RESUMO
We previously reported that microRNA (miRNA) is present in human breast milk. Recently, other groups have reported that bovine milk also contains miRNA; however, these reports are few. We therefore investigated bovine milk miRNA using microarray and quantitative PCR analyses to identify the differences between colostrum and mature milk. The RNA concentration in a colostrum whey fraction was higher than that in a mature milk whey fraction. In total, 102 miRNA were detected in bovine milk by microarray analysis (100 in colostrum and 53 in mature milk; 51 were common to both). Among these miRNA, we selected several immune- and development-related miRNA, including miR-15b, miR-27b, miR-34a, miR-106b, miR-130a, miR-155, and miR-223. These miRNA were detected in bovine milk by quantitative PCR, and each of these miRNA was significantly more highly expressed in colostrum than in mature milk. We also confirmed the presence of some mRNA in bovine milk. Nevertheless, synthesized miRNA spiked in the raw milk whey were degraded, and naturally existing miRNA and mRNA in raw milk were resistant to acidic conditions and RNase treatment. The RNA molecules in milk were stable. We also detected miRNA and mRNA in infant formulas purchased from Japanese markets. It is still unknown whether milk-derived RNA molecules play biological roles in infants; however, if milk-derived RNA do show functions in infants, our data will help guide future studies.
Assuntos
MicroRNAs/análise , Leite/química , RNA Mensageiro/análise , Animais , Bovinos , Colostro/química , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Fórmulas Infantis/química , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase ReversaRESUMO
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ(10)) levels in human saliva were measured by HPLC with a highly sensitive electrochemical detector (ECD) and a special concentration column. This HPLC system showed satisfactory analytical results within the standard range of 0.78-50 ng/ml. We also found a significant correlation between CoQ(10) levels in plasma and in saliva from parotid glands, while this correlation was lacking between plasma CoQ10 and CoQ10 in whole saliva. Unlike in plasma, there are some fluctuations of saliva CoQ(10) levels throughout the day. A good correlation was obtained by collecting parotid gland saliva at times between meals. The mean saliva CoQ(10) level for 55 healthy volunteers was 17.0 ng/ml (S.D. 6.8 ng/ml); approximately one fiftieth of that in plasma. Regarding the influence of oral supplementation, CoQ(10) was analyzed in plasma and parotid gland saliva from 20 healthy volunteers supplemented daily with 100 mg of CoQ(10) for the first week and 200 mg for the second. The plasma CoQ(10) levels of all volunteers increased to different extents in accordance with the CoQ(10) daily intake and the corresponding change in saliva showed almost the same trend.
Assuntos
Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão/métodos , Saliva/química , Ubiquinona/análogos & derivados , Administração Oral , Coenzimas , Humanos , Glândula Parótida/química , Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias/sangue , Ubiquinona/administração & dosagem , Ubiquinona/análise , Ubiquinona/sangueRESUMO
VDR forms heterodimers with one of three RXRs, RXR alpha, RXR beta, and RXR gamma, and it is thought that RXR ligands can also modulate the trans-activation function of VDR/RXR heterodimers. In the present study we generated VDR/RXR gamma double null mutant mice to examine the convergent actions of vitamin D and vitamin A signaling and to explore the possibility of a functionally redundant VDR. Although RXR gamma(-/-) mice exhibited no overt abnormalities, VDR(-/-)/RXR gamma(-/-) mice appeared similar to VDR(-/-) mice, showing features typical of vitamin D-dependent rickets type II, including growth retardation, impaired bone formation, hypocalcemia, and alopecia. However, compared to VDR(-/-) mice, growth plate development in VDR(-/-)/RXR gamma(-/-) mutant mice was more severely impaired. Normalizing mineral ion homeostasis through dietary supplementation with high calcium and phosphorous effectively prevented rachitic abnormalities, except for disarranged growth plates in VDR(-/-)/RXR gamma(-/-) mutant mice, and alopecia in both VDR(-/-) and VDR(-/-)/RXR gamma(-/-) mutant mice. Histological analysis of VDR(-/-)/RXR gamma(-/-) growth plates revealed that development of the hypertrophic chondrocytes was selectively impaired. Thus, our findings indicated that the combined actions of VDR- and RXR gamma-mediated signals are essential for the normal development of growth plate chondrocytes, and raised the possibility that a functionally redundant VDR is present on chondrocytes as a heterodimer with RXR gamma.
Assuntos
Lâmina de Crescimento/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Receptores de Calcitriol/deficiência , Receptores do Ácido Retinoico/deficiência , Fatores de Transcrição/deficiência , Animais , Apoptose/fisiologia , Osso e Ossos/patologia , Osso e Ossos/fisiopatologia , Condrócitos/patologia , Dieta , Lâmina de Crescimento/patologia , Homeostase , Hipertrofia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout/genética , Minerais/administração & dosagem , Minerais/metabolismo , Osteoclastos/fisiologia , Fenótipo , Receptores de Calcitriol/genética , Receptores do Ácido Retinoico/genética , Receptores X de Retinoides , Fatores de Transcrição/genéticaRESUMO
Nine isoflavonoids including a new pterocarpene, puemiricarpene, were isolated from the tuberous root of Pueraria mirifica (Leguminosae). The structure of puemiricarpene was determined by spectroscopic means. Estrogenic activity of the isolated isoflavonoids was tested using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Moderate activity was observed for kwakhurin, a prenylated isoflavonoid.
Assuntos
Estrogênios não Esteroides/química , Estrogênios não Esteroides/farmacologia , Fabaceae/química , Flavonoides/química , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Plantas Medicinais , Humanos , Isoflavonas , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
Chemopreventive effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLF), which is found at high concentrations in colostrum, on rat bladder carcinogenesis were investigated using a rat bladder medium-term bioassay. In experiment 1, a total of 80 F344 male rats, 6 weeks old, were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) in the drinking water for 8 weeks and after a 1-week interval, received dietary supplementation with 2% and 0.2% bLF, respectively. Group 3 received 0.05% BBN for 8 weeks and then no treatment. Group 4 was administered 2% bLF alone from week 9, without prior carcinogen exposure. Group 5 was maintained without any treatment throughout the experiment. All rats were killed at the end of week 36. Group 1 demonstrated a significantly decreased multiplicity of the bladder tumors (carcinomas and papillomas) as compared with group 3. Maximum cut surface areas of bladder tumors were also significantly decreased in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3. No bladder tumors were observed in groups 4 or 5. In experiment 2, a total of 60 rats were divided into two groups (30 rats each); both were treated with 0.05% BBN for 4 weeks and after a 1-week interval, one received 2% bLF (group 1) and the other, basal diet (group 2) for 4 weeks. Group 1 demonstrated a tendency for decrease of the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index. bLF was detected in the urine of rats fed bLF by ELISA as well as western blot analysis. The findings indicate that 2% bLF can inhibit BBN-induced rat bladder carcinogenesis, and that this may be due to bLF in the urine.
Assuntos
Anticarcinógenos/uso terapêutico , Lactoferrina/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Bexiga Urinária/prevenção & controle , Acetiltransferases/metabolismo , Animais , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Butilidroxibutilnitrosamina , Carcinógenos , Bovinos , Cloretos/urina , Ingestão de Líquidos/efeitos dos fármacos , Ingestão de Alimentos/efeitos dos fármacos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Fígado/anatomia & histologia , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Mucosa/efeitos dos fármacos , Mucosa/enzimologia , Tamanho do Órgão/efeitos dos fármacos , Ornitina Descarboxilase/metabolismo , Potássio/urina , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos F344 , Sódio/urina , Bexiga Urinária/efeitos dos fármacos , Bexiga Urinária/enzimologia , Neoplasias da Bexiga Urinária/induzido quimicamenteRESUMO
The influence of ethyl 3-(4'-geranyloxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoate (EGMP) on the initiation and post-initiation stages of colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male F344 rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM). In experimental protocol 1, EGMP was given in the diet at 0.1 or 0.2% for 1 week together with two s.c. 15 mg/kg body weight injections of AOM on days 1 and 7 (initiation period). In protocol 2, the test compound was administered starting at week 3(post initiation stage), and in protocol 3, the test compound was given throughout the experimental period(whole stage). Sacrifice and quantitation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) was performed at the end of week 5. Dose-dependent decreases in numbers of ACF were noted with both cases of post-initiation and whole period exposure (protocol 2 and 3), large size lesions considered most likely to be precursor lesions also being significantly reduced in the protocol 2(4-9 crypt size total with the 0.2% dose group, 48.9% and 59.6% of control values, respectively). No effects on body or liver weights were evident. The present results thus suggest that EGMP might find application as a chemopreventive agent against colon tumor development.
Assuntos
Anticarcinógenos/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias do Colo/prevenção & controle , Lesões Pré-Cancerosas/prevenção & controle , Terpenos/uso terapêutico , Animais , Azoximetano/toxicidade , Neoplasias do Colo/induzido quimicamente , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos F344RESUMO
The red blood cell (RBC) glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and selenium (Se) concentration were measured in healthy Japanese pregnant women and in non-pregnant controls. The GSHPx activities in RBC of full-term pregnant women were significantly higher than in non-pregnant women (p less than 0.01). The Se concentrations in RBC of full-term pregnant women were significantly higher than in non-pregnant controls (p less than 0.05). In the whole blood of full-term pregnant women a positive correlation was found between Se concentration and hemoglobin content (p less than 0.05). The Se concentrations in RBC of cord blood were significantly higher than in non-pregnant controls (p less than 0.01). The GSHPx activities in RBC of cord blood were significantly lower than in non-pregnant controls (p less than 0.01).