Protective effects of quercetin-loaded microcapsules on the enteric nervous system of diabetic rats.

Quercetin-loaded microcapsules (QLM) promote controlled release and higher bioavailability of quercetin, an antioxidant and neuroprotective agent. We evaluated the antioxidant effect of QLM on enteric innervation and in the oxidative status of the ileum of diabetic rats. Wistar adult rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used in six groups containing normoglycemic (N), diabetic (D) and either normoglycemic or diabetic groups treated with QLM at a dose of 10 mg/kg (NQ10 and DQ10, respectively) or 100 mg/kg (NQ100 and DQ100, respectively). DQ10 e DQ100 did not prevent overall neuronal loss in the total and cholinergic populations. Nitrergic population showed differences regarding the treatments: DQ10 preserved neurons in the nitrergic population whilst DQ100 increased nitrergic loss. Evaluation of the redox status showed pro-oxidant effects in NQ100 by t-butyl-induced chemiluminescence analysis. We observed a reduction in the carbonylic content and an increase of low molecular weight antioxidants for DQ10 e DQ100. Therefore, QLM treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg acted positively on nitrergic neurons reducing oxidative damage induced by diabetes.

Plasma Treatment Limits Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development In Vitro and In Vivo.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, increasing the cost of healthcare services and with a high rate of morbidity. Its etiology is linked to chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure that leads to malignant transformation of keratinocytes. Invasive growth and metastasis are severe consequences of this process. Therapy-resistant and highly aggressive SCC is frequently fatal, exemplifying the need for novel treatment strategies. Cold physical plasma is a partially ionized gas, expelling therapeutic doses of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that were investigated for their anticancer capacity against SCC in vitro and SCC-like lesions in vivo. Using the kINPen argon plasma jet, a selective growth-reducing action of plasma treatment was identified in two SCC cell lines in 2D and 3D cultures. In vivo, plasma treatment limited the progression of UVB-induced SSC-like skin lesions and dermal degeneration without compromising lesional or non-lesional skin. In lesional tissue, this was associated with a decrease in cell proliferation and the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 following plasma treatment, while catalase expression was increased. Analysis of skin adjacent to the lesions and determination of global antioxidant parameters confirmed the local but not systemic action of the plasma anticancer therapy in vivo.

Does l-glutamine-supplemented diet extenuate NO-mediated damage on myenteric plexus of Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats?

This study was designed to appraise the relationship between enteric neuropathy and oxidative stress in cancer cachexia under l-glutamine-supplemented diet. Total and nitrergic neuronal populations were investigated in jejunum and ileum in four experimental groups: control (C); control l-glutamine-supplemented diet (CG); Walker-256 tumor (TW); and Walker-256 tumor supplemented with l-glutamine (TWG). In addition, local oxidative stress, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) enzyme and nitric oxide (NO) levels were evaluated. Neuronal density and somatic area of the total and nitrergic populations were reduced in TW rats, which was accompanied by high oxidative stress, NO and nNOS levels. l-glutamine supplementation prevented neuronal atrophy, changes in pan neuronal density and nNOS overexpression (ileum), and restored total antioxidant capacity. Nevertheless, the oxidative stress was partially mitigated and no effect was observed on the reduction of nitrergic population and NO levels. l-glutamine-supplemented diet extenuates NO-mediated damage on the myenteric plexus although has a small benefit on oxidative stress.