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1.
Vascul Pharmacol ; 155: 107372, 2024 Apr 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38583694

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are important elements for the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE), a multisystemic hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and responsible for a large part of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Researchers have dedicated their efforts to unraveling the intricate ways in which certain molecules influence both energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Exploring established methodologies from existing literature, shows that these investigations predominantly focus on the placenta, identified as a pivotal source that drives the changes observed in the disease. In this review, we discuss the role of oxidative stress in pathophysiology of PE, as well as metabolic/endothelial dysfunction. We further discuss the use of seahorse analyzers to study real-time bioenergetics of endothelial cells. Although the benefits are clear, few studies have presented results using this method to assess mitochondrial metabolism in these cells. We performed a search on MEDLINE/PubMed using the terms "Seahorse assay and endothelial dysfunction in HUVEC" as well as "Seahorse assay and preeclampsia". From our research, we selected 16 original peer-review papers for discussion. Notably, the first search retrieved studies involving Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) but none investigating bioenergetics in PE while the second search retrieved studies exploring the technique in PE but none of the studies used HUVECs. Additional studies are required to investigate real-time mitochondrial bioenergetics in PE. Clearly, there is a need for more complete studies to examine the nuances of mitochondrial bioenergetics, focusing on the contributions of HUVECs in the context of PE.

2.
Nutrients ; 15(23)2023 Nov 21.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38068717

In recent decades, the escalating prevalence of metabolic disorders, notably obesity and being overweight, has emerged as a pressing concern in public health. Projections for the future indicate a continual upward trajectory in obesity rates, primarily attributable to unhealthy dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyles. The ramifications of obesity extend beyond its visible manifestations, intricately weaving a web of hormonal dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. This nexus of factors holds particular significance in the context of carcinogenesis, notably in the case of prostate cancer (PCa), which is a pervasive malignancy and a leading cause of mortality among men. A compelling hypothesis arises from the perspective of transgenerational inheritance, wherein genetic and epigenetic imprints associated with obesity may wield influence over the development of PCa. This review proposes a comprehensive exploration of the nuanced mechanisms through which obesity disrupts prostate homeostasis and serves as a catalyst for PCa initiation. Additionally, it delves into the intriguing interplay between the transgenerational transmission of both obesity-related traits and the predisposition to PCa. Drawing insights from a spectrum of sources, ranging from in vitro and animal model research to human studies, this review endeavors to discuss the intricate connections between obesity and PCa. However, the landscape remains partially obscured as the current state of knowledge unveils only fragments of the complex mechanisms linking these phenomena. As research advances, unraveling the associated factors and underlying mechanisms promises to unveil novel avenues for understanding and potentially mitigating the nexus between obesity and the development of PCa.


Epigenesis, Genetic , Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Animals , Humans , Obesity/complications , Obesity/epidemiology , Obesity/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/etiology , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prostate/metabolism , Disease Susceptibility
3.
Biology (Basel) ; 12(6)2023 Jun 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37372112

Mitochondria are pivotal to cellular homeostasis, performing vital functions such as bioenergetics, biosynthesis, and cell signalling. Proper maintenance of these processes is crucial to prevent disease development and ensure optimal cell function. Mitochondrial dynamics, including fission, fusion, biogenesis, mitophagy, and apoptosis, maintain mitochondrial quality control, which is essential for overall cell health. In male reproduction, mitochondria play a pivotal role in germ cell development and any defects in mitochondrial quality can have serious consequences on male fertility. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) also play a crucial role in sperm capacitation, but excessive ROS levels can trigger oxidative damage. Any imbalance between ROS and sperm quality control, caused by non-communicable diseases or environmental factors, can lead to an increase in oxidative stress, cell damage, and apoptosis, which in turn affect sperm concentration, quality, and motility. Therefore, assessing mitochondrial functionality and quality control is essential to gain valuable insights into male infertility. In sum, proper mitochondrial functionality is essential for overall health, and particularly important for male fertility. The assessment of mitochondrial functionality and quality control can provide crucial information for the study and management of male infertility and may lead to the development of new strategies for its management.

4.
Syst Biol Reprod Med ; 69(2): 129-141, 2023 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36409621

Both vitamin A and E support female reproduction and embryonic development. These vitamins have been associated with decreased fertility or failure to end the pregnancy in animals. An observational study was conducted on follicular fluid (FF) samples to determine the concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins of women undergoing in vitro fertilization and its correlation with assisted reproductive technology characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and alpha-tocopherol on granulosa cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy and hormonal production were evaluated. No association was identified between fat-soluble vitamin concentrations in FF and infertility aetiology, body mass index or woman's age. There were differences in follicular antioxidant profiles and ovarian response stimulation. In vitro evaluation of atRA and alpha-tocopherol reveals that, at physiological concentrations, both compounds may affect the viability of granulosa cells. In addition, these compounds are able to protect granulosa cells from oxidative stress, as well as to affect estradiol and progesterone production. Our data suggest that atRA and alpha-tocopherol levels should be well controlled as they may have implications in the function and viability of granulosa cells and highlights retinol as a marker of the oxidative defenses within ovary environment.


Ovary , Progesterone , Humans , Pregnancy , Animals , Female , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Tretinoin/pharmacology , alpha-Tocopherol/pharmacology , Granulosa Cells , Fertilization in Vitro , Vitamin A/pharmacology , Vitamins , Follicular Fluid
5.
J Assist Reprod Genet ; 40(1): 191-199, 2023 Jan.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36469254

The inflammasomes are a family of recently described multi-protein cytoplasmic sensors that orchestrate the inflammatory response and participate in a variety of inflammatory conditions. We hypothesized that the activation of pyrin domain­containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by granulosa cells (hGCs) may be activated in women with endometriosis and influence oocyte maturation and IVF outcomes. We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the NLRP3 inflammasome status in follicular fluid (FF) and in hGCs from 44 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI. Study subjects were divided into two groups according to the infertility etiology: group with tubal or male factor (control, n = 22) vs. group with endometriosis (n = 22). The FF IL-1beta and IL-18 levels in the endometriosis group were significantly higher than those in the non-endometriosis group, i.e., 5010 pg/mL and 2738 pg/mL, respectively (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between clinical pregnancy and live birth rate and analyzed inflammasome component levels (p > 0.05). In addition, the hGCs from endometriosis women demonstrated high expression of NLRP3 inflammasome at both protein and mRNA levels. Higher expression of inflammasome components within the ovary compartment may result from the exaggerated inflammatory state associated with endometriosis and thus impact the fertility of these women.


Endometriosis , Inflammasomes , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endometriosis/genetics , Endometriosis/metabolism , Follicular Fluid/metabolism , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Inflammasomes/genetics , Inflammasomes/metabolism , Interleukin-18/genetics , Interleukin-18/metabolism , Interleukin-1beta/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
6.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol ; 20(1): 116, 2022 Aug 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35948935

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory state within the ovaries can disrupt normal follicular dynamics, leading to reduced oocyte quality and infertility. How the production of inflammatory mediators generated by macrophages with different gene expression profile (M1 and M2) might activate inflammatory pathways, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-, 12-, and 15-lipoxygenase (LOX), in human granulosa cells (hGCs) remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated how M1 and M2 macrophages found in the ovaries affect the functions of hGCs isolated from women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) and human ovarian granulosa COV434 cells. For this purpose, a model of interaction between hGCs and COV434 cells and conditioned media (CMs) obtained from culture of M0, M1 and M2 macrophages was established. We used real-time PCR and western blotting to detect the expression of COX-2 and 5-, 12-, and 15-LOX as biomarkers of oocyte competence. RESULTS: Our data showed that M2 macrophages with anti-inflammatory characteristics were able to significantly increase the expression of COX-2 in hGCs. We also demonstrated that M1 macrophages with pro-inflammatory characteristics were able to significantly increase the expression of 12-LOX in hGCs. However, there was no observed expression of 5-LOX and no significant alteration in the expression of 15-LOX in hGCs. Regarding COV434 cells, we found that CM from M2 macrophage resulted in an increase in COX-2, 5-LOX and 15-LOX mRNA and protein levels. No expression of 12-LOX by COV434 cells was observed when exposed to CMs from M1 and M2 macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicated that the production of pro-resolving mediators by hGCs can, at least in part, reverse the physiological inflammation present in the ovaries.


Granulosa Cells , Macrophages , Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Female , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation/genetics , Inflammation/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Phenotype
7.
Biomedicines ; 10(4)2022 Mar 29.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35453550

Small-cell carcinoma of the ovary of hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) and endometrial cancer from type 1 and type 2 are gynecological tumors that affect women worldwide. The treatment encompasses the use of cytotoxic drugs that are nonspecific and inefficient. "Mitocans", a family of drugs that specifically target tumor cells' mitochondria, might be a solution, as they conjugate compounds, such as antioxidants, with carriers, such as lipophilic cations, that direct them to the mitochondria. In this study, caffeic acid was conjugated with triphenylphosphonium (TPP), 4-picolinium, or isoquinolinium, forming 3 new compounds (Mito6_TPP, Mito6_picol., and Mito6_isoq.) that were tested on ovarian (COV434) and endometrial (Hec50co and Ishikawa) cancer cells. The results of MTT and neutral red assays suggested a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability in all tumor cell lines. The presence of apoptosis was indicated by the Giemsa and Höechst staining and by the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. The measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species demonstrated the antioxidant properties of these compounds, which might be related to cell death. Generally, Mito6_TPP was more active at lower concentrations than Mito6_picol. or Mito6_isoq., but was accompanied by more cytotoxic effects, as shown by the lactate dehydrogenase release. Non-tumorous cells (HFF-1) showed no changes after treatment. This study assessed the potential of these compounds as anticancer agents, although further investigation is needed.

8.
Ir J Med Sci ; 191(5): 1951-1958, 2022 Oct.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34642902

PURPOSE: To study the immunization status and IgM and IgG antibody behavior against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an unvaccinated population of Northeast Portugal (including RT-PCR diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals). METHODS: Application of a clinical-epidemiological survey, and analysis of IgM and IgG SARS-COV-2 antibodies (against N core protein) in 362 participants that voluntarily sought the laboratory for testing. RESULTS: At the time of the analysis, 31.7% (n = 114) of the study population had a previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, 48.3% of which were asymptomatic, and 71.9% IgG seropositive. Of these, 83.3% and 60% were, respectively, IgM and IgG seropositive within 2 weeks after the initial diagnosis. Both antibodies peaked in the 3rd week post diagnosis, with titers decreasing over the following weeks, until a state of seronegativity was achieved after the 6th week for IgM, and the 21st for IgG. Symptomatic patients showed higher IgM and IgG values, when compared to asymptomatic ones. Fever, the most reported symptom, was found to be positively associated with IgM values. Ages of ≤ 18-year-old and ≥ 65-year-old exhibited the highest median values for both IgM and IgG, with the former being statistically significant. In the undiagnosed group, 13.9% and 11.1% were seropositive for IgM and IgG, respectively. CONCLUSION: IgM and IgG displayed a similar initial increase (within 1/2 weeks), with IgG having a significant decrease after the 21st week post-diagnosis, translating a loss of immunity at this point. The youngest and oldest symptomatic age groups were found to be the highest responders. Antibody assays enabled the identification of previously undiagnosed participants.


COVID-19 , Adolescent , Aged , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Testing , Humans , Immunity , Immunoglobulin G , Immunoglobulin M , Portugal/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Vaccination
9.
Reprod Sci ; 29(9): 2429-2439, 2022 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33970442

Although cannabis use is increasing in general population, their prevalence among young adults is remarkably high. In recent years, their medical use gained a renewed interest. However, it can underline the reputation of cannabis being a harmless drug. Between cannabinoids, uniquely found on the cannabis plant, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the well-studied compound. It is responsible for the psychoactive effects via central cannabinoid receptors. Nevertheless, cannabinoids interact with other chemical signalling systems such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. THC indirectly decreases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by the hypothalamus. The consequences are diverse, and several key hormones are affected. THC disturbs important reproductive events like folliculogenesis, ovulation and sperm maturation and function. Although generally accepted that cannabinoid consumption impacts male and female fertility, prevailing evidence remains largely on pre-clinical studies. Here, we introduce cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system, and we review the most prominent clinical evidence about cannabis consumption in reproductive potential and teratogenicity.


Cannabinoids , Cannabis , Cannabinoids/adverse effects , Cannabis/adverse effects , Dronabinol/adverse effects , Female , Fertility , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Reproduction , Seeds
10.
Curr Med Chem ; 28(37): 7658-7713, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33992052

Reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) are produced physiologically by several mechanisms, especially during the inflammatory response. However, their overproduction can lead to the evolution of conditions known as oxidative/nitrosative stress, resulting in the establishment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Chalcones are considered as a class of flavonoids having the molecular pattern 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-one. In the last few years, the antioxidant property of chalcones has been extensively studied, mainly due to their ability to inhibit the production or scavenging ROS/RNS. The antioxidant activity of chalcones, focusing on the production of ROS/RNS during the inflammatory response, is demonstrated and discussed in the present review. This literature revision was based on the modulatory effects of chalcones against different enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and, in the scavenging of ROS/RNS. Whenever possible, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) was established. Through the analysis accomplished in this review, it can be observed that the presence of substituents, e.g. hydroxyl, methoxyl, prenyl, and halogen atoms in the chalcones scaffold, often occurs and can improve their modulatory activities, namely, in the production of ROS/RNS during the inflammatory response.


Antioxidants , Chalcones , Antioxidants/metabolism , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Chalcones/pharmacology , Oxidative Stress , Reactive Nitrogen Species , Reactive Oxygen Species
11.
Antioxidants (Basel) ; 10(4)2021 Apr 04.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33916585

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin present in plant-derived foods, including grape's skin, cocoa, and peanuts. Evidence suggests that it has beneficial effects on human health because of its antioxidant properties. However, there is limited knowledge about the part played by resveratrol in ovarian function. In this paper, the influence of resveratrol on granulosa cells (GC) was evaluated. In addition to being the main estradiol producers, GC are in direct contact with the oocyte, playing a fundamental role in its growth and development. The cell line COV434 and human granulosa cells (hGC), obtained from women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), were used. GC were treated with resveratrol (0.001-20 µM) at different times (24-72 h). Low concentrations of this compound suggest a protective role, as they tend to reduce ROS/RNS formation after inducement of stress. On the contrary, high concentrations of resveratrol affect GC viability and steroidogenic function. As it may act as a direct modulator of GC oxidative balance, this work may help to clarify the impact of resveratrol on GC and the usefulness of this antioxidant as adjunct to infertility treatments.

12.
Pregnancy Hypertens ; 24: 44-49, 2021 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33652340

Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy disorder influenced by oxidative stress and hypoxia, affects the health of the mother and baby and is associated with an increased risk of future hypertension (HT). Aquaporins are a family of water channels, comprising members that also transport glycerol (aquaglyceroporins) and hydrogen peroxide (peroxiporins), key molecules for metabolic homeostasis and redox signaling. Here, we investigated the association of Aquaporin-3 (AQP3; rs2231231), Aquaporin-7 (AQP7; rs2989924), NOS3 (4B/A intron) and CYBA (rs4673) genetic polymorphisms with the development of hypertensive disorders by qPCR/PCR in a cohort of 150 normotensive (NT) women (N = 90) or with previous PE (N = 60) during pregnancy. Prospectively, women were reclassified 2-16 years after pregnancy as NT (N = 98) or hypertensive (N = 48) and the genetic associations were reevaluated. In addition, genetic associations were reevaluated and compared between normotensive and hypertensive (HT) subjects. We found that AQP3 rs2231231, an aquaglyceroporin/peroxiporin, is associated with the development of HT, whereas AQP7, NOS3 and CYBA polymorphism did not correlate with PE or future HT. Because AQP3 was associated with hypertension only after pregnancy, its role might be related to later risk factors of hypertension such as metabolic syndrome or oxidative stress.


Aquaporin 3/genetics , Aquaporins/genetics , Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/diagnosis , NADPH Oxidases/genetics , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics , Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis , Adult , Aquaporin 3/metabolism , Aquaporins/metabolism , Female , Humans , Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/genetics , NADPH Oxidases/metabolism , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism , Polymorphism, Genetic , Pre-Eclampsia/genetics , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
13.
Reprod Fertil Dev ; 33(4): 270-278, 2021 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33551019

Although N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA; also known as anandamide) is present in human follicular fluid (FF), its regulation remains unknown. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to: (1) investigate the relationships between FF AEA concentrations in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology and their age, body mass index, ART characteristics and fertility treatment outcomes; and (2) assess how different inflammatory patterns may trigger AEA production by human granulosa cells (hGCs). FF AEA concentrations were higher in women undergoing IVF than in those undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection group. FF AEA median concentrations were lower in women undergoing ART because of male factor infertility than in women with endometriosis (1.6 vs 2.5nM respectively), but not women with tubal, hormonal or unexplained infertility (1.6, 2.4 and 1.9nM respectively). To evaluate the effects of macrophages on AEA production by hGCs, hGCs were cocultured with monocyte-derived macrophages. The conditioned medium from M1 polarised macrophages increased AEA production by hGCs. This was accompanied by an increase in AEA-metabolising enzymes, particularly N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D. The results of the present study show that high FF AEA concentrations in patients with endometriosis may be associated with the recruitment of inflammatory chemokines within the ovary, which together may contribute to the decreased reproductive potential of women with endometriosis. Collectively, these findings add a new player to the hormone and cytokine networks that regulate fertility in women.


Arachidonic Acids/metabolism , Endocannabinoids/metabolism , Endometriosis/metabolism , Follicular Fluid/metabolism , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Infertility, Female/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Paracrine Communication , Polyunsaturated Alkamides/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Amidohydrolases/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Coculture Techniques , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endometriosis/diagnosis , Endometriosis/immunology , Female , Granulosa Cells/immunology , Humans , Infertility, Female/diagnosis , Infertility, Female/immunology , Infertility, Female/therapy , Macrophages/immunology , Phenotype , Phospholipase D/metabolism , Prospective Studies , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted , THP-1 Cells , Young Adult
14.
Reprod Toxicol ; 95: 51-58, 2020 08.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32439457

Global infertility prevalence has been increasing in recent decades, mainly due to advanced reproductive age. Concerned women look for dietary supplements with antioxidant properties advertised as a natural way to increase fertility. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. CUR elicits apoptotic cell death as evidenced in some tumor cells. In this work, the effect of CUR on granulosa cells (GC) was studied. GC surround the oocyte, providing nutrient exchange and hormone production, necessary for its development. COV434 cell line and primary human granulosa cells (hGC) cultures from patients undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) were used. GC were treated with CUR (0.001-50 µM) at different times (24-72 h). Low concentrations of CUR showed an increase on cell viability. Likewise, it leads to a decrease in ROS/RNS formation after stress induction, suggesting a protective role. Changes in hormonal levels were not observed. In contrast, high concentrations of CUR triggered a reduction on cell viability and a programmed cell death mechanism. Allied to the above results, high doses of CUR affected hormonal function of GCs. Our work reinforces the benefits of dietary supplements, namely CUR, on the main functions of GC and, consequently, on reproductive success.


Antioxidants/pharmacology , Curcumin/pharmacology , Granulosa Cells/drug effects , Adult , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Female , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Humans , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
15.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 75(11): 1973-1988, 2018 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29464285

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes a group of medical conditions such as insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia and hypertension, all associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Increased visceral and ectopic fat deposition are also key features in the development of IR and MetS, with pathophysiological sequels on adipose tissue, liver and muscle. The recent recognition of aquaporins (AQPs) involvement in adipose tissue homeostasis has opened new perspectives for research in this field. The members of the aquaglyceroporin subfamily are specific glycerol channels implicated in energy metabolism by facilitating glycerol outflow from adipose tissue and its systemic distribution and uptake by liver and muscle, unveiling these membrane channels as key players in lipid balance and energy homeostasis. Being involved in a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms including IR and obesity, AQPs are considered promising drug targets that may prompt novel therapeutic approaches for metabolic disorders such as MetS. This review addresses the interplay between adipose tissue, liver and muscle, which is the basis of the metabolic syndrome, and highlights the involvement of aquaglyceroporins in obesity and related pathologies and how their regulation in different organs contributes to the features of the metabolic syndrome.


Aquaporins/metabolism , Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism , Adipokines/analysis , Adipokines/metabolism , Adipose Tissue/metabolism , Adipose Tissue/pathology , Animals , Aquaporins/analysis , Energy Metabolism , Gluconeogenesis , Glucose/metabolism , Glycerol/metabolism , Humans , Insulin/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Liver/pathology , Metabolic Syndrome/pathology , Models, Molecular , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism , Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
16.
BMC Med Genomics ; 10(1): 50, 2017 08 08.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28789679

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease with unknown pathogenesis. Even when recent studies explored this disease using several bioinformatics tools, the main objective was not directed to pathogenesis. Additionally, consensus prioritization was proved to be highly efficient in the recognition of genes-disease association. However, not information is available about the consensus ability to early recognize genes directly involved in pathogenesis. Therefore our aim in this study is to apply several theoretical approaches to explore preeclampsia; specifically those genes directly involved in the pathogenesis. METHODS: We firstly evaluated the consensus between 12 prioritization strategies to early recognize pathogenic genes related to preeclampsia. A communality analysis in the protein-protein interaction network of previously selected genes was done including further enrichment analysis. The enrichment analysis includes metabolic pathways as well as gene ontology. Microarray data was also collected and used in order to confirm our results or as a strategy to weight the previously enriched pathways. RESULTS: The consensus prioritized gene list was rationally filtered to 476 genes using several criteria. The communality analysis showed an enrichment of communities connected with VEGF-signaling pathway. This pathway is also enriched considering the microarray data. Our result point to VEGF, FLT1 and KDR as relevant pathogenic genes, as well as those connected with NO metabolism. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that consensus strategy improve the detection and initial enrichment of pathogenic genes, at least in preeclampsia condition. Moreover the combination of the first percent of the prioritized genes with protein-protein interaction network followed by communality analysis reduces the gene space. This approach actually identifies well known genes related with pathogenesis. However, genes like HSP90, PAK2, CD247 and others included in the first 1% of the prioritized list need to be further explored in preeclampsia pathogenesis through experimental approaches.


Computational Biology , Consensus , Pre-Eclampsia/etiology , Pre-Eclampsia/genetics , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics , Pre-Eclampsia/metabolism , Pregnancy , Protein Interaction Maps
17.
Curr Med Chem ; 24(4): 376-383, 2017.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27697076

Coffee beverages, prepared in a multitude of ways around the world, are increasingly part of our daily lives. Although considered an unhealthy beverage for decades, coffee is increasingly the headline of medical journals in association with a reduced risk for several diseases. What if this beverage could give us pleasure, while modulating mood and lowering the risk for several diseases of the modern society, including type 2 diabetes (T2D)? Based on the most recent epidemiological and research data, long-term consumption of coffee beverages is associated with a lower risk of developing T2D in healthy individuals, probably involving multiple mechanisms, with interventions on glucose homeostasis, antioxidant activity, and inflammatory biomarkers. Several coffee constituents potentially responsible for these effects are described, as well as the factors that make their presence highly variable, with interesting effects associated with chlorogenic acids, trigonelline and norharman. Due to the high number of compounds contained in coffee, we explore the potential synergic effect within the coffee matrix. Moreover, acute coffee consumption shows different health effects from those achieved on a long-term daily consumption, and not all coffee beverages are similar. Still, despite the huge amount or work developed in the last decade, the substances and mechanisms behind these protective effects on T2D are still to be fully elucidated, being therefore soon for dietary interventions based on coffee.


Coffee , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Diet , Animals , Coffee/chemistry , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Drug Synergism , Humans
18.
BMC Med Genomics ; 9: 12, 2016 Mar 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26961748

BACKGROUND: The systemic information enclosed in microarray data encodes relevant clues to overcome the poorly understood combination of genetic and environmental factors in Parkinson's disease (PD), which represents the major obstacle to understand its pathogenesis and to develop disease-modifying therapeutics. While several gene prioritization approaches have been proposed, none dominate over the rest. Instead, hybrid approaches seem to outperform individual approaches. METHODS: A consensus strategy is proposed for PD related gene prioritization from mRNA microarray data based on the combination of three independent prioritization approaches: Limma, machine learning, and weighted gene co-expression networks. RESULTS: The consensus strategy outperformed the individual approaches in terms of statistical significance, overall enrichment and early recognition ability. In addition to a significant biological relevance, the set of 50 genes prioritized exhibited an excellent early recognition ability (6 of the top 10 genes are directly associated with PD). 40 % of the prioritized genes were previously associated with PD including well-known PD related genes such as SLC18A2, TH or DRD2. Eight genes (CCNH, DLK1, PCDH8, SLIT1, DLD, PBX1, INSM1, and BMI1) were found to be significantly associated to biological process affected in PD, representing potentially novel PD biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Additionally, several metrics of standard use in chemoinformatics are proposed to evaluate the early recognition ability of gene prioritization tools. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed consensus strategy represents an efficient and biologically relevant approach for gene prioritization tasks providing a valuable decision-making tool for the study of PD pathogenesis and the development of disease-modifying PD therapeutics.


Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Parkinson Disease/genetics , Algorithms , Case-Control Studies , Gene Expression Regulation , Gene Ontology , Gene Regulatory Networks , Genetic Association Studies , Humans , Machine Learning , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Reproducibility of Results
19.
Obstet Gynecol Int ; 2014: 502081, 2014.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25431595
20.
Obstet Gynecol Int ; 2014: 361727, 2014.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25101128

Preeclampsia (PE) may affect the risk for future cardiovascular disease. Haptoglobin (Hp), an acute phase protein with functional genetic polymorphism, synthesized in the hepatocyte and in many peripheral tissues secondary of oxidative stress of PE, may modulate that risk through the antioxidant, angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory differential effects of their genotypes. We performed a prospective study in 352 women aged 35 ± 5.48 years, which 165 had previous PE, 2 to 16 years ago. We studied demographic, anthropometric, and haemodynamic biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide metabolites (total and nitrites), and others associated with liver function (AST and ALT) and lipid profile (total LDL and cholesterol HDL, non-HDL, and apolipoproteins A and B). Finally, we study the influence of Hp genetic polymorphism on all these biomarkers and as a predisposing factor for PE and its remote cardiovascular disease prognosis. Previously preeclamptic women either hypertensive or normotensive presented significant differences in those risk biomarkers (MPO, nitrites, and ALT), whose variation may be modulated by Hp 1/2 functional genetic polymorphism. The history of PE may be relevant, in association with these biomarkers to the cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women.

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