Effects of Bisphenol A on Oxidative Stress in the Rat Brain

We investigated the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on oxidative stress and tau-related proteins in adult rat brains. BPA (10 mg/L) was administered to rats for eight weeks through their drinking water. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity for hydroxyl radicals in the plasma was reduced after two weeks. In the hippocampus, four and eight weeks of BPA increased the ratio of oxidized DJ-1/DJ-1 (PARK7). The ratio of phosphorylated-GSK3β/GSK3β and phosphorylated-AKT/AKT increased after one week of BPA treatment. The ratio of phosphorylated JNK/JNK and phosphorylated-ERK/ERK increased after eight weeks of BPA; the elevation could be related to tau phosphorylation. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the hippocampus decreased after eight weeks of BPA treatment. At that time, SOD1 was significantly induced, but no changes in SOD2 expression were apparent in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the ratio of phosphorylated-tau (PHF-1, Ser396/ Ser404) to total tau level did not change. However, PHF-1 or other sites of tau could be phosphorylated after eight weeks in the hippocampi of rats. BPA induced systemic oxidative stress and could change ROS-induced signaling pathways in the brain. These results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction possibly is not responsible for oxidative stress and neurodegeneration due to low doses of BPA

Attenuation of Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats with S-Allyl Cysteine

Pulmonary fibrosis is a complex disease with high mortality and morbidity. As there are currently no effective treatments, development of new strategies is essential for improving therapeutic outcomes. S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a constituent of aged garlic extract that has demonstrated efficacy as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The current study examines the effects of SAC on pulmonary fibrosis induced by a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (2.5 mg/kg). SAC was administered to rats as 0.15% SAC-containing diet from seven days prior to instillation up until the conclusion of the experiment (14 days post-instillation). SAC significantly reduced collagen mRNA expression and protein deposition (33.3 ± 2.7 μg/mg and 28.2 ± 2.1 μg/mg tissue in vehicle- and SAC-treated rats, respectively), and decreased fibrotic area, as assessed histologically. In the rats’ lungs, SAC also attenuated the increased expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a central regulator of myofibroblast recruitment, activation, and differentiation. While bleomycin instillation increased the number of myofibroblasts within the lung mesenchymal area, this change was significantly reduced by SAC treatment. SAC may exert efficacy as an anti-fibrotic by attenuating myofibroblast differentiation through TGF-β1-mediated fibroproliferative processes. Thus, our results indicate SAC may be useful for the prevention or treatment of pulmonary fibrosis

Effects of High-Intensity Anaerobic Exercise on the Scavenging Activity of Various Reactive Oxygen Species and Free Radicals in Athletes

High-intensity exercise in athletes results in mainly the production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle, and thus athletes should maintain greater ROS scavenging activity in the body. We investigated the changes in six different ROS-scavenging activities in athletes following high-intensity anaerobic exercise. A 30-s Wingate exercise test as a form of high-intensity anaerobic exercise was completed by 10 male university track and field team members. Blood samples were collected before and after the exercise, and the ROS-scavenging activities (OH•, O2•−, 1O2, RO• and ROO•, and CH3•) were evaluated by the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping method. The anaerobic exercise significantly increased RO• and ROO• scavenging activities, and the total area of the radar chart in the ROS-scavenging activities increased 178% from that in pre-exercise. A significant correlation between the mean power of the anaerobic exercise and the 1O2 scavenging activity was revealed (r = 0.72, p n = 5, each). These results suggest that (i) the scavenging activities of some ROS are increased immediately after high-intensity anaerobic exercise, and (ii) an individual’s OH• scavenging activity responsiveness may be related to his anaerobic exercise performance. In addition, greater pre-exercise 1O2 scavenging activity might lead to the generation of higher mean power in high-intensity anaerobic exercise

Red ginseng extracts attenuate skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis through p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase activation

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease with increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) signaling is known to occur in the inflammatory regions of AD skin. We previously demonstrated that red ginseng extract (RGE), as an anti-inflammatory agent, had potential for treating AD. However, it is still unclear whether RGE inhibits mTOR/p70S6K signaling. Thus, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of RGE on IgE or interferon-γ (IFN-γ) induced signaling pathways. In KU812 human basophils, activation of Fcε receptor type Iα (FCεRI), also known as the high affinity IgE receptor, induced phosphorylation of both mTOR and p70S6K. Moreover, levels of phosphorylated p70S6K (p-p70S6K), but not p-mTOR, were decreased by RGE. RGE also decreased p-p70S6K levels in IFN-γ-stimulated human keratinocytes, suppressing the IFN-γ induced increase in levels of C-C chemokine ligand 2 mRNA. Interestingly, the increased p70S6K phosphorylation in skin lesions of AD model mice was attenuated by RGE treatment. In conclusion, RGE is a potential therapy against inflammatory responses involving the p70S6K signaling pathway