Carnitine analysis in pterygium / Análise de carnitina no pterígio

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of the present study was to measure the free carnitine and acylcarnitine levels in pterygium tissue and normal conjunctival tissue at the metabolomics level using tandem mass spectrometry. Methods: In this prospective, clinical randomized study, pterygium tissues and normal conjunctival tissues taken during pterygium excision with autograft were compared regarding their free carnitine and acylcarnitine profiles. After tissue homogenization, carnitine levels were measured using tandem mass spectrometry. The data were statistically analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Pterygium and normal conjunctival tissue samples from a single eye of 29 patients (16 females, 13 males; mean age, 54.75 ± 11.25 years [range, 21-78 years]) were evaluated. While the free carnitine (C0) level was significantly high in the pterygium tissue (p<0.001), acylcarnitine levels were significantly high in some esterized derivatives (C2, C5, C5:1, C5DC, C16:1, C18, methylglutarylcarnitine) (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined for the other esterized derivatives (p>0.05). Conclusion: That the carnitine levels in pterygium tissue were higher suggests that acceleration of cell metabolism developed secondary to chronic inflammation and the premalignant characteristics of pterygium tissue. High carnitine levels may also effectively suppress the apoptosis process. The data reported in our study indicate that further, more extensive studies of the carnitine profile could help clarify the pathogenesis of pterygium.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi medir os níveis de carnitina livre e acil-carnitina a nível metabolómico com espectrometria de massa em tandem no tecido do pterígio e no tecido conjuntivo normal. Método: Neste estudo prospetivo, clínico e aleatório, os tecidos de pterígio e os tecidos normais de conjuntiva, retirados durante a cirurgia de pterígio com autoenxerto, foram comparados em relação ao perfil de carnitina livre e de acil-carnitina. Após a homogeneização dos tecidos, os níveis de carnitina foram medidos por espectrometria de massa em tandem. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada com o teste dos postos sinalizados de Wilcoxon. Resultados: A avaliação foi feita através de amostras de tecido pterígio e de conjuntiva normal de um único olho de 29 pacientes (16 mulheres, 13 homens). A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 54,75 ± 11,25 anos (faixa dos 21 aos 78 anos). Enquanto o nível de carnitina livre (C0) foi significativamente elevado no tecido pterígio (p<0,001), os níveis de acil-carnitina foram significativamente elevados em alguns derivados esterificados (C2, C5, C5: 1, C5DC, C16:1, C18, metilglutaril carnitina) (p<0,05). Não foi determinada uma diferença estatisticamen te significante noutros derivados esterificados (p>0,05). Conclusão: Os níveis mais elevados de carnitina no tecido do pterígio sugerem que a aceleração do metabolismo celular se tenha tornado secundária com o efeito da inflamação crónica e o caráter pré-maligno do tecido do pterígio. Os níveis elevados de carnitina também podem ser eficazes na supressão do processo de apoptose. Os dados obtidos no estudo indicam que estudos mais extensivos do perfil da carnitina contribuiriam para o esclarecimento da patogénese do pterígio.

Effects of delivery and storage conditions on concentrations of amino acids and carnitines in neonatal dried blood spots / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVE@#To explore effects of different delivery and storage conditions on concentrations of amino acids and carnitines in neonatal dried blood spots (DBS), so as to provide evidence for improving accurate and reliable detection by tandem mass spectrometry.@*METHODS@#A total of 1 254 616 newborn DBS samples in Newborn Screening Center of Zhejiang Province were delivered and stored at room temperature (group A, @*RESULTS@#The concentrations of amino acids and carnitines in the three groups were skewed, and the differences in amino acid and carnitine concentrations among groups were statistically significant (all @*CONCLUSIONS@#Cold-chain logistics system and storage in low temperature and low humidity can effectively reduce degradation of some amino acids and carnitines in DBS, improve the accuracy and reliability of detection, and thus ensures the quality of screening for neonatal metabolic diseases.

Estudio del mecanismo de fosforilación de proteínas como respuesta celular hepática inducida por adriamicina, con o sin protección con L carnitina / Study of protein phosphorylation mechanism induced by adriamycin in hepatic tissue with or without L-carnitine

Los cambios en los estados de fosforilación de proteínas han sido asociados a numerosas patologías de diferentes orígenes y severidad, y estas alteraciones, pueden estar vinculadas a estrés oxidativo y modificaciones en proteínas quinasas y fosfatasas. En este sentido, la terapia con adriamicina ha sido vinculada con estrés oxidativo cardiaco y hepático con subsecuente disfunción de tales órganos. Adicionalmente, al estrés cardiaco por adriamicina, el hígado podría representar otro blanco tóxico de la droga. Sin embargo, las alteraciones hepáticas han sido pobremente estudiadas. En este trabajo se estudio el patrón de fosforilación de proteínas de tejido hepático, ante la administración de adriamicina. Ratas Sprague Dawley se distribuyeron en cuatro grupos al azar: control, adriamicina, carnitina y adriamicina carnitina. Los tratamientos administrados por via intravenosa (VI) cada tres días/3 dosis fueron: 5 mg/Kg de peso de ADR y 20mg/Kg de peso de carnitina y combinando ambos agentes. Los animales se sacrificaron, tomándose el lóbulo hepático medio para ensayos de: fosforilación con [ã 32 -P] ATP, inmunodetección de fosfoproteínas en serina y tirosina, proteína JNK y C-jun. Los patrones de fosforilación de proteínas entre los grupos fueron diferentes observándose mayor expresión de proteínas fosforiladas en los grupos adriamicina. La carnitina revierte el efecto sobre la fosforilación comportándose como hepatoprotector ante la droga.

The changes in the pattern of protein phosphorylation have been associated to numerous pathologies of differentorigins and severity; these alterations can be linked to oxidative stress and subsequent modifications in the protein kinases and phosphatases. In this regard, adriamycin therapy have been related to the heart and liver oxidative stress and organ disfunction. Therefore, in addition to the heart, the liver might be another adriamycin toxic target. However, adriamycin liver alterations have been poorly studied. The aim of this work was to determined liver protein phosphorylation before and after adriamycin administration. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=3), 40-60g body weight, were randomized into four groups: control, adriamycin, carnitine and adriamycin-carnitine. Saline adriamycin (15mg/Kg body weight) and carnitine (20 mg before adriamycin) were given intravenously (0,1 ml). Samples from the medium liver lobe were taken for biochemical experiments including phosphorylation with [ã 32 -P] ATP, inmunodetection of phosphoproteins in serine and tirosine, JNK and C-jun proteins. The protein phosphorylation was different between the groups studied. The greater expression of protein phosphorylates was determined in the adriamycin group. We suggest that there is a relationship between carnitine administration and decreased expression of protein phosphorylates. Carnitine may be a hepatoprotector.