Small Heat Shock Protein αA-Crystallin Prevents Photoreceptor Degeneration in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

The small heat shock protein, αA-crystallin null (αA−/−) mice are known to be more prone to retinal degeneration than the wild type mice in Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis (EAU). In this report we demonstrate that intravenous administration of αA preserves retinal architecture and prevents photoreceptor damage in EAU. Interestingly, only αA and not αB-crystallin (αB), a closely related small heat shock protein works, pointing to molecular specificity in the observed retinal protection. The possible involvement of αA in retinal protection through immune modulation is corroborated by adaptive transfer experiments, (employing αA−/− and wild type mice with EAU as donors and Rag2−/− as the recipient mice), which indicate that αA protects against the autoimmune challenge by modulating the systemic B and T cell immunity. We show that αA administration causes marked reduction in Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ), both in the retina and in the spleen; notably, IL-17 was only reduced in the retina suggesting local intervention. Importantly, expression of Toll-like receptors and their associated adaptors is also inhibited suggesting that αA protection, against photoreceptor loss in EAU, is associated with systemic suppression of both the adaptive and innate immune responses

Nutritional quality and storage stability of <i>chikki</i> prepared using pumpkin seed, flaxseed, oats and peanuts

118-123A novel pumpkin seed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">chikki (PSC) and pumpkin chocolate <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">chikki (PCC) with enhanced nutritional quality by incorporating flaxseed, oats and peanuts was studied. The ingredients of the chikki were pumpkin seed (25%), flaxseed (8.0%), oats (8.0%), peanut (9.0%) and jaggery (50%). The protein and fat contents were 12 and 15% in PSC and PCC and phosphorous was found to be 186 and 206 mg/100 gm, respectively. Equilibrium moisture content – Relative humidity studies showed the chikkis were non-hygroscopic in nature and hence can be stored at ambient temperature in polyethylene pouches. The fatty acid composition of the total lipid showed that chikkis were rich in oleic and linoleic acids with unsaturated fatty acids constituting 65 and 63% in PSC and PCC, respectively. The overall sensory quality determined on 9 point Hedonic scale indicated that PCC was the preferred one, with sensory score of 8.0 during three months storage at RT

Development of an instant spice mix from <em>gongura</em> (<em>Hibiscus cannabinus </em>L<em>.</em>) for deep fat fried snacks and evaluation of its antioxidant activity

490-497An instant spice mix based on Hibiscus cannabinus L. leaf (IGSM) for deep fat fried snacks was standardized and its chemical composition, antioxidant activity and storage stability was investigated. Dehydration of fresh Hibiscus cannabinus (gongura) and Mentha spicata (pudina) leaves yielded leaf powders of 13.28 and 9.78 %, respectively. The major ingredients of the standardized instant spice mix powders were gongura (25 %), pudina (12.5 %), pepper (15 %), salt and sugar were added for palatability. The spice mix is rich in dietary fibre (22.20 %) in which crude fiber is 10.82 %. Biologically active compounds such as polyphenols (1644 mg/100 gm) and ascorbic acid (9.48 mg/100 gm) were found in the spice mix. Essential amino acids were found to an extent of 42.12 and 42.62 gm/100 gm in gongura leaf powder and IGSM, respectively of which, leucine, lysine and phenylalanine were predominant. Inhibition of 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl by 50 % was observed at a concentration of 6 mg/ml. The ABTS radical inhibition assay was found to be high (89.2 %) at 1.2 mg/ml concentration. Sorption studies indicated that the instant spice mix was stable at room temperature with an initial moisture content 3.39 %, which equilibrated at 37 % relative humidity. The overall sensory quality of instant spice mix on deep fat fried snacks was 7.27 &plusmn; 0.47 during six months of storage

Standardization, chemical characterization and storage studies of an instant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pulihora</i> mix based on raw mango

90-95Raw mangoes were dehydrated, powdered and mixed with other selected processed spice ingredients to obtain an instant pulihora mix (IPM). The instant mix was found to contain protein and fiber contents of 13.2 and 5.6%, respectively. The mix was a rich source of total polyphenols (636 mg/100 gm) and phosphorous (238 mg/100gm). The mix was found to be a good source of linoleic acid (6.62%). During storage, the free fatty acid and peroxide contents increased from 0.08 to 0.28% and 4.42 to 44.3 meq/kg of fat, respectively. Sorption isotherm revealed that IPM possessed non-hygroscopic nature though it contained 25% of the dehydrated raw mango powder. The critical moisture content of the mix was 12.95% which equilibrated at 65% relative humidity. Sensory analysis of the IPM reconstituted with cooked rice scored ‘good’ (7.7) even after a storage period of six months

Antioxidant enzyme suppression of demyelination in experimental optic neuritis

Detoxification of hydrogen peroxide by the antioxidant enzyme catalase suppressed the neurologic manifestations of acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and prevented death of treated adult strain-13 guinea pigs. The oxygen radical scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD) delayed the onset of paralysis by one day, but did not prevent death from encephalomyelitis common to most of this group and all untreated animals. Histopathologic analysis of the optic nerves confirmed a statistically significant reduction in demyelination with catalase treatment, but not with SOD. Hydrogen peroxide, and/or its conversion products, discharged by phagocytic mononuclear cells, may play a role in the pathogenesis of demyelination in experimental optic neuritis

Antioxidant Enzymes Reduce Loss of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in Experimental Optic Neuritis

• We studied the effect of antioxidant enzymes on the loss of integrity of the blood-brain barrier in the optic nerves of strain-13 guinea pigs with chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, a demyelinating disorder with neurologic and histopathologic characteristics similar to multiple sclerosis. Animals with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis received daily intraperitoneal injections of either preservative-free saline (group 1), catalase (group 2), or glutathione peroxidase (group 3) for 2.2 months after the onset of appendicular paralysis. Following intravascular administration, extravascular leakage of horseradish peroxidase was histopathologically graded as mild, moderate, or severe within the optic nerve head and myelinated retrolaminar nerve. Severe extravasation of horseradish peroxidase was exclusive to group 1, in addition to moderate and mild leakage. In groups 2 and 3, leakage of horseradish peroxidase was infrequent, and when detected, it was graded as mild. Detoxification of hydrogen peroxide with catalase and glutathione peroxidase substantially reduced horseradish peroxidase leakage in experimental optic neuritis, suggesting a role for hydrogen peroxide and its reactive by-products in the pathogenesis of increased vascular permeability of the blood-brain barrier in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

The Role of TLR4 Activation in Photoreceptor Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress

This study provides novel observations of TLR4-mediated photoreceptor mitochondrial oxidative stress/mtDNA damage in innate immune response. This molecular mechanism could provide a unique model with which to study the damaging effects of TLR expression

Quantitative Analysis of Labelled Inner Retinal Proteins in Experimental Optic Neuritis

In order to deternine if axonal transport changes in chronic experimental allergic enceph-alomyelitis (EAE) were due to blockade or increased disdwqe of fast transported proteins from the inner retina, we examined the presence of pulse labeled proteins in autoradiograms of the optic nerve head, retinal ganglion cell and nerve fiber layers of juvenile strain-13 guinea pigs with chronic EAE and normal controls. Quantitative analysis of silver grains, performed six and twenty-four hours following the intravitreal injection of tritiated leucine, showed a decrease in inner retinal radioactivity in those with EAE, whereas no difference was detected between the two groups after three days. Grain counts within the optic nerve heads of guinea pigs with EAE were reduced at all time intervals studied. These results are consistent with an increase in discharge of fast transported proteins from retinal ganglion cells into optic nerve axons and support our previous observations of increased radioactivity at the foci of optic nerve demyelination

A Report of Bethune-Cookman College NASA JOVE Projects

This document is the final report for the Joint Venture (JOVE) in Space Sciences, and describes the tasks, performed with the support of the contract. These tasks include work in: (1) interfacing microprocessor systems to high performance parallel interface chips, SCSI drive and memory, needed for the implementation of a Space Optical Data Recorder; (2) designing a digital interface architecture for a microprocessor controlled sensors monitoring unit for a NASA Jitter Attenuation and Dynamics Experiment (JADE) project; (3) developing an enhanced back-propagation training algorithm; (4) studying the effect of simulated spaceflight on Aortic Contractility; (5) developing a course in astronomy; and (6) improving internet access by running cables, and installing hubs in various places on the campus; and (7) researching the characteristics of Nd:YALO laser resonator