Exploring the aberrant phenotype of neutrophils in periodontitis

Neutrophils, the most abundant leukocyte arrive at the site of infections to eliminate pathogens, particularly by using reactive oxygen species (ROS). They contain the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) to maintain homeostasis and combat ROS induced intracellular damage. Intracellular GSH is essential for a number of homeostatic and cellular processes, including chemotaxis and is the main intracellular redox buffer. During oxidative stress, protein modification by glutathionylation helps defend against oxidative damage. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of redox balance in the aberrant chemotactic phenotype observed in neutrophils, particularly from periodontitis patients. In healthy neutrophils, GSH modulating compounds (buthionine sulfoximine, N-acetylcysteine, carmustine and 1-chloro, 2-4 dinitrobenzene) were used to change GSH levels: showing that decreased GSH was associated with a decreased chemotactic ability. In periodontitis patients there was less GSH in neutrophils in comparison to healthy donors but it increased after successful non-surgical treatment. A similar pattern was observed for neutrophil chemotaxis. This demonstrated a link between these two factors in the same cells for the first time. Proteomic analysis of extracts from patient and control neutrophils demonstrated modulation of glutathione regulation in periodontitis patients

Role of glutathione in neutrophil chemotaxis in periodontitis

Periodontitis is a common non-communicable inflammatory disease that leads to the destruction of periodontal tissues and tooth loss. Initiated by the plaque biofilm, there is a strong innate immune response with an abundance of neutrophils in the periodontium of affected individuals. Previous reports have shown that the intracellular concentration of glutathione in peripheral blood neutrophils from periodontitis patients and the chemotactic ability of these cells are compromised. Furthermore, other studies have described that in oxidative stress conditions neutrophil chemotaxis is aberrant and causes the glutathionylation of F-actin, a key player in chemotaxis. In this study, the effects of glutathione-modulating compounds were assessed in neutrophils isolated from healthy donors, showing that the perturbation of glutathione homeostasis decreases the chemotaxis of neutrophils. Following this, the intracellular glutathione status and chemotactic ability of neutrophils isolated from periodontitis patients was compared to that of age- and sex-matched controls. A decrease in glutathione and chemotactic ability were confirmed. Finally, the proteome of these neutrophils was explored, demonstrating a change in the abundance of proteins involved in glutathione homeostasis. Together these data suggest that peripheral blood neutrophils from periodontitis patients are compromised in their ability to cope with oxidative stress and move

Renoprotective effect of virgin coconut oil in heated palm oil diet-induced hypertensive rats

Virgin coconut oil, rich in antioxidants was shown to attenuate hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the effects of virgin coconut oil on blood pressure and related parameters in kidneys in rats fed with five-time-heated palm oil. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Two groups were fed with five-time-heated palm oil (5HPO) (15%) diet and the second group was also given virgin coconut oil (1.42 ml/kg, oral) daily for 16 weeks. The other two groups were given basal diet without (control) and with virgin coconut oil. Systolic blood pressure was measured pre- and post-treatment. After 16 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and kidneys were harvested. Dietary 5HPO increased blood pressure, renal thiobarbituric acid reactive subtances (TBARS) and nitric oxide (NO) contents, but decreased heme oxygenase (HO) activity. Virgin coconut oil prevented the increases in 5HPO-induced blood pressure and renal NO content as well as the decrease in renal HO activity. The virgin coconut oil also reduced the elevation of renal TBARS induced by the heated oil. However, neither dietary 5HPO nor virgin coconut oil affected renal histomorphometry. In conclusion, virgin coconut oil has a potential to reduce the development of hypertension and renal injury induced by dietary heated oil, possibly via its antioxidant protective effects on the kidneys.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author