Polyethylene glycol conditioning: An effective strategy to protect against liver ischemia reperfusion injury

[eng] Ischemia is defined by the arrest of blood flow in the organ cutting thus oxygen and metabolite supply indispensable for its survival and function. Restoration of blood flow in hypoxic tissue, called reperfusion, can paradoxically result in more destructive than beneficial effects. Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable problem in many clinical situation of liver surgery such as organ transplantation, trauma and liver resection. Therapeutic strategies against IRI have been developed during the last 60 years and great advance into the mechanisms responsible of injuries have been achieved. However, efficient therapy against IRI is still lacking and few clinical studies in phase III have proven their effectiveness. This could be due in part to the complexity of the mechanisms responsible of IRI and to the specific drugs activity and their potential adverse effects. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are water soluble nontoxic polymers that have been employed in many biomedical applications such as gastrointestinal disorders and drugs pegylation. Besides its usefulness as oncotic agents in preservation solutions, it has been shown that PEGs molecules protect against cold injury and ischemic damage. In contrast to the current pharmacological strategies used against IRI, PEG presents the advantages of being a multi-target strategy. In fact, IRI is a multifactorial disease including oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial damage, and cytoskeleton alterations which lead to cell death and organ dysfunction. PEG has been associated with the majority of these events as it has been shown that PEG reduces reactive oxygen species, prevents cell death, maintains mitochondrial integrity, and reduces inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. From this perspective, it is reasonable to expect that PEG administration may be an effective therapeutic strategy against liver IRI. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the beneficial effects of PEG 35 in different models of IRI that mimic clinical situation of liver surgery. In the first study, we investigated the impact of the administration of intravenous PEG 35 before liver warm IRI. In the second one, we investigated whether intravenously administrated PEG 35 could protect against cold IRI in steatotic rat livers. Finally, we developed a new washout solution containing PEG 35 to prevent reperfusion injury after prolonged cold preservation. The results of the present thesis demonstrated that: - Intravenous administration of PEG 35 at 10 mg/kg protects the liver in an experimental model of warm IRI in rats. The protective mechanisms are associated with the activation of the pro survival pathways Akt and AMPK and the inhibition of apoptosis. PEG 35 also protects the hepatocyte morphology by increasing F/G-actin ratio and activating p-p38. - Intravenous administration of PEG 35 at 10 mg/kg protects steatotic livers in an experimental model of cold IRI in obese rats. The protective effects of PEG 35 are mediated by the preservation of mitochondrial status, the stabilisation of the cytoskeleton and the regulation of the cytoprotective AMPK and Akt signalling pathways. - Liver graft washout with a PEG 35-containing rinse solution increases the protection against IRI in a model of isolated perfused rat liver. .Protection was due to the inhibition of metalloproteinases, the activation of cytoprotective AMPK and eNOS signalling pathways and the preservation of cytoskeleton integrity.[spa] La lesión por isquemia reperfusión (I/R) es un proceso complejo que tiene lugar cuando un órgano se ve privado del aporte sanguíneo (isquemia) y se manifiesta de forma predominante después del posterior restablecimiento del flujo sanguíneo (reperfusión). Existen numerosas situaciones en la práctica clínica en las que el hígado se ve sometido a una situación de I/R, entre ellas, la resección hepática y el trasplante hepático. Los polietilenglicoles (PEGs) son polímeros solubles en agua, no tóxicos y con diferentes pesos moleculares. Algunos de ellos, con un peso molecular de 20 kDa (PEG 20) y de 35 kDa (PEG 35) forman parte de la composición de soluciones de preservación de órganos (SCOT e IGL-1). Además, en varios modelos experimentales de in vivo e in vitro se ha reportado que varios PEGs ejercen efectos beneficiosos. Atendiendo a lo anteriormente expuesto, la utilización de PEGs puede constituir una excelente herramienta para prevenir el daño hepático por I/R. El objetivo de esta tesis es investigar los efectos beneficiosos del PEG 35 en diferentes modelos de lesión por I/R, que imitan una cirugía hepática. Nuestros resultados demuestran que: - EL PEG 35 administrado por vía intravenosa protege eficientemente el hígado de ratas contra la I/R caliente. Los mecanismos de protección están asociados con la activación de la supervivencia vía Akt y AMPK y la inhibición de la apoptosis. El PEG 35 también protege la morfología de los hepatocitos mediante el aumento de la F/G-actina y la activación de p-p38. - La administración intravenosa de PEG 35 protege los hígados esteatósicos en un modelo de I/R fría en ratas obesas. Los efectos protectores de PEG 35 están mediados por la preservación del estado mitocondrial, la estabilización del citoesqueleto y la regulación de las vías de señalización citoprotectoras AMPK y AKT. - La adición de PEG 35 a una nueva solucione de lavado aumenta la protección contra la lesión por I/R en un modelo de hígado de rata aislado y perfundido a través de la inhibición de las metaloproteinasas, la activación de vías de señalización citoprotectoras AMPK y eNOS y la preservación de la integridad del citoesqueleto

Identification of mycobiota from Tunisian olives and determination of their mycotoxigenic profile

In the Mediterranean basin, a large number of olive varieties are produced and cultivated. In Tunisia, olive culture represents one of the most significant agricultural products that is produced annually. Storage under inadequate conditions poses serious problems concerning fungal contamination, with consequent defects and potential mycotoxin production in olives and olive oils. In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize a selected group of fungi previously isolated from olives from Tunisian groves. For this purpose, 28 fungi were selected for identification by a polyphasic approach consisting of morphological identification on Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Czapek Yeast Autolysate (CYA); physiological identification by the Erlich test (for the genus Penicillium only); and molecular identification by sequencing of the ITS region of the rRNA gene. Mycotoxigenic ability of fungi was screened on Coconut Agar Medium (CAM). Methanolic extracts of those fungi showing fluorescence on CAM wereobtained from CYA cultures and analysed by HPLC. From morphological and molecular identification, eight species belonging to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Pleospora and Tricothecium and were identified. Results showed several isolates were able to produce toxins on CAM, by showing green or orange fluorescence. HPLC analysis are being developed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aplicación de los ultrasonidos de potencia en la etapa de batido de las pastas de aceitunas. Efecto sobre el rendimiento del proceso y características del aceite producido

[ES]El objetivo principal de esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido el estudio de la integración de la tecnología de los ultrasonidos de potencia en la mejora de la etapa de batido durante el proceso de elaboración de los aceites de oliva vírgenes. En este sentido se han desarrollado trabajos preliminares a nivel de laboratorio del pretratamiento continuo por ultrasonidos de potencia de las pastas de aceitunas previo a la operación de batido. Estos ensayos mostraron que este tratamiento permite un calentamiento instantáneo de la pasta de aceituna y la mejora del rendimiento. La eficacia de este tratamiento depende de las características del fruto usado, potencia de trabajo y caudal de pasta aplicado. En relación con la calidad del aceite de oliva no se ha observado efecto negativo de esta técnica o una aceleración de los procesos oxidativos. Este tratamiento permite obtener aceites con unos mayores contenidos en pigmentos y tocoferoles mientras que se obtienen aceites con un menor contenido en compuestos fenólicos.[EN]The aim of the present PhD thesis is the study of the High Power Ultrasounds implementation to enhance the malaxation step of the Virgin Olive Oil elaboration process. In this sense, preliminary works were developed at laboratory scale for the continuous pretreatment of olive paste by High Power Ultrasounds before malaxation. These tests allowed the instantaneous heating of olive paste and the improvement of the oil yield. The High Power Ultrasounds efficiency depended on the fruit characteristics, ultrasounds power and the olive paste flow rate. Regarding to the virgin olive oil quality, negative effects or acceleration of oxidative processes were not detected. Ultrasound treatments gave oil with higher pigments and tocopherols content, whereas the phenolic compounds showed a decrease.Tesis Univ. Jaén. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Ambiental y de los Materiales, leída el 8 de julio de 2016

Ecophysiology of Penicillium expansum and patulin production in synthetic and olive-based media

Olives and their derivatives, in particular olive oil, represent one of the most significant agricultural products in the Mediterranean basin. Storage under inadequate conditions poses serious problems concerning fungal contamination, with consequent defects and potential mycotoxin production in olives and olive oils. Penicillium expansum represents one of the most significant postharvest pathogens in several fruits, including olives. Not only it causes blue mold but also is one of the most relevant patulin producing species of the genus Penicillium. The aim of this research was to evaluate the ecophysiological conditions governing growth and PAT production by P. expansum strains previously isolated from Tunisian olives. For this purpose, four P. expansum isolates were tested in a synthetic medium (Czapek Yeast Autolysate, CYA) and in olive-based medium (OM) for their ability to grow and produce PAT under different temperatures (4 °C, 15 °C and 25 °C) for 10 and 20 d. The mycotoxin was analysed by HPLC-UV. Results showed that all isolates were able to grow on tested media at different temperatures. Different PAT production profiles were found, showing that at 25 °C P. expansum isolates were able to produce PAT on CYA and OM medium. At 15 °C the production of PAT was only detected on CYA medium, while no PAT production was detected at 4 °C for the two media.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polyethylene Glycol Preconditioning: An Effective Strategy to Prevent Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable clinical problem for liver surgery. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are water soluble nontoxic polymers that have proven their effectiveness in various in vivo and in vitro models of tissue injury. The present study aims to investigate whether the intravenous administration of a high molecular weight PEG of 35 kDa (PEG 35) could be an effective strategy for rat liver preconditioning against IRI. PEG 35 was intravenously administered at 2 and 10 mg/kg to male Sprague Dawley rats. Then, rats were subjected to one hour of partial ischemia (70%) followed by two hours of reperfusion. The results demonstrated that PEG 35 injected intravenously at 10 mg/kg protected efficiently rat liver against the deleterious effects of IRI. This was evidenced by the significant decrease in transaminases levels and the better preservation of mitochondrial membrane polarization. Also, PEG 35 preserved hepatocyte morphology as reflected by an increased F-actin/G-actin ratio and confocal microscopy findings. In addition, PEG 35 protective mechanisms were correlated with the activation of the prosurvival kinase Akt and the cytoprotective factor AMPK and the inhibition of apoptosis. Thus, PEG may become a suitable agent to attempt pharmacological preconditioning against hepatic IRI.The work was financed by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS PI12/00519; FIS PI15/00110), Spain. Eirini Pantazi is fellowship-holder of AGAUR (2012FI B00382), Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.Peer Reviewe

Losartan activates sirtuin 1 in rat reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation

© 2015 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. Aim: To investigate a possible association between losartan and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation (ROLT) in rats. Methods: Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were preserved in University of Wisconsin preservation solution for 1 h at 4°C prior to ROLT. In an additional group, an antagonist of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), losartan, was orally administered (5 mg/kg) 24 h and 1 h before the surgical procedure to both the donors and the recipients. Transaminase (as an indicator of liver injury), SIRT1 activity, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+, a co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity) levels were determined by biochemical methods. Protein expression of SIRT1, acetylated FoxO1 (ac-FoxO1), NAMPT (the precursor of NAD+), heat shock proteins (HSP70, HO-1) expression, endoplasmic reticulum stress (GRP78, IRE1α, p-eIF2) and apoptosis (caspase 12 and caspase 3) parameters were determined by Western blot. Possible alterations in protein expression of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as p-p38 and p-ERK, were also evaluated. Furthermore, the SIRT3 protein expression and mRNA levels were examined. Results: The present study demonstrated that losartan administration led to diminished liver injury when compared to ROLT group, as evidenced by the significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase (358.3 133.44 vs 206 33.61, P + (0.87 0.22 vs 1.195 0.144, P < 0.05) the co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity, as well as with decreases in ac-FoxO1 expression. Losartan treatment also provoked significant attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress parameters (GRP78, IRE1α, p-eIF2) which was consistent with reduced levels of both caspase 12 and caspase 3. Furthermore, losartan administration stimulated HSP70 protein expression and attenuated HO-1 expression. However, no changes were observed in protein or mRNA expression of SIRT3. Finally, the protein expression pattern of p-ERK and p-p38 were not altered upon losartan administration. Conclusion: The present study reports that losartan induces SIRT1 expression and activity, and that it reduces hepatic injury in a ROLT model.Supported by Grants from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, No. FIS PI12/00519; fellowship from Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, No. 2012FI_B00382; Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (to Pantazi E)Peer Reviewe

Losartan activates sirtuin 1 in rat reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation

© 2015 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. Aim: To investigate a possible association between losartan and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation (ROLT) in rats. Methods: Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were preserved in University of Wisconsin preservation solution for 1 h at 4°C prior to ROLT. In an additional group, an antagonist of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), losartan, was orally administered (5 mg/kg) 24 h and 1 h before the surgical procedure to both the donors and the recipients. Transaminase (as an indicator of liver injury), SIRT1 activity, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+, a co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity) levels were determined by biochemical methods. Protein expression of SIRT1, acetylated FoxO1 (ac-FoxO1), NAMPT (the precursor of NAD+), heat shock proteins (HSP70, HO-1) expression, endoplasmic reticulum stress (GRP78, IRE1α, p-eIF2) and apoptosis (caspase 12 and caspase 3) parameters were determined by Western blot. Possible alterations in protein expression of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as p-p38 and p-ERK, were also evaluated. Furthermore, the SIRT3 protein expression and mRNA levels were examined. Results: The present study demonstrated that losartan administration led to diminished liver injury when compared to ROLT group, as evidenced by the significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase (358.3 133.44 vs 206 33.61, P + (0.87 0.22 vs 1.195 0.144, P < 0.05) the co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity, as well as with decreases in ac-FoxO1 expression. Losartan treatment also provoked significant attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress parameters (GRP78, IRE1α, p-eIF2) which was consistent with reduced levels of both caspase 12 and caspase 3. Furthermore, losartan administration stimulated HSP70 protein expression and attenuated HO-1 expression. However, no changes were observed in protein or mRNA expression of SIRT3. Finally, the protein expression pattern of p-ERK and p-p38 were not altered upon losartan administration. Conclusion: The present study reports that losartan induces SIRT1 expression and activity, and that it reduces hepatic injury in a ROLT model.Supported by Grants from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, No. FIS PI12/00519; fellowship from Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, No. 2012FI_B00382; Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (to Pantazi E)Peer Reviewe

Omenn Syndrome : Two Case Reports

Omenn syndrome is a variant of combined severe immunodeficiencydue to mutations in RAG genes. It is characterized by polymorph symptoms andlethal outcome. We report on two cases of Omenn syndrome. Infants were aged 50and 46 days. The clinical and biological signs were typical and complete in the firstcase. In the second case, only the cutaneous signs were present. Diagnosis was confirmedby genetic study. The Rag1 T631 mutation was found in these two patients.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could not be done and the evolution wasfatal in both cases because of severe infectious episodes. Prenatal diagnosis wasperformed in the two families and each family has currently a healthy child. In conclusion,early diagnosis of Omenn syndrome may avoid infectious complicationsresponsible for delay in therapeutic management. Genetic study confirms the diagnosis.The treatment usually consists of hematopoietic stem cell transplantationin association with immunosuppressive drugs. Prenatal diagnosis is very importantto allow parents to have healthy children.</p