An LC/MS/MS method for quantitation of chemopreventive sphingadienes in food products and biological samples.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality. Diet has a significant influence on colon cancer risk. Identifying chemopreventive agents, dietary constituents, practices and/or diet supplements that promote gut health and reduce the incidence of intestinal neoplasias and CRC could significantly impact public health. Sphingadienes (SDs) are dietary sphingolipids found in plant-based food products. SDs are cytotoxic to colon cancer cells and exhibit chemopreventive properties. The aim of the present study was to develop a sensitive and robust ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for quantifying SDs in food products and biological samples. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 80nM to 50µM and was sensitive to a detection limit of 3.3nM. Post-extraction stability was 100% at 24h. SD content in soy oils was approximately 10nM. SDs were detected transiently in the plasma of adult mice 10min after gavage delivery of a 25mg/kg bolus and declined to baseline by 1h. SD uptake in the gut was maximal in the duodenum and peaked 1h after gavage delivery. Disappearance of SDs in the lower gastrointestinal tract suggests either rapid metabolism to yet unidentified products or potentially luminal export.

[Influence of Oxygenated Derivatives of Linoleic and Linolenic Acids on the Formation of Conidia and Protoperithecia in Wild-Type and Photoreceptor Complex Mutants of Neurospora crassa].

The regulatory effect of two oxyderivatives of unsaturated fatty acids (oxylipins), 18-hydroxy-(9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoic acid (18-HODE) and 18-(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienoic acid (18-HOTrE), on the sexual and asexual sporulation of wild-type Neurospora crassa strains and wc-1 and wc-1 mutants was studied. In the wild-type strain, 18-HODE, unlike 18-HOTrE, stimulated protoperithecia formation in the dark and in the light. In the same strain, the studied oxylipins influenced conidiagenesis only under illumination. 18-HODE stimulated and 18-HOTrE inhibited the conidia formation. Oxylipins had no effect on protoperithecia formation in photoreceptor complex mutants, which apparently indicated its involvement in signal transmission in N. crassa. The stimulating action of the studied oxylipins on conidiagenesis in wc-1 and the lack of action in wc-2 may indicate alternative signaling pathways of oxylipins in this process.

Effect of enteropeptidase on survival of cultured hippocampal neurons under conditions of glutamate toxicity.

The effects of full-size bovine enteropeptidase (BEK) and of human recombinant light chain enteropeptidase (L-HEP) on survival of cultured hippocampal neurons were studied under conditions of glutamate excitotoxicity. Low concentrations of L-HEP or BEK (0.1-1 and 0.1-0.5 nM, respectively) protected hippocampal neurons against the death caused by 100 µM glutamate. Using the PAR1 (proteinase-activated receptor) antagonist SCH 79797, we revealed a PAR1-dependent mechanism of neuroprotective action of low concentrations of enteropeptidase. The protective effect of full-size enteropeptidase was not observed at the concentrations of 1 and 10 nM; moreover, 10 nM of BEK caused death of 88.9% of the neurons, which significantly exceeded the cell death caused by glutamate (31.9%). Under conditions of glutamate cytotoxicity the survival of neurons was 26.8% higher even in the presence of 10 nM of L-HEP than in the presence of 10 nM BEK. Pretreatment of cells with 10 nM of either form of enteropeptidase abolished the protective effect of 10 nM thrombin under glutamate cytotoxicity. High concentrations of BEK and L-HEP caused the death of neurons mainly through necrosis.

[Various effects of serine proteinases, activated protein C and duodenase, on mast cells].

Some serine proteinases of haemostasis can regulate blood clotting and inflammation acting at proteinase-activated receptors (PARs). It is known that the anticoagulant proteinase, activated protein C (APC), exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on endothelial cells and macrophages and this involves endothelial protein C receptor--EPCR and proteinase-activated receptor--PAR1. We have studied the effect of wide range of APC concentrations on functional activity of rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC), which secrete the proinflammatory mediators, under normal conditions and during acute inflammation in rats. APC was able to reduce beta-hexosaminidase release from PMC. APC at very low concentrations (0.2-2 nM) modulated the mediator secretion from PMC under normal conditions and also during acute inflammation in rats. APC abolished the proinflammatory activity of duodenase (80 nM), the proteinase from gastrointestinal tract and mast cells. Mast cells pretreated with cathepsin G (PAR1 antagonist) or duodenase abolished protective antiinflammatory effect of low concentrations of APC on PMC degranulation. Our data indicated that blockade of the mast cells proinflammatory mediator secretion by APC involved PAR1 activation.

[Duodenase activates rat peritoneal mast cells via protease-activated receptors of type 1].

It was found that duodenase, a serine protease from the bovine duodenum, activates rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) in vitro presumably via protease-activated receptors (PARs). Like thrombin (a serine protease from the blood coagulation system) and the PAR1 agonist peptide (PAR1-AP), duodenase was shown to accelerate the secretion of beta-hexosaminidase (a marker of cell degranulation) by PMC in a dose-dependent manner. The blockage of the proteolytic activity of duodenase toward the substrate Tos-Gly-Pro-Lys-pNA by the soybean Bauman-Birk protease inhibitor substantially reduced (by 40%) the ability of duodenase to stimulate the secretory activity of PMC. Pretreatment of PMC with duodenase decreased the beta-hexosaminidase secretion induced by thrombin and PAR1-AP by 35 and 41.7%, respectively, and abolished the antiinflammatory effect of activated protein C. At the same time, pretreatment of PMC with duodenase did not affect the secretion of beta-hexosaminidase induced by compound 48/80, a nonspecific degranulator of mast cells. Duodenase, unlike PAR1-AP (30-100 microM), in a broad concentration range (10-100 nM) did not induce aggregation of human platelets, but suppressed the platelet aggregation elicited by PAR1-AP.

[The role of PAR1 in the protective action of activated protein C in the non-immune mast cell activation].

Activated protein C (APC) regulates the functional activity of mast cells by reducing release of beta-hexosaminidase, the marker of mast cell degranulation. APC could modulate the cell secretion of both: the rest mast cells and the activated cells with degranulators, such as proteinase-activated receptor agonist peptide (PAR1-AP) and compound 48/80. PAR1 desensitization with thrombin abolishes the effect of low APC concentration (< or =1,5 nM) on beta-hexosaminidase release by mast cells. APC, inactivated with phenilmethylsulfonilftoride (PMSF), did non mimic the enzyme action on mast cells. The duodenal proteinase, duodenase, activates the peritoneal mast cell via PAR1. APC abolishes the proinflammatory action of duodenase and PAR1-AP by means of reducing release of mast cell mediators. Pretreatment of mast cell with L-NAME abolished these APC effects. Thus, APC-induced decrease of mediator release could be attributed to NO generation by mast cells. Our data indicate that PAR1 takes part in the mechanism of regulatory anti-inflammatory APC action.

[Biodegradable microparticles with immobilized peptide for wound healing].

Thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP-6) may effectively replace thrombin for stimulation of damaged tissue regeneration. (Thrombin employment is limited by its high cost, instability and proinflammatory effect at high concentrations.) Immobilization of TRAP-6 into a poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA)-based matrix can protect peptides from a destruction by peptidases located in a wound area, and can also provide controlled release of the peptide. PLGA microparticles with immobilized peptide were produced by double emulsion/evaporation technique. An observation of microparticle morphology by scanning electron microscopy highlighted that peptide immobilization resulted in the increase of the microparticle porosity. TRAP-6 release kinetics was characterized by burst increase of TRAP-6 concentration in HEPES buffer solution (pH 7.5) for first 2 hours from the beginning of the experiment, and TRAP-6 complete release occurred for 20 hours. An investigation of TRAP-6 destruction by scanning electron microscopy revealed that the increase of microparticle size and surface porosity were observed already after 1 day of incubation in the buffer solution, and an aggregation of destructing microparticles was obvious by the 7th day of the incubation. Thus, peptide immobilization into PLGA microparticles can allow to develop a novel controlled release drug delivery system.

Effect of activated protein C on secretory activity of rat peritoneal mast cells.

Generation of thrombin and activated protein C in the inflammatory focus was demonstrated in rats with experimental acute peritonitis. The contents of thrombin and activated protein C peaked by the 30th and 120th minute of inflammation, respectively. In vitro study showed a decrease in spontaneous and compound 48/80-induced secretion of beta-hexosaminidase by peritoneal mast cells under the influence of activated protein C in low concentrations. The antiinflammatory effect of protein C in the focus of acute peritonitis is probably realized through NO release from peritoneal mast cells. This conclusion is derived from the data that L-NAME abolishes the protective effect of activated protein C.

Thrombin receptor agonist Peptide immobilized in microspheres stimulates reparative processes in rats with gastric ulcer.

The effect of synthetic thrombin receptor (PAR1) agonist peptide encapsulated in microspheres made of lactic and glycolic acid copolymer on tissue reparation was studied in rats with acetate-induced ulcer. PAR1 agonist peptide was immobilized in biodegraded lactic and glycolic acid microspheres by double emulgation, the kinetics of peptide release was analyzed, and the dynamics of ulcer healing was studied in experimental (administration of microspheres with the peptide into the stomach) and two control groups (administration of saline or spheres without peptide). Thrombin receptor agonist peptide gradually released from lactic and glycolic acid microspheres into the stomach shortened the inflammation phase and shifted the proliferation phase to the earlier period, thus accelerating healing of experimental ulcers in rats.

[The role of the food transmission factor in the occurrence of 2 hepatitis A outbreaks]. / Rol' pishchevogo faktora peredachi v vozniknovenii dvukh vspyshek gepatita A.

Two outbreaks of virus hepatitis were etiologically and epidemiologically interpreted. In this work the original method of obtaining washings, with their subsequent concentration, from the suspected foodstuff was used and hepatitis A virus was then detected in concentrated washings in the enzyme immunoassay, which made it possible to confirm the contribution of the alimentary factor of the transfer of infection (sun-cured melon) in the above-mentioned outbreaks. The data thus obtained are indicative of the necessity to conduct epidemiological investigation, taking into account the possibility of contacting hepatitis A when using foodstuffs not subjected to preliminary treatment.

[Fatty acid make-up of the muscle tissue lipids of ocean fish]. / Zhirnokislotnyi sostav lipidov myshechnoi tkani nekotorykh okeanicheskikh ryb.

Consequent upon the results of investigating fatty acids composition in the tissue lipids of a number of marine fish (marmoreal and green nototenia, merow, stavrida, klykach, lufar, marine perch and marine bream) of different degrees of fatness there were ascertained substantial differences in the correlation of basic acid components and the nutritional value of the lipids. A comparison between the overall lipid content and the quantity of highly unsaturated acids enabled it to disclose a possible relative resistance of the studied fish to the oxidative lipids decay.