Effects of plant- and animal-based-protein meals for a day on serum nitric oxide and peroxynitrite levels in healthy young men

Plant-based diets that replace animal-based proteins with plant-based proteins have received increased attention for cardiovascular protection. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an essential role in the maintenance of endothelial function. However, under higher oxidative stress, NO generation produces peroxynitrite, a powerful oxidant and vasoconstrictor. Diet-replaced protein sources has been reported to decrease oxidative stress. However, the effects of plant-based protein on NO and peroxynitrite have not yet been clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of plant- and animal-based-protein meals for a day on NO, peroxynitrite, and NO/peroxynitrite balance. A crossover trial of two meal conditions involving nine healthy men was performed. Participants ate standard meals during day 1. On day 2, baseline measurements were performed and the participants were provided with plant-based-protein meals or animal-based-protein meals. The standard and test meals consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and were designed to be isocaloric. Plant-based-protein meals contained no animal protein. Blood samples were collected in the morning after overnight fasting before and after the test meals consumption. In the plant-based-protein meal condition, serum NOx levels (the sum of serum nitrite and nitrate) significantly increased, while serum peroxynitrite levels did not change significantly. Animal-based-protein meals significantly increased serum peroxynitrite levels but showed a trend of reduction in the serum NOx levels. Furthermore, serum NO/peroxynitrite balance significantly increased after plant-based-protein meals consumption, but significantly decreased after animal-based-protein meals consumption. These results suggest that, compared with animal-based-protein meals, plant-based-protein meals increase NO levels and NO/peroxynitrite balance, which reflects increased endothelial function

Effects of lactotripeptide ingestion and physical activity intervention on the fatigue status of middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of lactotripeptide (LTP) ingestion, physical activity (PA) intervention, and combined intervention on the fatigue status of middle-aged and older adults. A total of 78 middle-aged and older adults (63 ± 8 years of age) were randomly assigned to four groups: placebo, LTP, placebo with PA intervention (placebo + PA), and LTP with PA intervention (LTP + PA). All participants ingested the placebo or LTP tablets daily (three tablets/day). The placebo + PA and LTP + PA groups participated in a weekly supervised exercise class and were instructed to increase their moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA at home. The visual analog scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Profile of Mood States second edition (POMS2), and Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II) were administered before and after the intervention. No significant interactions or main effects were observed between LTP ingestion and PA intervention on any of the fatigue scales. The main-effect analyses revealed that the PA intervention improved the total mood disturbance score of the POMS2 (F = 5.22, P = 0.03) and BDI-II score (F = 4.81, P = 0.03). After the post hoc paired comparisons, the total mood disturbance and BDI-II scores improved more with the combined intervention than with the PA intervention alone (percentage difference between the effect of combined intervention and PA intervention alone was 3.7% for total mood disturbance score and 13.7% for BDI-II score). The present study suggests that eight weeks of LTP ingestion and PA intervention did not have a significant effect on fatigue status. However, the PA intervention improved mood status and depressive symptoms, and these effects were enhanced by LTP ingestion

Analysis of transcription factors expressed at the anterior mouse limb bud

<div><p>Limb bud patterning, outgrowth, and differentiation are precisely regulated in a spatio-temporal manner through integrated networks of transcription factors, signaling molecules, and downstream genes. However, the exact mechanisms that orchestrate morphogenesis of the limb remain to be elucidated. Previously, we have established EMBRYS, a whole-mount <i>in situ</i> hybridization database of transcription factors. Based on the findings from EMBRYS, we focused our expression pattern analysis on a selection of transcription factor genes that exhibit spatially localized and temporally dynamic expression patterns with respect to the anterior-posterior axis in the E9.5–E11.5 limb bud. Among these genes, <i>Irx3</i> showed a posteriorly expanded expression domain in <i>Shh</i>^<i>-/-</i> limb buds and an anteriorly reduced expression domain in <i>Gli3</i>^<i>-/-</i> limb buds, suggesting their importance in anterior-posterior patterning. To assess the stepwise EMBRYS-based screening system for anterior regulators, we generated <i>Irx3</i> transgenic mice in which <i>Irx3</i> was expressed in the entire limb mesenchyme under the <i>Prrx1</i> regulatory element. The <i>Irx3</i> gain-of-function model displayed complex phenotypes in the autopods, including digit loss, radial flexion, and fusion of the metacarpal bones, suggesting that <i>Irx3</i> may contribute to the regulation of limb patterning, especially in the autopods. Our results demonstrate that gene expression analysis based on EMBRYS could contribute to the identification of genes that play a role in patterning of the limb mesenchyme.</p></div