Oxidative Stress in Disease and Aging: Mechanisms and Therapies 2016

International audienceOxidative stress (OS) is an imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense mechanisms. This phenomenon increases with age and affects the normal functioning of several tissues. Furthermore, numerous chronic diseases associated with older age, such as diabetes and cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle disorders, are also directly related to OS. Considering this relationship, the aim of many ongoing studies is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and role of OS in disease onset and development. In particular, there is considerable emphasis on finding new therapeutic strategies for decreasing OS

Preventive Leptin Administration Protects Against Sepsis Through Improving Hypotension, Tachycardia, Oxidative Stress Burst, Multiple Organ Dysfunction, and Increasing Survival

Sepsis syndrome is the most important cause of mortality in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). However, current therapies for its prevention and treatment are still unsatisfactory, and the mortality rate is still high. Non-septic ICU patients are vulnerable to acquire sepsis syndrome. Thus, a preventive treatment for this population is needed. During sepsis syndrome and endotoxemia, severe hypotension, tachycardia, oxidative and immune response increase, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and decreased survival are observed. Leptin administration protects against negative effects of sepsis syndrome and endotoxemia. Furthermore, it is has been reported that leptin elevates blood pressure mediated by sympathetic nervous system activation. However, whether leptin administration before sepsis induction mediates its protective effects during sepsis through blood pressure regulation is not known. Therefore, we investigated whether pre-treatment of leptin improves blood pressure and MODS, resulting in survival increase during endotoxemia. The results showed that leptin administration before endotoxemia induction reduced both the hypotension and tachycardia characteristically observed during endotoxemia. Notably, this protective effect was observed early and late in the course of endotoxemia. Endotoxemia-induced MODS decreased in leptin-treated rats, which was reflected in normal values for liver and kidney function, inhibition of muscle mass wasting and maintenance of glycemia. Furthermore, leptin pre-treatment decreased the oxidative stress burst in blood and blunted the increased pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 observed during endotoxemia. Remarkably, according to the leptin-induced increase in survival, leptin pre-administration decreased the risk for death associated with sepsis syndrome at early and late times after endotoxemia induction. These results show a potential preventive therapy against sepsis syndrome and endotoxemia in vulnerable patients, based in the beneficial actions of leptin

Effect of Dietary Supplements with ω-3 Fatty Acids, Ascorbic Acid, and Polyphenolic Antioxidant Flavonoid on Gene Expression, Organ Failure, and Mortality in Endotoxemia-Induced Septic Rats

Sepsis syndrome develops through enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sepsis syndrome is characterized by vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and increased mortality, among others. Endotoxemia-derived sepsis is an important cause of sepsis syndrome. During endotoxemia, circulating endotoxin interacts with endothelial cells (ECs), inducing detrimental effects on endothelium function. The endotoxin induces the conversion of ECs into fibroblasts, which are characterized by a massive change in the endothelial gene-expression pattern. This downregulates the endothelial markers and upregulates fibrotic proteins, mesenchymal transcription factors, and extracellular matrix proteins, producing endothelial fibrosis. Sepsis progression is modulated by the consumption of specific nutrients, including ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly described. The notion that gene expression is modulated during inflammatory conditions by nutrient consumption has been reported. However, it is not known whether nutrient consumption modulates the fibrotic endothelial gene-expression pattern during sepsis as a mechanism to decrease vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, MODS, and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the consumption of dietary ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoid supplements on the modulation of fibrotic endothelial gene-expression patterns during sepsis and to determine the effects on sepsis outcomes. Our results indicate that the consumption of supplements based on ω-3 fatty acids and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids was effective for improving endotoxemia outcomes through prophylactic ingestion and therapeutic usage. Thus, our findings indicated that specific nutrient consumption improves sepsis outcomes and should be considered in treatment

Endothelial dysfunction in pregnancy metabolic disorders

In recent years, the vascular endothelium has gained attention as a key player in the initiation and development of pregnancy disorders. Endothelium acts as an endocrine organ that preserves the homeostatic balance by responding to changes in metabolic status. However, in metabolic disorders, endothelial cells adopt a dysfunctional function, losing their normal responsiveness. During pregnancy, several metabolic changes occur, in which endothelial function decisively participates. Similarly, when pregnancy metabolic disorders occur, endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in pathogenesis. This review outlines the main findings regarding endothelial dysfunction in three main metabolic pathological conditions observed during pregnancy: gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and obesity and hyperlipidemia. Organ, histological and cellular characteristics were thoroughly described. Also, we focused in discussing the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the cellular signaling pathways that mediate responses in these pathological conditions

Combined Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to Optimize Treatment Efficacy

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most frequent muscular dystrophy and one of the most severe due to the absence of the dystrophin protein. Typical pathological features include muscle weakness, muscle wasting, degeneration, and inflammation. At advanced stages DMD muscles present exacerbated extracellular matrix and fat accumulation. Recent progress in therapeutic approaches has allowed new strategies to be investigated, including pharmacological, gene-based and cell-based therapies. Gene and cell-based therapies are still limited by poor targeting and low efficiency in fibrotic dystrophic muscle, therefore it is increasingly evident that future treatments will have to include “combined therapies” to reach maximal efficiency. The scope of this mini-review is to provide an overview of the current literature on such combined therapies for DMD. By “combined therapies” we mean those that include both a therapy to correct the genetic defect and an additional one to address one of the secondary pathological features of the disease. In this mini-review, we will not provide a comprehensive view of the literature on therapies for DMD, since many such reviews already exist, but we will focus on the characteristics, efficiency, and potential of such combined therapeutic strategies that have been described so far for DMD

Angiotensin-(1-7) Prevents Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Induced by Transforming Growth Factor Type Beta (TGF-β) via Mas Receptor Activation

Background: Transforming growth factor type beta 1 (TGF-β1) produces skeletal muscle atrophy. Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)), through the Mas receptor, prevents the skeletal muscle atrophy induced by sepsis, immobilization, or angiotensin II (Ang-II). However, the effect of Ang-(1-7) on muscle wasting induced by TGF-β1 is unknown. Aim: To evaluate whether Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis could prevent the skeletal muscle atrophy induced by TGF-β1. Methods: This study assessed the atrophic effect of TGF-β1 in C2C12 myotubes and mice in absence or presence of Ang-(1-7), and the receptor participation using A779, an antagonist of the Mas receptor. The levels of myosin heavy chain (MHC), polyubiquitination, and MuRF-1 were detected by western blot. Myotube diameter was also evaluated. In vivo analysis included the muscle strength, fibre diameter, MHC and MuRF-1 levels by western blot, and ROS levels by DCF probe detection. Results: The results showed that Ang-(1-7) prevented the increase in MuRF-1 and polyubiquitined protein levels, the decrease of MHC levels, the myotubes/fibre diameter diminution, and the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by TGF-β1. Utilizing A779 inhibited the anti-atrophic effect of Ang-(1-7). Conclusion: The preventive effect of Ang-(1-7) on skeletal muscle atrophy induced by TGF-β1 is produced through inhibition of ROS production and proteasomal degradation of MHC

Oxidative Stress in Disease and Aging: Mechanisms and Therapies 2018

Indexación: Scopus.https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2018/2835189