Arthrospira maxima prevents the acute fatty liver induced by the administration of simvastatin, ethanol and a hypercholesterolemic diet to mice.

An evident fatty liver, corroborated morphologically and chemically, was produced in CD-1 mice after five daily doses of simvastatin 75 mg/Kg body weight, a hypercholesterolemic diet and 20 percent ethanol in the drinking water. After treating the animals, they presented serum triacylglycerols levels five times higher than the control mice, total lipids, cholesterol and triacylglycerols in the liver were 2, 2 and 1.5 times higher, respectively, than in control animals. When Arthrospira maxima was given with diet two weeks prior the onset of fatty liver induction, there was a decrement of liver total lipids (40%), liver triacylglycerols (50%) and serum triacylglycerols (50%) compared to the animals with the same treatment but without Arthrospira maxima. In addition to the mentioned protective effect, the administration of this algae, produced a significant increase (45%) in serum high density lipoproteins. The mechanism for this protective effect was not established in these experiments.

Studies on the preventive effect of Spirulina maxima on fatty liver development induced by carbon tetrachloride, in the rat.

The aim of the present work was to assess if the feeding of either the oil extract of Spirulina maxima or of its defatted fraction would prevent fatty liver development, induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Liver and serum lipids were evaluated 4 days after treatment with this agent. Concentration of liver lipids did not differ in rats fed on a purified diet either without or with one of the fractions of Spirulina, except for total cholesterol, which showed a slight increase in the group receiving the oil extract of Spirulina. However, after CCl4 treatment, liver total lipids and triacylglycerols were significantly lower in rats fed on a diet containing any fraction of Spirulina (defatted or the oil fraction) than in rats without Spirulina in their diet. Furthermore, the increased liver cholesterol values, induced by CCl4 treatment, were not observed in rats receiving Spirulina. In addition, rats receiving whole Spirulina in their diet and treated only with the vehicle showed an increase in the percentage of HDL values. The changes in VLDL and LDL induced by CCl4 treatment were not observed in the whole Spirulina group. Furthermore, after CCl4 treatment the values of the liver microsomal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were lower in the whole Spirulina group than in the control group. These results support the potential hepatoprotective role of Spirulina.

Steroid sulfatase activity in leukocytes: a comparative study in 45,X; 46,Xi(Xq) and carriers of steroid sulfatase deficiency.

The enzyme steroid sulfatase (STS) hydrolyses 3-beta-hydroxysteroid sulfates. The female-male STS activity ratio is 1.04-1.7:1 in several cell lines in adults and reaches 2:1 in prepubertal subjects. In fibroblasts, STS values in X-chromosome abnormalities show a partial positive correlation according to the number of X-chromosomes. X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) carriers, with only one copy of the STS gene, present lower STS levels than normal controls. This study analyzes the STS activity in leukocytes of 46,Xi(Xq); 45,X; XLI carriers and normal controls using 7-[3H]-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as substrate. X-monosomy (1.07 +/- 0.18 pmol/mg protein/h), Xq isochromosome (1.02 +/- 0.12 pmol/mg protein/h) and normal females (1.03 +/- 0.11 pmol/mg protein/h) had similar STS values (p > 0.05). XLI-carriers and males showed the lowest STS levels (0.34 +/- 0.04 pmol/mg protein/h, p < 0.001 and 0.82 +/- 0.14 pmol/mg protein/h, p < 0.05, respectively). Female-male STS activity ratio in leukocytes was 1.3:1. These data indicate that a complex mechanism regulates the STS expression depending on each type of cell line.

Spirulina maxima prevents induction of fatty liver by carbon tetrachloride in the rat.

The aim of the present work was to assess the capacity of Spirulina maxima to prevent fatty liver development induced in rats by an intraperitoneal single dose (1 ml/kg) of carbon tetrachloride. Liver and serum lipids were quantified two or four days after treatment with this agent. Liver lipid concentration did not differ in rats fed on a purified diet with or without Spirulina. However, after carbon tetrachloride treatment, liver triacylglycerols were significantly lower in rats fed on a diet with Spirulina 5% than in rats without Spirulina in their diet (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the increased liver cholesterol values, induced by carbon tetrachloride treatment, were not observed in rats that received Spirulina. These results support the potential hepatoprotective role of Spirulina.

Análisis bioquímico y molecular de pacientes con ictiosis ligada al X y detección de portadoras / Biochemical and molecular analysis of patients and carriers of X-linked ichthyosis

La ictiosis ligada al X es una genodermatosis causada por la deficiencia de la sulfatasa esteroidea. Tiene una frecuencia de 1 por 2,000-6,000 recién nacidos vivos masculinos. Se inicia al nacimiento y se caracteriza por presentar escamas oscuras, adherentes, regulares con predominio en tronco y estremidades. El diagnóstico diferencial se realiza con la ictiosis vulgar, que tienen una frecuencia de 1 por 250 recién nacidos vivos. La determinación de la sulfatasa esteroidea clasifica a pacientes y portadoras con ictiosis ligada al X. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue establecer el diagnóstico correcto de pacientes y detección de portadoras en 10 familias con ictiosis ligada al X, amplificando mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa los extremos 5' y 3' del gen de la sulfatasa esteroidea y determinando la actividad de esta enzima en leucocitos utilizando el sulfato de 7-[3H]-dehidroepiandrosterona como substrato. Ningún paciente amplificó los extremos 5' y 3' del gen de la sulfatasa esteroidea, indicando la pérdida del gen en todos los casos. La determinación de la actividad de la sulfatasa esteroidea clasificó adecuadamente a pacientes (0.0 pmol/mg proteína/h) y portadoras (0.20 ñ 0.06 pmol/mg proteína/h versus 0.84 ñ 0.10 de controles sanos y pacientes con ictiosis vulgar) de ictiosis ligada al X. De esta manera, se establece la necesidad de realizar el ensayo de la sulfatasa esteroidea para el diagnóstico correcto de ictiosis ligada al X y para diferenciarla de la ictiosis vulgar e identificar a posibles portadoras de ictiosis ligada al X

Comparative analysis of human steroid sulfatase activity in prepubertal and postpubertal males and females.

This study analyzes the role of pre or postpubertal stage and sex on the steroid sulfatase activity of human leukocytes. The prepubertal female group (2-7 yrs) presented a higher sulfatase activity than the prepubertal male group (2-7 yrs, 1.99 +/- 0.64 vs 0.99 +/- 0.31 pmol/mg protein, respectively) (p < 0.001), with a female/male ratio of 2.01. The postpubertal subjects (15-40 yrs) showed an activity of 0.77 +/- 0.19 (females) vs 0.56 +2- 0.11 pmol/mg protein (males) and a female/male ratio of 1.37. Enzymatic activity of prepubertal subjects paired by sex was higher than the postpubertal individuals (females p < 0.001 and males p < 0.005). These findings show differences in the steroid sulfatase activity of pre and postpubertal groups suggesting the possible influence of hormones secreted since puberty on the expression of this enzyme.

Comparative analysis of erythrocyte fatty acid composition in a sample of Mexico City children and young adults on a free diet.

In the present study the influence of age on red blood cell fatty acid (RBCFA) composition was analyzed in a sample of Mexico City children and young people on a free diet, as there is scarce information about RBCFA composition in the Mexican population. Erythrocyte lipids were extracted with isopropyl alcohol and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared to be analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. The 1- to 2-year-old group showed a higher percent level of C18:0 (34.75 +/- 2.5 vs. 29.67 +/- 1.3, p < 0.002) and lower of C16:1 (0.58 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.09 +/- 0.2, p < 0.05), C20:4 (14.08 +/- 4.1 vs, 18.20 +/- 1.2, p < 0.05) and C22:5 (2.79 +/- 1.7 vs. 7.68 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001) than the 20- to 25-year-old group. Both groups showed a very low linoleic acid proportion, children 0.48% and young adults 0.54%. The unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio was found to be 0.55 +/- 0.2 in children and 0.91 +/- 0.1 in adults (p < 0.001). These findings indicate the presence of factors related to age that affect the fatty acid composition in the erythrocyte membrane different from diet habits in the sample analyzed. Results are compared with reports in the literature.

Preventive effect of Spirulina maxima on the fatty liver induced by a fructose-rich diet in the rat, a preliminary report.

Cyanobacteria Spirulina maxima from Texcoco Lake in Mexico was administered as a 5% component of a purified diet, to Wistar rats together with a high percentage of fructose (60%) and its effect on several lipid fractions of plasma and liver was studied and compared to those of rats fed purified diets containing 60% of glucose or 60% of fructose. A preventive effect of Spirulina maxima on the fructose-induced increase of the liver triglycerides level was observed together with an elevation of the phospholipid concentration in this tissue. On the other hand Spirulina maxima produced a plasma cholesterol level even lower than that observed in the control group.