hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. METHODS: Zucker lean and ZF rats received BMOV in the drinking water at a dose of 0.19 +/- 0.02 mmol/kg/day. Lean and ZDF rats received BEOV by oral gavage daily at dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. The treatment period for both studies was 21 days. At termination, animals were fasted overnight (approximately 16 h) and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for determination of plasma glucose, insulin and homocysteine levels. Plasma homocysteine and its metabolites levels were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Plasma glucose was determined using a Glucose Analyzer 2. Plasma insulin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Plasma triglycerides were determined by an enzymatic assay methodology. RESULTS: ZF (n = 4) and ZDF (n = 10) rats had significantly lower plasma homocysteine as compared to their respective lean groups (ZF 0.78 +/- 0.1 micromol/L vs. Zucker lean 2.19 +/- 0.7 micromol/L; ZDF 1.71 +/- 0.2 micromol/L vs. Zucker lean 3.02 +/- 0.3 micromol/L; p < 0.05). BMOV treatment in ZF rats restored plasma homocysteine levels to those observed in lean untreated rats (ZF treated: 2.04 +/- 0.2 micromol/L; lean 2.19 +/- 0.7 micromol/L). There was a modest effect of BMOV treatment on plasma glucose levels in ZF rats. BEOV treatment significantly decreased the elevated plasma glucose levels in the ZDF rats (lean 7.9 +/- 0.1 mmol/L; lean + vanadium 7.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/L; ZDF 29.9 +/- 0.4 mmol/L; ZDF + vanadium 17.4 +/- 0.3 mmol/L, p < 0.05). Organic vanadium treatment reduced cysteine levels in both ZF and ZDF rats. No differences in total plasma cysteinylglycine concentrations were observed. CONCLUSION: Plasma homocysteine levels are significantly reduced in a pre-diabetic model of Type 2 diabetes, which was restored to lean levels upon vanadium treatment; however, this restoration of plasma homocysteine levels was not seen in ZDF Type 2 diabetic rats following vanadium treatment. In the latter case vanadium treatment may not have totally overcome the insulin resistance seen in these animals.

Effect of vanadyl sulfate on the status of lipid parameters and on stomach and spleen tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Experimental evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of vanadyl sulfate on blood glucose, serum and tissue lipid profiles and on stomach and spleen tissues in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In this study, male 6-6.5-month-old Swiss albino rats were used. Rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I: control animals (normal, nondiabetic animals) (n = 13); Group II: vanadyl sulfate controls (n = 5); Group III: streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic, untreated animals (n = 11); and Group IV: STZ diabetic animals given vanadyl sulfate (n = 11). Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ in a single dose of 65 mg kg(-1) body weight. Vanadyl sulfate was administered by gavage at a dose of 100 mg kg(-1). The levels of cholesterol, phospholipid, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-), triglycerides and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in serum and cholesterol in liver were assayed according to standard procedures. The levels of lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) and nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) in stomach and lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) in spleen tissues were analyzed. After 60 days of treatment, serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, VLDL-cholesterol, LPO, blood glucose levels, stomach LPO and NEG, spleen LPO significantly increased, but serum HDL-cholesterol, stomach GSH and spleen GSH levels significantly decreased in the diabetic group. On the other hand, treatment with vanadyl sulfate reversed these effects. These results reveal that diabetes mellitus increased oxidative damage in stomach and spleen tissues and vanadyl sulfate has an ameliorating effect on the oxidative stress via its antioxidant property. The administration of vanadyl sulfate may be able to reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia related to the risk of diabetes mellitus.

[Therapeutic potential of vanadium in treating diabetes mellitus].

The patients suffered from diabetes mellitus (DM) are increasing year by year through the world. DM is classified into two groups, insulin-dependent type 1 and non-insulin-dependent type 2. Recent research has demonstrated that vanadate (VO3-, oxidation state+5) and vanadyl (VO2+, oxidation state+4) both mimic various actions of insulin in cellular systems. In 1985, vanadate given orally as a drinking water to streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic type 1 diabetic rats (STZ-rats) was found to reduce the high levels of blood glucose down to normal levels and ameliorated many of the aberrations induced by hyperglycemia. In 1990, we proposed first orally active vanadyl complexes such as vanadyl-cysteine methylester and vanadyl-oxalate complexes in STZ-rats. Since then, we have developed orally active vanadyl complexes with different coordination modes. Among them, vanadyl-picolinate complexes with VO(N2O2) coordination mode were found to be potent orally active insulin-mimetic agents, on the basis of the results on in vitro test using isolated rat adipocytes with respect to the inhibition of the release of free fatty acids (FFA) from the cells and in vivo evaluation (intraperitoneal injection and oral administration) in STZ-rats. Based on the results, the usefulness of vanadium complexes in treating and preventing DM has been revealed, proposing a possible action mechanism.

Carcinogenicity of inhaled vanadium pentoxide in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice.

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is a slightly soluble compound found in airborne particle emissions from metallurgical works and oil and coal burning. Because the carcinogenic potential of V2O5 was not known, F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (N=50/sex/species) were exposed to V2O5 at concentrations of 0, 0.5 (rats only), 1, 2, or 4 (mice only) mg/m3, by whole-body inhalation for 2 years. The survival and body weights of rats were minimally affected by exposure to V2O5. The survival and body weights of male mice exposed to 4 mg/m3 and body weights of all exposed groups of female mice were lower than the controls. Alveolar/bronchiolar (A/B) neoplasms occurred in male rats exposed to 0.5 and 2 mg/m3 at incidences exceeding the National Toxicology Program (NTP) historical control ranges. A marginal increase in A/B neoplasms was also observed in female rats exposed to 0.5 mg/m3. Increases in chronic inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and alveolar and bronchiolar hyperplasia/metaplasia and squamous metaplasia were observed in exposed male and female rats. A/B neoplasms were significantly increased in all groups of exposed mice. As with rats, increases in chronic inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia were observed in mice exposed to V2O5. Thus, V2O5 exposure was a pulmonary carcinogen in male rats and male and female mice. The marginal tumor response in the lungs of female rats could not be attributed conclusively to exposure to V2O5. These responses were noted at and slightly above the OSHA permissible occupational exposure limit of 0.5 mg/m3 (dust) (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1997, p. 328).

Normalization of hyperglycaemia by oral vanadyl sulfate does not reverse diabetes-induced protection against cisplatin nephrotoxicity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Streptozotocin- and galactose-induced diabetic rats are protected against nephrotoxic effects of cisplatin. While the mechanism remains to be defined, protection is associated with a decrease in the accumulation of platinum in renal cortical tissues of streptozotocin-diabetic versus non-diabetic rats. A physiological abnormality common to streptozotocin and galactosemic models of diabetes is hyperglycaemia, suggesting that elevated sugars are involved in mediating protection of diabetic kidney against cisplatin nephrotoxicity. The current study focused on the effect of normalization of hyperglycaemia by vanadyl sulfate trihydrate on the initiation of protection and accumulation of platinum in kidneys of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were treated with 0.75 mg/ml of vanadyl sulfate trihydrate in drinking water to normalize streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia. Vanadyl sulfate treatment normalized plasma glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in streptozotocin-diabetic rats to values observed for non-diabetic rats. Intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) increased blood urea nitrogen by a factor >2.5 over baseline in both untreated and vanadyl-treated non-diabetic groups. Cisplatin-induced increases in blood urea nitrogen were 1.6 times baseline in both untreated and vanadyl-treated streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Renal platinum accumulation was significantly lower in streptozotocin-diabetic versus non-diabetic rats regardless of vanadyl sulfate treatment. Renal vanadium levels in all groups of diabetic rats were not significantly different from each other. These results indicate that normalization of plasma glucose levels with vanadyl sulfate in streptozotocin-diabetic rats did not reverse protection of streptozotocin-diabetic kidney against cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Beneficial effects of a vanadium complex with cysteine, administered at low doses on benzo(alpha)pyrene-induced leiomyosarcomas in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Vanadium is a potent environmental and body metal, possessing remarkable antitumor and antidiabetic properties. Vanadium salts and complexes have been widely investigated for their anticarcinogenic properties in experimental carcinogenesis. In the present study the antitumor effects of a new vanadium complex with cysteine in relation to identical doses of vanadyl sulfate and cysteine, in tumor bearing rats are investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male wistar rats were injected with benzo(alpha)pyrene and divided into four groups of 21 rats each. Control group was treated only with BaP. The first group(TR-1) was treated by vanadyl sulfate per os at daily doses of 0.5 mg of V/kg b.w per day. The second (TR-2) by cysteine at doses of 4.5 mg/kg b.w per day and the third group (TR-3), by the complex V(III)-cysteine at daily doses of V 0.5 mg/kg b.w (containing cysteine at concentrations of 4.5 mg/b.w). Treatment was started when tumors were developed (evidenced from a palbable mass at the site of Bap injection) and went on till death. Toxicological tests were performed in 27 rats divided into a control group and two test groups; T-1 administered with vanadyl sulfate at daily doses of 18.5 mg V/kg b.w and T-2 group with V(III)-cysteine complex at daily doses of 18.5 V/kg b.w, for 9 weeks. Mean survival time, death rate, tumor growth rate, the carcinogenic potency of BaP, and the anticarcinogenic potency in relation to histological findings in each treatment group were calculated in each group in order to evaluate the antitumor effects of the substances used. RESULTS: Vanadyl sulfate, cysteine and V(III)-cysteine exerted antitumor effects on leiomyosarcoma bearing Wistar rats. However, V(III)-complex exerted much more potent effects than the other treatments, significantly prolonging mean survival time, retarding tumor growth rate and decreasing the carcinogenic potency of BaP in the TR-3 group, in comparison to the control and the TR-1 and TR-2 groups. Moreover V(III)-cysteine complex resulted in complete remission of 4 (19.7%) of the tumor bearing rats. Blood, urine, biochemical routine tests as well as autopsy did not reveal any toxic effects either of vanadyl sulafate or V(III)-cysteine complex. CONCLUSIONS: Vanadyl sulfate, cysteine and V(III)-cysteine complex exerted antitumor effects in tumor bearing rats. The V(III)-cysteine complex, however, exerts much more potent effects, as evident from the results of the present study. These beneficial effects of the above complex, in combination with its low toxicity provide evidence suggest its possible application in the treatment of human malignant diseases.